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Matrixstream MX-Drive system delivers HD IPTV to your car
Matrixstream's been pushing its high definition IPTV box for the last couple of years, and now its show is going on the road. The MX-Drive system is a touchscreen platform that uses the company's MatrixCast technology to stream either video on-demand or live TV in standard or high definition, using h.264 compression, even over a low bandwidth connection. Unfortunately no manufacturers to use the tech have been named yet, and we've no idea if their content partnerships have improved over the sparse offering available last time we checked. With more ways to get HD hitting the home every day, in-car systems (even on tiny screens) is inevitable, but we'll wait and see if this system is the first to make a major impact.[Via TVOver.net]
Matrixstream MX1020HD preps for Middle East launch
Matrixstream is taking its MX1020HD 1080p IPTV set-top box to the Middle East looking forward to high profile installations in some of the new real estate, after launches in the U.S., Canada and other countries. MyTVPal.com has continued to release 1080p streaming downloads, but the HD IPTV market has gotten a lot more crowded than it was in 2006. Matrixstream claims its XMS streaming technology is the best at adjusting to available bandwidth, it'll have to be to fend off Apple and Microsoft.
MyTVPal launching 1080p VOD service next week?
While we were waiting for our Xbox Live Video Marketplace downloads to finish, we spotted a new service, MyTVPal.com, that is apparently launching next week using the MatrixStream 1080p IPTV set top box we saw earlier this year. Claiming 700 channels with user uploaded content and DVR features coming in 2007 -- plus 1080p downloads for subscribers with at least 5Mbps connections -- it could be a very attractive offering due the lack of native 1080p content for HDTV owners other than Blu-ray and HD DVD. The company plans to release 100,000 of the boxes in its first year, and you can sign up for the waiting list at their website. It's unclear what content providers will partner with the service, but the VOD listing on the site currently includes such stunners as The Beverly Hillbillies and English as a Second Language. We downloaded the software player and were able to get about 10 seconds of what appeared to be a public access channel before it crashed. Since Microsoft couldn't handle the load HD downloads put on its servers, we'll see if MyTVPal manages with what is sure to be a more limited release.
CES Preview: MatrixStream IPTV over Powerline
This is sweet. I love the idea of set-top boxes that can utilize IPTV stations but then throw in powerline networking and 1080p and suddenly you have our attention. MatrixStream is a leader in IPTV set-top boxes and they are going to show off their latest version in a few weeks. The box takes full advantage of H.264 in order to give the user the best possible picture; I do think that 1080p qualifies. They are looking to finish testing in late January with a production version available by the first quarter of 2006. More info to come from our CES coverage.
