Media Center
March 16, 2010
Connect With FreeAgent Theater+
The Seagate FreeAgent Theater+ connects to your TV via HDMI (cable not included) and allows access to photos, video and music with 1080p HD playback. The device has a simplified user interface software and compact remote for control. Compatible with Windows XP, Vista, 7 and Mac OS X, it can comes with Ethernet, component video and composite A/V cables. Add to that a FreeAgent Go 500 External Hard Drive and that is one sweet system.
Via Seagate FreeAgent Theater+
December 24, 2009
Silver PAC Evolution 5500 Remote
The Silver PAC Evolution 5500 Remote has a 4.3" touchscreen and Sideshow technology for full media access for up to 100 devices, including your home entertainment system, lighting, HVAC, and your PC. It also features WiFi connectivity, an embedded Windows CE op system and hooks up via Z-Wave. The do-it-all remote is due in February but no price has been released.
Via Silver PAC
October 23, 2009
Moxi Mate Compliments Their DVR
If you already own a Moxi HD DVR, then the good news is that you can now receive its content in other rooms. Like its parent, the Moxi Mate features HDMI output, USB 2.0, eSATA and Ethernet ports, and backlit remote control. Play back recorded shows and movies from the DVR, access media from your computer, view Website content, control your home automation, all simplified with Moxi's software and menu.
Via Moxi Mate
October 15, 2009
Panasonic Unveils Multimedia Wonder
During the CEATEC 09 last week, Panasonic unveiled their All in One Multimedia Wonders, the MW-10 and MW-7. The devices combine a photo frame, CD player, iPod dock and video player. Details are sketchy but we are thinking that you can cram all kinds of media in them and cut down on the baggage.
Via Akihabara News
September 25, 2009
Freakin' Friday! DockStar Provides Your Personal Cloud
Funny how buzzwords get started and run rampant very quickly. Seagate, the parent company of FreeAgent wants you to know that you can create your own storage "cloud" with their DockStar. Plug it into your router, upload images and video to social networking sites, then tell your family and friends to get updated via custom RSS feeds. The device also has three USB ports for expansion and comes with a year's worth of Pogoplug service (normally $29.00 per year.)
Via Seagate Dockstar
August 5, 2009
DC Movie Cowboy - Super System
Digital Cowboy has a multimedia player that they have dubbed Movie Cowboy, of course. It can stream almost anything through its USB port, 2 USB hosts, HDMI output and composite output. Check out this compatiblilty list: MPEG2 HD(ts,tp,trp), MPEG-1/2, Xvid, DAT, ISO, VOB, IFO, MKV(x.264), H.264, WMV9, ASF, MOV, RMVB, FLV, MP4, MotionJPEG video files, and MP3, AAC, OGG, AC3, DTS, MPEG1/2 Layer 1/2/3(MP3), MPEG2-2BC, MPEG-2/4 ACC-LG, WMA9(Pro) and FLAC audio files. The price should be ¥19,900 (~$208.00.)
Via Akihabara News
August 1, 2009
Hands On Review: MG-M²TV
MediaGate was kind enough to send us their latest gadget, the M2TV, aka the MG-M²TV. The next generation of the MG-800HD can receive images, video and audio via an external hard drive, video card or USB source and playback in the highest quality HDTV display or home theater with almost any A/V file supported. I hooked it up and found it to be easy to connect, mostly simple to work and fun to play with.
On my USB flash memory drive I had downloaded some images from artist Mike Wrathell, a video from Robot Snob and some music from Jamendo (thanks to amelie's tune "Do it Over") so that I could run the full gamut.
Connection is super simple and you are given HDMI and RCA cords so it's not necessary to buy anything further. Even the remote battery is included. The M2TV is very small and sleek and will fit in the smallest of areas.
I always figure if you need extensive usage of the guide that comes with something, it's much too complicated. Thankfully, this is not the case here. After connection, the M2TV loads up very quickly. The main menu gives you a choice between movies, music, photo, settings and file copy.
Selecting movies shows what's in there and can be run in preview or full screen. Both video and sound were extremely impressive. The remote includes the ability to play in slo-mo, zoom, repeat, ff/rew, instant replay and more. Subtitles can be added in several languages.
When viewing images, you can select one at a time or build a slideshow with a timing of 2 seconds to 2 minutes, music background and transition effects in the Setup portion. Another fun trick is the ability to turn your images 360º and you can adjust the contrast, brightness, aspect ratio, etc. When playing music, you again can adjust by remote as you do with video.
