Conceptronic intros the Media Giant HD media server / DVR

There are a ton of DVRs with media server / streamer features out there, but the new Media Giant from Conceptronic manages to distinguish itself by being one of the more flexible units we've seen, at least on paper. The 1TB DVR features UPnP setup with DLNA support, a built-in analog tuner, a Twonky server, component, composite and firewire inputs, HDMI and component out, digital audio out, an optional PowerLine networking adapter, and a laundry list of supported codecs, including DivX, XviD, WMV9, SVCD and VOB. Not a bad little box -- but we won't know about pricing or availability until it gets officially official at CeBit next week.

[feffrey @ Feb 28th 2008 4:03PM]

But will it support mkv? That is the only thing keeping me back from buying any set top box is not supporting mkv video files. Are there any out now that do support mkv, or are them some that will be coming out that will?

[Aguiluz @ Feb 28th 2008 4:11PM]

I really don't know. For all my time on Engadget and the Internet, I never heard of this MKV. Probably because they are unpopular?

[feffrey @ Feb 28th 2008 4:14PM]

It isn't really that popular but it has a lot of good things, like being able to have dual audio tracks, etc and it is a good format for ripping HD movies into.

[Gav @ Feb 28th 2008 4:19PM]

MKV is the most popular format for HD Movie/TV downloads of what I like to call 'questionable legality'

MKV isn't a codec, it's just a 'container file'. It can contain a lot of different codecs, but it usually has H.264 and AAC/DTS sound.

[disco_delite @ Feb 28th 2008 4:25PM]

The "Celrun TV" can play ".mkv" (Matroska Multimedia Container) files.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/26/celrun-tv-does-multimedia-streaming-right/

http://www.akihabaranews.com/en/news-15576-Celrun+TV%3A++The+Premium+HD+Multimedia+Player.html

[makishima @ Feb 28th 2008 4:26PM]

Its also a really popular format for anime as well since it allows for dual sound tracks for Japanese and English/Other in a single file.

[disco_delite @ Feb 28th 2008 4:32PM]

Here's a link to Wikipedia that describes the Matroska Multimedia Container ".mkv" file format.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matroska

[Chris Herzog @ Feb 28th 2008 5:32PM]

I'm so on this if this is all true! OMG. No more converting so I can watch HD content through my 360.

[rob @ Feb 28th 2008 5:49PM]

Mamase Mamasa MaMatroska

[Elroy @ Feb 28th 2008 5:59PM]

DVICO's TVIX supports MKV, as well as VOB files. In fact, it'll play an ISO file created from a DVD just like it was playing a DVD.

[Backlin @ Feb 28th 2008 4:16PM]

VOB support? Man, that's a selling point right there.

[canuck88 @ Feb 29th 2008 7:35AM]

You guys have obviously never heard of Tvix. It does MKV, VOB, ISO, etc., and upscales everything as well to HD resolution. I have the M-4100, but the new M-6500 is supposed to be able to handle even higher bitrate HD files. Frankly, I've never had a problem playing anything with mine. At around $400, it blows everything else away, trust me.

If you haven't visited this site, I'd recommend it:

http://www.mpcclub.com/

[AlexL @ Feb 28th 2008 4:38PM]

I think this is the first consumer media computer that has component video inputs. Which is really cool, because you can now get all your high definition content onto the server and distribute it into your systems. This includes many components whose digital HD output is disabled for copyright reasons. For example to get encrypted high definition cable you needed a pre-built, CableLabs approved system with CableCard tuners, and to get BluRay you needed a BluRay drive in the system because you can't output the BluRay content to any other system. But since this system has analog high definition inputs, you can bypass all that using the analog hole, and pipe all your high def cable programming and BluRay movies to your whole house.

[Stan @ Feb 28th 2008 6:54PM]

Not if it obeys CGMS-A. Think of it as the analog version of the broadcast flag.

[ET @ Feb 28th 2008 4:38PM]

rmvb?

[disco_delite @ Feb 28th 2008 4:44PM]

It needs ATSC and QAM tuners. NTSC tuners will be useless in less than a year.

[derspiess42 @ Feb 28th 2008 5:14PM]

Not if you have cable.

[disco_delite @ Feb 28th 2008 5:43PM]

Many cable companies will be decreasing NTSC transmissions shortly after the broadcast ban. Analog NTSC video transmissions take up more bandwidth on their networks than a digital transmission would. They're trying to free up bandwidth to offer more services.

[phanbouy @ Feb 28th 2008 6:22PM]

From the looks of it this thing's gonna cost one meeeeeeeelion dollars

[ScooterDe @ Feb 29th 2008 3:25AM]

USB host for expansion? Remote with display for e.g. selecting music tracks (without switching on the TV)?