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Silicon Mountain debuts Allio Link streamers and HTPCs
Up until now, the only way to really get the all-in-one "Allio Experience" was to purchase one of its HDTV / HTPC hybrids. But, let's just say you wanted to have that same experience on your current set. The answer? Silicon Mountain's latest wares: two new media streamer models and five Allio Link HTPCs. The entry-level $299 Allio Link ADTI-194500 gets powered by an Intel Atom N330 CPU and features 1GB of DDR2 RAM, 4GB of flash storage, GMA950 graphics, four USB 2.0 sockets, VGA / S-Video ports, Gigabit Ethernet and Ubuntu 9.04 running the show. If you're interested in an integrated DVD player, you can snag an upgraded model for $399. If those just aren't potent enough for your needs, you can snag one of five Allio Link Media PCs, which range from $659 to $1,199 and feature Windows Vista, 2GB of RAM, the same Atom N330 CPU, a built-in TV tuner and a 250GB HDD. Each of the units are available to order right now, with most shipping out within a week.
ASUS to introduce O!Play media player at Computex
Wait, what's this? ASUS diving head first into the HD media streamer game? Based on images and details acquired by Hardware, we'd say chances are looking pretty good. Reportedly, the aforementioned outfit will showcase its very own media player at Computex next week in Taiwan, and our expectations are already fairly lofty. The O!Play (codename HDP-R1) is said to be a fair bit quicker than competing models, and the file compatibility list is also worthy of laud. Port wise, this one's packing eSATA, USB, HDMI, stereo audio jacks, optical digital audio, Ethernet and an AC port. If all goes well, we could see this little bugger in European stores by July, with a price tag pegged at €119 ($168). Unfortunately, it doesn't seem as if that price nets you an internal HDD, but we'll find out for sure soon enough.[Via The Inquirer]
mCubed's RipNAS Statement now available in Europe
mCubed's RipNAS Statement may be unique, but it isn't apt to be widely adopted -- at least not with price points like this. Hailed as the first SSD-based CD ripping NAS device, the product is also available in a traditional HDD form, though both handle automatic ripping, NAS duties and media streaming. Within, you'll find a dual-core Atom CPU, gigabit Ethernet, a TEAC DVD drive, four USB 2.0 sockets and a fanless design. The pain? €1,795 ($2,500) for the 3TB HDD version, or €3,295 ($4,590) for the 500GB SSD model. If you're unfazed by sticker shock, you can pick yours up right now over in Europe.
HP's MediaSmart Server LX195 reviewed: impressive, but flawed
After being introduced to the world late last month, we've heard little else about HP's lower-end MediaSmart Server LX195... until now, obviously. This little media streamer made its way into the HotHardware labs for a little Q&A, and it managed to escape with lots of praise, a mild amount of criticism and a price tag that'll likely be too steep for most to swallow. As for performance and features, the LX195 was found to shine; the Media Collector, iTunes server and Time Machine backup functionality all worked great. Unfortunately, the "endless loop of updates" seen during the initial setup and the lack of an April update -- which was sent out to the EX series last month -- left somewhat of a bitter taste in reviewers mouths. Overall, the system delivered and worked as advertised, but the $360 to $400 street price is apt to turn all but the hardest of hardcore HP fans away, not to mention that the aforesaid EX update (which will hit the LX195 this fall) will require users to completely wipe their HDD and start over from scratch. Check the read link for the full writeup.
ZyXEL's DMA-2500 streams in 1080p content from your network
The world needs another set-top-box like it needs another Kim Jong-Il, but we'll do our best to stifle the sighs and present to you the ZyXEL DMA-2500. This well-specced box streams in material up to 1080p from any networked storage device, is DLNA 1.5 certified and supports more formats than it would be healthy for us to list. The outfit also claims that it'll handle material laced in DRM, but the vagueness of it all has us skeptical. At any rate, users can also indulge in internet TV and online radio, and there's an S-Video, composite and HDMI port to get it onto your television. Finally, the unit even includes a USB port which can presumably be used for adding local storage or a USB WiFi adapter. It's filtering out now across the pond for the somewhat hard-to-swallow price of €223 ($296).[Via HDTVInfo]
RipNAS Statement: world's first SSD-based CD ripping NAS device
We'll be perfectly honest with you -- the Atom-powered RipNAS definitely caught our interest when it launched with practically no major competitors back in February. Now, the RipNAS family has grown by two with the introduction of the Statement SSD and Statement HDD. We're told that the former is the world's first SSD-based CD ripping NAS device, and we've absolutely no reason to believe otherwise. The totally silent, all-silver box is based on the Windows Home Server OS and handles a cornucopia of tasks: CD ripping, media streaming and networked file storage. Internal specifications include a dual-core Atom CPU, 2GB of RAM and four USB 2.0 ports. The Statement SSD arrives in a 500GB configuration (2 x 250GB SSDs), while the Statement HDD holds 3TB by way of two 1.5TB drives; mum's the word on pricing, but don't bank on 'em being cheap.
