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Niveus Media Center Extender - EDGE finally ships
Just after CEDIA, Niveus got all official on us with its Media Center Extender - EDGE, and while we were initially led to believe that the unit would be shipping in the November time frame, it has apparently taken a few weeks longer. Nevertheless, those anxious to get their hands on one finally can, but you'll have to fork over $1,499 to a Niveus Authorized Dealer in order to do so. Interestingly, we are told that the EDGE has become "the first Windows Media Center Extender to receive the prestigious Imaging Science Foundation (ISF) Video Quality Certification," so yeah, there's that, too.
Niveus gets official with Sierra Edition Media Server
We knew this thing was coming, and sure enough, Niveus has selected CES to officially launch its new Sierra Edition Media Server. The unit is housed in a slim, rack-mountable chassis (just over 1U in size), sucks down less than 180-watts and utilizes Intel's GM965 Express chipset / Core 2 Duo Mobile processor. As you can imagine, this one was designed to operate coolly and quietly (less than 30db noise), but it also features an optional HD DVD drive, up to 750GB of Seagate DB35 series storage and NVIDIA's GeForce Series 8 graphics with PureVideo HD technology. As for ports, you can expect digital / analog audio outs, Ethernet, four USB 2.0 sockets, a pair of FireWire connectors, and HDMI / DVI outputs to boot. Unfortunately, the media server will only be available to "volume integrators," and while pricing still remains a mystery, expect it to be available sometime during Q1.
Niveus intros "Pro Audio" card for audiophiles
Niveus Media has announced its high-end media server updates for the 2008 model year. Like you'd expect from computer-based hardware, there are the requisite refreshes of components (processor, hard drive, video card, etc.). But a major new feature is the inclusion of a "Pro Audio" soundcard in their Pro Series (n7 and n9) and Summit Series (Denali and Denali Limited Edition) rigs. The new soundcard handles 7.1 channels with its Burr-Brown DACs and boasts a whopping 118dB SNR. For the bitheads out there, that's way more than the theoretical 96dB provided by CD audio, and a full 20-bits of resolution. Pro Audio is available now; pricing of these high-end systems starts at $5k for the Pro Series and $8k for the Summit boxes. Pricey, but we'll go on dreaming.
Niveus prepping Sierra Edition Media Center PC
Those keeping tabs on Niveus' outdoorsy naming system shouldn't be shocked to hear that it has chosen the Sierra Edition to follow the Rainier and Denali Edition Media Center PCs. Unfortunately, we've absolutely no information on what kind of hardware we can expect to find within this stylish box, but the firm has promised that it'll deliver "impressive Media Center functionality, digital content management, and superior convenience for the whole family." Keep an eye on this space for more, and feel free to join us in hoping for an HD disc drive of some sort to make an appearance when this thing gets official.
Niveus shares official details on Media Center Extender - EDGE
Technically, Niveus was the first of the major partners to spill the proverbial beans on its Extender for Windows Media Center, and while it was sitting around for all to see at CEDIA, details were admittedly slim. Now, however, the firm has come clean and doled out the specs for its Media Center Extender - EDGE, following the moves made by Linksys and D-Link earlier. The EDGE boasts a "Glacier Passive Cooling for near silent operation," RS-232 / IP / IR for third-party control support, a trio of USB 2.0 ports, an Ethernet jack, HDMI / component outputs and two-channel analog / digital optical audio outs. Unfortunately, Niveus' box doesn't include integrated WiFi, so its wired or nothin' here, and while we'd love to know how much this thing will actually cost, we do know it'll land sometime in November. Click on for a few more looks.
