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Netgear's CES showcase: powerline / MoCA gear, Internet TV player
Netgear isn't kidding around here at CES, and if you thought three new routers was the extent of it, you're sorely mistaken. The company is also debuting its new Internet TV Player (ITV2000; pictured), which is essentially an internet set-top-box that brings online media to the TV with all sorts of elegance. It'll be able to stream content from CNN, ESPN, NBA, TMZ, YouTube, Google, Yahoo and MetaCafe, though we're going to need a little Hulu mixed in before we take it seriously. We're also being reintroduced to the Digital Entertainer Elite (EVA9150) box, and in slightly less interesting news, we've got the XAV1004 Powerline AV adapter with 4-port Ethernet Switch holding it down within you walls. Lastly, we've got the MCAB1001 MoCA coax-Ethernet adapter kit and the WNMR834 Wireless-N MoCA router, both of which enable users to rely on their existing in-home cabling to distribute signals over Ethernet. All the gory details (minus price and availability, naturally) are just past the break.%Gallery-40401%
DLNA gives thumbs-up to MoCA standard for new guidelines
You know that DLNA support that your media streamer has, which currently only supports WiFi and Ethernet as approved LAN standards? Yeah? Well MoCA is about to join in. Yep, the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) has given the green light to the Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) technology standard for "incorporation into the next version of its Networked Interoperability Guidelines," which should be out in early 2009. The guidelines will aim to "unite various consumer electronics, personal computer and mobile device technologies into a cohesive home networking environment," and being that MoCA is an open initiative intended to distribute multimedia over a home's existing coaxial network, it's a wonder the two haven't linked up earlier. Who says coax is dying?
D-Link introduces DXN-221 Coax Ethernet Adapter Kit
D-Link's no stranger to HD streaming, and the outfit is proving that it's still got game by announcing the Coax Ethernet Adapter Kit. The Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA)-certified package consists of two DXN-220 adapters, each of which boast coaxial F-type connectors and an Ethernet port meant to give internet / network access to various rooms without worry over wireless connections flaking out on you. As you can tell, this one was designed to expand home networks without requiring any additional wiring (if you're pre-wired for cable, that is), and being that it operates in the 800MHz to 1,500MHz range, there won't be any interference with cable TV transmissions or the like. The DXN-221 kit -- which includes a pair of the aforementioned adapters -- will be available in Q3 for $199.99, while individual adapters can be purchased for $109.99 apiece.
DirecTV joins the Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA)
Here's an interesting one. DirecTV, self-proclaimed satellite TV carrier, has up and joined the Multimedia over Coax Alliance. For those unfamiliar, MoCA is an "open, standard body promoting networking of multiple streams of high-definition video and entertainment using existing coaxial cable already in the home," otherwise seen as the de facto standard for home entertainment networks over coax. DirecTV has joined at the Contributor level, and managed to shake hands with Arris, Broadlight, Intel, ST, Time Warner Cable and Texas Instruments on the way in. According to MoCA president Charles Cerino, the organization is "looking forward to [DirecTV's] vital input in shaping the alliance." How funny -- so are we.
Hands-on with Motorola DCX series MPEG-4 cable STB
We got a chance to touch Motorola's sexy new 250GB DCX series MPEG-4 / Dolby Digital Plus / MoCa / OCAP cable STB tonight. You already know the important information so we'll get you to the in the wild pics without much ado other than a quick recap of what ports the promo unit was sporting on its "not available for photographs" backside: HDMI, USB, eSATA, component, digital audio out (S/PDIF and coax), 1394, ethernet, M-Card.%Gallery-12849%
Motorola's new lineup of MPEG4 HD STBs
Moto's VP was just saying that MPEG4 would take over cable too, and so it begins with its first MPEG4 STB. This new lineup of cable set-top boxes will have all the bells and whistles including; MPEG2, MPEG4, OCAP, CableCARD, MoCA and most interestingly Dolby Digital Plus -- you know the new codec commonly used on HD DVDs. We can see where this is headed already, first we'll see these new boxes in the wild and before you know it new channels will require the latest hardware -- sound familiar? It should, it's how the satellite providers did it. In the long run this will help cable bring us more HD, but considering cable co's are footing the bill for all these boxes, we'd suspect the MPEG4 rollout will take much much longer than it did for either DirecTV or Dish.[Via Mediaexperiences2go.com]
Verizon to offer "Home Media DVR" to FiOS customers
If you're tired of waiting for DirecTV's continually-delayed HD DVR, or just one of the lucky few who actually have access to FiOS service (and want to extract every ounce of greatness from it), Verizon is looking to hook you up. Available only to those in its (slowly) expanding FiOS network, Verizon is out to give subscribers a kinda sorta new way to watch television, and, of course, to cash in on the time-shifting craze while the window of opportunity is still open. The presumed selling point of its Home Media DVR is its ability to function as a "multiroom streaming media solution" that enables "up to three simultaneous viewings" of recorded material (whether or not this tidbit is worth $19.95 per month is debatable). Of course, the media can only be streamed to other "Verizon-approved" receivers -- whatever they may be -- and it's not yet clear if your Verizon cellphone will be one of those treasured devices. While we can imagine the list of restrictions on this streaming gig are quite lengthy, the company has stated that it will support "DVR-to-PC connectivity," thus enabling DVR viewing on a networked PC, though there's no mention of supporting wirelessly connected computers a la Slingbox. Apparently the DVR system will utilize a run-of-the-mill Motorola QIP6416 (dual HD-tuners and a 160GB hard drive) as the "hub" and a Motorola QIP2500 (basic STB that can receive content from the hub), both of which will communicate via MoCA (Multimedia over Coax Alliance) technology. While this rigamarole creates more questions than it answers, we're glad to see progress towards a centralized content viewing / streaming solution, but getting cable companies and the almighty content providers to warm up to the idea of slinging material around on a home network (and beyond?) probably won't be easy.[Via Ars Technica]
