Smart Home Blog

Toshiba announced in Japan a new series of its LCD TVs – Z3500. The TVs of that series combine ordinary LCD TV and PC where Linux is used as operation system (no information about what Linux distribution is there). It includes three Ethernet port to get media content from any Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) devices or Toshiba’s in-house VARDIA recorders. Using two USB ports you can connect to the TV external HDDs for recording TV shows.

Regardless of size – 37, 42, 46, 52, and 57 inch, each set boasts native 1080p at 24 or 60 frames per second, a 120Hz LCD panel that eliminates motion artifacts, and three HDMI inputs with deep color support.

The new PC-TV from Toshiba will start to sell in late September with price started from $3153.00.

[via Electronista]

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

iMON VFD display is included in one of the most popular cases for HTPC – SilverStone. It’s supported by LCDProc. So, there is no any problem to install its driver under Linux. Moreover, MythTV – open source media center front-end allows to display on iMON VFD some useful information such channel number, movie name etc. For all who needs more Linux offers a flexible interface to the all devices in the system. As example, let’s see that Perl script which simulate graphical equalizer on iMON VFD display. I run it in my media center based on SilverStone LC20M. It works fine but unfortunately it doesn’t display real data. At least it may give you some ideas.

When you’re going to build HTPC the first thing which should be clarified is software for it. You have to think about it because, for example, Linux doesn’t support ATI graphical card well. Therefore you have to buy appropriate one. So, I’ll try to briefly describe here 7 most popular Linux or Windows based applications for HTPC.

MythTV

MythTV is the most popular Linux-based application for media center. It offers a standard set of PVR features such watching, pause, record, schedule recording and manage recorded Live TV shows, play DVDs, brows photos. MythTV functionality can be extended by plug-ins. There are not so many plug-ins but existing ones allow to burn recorded TV shows on DVD, stream TV over LAN.
MythTV supports a wide range of Video capture cards such DVB cards, analog TV and HDTV cards, external TV tuners (HDHomeRun). To control MythTV you can use on-screen GUI together with remote control or web interface for any PC in LAN. It supports HDTV (1080p). MythTV is a part of open source home control system Pluthome and LinuxMCE. The good ability of MythTV is a possibility to booting it from a Compact Flash card. To install MythTV you can use following distributions: MythDora, KnoppMyth, Minimyth, Xebian (for Xbox), Yellow Dog (for Playstation 3).

Video Disk Recorder (VDR)

Video Disk Recorder (VDR) or Video Disk Recorder is a child of German folk Klaus Schmidinger. It provides a functionality similar to MythTV together with better architecture (MythTV records everything. As result you have a big number unnecessary stuff on your HDD. VDR doesn’t record anything till you press ‘Pause’ or schedule something). The list of VDR’s plug-ins are much longer that MythTV. It also allows to stream TV over network but you can optimize the video signal on the fly to use low bandwidth. VDR provides a nice looking on-screen menu, EPG and has web interface which allows to watch TV as well (as a set of fast changed pictures). Unlike MythTV Video Disk Recorder is localized in German. There is no many non-German resources. Moreover, VDR started support HDTV a couple months ago. Pluthome and LinuxMCE have a very pure integration with VDR but their developer teams are planning to improve it. To install VDR you may use following distributions: LinVDR, c’t VDR, Gen2VDR, ArVDR.

Freevo

Freevo is also Linux-based HTPC application. It allows tp watch, pause, record Live TV, playback DVDs, view pictures. It has a plug-in structure. Some of them allows to add basic home automation with x10 devices into your Freevo box. It’s a part of following distribution: Freevix, Xebian – Xbox Debian, Feux and FreevoLive.

My Media System (MMS)

My Media System (MMS) is again Linux-based HTPC front-end. It uses VDR to play Live TV. It allows to play-back DVDs, view images, play in Linux games and listen Internet radio. MMS can be installed via apt or built from the sources.

GeeXbox

«GeeXbox»

As I understand GeeXbox is French and Spanish Linux-based product. It’s also provide base PVR functions. Unfortunately, it isn’t so widespread as four HTPC front-ends below.

MediaPortal

MediaPortal is an Open Source Windows-based application ideal situated for turning your PC / TV into a very advanced Media Center. It looks nice and allows to watch, record, pause Live TV, play-back DVDs, listen music and Internet radio. MediaPortal can be extended by various plug-ins and extensions.

Windows Media Center Edition

Windows Media Center Edition is proprietary, commercial OS for media center. The MCE has a few advances in my point of view. The first one is a hardware support (because all producers make drivers for Windows) and possibility to watch YouTube and Google video (thanks to supporting of plug-ins). Personally, I don’t like closed and especially Windows-based systems. Sure, it doesn’t mean that Windows MCE is bad. The most commercial, ready-to use HTPC are shipped with MCE because producers don care about hardware drivers.

Well, I briefly described only well-known media center front-ends. If I missed somethings don’t hesitate to add your corrections in comments. Personally I recommended VDR. It can provide desire functionality via plugins.

If you’re music lover and Linux folk that article from LinuxDevices.com is definitely for you. Here the author explains how to build your own ultimate music server. It’s cheaper then similar commercial products like Sonos but it offers more functions and can be expandable easily.

In brief, the system core is EPIA EX-1500G included a wide range of A/V outputs. Additionally, we need NAS – it was chosen Infrant NV+, and control panel – here is we see Nokia N800. Nokia770 is also can be used but it doesn’t support Rhapsody well. The article contains a lot of pictures and code snippets to help you build media server fast and easy.

I already posted about another DIY home music system based on Linux. It also uses Nokia770 as control panel. So, now you have a choice.