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News, Analysis, and Opinion on Microsoft Digital Media Technologies (and TGB News!)
March 2007 - Posts
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Lots of questions and comments about the new Xbox 360
Elite, so here is a run down with some answers.
Question: is it quiet?
It’s said to be the exact same hardware as the Core and Premium
systems. If you consider them to be
quiet, then yes the Elite is also quite.
If you consider the Core and Premium systems to be loud, then yes the
Elite is also loud.
Question/Comment: Why not
insist for Xbox Certification, games must be delivered on standard DVD media
(for now) and if Bluray became defacto, then new models would just have a
bluray drive.
This isn’t anything you need to worry about. If Blu-ray were to win the overall High
Definition format war, that means nothing in terms of game consoles. Microsoft could still (if they wanted to),
ship an Xbox with HD DVD to get the increased storage of blue laser HD DVD. I wouldn't imagine they will do this at all though.
Comment: I fail to see
the value in this device. It is riddled with DRM and VERY expensive.
It’s not “riddled with DRM” any more than the $300 Core
system. The “DRM” in question would be
to protect the hardware/software from being hacked. And of course, this only gets in your way if
you happen to be trying to hack it.
It’s less expensive than a PS3, but yes it is expensive.
Question: I have a
standard XBox360, connected to my living room HDTV with the same type of
component cables that are used on my HD STB. Can I connect it to my CableCard
equipped Vista Media Center PC and use it to watch HDTV programming at their
full resolution? Or would I need to purchase and HDMI-capable XBox360 Elite now?
Yes, you will be able to connect your new PC with CableCARD
to your current Xbox 360. Here’s how it
works.
VGA = 540p always; CIT set or not
Component = 1080i (full resolution) if CIT is not set; 540p
if CIT set
HDMI-HDCP = 1080i (full resolution) always
I do not know what cable companies have CIT set on. Might be just things like HBO, might be
nothing.
Question: If all I need
is an extender to a Vista Media Center with Cable Cards, will the XBOX 360
Elite do anything else beyond HDMI interface and 120 GB hard drive?
The Elite should guarantee full resolution output using HDMI
on all CableCARD content and on HD DVD content.
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Cross Posted from Chris Lanier's Blog at http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/
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Yesterday I wrote about how important file
format and codec support is and a few people have other thoughts on the
subject. Weldon Dodd at ReWinD says that
transcoding is here to stay, mainly because of the royalties that companies
have to pay for each codec that they support.
This is a good point, and is very true but I have a few thoughts on this
too.
There are a few things that can counter this problem. Still on my v2
Extender rant, these royalties will already be paid when OEM’s purchase the
SoC/IC/processer from Sigma. In other
words, Sigma already paid the royalties to include the decoding functionality
in the hardware. Weldon covers this as
his first example, and I agree 100%.
This is clearly the way to go, and it’s why devices from NetGear, KiSS,
etc have such great codec support. This
isn’t going to happen in an Xbox 360 however.
Weldon’s next example comes with software decoding, or what
the Xbox 360 and TiVo are doing. This is
where the cost goes up, as Microsoft or TiVo need to pay individual royalties to
all companies involved. It’s also a
problem because decoding in software takes a lot more work. I would say this is a huge problem for a
TiVo, but not a problem for the Xbox 360.
The only thing the Xbox 360 needs is specialized decoders to take
advantage of the hardware. In fact, this
can already be seen with the Xbox 360 HD DVD drive. The Xbox 360 can already decode MPEG-2, VC-1,
and H.264 at HD bitrates and resolutions.
All we need Microsoft to do is port that code so it’s useful to the
Media Center Extender side of things.
Not as easy as it sounds I imagine, but I’m sure it could be done.
Now, assuming that for some odd reason Microsoft could not
get those codec’s to work in the Media Center Extender side of things, my
suggestion since before the Xbox 360 was released was to open the
Live! Marketplace to codec developers.
Let DivX Inc. create an MPEG-4 ASP decoder and let them sell it to me
for $15. Microsoft get’s a kickback from
that too, and I’m happy. I’m going to
pay for the codec either in the price of the console or standalone, as long as
the Xbox 360 can identity the codec in question and direct me to the Live!
Marketplace I don’t see a single problem with this approach.
