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Medion's Akoya RIM 2550: 22-inches of all-in-one Media Center
Medion is one of those low-end, consumer electronics manufactures whose products sell in the likes of Aldi, Woolworths, and Toys 'R Us around Europe. Still, they bring some design cred as demonstrated in this Akoya RIM 2550. This unspecified "Dual Core" all-in-oner brings Windows Media Center to that big 22-inch display and features 802.11b/g WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, a DVD-burner, ExpressCard slot and suite of USB and Firewire jacks, Gigabit Ethernet, an integrated webcam in the bezel, and a dual analog/digital TV-tuner for good PVR'in fun. Yeah, the keyboard is wireless, but if you're a lefty just forget about using the touchpad, unless of course you bat from both sides of the plate. No drop date but expect the 2550 to pull €1,399 / $1,785 sometime before the sun burns itself out.[Via gadgetzone (in Dutch)]
Monolith Media Center brings MythTV to the technophobe
If MythTV's promise of a free Windows Media Center alternative sounds exciting, but you can't quite bring yourself to navigate the trials of a Linux install on your own, then you might be interested in Monolith's pre-built Media Center PCs, which come with MythTV pre-installed on top of Ubuntu Linux. Models start at $650, and include a remote, an IRBlaster, and free electronic programming guide access -- none of those silly TiVo-style monthly fees. Specs range from a single analog tuner to dual HDTV tuners, and you can get a 400GB HDD and DVD burner as well. The 3.2GHz P4 CPU isn't exactly cutting edge, but all the same, the Monolith box should be fine for someone who doesn't want to mess with setup, and isn't afraid to spend a bit more than they would otherwise.
Stephen Johnson's Coffee Table PC
Just face it, Stephen Johnson has a cooler coffee table than you. While you've been busy finding large and colorful books full of puppies and/or Oprah Winfrey to stack on top of yours (OK, maybe that's just us), Stephen Johnson has been building the "ultimate" Media PC inside of his mod-inspired table, and it looks pretty darn sweet. The Coffee Table PC is featured in this month's issue of T3 magazine, and includes a TV tuner, a 160GB HDD, a special LCD for displaying the weather, and is liquid cooled to keep things nice and quiet. There's also WiFi for streaming your media wirelessly, but the £2500 starter pricetag ($4765 US) is enough to send us scurrying back to the relative safety of our collection of kitschy books.
Get your YouTube fix on your Media Center PC
As if you needed to spend any more time digging through YouTube's seemingly endless archive of crap quality videos, you can now while away the time from the comfort of your couch thanks to a new Windows Media Center plug-in from Push-A-Button Software. The plug-in itself looks to be as straight forward as can be, letting you browse and search for videos and view them fullscreen if you wish -- just don't expect them to look too hot on your HD display. Best of all, the plug-in is free, although the developers are kindly asking for donations if you dig it -- ya dig?[Via eHomeUpgrade]
Snappy's HAVA Video Streamer
It might not be quite as edgy as the Slingbox in the design department, and the software support seems a bit lacking as far as client viewers, but the HAVA from Snappy Multimedia has a couple of welcome additions to the Slingbox repertoire. First off, the box includes built-in 802.11b/g WiFi, so adding it to your network shouldn't as much of a hassle. Second, the HAVA includes its own TV tuner, so you can have dual TV inputs if you'd like, or even use it as the primary (and wireless) tuner for your Windows Media Center box. Of course, all the usual location shifting capabilities are there, with up to 30fps DVD quality video available to multiple users over your home network, while lower bit-rate video can simultaneously be encoded for viewing over the Internets. Currently the HAVA is going for $200 after a pair of rebates, so if you're not bent on handheld or Mac support, and your inner fashionista is willing to take a hike, this little unit doesn't seem like a bad option for the remote viewing lifestyle.
