Neo HDTV » media center http://neohdtv.com The latest news of Digital TV and Accessories Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:01:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 VidaBox adds tablet control for its Media Center PCs, iPad is first in line http://neohdtv.com/vidabox-adds-tablet-control-for-its-media-center-pcs-ipad-is-first-in-line/ http://neohdtv.com/vidabox-adds-tablet-control-for-its-media-center-pcs-ipad-is-first-in-line/#comments Fri, 25 Jun 2010 00:54:00 +0000 Richard Lawler http://hd.engadget.com/2010/06/24/vidabox-adds-tablet-control-for-its-media-center-pcs-ipad-is-fi/ Tablet control for HTPCs is nothing new to VidaBox, but with users quickly buying up tablets of their own it's switched focus from the proprietary vPad and $2,600 TouchClient to wider compatibility through web apps. This iPad control interface demonstrated at the Asian Pacific CEDIA Expo, lets users browse and control their Media Center PC's videos and music with cover art and related information right in the palm of their hands. Built on the company's vAutomation 2.0 platform the software can control other connected devices including lights and cable boxes, while integration with online sources like Rhapsody and Pandora is also in the works. The iPad version is scheduled to make it to dealers and integrators in Q3 and its web based roots should make Android or other platform support a snap, though you will need to own one of the company's systems to take advantage.

Gallery: VidaBox iPad remote control

Continue reading VidaBox adds tablet control for its Media Center PCs, iPad is first in line

VidaBox adds tablet control for its Media Center PCs, iPad is first in line originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 19:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> http://neohdtv.com/vidabox-adds-tablet-control-for-its-media-center-pcs-ipad-is-first-in-line/feed/ 0 Big Screen EPG gets a Windows 7 update http://neohdtv.com/big-screen-epg-gets-a-windows-7-update/ http://neohdtv.com/big-screen-epg-gets-a-windows-7-update/#comments Wed, 23 Jun 2010 03:08:00 +0000 Ben Drawbaugh http://hd.engadget.com/2010/06/22/big-screen-epg-gets-a-windows-7-update/ http://hd.engadget.com/2010/06/22/big-screen-epg-gets-windows-7-version// Here in the US we take for granted the free guide data that Microsoft provides for Windows 7 Media Center users, but it isn't like that in every country of the world. Nope, in many regions of the world there is no EPG data at all and any DVR without guide data is basically a VCR. Luckily 3rd parties have filled the void and the most renown has finally starting distributing Windows 7 compatible binaries. But unlike some other great 3rd party plug-ins, Big Screen EPG comes with a price, which seems pretty reasonable if it means actually being able to use Media Center. Especially when it includes so many other features like channel logos and enhanced series matching and meta-data imports. If you still aren't sold, you can try out a none expiring trial that simply has a subset of the features before dropping the full $20 for a 2 year family license.

Continue reading Big Screen EPG gets a Windows 7 update

Big Screen EPG gets a Windows 7 update originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 22 Jun 2010 22:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> http://neohdtv.com/big-screen-epg-gets-a-windows-7-update/feed/ 0 Comcast to roll out more MPEG-4 starting with 3D http://neohdtv.com/comcast-to-roll-out-more-mpeg-4-starting-with-3d/ http://neohdtv.com/comcast-to-roll-out-more-mpeg-4-starting-with-3d/#comments Fri, 18 Jun 2010 23:05:00 +0000 Ben Drawbaugh http://hd.engadget.com/2010/06/18/comcast-to-roll-out-more-mpeg-4-starting-with-3d/ Motorola MPEG4 set-top box And you 3D haters thought that nothing good could come of 3D technology, then we find out that Comcast is finally putting its 10 million MPEG-4 compatible set-top boxes to use -- although ESPN is only sending out ESPN 3D as MPEG-4, the Comcast's Media Center is sending out two streams -- the original and the transcoded MPEG-2 variety -- to its facilities around the country. The local Comcast office picks which to send out your way for now (which caused lots of issues on launch day since most didn't realize their MPEG-2 only box wasn't compatible) but that changes in August when all 3D signals will be sent via MPEG-4 and those with older boxes will just have to upgrade to enjoy their new 3DTV -- so much for the benefits of frame compatible 3D. MPEG-4 is a win win for consumers and the cable provider, as it takes less bandwidth on the providers network and uses less space on those pitiful 160GB cable DVRs.