There is still a place for transcoding, but I think so much
more needs to be done first on these devices for them to really succeed. As I said before, there is no way any company
can support all codec’s and file formats, so this is where I would leave
transcoding open (and for those who don’t want to buy the codec from the Live!
Marketplace).
Transcoding is here to stay, but needs to be here on a
smaller basis.
Great blog Weldon!
Cross Posted from Chris Lanier's Blog at http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/
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DSC security dealers can now offer their customers the best
value on the most advanced security, home automation and entertainment solution
in the industry.
Columbus, OH – March
30, 2007 – DSC introduces tomorrow’s home today with the DSC HOME Powered
by Life|ware™ solution. This product bundle brings together home security, home
automation, and home entertainment; all controlled in the living room via the
TV screen, digital entertainment center and TV remote control. It means the
customer's TV will become the dashboard for managing security, lighting,
temperature, music, pictures, video, movies and television.
Customers can conveniently control security in every zone of the house using
Life|ware and the TV remote control. They can arm perimeter home security or
specific zones such as the garage, while at home; or arm zones from outside the
house, using electronic key fobs. The solution also includes a real-time IP
camera for keeping an eye on the front door, back deck, or inside for children,
pets and elderly relatives.
Customers can adjust home lighting and temperature in different areas using the
TV remote control; or (with add-ons to the product bundle) operate motorized
drapes, blinds and appliances the same way. They can even open and close the
garage door using an electronic key fob.
In addition, the bundle includes a TV screen and entertainment center that
permits homeowners to pause live TV and schedule recordings of shows and
movies. Customers can manage music collections, watch DVDs, and create DVDs.
They can also organize digital picture collections and create custom slide
shows with them.
“We are excited to provide our installers with an opportunity to be among the
first in the security industry to take customer homes into the future,' said
Bryan Watts from DSC. 'DSC HOME and the great value offered by the Powered by
Life|ware product bundle allow our customers to get into a rewarding new business
very quickly with almost no learning curve. And we think the operation of the
home using the TV remote and our electronic key fobs is an unbeatable
combination. It's exactly the kind of convenience that the homeowners of
tomorrow will be seeking.'
Steve Cashman, vice president of sales for Life|ware said, “DSC is leading the
industry by offering builders and security installers the first WSD intelligent
home network-connected security system, along with a home entertainment and
automation solution.”
Life|ware provides instant and simple control over home automation, security
and surveillance systems from the same Media Center used to manage and
distribute digital content.
DSC HOME is a program that will include many different security products relevant
to the home of the future. DSC dealers can begin ordering the DSC HOME Powered
by Life|ware solution through DSC distributors in the USA this spring.
For more information please visit www.dsc.com or
www.life-ware.com.
Cross Posted from Chris Lanier's Blog at http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/
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Ben
at EngadgetHD asks if people want PC’s in their livings rooms, seeing as
HP just dropped their HTPC-line I posed the question this morning.
The first commenter on EngadgetHD replied to Ben’s notion
that “most people want their home theater
experiences to be drop dead simple” with “I think that's what TiVo does. It handles limited formats, but
that's all "most people" need.”
This is a critical problem that most people don’t seem to
understand. Limited formats is not “all
most people need,” in fact, they need the exact opposite. The problem with all of these devices is that
they can’t play the random files people download online. I’m not talking about pirated content, just
the little stupid clips that have now made YouTube and Google Video what they
are. And while they are starting to
overtake online video, there is still a ton of video in dozens of other codec’s
and file formats out there.
This is a huge problem!
People don’t care how the video is encoded, they just want to play it.
Right now, they can’t do this.
The Xbox 360 supports limited formats.
TiVo (HMO) supports limited formats.
Apple TV supports limited formats.
Despite these companies’ ideas and concepts that limited codec support
is all people need, it is the first way to kill your product from ever being
popular (v1 Extenders would have been a hell of a lot more popular had they
supported other formats, I guarantee it).
All of these devices need to be able to decode as many
formats as possible to make the user experience better and more integrated. The concept of these devices is that you can
play the content on your PC in your living room. Right now if I download some random DivX clip
I can’t play it on the Xbox 360. I can’t
play it on a TiVo (HMO). I can’t play it
on Apple TV. All of these devices have failed to do what the average consumer is
buying them for.
If any of these companies want to push a good solution, it
needs to support as many codec’s as possible.
