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Archos 704 "Mobile DVR" with WiFi unveiled, thanks FCC
Archos wasn't joshing around with this whole WiFi bit, and while that 604 WiFi of theirs might've gotten dinged a bit in the reviews, it seems that they're back for more with this new 704 WiFi that the FCC so kindly has revealed to us. Very little is known about the functionality so far, but that whole "Mobile DVR" tag on the name could imply that Archos is packing a bit more TV-centric functionality into the device -- rumors have mentioned the possibility of a built-in TV tuner -- or perhaps just trying to position the same old, same old a tad bit better in the market. From what we can tell from the pic, we would say the screen is a decent bit larger than the 604's 4.3-inches, possibly even the 7-inches that rumors suggest, and from what specs we have, we know there's a CPU (duh), flash memory (most likely for buffering), a hard drive (double duh), 802.11b/g WiFi and DDR2 RAM inside this thing. Hopefully whatever is under the hood will be enough to pep up that GUI for more productive WiFi-based web browsing. Perhaps the best news in all this is that the FCC is totally breaking Archos' confidentially request on this one, which should be in effect for another 15 days or so, meaning Apple's hopes of keeping iPhone docs under wraps until June 15th just got that much slimmer. Peep another shot after the break.
LG's five new 1080p Time Machine plasma and LCD TVs with built-in DVRs
Like your digital video recorder and TV integrated do you? Well, be sure to check the third generation "Time Machine" line-up from LG just announced in Korea and heading our way sometime soon. All five of the new Full HD 1080p televisions feature dual integrated HD tuners allowing you to watch one channel while recording from the other or watch the two side-by-side should your ADD so require. They also feature USB 2.0 from which you can sling additional disk; good thing too since LG skimps with just a single 250GB 160GB disk drive in the unit. The new embedded-PVR sets are available as 50-inch (50PB3DR) and 60-inch (60PY3DR) plasmas or 37-inch (37LY3DR), 42-inch (42LY3DR), and 47-inch (47LY3DR) LCDs. LG doesn't provide any real specifications but we've already seen other sets announced from both the PY3D series of plasmas and LY3D series of LCDs. As such, it's reasonable to expect 3x HDMI and component inputs on the PDPs and hopefully LG's Wide Color Gamut and 120Hz TrueMotion Drive technology on the LCDs. We'll also hopefully see CableCard support as with their previous generation of sets. However, we'll have to wait for the US announcement to be certain. You'll pay between 2,500,000KRW ($2,650) and 4,700,000KRW ($4,982) for the LCDs or around 4,000,000KRW ($4,240) for the 50-inch PDP on up to 8,900,000KRW ($9,435) for the 60-incher.[Via AVING]
Motorola's DCH3416 M-Card-enabled HD DVR
Tipster Cableric sent in a pic of the recently-announced Motorola DCH3416 set-top box, an all-digital HD DVR with a 160GB drive inside that also supports multistream CableCARD (M-Card) for viewing or recording multiple TV streams simultaneously (along with picture-in-picture). It also works with Motorola's "Follow Me TV" placeshifting suite, which allows users to move pictures, music, and recorded content around their home network to other compatible STB's. The software follows Open Cable Application Platform (OCAP) middleware development standards, which should allow for easier updates and implementation of third-party tools. According to Cableric, the console includes the usual audio and video connections, in addition to HDMI, component video, Firewire, SATA, USB 2.0, and Ethernet. Should be good times for cable customers looking to replace the standard cable DVR.
Interact-TV unveils MyTellyHD Linux-based media server
While Interact-TV is no stranger to the media center arena, the company is taking a diversion from its previous PMP / storage-based offerings to unveil a fully-featured Linux-based media center for your AV rack. Aside from sporting a sleek, almost space-aged design, the unit can play back / save DVDs to your video library, automatically lookup DVD cover art and meta data, burn recorded TV shows to DVD, import video files from a networked PC, output in 480i or 720p, and handle AVI, DivX, MPEG1/2/3/4, WMV, JPEG, Cinepak, DV, QuickTime, RealMedia, H.263, and H.264 formats. Moreover, this box offers up a thorough audio / photo management system, one-touch recording as a PVR, and access to a bevy of extraneous information via the Telly Portal. As if this weren't enough, you'll also find an upscaling DVD player within, and if you're curious about the components running the show, there's 512MB of RAM, up to a 400GB hard drive, dual-layer DVD burner, six-channel audio, component / S-Video / composite outs, NTSC TV tuner, IR trackball remote, optional wireless keyboard, gigabit Ethernet, FireWire, USB 2.0, and a complete lack of fans due to the passive cooling system. Vista may be getting most of the limelight on this day in particular, but the MyTellyHD packs quite a wallop for a low-key Linux HTPC, and considering the fairly low $899 starting price point, there's not much to grumble about on this one.
