Popcorn Hour prices C-200 media streamer at $299, launches next month
By Richard Lawler 
posted Jun 17th 2009 10:13PM
posted Jun 17th 2009 10:13PM
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Please note: If you're a current Engadget commenter, you do not need to re-register. Simply login and you will be prompted to select a username.
give me i want. wdtv goodbye!!!
I'm searching the Telsey BLOBbox, because all this devices are very older as technological concept
So much for launching in July... Maybe next July?
August 25th... still no C-200...
How about DivX support?
You're kidding right?
He doesn't want to reencode his oldschool DivX pr0n videos. Xvid codec should read DivX anyway.
I am all over this - MY POPCORN A100 is heading for ebay.
I will buy this the moment it is avalable - I love the PCH products!
Too bad UI experience is a bitch on this one.
I disagree. It isn't perfect, but I can live with it. My popcorn hour plays everything I throw at it. If I had to list my top 5 gadgets of all time my popcorn hour would be somewhere near the top of that list.
I agree it is usable, but after using DivX Connected UI, seeing Popcorn hour i was like ewwwwwww.
I will gladly trade shiny pictures, animated menus and other such trivial crap for the versatility of the popcorn hour. My A-110 is the single greatest multimedia device I have ever owned.
Not so fast. We haven't seen the UI on this one yet. The chip supports flash or at least flash lite so it could look very different than the a-100 and a-110 we are familiar with.
Now if i get a BLU RAY, HD DVD combo drive will it play my HD DVD too? I do have a nice collection and would like to put the 360 add on away forever.
No HD-DVD support. It's a limitation of the sigma chip.
this seems like a really nice product but a ps3 seems like a better option. divx support is a must for most people mabey im wrong.
A must? This thing eats DivX for breakfast and drinks it off with some h.264.
oh i didnt see the xvid but the extra $100 for a ps3 i still think would be well worth it. paired with a nice external hdd or stream from your pc. plus remote play capability. i moved from xbmc to the ps3 2 years ago and i havent looked back. only thing i miss is the imdb info.
chris
You have no idea what you're talking about. I own both a PS3 and a PCH and only once made the stupidity of trying to use the PS3 as a media player. Some differences that set both apart are:
1.- In order to use subs in PS3 you have to do one of 2 things, either hardcode them or integrate them into the file so you can make turn them on/off, that takes time and extra programs, with PCH you only place the .srt next to the video file and you're ready to go.
2.- Ever tried to play .mkv in PS3?, you'll have to transcode it so it can play, more time and programs, with PCH you just hot play and there you go.
3.- Play iso in PS3, yeah right! not gonna happen 'till someone hack it. With PCH you just hit play.
4.- Play contained files in rar? PS3 never gonna happen, PCH you just install Ilink, press play and of you go
5.- Torrent and usenet clients already integrated in PCH. PS· you have to install Linux and then figure out how to play what yo downloaded.
6.- Files over 4GB? PS3 won't even read NTFS or ext3. I've played 45GB files directly from PCH's HDD without a hiccup.
7.- Noise!!!! PS3 sound like a frigging jet engine, PCH is noiseless, as a matter of fact, it doesn't even have a fan!
8.- And at last but not least, power consumption. My killawat has measured the PCH at 15W max while playing from an internal 1TB HDD an h.264, 1080p, multiple subtitles, DTS sound filled .mkv while downloading torrents. My PS3 draws 150W just being on.
Once you've tried a PCH you'll ask yourself whay you loose you're time using the PS3 as a media center. The only video game console that can compare to a PCH is an original XBOX with XBMC, and it doesn't do HD.
@hugoliva
Thanks a lot, you just cost me 300 bucks =]
PS3 is by far a better bet. It does 90% of things this does (plus obviously gaming and web browsing, remote play, and Slingbox PVR with PlayTV).
