XstreamHD details continue to emerge

Just a few hours before our live coverage of the XStreamHD press event (11am PST) with Michael Douglas; many of the details have been released and we have to say this thing looks so incredible, we don't see how it can live up to the press release -- this is one of those times when we'd really love to be wrong. For starters, the service promises to deliver "the latest content from leading studios" in 1080p (MPEG-2 and x.264) with 7.1 channels of lossless DTS-HD Master Audio (96kHz/24bits) to your home via satellite, and if it stopped there it would be impressive enough, but no. The content is stored on the internally in your "Virtual Personal Library" until you access it with up to four simultaneous DLNA devices on your gigabit Ethernet home network. If you run out of space, you can use the extra drive bays to expand up to 2TB of storage. And because there is so much great OTA HD content, it features three ATSC tuners which can be used with a "Network Video Recorder" -- not sure what that is, or if its extra. And interestingly even includes a PBX that allows free calling between XStreamHD customers. As if this wasn't unbelievable enough, it all starts at $399 and is expected to hit in the fourth quarter of '08.

Full release after the jump.

Jan 08, 2008 08:00

XStreamHD(TM) Unveils First-Ever Transport Network to Deliver High-Definition Movies, Music, and More Directly to the Home at CES 2008

Witness the XStreamHD Revolution in Action with Live Demos Featuring The Latest Content from Leading Studios and More at Sands Booth #71838 XStreamHD Press Conference on Tuesday, January 8 in Venetian Casanova 503 To Feature Two-Time Academy-Award Winner Michael Douglas

MCLEAN, Va. --(Business Wire)-- Jan. 8, 2008 XStreamHD, revolutionizing the delivery and distribution of Full HD entertainment to the home, today unveiled at CES 2008 (Sands Booth #71838) the first-ever transport network to deliver movies, TV, music, electronic games, and more in Full HD (1080p) video and 7.1 channels of DTS-HD Master Audio(TM), directly to consumers, via satellite.

"We've worked hard to address the real needs consumers have and find the solutions they're looking for. What they're missing is access to Full HD content," said XStreamHD Founder and CEO George Gonzalez. "Today is all about Full HD. We are pleased to announce that we are the first to deliver Full HD and 7.1 channels of lossless audio directly to your home."

The XStreamHD Revolution

XStreamHD is leading the Full HD revolution with the first transport network to bring 1080p video and 7.1 channels of lossless audio directly to the home via satellite. Never before has there been a home theater experience that combines all of the features, quality, value, and convenience that consumers want. XStreamHD offers affordable access to the highest quality HD movies, music, broadcast TV, electronic games, and more - without the limitations of programming schedules, storage space, or physical media, and without the hassles of video rental stores, slow mail service, or out-of-stock titles. With XStreamHD, consumers will never miss the new releases or the broadcast HD content they love. The hottest movies and new releases are delivered via satellite, while vintage titles may be delivered over a broadband Internet connection.

With XStreamHD, consumers can build a customized, unique, and unparalleled in-home entertainment network and enjoy the content they want most, when it's most convenient, anywhere in the home, and at the quality today's home theaters were designed to support. Only XStreamHD's proprietary technology delivers video in Full HD (1080p) - twice the quality of current cable and satellite offerings - and up to 7.1 channels of lossless audio, achieving sound quality that is identical to the studio master and surpassing any other direct-to-home service available.

The complete XStreamHD solution includes three core components that are quickly and easily installed by the user or, if preferred, by a qualified technician. The first is a small outdoor satellite antenna that captures multiple streams of Full HD content delivered by XStreamHD through existing standard geosynchronous satellites. From the dish, titles are stored centrally in the XStreamHD Media Server located inside the home. The Media Server stores your pre-selected titles in your Virtual Personal Library until you access them with any XStreamHD Media Receiver or DLNA-compliant device throughout your XStreamHD home network.

Pricing & Availability

The XStreamHD solution will be available to consumers in early Q4 2008. The introductory price for a complete XStreamHD home solution, including a Media Server and a Media Receiver, is available to initial subscribers starting at just $399.

Featured System Highlights

-- Satellite delivery of Full HD 1080p video, MPEG-2 or MPEG-4/H.264 in 4:3 or 16:9 screen formats

-- Satellite delivery of up to 7.1 channels 96kHz/24bits of lossless DTS-HD(TM) Master Audio

-- View four Full HD video streams simultaneously throughout the home

-- Learns users' choices and preferences to adopt their entertainment profile and continuously updates the Virtual Personal Library with titles they're likely to enjoy

-- Equipped with three ATSC tuners and a Network Video Recorder for viewing and recording three HDTV broadcasts at the same time - even while watching a fourth selection from your Virtual Personal Library(TM)

-- Patent Pending Adaptive Recording(TM) ensures accurate recording of HDTV programs from start to finish, even if broadcast schedules change or are delayed

-- Easy-to-use on-screen menus to manage content preferences, parental controls, spending limits

-- DLNA v1.5 certified to integrate all compatible devices on the XStreamHD network

-- Dual slide-in drive bays enable scalable storage featuring Seagate(R) Technology hard drive storage - 500GB, 1 TB, 2 TB options - and the ability to configure an external storage subsystem via the eSATA interface

-- Includes a feature-rich Personal PBX business-class phone system; also supports VoIP calls and offers free calls between XStreamHD subscribers

-- Uses gigabit Ethernet (GigE) permitting the transfer of HD video and audio at 1 gbps throughout the home

-- HDMI interface simplifies installation and ensures signal integrity for vibrant 1080p video

-- Front panel USB port for MP3 audio downloads

XStreamHD @ CES

The XStreamHD solution is currently set up at CES in Sands Booth #71838, with live demos at the top and bottom of every hour featuring the latest content from leading studios. Visitors to the booth can sign up to become an XStreamVIP and gain access to the exclusive XStreamHD community. Demos are also running simultaneously in the booths of XStreamHD's strategic partners, DTS, Inc. (Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall 1 #21913) and Seagate Technology (Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall 3 #30659).