NDS announces P2P-enabled DVR solution
While peer-to-peer sharing certainly gets its fair share of critics, the sharing, caring approach to distributing media definitely has its useful (and legal) benefits, and now NDS has announced "two new product enhancements of Synamedia Metro, the NDS IPTV middleware solution," which looks to bring P2P technology to the DVR. Distributed DVR allows for any hard drive on the home's network to act as the storage device for your DVR, theoretically eliminating the need to even include an HDD in the set-top-box and giving customers the unadulterated ability to scale their storage capacity to fit their needs. Furthermore, the ShareTV system "allows IPTV subscribers to legally share their stored TV content using peer-to-peer technology running in the Jungo Residential Gateway software," essentially opening up a new realm of recorded television to access just in case your forgot to schedule a crucial recording. Of course, all of the files would be laced in DRM, and only users of NDS' system would be able to share and access the recorded content, but having a nearly endless supply of DVR'd shows at your disposal sure sounds appealing. Now, who's game to pick this system up and distribute to the people?[Via PVRWire]
DViCO's TiVX 5010-P HDTV recorder: everything but the disk
Korea's DViCO is prepping to launch their latest home media system with this, their new TiVX 5010-P HD TV recorder. If you think this all-singing, all-dancing personal video recorder looks like their M-5000U media streamer well, you'd be right. So as you'd expect, you get all that existing media goodness in addition to a new EPG, integrated ATSC hi-def television tuner, and the ability to record video at a 1920 x 1080 resolution in MPEG-2 TP transport stream files. In other words, it supports MPEG-1, MPEG-2, (VOB, ISO and IFO), AVI, TP, WMV9, tp, trp and ts (and the most common subtitle formats) video; JPEG images; and MP3, WMA, AAC, Ogg, PCM, AC3, M4A, FLAC and WAV audio. It also packs DVI, component, S-Video and composite video outs and 2x USB 2.0 ports for adding external disk drives (this PVR is diskless) or optical discs. A third USB 2.0 port can act as host to your digital camera or USB-equipped MP3 player without the need for a PC to transfer files. It connects back to the home net and Internet via your choice of fixed 10/100Mbps Ethernet or 802.11b/g WiFi -- sorry, no draft-802.11n here. Priced at 330,000KRW or just $352. [Via AVING]
Ground control to DirecTV TiVo users: reboot, please
As a good few PC users will tell you, sometimes the only solution is the three fingered salute, and for TiVo users having an array of troubles with your DirecTV service, it seems the answer could be as easy as flipping the power switch. Oddly enough, it seems the list of recent complaints surrounding unexplainable deletions and problems with Season Pass recordings can be remedied with a simple reboot. A DirecTV spokesperson even stated that "a reboot will clean things up and the unit will start recording again," but we've got a sneaking suspicion there's just more to it than that. Nevertheless, that's the word from the higher-ups, so if you're on the verge of a total meltdown due to AV misbehavior, try the trusty restart trick a time or two, and if it still doesn't get things ironed out (read: the likely outcome), at least you now know precisely who to yell at.[Via PVRWire]
Customers reporting problems with DirecTV's TiVo service
DirecTV and TiVo have certainly had their share of problems with each other, but it looks like the relationship has now taken a turn for the worse on the technical level, with ZD Net reporting that customers are encountering widespread problems with their DirecTV with TiVo service. The main complaint appears to center around the Season Pass feature, with numerous customers on DirecTV's forums posting of shows only occasionally being recorded or not being recorded at all, with some also reporting that the problem seems to be getting progressively worse. Those who complained to DirecTV's customer service about the problem say they were told that the company is aware of the issue and that it could take anywhere from one to 30 days to fix it. To appease those missing out on their favorite shows, DirecTV's apparently been offering dissatisfied customers a range of incentives to keep 'em from jumping ship, including discounts off DirecTV with TiVo service and free Showtime for a month. The latest word on the forums, however, is that the problem still appears to be unresolved.[Thanks, My Surmise]
Gefen shows off HD PVRs that export to USB drives