Also The PS3 does them far more stylish (Although I doubt the trailer-park Xbox owners know what style means). Take the photo slideshows on PS3, blows away anything else I have seen...
whoa whoa im not trying to start a console debate here sry bout that. let me clairify. i was just stating that for an extra $100 you could get a ps3 which puts this in a tricky category. im sure this thing is an outstanding media player and well worth $300. hey ill go as far as saying its most likely the best media player out there, but personally id want more than a media player out of $300.
Not so fast buddy; I doubt if you have a PS3.
It wont play wmv/vc-1 encoded movies (unless you don't need sound), it's fussy about versions of AVI and MPG. Yes you can use PS3 Streaming but who wants to transcode from a PC (and is far from perfect) when you can use a PCH by itself or via a central NAS. V3 firmware might fix some of the issues but I'm not holding my breath. I'll probably keep the PS3 for 2nd room, games and photos, but might not.
I'm eagerly awaiting my c-200 which I've ordered, and the fate of the PS3 hangs in the balance.
If it plays HD dvd, i would buy it
If it plays Betamax, I would buy it! :-)
No 8 track is a deal killer
needs a film scanner imo
I've checked and it doesn't read Vinyl records :-( A no-no for me :-(
Reel-2-Reel baby!!!
I'd rather take the $300 and buy a small home theater PC that can do so much more than this streamer can.
Name ONE!?
Remember, it has to have HDMI, an OS, etc..
I bought a HP Slimline last year for $300 that is dual core, 320GB hard drive, 2GB ram, Windows Vista Home Premium, ATI graphics with HDMI out. It's small and it's whisper quiet. Check ebay.
..ok, then how will you interface with it? I don't want a keyboard anywhere near my TV.
The ZOTAC ION motherboard with an Atom N330 has all the outputs you'll ever need (HDMI (with HDMI audio OUT), SPDIF, Optical, etc) and will decode 1080p content with the XBMC Live CD (9.04 currently)...
And this has the advantage of having the super slick and extremely useable XBMC interface.
I haven't come across a single video format that it won't play.
@Lucas
Well I would use a remote personally
@Lucas
You can use regular remotes, or cool mice like the MX Air with HTPCs.
There are very nice HTPC keyboards that would not seem out of place in a living room, or discreet ones like the DiNovo mini.
But really, just because *you* don't want a keyboard doesn't mean a $300 HTPC is worse than this. Really quite the opposite. However the advantages of a HTPC are also disadvantages to some...they don't want the complexity or flexibility, they just want a simple media player. Maybe that's why you can *gasp* pick the one that suits your needs best. Isn't a competitive market with different products targeting different needs of consumers great?
Go on... what would you like the PC thingy to do that this can't?
Apart from burn copious amount of energy, buzz away in the background, need codec updates, need 3rd party software to run the files. I'm interested to know what this can't do, and which you feel is relevant to it's function. It ticks my boxes!
As much as I love my HDX 1000 and YAMJ, I rather have XBMC. I'm hoping the Ion platform will help with moving back to that. I think I read that GPU support for XBMC is in the works.
+1
XBMC is the $hit.
Works on GNU/Linux with latest nvida drivers.
I'm punch
$50 for a used xbox, easily softmodded to xbmc still seems like a better price:performance ratio.
Except that it's a big box and doesn't play HD video
Of course PH supports Divx, and everything else:
# Video Containers supported: MPEG1/2/4 Elementary (M1V, M2V, M4V), MPEG1/2 PS (M2P, MPG, DAT, VOB), MPEG2 Transport Stream (TS, TP, TRP, M2T, M2TS, MTS), AVI, ASF, WMV, Matroska (MKV), MOV (H.264), MP4, RMP4
# Video Decoders supported: XVID SD/HD, MPEG-1, MPEG-2 MP@HL, MPEG-4.2 ASP@L5, 720p, 1-point GMC
MPEG-4.10 (H.264), BP@L3, MP@L4.0, HP@L4.0, HP@L4.1, WMV9, MP@HL, SMPTE 421M (VC-1), MP@HL, AP@L3
# Audio Containers supported: AC, M4A, MPEG audio (MP1, MP2, MP3, MPA), WAV, WMA, FLAC, OGG
# Audio Decoders supported: Dolby Digital, DTS, WMA, WMA Pro, MPEG-1 Layer 1, 2, 3, MPEG-4 AAC-LC, MPEG-4 HE-AAC, MPEG-4 BSAC, LPCM, FLAC, Vorbis
I believe they were joking. Since official DivX support needs a paid license. They went with XviD which is open source and plays all divx files anyway.