Comcast to roll out more MPEG-4 starting with 3D originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 18 Jun 2010 18:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> http://neohdtv.com/comcast-to-roll-out-more-mpeg-4-starting-with-3d/feed/ 0 DVBLink turns any ATSC or clear QAM tuner into a networked tuner http://neohdtv.com/dvblink-turns-any-atsc-or-clear-qam-tuner-into-a-networked-tuner/ http://neohdtv.com/dvblink-turns-any-atsc-or-clear-qam-tuner-into-a-networked-tuner/#comments Fri, 18 Jun 2010 20:34:00 +0000 Ben Drawbaugh http://hd.engadget.com/2010/06/18/dvblink-turns-any-atsc-or-clear-qam-tuner-into-a-networked-tuner/ DVBLogic A craze that was started by Silicon Dust years ago is very popular for a very good reason -- network tuners are incredibly flexible -- and it just came to any ATSC or clear QAM tuner. The company DVBLogic has made it possible to turn any DVB tuner into a network tuner for some time, but since we don't DVB in the US, it hasn't been very useful on this side of the Atlantic. The latest release of DVBLink includes said ability which might be just the way for you to watch live HD on your laptop using the existing tuner in your HTPC. It isn't free software, but we're betting if you have the need the ~40 Euro price won't keep you from it -- assuming the free 30 day trial works as advertised.

DVBLink turns any ATSC or clear QAM tuner into a networked tuner originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> http://neohdtv.com/dvblink-turns-any-atsc-or-clear-qam-tuner-into-a-networked-tuner/feed/ 0 Google TV: Who is the competition and what are they saying about it? http://neohdtv.com/google-tv-who-is-the-competition-and-what-are-they-saying-about-it/ http://neohdtv.com/google-tv-who-is-the-competition-and-what-are-they-saying-about-it/#comments Fri, 21 May 2010 18:40:00 +0000 Richard Lawler http://hd.engadget.com/2010/05/21/google-tv-who-is-the-competition-and-what-are-they-saying-about/ The Google TV has landed and is already sending ripples through the marketplace, but what about all the companies already blending internet and TV? Whether they are already planning to work with the new initiative (Rovi), even more firmly staking a claim on their existing technology and vision for the connected TV (Microsoft, Yahoo), sounding like it's an option for the future (Samsung, VIZIO, Boxee) or already working on their own Android on TV projects (People of Lava, MIPS) each one should tell a little bit about where this market is headed in the coming months and years. Read on for their statements -- and a quick breakdown of what each is bringing to the table in case you weren't already running a network cable to your HDTV years ago.

Continue reading Google TV: Who is the competition and what are they saying about it?

Google TV: Who is the competition and what are they saying about it? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 21 May 2010 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> http://neohdtv.com/google-tv-who-is-the-competition-and-what-are-they-saying-about-it/feed/ 0 Netflix turns on HD indicator, queue for PC (including WMC) & Mac Watch Instantly streamers http://neohdtv.com/netflix-turns-on-hd-indicator-queue-for-pc-including-wmc-mac-watch-instantly-streamers/ http://neohdtv.com/netflix-turns-on-hd-indicator-queue-for-pc-including-wmc-mac-watch-instantly-streamers/#comments Mon, 17 May 2010 21:05:00 +0000 Richard Lawler http://hd.engadget.com/2010/05/17/netflix-turns-on-hd-indicator-queue-for-pc-including-wmc-and-ma/ Not that there was any doubt left, but we're getting numerous reports of users seeing the "HD" indicator appear while watching Netflix streams through the Silverlight player for PCs and Macs. Also, a special queue indicating the subset of content available for off-TV HD streaming is live now so users can see what is and isn't on the list (the HD is available boxart popup notifications are there as well, but don't appear to be entirely accurate.) Media Center streamers are in luck as well, as posters on The Green Button have noticed, although there's no indication within the client or queue itself in the WMC frontend the 3800kbps HD streams come through just fine. Unfortunately, we don't recommend anyone else watch Lost season one right now -- after last week's Beyond the Sea debacle it's just too painful.

Continue reading Netflix turns on HD indicator, queue for PC (including WMC) & Mac Watch Instantly streamers

Netflix turns on HD indicator, queue for PC (including WMC) & Mac Watch Instantly streamers originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 17 May 2010 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> http://neohdtv.com/netflix-turns-on-hd-indicator-queue-for-pc-including-wmc-mac-watch-instantly-streamers/feed/ 0 Leaked Netflix blog post indicates official HD streaming to PC launch soon http://neohdtv.com/leaked-netflix-blog-post-indicates-official-hd-streaming-to-pc-launch-soon/ http://neohdtv.com/leaked-netflix-blog-post-indicates-official-hd-streaming-to-pc-launch-soon/#comments Sun, 16 May 2010 00:42:00 +0000 Richard Lawler http://hd.engadget.com/2010/05/15/leaked-netflix-blog-post-indicates-official-hd-streaming-to-pc-l/ Still not seeing any HD Watch Instantly streaming on your PC or Mac? Don't worry, as all indications point to a full rollout sooner rather than later, the most recent being this post that momentarily popped up on Netflix's official blog long enough to be caught by Google. We've asked about any upgrades for the Media Center plugin but haven't heard anything back yet, but for now it's just a matter of "when" will everyone see the HD icon light up on that Silverlight player.