While Gefen has helped many a folk use two computers on one monitor and extend their cabling for miles on end, the company is now giving us PVR freaks something else to spaz about. The two (plainly-named) Personal Video Recorders sport sleek, brushed aluminum enclosures that resemble a Mac mini in form, and both units are all but identical save for the high-end edition's ability to handle 1080p. These PVRs differ from most, however, as they can record content from television or any other attached source (i.e. a camcorder), and transfer the video in MPEG4 format directly to an attached USB flash drive. According to Gefen, users "simply save their programming on the USB device, remove it when needed, and plug it into any USB-equipped computer for instant access." Furthermore, the boxes tout a switching functionality that allows users to connect multiple sources and flip a toggle to determine which one gets captured. From what we can tell, there's no reason an external USB hard drive couldn't be used as well for mass capturing / transporting, and while we (unfortunately) don't know when these suckas are shipping nor how much coinage they'll demand, consider our interest piqued nonetheless.[Via EverythingUSB]
Miglia TVMini HD+ delivers HDTV DVR functionality to Macs
Sure, there's more than a few ways to get HDTV and PVR technology over on the Mac side of life, but Miglia is giving us one more alternative by updating its MiniHD to deliver tuning / PVR functions to your Mac over USB 2.0. Apparently the company isn't worried about the ole Apple TV stealing all the thunder, and most notably due to its missing tuner, we don't think it will either. The MiniHD+ doesn't seem to outdo its predecessor in most areas, as it still tunes into ATSC, ClearQAM, and OTA broadcasts, and pumps the data to your Mac via USB 2.0. This portable gizmo provides the usual pause, rewind, and scheduling functions you'd expect on a PVR, but it also reportedly allows you to "consult an integrated electronic programming guide to locate shows and edit recorded clips to remove advertisements." Aside from supporting DVD burning, it also features "exclusive 10-bit video and stereo sound," a wireless remote, composite / S-Video outputs, stereo inputs, EyeTV 2 software. So if you're more interested in watching television than downloaded content and movie trailers, you can pick this up for your Mac next month for a currently undisclosed price.
Ubicod UMS200 set top box does PVR and VoD
Ubicod has thrown together the UMS200, a standard definition set top box which does a whole lot of interesting stuff with your video. The most interesting feature for us is the network capability made possible by two Ethernet ports. If you hook up a PC to the box you can watch live TV pretty much anywhere: it also goes the other way and lets you stream MP3s, pictures, and unnamed video file formats to your TV. Taking a little step back, the UMS200 also features a PVR function with time shifting for those of you that don't fancy watching TV on your laptop screen. Specs wise the UMS200 has a 200MHz processor for decoding MPEG-1, -2, and -4 video, as well as streaming MPEG-4 over a network at bitrates from 300kbps to around 6Mbps. Unsurprisingly for a standard definition device, it only features analog RCA outputs, so you'll have to look elsewhere if you like your definition nice and high. Other less interesting features include online flash game support, and an Electronic Program Guide so that you can plan your life around what shows happen to be on. We'd love to tell you when and for how much the UMS200 will ship, but unfortunately Ubicod's product site won't cough up the details.[Via MaxGizmo]
Hitachi develops AVSM software to make DVR hard drives "smarter"
It's one thing when the most taxing task your DVR will ever face is the furious fast-forwarding necessary to get the next scene in your favorite recorded drama, but if you've got over 100 hours of HD VOD to churn through while recording tonight's game and sifting through next week's programming list, having a more intelligent hard drive just might help out. In an effort to reduce DVR hard drive fragmentation, lengthen the life of set-top boxes, improve the quality of service / speed to the end user, and give your average DVR the ability to "manage up to 14 HDTV (19.3Mbps) streams from a single 3.5-inch HDD," Hitachi has developed AVSM technology to help your DVR's HDD think things through before going through the motions. The background software differentiates between "streaming applications and best-effort, non-real-time applications" such as electronic program guides, IPTV downloads, and photo browsing in order to manage the line of tasks more efficiently. Overall, the software reportedly reduces duty cycles "by up to 60 percent" and all but eliminates disc fragmentation, but realistically, with new units popping up entirely more frequently than your average hard drive takes to perish, hooking DVRs up with all these smarts might be a bit unnecessary for those who stay on the bleeding edge.