And before someone replies with that fact that you can use Transcode 360
or like, that’s not the point.
Out-of-box video playback play is.
We can hack almost anything and get it to play the content, but that’s
no way to move into the average consumer’s home. XMBC is a great solution, but telling people
to go rent a specific Xbox title to soft-mod their Xbox is not. Telling people that to play XviD on Apple TV
you have to strip it down to OS X underneath is not either.
Support as many file formats and codec’s as possible in your
devices and have a much better chance of making it into my living room. For Microsoft specially, it would be nice to
have a product that lives up to the “Media Center Extender” name. You know, actually being able to “extend” the
Media Center options I have no my PC!
No devices will be able to support all the codec’s in the
word, there are just too many of them.
However, you must support the following in your product at both SD and
HD resolutions. MPEG-1, MPEG-2, WMV7,
WMV8, WMV9 (VC-1), MPEG-4 ASP (DivX, XviD, Nero Digital), MPEG-4 AVC (H.264).
Now, it’s worth saying that there are a few devices out
there that play most, if not all, of these formats. However, I choose to include Xbox 360 (Media
Center Extender), TiVo HMO, and Apple TV because these are integrated
solutions. Other standalone devices
generally have a lackluster UI which also kills the consumer experience.
Cross Posted from Chris Lanier's Blog at http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/
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If you have not heard, HP is dropping their
Digital Entertainment Center PC line (Via
Missing Remote). While this is sad
news, from my point of view it tells me once again that people don’t want PC’s
in their living room. HP was not the
first big OEM to produce an HTPC-style machine, Gateway had an amazing one a
few years ago as did other big OEM’s and they all failed to.
The average consumer doesn’t want a PC in their living
room. I’m in firm belief that a huge
positive factor in the Media Center platform is the ability for the consumer to
choose several different PC platforms (Desktop, HTPC, etc) and compliment that
with Media Center Extenders. Even some
hardcode Media Center users have moved to an Xbox 360 in their living room, and
this is kind of the direction HP is taking, minus Media Center.
HP wants you to use their own software, dubbed MediaSmart
instead of Media Center Extenders. This
software is built in to several of HP’s HDTV’s and is basically just UPnP media
software like any Windows Media Connect device.
It doesn’t support anything like a PVR, just browsing and playing back
of audio, video, and photos. Lower level
basic stuff, not the same caliber as Media Center by any means. It will however integrate some of the same
online services as Media Center does (CinemaNow, etc).
I’m not a big fan of this approach. If HP thinks they are going to build a
platform around me buying all my HDTV’s from them they have a lot of thinking
to do. That’s more crazy then thinking I’m
going to buy five Xbox 360’s from Microsoft.
A (likely) $1500-$2000 new HDTV isn’t on my list my things to buy to get
content from my PC to me living room. I
would rather spend $1500 on a new PC, and $300 on a Media Center Extender. Likely to be around the same price, and it
does much more. However, it seems that
HP might not be going after those interested in Media Center.
What’s your opinion?
I know a lot of ya’ll are still using PC’s in your living room. Do you think this will affect your decisions
to keep a PC in your living room in the future?
Was this the right or wrong decision my HP? Note: HP will still be selling Desktop/Laptops with Windows Vista, which means they are still selling Media Center PC's.
Cross Posted from Chris Lanier's Blog at http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/
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Microsoft Corp. today announced the upcoming availability of
Xbox 360™ Elite, a new model of the video game and entertainment system that
will include a 120GB hard drive, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI)
port, a high-definition cable, and a premium black finish for the console,
wireless controller and Xbox LIVE® headset. Xbox 360 Elite has enough space for
a library of Xbox LIVE Arcade games and thousands of songs, as well as
downloadable high-definition TV shows and movies available on Xbox LIVE
Marketplace. The new 120GB hard drive also will be sold as a stand-alone
accessory to give current Xbox 360 owners greater choice and flexibility in
their games and entertainment experience. Additional Xbox 360 Elite
accessories, such as the black Xbox 360 Wireless Controller, Xbox 360 Play
& Charge kit and the Xbox 360 rechargeable battery, will be available
separately. The Xbox 360 Elite and its accessories are expected to begin
arriving in U.S. stores on April 29.
