Smart Home Blog

Here is an interesting A/V device - HDHomeRun Networked Digital TV Tuner. It allows to you watch over-the-air digital TV from all computers in your home. HDHomeRun has two tuners. So you’ll able to record/watch multiple channels at once.

HDHomeRun supports major DVR features:

• Pause, rewind, fast-forward live TV.
• Record all your favorite TV shows by name.
• Fully integrated 14-day TV guide.

Additionally, HDHomeRun can be integrated with Windows Media Center, MythTV - DVR for Linux, SnapStream BeyondTV - DVR for Windows, SageTV - DVR for Windows, MediaPortal - DVR for Windows, GB-PVR - DVR for Windows, Pluto - Home automation & media system, VLC - Multi-platform media viewer, TSReader - MPEG-2 transport stream analysis.

The HDHomeRun Networked Digital TV Tuner is tagged at $169.95 and available on DVRupgrade.

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Here is a good example of modern Set-Top-Box (STB) which is usually used to bring IPTV to your home. Ordinary STB can just receive TV stream via LAN, decode it and display it on TV. The Tornado M10 Digital Media Center does the same but additionally it allows following:

• Digital music and Internet radio delivery
• VoIP SIP phone with peer auto discovery (devices on same LAN can talk directly without a gateway)
• MPEG4 video and MP3 audio compression
• Video conference H.263 support
• Media extension center functionality (access PC on TV screen, scan PCs for media files)
• Enhanced voicemail system with unified messaging (up to 80 messages can be retrieved via phone or web)
• Online chat and email clients (ICQ, AIM, MSN chat while watching TV)
• News and weather reports delivery

The M10 has a built-in mic and speakers, and can function as a speakerphone. With an SD memory card or optional hard disk connected to its USB port, it can record scheduled programs or pause live TV, according to the company. Additionally, the M10’s USB port supports X10 devices. So, you may control(?) your home X10-based appliance.
The Tornado M10 Digital Media Center is based on modern Linux kernel - 2.6.19. It support a range of voice and video decoders and/or codecs, including MPEG4/SP, MP3, G.711 (A-law and Mu-law), G.726 (16/24/32/40 kbps), and G.729. Supported data networking protocols include IPv4 (upgradeable to IPv6), ARP, DNS, DHCP, ICMP, TCP UDP, RTP, DiffServ, and SNTP.

Tornado M10 Digital Media Center is available immediately, with suggested retail pricing of $170, or $200 with WiFi. Probably, this STB may replace your PC

[via LinuxDevices]

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MyTVpal.com, the world’s first instant streaming 1080p PC player and Set Top Box (“STB”) video on demand (“VOD”) service will soon be showcasing or more specifically, streaming video of large format films originally filmed in an IMAX® 15/70 format, scoring an industry first, adding sixteen related 1080p high definition VOD movies to its roster of titles. Titles to be included
are Australia: Land Beyond Time, Amazing Journeys, Lost Worlds, and Africa: The Serengeti.

Using patent pending XMS streaming solution offered through MatrixStream Technology,Inc., MyTVpal.com ushers in the next level of Full HD (1920 x 1080) IP high definition performance via its MX-1 HD STB for TV.

A recent iSuppli Corp. report estimates worldwide IPTV subscriber totals to grow from approximately 3.9 million in 2006 to 103 million by 2011, and predicts IPTV subscription revenue will grow more over the same period from $960.5 million to $39.1 billion. MyTVpal.com’s brand of internet VOD streaming service is in position to capture sizable market share and can presently offer millions of broadband users worldwide an alternative to satellite or cable for viewing HD videos.

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MyTVPal.com is ready to launch a new video on demand service for TV starting with “North America’s Best Independent Animated Shorts”. The 84 minute animated short compilation feature film will be made available free for a limited time via user paid targeted advertising starting on January 1st 2007.

MyTVPAL.com delivers DVD and HD quality streaming movies instantly on demand via a high definition IMX 1020 HD set top box directly to a television set. No downloading or PC is required in this process.

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MyTVPal.com, the world’s first 1080P high definition streaming Video on Demand (”VOD”) and IPTV service for PC Player and IPTV receiver set top box (STB) clients will be launching this week.

The service to start, will offer over 700 free IPTV channels from over 70 countries, including standard definition and high definition channels to any broadband user with 1.5mbps speed or higher. A wide range of video on demand titles will be offered for a low monthly cost in the months to come with new TV channels and VOD titles being added each month.

User uploaded content and DVR features will be available as a software upgrade for PC and STB clients in 2007. MyTVPal.com is planning to release 100,000 MatrixStream IPTV 1080p set top box (http://www.matrixstream.com/presskit.cfm) in the first year of launch.

The PC Player and STB also offers targeted advertising opportunities for those advertisers who are contracted with MyTVPal.com. MyTVPal.com is targeting 10 million users over the next 5 years and is currently making its PC Player available for a free trial for those that register at www.MyTVPal.com. MatrixStream Technologies, Inc., an IPTV end-to-end solution provider based in the San Francisco Bay Area, powers MyTVPal.com’s IPTV platform.

About MyTVPal.com

MyTVPal.com, operated by BB Entertainment Inc., is a leading edge content aggregator focused on IPTV platform with over 15,000 hours of content. MyTVpal.com mission is to create an enhanced television experience by delivering high quality video entertainment with video quality that meet or exceed the quality of satellite or cable over the broadband network.

About MatrixStream

MatrixStream Technologies, Inc. offers a complete end-to-end VOD and IPTV platform solution, utilizing patent pending MatrixCast 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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