Continue reading Leaked Netflix blog post indicates official HD streaming to PC launch soon

Leaked Netflix blog post indicates official HD streaming to PC launch soon originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sat, 15 May 2010 19:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> http://neohdtv.com/leaked-netflix-blog-post-indicates-official-hd-streaming-to-pc-launch-soon/feed/ 0 Netflix stealth launches HD streaming to PC and Mac http://neohdtv.com/netflix-stealth-launches-hd-streaming-to-pc-and-mac/ http://neohdtv.com/netflix-stealth-launches-hd-streaming-to-pc-and-mac/#comments Wed, 12 May 2010 21:11:00 +0000 Richard Lawler http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/12/netflix-stealth-launches-hd-streaming-to-pc-and-mac/ It appears HD Netflix Watch Instantly streams aren't just for living room set-top boxes anymore now that Netflix is streaming more than half of its 720p-encoded titles to Macs and PCs (through the Silverlight web player, no word on the Media Center add-on.) According to Hacking Netflix, you can tell which ones are ready to go by checking the mouseover box for the (HD Available) tag as seen above. Our experience matches several other reports that not everyone is seeing the tag on all the same titles, so until it's rolled out fully, YMMV. It's not the new release flicks or surround sound add-ons that many are waiting for, but it could slide PQ up another notch for HTPC owners and everyone who just has to watch Killer Klowns from Outer Space at work -- but you'd never do that.

[Thanks, @DaveZatz]

Netflix stealth launches HD streaming to PC and Mac originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 May 2010 16:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> http://neohdtv.com/netflix-stealth-launches-hd-streaming-to-pc-and-mac/feed/ 0 HDHomeRun CableCARD will feature three tuners in time for the holidays http://neohdtv.com/hdhomerun-cablecard-will-feature-three-tuners-in-time-for-the-holidays/ http://neohdtv.com/hdhomerun-cablecard-will-feature-three-tuners-in-time-for-the-holidays/#comments Tue, 11 May 2010 21:02:00 +0000 Ben Drawbaugh http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/11/hdhomerun-cablecard-will-feature-three-tuners-in-time-for-the-ho/ What you're looking at here is a picture of the board that makes the new HDHomeRun CableCARD tuner work. You might notice the four squares on the right, those are the tuners, yes there are four -- don't get too excited -- but one of 'em is for the out of band data and can't actually be used to record HD. But that's still one more usable tuner than initially announced at CES and the best news is that the price remains the same at $249. There isn't a hard release data yet, but the goal is to release the beta details in the coming weeks, then submit it to CableLabs for certification and then finally have it in your HTPC in time for the holidays -- when exactly do holidays start again? The actual case isn't done yet, but there won't be a hump like the classic HDHomeRun and as you can see the gigabit network tuner's connections are all on the back including one coax, one USB, power, and a single CableCARD slot for all three tuners -- the USB doesn't do what you're thinking, it's for the Tuning Adapter. Contrary to some reports -- a USB version isn't on the table and we can't say we're surprised as that wouldn't be Silicon Dust's style. A picture of the connections on the prototype after the jump.

Continue reading HDHomeRun CableCARD will feature three tuners in time for the holidays

HDHomeRun CableCARD will feature three tuners in time for the holidays originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 May 2010 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> http://neohdtv.com/hdhomerun-cablecard-will-feature-three-tuners-in-time-for-the-holidays/feed/ 0 Is this the first Windows 7 Media Center embedded set-top box? http://neohdtv.com/is-this-the-first-windows-7-media-center-embedded-set-top-box/ http://neohdtv.com/is-this-the-first-windows-7-media-center-embedded-set-top-box/#comments Sun, 02 May 2010 23:38:00 +0000 Ben Drawbaugh http://hd.engadget.com/2010/05/02/is-this-the-first-windows-7-media-center-embedded-set-top-box/ Reycom Entertainment Solution We've never heard of this German company Reycom before, but from the looks of it this could be the very first embedded Windows 7 Media Center. The Reycom Entertainment Solution is marketed to content providers in Switzerland and Germany, is powered by an Atom processor and is small and slick. All the user interface images on the site should look familiar to Windows 7 Media Center fans, but the newly announced embedded version of Windows 7 isn't mentioned by name -- even the image on the about page has a women holding a Media Center remote. Of course this doesn't mean much for those of us State side, but this is exactly the type of box we had in mind when we first heard of an embedded version of Windows Media Center.

Is this the first Windows 7 Media Center embedded set-top box? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 02 May 2010 18:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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