Chris Lanier's Blog : Media Center PC's

Going Beyond The Enthusiast Market

chrisl — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 01:59:00 GMT

Charlie Owen, a former Media Center team member wrote a post this week about Media Center expanding its marketplace, specifically going from the current enthusiast market to a more mainstream market. Charlie analysis comes to the pretty simple answer of “It's possible, but highly unlikely at this point.”

I had previously come to this conclusion, but to me the real question is “will Microsoft attempt to develop for the enthusiast market?” Lucky for me, Charlie replied to my comment with exactly what I was expecting

Charlie: “No. That's because they have never done so. The enthusiast market is always a subset of the overall market any product targets. Put another way: Where the goal is making a profit you wouldn't sacrifice a broad market opportunity of 100 for the narrow enthusiast market of 10. Making a Microsoft-sized profit is different than making a profit if you were a much smaller company.”

In other words the future for Media Center is one or two options. Option 1: Microsoft stops development of Media Center (very unlikely). Option 2: Microsoft transitions Media Center to a market which has the possibility to create a “Microsoft-sized profit.” (Hint: TV on your PC) Re-quoting myself from early this year, the days of Media Center being billed as the do-it-all center of your home are over.

My opinion continues to be that Microsoft will focus more and more on the Xbox 360 as the center of the home. The benefits of the Xbox 360 over Media Center are almost endless from a business perspective. The massive amount of end users (an unquestionable 30 million, with 20 million of them being Xbox Live subscribers) means content providers are going to flock to the platform. Microsoft can sit back and rake in yearly recurring revenue from these 20 million Xbox Live subscribers along with the massive amounts of licensing accessories and the Xbox 360 brand. Media Center on the other hard makes Microsoft absolutely no money as it is a part of the standard Windows SKU (eg. No one except members of The Green Button ever purchased a Windows license just to get Media Center).

There are still people holding out hope for Media Center to become a platform for the home. The recent announcement that Dish Network will not be shipping their tuner anytime soon didn’t surprise me one bit. Why would Dish bother to continue with Media Center when it is pretty clear Microsoft is moving away from the consumer they thought they were buying into? This same concept is at play with Media Center Extender’s. There is still some hope that Toshiba will be releasing an Extender, but I think the concept that most people miss is that whether it gets released or not means little in the grand scheme of things. If Microsoft’s heart is not in providing a platform for the home, you can really know going into your purchase that you’re going to end up disappointed at some point.

The biggest question mark might be Windows Home Server. For years I have said the concept of including Media Center in Windows Home Server is pointless and does nothing to expand the current market. If HP ditched Extender’s and CableCARD due to poor sales, why exactly would they have the least bit of interest in shipping a Media Center+Home Server box? If OEMs are not interested, why is Microsoft going to develop it?

Most people underestimate the OEMs when talking about Media Center. OEMs are really responsible for Media Center from start to finish from a customer’s perspective. HP and Dell have shown they have little interest in Media Center by either discounting CableCARD PCs, killing off Extender’s, and even in HPs case killing off their HT-styled z-series Media Centers. Dish Network and DIRECTV are just as important and have shown that they are increasing less interested.

Microsoft’s latest attempt to make a market for Media Center has been the custom integrator channel, and some have big expectations for what Microsoft might have in store. Sadly most of the possibilities have already been proven false, and based on what I’ve been told from those in the industry interest in Media Center in the custom channel is dropping fast. I’m interest to see how much longer Microsoft attempts to push into the market. With their partner OEMs such as HP, Linksys, Dish Network pulling out these leaves the custom OEMs like Niveus Media and Life|ware to pick up the slack. Unfortunately there is only such much they can do. If Microsoft’s commitment in the channel falls it might be the end of the custom market experiment.

So once again the question is what’s next. Recently there have been some great new bloggers show up in the Media Center community with some great suggestions. I’m done with suggestions. Microsoft knows exactly what we want, let’s not pretend they don’t. The issue is it is no longer in their best interest to pursue most of it. What’s next? Who knows. All I want at this point is for Microsoft to publicly provide a roadmap for what Media Center is to become.

Media Center Gets "PCTV" Marketing in Microsoft Store Mockups

chrisl — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 20:25:00 GMT

It has been my theory that Microsoft is slowly ditching the concept of using and promoting Media Center as a whole home entertainment experience and moving to the “TV on your PC” concept which they have been actively promoting over the past 6 months. This concept is something that most Media Center enthusiasts don’t want to believe as it turns Media Center into a product that most current users have no interest in. What better way to find out the future of Media Center than looking at how it could be presented in the upcoming Microsoft retail stores.

Gizmodo got their hands on some leaked mockups of the retail experience, and while Microsoft’s PR is pushing the leaked images as “early prototypes and concepts of our retail store plans” I think it will further key us in on the future of Windows Media Center.

The images, which are presented in on Gizmodo show Media Center being marketed as “PCTV” with such usage scenarios as “watching the Today Show while checking emails during breakfast” and “watching American Idol while on the blog.” Other key features in the mockup include PC as a PVR, watching Internet TV, and managing all media in one place.

The mockup of the retail experience is driven by what look to be PC monitors or small screen HDTVs. A theater setting or living room with Media Center as the center piece doesn’t look to be in the picture if this mockup is to be trusted. Also missing in the mockup is any mention of Media Center Extender’s.

I have no doubt will we see things that are not clearly outlined in the leaked images, however I do believe the marketing material for Media Center is what we will end up seeing. Notably missing from the mockups are large displays for Xbox 360, Zune, and even Home Server. I’m not sure Home Server will get a large amount of square-footage designated to it, but I do expect Zune and Xbox to have their place (both Zune and Xbox are outlined in the product offerings mockup image).

What’s your opinion, will the marketing for Media Center be focused on whatever PCTV is, or can we expect Media Center being pushed as the 10-foot experience that we really want?

VidaBox vAutomation adds Powerful, Semi-Automatic LiteTouch Lighting Integration

chrisl — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:03:00 GMT

Westbury, NY - March 11th - VidaBox is proud to announce support for LiteTouch®, an innovator in residential lighting controls, on their vAutomation™ control and integration platform. All of the standard lighting controls can be integrated onto a single VidaBox TouchClient™ or vPad™, providing the convenience of whole house lighting control from any location.

