Smart Home Blog

San Mateo, California – September 28th , 2007 – MatrixStream Technologies, Inc., known for its end-to-end IPTV platform that instantly streams high definition (“HD”) video over any best effort broadband network without quality of service, proudly announces the introduction of an encoder suited for 1080p videos, dubbed the IMX e4080HD.

The IMX e4080HD encoder allows IPTV providers to encode and instantly stream live video feeds in real-time Full HD 1080p 24 and 30 frames per second at 3.5mbps. Currently broadcasters commonly transmit interlaced HD video (1080i) which translates to content loaded with artifacts and blurry video images, especially with sports or fast action oriented content. With the IMX e4080HD encoder, video is transmitted progressively so that the viewing audience can behold video free from artifacts and at the highest resolution possible on a given HD television screen. Furthermore, the IMX e4080HD encoder will allow IPTV operators to deploy the highest quality HD 1080p videos over the Internet utilizing MatrixStream’s end-to-end IPTV XMS streaming products.

“This new development will allow MatrixStream’s clients to deploy quickly and rapidly scale their HD video on demand and TV channel offerings to millions of users on a robust platform that is far more economical than systems currently offered by cable or satellite providers” says Jack Chung, CEO of MatrixStream. Demonstrations of MatrixStream’s latest HD IPTV platform will be made available at CEATEC Japan, scheduled from October 2nd - 6th 2007, booth 10A88, hosted by Fujisoft, Inc., a partner company of MatrixStream. To view a video demo of MatrixStream’s HD IPTV platform TV interface, go to: http://www.matrixstream.com/demo.php.

About MatrixStream Technologies, Inc.

MatrixStream Technologies, Inc., offers a complete end-to-end VOD and IPTV platform solution, utilizing patent pending XMS-HD technology that delivers DVD and HDTV quality videos over any broadband IP network to the viewing
audience. Currently, MatrixStream is working with 25 major broadband service providers around the world. For more information, please visit www.matrixstream.com.

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Toshiba announced in Japan a new series of its LCD TVs - Z3500. The TVs of that series combine ordinary LCD TV and PC where Linux is used as operation system (no information about what Linux distribution is there). It includes three Ethernet port to get media content from any Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) devices or Toshiba’s in-house VARDIA recorders. Using two USB ports you can connect to the TV external HDDs for recording TV shows.

Regardless of size - 37, 42, 46, 52, and 57 inch, each set boasts native 1080p at 24 or 60 frames per second, a 120Hz LCD panel that eliminates motion artifacts, and three HDMI inputs with deep color support.

The new PC-TV from Toshiba will start to sell in late September with price started from $3153.00.

[via Electronista]

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Today I setup a new media director (MD) for our smarthome project. Its specs is here:

• Case: SilverStone LC16M
• Motherboard: Asus M2N Deluxe
• Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 5200+
• Memory: 2Gb
• Video: Asus GeForce 6200 LE

I was afraid a bit about installation because Plutohome core has Single Core processor and ordinary kernel. But the media director is based on Core Duo and it needs SMP kernel (once we had some troubles with it - MD couldn’t get appropriate kernel from the Plutohome Core). But the installation passed fine. The media director got appropriate kernel without any problems.

The video card doesn’t have HDMI output. So, I used adapter DVI-to-HDMI to connect it to the Panasonic plasma. I couldn’t set screen resolution 1080p. It seems that something wrong with it. With 1080i the picture was broken. Unfortunately, I didn’t find anything in the logs. So, I stuck to 720p.

Tomorrow I’ll continue setup of the media director. I need to connect it to the receiver Marantz SR5600 (sound and control via RS232), patch and configure remote control iMON PAD, configure MythTV. So, it’s the to do list is not so big but it’ll take some time.

Update: Finally I found that TV doesn’t support 1080p (according to owner worlds). So, this is correct that only 720p was set.

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Recently Yamaha announced features of coming RX-V3800 (140-watt x 7) and RX-V1800 (130-watt x 7). Both upport lossless Dolby Digital TrueHD / DTS-HD and feature Yamaha’s Cinema DSP processing engine, video upscaling to 1080p, HDMI 1.3a, and an Ethernet(!) connection. Ethernet is going to be used to access internet radio stations, music files stored on a PC, and the company’s MusicCAST audio system server. I suppose that it’ll be possible to control the receiver via Ethernet as well. So, TCP/IP-based smarthome system will have a good opportunity to support them.

RX-V1800 and RX-V3800 will be available soon with price $1,299.95 and $1,699.95 respectively.

[via Engadget]

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Recently Sony introduced new generation of its whole house hight definition audio/video entertainment systems: NHS-1040, NHS-2040 and NHS-3040. They include following features:

• 7.1 HDMI home theater
• Twelve additional HD video zones (six additional HD video zones for NHS-1040 and NHS-2040)
• Built-in support to add an HD cable or satellite receiver
• An 80 GB music storage and management server
• A 400-disc DVD changer with management system (NHS-2040 and NHS- 3040)
• AM/FM tuner
• XM Satellite Radio(TM) support
• Single-disc Blu-ray disc player
• Three additional auxiliary inputs
• Three zone expansion

Sony promotes the NHS series as “ideal for builders and installers because they reduce time spent on procurement and integrating individual components, and offer the consumer a whole house HD solution with all the features of custom installation without the custom price tag“.

The NHS-3040, NHS-2040 and NHS-1040 will be available in the third quarter of 2007. No any words about the price.

[via HiddenWires]

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