Smart Home Blog

Recently JVC presented its Sophisti DD-3 - compact and stylish media system which allows to play computer-based music and video files to your audio/video devices. It includes a DVD player, an AM/FM tuner and inputs for connecting other components, subwoofer and three speakers. Also, Sophisti DD-3 features an Ethernet connection that hooks it up to a PC, letting you retrieve media content from your PC via LAN.
Moreover, the system contains USB Host allowing you to connect your digital devices to the system. This includes flash audio players, USB drives, digital cameras and card readers.
The Sophisti’s main unit houses a built-in decoding of Dolby Digital, DTS and Dolby Pro Logic II soundtracks. An HDMI interface ensures that crisp and clear pictures are seen on the TV. The system supports JPEG, MP3, WMA, WAV (PCM), AC3, MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, MS MP4 v3, DivX. The 220 watts system has the patented Direct Drive technology.
The system is available for $1000.

[source: Gizmodo]

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SqueezeBox is a compact music streamer which allows to play a music from PC or listen internet radio. It connects to LAN via WiFi or Ethernet cable. Actually, SqueezeBox needs PC to get music content only. SlimDevices together with Infrant Technologies solved this by releasing ReadyNAS NV - the first commercially available NAS device to come pre-loaded with SlimServer Software. This allows to SqueezeBox connect to the NAS directly and get music files omitting PC.
There is a special offer - 1Tb ReadyNAS NV and 2 Squeezeboxes - for $1499.00

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Dlink DSM-520 is a Wireless HD Media Player. It allows to stream music, photos, and high-definition videos to your home entertainment system over LAN. Moreover, it allows to listen the Internet radio and see content from Premium Online Services. The DSM-520 connects to your existing home network using either 802.11g wireless technology or via Ethernet cable.

The DSM-520 sports a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) connector to connect directly to the HD TV. Also, it includes component, S-video and composite outputs. Audio comes from coax and optical digital audio outputs and offers high fidelity digital surround sound.

The DSM-520 supports all well-known audio/video/graphical formats. It looks pretty nice and blended in with your other home entertainment devices, makes your home theater setup complete.

Dlink Wireless HD Media Player  is available at price $249.99. Other media streamer - Sqeezebox, cannot stream video and photos  but costs about $300. So, it might be more reasonable to buy DSM-520.

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MythTV fans get ready to update! Release candidate 0.20 has added support for some excellent new plugins, peripherals (i.e. HDHomeRun), and OpenGL interface enhancements. Below is list of the major changes since 0.19:

• Added MythArchive plugin for archiving recorded shows

• Menus are now drawn by MythUI using OpenGL. This option can be enabled/disabled in the Appearance settings.

• Improved internal DVD player - now supporting menus and other missing features

• Added MHEG content implementation (Interactive TV in UK)

• Added Hotplug support for removable media in Media Monitor and MythGallery

• Added support for the HDHomeRun encoding device

• Added support for basic FreeBox recorders

• Added support for H.264 (aka MPEG-4 AVC) TS decoding

• Added an MPEG1/MPEG2/MPEG4-AVC IP network recorder

• Added internal UPnP server support for TV and Music

• Added experimental second commercial detector

• New socket class for backend communications

• OSD image cache which improves channel changing speed

• Fixed program transition while Watching LiveTV

• Added beginnings of firewire capture support for MacOS

• Support for DVB radio channels and guide data collected via EIT for them

• Added mouse support in menus, including gestures

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Insent released a MCE-based media center - Julia All-in-One Touch Extender. The media center uses improved touchscreen functionality. It allows to control media via touchscreen without keyboard or mouse.

The unit is packed by a 17-inch widescreen display, along with a CD/DVD drive, TV and FM tuners, 80GB hard drive, and Ethernet and WiFi capabilities. Neither are price nor availability.

[via Engadget]

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