"Not only did we develop a driver for LiteTouch®," says Steven Cheung, President of VidaBox LLC, "but we've created a semi-automatic, integrated solution where virtually no programming is needed. First, every lighting station and button can be configured within the LiteWare software. Next, by running a special program we've developed, this configuration is then exported for use by the CQC driver, and presented on our vAutomation templates. These custom templates automatically generate scene keypads with LED status feedback, along with scene buttons for each LiteTouch® station. This solution makes it extremely easy to set up LiteTouch® on vAutomation™ touch interfaces without any programming."

"We are excited to work with VidaBox in providing an excellent whole home automation solution," says Kevin Davidson, Corporate Training Manager of LiteTouch, Inc. "VidaBox provides a simple interface and a powerful platform which allows LiteTouch to maintain our focus in providing the very best and the most reliable lighting control solutions in the world."

"By choosing LiteTouch® and VidaBox vAutomation™," Cheung continues, "dealers can offer a tightly integrated solution that allows lighting control to be added easily, without any complex programming. This tremendously minimizes installation time without sacrificing quality. Combined with integrated support for media centers, audio servers, and other smart home technologies, the vAutomation™ platform provides a truly all-in-one, complete solution."

vAutomation support for LiteTouch® is available now. For more details and information on this innovative automation platform and VidaBox's comprehensive line of media servers, extenders, and complete entertainment and control solutions, please visit their company website at http://www.vidabox.com, or contact them at 516-730-7500. For more details on LiteTouch and their lighting solutions, please visit their company website at http://www.litetouch.com.

About VidaBox LLC
VidaBox LLC is a digital entertainment and controls solutions company focused on manufacturing premium media centers, audio servers, and integrated home control & automation solutions. VidaBox is on a mission to create user-friendly, stable high-performance Media Center systems that work right out of the box and integrate seamlessly with multizone audio and smart home technologies. For more information, visit www.vidabox.com or call 1-516-730-7500.

About LiteTouch Inc.
LiteTouch lighting control products offer real-world benefits including convenience, security, time-savings, safety, energy conservation and design aesthetics. "Experience Lighting Control", an online tour detailing many of these benefits is available at LiteTouch.com LiteTouch, a lighting control industry leader for more than two decades, is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.

VidaBox Launches the Affordable RoomClient:SE Media Server

chrisl — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:14:00 GMT

Westbury, NY - March 4th - VidaBox has launched the new RoomClient:SE system, an entry-level, Vista-based media server. Starting at $2248, the RoomClient:SE stores movies, pictures, music, and more for on-demand access via an on-screen, remote controlled interface. Cover art from movies and music titles are automatically downloaded along with every archival. Complete with 1080p upscaling and full Dolby Digital and DTS support, it's designed to deliver a stunning entertainment experience without compromising quality.

"The RoomClient:SE is the perfect entry-level unit," says Steven Cheung, President of VidaBox LLC. "It has all the features and capabilities of our larger systems, such as storage and playback of DVDs, music, pictures, video, and TV - all in a compact-sized form factor. What's even better is that integrators can expand upon the RoomClient:SE at a later time by offering their clients various upgrades, such as more storage, additional extenders for Blu-ray support, etc. The RoomClient:SE strikes a great balance between being feature-rich, easily expandable, and affordably priced."

Based on Vista Media Center, it includes enough storage for about 150+ unencrypted DVDs, 900+ hours of TV, or tons of music and pictures. Multizone AV distribution can be done by adding other VidaBox extenders, making the system flexible and expandable. Integration of IPTV and other internet-based media on the RoomClient:SE interface provide access to a myriad of content out of-the-box. The addition of third-party applications to provide and add more features make the RoomClient:SE an even more appealing choice for dealers and consumers alike.

"Integrators and tech-savvy customers can even add support for Netflix's 'Watch Now' feature on our systems," Cheung continues. "Media Center-based third-party apps like these allow clients to access and choose from thousands of movies instantly. With its vast multimedia storage & playback capabilities and great price point, the RoomClient:SE is an excellent choice for any AV project."

The new RoomClient:SE is shipping and available now. For more details and information on the RoomClient:SE or other VidaBox media servers, extenders, and complete entertainment and control solutions, please visit the company website at http://www.vidabox.com, or call 516-730-7500.

About VidaBox LLC
VidaBox LLC is a digital entertainment and controls solutions company focused on manufacturing premium media centers, audio servers, and integrated home control & automation solutions. VidaBox is on a mission to create user-friendly, stable high-performance Media Center systems that work right out of the box and integrate seamlessly with multizone audio and smart home technologies. For more information, visit www.vidabox.com or call 1-516-730-7500.

Microsoft Focuses Media Center Marketing, Platform to Follow

chrisl — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:38:00 GMT

The first sign of a business in trouble is when you must reinvent yourself to stay alive. Microsoft might not actually be reinventing Media Center, mostly becasue you can't reinvent something that you never actually defined a market for in the first place, but they are finally attempting to delineate where they see Media Center competing in such a growing marketplace (and that’s not a good thing for most reading this).

Media Center started as a method to watch TV on the PC. Essentially it was marketed to college students to cut down the number of devices in their dorm. Then it grew up and Microsoft focused on getting Media Center off the PC and onto the big screen. Media Center 2004-2005 and Extenders helped drive this concept. Media Center was the star of CES keynotes of the past focusing on the next-generation home. Much of this is outlined in the Evolution of Windows Media Center that Microsoft just finished.

The video might have a few hidden messages that are hard to catch, but I think they define Media Center’s future and show that Microsoft has finally attempted to focus on a specific market.

(Microsoft presented this image at WinHEC)

“TV on your PC” is Microsoft’s new marketing talk for what Media Center is and does (hear it from Media Center marketing PM Ben Reed here ~30 seconds in) . Not whole home connected entertainment, not Media Center in your living room, not Extenders, not high-end theaters, but “TV on your PC.” In other words, the days of Media Center being billed as the do-it-all center of your home are over (except for the custom market).

For the first time, Media Center officially has a market, and while that is good news that Microsoft has finally defined who they are developing for, it is bad news for most reading this post as you can now be sure Media Center will never be the platform you have dreamed of.

Thinking about it, the signs have been developing over the past months. The lack of Media Center at CES keynote makes perfect sense if it is being billed as just a way to watch TV on your PC. No need to make a big deal about that. Microsoft touting touch screen support in Windows 7 half has to do with them putting way to much emphasis on touch in Windows 7 in general, but also helps them show off using a kitchen PC for watching TV on. Why exactly do I need this in a product that is meant to be controlled with a remote? This was recently questioned on The Green Button and Engadget HD’s most recent podcast. Mouse clickable seekbar in Windows 7, yet again a sign of Media Center moving onto the desktop and away from the TV.