It supports everything that is free...but Netflix, Hulu? Forget it. Might as well stick with an A-100 or an A-110. You are stuck buying playon anyway.
Don't rule Netflix out for the Popcorn Hour. The C-200 supports DRM which was the major hang-up with the a110. There have been a few hints at Netflix, subtle as they may have been. This could have been the device needed to actually do it.
Multi Channel flac in a mkv? I've played with YAMJ and it doesn't compare to XBMC or Mediaportal. PC still wins in my book.
with the ion based nettop boxes hitting homes soon, popcorn hour is going to have a very hard sell to anyone. give me an ion any day of the week over this POS
i wonder if it will blend
I had a A-110 for about 2 months. The UI was horrible. Horrible. Yes, it played everything, but the whole thing was a huge pain with setting up YAMJ and all that stuff. Not to mention that javascript performance was horrible so all the coverflow themes and stuff were pathetic. I am hoping they re-did the UI.
And to anyone that claims getting an ion mobo and an atom is better than this, I disagree. Sure the UI is bad, but this this can bitstream TrueHD and DTS-HD. I would like to see you do that with XBMC.
Um, Mackworth sorry to burst your bubble but XBMC (via FFMPEG) can decode every HD-Audio Format except DTS-HD and output it via LPCM on my ION board. When I rip my BluRays that have DTS-HD I just re-encode them to FLAC. So there! LPCM is just as good as bitstream and is supported by more receivers that are out there on the market.
Having anything but your A/V receiver decode your HD audio is unnecessary. Why have your PC deal with decoding HD audio while trying to keep up with the high bitrate of the video. You have to spend the extra bucks to have enough power. But, then again, everyone has their own preference in quality.
Heard about Xtreamer?
here is one comparison
http://xtreamer.net/109/content-pages/Xtreamer-vs-NMT.aspx
let me run down on what i have and see if you likes...
apple mac mini with plexapp software connected to a 52 inch 1080p dlp on 5.1 surround sound via optical with 2.5 TB of external space.
plexapp has an app store that connects to hulu, joost, netlfix, mtv, nbc, apple trailers, etc etc...
all i use to control is the apple remote when going through the library on plexapp.
btw, the mac mini can do 1080p mkv's without an issue.
now tell me whats better than that?
The Mac Mini is a good option too.
But it's double to triple the price of the Popcorn Hour. The lack of HDMI is also annoying IMO.
What's better than that? Something not made by Apple.
Me likey-likey!
Lots of new players popping up, also some nice entry level, well entry level this one plays all full hd formats! www.yormedia.nl
The kicker for me is the UI...is it like the A-110's? which is bad.
or is it something easy on the eyes.
I have a A-110...and recently got YAMJ working on it...which makes it MUCH better...but like someone said...its still no XBMC UI.
XBMC looks damn nice...but its lack of HD playing capabilities is what is making it get faded out.
as for formats...
divx is dead and gone. the only video format I use is 264.
I want one of these. I was going to get the A-110 but I think I'll hold out. Or if the A-110 goes down I'll pick it up cheap
- free Boxee software on my Macbook Pro
- Apple remote or iPhone (as remote)
- Lacie 1TB Neil Poulton design
- "docking" cables (DisplayPort to DVI > DVI to HDMI, optical audio cable, FireWire, outlet power)
when I feel the urge to look something up while watching a movie I'll do it with my iphone..
Wow, seems pretty reasonable. Me want!
For this much money just get a Neuros Link and throw boxee on it.