[timatl @ Jan 8th 2008 11:45AM]

what is the service fee. this does sound promising if it works as advertised

[Jason Golden @ Jan 8th 2008 11:50AM]

The movie part reminds me of how digital movies are sent to digital movie theaters these days.

Still, those machines cost many thousands of dollars. I agree with the team: something smells fishy.

[Richard @ Jan 8th 2008 11:49AM]

No info on the service fee's.. That's where the dream ends obviously...

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Jan 8th 2008 11:54AM]

Wan't youtube something that you could not also believe how it could keep going. No wthey are Billionaires. this reminds me of youtube but you-theater although,I'd pay for something like this, but it'd have to be cheap.welll not to cheap but reasonable to catch ont o the masses.




it's nice to be back.

[Jeremy @ Jan 8th 2008 11:54AM]

If this is true, I just peed my pants. If it isn't, then I peed my pants for some other, less exciting reason.

[Peteo @ Jan 8th 2008 12:31PM]

This doesn't sound unbelievable. Its a Digital setop box tuner (with 3 atsc tuners) has a large hard drive and also a satellite modem that is constantly downloading content to that hard drive.
You'll have to pay for each movie/tv show/music you want to "view"
IF you record OTA TV it wont cost money (except for the $399 cost of the box)I'm not sure if theres a channel guide but I cant see why not they could just stream that info to the hard drive over the satellite.

It also seems like you will need a broadband connection to order the movies (to send data back to their servers, the satellite is one way I believe)

This whole things sounds just like the VUDU box or Movie beam, just over satellite and in very high res and with addition of 3 ATSC tuners

[Jeremy @ Jan 8th 2008 12:42PM]

The key is "very high res". No one else is doing this. I do not want to buy Blu-Ray or HD-DVD. I don't really want to buy an overpriced player either. I don't even want to walk to the mailbox where Blockbuster sends me movies after a few days. What I want is to sit on my couch, hit a button, and see 1080p goodness. If the price is in the ballpark of reasonable, I'm sold.

[Carl_Bronson @ Jan 8th 2008 12:22PM]

This seems like a rehash of Voom.

[Peteo @ Jan 8th 2008 12:34PM]

Its not like Voom at all, There is no LIVE tv over the satellite. Only over the ATSC tuners. The satellite is only used to download content to the hard drive.

[SteveS @ Jan 8th 2008 12:53PM]

If you strip this PR down to the essentials you will realize this thing is not offering you much "new": XStreamHD is essentially a home networked media server that downloads movies and music from satellite instead of the internet with a few HDTV tuners built in to boot. They also act as content reseller (for the monthly fee) with no mention of a "per movie" or "per song" cost (which will probably be the case or just factored into the monthly fee). Also 1080p and 7.1 audio is solely theoretical as it is based on the source material they are allowed to distribute (which a lot is not in 1080p muchless 7.1 audio).

So long story short: XStreamHD is a content reseller that cobbled together a bunch of available hardware into one neat box that downloads your movies from satellite instead of the net without watering it down.

[RichardBronosky @ Jan 8th 2008 1:54PM]

If it has freedom, count me in!

[Joe T. @ Jan 8th 2008 2:20PM]

This has the potential to kill all physical HD media-- HD DVD is dead, and soon BluRay. If they can come in at the $399 price, have studio support, and reasonable PPV costs, I'll be buying.

[Skullfighter @ Jan 8th 2008 9:10PM]

Seconded.
I own the HD DVD Add on. This would be the next step for me. I was suckered into buying 15-20 HD DVD's.

Plus, the satellite means that it won't suck my internet bandwidth like my Xbox 360 downloads.

It's a win-win-win situation.

P.S. The price is almost as cheap as a BD player to boot.

P.P.S. Even if it's $25 a month, that's the cost of one BD!

[Daniel Smith @ Jan 9th 2008 1:49AM]

Has anyone thought of it's weakness? Via satellite! Being in florida and not being able to watch a movie cause of inclement weather is not cool. Isn't that when you watch a movie cause it's raining. I'm not excited about this, well actually I'm not excited about downloading my movies period. rather just pop a movie in the PS3 and watch it. How many people watch movies at their house on their pc instead of in their living room? Not many, why would you? So streaming to all these places in the house isn't that big of a deal since you usually watch your movies in one place. Plus the fact that it's an HD movie makes it even slimmer of a chance since you have to have a PC capable of doing this. I bet DRM (HDCP) is required, how many PCs are HDCP compatible, not many. I can see watching movies on your laptop on the road but this device doesn't help you with that. So I predict failure for this device, especially with HD VOD out there who's gonna want to install an (another) ugly satellite on their house just to watch movies? Count me out.

[TroubleDouble @ Jan 11th 2008 4:37PM]

I have heard that their algorithm works in such a way that weather conditions will not matter.... the box is smart enough to get the content in worst weather conditions. They say that the movie is already sitting on your set top before you buy them, so once u buy u just watch it. It all depends on what movies you like and what is the probabilty of you watching the next movie...

I guess its more like Amazon Unbox - the player decides after a particular time of download that whether it is safe to let teh user watch the movie and then continues to download in teh background.

In florida think of it this way. Everyone can expect the weather conditions fr next 24 hours. Depending on that you can be downloading movies... and watching it simultaneously... How cool is that