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]

There are a ton of DVRs with media server / streamer features out there, but the new Media Giant from Conceptronic manages to distinguish itself by being one of the more flexible units we've seen, at least on paper. The 1TB DVR features UPnP setup with DLNA support, a built-in analog tuner, a Twonky server, component, composite and firewire inputs, HDMI and component out, digital audio out, an optional PowerLine networking adapter, and a laundry list of supported codecs, including DivX, XviD, WMV9, SVCD and VOB. Not a bad little box -- but we won't know about pricing or availability until it gets officially official at CeBit next week.

Not like it's any huge surprise or anything -- after all, the HD DVD deathwatch is already in full effect -- but Niveus has just informed us that due to "customer demand and format war influences," it will be adding support for Blu-ray and "ceasing production of HD DVD-based servers." According to CEO Tim Cutting, "incorporating Blu-ray into its offerings has always been part of the plan, but the demand from its customers, market trends, and recent announcements expedited its decision to come to market with Blu-ray support sooner rather than later." Adding more salt to the wound, he continued by saying that "while it has stood behind HD DVD as a viable high-definition platform, company engineers have been running Blu-ray in its testing facilities and are very impressed with the performance and integration with its servers." Another one bites the proverbial dust, eh?

It's been a blisteringly hot minute since Niveus saw fit to really revamp its aging Storage Server, but for whatever reason, today's the day all that changes. Yep, starting on Valentine's Day, users can grab hold of a 2TB Storage Server or 4TB Storage Server Pro, both of which include the firm's own Reflection technology for keeping data synced across multiple storage units. The duo also sports a rack-mountable design and includes automatic backup software, uPnP Media Server support, remote access via secure login, RAID 0 / 5 capabilities and a wicked high price tag. How high, you ask? Try $2,999 for the 2TB edition or $5,999 for the 4TB model. Yeah, that high.

Alienware's Hangar 18:HD 1080p media server -- the rackmountable high end edition of the already impressive Hangar 18 -- has officially launched. The silver beast promises up to 4TB of hard drive space, Blu-ray read/write, 1080p output, CableCard support and Dolby Digital 7.1 sounds. We suggest you don't ask how much it costs, it just shows how woefully far we you are away from being able to afford it. Those ready to jump into the high priced media server market can contact their local authorized reseller and loose themselves of the Benjamins that can so uselessly clog ones bank account.

Read - Homes Fall Under Control of New Alienware High Definition Media Server
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Because you'll need somewhere to download/install those 1080p flicks from VideoGiants, Envive has announced its TheaterStation Media Server. Light on hardware details, Envive's focused on its Spin interface to ease content browsing via remote. The base model's hard drive reportedly holds at least 200 hours of DVD quality movies, and can be upgraded to hold ten times as much although that'll drive up the $2,495.99 starting price. Equipped with HDMI, component and DVI outs its available for preorder now,

[Vie eHomeUpgrade]

The last time we heard from Moneual, it was showing off a funky fresh tubular HTPC at CEDIA, but now it seems the firm is putting its poker face back on for the thoroughly traditional 972 Home Media Server. This rig rocks a tried and true flat black chassis, built-in display (at least it sure looks like one), a minimalist feel and a built-in Blu-ray writer to boot. 'Course, you'll find all the usual media PC amenities here including PVR functionality, but mum's the word on actual hardware configurations. Keep it locked for more just as soon as we find out.

If you're scouting a decent media server that just so happens to double as a NAS drive and BitTorrent server, we'd probably wait out this weekend. Apparently, the Popcorn Hour website is set to go live in T-minus two days, but an eagle-eyed individual managed to pull down what appears to be a screenshot of the firm's forthcoming Networked Media Tank. The NMT reportedly enables users to "watch, store and share digital content on your home network," and it also allows for "seamless integration between your digital media and your entertainment system." Best of all, buyers can toss in a hard drive of their choosing, and the 1080p output is sure to please the HD buffs. According to the capture (shown in full after the jump), all this functionality will only run you $179 (sans an HDD), but we'll out find out for certain in a matter of hours.

UPDATE: Seems this could be a rebadge of another product -- guess we'll wait and see, eh? Thanks for the update, Gabriel M.

[Thanks, Johan W.]

Apparently, releasing one external hard drive with 500GB of storage isn't enough for one week, as LaCie has now introduced its half terabyte Ethernet Disk mini Home Edition Personal Media Server. As with previous iterations, this drive is meant to "save, show, sync and share" your media, and it boasts the ability to "stream multimedia files through DLNA-compatible UPnP media players and act as an iTunes music server." Additionally, users can setup "free remote access to their personal information via LaCie's media portal," and aside from the gigabit Ethernet port and USB 2.0 socket, you'll also find an additional USB jack for backing up data to another external HDD. This one's slated for an October launch and should carry a $199 pricetag.