I think Microsoft will continue to focus on the CEDIA channel as well, which most likely means my fears of Microsoft developing new cool features that are only available to OEMs is going to come true. Niveus Media and Exceptional Innovation (Life|ware) will likely see the majority of the attention. Smaller Media Center OEMs will start to fade away after being ignored by Microsoft who hasn’t grasped the concept that all of the smaller OEMs serve the exact same high-end customers as Niveus and Life|ware (examples include support for 10 Extenders, 8 CableCARD tuners for only Niveus/Life|ware). I think we will see Microsoft heavily market an appliances-like device to these OEMs (unclear if the functionality will be avaiable to the masses, but I don’t see it marketed to them).

If there is a plus side (hard to think of it as that) to this it would be in the form of much lower expectations. Hopefully I’m wrong, but this change could end Media Center as we know (or think we know) it today.

Random Notes from Microsoft’s CES Keynote

chrisl — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 03:06:00 GMT

Media Center

10 million Media Center users a month
Average Media Center session time is ~90 minutes

Xbox 360

Xbox LIVE membership that has grown to 17 million active members.
Xbox 360 has sold 28 million consoles sold to date
More than $1 billion spent on Xbox LIVE since the launch of the Xbox 360
Xbox 360 has largest game attach rate
Xbox LIVE Primetime channel brings together the best of TV and gaming in an interactive way.
Primetime will create scheduled programming, offer interactive and social features.
Average Halo player playing 150 hours on Xbox LIVE
Two new Halo titles this year. Feb 28th release for Halo Wars. Halo 3 ODST in 2009.
Since NXE launch, downloads of video content up 60%
Over 45 movie/TV studios providing content on Xbox LIVE
Over 60 millions song downloads on Lips and other music games.

Mediaroom

Mediaroom platform has reached nearly 2.5 million subscriber homes worldwide (250% growth over last year)
Mediaroom Anytime lets you watch previously aired content
Mediaroom adds interactive third-party application support (BBC Top Gear as an example)

Windows Mobile

Windows Mobile is getting new Internet Explorer with Adobe Flash support
Lots of new phones shown
Microsoft/Netflix will offer software that enables Windows Mobile customers to update and view their Netflix movie queue.

Windows 7

Windows 7 is up on MSDN/TechNet. Public beta on Microsoft.com on Jan. 9

Other

Ford Sync will get updated with TellMe support
Zune Social is up to 2 million users

Niveus Media and ADI Serve Up Premium Home Entertainment

chrisl — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:15:00 GMT

Available through ADI, the Niveus Media Server – Vail Edition provides a no-nonsense, high-performance entertainment experience.

Milpitas, CA – December 30, 2008 – Niveus Media has teamed up with ADI to distribute the Niveus Media Server to custom electronics installers across the country. Now available at ADI branch locations, the Niveus Media Server – Vail Edition is an energy-efficient entertainment server designed to store, aggregate, and distribute HD content throughout the home.

With support for movies, music, photos, and much more in its slender frame, Vail is packed with advanced technologies to deliver stunning in-home audio and video reproduction. A CES Innovations 2008 Design and Engineering Awards recipient, Vail is based on Windows Vista® Home Premium featuring Windows® Media Center. It is equipped with an optional Blu-ray Disc™ drive, 250GB of storage, and proprietary Niveus technologies including the new Niveus Movie Library movie management interface!

Through Vail, digital photography and video collections are securely stored and accessed throughout the home; CD collections are merged with downloaded audio tracks to create a uniform and all-encompassing music library; and Blu-ray Disc™, DVD, and digital movies from leading content providers such as VideoGiants, are aggregated in the Niveus Movie Library, an attractive and intuitive movie management interface.

As Niveus’ first energy-efficient media server, Vail Edition offers remarkably low power consumption at less than 180W. Niveus engineers were able to integrate the industry’s finest components into Niveus’ most compact media server, at just over 2 inches in height and 17lbs in weight.

Suitable for rack mount installation or living room placement, Vail is engineered with a silent active cooling design for cool and quiet (less than 30db noise) performance. For seamless integration into the home network, Vail is built with the proprietary Niveus ConvergencePanel™ high-performance audio and video ports.

All Vail Editions sold through ADI are bundled with an exclusive HDGiants content package, including 1 HDNet film and credit towards the purchase of MusicGiants downloads. Dealers will have the opportunity to earn recurring revenue on all the content that a customer purchases.

“The ability to store, control and stream High Definition content has become extremely important, and the Niveus Media Server – Vail Edition provides an excellent solution to do so,” said RJ Hirshkind, Senior Product Manager for A/V for ADI. “This technology will help dealers build advanced home theaters that can manage HD video, music, photos and more.”

For more information, please visit www.niveusmedia.com.

Okoro Media Unleashes Intel i7 Core Media Centers

chrisl — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:32:00 GMT

Okoro Media Systems, manufacturer of digital entertainment systems for the high end audio video market, is pleased to announce the availability of the Intel’s new i7 Core processing technology to our high-end 2009 Digital Entertainment Systems. Keeping with our mission of bringing the latest in cutting edge technology, our i7 Core series machines will continue to bring unprecedented 3-D gaming performance and will provide better performance for streaming movies, and music to multiple zones.

“Our customers expected us to push the envelope with systems that can provide the greatest performance when they are playing the latest Blu-ray movies in 1080p with TrueHD audio, while recording multiple HD channels and extending content to multiple zones. With the integration of Intel’s i7Core technology in our line of premier Digital Entertainment Systems, we can provide our customers with unparalleled video performance.” says Christopher Curry VP of Sales and Marketing.

The following systems are based on Intel i7Core technology:
OMS-TH550
OMS-GX100
OMS-GX300
The upcoming
RK200 & RK300

During this 2008 festive season, Okoro Media Systems wants to make your holidays even brighter with some complimentary gifts to enhance your Digital Experience. We want to help you with those “Stocking Stuffers”.

With every purchase of a BX series or system that is upgraded with a Blu-ray player we will add the critically acclaimed box office smash hit - The Dark Knight Blu-ray movie to your order, as a gift from us.

We want to continue the gift giving by adding an additional 5% promotional reduction to the listed MSPR price of the following OMS Models: TH550, BX300, BX100, GX300, GX100, and ZX100.