Hands-on with Niveus' Media Center Extender
While Microsoft representatives at CEDIA were being exceedingly selfish with any information about the media-centric partnership with D-Link and Linksys, Niveus was putting all its cards right there on the table. Essentially, Microsoft claims that the actual hardware from Linksys and D-Link "could change" from its current form, but apparently, Niveus has a finalized product (reportedly dubbed Niveus Media Extender) ready to roll. The touchscreen interface functioned about as well as you'd expect, and while it did lag slightly at times, the overall feel was pretty fluid. Per usual, the hands-on goodness lies beneath, and oh yeah, official specs and such should be landing later this month.UPDATE: Gallery also includes photos of the Vantage touchscreen and Rainier rig that Niveus was using on the floor.%Gallery-7074%
Microsoft's Media Center to support four CableCARDs
Hot on the heels of finding out who Microsoft chose to buddy up with for its Extenders for Windows Media Center comes word that the software itself will support up to four CableCARDs in a single configuration. If you'll recall, Media Center previously supported just a pair of CableCARDs, but word on the street has Niveus Media and Exceptional Innovation as the first two HTPC vendors to offer up systems that take full advantage of the new functionality. Reportedly, Exceptional Innovation's Model 754 LifeMedia Server will have four CableCARD slots built-in right into its chassis, while Niveus is opting for four external tuners, and while hard pricing details don't look to be available just yet, go on and tell yourself that it won't be cheap.
Niveus ships first Vista HTPC with CableCARD support -- we think
It's been a busy week for CableCARD HTPCs. First we caught the Dell XPS 410 preview prior to spotting an unofficial announcement in the AVS Forum that Velocity Micro would be shipping their CableCARD HTPC this week. Now we struck gold (we think) with the first official CableCard-ready Vista HTPCs now shipping from Niveus. As of today, both the Niveus Summit Series ($3,199 Rainier and $7,999 Denali) and Pro Series ($7,999 n7 and $15,999 n9) ship with HD DVD options and hot-blooded HD CableCARD-support. Keyword: "support," meaning you still have to spring an additional $1,499 to get the separate Digital Cable Receiver box with 2x CableCARD receivers like we saw at CES. You'll also have to track down a local dealer to bring home the Pro or Denali models but at least the Rainier is available online and shipping in 2-3 weeks. As always with CableCARD, there's still a piece that's unclear: the CableCARD receiver still shows a "mid-March" ship date. Pffff.[Via Chris Lanier's Blog] Read -- Niveus Rainier Read -- Niveus Digital Cable Receiver
Niveus releases new media boxes for Vista launch
Niveus has been teasing us with various 2007 hotness for the past few months, with those oh-so-pricey Intel-based systems it's been trotting by. Well now that Vista is out, Niveus is throwing Vista into new versions of its Rainier and Denali PCs, alongside its Pro Series n7 and Pro Series n9 media servers, for a nice little family of beefy Windows Vista Media Center boxes. Highlights in the various PCs include full home theater outs, including HDMI; built-in HD DVD drives; dual CableCARD and that fancy quad-core QX6700 processor in the n9; and of course ridiculous pricetags to the tune of $15k for the "low-end" n9 box.
Niveus Media Center CableCARD Support
If there is one thing we can't wait for it's the ability to record premium HD content on our PCs. While this has evaded us until now, with Vista right around the corner and Niveus on the job, it shouldn't be long now. While there are still many questions, we learned a little more. The Niveus Digital Cable tuner will be a separate component and compatible with all their Media Centers including the latest rainer (pictured) and previous models. According to Niveus, in order to upgrade your box with CableCARD they will have to make it "New" again to comply with CableLABS requirements. You'll send in your unit for a few software upgrades including Windows Vista, which will make it "new". The add-on does support dual CableCARDS, but no word on M-Card support, which isn't a big deal considering their limited ability. As excited as we are we understand that Niveus products aren't for everyone and we look forward to checking out CableCARD compatibility for the rest of us.
Niveus goes quad-core with new n9 "Pro Series" media server
You know how it goes, once one manufacturer goes quad-core with thems Intel Core 2 Extreme procs, everybody has to do it. Now Niveus is jumping into the game with its new Pro Series n9 rack-mount media server, which sports a quad-core QX6700 processor, along with Intel Viiv tech, GeForce Series 7 Graphics, 3 terabytes of storage, HD DVD playback, multiple independent HD video and music playback sessions through out the house, and plenty more. The 3U unit is CableCARD ready, and includes HDMI, RAID 5 storage protection, 4 TV tuners (two NTSC, two ATSC), 4GB of RAM and a couple fancy audio options. Of course, none of this comes cheap. The Media Center starts at a cool $15k, and while we've definitely seen pricier solutions to HD nirvana, that doesn't change the fact that $15k is a good chunk of change.[Thanks, Michael F.]
