Sony launches circular VGF-HS1 media server

Nothing like washing down an all new WiFi-enabled digiframe with an all new home media server, right? Apparently Sony is firmly in agreement, as it's also launching its latest multimedia server / NAS drives today in Japan. The 1TB VGF-HS1 / 1.5TB VGF-HS1S would stack nicely atop your VAIO HTPC, and aside from boasting gigabit Ethernet, DLNA compatibility, an integrated display, USB connectivity and a hidden multicard reader behind the front panel, this unit plays nice with AVCHD, MPEG2, HDV, JPEG, BMP, PNG, WAV, MP3, ATRAC (saywha?), AAC and WMA file formats. Word on the street has these shipping on May 17th for ¥60,000 ($570) / ¥80,000 ($760) depending on capacity, but only time will tell if Sony sees fit to send 'em Stateside.

[Via Impress]

[Saci @ May 7th 2008 11:45AM]

Woh! Dont know what it does, but that thing looks nasty! Probably fun bowling with it though!

[tom @ May 7th 2008 11:56AM]

very good value, considering it has 1TB of storage plus all the connection w/ card reader and USB all for 570.

Apple tv - 160GB for 329. however.

It would be good if it plays HD.

[stefan @ May 7th 2008 11:49AM]

What is it with the round shapes?
But the price isn't that high considering it's a Sony...

[vypergts @ May 7th 2008 1:09PM]

Oh you mean like this? http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/25/microsoft-turns-xbox-rol-into-prototype-windows-home-server/

/spark fanboy war

[Kurian @ May 7th 2008 12:15PM]

Hope my Roomba doesn't try to hump it.

[BlowURmindBowel @ May 7th 2008 12:16PM]

Agreed, seems as thought the Sony-Style tax is going down compared to the Mac-I'ma-Design-Douche tax...

Apple TV::$2.06/GB
VGF-HS1::$0.57/GB

Obviously there are other hardware factors to be taken into account, but the Sony is surely compatible with a greater number of formats...

Which one seems to be the better deal to you?

[Arvind Ganesh @ May 7th 2008 2:03PM]

You're comparing apples and oranges. This appears to be a DLNA compliant media server that "serves" media to other devices that may "play" it (AppleTV would be a play device).

It would replace a NAS or computer in the typical home. Seems like it would work very nice with the PS3 or the wifi photo frame announced today. I wish they had a version is glossy black.

[Demaar @ May 7th 2008 12:21PM]

Looks a lot like one of the fake PS3 concepts from a few years back...

[Mark @ May 7th 2008 1:37PM]

It's limited...it can't do DVD's, Blu-Ray formats, Xvid, mkv, m2ts, etc...and its 570 bucks!...for that amount you can build a pretty decent HTPC which can do anything...

Or get a popcorn hour..which is $179 and can stream everything.

[phanbouy @ May 7th 2008 2:14PM]

but but but.... it says VAIO on it and looks like a toilet seat cover!

[Rick @ May 7th 2008 2:55PM]

There are a lot of features in that thing, how's a hat still going to fit in there?

[Karl Viklund @ May 7th 2008 3:18PM]

What an ugly cake!

[AlphaTeam @ May 7th 2008 4:16PM]

How does on stack boxes when this one is circular?

[giz @ May 7th 2008 7:18PM]

wish i could buy the case without any components. Anybody know where to get that?

[rodolfo @ May 7th 2008 10:37PM]

Its like the Apple TV but more circle.

[Craig M. @ May 8th 2008 1:14AM]

This may sound weird, but that looks like one of the fake images that was created when there were rumors about the Playstation 3 coming out in the future. It looked EXACTLY like that.

Odd.

[Richard @ May 8th 2008 7:01AM]

Oh great a media player that plays none of the video formats I have on my server. You would be better of getting a PS3 and installing Linux then you can play any format you like.