The complimentary Blu-ray movie Batman- The Dark Knight and the 5% discount will be valid until Sunday, January 11th, 2009.

For more information, please contact Okoro Media Systems at 877-539-4788 or visit www.okoromedia.com.

Okoro Media Systems Now shipping 2009 LX100 CableCARD Media Center

chrisl — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:01:00 GMT

Okoro Media Systems, manufacturer of Digital Entertainment Systems for the high end audio video market, is pleased to announce the availability of the 2009 OMS-LX100 Digital Entertainment System. The new 2009 LX100, part of the “Low Profile” Digital Entertainment Systems series, is built on a combined Intel and Nvidia energy efficient platform. The OMS-LX100 features cool and quiet operation, 7.1 LPCM HDMI support, and low power green operation.

“Customers have really enjoyed our LX100 series for years. Now by working with our various technology partners, we are now able to offer this next generation unit to our customers at a very nice price point. This is all part of our company mantra of providing next generation options across all of our product lines. We want to offer our customers the best Digital Entertainment System that is going to work well in their specific home theater setup.” said Christopher Curry, VP of Sales & Marketing.

The OMS-LX100 is priced at $1725 and is now shipping with the following standard specifications:

Dimensions: 17.00" Width x 4.13" Height x 16.13" Depth

65watt Dual Core Intel Processor
8-channel LPCM audio via HDMI
4GB RAM
500GB low power HD storage
DVD Burner
HDMI, DVI, VGA, Display Port output
Windows Vista Home Premium
Choice of ATI Digital Cable Tuner or Dual NTSC/ATSC/QAM tuners

For more information about the 2009 OMS-LX100 Digital Entertainment system, please visit www.okoromedia.com.

Okoro Media Systems Introduces New 2009 Low Profile Media Center

chrisl — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:18:00 GMT

Okoro Media Systems, manufacturer of Digital Entertainment Systems for the high end audio video market, is pleased to announce the availability of the 2009 OMS-SX100 model. The OMS-SX100 is an “Ultra Low Profile” Digital Entertainment Systems based on AMD's energy efficient Athlon X2 platform. The OMS-SX100 features cool and quiet operation, 7.1 LPCM HDMI support, 1080P Blu-ray playback and low power green operation. The 2009 OMS-SX100 Digital Entertainment System can also handle the needs of customers with limited space with its 2.7 inch ultra low profile frame. Coupled with the OMS Slim Blu-ray drive, the unit is Blu-ray profile 2.0 compliant and can decode 5.1 Dolby Digital and DTS along with 7.1 Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio formats.

"Since the release of the low profile series in 2006, Okoro Media Systems has been working on delivering to our customers the next generation of ultra low profile systems. Our customers want a powerful machine that can manage their media, playback Blu-ray titles as well as being green. We feel that the SX100 will give them a feature packed Digital Entertainment System in a thin and elegant form factor. " said Christopher Curry, VP of Sales & Marketing.

The OMS-SX100 is now shipping and has the following standard specifications:

45watt Dual Core AMD Processor
8-channel LPCM audio via HDMI
2GB RAM
500GB low power HD storage
DVD Burner
HDMI, DVI, VGA output
Windows Vista Home Premium

The following options are also available:

OMS Slim Blu-ray Drive
4GB RAM upgrade
1TB low power HD upgrade

Coming soon CableCARD and SAGETV HDPVR models and other additional upgrades.

For more information about the OMS-SX100 Digital Entertainment system, please visit www.okoromedia.com.

VidaBox RoomClientHD Supports Blu-ray & DVD Streaming in Full 1080p

chrisl — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:32:00 GMT

New VidaBox RoomClientHD™ supports Blu-ray & DVD streaming in full 1080p with HD audio support - all in a miniature, palm-sized package

Westbury, NY - September 29th - VidaBox is proud to announce the new RoomClientHD™, a 2" tall, palm-sized media extender that provides Blu-ray & DVD streaming support for full 1080p and lossless audio codecs. Designed to be easily hidden behind any HDTV, this breakthrough extender allows any room to get instant, on-demand access to any content stored on a VidaBox media server.

"We're thrilled to finally offer an ultra-compact Blu-ray extender that dealers and customers alike have been asking for," says Steven Cheung, President of VidaBox LLC. "Current Blu-ray players & extenders are the size of typical DVD players or set-top boxes, and may have slight unpleasantries like fan noise that stopped many installers from putting the equipment directly in the viewing area. By combining advanced hardware design and our in-depth experience with Blu-ray streaming, we've been able to create the RoomClientHD, answering the prayers of integrators and customers alike.

Blu-ray streaming starts with a VidaBox server, such as the new RACK24 system with up to 22.0TB of storage, where thousands of DVDs and hundreds of Blu-rays can be stored. From here, extenders like the RoomClientHD can be installed to pull the content via standard CAT5e/6 cabling. No complicated setup needs to be done, as the extenders are preconfigured to automatically detect the VidaBox server on the network, making multizone installs a plug-n-play process.

"With only a 6" x 6" footprint, installers can cleverly hide the 2" tall RoomClientHD behind most HDTV panels," exclaims Cheung. "With hardware support for full 1080p and new HD audio codecs like DTS-HD and Dolby TrueHD, the RoomClientHD sets a new standard for high-end media extenders that provide a full set of features without any compromises in quality or experience."

The RoomClientHD is available now, and comes with an option for a built-in Blu-ray disc drive for convenient local playback. For more details and specifications on the RoomClientHD™ and VidaBox's comprehensive line of media servers, extenders, and complete entertainment and control solutions, please visit the company website at http://www.vidabox.com, or see them at International CES in the North Tower Suite H22-121!

About VidaBox LLC

VidaBox LLC is a digital entertainment and controls solutions company focused on manufacturing premium media centers, integrated home control & automation solutions. VidaBox is on a mission to create user-friendly, stable high-performance Media Center systems that work right out of the box and integrate seamlessly with multizone audio and smart home technologies. For more information, visit www.vidabox.com or call 1-516-730-7500.

Microsoft Taking Media Center to Headless Appliances’

chrisl — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:16:00 GMT

I’ve just gotten a tip from a very reliable source that Microsoft is looking to take Media Center off the desktop and turn it into a CE appliance. The only information that I have is that it is planned to be a headless device of some sort. Other details are very scarce at this point with no timeline to speak of, but I’ve been assured that Microsoft is actively working on such a project.