LG's $15k, 71-inch plasma & friends coming to CES
LG is already bringing 1080p content and a hybrid Blu-ray / HD DVD drive to CES, and it just wouldn't make sense not to have brand new displays too, so the company plans to unveil a slew of new plasmas next week. The literally biggest news, however, is that the company's 71-inch 1080p plasma HDTV that started shipping early last year, will drop its MSRP from $70,000 to a mere $14,999.95 (we can assume losing the 24 carat gold paint helped drop prices a little). Since not everyone can take out a wall to fit their new plasma TV, LG is prepping many smaller models for next week's show. Each and every one is capable of "full HD", ready to accept and 24, 30 or 60 frame rate 1080p source you throw at them. The 42- and 52-inch PC5D series represent the "vanilla" HDTVs, including Clear Filter Pro technology to reduce reflection, Extreme Contour Compensation to improve color transitions and LG Simple Link connectivity to control compatible HDMI-CEC devices. The PY3D line comes in 50- and 60-inch sizes, featuring three HDMI inputs and USB Media Host capability to playback music and photos (but not video) from connected devices. The PB4D series builds on those features by adding 160GB HD DVRs integrated into 42-, 50- and 60-inch plasmas with LG's "time machine" time shifting technology, and a newly added ability to record video at 480p from any external source via the component jacks. Last but not least of course is the 71-inch 71PY1M, with the most important feature of being bigger than your neighbor's plasma (unless you live next door to Mark Cuban). Whether you're looking for a simple 1080p plasma, media hub, DVR or just a massive HDTV at a "low" price, it appears LG will have a plasma for everyone at CES 2007.
Windows Live for TV hits beta
Apparently, SideShow isn't the only Vista attraction trying to garner attention, as the project formerly known as Nemo has gone and hit beta, picking up a more politically correct name along the way. Now dubbed Windows Live for TV, this flavor of Windows Live is made to play nice with your TV through Windows Vista Media Center, and adds an expansive interface that "provides easy access to Spaces, Messenger, and Live Call." More specifically, users can reportedly browse Spaces in 3D, utilize "full keyword searches," initiate real-time text / voice conversations, converse via Windows Live Messenger, and navigate the panes with a mouse, keyboard, or remote. Unfortunately, Windows XP users won't have much luck here, as it's built to work solely in Vista Premium / Ultimate. Also of note, the beta page requires users to be signed in with a US Live ID to function, so be sure to hit the via link to peep a few more sneak peeks at the software in action.[Via PVRWire]
Evesham releases iplayer IPTV set-top box
UK firm Evesham has released the iplayer high-definition media center for £299 (584 USD), which can tune in over the air HD signals as well as download podcasts, IPTV, and pay-per-view Top Up content from the internet. The 80GB hard drive provides PVR functionality with recording and playback for timeshifting your media, and Media Player Connect for streaming to any PCs on the network. It also upscales any standard-def content up to 1080i using the built-in HDMI port. The iplayer includes the usual audio and video media viewers, as well as an email client and web browser which you can use via the included remote or a USB keyboard. The Inquirer thinks that it's a capable alternative to Sky for viewing both Freeview TV and media online and offline, at just a bit of a price premium.[Via The Inquirer]
DirecTV now friendly with Viiv boxes, other PCs to come?
