Video: First look at Netgear's EVA9000 streaming YouTube in HD

Now that the FCC has forced its hand, Netgear has become rather forthcoming with information about its new EVA9000-series Digital Entertainer Elite box set to be launched at CES. Today we get a first (brief) look at the rather svelte user interface driving YouTube 720p video over an 802.11n dual-band WiFi network. That's a good start, but there'd better be more content than just YouTube and Flickr before we lay down $400 for yet another living room box. Video after the break.

[Via eHomeUpgrade]

[evansls @ Dec 12th 2008 7:16AM]

but will it blend?

[Mongoos150 @ Dec 12th 2008 7:21AM]

Streaming Netflix HD service would make the $400 price tag quite a bit easier to swallow.

[davelogan77 @ Dec 12th 2008 7:35AM]

..errr, but doesnt streaming Netflix have to have something worth streaming??
I'm Talking other than episodes of the Office...
Basically I am saying, arent you better off buying an XBOX to stream netflix, it (the xbox) is cheaper, and it streams "HD" NETFLIX.

[Flashpoint @ Dec 12th 2008 8:12AM]

I laid down $300 on an iPhone simply so I could have pocket Youtube, Safari and AIM access.
I am not sure if I'd spend $400 on a box that only gets Youtube and Flkr, but, that's a start.

If it also get Hulu and Pornotube, you got a deal !!!

[Todd @ Dec 12th 2008 7:25AM]

I think this is all nice and pretty, but I can build a computer with basically the same features using an motherboard with integrated graphics and sound over HDMI and SPDF. Even with a dual core CPU, 500GB hard drive and 2 GB DDR2-800 you are only looking at $250. Add in a TV tuner with a good remote and you still have enough left over to add a second hard drive... Plus it plays games and surfs the net.

I think this box is good, but I think it should be closer to $200 or $300 with a Blu-ray drive. Make it an upscaling DVD player with Blu-ray and HD streaming off YouTube and NetFlix and it would be great.

[drkmstr104 @ Dec 12th 2008 7:31AM]

That's a lot to pay for something that is very limited in capabilities, build a decent computer for $400 or less and it will be able to handle everything the netgear setup can do, plus a hell of a lot more.

[Wwhat @ Dec 12th 2008 8:25AM]

yuotube eh, it's this sort of product that causes sites like youtube to go censor-mad, too mainstream == censorship.

[grobbio @ Dec 12th 2008 8:58AM]

The best part of this piece of news is the betty page insert/omage you did in the picture. So long...

[Nutsy @ Dec 12th 2008 9:17AM]

Nice hidden tribute to Betty Page, But Youtube HD isnt true HD though not even 720p but its better than its old lower res stuff :D

[a ham sandwich @ Dec 12th 2008 12:05PM]

yeah thats a good point. what exactly IS the new youtube? it calls itself 'HD' but it's clearly not large enough for 720p. yet it looks infinitely better than the 320x240 or whatever they used to pass off as 'video'. anybody know?

[SHoe @ Dec 12th 2008 10:53AM]

Hmmm. $400 for this box that does Youtube (and hopefully some commerical content as well), or for the same price get a PS3 where you can do youtube and commercial video purchases/rentals + blueray player + game console. I don't get it. If it was $200 then maybe.
Though at $200, you might be better off with a 360....

[Brian @ Dec 12th 2008 11:24AM]

Sure the resolution of the audio and video is getting better on Youtube. But much of the content is still very amateurish and not worthwhile. A business model is needed to allow people to sell ad-free content via YouTube.

I'm not a huge fan of Internet streaming. Let's see how it catalogs, navigates and plays my existing collection of DivX, H.264 AVIs and DVD images (ISO).

[E71 @ Dec 12th 2008 2:08PM]

I agree... I got a large collection of DivX/XviD MP3/AC3 AVIs and 720p/1080p H264 AC3/DTS MKVs on a network share...

Smooth playback of those is what's important to me.

[McLovin @ Dec 12th 2008 11:44AM]

I'm not sure that I'm ready to see youtube in HD :|

[Gary J @ Dec 12th 2008 12:06PM]

Does it decode TrueHD?

[E71 @ Dec 12th 2008 2:13PM]

According to their specs, yes:

http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/28/netgear-digital-entertainer-elite-media-streamer-says-hello-to-t/

[Matthew Hilario @ Dec 12th 2008 12:30PM]

RIP BETTY. your hot legs will forever be in our minds

[Zzephyr @ Dec 12th 2008 1:01PM]

Sleek design, able to play high bitrate 1080p mkv's, Decodes HD Audio, has a hard drive bay, has HDMI out, and wireless N.

Even for $400, I'm getting one. I don't give a piss about YouTube or Netflix - the rest of the features are too good to pass up.

[Carney @ Dec 12th 2008 2:04PM]

NOT a very nice tribute to Betty Page, since they not only failed to put it up in HD, but actually used Stretch-O-Vision (stretching out a 4:3 squarescreen picture to 16:9 widescreen). Nothing like taking a picture woman in a bikini and distorting it to make her look way WAY fatter than she really is/was as a "tribute".

Strech-O-Vision is "HD" for idiots, and it MUST BE STAMPED OUT. Where's some of that good old-fashioned Apple/Sony/MS style corporate arrogance that ignores the consumer's wishes on this one? No matter how much the MORONS clamor for Stretch-O-Vision because they think it's HD, or because they think that way they get their "money's worth" from their widescreens, IGNORE THEM and give them black pillarboxing for their squarescreen content.

[Ma2T @ Dec 12th 2008 4:26PM]

Has anyone noticed the inconsistency in the model name?

At first it was the EVA9000, then the EVA9150 yesterday, and now it's the EVA9000.... which one is it?

[David H. Deans @ Dec 14th 2008 6:17AM]

If the competition is OTT-enabled game consoles, then the price seems high