Smart Home Blog

Syabas, well-known producer of networked media tank Popcorn hour, is going to release the media player for non-geek users. Because NMT Popcorn Hour is not easy configure and user friendly device. Also it’s expensive a bit regardless the rich set of offered features. So, the new Popbox is a compact and elegant box with redesigned rich user interface. It still can play all known media files and containers from attached USB storage or network shares (it doesn’t have internal HDD). Popbox support wired connection to the home network as well as WiFi (802.11 b/g/n). Sure the device is fully compatible with HD (720p or 1080p).

Another good advantage of Popbox is access to the online services such Twitter, Revision3, Netflix, SHOUTcast via built-in apps. The number of apps is growing fast. Thanks to available App Development Platform. So, if you’re interested to add new app you can do it easily. Also the Popbox allows to you organize your media library more efficient by retrieving metadata from IMDB for video or AllMusic for audio files.

The Popbox should be available this Spring at just $130! If the price won’t be changed it’ll be probably the best network media player on the market!
See the demo of the Popbox UI after jump
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Syabas released recently a next generation of its networked media tank (NMT) A-200. The A-200 doesn’t have optical drive like C-200, but it has a lot of advantages over old model A-110. It sports faster processor and bigger DRAM and NAND Flash. Additionally the A-200 will have new rich UI, which is more attractive and user friendly then previous one, and ability to install new apps, developed by third-party developers, from App Center. Additionally the A-200 meets EU Green Power Requirement, which will help to reduce energy consumption and save the environment.

The rest spec is more or less the same with A-110. The A-200 still plays everything it find in the internal HDD, USB mass storage, network shares or online services. It looks much better in my mind and its price is very very nice – just $179! If I remember correctly this is less then the price of the A-110 was. So, the A-200 seems good candidate to occupy the space in the AV stand.

Popcorn Hour C-200 is available for order on its producer site at the price $299.00. The new model sports stronger processor, optional Blu-ray capability, gygabit Ethernet and RF remote control. There is a IR kit to use some IR-based universal remote control if you don’t satisfy RF one. The C-200 now lacks for TV tuner to replace all AV devices near TV.

The new model of popular networked media tank Popcorn Hour was confirmed on its web site. The C100 will contains an upgraded Sigma SMP8643 667 Mhz processor, HDMI 1.3 out, two SATA slots and a drive bay for mounting additional HDD, optical or Blu-ray drive. It still can playback everything you want, supports HD video and audio and sports Gigabit Ethernet. Thanks to 192×64 LCD display you may easily get information about playing movie or online video.

The new Popcorn Hour C100 will be available soon at the price $299.00. Watch the demo video after jump.

[via Engadget]
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Syabas recently announced a Rich Objects Based Interactive Graphics (ROBIG) UI for the Popcorn Hour platform, software development kit, application store and hardware reference kit. That step will add more users, fans and enthusiasts for its popular networked media tank. I wrote about integration Popcorn Hour and Video Disk Recorder (VDR) which allows to watch and control satellite TV on the Popcorn Hour. The announced SDK will offer more efficient way to do such integration. Additionally the application store will give to both users and developers the easiest and safest way to extend networked media tank GUI and functionality.

SDK’s official release set on May 30. Developers can sign up for the program here.

[thanks to Zibi Jamal]