After DirecTV's long-awaited HR20 HD DVR finally got its rightful announcements and actually hit users' hands, it wasn't too long before folks were plugging and praying in hopes of getting their new toy to play nice with that HTPC beside it. While we knew the two firms had gone hand-in-hand awhile back, we finally got the thumbs-up that a new, Viiv-alicious DirecTV Plus HD DVR would be unveiled soon to interact out-of-the-box with Viiv-enabled systems, but more importantly, that a software update was coming to the plain ole HR20s to accomplish the same thing. The time has come, and users are reporting over at DBSTalk that the "0x108 software" has opened up the Ethernet port for use, and allows browsing / connections via a Viiv-certified machine, but definitely made things difficult for those not exactly keen on shelling out for a few new components. Nevertheless, there's already been somewhat of a workaround worked out, which allows PCs with just Windows MCE installed to "see" the HR20, but not "serve up files in a way that HR20 can work with," which we're all but certain will change as the wheels spin in owners' heads. Reportedly, DirecTV is establishing a dedicated website to getting folks up and running with the new connectivity options, and be sure to keep an eye on the linked thread for any "future developments" regarding non-Viiv-savvy PCs.[Via PVRWire]
Microsoft patents DVR application to provide targeted advertising
While Microsoft isn't exactly the first name we'd guess to be associated with a new DVR tidbit, the firm has nonetheless filed a patent for "DVR-based targeted advertising." Apparently, Microsoft's idea is to eliminate the "dilemma" that DVR users purportedly face when watching shows a week or so after its original air date. Since many commercials (like weekend sales) are time sensitive, viewing last week's ads today isn't likely to do you any favors if the information is already outdated. Microsoft is hoping to come to the rescue by establishing an "advertisement data store," from which an "advertisement manager" detects when an ad is supposed to be shown and fills that spot with a current, up-to-date spot so you witness fresh plugs during old shows. Although the concept is at least somewhat sound, the folks at Redmond presumably don't spend much time surveying actual DVR owners, as they'd probably find that a good percentage of them utilize that fast forward button as much as possible, regardless of how "fresh" the ad they're cruising through actually is.[Via PVRWire]
Pinnacle rolls out PCTV To Go placeshifting box, bundles WiFi
If you're scouting the perfect placeshifting device to cure those television blues while stuck at your TV-less grandmother's house for Thanksgiving, the Slingbox might not be the obvious choice anymore. Granted, it'll probably be awhile before the current king is dethroned, Pinnacle is giving the shifting game its best shot with the PCTV To Go. Sporting built-in WiFi / Windows MCE support, this content liaison works essentially like any other timeshifting device out there, and channels MPEG4 video to wherever you're logged in (or MPEG2 if connected locally). It also allows full control over your attached DVR, giving you the opportunity to schedule a recording for that oh-so-critical rerun of Nick Arcade, Season One. It reportedly works seamlessly with your home entertainment system, acting as a pass-through device that won't complicate things when wiring it up, but there's no word on whether it supports HD signals. The Pinnacle PCTV To Go should be available just before Turkey Day for a very competitive $249.99.Update: Thanks to an eagle-eyed reader who prefers to remain anonymous (apparently Pinnacle's got some leg breakers on its payroll) we now know that this is little more than a rebranded HAVA box from Snappy -- not that there's anything wrong with that, just sayin'.[Via PVRWire]
Klegg Electronics goes big with its 40-inch, MCE-infused LCD TV
Klegg seems to be kicking it up a notch from the wee LCDs it's accustomed to producing, as the 40-inch KLM-4010 is more suited for your living room than your front pocket. While it's certainly not the first LCD TV to stuff MCE functionality into its confines, this brushed aluminum beast packs quite a laundry list of impressive specs. It boasts a 1000:1 contrast ratio, 500cd/m2 of brightness, 1,366 x 768 resolution, HDMI, a pair of DVI ports, component, S-Video, composite, digital audio output, and a built-in Hauppauage PVR-150 MCE tuner. Additionally, it rocks an Intel Pentium 4 3GHz 630 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, NVIDIA GeForce 6200 graphics card, dual-layer, slot-loading DVD burner, FireWire / USB 2.0 connectors, flash card reader, and dual seven-watt integrated speakers. This PC / TV hybrid touts the ability to download video directly from the internet and store it without the need for a separate HTPC, but unfortunately there's no (presumably high) pricetag or release details to ponder over.[Via CrunchGear]
ActionDVR's "PVR on the go" stores your life
Sure, there have been plenty of helmet-cams available to vanity videographers over the years, but few of them have represented such quality dorkiness as this ActionDVR system does to the everyman. The system is based on a fairly high quality 480p CCD, inside of an all-weather, clip-on camera module, which hooks up to a clip-on mic and the DVR unit. The 3.5-inch screen on the DVR allows for instant replay of your recordings, and the whole system is backed by roughly 8 hours of battery. ActionDVR's main market right now seems to be hunters and fisherman hoping to capture their exploits for posterity, but if we're lucky it'll catch on with the YouTubers -- giving us unwashed masses some of the best dang reality television we've ever seen. This setup can be yours for $1095, but the memories could be priceless.[Via PVR Wire]