Acer Aspire Idea 500 Windows Media Center
Yeah ok, we missed the press release on the Acer Aspire Idea 500 last month but she's still worth a quick double-back on this fully-spec'd, Viiv Windows Media Center PC. At just 2 3/4 inches thin, this low profile living room media center generates a mere 28 dBA under heavy load (23 dBA idling) yet packs in a Core Duo T2300 CPU, 250GB disk, 1GB DDR2 memory, a dual-layer DVD burner, 7-in-1 memory card reader, 4 x USB, Firewire, 802.11b/g WiFi, an RF keyboard and mouse, and not one, but two mini-PCI tuner cards for viewing and recording digital and analog television broadcasts. It also features a complete range of connectivity including HDMI, DVI-I, 2 x SCART (RGB?), 7.1 audio with S/PDIF digital out with support for High Definition audio, Dolby Digital Live, and DTC Connect. The Idea 500 should hit the cobbled streets of Europe any day now with an expected VAT-inclusive price of €1299/$1671. See, now aren't you glad we told you?[Thanks, Liam B]
Dell XPS M2010 reviewed
CNET's staff just strapped on their bionic suits and hoisted Dell's 20-pound XPS M2010 into the lab for a full, hands-on review. Calling this desktop/laptop hybrid a "striking feat of engineering" (that's a compliment, we think), the reviewer fawns over the M2010's premium components, bright 20-inch glossy display, and 8-speaker system with subwoofer which is said to deliver "rich, clear" audio and more low-end sound than any laptop he's seen. The guy's equally stoked by the magnetically held Bluetooth keyboard and gyroscopic Media Center remote which includes a small LCD screen for peeping music and video track details when not flittering the thing about to control the onscreen cursor. The M2010 also proved to be an "able gaming machine" though not the best. However, the M2010 is still "absurdly expensive" with a $3500 base config rocketing upwards to $8000 fully spec'd and the battery only lasted about 2-hours while the machine simply idled. Oh, and the pig is just too heavy to be truly portable thereby limiting its appeal. Still, if you're a smarmy sales type, LAN party trust-funder, or Ivy league media troll looking for a single all-in-one desktop / laptop / home stereo / TV(via optional USB tuner) then this hulk of Dell-icousness might be calling you home. [Thanks, Chris]
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UMPCs to get special Media Extender software
For those of you still scratching your heads over what exactly you might use a $700 UMPC for, Microsoft is working on a version of Media Center Extender software to allow you to touchscreen your way through TV, music, home automation, or whatever you use your Media Center PC for. So far there's no date for when we might see this software, but Todd Rutherford, Microsoft's program manager for eHome Control, says it's a sure thing. We guess it depends on your style if you'll use this thing as a glorified remote control, or as a primary viewing device, but at least now it'll do you a lot more good than just some oddly shaped Frisbee with a touchscreen.
SageTV beta adds placeshifting
We placeshift our HDTV with an Xbox 360, so this was interesting news to us. SageTV's newest beta (4.1.7 for you Sage-a-maniacs) now supports placeshifting via a client called "SageTVPlaceshifter". Don't be disappointed in the name, what did you expect since the names "Orb" and "Slingbox" were already taken? We're guessing that you're not shifting HD content with this first version, but we all know that's where things are headed. Does anyone know the patron saint of "bandwidth" so we can light a candle?[via eHomeUpgrade]
Go ahead: you spec out an HD WMCE
This might only apply to the "hands-on" crowd, but I think even the non-DIY readers could benefit. We posted earlier today that PC Mag just built an HD WMCE box for a shade over two-grand and it's very easy to spend more or less depending on what features you're looking for. HDBeat reader Buzzcut commented on that story: "I'd also be more interested in a story about the CHEAPEST HD MCE box possible. Can it be done for less than $800 with a HD tuner card and a reasonable hard drive (at least 250 GB)?"To basically answer that question, we'd say yes. Our sub-grand machine does the trick for us and you should now find the same parts for less than we paid in December. Our total cost was around $950 back then, so $800 isn't a stretch, but we'll research that one for sure. While we do that, how about a little high-def homework? Let's open up the comments for you to spec out an HD WMCE machine. If you want to go all out and spend several grand, that's up to you. If you want to tackle Buzzcut's requirements, that's fine too. Who's up for a little PC spec'ing?
Build an HD HTPC - PC Magazine
We've built an HD WMCE PC, then Engadget built one; so what happens next? PC Magazine is building one; wow, we feel like such trend setters. Ah, who are we kidding, do-it-yerselfers have been building PCs since the 1980's! PC Mag drops over two-grand on their high-def system, which is much more than the $950 we spent, but in fairness to them, the do have more RAM, double the hard drive space and multiple tuners for their high-def content. Additionally, their case choice of a SilverStone LaScala LC17 looks more component-like and less PC-ish. If you're interested at all in building a high-def capable home media center, this is another good article worth the read.[via Wired@Home.blog]
Restricted content and hardware DRM
So wouldn't it totally blow if you recorded an over-the-air program only to later see a "Restricted Content" error message when you decided to watch it? It hasn't happened via ATSC yet (that we know of), but it just happened to Ed Bott with some HBO recordings. Before we throw everyone in a tizzy, there's no new evil DRM at work here. Turns out there's some old evil DRM at work here: within WMCE, if you change hardware, the DRM system may not exactly work correctly. We mentioned this concern last year when discussing Microsoft Vista, but we didn't expect it to bite us in WMCE 2005. If you do something radical, you know, like update your WMCE with a new graphics card, you might want to check out the workaround.
MythTV update available
MythTV, a Linux-DVR alternative to WMCE that supports HDTV via over-the-air, just announced a sizable upgrade. Version 0.19 has an abundant list of features and fixes, so we won't bore you with the full list; you can read it while you download the latest and greatest version. Actually we'll share one just because use a similar function on the Xbox 360 as a Windows Media Extender: a popup keyboard so you don't have to use the remote for text input. And then there's the new support for DTS passthrough audio. Don't forget the signal monitoring support. Oh wait, we said we weren't going to hit you with the list...[via eHomeUpgrade]
So this is what Viiv is?