Is the Home Server “Media Center UI integration” that I just said wouldn’t happen the start of this project? Does it even have anything to do with Windows Home Server? Might Softsled be making an appearance in this all? Maybe that technology they got from WebGuide? I have no idea, because clearly such a product would go against everything I’ve ever said about Media Center.

So, I’m a bit shocked that Microsoft is looking to do anything like this. For years I have been saying that such a device would fail in the market due to its un-doubtable high cost in comparison to other CE devices like TiVo’s and the $10/month cable/satellite DVR.

Media Center’s number one problem has been failing to define itself in the market. Enthusiasts and power users want features not currently provided by Media Center, most of which Microsoft has shown little interest in actually implementing, and they want it at the smallest price possible. The high-end custom install channel wants the same things, but are willing to pay as much as they need to in order to get the features. Then the rest of the world doesn’t know that Media Center exists, and even if they did they want it at a price lower than what enthusiasts and power users are willing to spend.

Thoughts and opinions? I’m not going to ask what you would pay for such a device, rather what do you think your Mom would pay? I’ve established in the past that enthusiasts and power users want such a device and therefore might be willing to pay for it, but what about your Mom or other “average” users? Keep in mind that if this is a headless device, you have to factor in Extenders for each room you actually want to watch content in.

Looking at this from the outside with no information on what it planned, I still say such a product would fail to reach the mass market. Now for the enthusiasts, power user, and custom-install channel this could be a great move. That brings up another question, is Microsoft shifting their focus for Media Center from developing for the “mass market” to developing for enthusiasts, power users, and the custom install channel (Remember their presence at CEDIA)?

Short Bits: Debug Menus, TV Pack OEMs, Hurricane

chrisl — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 01:34:00 GMT

I survived Ike without any damage here in Katy, sadly that can’t be said for the rest of the Houston and Galveston areas.

Ever wonder which of your dozen TV tuners is being used to tune the program you are watching? If you have the TV Pack there is a bit of a hack that you can do in order to find out. First spotted by Dave at The Green Button, type 411 and then press More Info in order to access Microsoft’s debug menu.

A lot of people have been asking about the TV Pack on CableCARD PCs from Dell and HP. While I have no inside information on the subject, I have doubts that either will be shipping the TV Pack at all. Media Center is not HP or Dells business, and as it involves creating a new image for their machines I fall to understand why either would bother. I might be wrong, but I wouldn’t hold out for a Dell or HP with the TV Pack. If a TV Pack machine is what you are after, you are most likely going to want one of these OEMs.

cyberManor Named 2008 Windows Media Center Ultimate Install Contest Winner

chrisl — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:34:00 GMT

With a stunning implementation of Windows Media Center technologies in an eco-friendly Northern California home, cyberManor captures this year’s title.

DENVER — Sept. 8, 2008 — Microsoft Corp. announced the winner of the 2008 Windows Media Center Ultimate Install Contest at CEDIA EXPO 2008 in Denver. CEDIA EXPO 2008 is an annual show for the residential electronic systems industry put on by the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association. The winning installation for the design contest was submitted by Gordon Van Zuiden, president of cyberManor and noted innovator in the custom installation channel.

Founded in 1999 and based in Los Gatos, Calif., cyberManor specializes in the design, installation and integration of Internet-connected home electronic solutions that enhance the entertainment, communications, comfort and safety of their clients’ homes in the San Francisco Bay area. Its contest-winning project was created for a family in Sunnyvale, Calif., that desired a centralized, user-friendly entertainment and automation system. The result was a complete integration solution with Windows Media Center at the helm.

“We couldn’t be prouder of this accomplishment,” Van Zuiden said. “Winning the Ultimate Install Contest is a testament to the phenomenal efforts of the cyberManor employees who worked so diligently to make this installation one of the greatest integration projects in our company’s 10-year history.”

The Windows Media Center Ultimate Install Contest, now in its second year, encourages integrators to show off their talents by presenting their most unique and creative installations that leverage Windows Media Center technologies. cyberManor’s solution uses numerous industry-renowned products from the Windows Media Center ecosystem, including NiveusMedia Inc.’s n9 media server with four CableCARD tuners, multiple Niveus EDGE and Xbox 360 extenders that distribute live and prerecorded digital high-definition (HD) content, and a Niveus Ice Vault, storing the family’s DVD movie collection. Also integrated into the entertainment solution were the family’s music library and digital photos.

The home features Exceptional Innovation’s Life|ware software for whole home control of thermostats, lighting, audio distribution, surveillance cameras and an Internet protocol (IP)-based door strike at the front gate with the touch of a button. Deriving power from solar panels on the roof, the family strived to make their home as environmentally friendly as possible, using only LED and fluorescent lighting and settings on their Lutron lighting system that automatically turned off power at certain times of day.

“The goal of this project was to centralize the digital entertainment and automation of the home in a simple and effective system that had one consistent user interface,” said Jim Kohl, project manager at cyberManor. “Two of the homeowner’s main objectives were the distribution of high-definition personal video recordings to multiple HD video zones throughout the home simultaneously and the ability to centralize all A/V sources in a single rack mount computer. The seamless integration of these Windows Media Center products and technologies enabled us to accomplish those tasks while staying consistent with the sleek and clean design the homeowner desired.”

The cyberManor team used Windows Media Center as the central platform to control numerous aspects of the family’s digital lifestyle, including 12 zones of Russound distributed audio, Lutron lighting and shade control, individual room climate controls automated by time of day and air temperature outside, and surveillance technology. All home automation is provided by Life|ware software, including unique features such as fountain control from all areas of the home. Via Life|ware, family members in various rooms, including the outdoor patio and cabana, can dim the lights, lower the shades, turn on the television, enjoy the distributed audio system or perform numerous other tasks at the touch of a button.

“Microsoft is pleased to recognize cyberManor as the 2008 Windows Media Center Ultimate Install Contest winner,” said Kevin Collins, director of the Custom Installer Channel in the Connected TV Business, Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. “Its use of Windows Media Center in this home provided the homeowner with an easy-to-use solution for all of the family’s digital needs and home automation. cyberManor’s incredible work is an excellent example of how high-level integration combined with the Windows Media Center scalable entertainment and automation platform can delight the most discerning customer.”

This year’s edition of the contest saw an increase in both the number of submissions and the overall quality of the technology design projects. With more options from hardware manufacturers and the additional support of Microsoft, Windows Media Center has seen enormous growth in the custom integration channel over the past year.