Alienware -- always at the forefront of rocking your ever-loving world -- has delved deeper into the media server fray with its new Hangar18:HD high definition home media center announced today at CEDIA. Apparently the "higher end" media center we mentioned last month is rearing it's power-heavy head in the form of this new HD server. The Monster of Media (our pet name) rocks up to 4TB of hot-swappable hard drive storage, a built-in Blu-ray player / burner, recording and playback at 1080p (output via HDMI), support for an internal CableCARD (OCUR), and a Dolby Digital 7.1 preamp output. Alienware promises that the Hangar18:HD will, "Crush and dismember all other media centers," and further recommends a titanium table to place the unit atop since other materials, "can't handle the hotness." It should be noted that these last two statements have been fabricated, though this is kind of a sweet box. No word on price or availability, but we'll keep you posted.

Sony is making some interesting announcements at CEDIA today, not the least of which is the new HES-V1000, a "home entertainment center" / massive Blue-ray disc-changer meant to keep all your media in one place... Sony style! Imagine if you will a small tower, stacked with a 500GB hard drive and the outrageous room for 200 discs from your personal Blu-ray collection. That's right, if you've purchased almost every single disc available on Blu-ray right now (or as we like to call it, the Sony Movie Library), you can cram them all into this tall, black, polished drink of water. Of course you can store your other music and movies on the internal drive, and play it all back in 1080p wherever it seems appropriate (living room, family room... boudoir). Stream your hot action wirelessly using the oddball DLNA "standard," allowing connections with ten devices, and four independent audio streams. The HES-V1000 also boasts Sony's x-Pict Story HD and x-ScrapBook, two slide show utilities that probably make your family photos seem more compelling than they actually are. Get one in October for the terrifically low price of $3,500.

Media centers are all the rage of late, and for those of you hemming and hawing over an HD DVD / Blu-ray decision, the MediaMax HD could make your choice a little easier... or harder. The two-part media center consists of the MediaServer unit, plus the MediaDeck 4 HD set-top box, and allows you to store any DVD-standard to disk and then distribute it to whatever room in the house you choose (provided that room has a MediaDeck 4 connected). The system uses its own proprietary interface to navigate through your collection, and can stream different movies to multiple rooms in the network. The MediaDeck 4 HD features HDMI, DVI-I, VGA, S-Video, and component video outs; optical and S/PDIF digital audio outs, plus up to 8-channels of analog audio. Axonix, the company which makes the systems, appears to offer two separate players for HD DVD and Blu-ray, though you would think for this money they would combine the two formats, but that doesn't appear to be the case. If you're still interested, the MediaServer comes in a variety of configurations starting at a bank-breaking $5,795, while the MediaDeck 4 HD varies from $3,495 to $5,995, and they're all available now.

[Via Cedia News]

We're not sure why anyone would want to have 1TB of storage in a set-top box and not, say, attached to a dedicated media PC, but those looking to max out their home theater rigs should check out CodexNovus' new HDcodex. The 1080p-capable unit sports compatibility with most popular formats, including the all-important DivX and XviD (but not H.264) and supports 7.1 channel Dolby Digital and DTS sound output -- but lacks HDMI. We're also not certain why CodexNovus is calling the HDCodex a "server," since we don't see any provision for remote viewing, but marketing probably takes over when you're schlepping a $5,000 box that is barely competitive with the Xbox 360 and the Apple TV. Expect to see the DML-1000 in Q3, while the $3,499 400GB DML-400 will drop in Q3.

[Via Electronic House]

High-end audio manufacturer McIntosh Laboratory (they were around long before a couple kids named Steve started fooling around in their garage) is looking to take back some space on the audiophile shelf from all those wannabe-pro upstarts like the Slim Transporter with its new MS750 music server. The unit features a 750GB drive, CD burner, and a FLAC encoder that can be run in real time from the unit's inputs, so purists can rip their precious vinyl at least without lossy encoding. In addition, the MS750 supports WMA, MP3, and AAC -- perfect for those newly DRM-free "high-quality" iTunes Plus tracks. Music can be streamed to and from the rig via the built-in Ethernet and McIntosh's Music Guide software, and the server can be network controlled or integrated into a home automation rig through the multiple RS-232 serial ports. All those connections don't come cheap, though -- McIntosh says the MS750 will set you back six large when it drops in June.

Although QNAP was indeed one of the forerunners in getting PC-less downloads into the NAS arena, it's been a tick since the firm pumped out anything new, but those looking for a multifaceted drive have found their match. The TS-100 supports SATA drives up to 750GB is extendable to 1.5TB by an eSATA and USB 2.0 port, operates as a UPnP media server, iTunes music server, remotely accessible hard drive, and "non-stop" BitTorrent / P2P client that can keep those downloads runnin' so long as it's being fed an internet connection. Furthermore, the device sports a trendy white / silver finish, a fanless design, comes pre-loaded with the company's QGet download management software. No word just yet on price nor availability, but we're guessing it'll hit around the $300 mark when it lands.