Media Distribution/Extenders

Jan 15 2013

News - HDBaseT @ CES 2013

By Andrew Van Til

HDBaseTI love the concept of HDBaseT. Run some Cat5e/6, add a switch and some devices that support HDBaseT (or adapters if using "legacy" devices) into the mix and you get a whole home media distribution network capable of pushing 100MB, 100W of power, audio/video, and control anywhere. With the right devices, you can do everything with just one cable.

There are a few problems with the current implementation though, well actually just one - it's not available to DIYer right now, you need to engage a custom installer in the process. If you're OK with that, and the $ it entails: first I envy you and second congratulations I'm confident that you will enjoy it. This will not always be the case though with retail availability on the road map (somewhere ;)), and an increasingly larger pool of devices to choose from we should be able to take advantage of a really slick way to push all the good stuff we want around the home.

Check out the photos from the visit on the next page.

Aug 24 2012

News - TiVo Mini to Bring Multi-Room TiVo to Life

By Matthew Miller

Extenders are back in vogue. There have been a number of intriguing extender-based, multi-room streaming systems to talk about this year. DISH has their Hopper and Joey combo, and of course, many of us around here are eagerly anticipating the Ceton Q and Echo, but before the year is out we should also have TiVo's version. TiVo first signaled their interest in moving in this DVR-less extender direction with the release of an Insignia TV that offered built-in TiVo streaming, but the stand-alone TiVo extender is coming soon and it now has a name. 

TiVo’s upcoming IP-STB has been been christened as the “TiVo Mini.” This wasn’t entirely unexpected, as I’d learned of it being referenced as such internally and believe it’s popped up at a TiVo investor or industry talk recently.

Zatz Not Funny

Aug 01 2011

News - SageTV Coming to Boxee Box

By Aaron Ledger

Many SageTV users are well aware of the skyrocketing eBay prices of the SageTV extenders after the company was purchased by Google and the extenders were pulled from retail. It seems SageTV extenders are about to get a second life in the form of the Boxee Box.

An unsanctioned effort by third-party developers is underway to bring SageTV front-end functionality to the Boxee Box in an application named SageBoxee. The software will still require a SageTV back-end server housing tuners and performing recording duties. It looks like this is a big victory for anyone anxiously bidding up SageTV HD300 extenders. It's too bad SageTV licenses can no longer be purchased.

If you're looking to get in on the development action, the repository is located here and you can join discussion regarding SageBoxee.

Boxee Box users will soon have a new way to access TV shows on the device of their choice: Third-party developers are currently working on a SageTV app for Boxee, which could bring DVR functionality to the media player. Talk about an unofficial SageTV Boxee app popped up this weekend on Boxee’s forums, and adventurous Boxee users can already install an early proof-of-concept version via a third-party repository.

NewTeeVee 

Jun 13 2011

News - Boxee Software Client Getting an Update...Eventually

By Matthew Miller

BoxeeEvery few months I get curious about WMC alternatives and end up loading Boxee. I've always found it just a little too rough around the edges. When the Boxee Box first came out I was hopeful that this would provide the development impetus that would turn Boxee into a viable WMC replacement, at least in my book. 

Unfortunately, my hopes have been continually dashed as the Box got updates and the PC software did not. A post on the Boxee blog today promises that will change. I have always understood why the PC software would lag behind the Boxee Box, but the lack of communication about the future of the PC software was what drove me nuts.  That being said, fall is a long ways off.

Good news for PC/Mac/Linux users – we are working to update the downloadable software version of Boxee and hope to have builds available this fall so you can enjoy the updated browser, improved playback, and lots more content that are currently available on the Boxee Box.

We know Boxee users on computers have been frustrated with the long wait and we want to be open with you about our priorities, growth, and the future of Boxee.

Boxee Blog

Jun 06 2011

News - Microsoft unveils live TV streaming for Xbox 360 from Sky TV, Foxtel and Canal

By Mike Garcen

I love what Microsoft is doing building an entire ecosystem based around the Xbox360, I only wish that Media Center was included. Here are the new features Microsoft announced at E3, with voice-powered search and a variety of streaming sources outside the US.