The M2TV also allows for updating. Visit the site to download the latest version.
Summation
If you are the type that makes slideshows or likes to watch downloaded content without using up your hard drive, this is the device for you. We have reviewed electronic gadgets that need extra parts, will not compensate if you do not have HD or have other issues, but frankly about the only aspects we didn't like were very small lettering and the noise it made. We know, picky picky, but here's hoping the next model, which may feature WiFi, is quieter and doesn't need a magnifying glass to read the photo details.
(Thanks, Tony)
Via MediaGate
July 17, 2009
Freakin' Friday! MediaGate M²TV
Turn your TV into a mini-home theater with the MediaGate M²TV. Plug and play any hard drive, SD/SDHC/MMC digital memory card/stick or other USB device in its USB port. You get full HD 1080p playback and navigation of video, audio and/or photos. With RealVideo 10RMVB support, the portable device is portable and flexible. Need more space? Add more USB drives. We will be taking a closer look at the M²TV soon, so stay tuned (pun intended.)
Thanks, Tony
Via MediaGate
July 10, 2009
Guifx Ozone Icons - User Friendly for All
Ozone provides tools to make your home networking more user friendly. Their Icon Set is is a set of 64 photo-realistic icons made by "world-class" artists. Each is a large 512 x 512 PNG size that can be scaled down for your touchscreen. Icons come in categories of indoor and outdoor locations, utility areas and sports. The Ozone collection is available for $299.99. Guifx is also offering a free AMX 430/435 Template for its customers. Improvements include refined graphics, better UI and 200 quick key icons.
Via Guifx
July 9, 2009
Crestron TPMC-4SM Media Center
Crestron has a new media center. The TPMC-4SM Isys i/O Wall Mount is 4.3" and combines room scheduling with with the simplicity of a touchscreen. With PoE control, it provides LAN connectivity for both businesses and homes. Included RoomView Server Edition software needs no control system or other programming. The device can control your home theater, audio and video, security, 2-way IP intercom, heating and AC, and will work with other Crestron systems for A/V presentations. Best of all, its built-in proximity sensors automatically turns on and lights up in a dark room.
Via Big News
July 6, 2009
Emtec MovieCube Media Centers
The Emtec MovieCube P800 is not just an external hard drive that stores up to 500GB data with an HDMi port for viewing. The all-in-one media center can read most audio, video and photo formats with analog and digital TV tuner. Its Xvid HD 720p/1080i decoding gives it Internet radio access and an Ethernet port for transference of data. It is available now at a price of £280 (~$455.00.) Need less storage but still want one? Emtec also has a 40 GB MovieCube for about half that price.
Via Emtec Storage
July 2, 2009
Mvix to Release Ultio Media Player
Mvix is about to release their latest media player. The Ultio MX-800 is hard disk based and will reproduce up to 1080p video. Pre-equipped with a network port, it features a samba server and UPnP implementation. View movies or photos or listen to music as it supports most HD codecs including AVC-HD and FLAC. Stream content with integration with services like PlayOn or Tversity for such sites as Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, CNN and ESPN. It also has 2 USB 2.0 slaves for extending storage, adding media cards or USB drives. Look for the Ultio sometime this week with a decent price of $169.00.
(Thanks, A. Jay)
Via Mvix
June 23, 2009
QNAP NMP1000 - Deluxe Media
QNAP's NMP1000 is beginning to hit stores in Japan, so perhaps the network media player will make it here by the holiday season. At a price of ¥45,000, (~$470.00,) the HDMI 1.3 device has a 3.5" HDD, a 1GB Ethernet port and can double as NAS (network attached storage.) What more can we say? We'll let the video speak for itself.
Via Engadget HD
May 28, 2009
Kinetic UK Releases Combo DVD Media Centers
Kinetic UK seems to be covering all bases as its new 3 media center PCs has both Blu-ray and HD DVD compatibility. They also have up to 6TB of storage space, Core 2 Duo/Core 2 Quad/Core i7 processor choices and many CTO options. Choose between the Mini HD:Hub for £849.00 (~$1,351.00,) the Home HD:Hub for £1449.00 (~$2,306.00,) and the X HD:Hub at a price of £1569.00 (~$2,497.00.)
Via Kinetic UK
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