Compro showcases VideoMate T1000W network media streamer
We can't tell you precisely how much we've been yearning for an L-shaped media streamer, but we can tell you that Compro has made the hopes, dreams and wishes of quite a few content junkies come true with the debut of its VideoMate T1000W. Showcased late last week at SecuTech Expo 2009, this network media streamer is an all-in-one solution that handles content shuffling, TV tuning, internal storing of files, expansion ports, WiFi access, support for USB DVD players and even BitTorrent files. As expected, pretty much any file format you could think of is supported here, though the DVB-T tuner won't do us Yanks much good in the homeland. Fudzilla asserts that the unit should hit shelves overseas this May, though the £200 ($293) price tag just might scare away most potential buyers.[Thanks, TheLostSwede]
Netgear Digital Entertainer Elite available worldwide for $399
The verdict is already out on Netgear's EVA 9150 Digital Entertainer Elite, and now the ball's squarely in your court. The self-proclaimed "flexible digital media player" -- complete with its dual-band 802.11n WiFi, integrated 500GB hard drive and broad video codec support -- is now shipping worldwide. In case you've forgotten, this unit plays nice with Windows, Mac and Linux platforms and boasts a pair of USB ports for adding flash drives and additional storage. Worth $399? Answer with your wallet, bub.
Popcorn Hour A-110 review
With HD media streamers being a dime a dozen these days, when one particular one seems gain popularity we take notice. So we figured there was no better way to learn what all the fuss is about then to spend a little time with it. The main point of our curiosity was to go beyond the specs and to try and determine how usable it was. To learn what sets the Popcorn Hour apart from the rest, click on through. %Gallery-43685%
SmartQ introduces HDTV Player, lets it explain itself
Generally speaking, SmartQ has stuck to what it's best at -- mediocre portable media players -- without deviating an inch. Finally, someone at the company conjured up enough courage to take a risk, and we think the outcome is pretty decent. The simply titled and not-at-all-confusing HDTV Player is the firm's very first set-top-box, which aims to play back a litany of high-definition files on one's HDTV. As predicted, the box offers up an HDMI 1.3 port for getting all that lovely 720p+ content onto your screen, and there's also a pair of USB 2.0 ports for connecting external HDDs and the like. Beyond that, details are astonishingly sparse, but we get the feeling it'll be quite some time (read: forever) before this thing floats far from the shores of Asia.[Via MP4Nation]
Ask Engadget HD: HTPC or HD media streamer?
Just last week we threw out the question of which HD media streamer was simplest to use and operate, and this week we're being met with a slightly different, although equally important inquiry. Thomas, the floor's yours: "I'm really struggling with this one. Should I spring for a full blown HTPC to record OTA shows, play back Blu-ray Discs, etc., or should I save some dough and just get a nice HD media streamer while continuing to use my lackluster cable HD DVR to record TV content? Has anyone else made this decision and been happy or remorseful with the outcome? What are some really compelling reasons to buy an HTPC over just a streamer? Save my sanity!" You heard the man -- this one's an emergency. What things can be done with your HTPC that you'd miss out on with a simple HD media streamer? Is it worth the difference in cost? Feel free to chat it up in comments below.Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
Western Digital 2TB Caviar Green, 8TB ShareSpace and friends eyes-on
Can't say we really expected to see anything from Western Digital here at CeBIT, but sure enough, it brought along its 2TB Caviar Green hard drive, WD TV HD media player and the new 8TB ShareSpace NAS. Along with oodles of other external, internal and somewhere-in-between drives, too. We actually kind of spazzed upon seeing two terabytes of empty space within a single internal HDD, but hopefully the blur isn't too noticeable. Enjoy!%Gallery-46751%
Ask Engadget HD: Easiest-to-use HD media streamer?