“Today’s games and entertainment enthusiast has an
insatiable appetite for digital high-definition content,” said Peter Moore,
corporate vice president for the Interactive Entertainment Business at
Microsoft. “Xbox 360 Elite’s larger hard drive and premium accessories will
allow our community to enjoy all that the next generation of entertainment has
to offer.”
Distinguished by its black finish and signature metallic
detailing, Xbox 360 Elite will have an estimated retail price of $479.99
(U.S.) and will come packed with components and accessories for the ultimate
high-definition entertainment experience:
- Xbox 360 Elite console. The console is equipped with a
premium black finish and three powerful core processors capable of producing
the best in HD entertainment (up to 1080p), 16:9 cinematic aspect ratio,
anti-aliasing for smooth textures, full surround sound, HDMI output and DVD
playback with upscaling capabilities right out of the box.
- Xbox 360 120GB hard drive. The 120GB detachable hard drive
allows gamers to save their games and store television shows, movies, music,
pictures, trailers, levels, demos and other content available from Xbox LIVE
Marketplace.3 The hard drive is sold separately for an estimated retail price
of $179.99 (U.S.).
- Xbox 360 Wireless Controller (black). This award-winning,
high-performance wireless controller, now in black, features the Xbox® Guide
Button for quick, in-game access to friends and music. It has a range of up to
30 feet and a battery life of 30 hours on two AA batteries. It is sold
separately for an estimated retail price of $49.99 (U.S.).
- Xbox 360 headset (black). Now available in black, the
headset lets gamers strategize or trade taunts while playing games and send
voice messages to friends on Xbox LIVE.
- Xbox 360 HDMI cable. New to Xbox 360, HDMI allows consumers
to get HD video (up to 1080p) and multichannel surround sound, all from one
cable.
- Xbox LIVE Silver Membership. With this, gamers can chat with
friends online, collect achievements and gamerscores, send and receive voice
and text messages, and access Xbox LIVE Marketplace content such as game demos,
HD movies and TV, as well as the best in downloadable games from Xbox LIVE
Arcade.
- One-month subscription to Xbox LIVE Gold. An Xbox LIVE Gold
Membership provides a complete online entertainment experience. Those who
subscribe to this premium service can engage in competitive online multiplayer
matches, tailor their matchmaking via feedback and accomplishments, chat with
more than one person at a time, and take advantage of unique privileges in the
Xbox LIVE Marketplace and Xbox LIVE Arcade.
The following accessories for the Xbox 360 Elite console
will only be sold separately:
- Xbox 360 Play & Charge kit. Complete with a charging
cable and a black rechargeable battery pack, the Xbox 360 Play & Charge kit
allows gamers to recharge their Xbox 360 Wireless Controller without
interrupting their gameplay. It is sold separately for an estimated retail
price of $19.99 (U.S.).
- Xbox 360 rechargeable
battery (black). The rechargeable battery pack provides more than 25 hours of
gameplay per charge. It is sold separately for an estimated retail price of
$11.99 (U.S.).
Cross Posted from Chris Lanier's Blog at http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/
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Reed Hastings, CEO of Netflix just joined Microsoft's Board of Directors.
Though on the finance committee, this could be an interesting move when you
think about how it could relate in terms of media. Will the closer
connection between Hastings and Microsoft lead to integration of Netflix download service inside of Microsoft
products like Xbox 360 and Media Center? Hmmm
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SoftSled Project - Open
Source Media Center Extender | When someone makes a website dedicated to
SoftSled should that tip Microsoft off enough to at least address it publicly? I hope so, because SoftSled Project is just that.
- Get the attention of the media center community and able developers.
- Motivate able developers to work towards the common goal of
creating an open source media center extender.
- Make this open source media center available on multiple
platforms (Windows and Unix) and possibly even live disks, flash drives and usb
sticks.
- Keep the community informed of all available
"softsled-like" solutions.
- And if all that doesn't work, maybe we can just create
enough buzz so that Microsoft will finally release softsled.
Everyone should check this one out, including any developers
who have ideas on how to make this product come to life.
Cross Posted from Chris Lanier's Blog at http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/
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While reading some of the comments on Digg about Apple TV, I
ran across this one. “Apple
TV + diggnation = teh win.”
I figured that everyone should know that you can already do Diggnation + Media Center right
now, even from an Xbox 360! Apple TV does
offer Podcast and Vodcast support also, but with Media Center you can browse whole
catalogs like Revision3 from your living
room. With Apple TV, I believe that you
need to subscribe to them using iTunes on the PC first. That’s not too fun, I want it now without getting up!