In addition to cyberManor’s winning installation, Microsoft named Wireless Home of Naples, Fla., and Simple Digital Home of Salem, Ore., as this year’s finalists. Both installations featured Windows Media Center as the basis of truly unique solutions, and both are recognized for their achievements.

More information about the Ultimate Install Contest is available at http://www.microsoft.com/ultimateinstall. More information on cyberManor is available at http://www.cybermanor.com.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Inteset's New Pricing Model Provides Dealers Annuity-based Revenue

chrisl — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 02:36:00 GMT

Hanover MA, Aug 15, 2008, Inteset's new insightful pricing model keeps dealers in the black and gives them an annuity-based revenue stream.

AV dealers are looking for new ways to cope with a slumping economy. One recommended method is for installers to offer service contracts to their customers. Doing so keeps customers long-term, results in steadier monthly sales figures, and provides a lucrative annuity-based revenue stream. Inteset has always adapted its products and services to the changing needs of dealers. Now it's continuing this effort with its new pricing model.

Beyond the standard dealer pricing, Inteset is now offering a "pay-portion-now, pay-rest-later" model on its servers and extenders. The balance is paid over a two year period (or less) with a small finance fee. "Dealers can pass this payment structure on to their clients, say half upfront for the equipment, then monthly payments for one year (instead of two) with a finance charge. Dealers can purchase an Inteset server for as little as $1,000 down," explains David Hirsh, Director of Business Development. "This can be a very attractive offer for the dealer's customers who don't want to pay so much upfront. A dealer can also charge the full retail price upfront to retain all the cash of their sale. This creates a great cash flow situation," continues Hirsh.

"This is just good business," says Jeff Lloyd, president and CEO of Inteset. "Since we work directly with our dealers, we are in a great position to offer this innovative pricing structure."

For more detail regarding Inteset's new pricing, contact David Hirsh at 781-826-1560 ext: 203. To learn about Inteset products and services, go to www.inteset.com. Dealers can visit Inteset at CEDIA 2008, Denver, CO, booth 452.

About Inteset

Inteset, LLC has been creating high-end home entertainment products since 2003. Inteset offers four categories of products: media servers, media extenders, high-capacity storage devices, and exclusive software for its systems. The near silent media servers come with up to 8TB of internal, 15TB external, protected storage. The advanced media extenders are independent systems as well as A/V distribution clients. All systems are shipped with an enriched Microsoft Windows Media Center interface that includes a movie management module and a multi-zone music module among other exclusive software offerings. These systems appeal to A/V dealers and integrators domestically and internationally for their high-integrity construction, reliability, ease-of-use, unique entertainment modules and services, price point, and interoperability with advanced control systems.

Microsoft Showcases Windows Media Center Momentum at CEDIA EXPO 2008

chrisl — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:19:00 GMT

From distributed HD entertainment to automation and control, Windows Media Center is at the center of an ever-expanding ecosystem within the custom installation channel.

DENVER — Sept. 4, 2008 — At CEDIA EXPO 2008, Microsoft Corp. announced expansive growth of the Windows Media Center ecosystem, the formation of an exciting new industry alliance composed of some of the custom channel’s top brands, the winner of the 2008 Windows Media Center Ultimate Install Contest, and numerous partner innovations supporting the Windows Media Center in the custom installation channel. CEDIA EXPO 2008 is an annual show for the residential electronic systems industry put on by the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association.

“In the wake of Microsoft’s increased engagement with the custom installation channel, a broader ecosystem has developed based on Windows Media Center,” said Kevin Collins, director of the Custom Installer Channel in the Connected TV Business, Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. “We are thrilled with the level of innovation on the Windows Media Center platform that hardware and software companies are showcasing at CEDIA EXPO.”

Hardware Expansion

The merit of Windows Media Center as a custom installation solution is stronger than ever, as illustrated through announcements from multiple channel partners highlighting support for up to eight CableCARD tuners and up to 10 Extender for Windows Media Center devices. This increased capacity allows Windows Media Center technologies to address the demands of more sophisticated projects. With the wide range of products and custom configurations that use standard interfaces, integrators can delight their customers with unique installations while using familiar components and subsystems. Adding to the growing demand for centralized home storage, multiple OEMs are previewing new hardware based on Windows Home Server that provides integrators with a solid whole-house solution to store and access their clients’ music, photos and videos from either an entertainment server running Windows Media Center or Extender for Windows Media Center devices.

“Our channel partners are driving compelling new entertainment and control solutions to maximize the success of custom integrators,” Collins said. “The collaboration of some of the most forward-thinking companies in the consumer electronics category and their implementations of media center technologies are fulfilling the long-standing vision of the connected home.”

Among this week’s significant partner announcements are the following:

