Networked media device roundup at CES

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Networked media device roundup at CES

Right now in Las Vegas the Consumer Electronics Show is going on and that means about a zillion new products are being announced, shown, and demoed. So far this appears to be the year of the convergence between home computer networks and home theater systems. In 2003, there weren't too many options (personally, I enjoy my Gateway DVD player for this purpose), but after hearing all this week's announcements it's clear that with a little hardware and programming almost any company can stream a song or movie from a PC to a Home Theater system.

This week's roundup so far includes a lot of "second generation" home media adapters. Linksys is doing a 802.11g hub that can do music, photos, movies, and play DVDs over a faster g network. Netgear is making music streaming devices that include streaming internet radio stations. Prismiq brought out a device last year, and they announced they're now allowing paid-for downloads of Hollywood movies from CinemaNow to play on it as well in a Video-On-Demand sort of way. Microsoft will be streaming content via their xbox that will also work with CinemaNow and Gateway and Samsung will produce network-capable TVs that will look for Windows Media Center PCs on the network. Phillips has gone another way, adding internet radio streaming directly inside their new TVs, with plans to develop media hub devices that will play music and movies from home PCs as well.

by Matt Haughey January 8, 2004 in News

Comments

Here is what I want from one of these connected players:

1. Show me my photos from iPhoto on my TV.

2. Play my all my music from iTunes on my stereo, especially my music from the iTunes music store.

EyeHome from El Gato is close, but fails on the encrypted AAC playback.

If the same device was a TiVo, that would be perfect! DirecTiVo would be even better...if we had local channels. Sigh.

Posted by: Willie Abrams at Jan 8, 2004 3:40:26 PM

Series 2 standalone TiVos with the Home Media Option do support iPhoto albums and iTunes lists, but they can't play AAC files, encrypted or not.

That's the bummer about a lot of these networked media things, they don't integrate with any common software like iTunes or Winamp, so you lose all the playlist and management features.

Posted by: Matt Haughey at Jan 8, 2004 3:49:21 PM

Netgear is also introducing the WGT634U Super Wireless Media Router which will add video to the mix. And since the TiVo plan only seems to allow video out (not in), I think I will be ordering one soon.

Posted by: Michael at Jan 8, 2004 5:02:47 PM

I set up an old Pismo PowerBook in my media closet. It does all of the above, with S-video out and FireWire.

Posted by: Josh at Jan 17, 2004 11:30:39 PM

Here goes my ignorance -

Is there a wireless router that can broadcast to an extender (something like the Airport Extreme and the Airport Express) for a Windows XP host PC that supports itunes? I'd be happy enough if I could broadcast my itunes play lists accross my home stero system. Any comments or suggestions would be welcome. Thank you.

Posted by: John Chambers at Jan 5, 2005 3:50:03 PM

but can any body tell me the difference between 'media content production and delivery'and 'networked media service provision'
thanks.

Posted by: jone at Oct 13, 2005 6:51:02 AM

Networked media device roundup at CES

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