For this example I’m using MCE RSS Reader, but
there are a dozen or so RSS Readers out there for Media Center. I simply installed it, added the Diggnation RSS feed for
WMV since that’s what plays on a PC and Xbox 360, and waited for the
enclosures to download (the WMV files). mNewsCenter
and Big Screen Headlines
(Vista support) are two other RSS readers for Media Center.
Once downloaded in the background, I can just click Play
within the Media Center UI either on my PC or Media Center Extender (Xbox 360)
and I have Diggnation extended to any display I want.
Of course, this isn’t limited to Diggnation. Any website with an RSS feed can be viewed
with MCE RSS Reader. You can read Digg, this awasone blog, The Media
Center Show, all Revision3 content, and
much more.
Cross Posted from Chris Lanier's Blog at http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/
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If you were waiting for this…“When we get closer to
the Windows Vista timeframe we will announce a program to make sure that early
adopters who purchased a v1 Media Center Extender (from Linksys or HP) are
accommodated.”…you can stop now. There is no update program, no rebate program, no nothing. You can however keep using them with Windows
XP Media Center Edition. Accommodation? Far from it. Related: Xbox 360
Only Vista Compatible Extender
Cross Posted from Chris Lanier's Blog at http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/
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Microsoft will join
forces with a newly formed Fox/Newscorp and NBC/Universal joint venture to
distribute a vast library of online video content to MSN consumers.
Redmond, Wash., March 22, 2007 -- Microsoft Corp.
issued the following statement, attributable to Kevin Johnson, President,
Platform and Services Division, after the announcement today that Microsoft
would join forces with a newly formed Fox/Newscorp and NBC/Universal joint
venture to distribute a vast library of online video content to MSN consumers:
“Today’s announcement is a great win for MSN’s more than 460
million consumers and for online video more broadly. When launched, this new
venture will provide free access to an unprecedented library of high-quality
video content.
“Our investments in MSN Video and SoapBox over the past
couple of years have shown us that video is an amazing driver of user
engagement and excitement, both for consumers and for advertisers.
“Joining forces with Fox/Newscorp and NBC/Universal is
completely in line with our strategy to offer our users easy access to the best
video on the web in a way that is good for content owners, great for consumers,
and provides compelling opportunities to advertisers. Building on the work we
have done with MSN Video and SoapBox, we are taking another step toward
realizing that vision.
“We were thrilled to be a part of these discussions from the
start, and share with our colleagues in the content industry our vision for
delivering easy access to great content for consumers while accommodating
critical copyright and intellectual property protections. This partnership
proves we can do both and serves as a great foundation for future
collaboration.
“We look forward to the summer when the content library
comes online, and MSN users can tune in and watch the videos they love.”
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide
leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses
realize their full potential.
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing
additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft® Web
page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass
on Microsoft’s corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and
titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For
additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid
Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx.
Cross Posted from Chris Lanier's Blog at http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/
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Niveus has begun
shipping its Microsoft Windows Vista Media Center-based media servers that
include support for Digital Cable and other exclusive features including HD
DVD, and Intel Viiv technology.
Milpitas, CA – March
21, 2007 – Niveus Media, Inc., an award-winning manufacturer of digital
entertainment solutions for the connected home, is now shipping the company’s
high-performance, Digital Cable Compatible, 2007 media centers – the Summit
Series’ Rainier and Denali Editions, and the Pro Series’ n9 and n7. Enabling
premium HD television functionality across all Niveus Media Centers, the
CableCARD-ready systems deliver the ultimate in audio and video performance in
a media center to date.
Niveus’ new Media Server line, including the passively-cooled Summit Series’
Rainier and Denali and rack-mountable Pro Series, delivers the highest level of
Microsoft Windows Vista Media Center performance for home theaters. Windows
Vista, including highly anticipated CableCARD technology, will now allow
consumers to enjoy one-way cable programming and enable them to view and record
premium digital HD content without the use of a set-top box via the Niveus
Digital Cable Receiver; an external, dual CableCARD receiver unit that can be
paired with any Digital Cable Compatible Niveus Media Center.
