Smart Home Blog

German producer of Windows-based home media centers Reel Multimedia offers one of its model with OS Linux and Video Disk Recorder (VDR) as HTPC software. ReelBox Lite features AMD Geode SC2200 CPU, 256 MB RAM, HDD (according to your requst), DVD Burner, two tuner slots: DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C or DVB-T compatible, 2x Common Interface slots - Cryptoworks, Conax, Alphacrypt, 1x Smartcard Reader - NeotionCrypt. Additionally, it includes a big LCD display (available blue, white and black colors) and IR receiver which allows to use remote control. Optionally you may add WiFi MiniPCI module to avoid wiring.

In spite of not so power system configuration (RAM less than 512 is a sclerosis not memory ;)) ReelBox has enough resources to press more featured competitors. It allows to view PAL TV in HD resolution 720p/1080i (possible it includes the latest or custom VDR version), up to three channels recorded simultaneously, simultaneous decoding via a CI Module, 2x LNB outputs, pause “Live” TV, ripping DVD, burn recorded TV show to DVD, listing Internet radio. The power of VDR gives you possibility to stream TV over LAN (Multicast/IP-Streaming), recording toHDD including EPG information, automatic recording of TV show by timer (the box can be waked-up at specified time) and even more.

I found the RealBox Lite only in German on-line shop with price at 839.00EUR.

See also

Reelbox Lite Review

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The target of any wrap software is to do using original system easier without patching it. MMS - My Media System does the same. It integrates VDR, Mplayer and Xine into one easy install and configure system.

MMS allows to you manage, display and play media content such as videos, music and pictures on your TV. It’s translated to 11 languages (Russian is one of them :)).

The latest version of MMS can be downloaded here, installation instructions are available for Debian, Ubuntu, Gentoo and SuSe.

Fly in the ointment: I didn’t use MMS on practice. So, maybe I missed something but I don’t understand why it’s needed to install MMS if VDR can do the same things from the box and even more. But anyway, MMS seems good system to build your home media center!

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Good news for all fans of VDR and HDTV. Finally, Klaus decided to add support of HDTV into VDR. According to his comment in the VDR maillist:

Yes, I do plan to do this. Yesterday I’ve installed my DVB-S2 card in a test box, so hopefully I’ll be able to start digging into this one of these days

This good because MythTV which already supports HDTV doesn’t include a lot of VDR features.

P. S. The DVB card which is going to be used is Technotrend S2-3200 HDTV-S2.

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VDR is one of the most popular and power Linux-based front-end for the HTPC. It has a cleaver architecture and a lot of plugins. Using streamdev-server it’s possible to stream live TV over LAN. As client you can any PC with installed VideoLAN or mplayer. But in that case some functionality will be lost. Here is a way how to use Mac with Mac OS as streamdev client. I suspect that it’s the first step to port VDR under Mac OS. As there are no DVB device drivers for OS X with Linux headers you cannot use DVB devices on Mac. But you can enjoy full-featured VDR client on your Mac (thanks to Tero Siironen).

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Lx8100-AM2BB-M2NPV-VM HTPC Bare Bone will be interesting for all who’d like to build HTPC by themsevse and not use something ready. The bare bone includes a nice looking case with changeable front plates, LX8100 AMD 939 Motherboard with integrated NVIDIA® GeForce™ 6150/nForce™ 430 and SilentX 14dba Power Supply. Additionally, it has the 9-in-1 read reader, TV-Out, DVI, VGA, front USB/1394 and sound ports. There is a possibility to install VFD display to show some useful information.

The bare bond comes with free remote control and Fedora 5 based installation / recovery DVD. The DVD will get Linux users up and running in no time because many applications and drivers like 3D Video drivers, LIRC, sensors, Video for Linux(V4l), sound, TV viewers and radio applications are installed with the needed LIRC bindings for the included remote control.
There are available three configuration on the LinuxToys: without motherboard ($209.00), with motherboard ($319.00) and full set equiped with AMD AM2 3000+, 512 MB RAM, 250Gb HDD, DVD/CDRW, TV-Capture and installed and configured Linux-based media applications such as TV-Time, Kradio and KDETV ($559.00).

We’re going to buy the second configuration to use it as Plutohome Media Director. The nice price and appropriate hardware make this bare bond very attractive to use in Plutohome system.

[via lixsystems]

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