Autonomic Controls Inc. will introduce new control modules enabling two-way integration of Windows Media Center and iTunes into Remote Technologies Inc. T4 and K4 remote controls.
Fluid Digital will promote the integration of Microsoft’s Windows Media Center TV Pack to enable an enhanced TV viewing experience, native support for four digital cable tuners, an enhanced electronic program guide, and the ability to share nonprotected digital cable content across Microsoft PlayReady technology-enabled PCs and portable media devices.
Exceptional Innovation will preview its new High Density TV initiative that introduces exciting new ways to distribute entertainment and control around the home. The new Life|media 810 digital entertainment server features eight TV tuners and supports 10 extenders while providing 12 terabytes of hard disk storage to deliver consumers a robust solution for storing, managing and viewing high-definition (HD) content throughout their home. Exceptional Innovation will preview the new Life|ware Digital Media Manager for simple, seamless content sharing from one media center device to another. Exceptional Innovation will also announce support for the Windows Media Center TV Pack in several Life|media media servers; on-board digital amplification through Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) in the new LMS-170 series; and Blu-ray support on multiple LMS units.
NiveusMedia will unveil the Niveus Storage Server – Cargo Edition. Based on the Windows Home Server platform, it offers up to 16 terabytes of scalable storage. In addition, Niveus will announce support for up to 10 Extender for Windows Media Center devices and eight CableCARDs when using the most powerful Niveus media server, the Pro Series n9. Niveus will also introduce upgrades to both the Niveus media server line and the Niveus Movie Library movie management tool.
S1Digital LLC plans to launch its new P500 Media Centers, which include advanced features such as up to four digital cable tuners (for use with CableCARD) and a QAM/ATSC tuner to give customers the capability of watching and recording up to five simultaneous cable TV channels including HDTV and premium content, Blu-ray playback with Profile 2 capabilities, and up to 3 terabytes of internal storage. All S1Digital media center solutions include the Windows Media Center TV Pack to provide customers with an enhanced entertainment experience. S1Digital also plans to launch the WHS500, a one-rack Windows Home Server, designed specifically for the custom installation channel. The WHS500 is a powerful network storage device with 4-terabyte capacity for storing movies, music, photos, home videos and other media, providing centralized access of content.
Inteset LLC will unveil its new TeraRAID XV-NAS, which will offer 15 terabytes of enterprise-level, A/V-style storage and automatically replicate the Inteset Media Library across multiple homes with access from the Web. Inteset will also be demonstrating the addition of full Blu-ray to its popular, proprietary Movie Collection, which has the ability to store, search and play back movies seamlessly within the Windows Media Center interface. The system will scan the inserted DVD or Blu-ray disc to identify and retrieve full profile information from Inteset’s all-new movie database.
Samsung Electronics America Inc. will showcase the new Samsung MediaLive Extender for Windows Media Center, which delivers digital entertainment including HD content, photos, music, feature films, home movies, and live and recorded TV, from any hardware running Windows Media Center to the big screen of a Samsung HDTV via a wireless or wired home network. With distribution that includes the custom installation channel, MediaLive is a powerful solution in the offerings for Extender for Windows Media Center devices.
Cannon PC announced that it will begin shipping the Windows Media Center TV Pack, which adds native support for up to four TV tuners (including digital cable tuners), ClearQAM (unencrypted digital cable) tuners, sharing of unprotected digital content via Microsoft PlayReady technology-enabled PCs and more, with its line of Media Center PCs beginning in early September. Cannon PC also announced that it will offer integrators two form factors of the popular Windows Home Server to provide homeowners with a new solution for centralized storage, remote access and much more.

2008 Windows Media Center Ultimate Install Contest

Microsoft will announce the 2008 Windows Media Center Ultimate Install Contest winner at a special event on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008, at 5:30 p.m. MDT. This year’s contest saw a significant increase in the number of submissions as well as the design quality and level of integration delivered through the Windows Media Center platform. Now in its second year, the Windows Media Center Ultimate Install Contest encourages integrators to show off their talents by presenting their most unique and creative installations that leverage Windows Media Center technologies. More information on the winning install will be available at http://www.microsoft.com/ultimateinstall.

Media Center Integrator Alliance

Announced yesterday, Microsoft has joined Intel Corporation, HP, Life|ware, NiveusMedia, AMD and Crestron Electronics Inc. in the foundation of the Media Center Integrator Alliance (MCIA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to driving the adoption and awareness of the media center ecosystem in the custom installation channel. MCIA members will share best practices, establish standards, and develop education and certification tools for technologies using Windows Media Center. The new alliance hopes to attract the interest, acceptance and participation of many more companies to contribute to a unified industry-based voice within the ecosystem.

“We’re excited to see how channel awareness has grown and the implementation of Windows Media Center technologies in product offerings has expanded over the past 12 months,” Collins said. “We expect the momentum to continue to drive adoption of the ecosystem and build a network of enthused, satisfied consumers.”

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Niveus Supports Ten Extenders and Eight CableCARDs From One Niveus Media Server

chrisl — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:00:00 GMT

Simultaneous HDTV viewing, recording, and distribution in up to eleven zones!

Denver, CO – CEDIA Expo 2008 – September 4-7 – Booth #850 – Niveus Media is invigorating the whole-home TV viewing experience by announcing that select Niveus media servers will simultaneously support up to eight digital cable (CableCARD) tuners and ten Media Center Extenders. Announcing availability concurrently with the introduction of the 2009 Niveus media server line, boasting impressive enhancements in processing and performance, Niveus now doubles the capabilities of the Niveus Entertainment System.

“Niveus has nurtured the digital cable functionality and compatibility since early 2007 and is proud to be one of the first to support both eight CableCARDS and ten extenders,” states Tim Cutting, Niveus CEO and Co-Founder. “By doubling the performance of the Niveus Media Server, we can now support even the largest installations.”

The ability to access a robust DVR library and distribute all live and recorded HD content to eleven independent zones will be supported by Niveus’ most powerful media server, the Pro Series n9, set to be released in Q4 2008. The n9 will feature a next-generation Intel® Core™ i7 processor, for the ultimate in high-definition, multi-zone entertainment.

Pairing the n9 with four Niveus Digital Cable Receivers, an external, dual CableCARD tuner device, allows cable subscribers to simultaneously view and record eight standard definition or HD programs. Leveraging the increasingly popular Extender for Windows® Media Center platform, users can now stream these eight digital cable signals along with ALL other HD content in up to eleven zones.

“We are very excited to see Niveus maintain their cutting edge product offerings by expanding their product line to address the increasing demands of the custom installer channel,” states Kevin Collins, Director – Custom Installer Channel, Microsoft. “Providing installers with the option to scale up to eight tuners and ten extenders is a testament to Niveus’ dedication to expanding the media center ecosystem.”

As the Niveus Media Server continues to offer unprecedented multi-zone and multi-user functionality, the need for ample storage is greater than ever. To support growing collections of HD content, Niveus has introduced the Niveus Storage Server – Cargo Edition which is based on the Microsoft Windows Home Server platform and boasts up to 16TB of scalable storage.

Support for eight CableCARDs and ten extenders will be available in Q4 2008, with availability of the 2009 Niveus Media Server – Pro Series n9.

For more information on Niveus Media, Inc., please visit www.niveusmedia.com.

Niveus Media’s 2009 Media Servers Boast Progressive Processing Power and Enhanced Multi-Zone Capabilities

chrisl — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:00:00 GMT

Featuring HDMI 1.3, next-generation Intel processing, specialized Seagate hard drives, and upgraded cooling solutions for impressive multi-zone performance.

Denver, CO – CEDIA Expo 2008 – September 4-7 – Booth #850 – Niveus Media unveils its 2009 line of media servers, enhanced to provide an incredibly robust entertainment experience in as many as eleven independent zones. All Niveus media servers, including the passively cooled Summit Series’ Rainier and Denali Limited Edition and the rack mountable Pro Series, have been upgraded to incorporate bleeding-edge technologies for the most powerful Media Center performance.

