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Popcorn Hour launches A-400 streamer for €289 with 'studio-quality' 3D video processing
If you're a streamer who shuns plastic disks and their ilk, but still wants 3D, there's good news: Syabas has announced the Popcorn Hour A-400 network media player. Thanks to a dual-core video processor, the box can mulch through 3D Blu-ray content (ripped, presumably), while also supporting studio-level features like detail enhancement and debanding. Like its A-300 predecessor, the streamer can dock a hard disk for content storage, and connects to your network via ethernet or optional WiFi. Other connections include an SD card reader, HDMI 1.4, eSATA and USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 (pending confirmation). On top of giving you access to your own content, the Syabas Apps Market brings YouTube, BBC's iPlayer, and 90 or so other free or premium channels. It'll hit stores in October with a €289 price tag, so if that sounds like your bag of popcorn, see the PR for more info.
New Apple patent suggests advanced iPhone gaming
A new Apple patent describes several interesting ideas for playing games with others in an augmented reality space. The patent, called "Interactive Gaming with Co-Located, Networked Direction and Location Aware Devices," describes an iPhone app that would network up a series of devices in the same real-world space and use the phone's hardware to track and show other players as the game is being played. For example, players could use their devices as a "gun," and the GPS, gyroscope, and accelerometer in the iPhone would all work together to figure out if shots "fired" from one device would actually hit another. Consider a wireless, high-tech form of laser tag on a large scale. The patent also describes using accessories to play the game (such as a gun grip handle to place your iPhone in as you play), or even using the accelerometer to do other things like steering a virtual vehicle around. The whole thing sounds pretty wild -- it's hard to believe that Apple is actually working on a full-featured game like this, but given that we know they're already working on "co-located," collaborative apps, it's not much of a stretch to think that a patent like this originates from that kind of thinking. Plus it just sounds fun. Apple hasn't released a game themselves since Texas Hold'em back in the early days of the App Store, but I wouldn't mind giving this one a try.
Ceton's CableCARD tuner to work over the network too
Weighing yet to be released CableCARD on PC products against each other? Add this tidbit to the comparison: Ceton's MOCUR should work as a networked tuner, according to a post by VP Jeremy Hammer on The Green Button forums. His post indicates that, like the HDHomeRun CableCARD, Ceton's product will be available to other PCs by bridging it with the host computer's Ethernet card, and not blocked as it was with ATI's product. That might help to smooth the $399 price tag when it goes on sale soon, for those still stuck on reply hit the forums with your questions or check out our CES hands on for another look. [Thanks, @brennokbob] %Gallery-82026%
Mvix Ultio "It Plays All" HD media streamer debuts in the U.S. July 6 for $179
We'd heard rumors Mvix USA would be rolling out an upgraded 1080p capable media box to rival the earlier MvixPVR and here it is. Dubbed the Ultio, it has a list of supported codecs and containers that rivals the new Popcorn Hour C-200 in its thoroughness -- DivX® (3/4/5/6), Xvid, AVC-HD, MPEG 1/2/4, WMV-9, ASF(WMV9), MKV, DVD(IFO, VOB), ISO, MP3, WMA, AAC, OGG, FLAC, AC3 -- it's all here, with a slightly awkward Swiss Army knife-themed tagline to boot. The $169 price tag is sans-3.5-inch SATA HDD, though you can add one for $79 (500GB) $90 (1TB) or $139 (1.5TB). Of course network streaming is a part of the package, with Mvix's usual suite of Samba / UPnP / BitTorrent (mentioning compatibility with PlayOn and Tversity specifically to get all your Netflix, YouTube and other streaming sources to TV) via Ethernet or optional Wireless-N dongle. It's up for pre-orders now, take a close look at the specs and pics then get in line before they start shipping July 6.
YBox2 DIY networked set-top box keeps the dream alive
The YBox was pretty much destined to become a hit with the DIY crowd just as soon as it was handed 15 spectacular minutes at last summer's Maker Faire. For those who reckoned the project would fade into the sunset as quickly as it arrived, we've got news proving your assumptions wrong... dead wrong. YBox2 has at long last arrived to the party, ready to serve up widgets and all sorts of pertinent information on your television screen. The new kit boasts an 80MHz Parallax Propeller chip and functions with any NTSC / PAL TV and any DHCP-compatible router -- and yes, it still all fits within a flashy Altoids tin. Score![Via MAKE]
Networked exercise bikes motivate bored riders
If the Wii has taught us anything, it's that competitive games don't have to be played from the comfort of a couch. Germany's Daum Electronics, a company that makes an exercise bike with a difference -- the Ergo Bike Premium 8i -- has certainly realized this. Its Ergo Bike is kitted up with a screen, camera, speakers and microphones, and the array of usual sensors: its most important asset, however, is an internet connection. This enables riders from different countries and continents to race (and sweat) with each other, or team up together to beat a simulated race. It's kind of an expensive hobby though, riding in at $3,500 a unit. Another firm called Expresso Fitness has a bike with an entirely unique 3D environment (pictured), and an entirely higher price tag no doubt.