Niveus Media Centers are also among the first Windows Vista Media Center-based
products to offer stunning 1080p playback via the HD DVD platform. Providing
faster frame rates, higher quality television, faster music encoding, rich
graphics, and quicker response time, Niveus’ 2007 editions are also amongst the
first Windows Vista Ultimate-based Media Center systems to incorporate Intel’s
Viiv™ technology, including Core 2 Duo processors, HD DVD and HDMI output; all
in an audio/video component form factor.
Niveus’ first entry-level media center priced for mid-to-high end home
theaters, the Rainier measures just over 4-inches tall. Built upon the platform
of the acclaimed 2006 Denali, the Rainier features Niveus’ unique chassis, with
an all new front panel and signature extruded aluminum heat sinks. The Rainier
boasts an impressive list of specifications including: Intel Core 2 Duo
processor, up to 3 television tuners {2x Digital Cable Tuner (via Niveus
Digital Cable Receiver unit), 1x ATSC}, 750GB of storage, 2GB of memory,
Nvidia’s GeForce Series 7 graphics, and 8-channel audio. The Rainier also
incorporates HDMI, an integrated IR Receiver/Blaster, Serial (RS-232), Wireless
80211.b/g, and an integrated flash card reader (SD, MMC).
Measuring over 8-inches tall, the 2007 Denali and Denali Limited Edition were
designed to deliver the ultimate in power, performance, and graphics. Niveus’
2007 Denali line incorporates HDMI video output, an Intel Core 2 Duo processor,
up to 4 television tuners (via Niveus Digital Cable Receiver unit), 1.5TB of
storage, 2GB of memory, Nvidia’s GeForce Series 7 graphics, Serial (RS-232) and
high-quality audio including 8-channel analog output. Both the Denali and the
Rainier feature Niveus’ proprietary Glacier Passive Cooling™ technology (active
& passive cooling) and patent-pending Niveus ConvergencePanel™; the Summit
Series is Imaging Science Foundation (ISF™) Certified.
Designed with the custom installer in mind, Niveus’ Pro Series n7 and n9
incorporate cutting-edge technology to deliver one of the fastest, most
powerful media server solutions on the market, in a convenient rack-mount form
factor. The HD DVD enabled and Vista-based Pro Series includes the
highly-anticipated Intel Viiv™ technology and Core 2 Duo Extreme processor,
Nvidia’s GeForce Series 8 Graphics and HDMI output. Packed with the
compatibility and functionality to perform as a central media distribution hub
for the digital home, the Pro Series offers broad third party control and
enough horsepower to distribute audio and video throughout a multi-zone home.
Each feature Niveus’ proprietary Glacier Passive Cooling™ technology (active
& passive cooling) and patent-pending Niveus ConvergencePanel™, HDMI and
RS-232, as well as hard drive storage options in the n7 and n9 (1TB to 3TB HDD,
respectively). The n9 boasts 4 television tuners, 2GB of Memory, and
high-quality audio including 8-channel analog output.
Niveus Media’s 2007 Summit Series – Rainier Edition and Denali Editions have an
MSRP starting at $3,199 and $7,999, respectively. MSRP of the Pro Series n7 and
n9 start at $7,999 and $15,999, respectively.
For more information on Niveus Media, Inc., please visit www.niveusmedia.com.
Cross Posted from Chris Lanier's Blog at http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/
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Charlie Owen got himself into some trouble giving away some
hints that point to Fiji
being the next version of Media Center.
I have no idea what Fiji is, but if it is the next version of Media Center
I would expect DIRECTV/Dish
support to be part of it.
But, what else might be part of Fiji? Will we finally get SoftSeld? DVD
Streaming? UI refreash again? Let
the rumors start!
Here’s mine, what if we see Fiji target release date for Q4
2007/Q1 2008? Holiday Season 2007 is the
now said date for v2 Extenders
to be on the market (actually, between now and Holiday Season 2007). This would mean Extenders should be on the
market, and AACS should hopefully be finished with Managed Copy support (clearly
pushed back because of AACS problems).
CableCARD PC’s should have dropped a
bit in price by then, just in time for that big Holiday rush.
Connecting the dots, we could see the solution that I thought
would ship with Vista will now come with Fiji.
Only time will tell, but what’s your #1 Fiji feature?
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Cross Posted from Chris Lanier's Blog at http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/
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