Marusys MS630S and MS850S set-top boxes stream straight to your iPhone

If you didn't already have enough ways to get content onto your iPhone, Marusys is adding two more to the pile with its MS630S and MS850S set-top boxes. Said to be PVR-ready, these boxes are designed to serve up content in all sorts of ways, with composite, component, and HDMI video outputs on the back and, inside, the ability to run Linux-based media players like XBMC. Both rock a Magnum DX6225 media chip, enabling on-the-fly transcoding of content into a variety of formats, including the hallmark feature of these devices: streaming straight to the iPhone over WiFi. It's not exactly clear how this will work as Marusys itself doesn't explain this functionality on its site, but Magnum certainly talks it up in the press release after the break. No word on price and availability of either, or when we might get more info on how this whole thing fits together, but you can be sure you'll know as soon as we do.

Show full PR text

Magnum Semiconductor Brings Any-Content-Anywhere Streaming Capability to Marusys Set-Top Boxes
Marusys' Latest Generation of DVB-S/S2 Set-Top Boxes Use the Magnum DX6225 Multi-Standard and Multi-Resolution Transcoder for Time-Shifting and Streaming to the Apple® iPhone®
MILPITAS, CA--(Marketwire - April 10, 2010) - Magnum Semiconductor, leader in professional-grade media processors, and Marusys, leader in Linux-based integrated-PVR set-top boxes, announced today that they are using the powerful and versatile Magnum Semiconductor single-chip DX6225 transcoder in the latest generation Marusys DVB-S/S2 HD PVR receiver set-top boxes with HD recording and streaming over WiFi to the Apple® iPhone®.
The DX6225 excels in multi-format transrating, transcoding from MPEG-2, H.264 to H.264 and in conversion to mobile media player resolutions at very low bit rates without compromising video quality. DX6225 unique network, device adaptive streaming allows dynamic, seamless changes in compression parameters to compensate for dynamic changes in available network bandwidth, which in turn deliver best quality of experience to the end user. The DX6225 best compression translates into longer recording times of broadcast programming without increasing hard disk or flash memory costs and the ability to watch HD programming on mobile media players.
"Magnum Semiconductor proved to be a valuable partner to our core business, providing the best combination of design support, product features and price in a highly competitive market. The DX6225 allows us to extend our leadership in the satellite receiver PVR market with our MS850S and MS630S products by offering the best user experience in terms of video quality, recording time and freedom to not only decide when, but also where to watch their favorite broadcast programming in the home," said Yong Gyu Park, CEO at Marusys, Korea.
"We are very proud to have been selected by Marusys as their business partner to help them expand their share in the satellite receiver set-top box market. Marusys validates our leadership in bringing broadcast video quality to the consumer market, satisfying the requirements of the most demanding consumers," said Gopal Solanki, CEO at Magnum Semiconductor. "We are excited to be the first to bring any-content-anywhere functionality to the market within a cost-effective single chip solution and having our products be adopted by leading OEMs across the world."
Pricing & Availability
The DX6225 is currently shipping in volume. Contact Magnum Semiconductor for further information.
About Marusys
Marusys is a leader in Linux-based satellite receiver set-top boxes. At the core of its competency are advanced Linux set-top box technologies and expertise and know-how, which allow it to introduce innovative features and compelling customer value faster to market than the competition, such as HD PVR and whole home streaming capabilities. For more information visit www.marusys.com.
About Magnum Semiconductor
Magnum Semiconductor is a leading provider of silicon, modules, software and IP for the professional broadcast infrastructure and compression-enabled consumer clients. Magnum provides top of the line products, tools and technologies for the entire video content creation and distribution chain, from content capture and production to its delivery to the home. Magnum Semiconductor is headquartered in Milpitas, California, with sales and engineering offices in Canada, Europe, China, Japan and Korea. Further information is available at www.magnumsemi.com.

[ChillyCat Posted Apr 19th 2010 9:49AM]

thanks.... but no thanks....not needed

[DarkGrimoire Posted Apr 19th 2010 10:11AM]

@ChillyCat
thats what she said..

[FrankTheCrank Posted Apr 19th 2010 9:52AM]

Why my TiVo Series 3 doesn't do this already is beyond me. Even the new TiVo Premiere doesn't have this capability.

Uhm, TiVo....wake up! Drop an app already!

[engadgetcomexcludeengadget Posted Apr 19th 2010 12:12PM]

@FrankTheCrank If there was a nice app from tivo, I would consider buying the iPad. I'm not sure how compelling it would be to watch on a 3" screen though.

[Kwame Nkrumah Posted Apr 19th 2010 9:52AM]

The iphone ecosystem just keeps getting larger and larger.

[rdrunner Posted Apr 19th 2010 5:47PM]

@Kwame Nkrumah

i quite agree with you! what that "ecosystem" really does is to make the sum of idevices far, far greater than the parts within. most people can't help but focus on the hardware that's staring in front of them. it certainly makes for heated online discussions everywhere.

back to this device...
The Air Video app of the iphone/ipad genre --- it does streaming really well. In fact, if you have the prerequisite server-side hardware, it fairly easy to stream full resolution videos to the ipad without hardly a hiccup-- and the quality is so smooth. Unfortunately, the toughest highest bitrate 1080p videos really requires a decent machine. It amuses me to dedicate an older 3.5ghz overclocked Intel Q6600 machine just to handle ALL video formats for live-conversion.
If this device can do that via hardware encoding and stream--- it might just pay for itself in a year-- at least for me.

[xirsteon Posted Apr 19th 2010 10:04AM]

Now why would i want to drain the battery of my power by streaming from this box to my phone?

Honestly, is the always-connected and web streaming / browsing not enough to do much damage already?

[xirsteon Posted Apr 19th 2010 10:04AM]

@xirsteon phone**

[DarkGrimoire Posted Apr 19th 2010 10:11AM]

for ppl who would rather watch stuff on their iPhones.. :D
they should not call these set top boxes anymore..

[tricheboars Posted Apr 19th 2010 10:37AM]

stream to my android phone please. that way i can watch the cosby show on the john.