There's no shortage of HD media streamer options out there, but the list of possibilities shrinks up when looking for one that even your mum could use. Have you found one that's notoriously ease to setup and operate? Have a gander at Chris' question: "I've heard various HD media streamers proclaimed as being "the best," but of those great ones, which is easiest to use? I can imagine things getting complicated quick when trying to find media on various connected PCs and hard drives, and I'm not looking to frustrate myself with yet another box that doesn't really work. What HD media streamer is simplest to setup and use? I want things to be as pain free as possible." Ah, pain free. Isn't that what we all strive for? If you've found your own streamer to be remarkably simple to use, speak up. And moreover, if you've found yours to be incredibly difficult to use, speak up even louder.Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
QNAP intros NMP1000 network media player, we go hands-on
While swinging by QNAP's CeBIT booth to check out its array of recently launched NAS devices, we happened upon a demonstration that was showcasing a brand new device: the NMP1000. Short for Network Multimedia Player, this set-top-box is pretty much like every other HD media streamer already out there, as it connects to networked storage and pipes out audio and video content to one's TV via a customized user interface. What we saw looked pretty slick, even though it was inexplicably connected to the LG display via S-Video. As for specs, it's boasting a Sigma Designs SMP8635 processor, 256MB of DDR RAM, room for one 3.5-inch SATA drive, a single gigabit Ethernet jack, dual USB 2.0 sockets, one eSATA port, HDMI 1.3 / component / composite / S-Video outs and a bundled remote. It supports just about any format on the map, and the on-hand representative told us it should be out next month for "somewhere under $10,000." Have a look at some in-action shots below.%Gallery-46650%
LaCie intros 8x d2 Blu-ray burner, LaCinema Black MAX media streamer
It was May of last year when LaCie last updated its external d2 Blu-ray burner, so it's about time we saw that 4x burn rate double to an entirely more palatable 8x. Available now for consumers in the US, the latest d2 Blu-ray Drive ($449.99) can toast both single- and dual-layer BD-Rs at 8x, and it can connect to one's machine via FireWire or USB 2.0. In related news, the outfit has also introduced a LaCinema Black MAX over in Europe, which acts to serve up all sorts of digital media (photos, video clips, music, etc.) on one's HDTV. You can order it with 500GB / 1TB of inbuilt storage, and the integrated Ethernet jack / WiFi module enables it to pull media (up to 1080p) from other locations on your network. We've nary a clue on pricing / availability for this one, but we'll leave it to those in Europe to hunt it down and brag to us Yanks.Read - 8x d2 Blu-ray DriveRead - LaCinema Black MAX [PDF; thanks Predator]%Gallery-44203%%Gallery-44202%
Western Digital HD Media Player gets a longer-term review
The promise of Western Digital HD Media Player certainly intrigued on first blush, but an updated and longer-term review at GearBits after a firmware update didn't fare as well. The firmware update certainly boosted the capabilities of the little box, but like so many devices we've seen, the UI hurts the overall usability. It's certainly not easy to accommodate the myriad of media functions into a consistent and enjoyable UI that stays responsive under use. Add in the sneakernet limitations, and you've got a box that certainly can fill a niche, but we'd recommend you make sure it's a good fit for your use pattern before jumping in.
Conceptronic adds 802.11n, BitTorrent to its Grab 'n Go Full HD streamer
What do you know -- Conceptronic managed to add in BitTorrent functionality and a compatibility with a 802.11n USB dongle to its alphabet soup CFULLHDMA Grab 'n GO Full HD streamer, and have upped the name to CFULLHDMAi while keeping the Flash Gordon design intact. New firmware for the 802.11n dongle support will also be made available to owners of the earlier model. That wireless upgrade will come in handy with the new model's BitTorrent client, too, alowing you grab some public domain vids for your viewing pleasure. No onboard storage, sorry, but with support for SAMBA, NFS and external USB storage, we think you should be able to find a home for the public commons content you'll be downloading.[Thanks, KJ]
DViCO's TViX R-3300 media streamer reviewed: a mixed bag, for sure
DViCO's making the already saturated HD media streamer market that much more crowded with its TViX R-3300, but given the smaller amount of choices in the UK, we suppose we'll let it fly. The device was recently apprehended and reviewed by the critics at Pocket-lint, and unfortunately, it wasn't quite a home run. For starters, the device proved somewhat "fiddly" to use, with the well appointed remote proving difficult to learn and the user manual not really being of much assistance. Continuing on with the theme, setup was a mixed affair as well, with a particular file sharing limitation with the NetShare application really grating the nerves. Once things were finally in place, streaming quality was found to be "extremely good" and PVR functionality was top-notch. What we have here is an interesting conundrum: setup and usability weren't awesome, but performance was, which should make for an interesting battle in your mind as you attempt to decide whether to keep or part with your £180.
Popcorn Hour caters to digital signage applications with S-210
Talk about broadening one's product portfolio. Popcorn Hour, the outfit that started small with a heralded media streamer last Fall, has delved head first into the wide, wacky world of digital signage. The minuscule S-210 media streamer was built to run around the clock with little power consumption, and it packs 2GB of internal USB flash storage along with no "complicated PC architecture." Everything that goes through the device is controlled by a bundled PC app, and the included HDMI 1.1a / VGA outputs link your advertisements (or other media) to a display. Check the read link for the lengthy list of file format compatibility, and if you're into it, add one to your cart at $219.[Thanks, elmopio]
Details flow on Netgear's EVA9150 Digital Entertainer Elite
We had the bare essentials when we spotted Netgear's Digital Entertainer Elite trying to waltz through the FCC unnoticed, but now we've got the hot, juicy details required to make those things called "purchasing decisions." Wired has it that the media streamer will check in during Q1 2009 at $400, which will buy you a roomy 500GB hard drive, "an updated user interface that allows users to choose content from free sources such as YouTube and Flickr," full 1080p support and the ability to swap out the HDD should the owner choose. The catch, however, is that the box is currently disconnected from most major content providers, and without a link to Netflix (or similar), users will have to either provide their own material or simply surf over to online portals such as Hulu. Four bills is a lot to ask for something in the "been there, done that" bucket -- we'll give it three months before the first substantial price cut.