Niveus @ CEDIA - HD DVD - equiped PC based media center
What you are looking at is the first, first that we have heard of at least, media center to integrate an HD DVD drive. This WMC 2005 uber-expensive rack-mount unit is powered by Core 2 Duo Extreme processor, Nvidia's GeForce Series 7 Graphics with, of course, an HDMI output. The series can be configured up to 3TB of storage on a RAID 5 array along with up to 4GB of memory with the goal to provide the best possible media center experience. Niveus is thinking big with that setup along with a pending ISF certification that should scream high-end. The whole get'up is cooled by Niveus proprietary active and passive cooling system called appropriately, Glacier Passive Cooling; these products are in the Rainier lineup after all. The n7 and n9 (pictured) systems don't come cheap as they start out at $6,999 and ascend up to as high as $14,999.Press release photos including back panel shot after the jump
Niveus announces Rainier and Denali Edition Media Center PCs
Niveus has just announced its latest media centers, dubbed the Rainier and Denali Editions, the two products that comprise the 2007 Summit Series line at this year's CEDIA, being held in Denver. The just-over 4-inch tall Rainier ($3,500), runs Windows Media Center 2005, and is loaded up with HDMI, WiFi, an SD/MMC reader, IEEE 1394, dual USB ports, VGA, composite and S-Video in, eight-channel analog audio out, S/PDIF, and of course, Ethernet. Further, it boasts up to three television tuners (two NTSC and one ATSC), 750GB of storage, 2GB of RAM, and an ATI X1600 Pro graphics card. If that wasn't enough to whet your appetite, the 8-inch tall Denali ($7,000) is even more loaded, with an Intel Core 2 Duo (no word on what speed yet), four television tuners (a pair of NTSCs and ATSCs), NVIDIA's GeForce Series 7 graphics card, a full terabyte of storage, a whopping 4GB of RAM, and even has, as we previously reported, built-in support for CableCARDs. Expect both editions to ship on September 30, but while you wait we've got more pics of the Rainier and the Denali Editions on the other side.
Okoro's OMS-GX300 adds SLI to the HTPC
Although home theater PCs are great for watching and listening to your digital content from the comfort of your couch, most lack the graphics horsepower for playing your favorite games on your 60-inch plasma and eight speaker setup. Not so with Okoro's new OMS-GX300, which besides sporting a dual-core Athlon64 FX-60 processor from AMD, also packs in that tasty SLI goodness in the form of nVidia's GeForce 7950 GX2 card featuring a full gig of video RAM. As if that weren't enough to get you excited, the GX300 also comes with 1TB of storage standard -- upgradable to a whopping 3TB thanks to four open SATA bays -- three TV tuners (2 analog and one OTA digital), an HDA Digital X-Mystique 7.1 sound card, and just about every input and output that you could ask for -- except, curiously, HDMI. Best of all, this model features a 7-inch front panel touchscreen for displaying tons of infoswag, at a price that's at least four hundred bucks less than the $5,000-and-up screen-less Denali series from Niveus.
Niveus Media Center Denali Edition getting CableCARD support
Add another item to the list of lustworthy products that are contingent upon the eventual (we think) release of Windows Vista: the Niveus Media Center Denali Edition featuring...wait for it...built-in CableCARD support. It's not surprising that the manufacturer of such high-end HTPCs as the K2 would be chosen by Microsoft to debut the Windows-CableCARD integration, as Niveus' products have always sported cutting-edge features like 1TB hard drives, multiple analog and digital tuners, and whatever Intel's latest speed demon processor happens to be. Consumers who are willing to shell out the $6,000+ that this box will likely cost will become the proud owners of what HDBeat is calling "the ultimate HD machine," because along with receiving HD programming over cable, they'll also be able to watch high-def flicks thanks to the included HD-DVD drive. [Warning: .doc link][Via HDBeat]
Niveus and CableCARD at WinHEC
Everywhere we look these days we see new HD products and WinHEC isn't any different. Microsoft is pushing HD DVD and Niveus will be demonstrating the first Media Center PC features a CableCARD. We all know what this means; premium HD content on our Media center. This combined with the HD DVD support they announced at EHX would make this the ultimate HD machine. This is the good news, the bad news is that the previous Denali series costs $6000 and will ship at the same time as Vista and we all know when that is.