I think part of the reason it's so hard to figure out what Viiv is, is because it's so many things. One of those things, is a small form factor PC with dual cores that turns on and off almost instantly and runs Windows Media Center edition. This box, the µDMS P60 from Hi-Grade is only a concept, but it's one that I like: small, sleek and somewhat powerful. The question is: how is it at HD? It's said to have an optional ATSC tuner for OTA HD, but how about access to DIRECTV HD programming?[via Engadget]
Remove commercials and compress HD files with DVRMSToolbox
Want to shrink down or convert some of the DVR-MS high-def files on your WMCE machine? How about stripping (no not that kind) commercials out of your favorite HD recordings with a $10 add-in? Enter DVRMSToolbox, a 3.2MB download that lets you do that and more. The freeware application also converts your television recordings to WMA or MPEG-2 as well, which gives you just a little more freedom from that WMCE box. The free tool can be paired with the Dragon Global ShowAnalyzer for ten clams, which helps remove those commericals and frees up your FF finger for other uses. No, we don't want to know.Dave Mathews tipped us off to the free app, and he provides some insight on how he's shrinking every 4.3GB episode of "24" into a 2.6GB file without commercials or losing any audio or video quality. Looks like Edgar and Chloe have some technical competition at CTU aside from Senator McCain!Download info
Transcode 360 provides DivX support for WMCE
Oh, we're lickin' our chops over this one. Transcode 360 came out in public beta earlier this week and we've got the Zip file already on the Windows Media Center box in the HDBeat labs! No time to get 'er up and running just yet, but we didn't feel right not sharing the goods, so go check it out if you're looking for DivX support on WMCE. The short description is right up our alley too: "Designed for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 and the Xbox 360, Transcode 360 aims to broaden the support for a wide range of video media including DivX and XviD." Life is good.Read [via Chris Lanier]
Fujitsu LifeBook N6410 WMCE notebook
Fujitsu brings one of the first Windows Media Center notebooks running on the Intel Core Duo chipset with the LifeBook N6410. Dual core computers were a bit hit at CES and the prospect of running WMCE with Core Duo in a portable package is appealing. The $1,649 base price nabs you a 17-inch WXGA LCD screen for 720p playback and an ATI Mobility Radeon x1400 with 256MB of memory. You can add an optional TV tuner, but that's likely to be NTSC, not ATSC; for a DTV signal, look for an external USB tuner. Storage capacity is up to 320GB and you can cram up to 2GB of DDR2 RAM running at a speedy 667 MHz.
CableCARD primer from Ars Technia
Over at Ars they have a great CableCARD primer that includes everything from the origin to the nitty-gritty technical details, but here's the gist. It all started with Congress back in 1996; the FCC has let the cable companies push it back 10 years already and there is still no end in sight. CableCARD 1.0 is a let down because it is crippled out of the gate (no two-way or multi-stream functionality). CableCARD 2.0 will be here this year but no one will care, because compatible devices won't be here till 2007, and by then Downloadable Conditional Access System (DCAS) will replace it. No worries, because CableCARD is backwards compatible, but you won't get the new features. Add in some technical details on how the DRM is bullet proof to will prevent you from doing anything like enjoying shows on your iPod and that pretty much sums it up. Joy! Oh and one more thing: if you want to use Vista Media Center with CableCARD it will require an HDCP display.Thanks, Frankie and Warren.
History of ATSC in Windows Media Center
Ever wonder how ATSC support ended up in Windows Media Center? Peter Rosser is Microsoft Media Center developer, so we figure he's qualified to teach the history lesson. Back in Media Center 2002, NTSC was the predominant over the air requirement, so support for the analog standard was integrated. Although ATSC usage is small by comparison, it made sense for WMCE to work with it in the next iteration, considering we're heading towards a digital horizon. Peter gives a great history along with the technical challenges of video rendering and guide data; all in all, a great read.Thanks Josh!
CableCARD or Credit Card for Vista?
Forget CableCARD, OEM's will need a Platinum Corporate Card to afford the CableLabs certification fees for CableCARD 2.0 computers. Microsoft MVP Chris Lanier compiled a list of the fees involved and once you look at the list, you begin to see why not all of the 130 WMCE original equipment manufacturers will bring you a Vista-licious HD computer later this year. Remember, these are the costs that an OEM will pay: Verification: $30,000 Practice Run: $20,000 Development Lab Use: $12,000/week or $2,500/day. Additional $1,500 per day for extended hrs (5-10 pm). Digital Output and Recording Technology Review: $35,000 Device Certificates for Host: $20,000 annually; plus $0.07 per certificate DFAST Patent/Secrets (DFAST): $5,000 We ran through the numbers and come up with a good hundred-grand for starters. Sure, that's a drop in the bucket for Dell, Sony, HP and the like, but what about the smaller OEM's? Perhaps the expected sales don't justify the cost and that's a real shame as this potentially shuts some good PC manufacturers right out of the market.Read (via eHomeUpgrade)