“To accommodate the variety of installation applications and performance demands, we’ve upgraded all of our media servers to offer Niveus Authorized Dealers the preferred range of configurations,” states Brian Paper, Vice President Operations and Co-Founder of Niveus Media. “With a selection of form factors, processing power, audio and video solutions, and storage capacities, Niveus has a superior solution for today’s multi-zone scenarios.”

Significant upgrades across the Niveus Media Server line include: HDMI 1.3 support for high-definition audio codecs and the utmost in connectivity and new Seagate Pipeline HD™ hard drives for unprecedented acoustics, reliability, and video streaming performance.

Now completely fanless and utilizing an external power supply, the 2009 Niveus Media Center – Rainier Edition is optimized for the coolest and quietest performance and offers: up to 1TB of internal storage; Niveus Pro Audio featuring 8 channel analog & digital out and 116db signal-to-noise ratio; and, most notably, the new Intel® G45 Express Chipset with Intel® Clear Video technology, a videophile-worthy integrated graphics solution providing major advancements in video performance and responsiveness, enabling crystal clear 1080p video.

The rack-mountable Niveus Media Center – Pro Series line, scheduled to be available Q4 2008, features enhanced cooling technology, allowing for improved airflow and cool and quiet performance in demanding rack-mount scenarios. The Pro Series will also offer: up to 4TB of internal storage; a 32GB dedicated solid state drive (for the operating system); Niveus Pro Audio featuring 8 channel analog & digital out and 120db signal-to-noise ratio and support for Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio; and Nvidia’s GeForce Series 9 graphics featuring PureVideo™ HD technology for high quality video scaling up to and beyond 1080p. For advanced power, Niveus intends to utilize the Intel® Core™ i7 processor for the ultimate in high-definition, multi-zone entertainment.

“Intel is excited about Niveus incorporating both the onboard G45 graphics solution into its Rainier Edition as well as their future intention to offer the Intel Core i7 processor with the Pro Series,” states Jeff McCrea, Vice President and General Manager of Intel’s Consumer PC Group. “Niveus continues to leverage the Intel platform to deliver astounding multi-zone entertainment.”

For 2009, the flagship Niveus Media Center – Denali Limited Edition has undergone a complete facelift, adding even more sophistication to this award-winning media server. Internally, the Denali Limited Edition has been refined to incorporate: 2TB of storage; a 32GB dedicated solid state drive (for the operating system); a slot load Blu-ray Disc player; Niveus Pro Audio featuring 8 channel analog & digital out and 120db signal-to-noise ratio and support for Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio; and Nvidia’s GeForce Series 9 graphics featuring PureVideo™ HD technology for high quality video scaling up to and beyond 1080p. Denali Limited Edition now represents one of the quietest, most powerful media servers on the market.

All Niveus media servers are capable of storing, managing, and distributing high-definition TV, music, movies, photos, and more, and can be easily integrated with premier home automation solutions.

Niveus’ 2009 product line will be available in Q4 2008.

For more information on Niveus Media, Inc., please visit www.niveusmedia.com.

Niveus Media @ CEDIA: Movie Library, 8 CableCARD, 10 Extenders, Home Server

chrisl — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:00:00 GMT

Niveus Movie Library Goes Primetime!

Version 1.5 is enriched to offer high-res cover art (including Blu-ray) and support for a wider catalogue of movie sources, such as disc-in-drive… and more!

Denver, CO – CEDIA Expo 2008 – September 4-7 – Booth #850 – Designed exclusively for Niveus Media customers, the Niveus Movie Library is a robust movie management tool that aggregates an entire movie collection into one distinct and intelligent interface. Upgraded to accommodate a growing number of movie sources, Niveus Movie Library 1.5 now features: disc-in-drive support; a 10’ interface for backing up movies to the Niveus Media Server; and expanded metadata with high resolution cover art (including Blu-ray!).

“Niveus Movie Library 1.5 represents the original vision of this product,” states Tim Cutting, CEO and Co-Founder, Niveus Media. “Coupling our new storage server, Cargo, with the enhanced Niveus Movie Library, our customers can now back up, download, store, and access their entire movie collection through the easy-to-use Niveus interface.”

Read Full Press Release

Niveus Supports Ten Extenders and Eight CableCARDs From One Niveus Media Server

Simultaneous HDTV viewing, recording, and distribution in up to eleven zones!

Read Full Press Release

Niveus Media’s 2009 Media Servers Boast Progressive Processing Power and Enhanced Multi-Zone Capabilities

Featuring HDMI 1.3, next-generation Intel processing, specialized Seagate hard drives, and upgraded cooling solutions for impressive multi-zone performance.

Read Full Press Release

Introducing The Niveus Storage Server – Cargo Edition, Powered By Windows Home Server

Store and protect unlimited HD content with up to 16TB of scalable storage, remote accessibility, and seamless integration with the Niveus Movie Library.

Denver, CO – CEDIA Expo 2008 – September 4-7 – Booth #850 – Niveus Media introduces the Niveus Storage Server – Cargo Edition, a powerful storage device based on the Microsoft Windows Home Server platform, designed for the custom install channel. Featuring up to 16TB of scalable storage, Cargo provides a seamlessly integrated and flexible storage solution for the perpetually growing HD digital content market.

As Niveus continues to enhance movie integration with the increasing functionality of the Niveus Movie Library movie management interface and availability of VideoGiants Collections premium movie packages, it has become essential to offer a robust storage solution that can house a user’s expansive HD movie collection. Cargo is the ultimate add-on to the Niveus Movie Library, enabling secure storage of thousands of movies, complete with expanded metadata and high-resolution cover art.

Read Full Press Release

Short Bits: Life|ware & Niveus at CEDIA

chrisl — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 02:32:00 GMT

This edition ripped straight from CE Pro…It seems Niveus Media is done with pushing their recently developed Niveus EDGE Extender. The might have been Xbox 360-based Extender (sans gaming) is out and the HP MediaSmart Connect is in. Interesting turn of events for something that must have taken a lot of time and money to complete.

Niveus is also updating their Movie Gallery adding support for better metabase, higher resolution cover art, and a 10-foot disc ripping client which seem popular these days.

Life|ware is also set to make a splash at CEDIA with a new iPhone control application that can be programmed directly using Life|ware’s programming tools. Exceptional Innovation will also be launching a new media server that integrated Media Center (CableCARD as an option), a 5.1 surround-sound amplifier, and ZigBee controller all into a single server. Models with dual CableCARD will likely run just under $4,000.