Extender Combos with HD DVD/Blu-ray & IPTV Functionality?

re: Extender Combos with HD DVD/Blu-ray & IPTV Functionality?

Wormhoudt — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:07:14 GMT

not to involve myself in said hijack, but you are looking for a sound card that supports dolby digital live (encodes an decoded 5.1 audio to dolby digital and squirts it out through the spdif port).

re: Extender Combos with HD DVD/Blu-ray & IPTV Functionality?

Wormhoudt — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:03:15 GMT

Yes. Yes. Just keep waiting and eventually we will have the feature set that Pika should have had at its announcement back in June of '06.

I know you waited for a year and a half for Pika to finnaly be released, and when it was, it was nothing like we promised. I know we artificially castrated CableCard, after years of promises. I know we forgot to integrate the BlueRay and HDDVD player interface into Vista Media Center.

But trust us on this. Our next batch of vaporware will be fantastic I promise, just look at our track record of servicing the group of enthusiasts who created this market space. Our actions prove just how much we love you DIYers.

re: Extender Combos with HD DVD/Blu-ray & IPTV Functionality?

AGross — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 05:56:48 GMT

The new Xbox 360 Arcade Bundle that is going to be out soon for about 280 dollars with an HDMI output seems like a better deal still than the current extenders. However, it would be a compelling purchase if they had a HD DVD player integrated into an extender for $350 or less.

re: Extender Combos with HD DVD/Blu-ray & IPTV Functionality?

Robert Lominski — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 12:47:30 GMT

Yes I agree, this would open my wallet too!!

One other thing to throw in the mix. I have been looking at the new Pioneer A/V receivers (I want one as I understand it will decode the AC3 info in my WMV files just like my Xbox 360 does) and noticed that the flagship receiver has "Plays for Sure" and has a basic built-in on screen interface for pictures/music/movies over the network.

Would'nt this be perfect for an Extender. Couldn't Msoft get them to sign on. I mean, it cost money for Pioneer to develop their own interface, why not use Msofts already really nice one?

Just a thought

Rob

PS - Not to hijack, but if anybody knows how to get on the fly decoding of WMV audio to AC3 (like the 360 does) please let me know.

re: Extender Combos with HD DVD/Blu-ray & IPTV Functionality?

dondu — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 22:15:08 GMT

Extender-related things I'd like to see...

-- Lower priced Extenders for basic functionality. We already beat this to death in a previous thread.

-- An Extender product that is an integrated under-counter flip down LCD screen, for the kitchen. This would totally r0x0r.

-- Some integrated solution for streaming DVD / HD-DVD / Blu-Ray content to Extenders.

re: Extender Combos with HD DVD/Blu-ray & IPTV Functionality?

Fin — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 09:54:32 GMT

Yes they should definitely be encouraging this as a lot of folk would love to replace their DVD/HTPC with an all in one HD capable solution.

Also Microsoft should really be talking to the TV makers as well like Samsung, LG or Toshiba especially Samsung and LG as they sell a lot of HDTV's in Europe. With extender functionality built in to the TV it would majorly increase the profile of Vista Media Center.

Sony might not be so keen on the idea as I think they have plans for their XMB interface to end up in their TV's, Philips could go either way.

Still Microsoft should be aggressively courting as many A/V components makers as possible to get extender functionality out there.

re: Extender Combos with HD DVD/Blu-ray & IPTV Functionality?

AARON SPICER — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 05:33:43 GMT

Chris, I have to tell you, the whole media center experience has been wonderful for my family. We've found great value in the whole system, so much so that my wife is hooked on it and allows for all the new toys to enhance our experience. This kind of pricing is only gonna help my cause!

re: Extender Combos with HD DVD/Blu-ray & IPTV Functionality?

Zik — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 22:36:29 GMT

If I could get an HD-DVD player with full extender capabilities for $300 I'd be all over that. Toshiba, etc. are you hearing me?