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/06/201106060726-1307380463.jpg

Microsoft confirmed the recent rumors and announced a new streaming TV implementation for the Xbox 360 today at its pre-E3 2011 keynote. The Kinect and Bing-powered voice search that can pull in content from online sources like Hulu, Netflix and Xbox Live Marketplace, will also work with live TV from IPTV partners. So far that list only includes Sky in the UK, Foxtel in Australia and Canal+ in France, but users there will be able to search across all the services and view them directly through the console itself.

Engadget

May 26 2011

News - Blinkx Is Coming to a Roku Near You

By Mike Garcen

I'm not familiar at all with Blinkx but they seem to growing pretty fast. This announcement that they'll be on Roku boxes only makes it that much easier to consume.

Image

The app has four categories to browse through: Sports, News, Popular and Fun, all of which draw from Blinkx’s premium content partners. While the company started as just a video search engine, over the past few years Blinkx has shifted its business model to also offer an ad network to publishers. The company claims more than 720 content partners and an index of more than 35 million hours of video and audio content. While those partners were featured on Blinkx’s site, as well as having ads delivered into videos on their own properties, Blinkx is now extending their reach to other devices.

NewTeeVee

May 23 2011

News - Warpia StreamHD Wireless 1080p Review

By Mike Garcen

We've recently reviewed similar products in the Veebeam and Brite-View devices, and you might notice a similarity in the body design of the Warpia to some others. Most of these products will be OEM'd from a specific vendor and then it's up to the company to customize the software. It seems like this one is pretty good, although it's odd with all the complaints the reviewer has (and it has lag) that they gave it a 4.5/5 rating.

I remember when wireless video was a thing of the future, well it’s here and it’s in HD! Today for review I’ve got the StreamHD SWP120A Wireless PC to TV Display Adapter. This product allows you to Stream high definition content from your computer to your TV over the air via an HDMI connection to your HDTV.  It works wirelessly of course by using an adapter and a receiver that resemble USB thumbdrives to get the signal to your TV.

DragonSteelMods

May 20 2011

News - KWorld M210 Network Media Player

By Mike Garcen

Here's a review of a KWorld media player which I need to add to our Media Player Comparison guide. The guys at Hardware Bistro seemed to like it.

If home theatre system is over budget then you may consider a media player which allows users to run certain of multimedia applications on a TV; this is even better if it is a network media player. KWorld M210 Network Media player is a newly launched network media player which costs less than 100USD with features of full 1080p HD movies, internal storage, Internet streaming programs, support multiple of video codecs & formats and so on.

May 19 2011

News - SageTV HD Theater 200 External IR Mod

By Mike Garcen

I love mods that void the warranty of a product for a useful purpose! Here's one for the older SageTV extender device and connecting an external IR to it so you can tuck it away yet still control it.

If, however, you are the owner of an HD200 that is already out of warranty and are still reading, then you’ll want to stay tuned and give this mod a try. That is, provided you feel comfortable modding your darling HD extender and the risks that go along with doing that.

GeekTonic

May 15 2011

News - Logitech Revue with Google TV Now $199.99

By Mike Garcen

While this is still too expensive in my opinion it's a far more reasonable asking price to their original $300. Still filled with flaws and nobody knows what the future holds, still...not a bad price to have a new toy to play with. Amazon actually has this now for $179...that's pretty darned good. No word when/if it will bump to the $199 that Logitech announced.

It’s official! Logitech has just reduced the price of their Google TV box, the Logitech Revue, to $199.99 ($100 off the original MSRP). So far the device hasn’t been a big hit with the masses, but with this relatively attractive price point things might change. Also, according to the Google TV session we saw at Google I/O, the Logitech Revue will be getting the Android Ice Cream Sandwich update later this Summer, which will bring an updated UI and Android Market to the platform (sneak peek). So, it’s a good time to jump in if you’ve been on the fence about buying one.

eHomeUpgrade

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