Owners of HP's older MediaSmart HDTVs, your sometime is now as Chris Lanier reports the company's posted the long-awaited Vista Media Center Extender update. The SL4278N and SL4778N model TVs should prompt for the update automatically if they're connected to the internet, and afterwards connect to your fully patched Vista Home Premium or Ultimate edition machine and access your Media Center library (DivX, Xvid, h.264, MPEG-2 and WMV of course), live TV, recorded TV or other features directly through the TV. Check out HP's support page for a full walkthrough on the process and keep your Windows Media Center remote close by.

[Via Chris Lanier, HP press release]

The "Extender for Windows Media Center" field is getting more crowded by the day, but we've gotta say this MediaSmart from HP is sticking out in a good way. Not only is there a Pocket Media Drive bay built in, but you can also use HP's media interface if Microsoft's isn't doing it for you. It's all about the flexibility, and HP delivers here -- now let's work on the sexy.

For those who've overcome the stereotype and admitted HP's MediaSmart Server into your abode, we applaud you. Apparently, HP thinks pretty highly of you as well, as it's gearing up to beam out a number of software enhancements to its iconic Windows Home Server-based device. First up is the addition of integrated server-side anti-virus software, which will be provided by McAfee but will only remain free for the first seven months. More interesting, however, are the updates involving PacketVideo technology and 64-bit Vista support. Apparently, the former will "enhance the media streaming process from the server to other digital media devices in the home, such as the MediaSmart TV," and it will also add "advanced graphics such as thumbnails of photos, in-menu browsing and album art." As for the latter, HP simply informs us that 64-bit Vista support will be added in. When can you expect the goods? Look for the whole lot to be delivered automatically sometime next month.

Finally we're seeing some real devices leverage Microsoft's Extenders for Windows Media Center platform, and HP's first on the scene of the "new" platform with embedded hardware in its two new HDTVs, the 42-inch SL4282N, and 47-inch SL4782N.

• Native 1080p panel (with HP's Visual Fidelity Engine)
• 500cd/m² brightness, 2000:1 contrast ratio, 176° viewing angle, 6ms response, 3:2 pulldown
  
• (3) HDMI, (2) component, (2) composite / S-Video, (1) VGA
• Integrated 802.11a/b/g/n, Ethernet
  
• Front speakers now NXT
• Functions as a MCE, playing back DivX, XviD, H.264, MPEG-2, and WMV (also has HP's media interface)
  
• Built-in ATSC and clear-QAM tuners

But wait, there's more: current MediaSmart HDTV owners will receive a software update that adds the latest Media Center Extender software, giving them access to these new updates and codecs. Of course, now you can forego the buying of the integrated, connected TV if you just want to snag a MediaSmart Receiver (or a 360). They should run $1,900 and $2,400, respectively, when released in the spring.

Just in case Linksys and D-Link's introductions weren't enough to satisfy, Microsoft is now announcing yet another partner in its refreshed Extenders for Windows Media Center effort. Beginning in "early 2008," owners of HP's current 42- and 47-inch MediaSmart LCD HDTVs will be able to utilize all of the features of the Media Center Extender platform sans any additional hardware. According to Microsoft, users will simply download a software update for their set, after which they'll be able to kick back and enjoy a little Windows Media Center Internet TV while basking in the glory that is added functionality.

Some HD gear seems to take forever to hit the streets. HP's latest MediaSmart TVs were announced at CES about nine months ago and while they've been available in select locations, now HP is happy to let us know they're going nationwide. Both the 42-inch and 47-inch 1080p network-enabled LCD HDTVs are going to be coming to a store near you, for $2,099 and $2,499 respectively. So, if your requirements for your next HDTV include access to snapfish, Real Rhapsody and Live365 Radio, -- as well as just about anything else on your computer -- these sets are worth a look.

Looks like IFA had a bit of a Windows Home Server bonanza this year, with four models being demoed from the likes of HP, MaxData, Fujitsu-Siemens, and Medion. Fujitsu-Siemens were showing off their 1TB Scaleo Home Server 1900 and 500GB Scaleo 1500 at the launch event, which features 4 internal drive bays, 30db operation, and 256MB of on-board flash for support in case of a "critical error." MaxData was also ready to enter the WHS fray with its o.Center, an orange and white affair with four drive bays and an expected ship date of late October. Finally, there was HP and Medion with their respective offerings -- the MD 90110 for Medion, and the MediaSmart for HP -- on show and in the flesh. Not long to wait now, you home media hosting addict you.

[Thanks, Terry W.]

Bad news for those anxiously awaiting the release of HP's MediaSmart Home Servers. Turns out, HP may be holding off on the launch due to Microsoft's "last minute bug hunting and tweaks." Reportedly, HP will be delaying shipment of the product "by 75 to 120 days," which means that eager to-be-customers won't be able to wrap their palms around the Windows Home Server-based device until "late fall." Of course, the wait should bring about a finer tuned OS -- including "more reliable remote server access, automatic router and firewall setting tools, and enhancements to synchronizing features" -- but we know all too well how hard patience is to come by.

Not a lot to go on here, but it looks like a couple sites leaked tentative pricing information for HP's first Windows Home Server machine, the MediaSmart Home Server. OnSale.com, PC Mall and Best Buy all listed the 1TB EX475 at $749, while the 500GB EX470 appears to be set at $599. Amazon also listed both models today sans pricing, so it looks like we'll have these in our hot little hands soon.

Read - PC Mall cache
Read - Onsale.com cache

[Via We Got Served]

One of the batch of devices unveiled at the Microsoft keynote is the HP MediaSmart Server, which is going to run the rumoured and now officially announced Windows Home Server. The new OS version was developed to help consumers deal with managing media across multiple PCs and devices in the home, and will provide automagic backup functionality and remote access as well as central file storage and management. The HP MediaSmart Server itself is going to roll out later this year running the new OS (beyond that Microsoft was slim on other specs), and we hope it's a positive step towards untangling the distributed media madness that describes the current state of many multiple-machine households.

HP has revealed some of its display plans for this year's CES, and the biggest surprise isn't what the company is showing, but what it's not. Crave has a list of TVs to be displayed, and it conspicuously lacks HP's award winning wobulating DLP HDTVs, which were being shown as recently as last year. According to the posting, HP is no longer manufacturing the sets, and what is on store shelves now is the last of them. While DLP might no longer have a future with HP, there's still a full slate of flat panel TVs planned for next week's event, highlighted by two 1080p MediaSmart LCDs (the 42-inch SL4278N and 47-inch SL4778N) with WiFi-enabled Windows Media Connect for streaming media directly to the HDTV. For those not into any newfangled wireless streaming, the LC4276N and LC4776N bring the 1080p sans MediaSmart, along with three new 720p (they still make those?) models in 32-, 37- and 42-inch sizes. Two plasma TVs of unspecified resolution and parentage (42-inch HP PL4272N and 50-inch HP PL5072N) will also make an appearance.