dvdplayer
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I-O Data launches wired, Viiv-certified AVeL LinkPlayer2
We're not exactly sure who'd spring for a completely wired version of a media streamer these days, especially with all the wireless renditions already out there, but I-O Data is officially launching its AVeL LinkPlayer2 for Intel Viiv anyway. Designed to stream audio and video over a wired Ethernet connection from your PC to your TV, this device supports HD streaming (1080i / 720p), WMV9HD, MPEG2-TS, and DivX HD, but recommends a Viiv-certified HTPC to be the sender of the data. Aside from the lack of WiFi, it also strangely lacks an HDMI port (and subsequently, HDCP support) and includes a component output instead, but you can connect external hard drives via USB 2.0 and stream files stored locally across your TV set as well as view standard DVDs via the built-in DVD player. Nevertheless, this admittedly less-than-attractive device can be snapped up later on this month for $279, but do take note of the "Viiv sticker" requirement that's supposed to be found on your connected PC (and try not to chuckle).[Via DailyTech]
Philips PET830 and PET1030 media players
Philips has some new unannounced media players to take on the go: the PET830 and PET1030. The PET830 (above) is a tablet-style DVD player with an 8.5-inch display and a Zero Bright Dot warrantee (i.e. no dead pixels), as well as having the ability to play MPEG-4 and DivX video, and MP3 and WMA audio files from its CD. So far as we can tell the PET1030 (pictured after the break) is about the same, but with a 10.2-inch swiveling display, and USB 2.0 as well as a memory card slot. Watch out for these real soon.
Onkyo's upconverting DV-SP504 gold DVD player
Onkyo has got a new all-purpose player for the super-villain wannabe in your life, or anyone else that digs the gold-encrusted home theater look, we suppose. Apparently an update to the two-year-old DV-SP502, the incrementally-named DV-SP504 will handle your basic DVDs, CDs, and SACDs, as well as DivX, MP3, and WMA files stored on your choice of recordable optical discs. The biggest upgrade to the earlier player is the addition of HDMI output, which you can use to upscale DVDs to 1080i. It also adds Onkyo's VLSC (Vector Linear Shaping Circuitry) system, which'll supposedly work its magic to remove noise and make your music and movies sound as good as they can. Look for this one to set you back about $370 when it drops November 15th.[Via Akihabara News]
FBI seizes 20,000 CyberHome DVD players
It's all fun and games until the FBI comes a knocking. CyberHome USA of Fremont, CA just had more than 20,000 of their CyberHome-branded DVD players seized from a warehouse by a task force which included local, state and federal agencies. Turns out they've neglected royalty payments to Philips, to the tune of millions of dollars. Their DVD players and other consumer tech is sold through outlets such as Amazon, Best Buy, Circuit City, Fry's, Target and Wal-Mart, and they happen to be "one of the world's largest manufacturers and importers of DVD devices." California has laws on the books that provide for up to three years in prison and fines up to $500,000 for dealing with more than 1,000 items bearing a counterfeit mark, which CyberHome seems to have been doing in spades ever since Philips revoked their license. The players were loaded onto eight tractor-trailers, and are worth an estimated $2 million at retail. We're not exactly sure what the police plan to do with all that tech, but we're sure it'll involve a lot of "Starsky & Hutch - The Complete Second Season."
SavitMicro's Dueple: HD media player with DVD
We've seen Korean manufacturer SavitMicro a few times before, once with a hub for multi-cam recording and another time with a media-playing drive enclosure, and now they've popped up once again at Computex with yet another device that promises to simplify your digital life. Like their drive enclosure, the new "Dueple," as it's known, also accepts swappable 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch drives for multimedia playback, but throws in a DVD player as well for spinning any of those old-fashioned discs you may have laying around. The Dueple features DVI, component, S-video, coax, and digital audio outputs for hooking up to your home theater gear, Ethernet and USB ports for data transfer, and lets you watch/listen to MPEG-1/2/4, MP3, DivX, WMV, WMA, and OGG files, including high-definition content. There are probably better ways of getting your digital swag onto a TV than this particular solution, but if it sports a reasonable pricetag when it comes out within the month -- from e-tailer GeekStuff4U -- we imagine that it will draw some interest.
Dockable DVD player with GBA drops in May
We first got our hands on Visteon's portable DVD player cum Game Boy Advance at CES back in January and, frankly, weren't impressed. Our final assessment: "Needless to say, the engineers have their work cut out for them." Well, those engineers have had a couple months, let's see if they've eliminated the major shortcomings of the prototype. First off, the controller more closely resembles the interface of a GBA. Gone are the "Help" and "Backup" buttons, with the perennial Start and Select buttons in their place. A superficial, but welcome change. The five face buttons have been reduced to a more reasonable three...which is still one more than they needed. Why two A buttons guys?The screen resolution issues appear to have been solved, at least if we're taking the press image at face value. In the prototype, there was some problem with the GBA feed not filling the entire screen, and suffering from the conversion to 16x9. In the marketing mockup above, there is no sign of this problem. We're hopeful this accurately reflects the final product. No word on price, but it will be "available May 2006." Now I wish I had a minivan to put this in the back of...and someone to drive me around in it...and somewhere to go...See also:Coby DVD player with 8-bit Sega game[Thanks, Sense and Sean]
Apple's remote controls more than FrontRow
Mat on Macs has recently made a discovery: The Apple remote that shipped with his iMac can be used to control more than FrontRow. Specifically, he found that play/pause, chapter forward/back and 4x fast forward/back all work with DVD Player (play and pause even work if DVD Player is not the frontmost application). Also, his remote worked with Quicktime Player and adjusted the system volume. That's pretty cool. Now I want one of those iMacs even more.