I have a PCH A100 and have been using it for over a year now and I can barely stand it. Sure the power consumption and format support are great but the UI is complete junk and constantly bugs out and crashes. I host all of my media on a NAS and it chugs on the A100 compared to just opening the file in VLC on my PC. Streaming media is pointless on the A100 because even the tiniest network hiccup will lock it up.
Steer clear of this monstrosity.
I am a big PCH fan .. But this thing MUST be able to playback Blu Ray .ISO w/ menus etc .. or it is no use to me already owning the A-100 as i can use the Main .M2TS for playback
If this thing can play Blu ray backups w/ Menu's then it really is a homerun
What can you do with this thing ? Can you transfer DVD movies to it's HD ? Can you use it with Hulu or YouTube or any of the video services on the web ? I'm sure I want it, I just need to figure out why . LOL
I don't know, an HTPC still sounds better to me. Add all the features seen here + Blu ray Drive + 1TB HD +TV Tuner Card would be ~$500 on an HTPC. Throw Mythbuntu on that box and you got yourself a sweet deal.
I wish it supported rmvb. For some god forsaken reason rmvb is the standard for videos in China, and I get a lot of rmvb files because of it.
Anyone know if it can play a playlist of movie files?
Need something that just plays movie after movie.
Thanks,
Kevin
Do the specs really say RADIO FREQUENCY remote? ie, no compatability with my Harmony universal?
Wow!
If it won't also have IR, that would be a HUGE mistake on their part .
huge mistake?...
Ask ANYBODY about how they like the popcorn hours IR....go ahead.
they will tell u it SUCKS, you have to point the remote directly at the popcorn hour for it to work......again...not in the general direction of the PCH...I mean a straight line of sight at it....its ridiculous.
I have the A-110, and my primary gripe with it is the sluggishly slow general-purpose CPU (not the video processor, which is awesome). Understandably it's fine for powering its relatively simple interface, but when you try to use some of the more advanced features that are touted as being a benefit with the PCH (torrent, usenet, etc.) -- the CPU load spikes through the roof and the box becomes all but unusable.
Does the C-200 have a beefier processor for handling these sorts of tasks?
XBMC has no problem with hd. you're probably thinking of the original xbmc that ran on the xbox. it runs on pcs now
I just wanted to say the following. i was really amped to get a PH A110, and i will probably get the c-200 when it comes out to try it out. but so far, using my PS3 has been great. because of the ps3 media streamer software, which can even stream to your xbox360. this program allows me to play all my video files even iso to my ps3. You need a fairly decent pc as it transcodes on the fly. but if you dont have a PH and you do have s ps3, i feel with ps3 medial server, which is getting better and better, you can do 90% of what the PH can do. so there really wouldnt be a need to get one. i am just curious to do a comparison.
1) can this act as a media extender?
2) Iphone app woudl be awesome too... being able to control your music selection anywhere in your house is a killer app. Right now i use Roku and the roku remote app is fricken awesome.
If it did those two things it would replace my HD Tivo, Roku, and PS3 (i dont do gaming).
If you could fit a second HDD in the external bay and mirror them this would save my problem of trying to find an affordable combo of RAID NAS/DAS and media player.
The C-200 has a beefier multi-purpose CPU and 512MB of RAM and 256MB Flash according to their website.
I think these generic Media Set Top boxes are just a fad right now, kinda like generic portable MP3 players 4-5 years. iPod won that phase, so wait a while for XBMC and Boxee to emerge on ION / HTPC platforms. I think DLNA is a good standard especially for devices that support media playback as a secondary feature (like a PS3/360), but won't replace set top box software (XBMC/Boxee) with SMB/NFS clients and metadata scrapers because uPNP's standalone server software is a deterrent and has weird media categorization. DLNA will be similar to Java in the 90's where it could change the face of the web but did not.
We've seen from peoples comments that it comes down to the software that runs on the box, especially the UI. Also, integrated services like Hulu and Netflix are great when it does not need a separate uPNP transcoder.