Smart Home Blog

After one year hard development GeeXbox team announced a new official release of its HTPC software. Highlighted changes are:

• upgrade to kernel 2.6.21.3;
• upgrade to MPlayer SVN v23418;
• improved HDTV decoding;
• support for VC1 in MPEG-TS and MPEG-PS files (like HD-DVD and BlueRay ones);
• added support of many new codecs;
• improved displaying of subtitles and movie info;
• a bunch of new hardware such DVB cards and remote controls;
• added basic WebGUI implementation.

The GeeXbox version 1.1 can be downloaded here.

I didn’t use GeeXbox but it seems good and reliable. Moreover, it can be a competitor of MythTV or VDR

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Amazing product announced Quanext - OTTIMO 19″ All in one Pc/Tv/Stereo. It is well designed to operate under LINUX (SUSE), plus it is Microsoft Windows XP/Vista compatible.

Key features are:

• All in one portable solution, throw away your box/case, everything is inside the lcd screen.
• 19″ widescreen monitor with high resolution for high quality images and better view of any multimedia files
• 2 big ROUND SPEAKERS with bass included give your multimedia experience a new effect
• Easy to operate, only one button to switch the machine on and swith it to TV function.
• Ottimo is a COMPUTER and it is a NORMAL LCD TV, 2 machines in one.
• No need to INSTALL any TV TUNER softwares, just connect your antenna or cable line and you are ready to watch TV.
• All connections are in the back of the unit for easy access. The unit is equipped with a DVD slot in player and a very useful retractable stand to help move your computer everywhere you want.
• Perfect for using a multimedia center software such as MCE or MythTV

For more information, please, see product page.

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Home media centers in small form factor are very popular because they blend in compact dimensions and power of desktop PC. Samsung announced its version of this kind of PC - MX10. It’s very similar to LITTLE LLUON and Philips LX1000. The MX10’s got a Core 2 Duo processor, 1GB of RAM, an ATI Xpress 1100 graphics card, and 200 to 250GB of storage. Its dimensions are 55mm*265mm*295mm. The rest information is missed. But I suspect that MX10 should also include IR port to control via remote, WiFi and maybe Bluetooth.

The Samsung MX10 will go for about $1,265 US.

[via PVR Wire]

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Alienware shows us a new face of media PC. It defenetelly does not look like ordinary media PC. The cosmic design hides AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core processors, 160GB HDD, 1000 watts of amplification and HDMI connectors for bandwidth-demanding HD video. No more details are available.
The price of Alienware’s Media Center PC is about $1000.

[via Gizmowatch]

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Here is a Linux-based Home Control/Theater System from Monster Cable - Einstein. It’s composed of 6 very innovative components like its 2-room-stream DVD changer and 3-zone Sirius radio tuner. Also, it includes a phone remote that easily handles all home theater, home control, and VoIP/Cellular communications. Out of the box, Einstein will support 1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet for HD video streaming and will be able to connect wireless through 802.11g/n, Z-Wave and Bluetooth protocols.

[via CRN]

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