Next step after releasing of Boxee Box Boxee is going to offer a paid content to their users this Summer. There is a big number of comments about that topic on the Boxee blog. Many people like it on conditions that the payment will be monthly/yearly for unlimited access to the channel or bundle of channels. The most difficult part of that task is finding providers with interesting content. Wish good luck to Boxee team with that and wait for Boxee Box.
Recently GeeXboX announced its new software for HTPC called Enna. It offers a standard set of functions such playback video and audio, showing photos from local drives, USB storage or network shares. However, there is one unique feature in the Enna. It’s a BookStore allowed to read your favourite eBooks from different Internet content providers. Also the new GeeXboX media center software comes with VDPAU supports which is very important for HD video fans.
Enna development team has a huge todo list which includes adding games, integration with VDR to watch and record digital TV, supporting UPnP and DLNA. Long-term plans include online services integration (currently there is no one, even YouTube), Instant Messaging, VoIP Telephony and Video Conference and TelePresence. Souns very promising. But we’ll see the progress this summer.
To install Enna under Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic) just add GeeXboX repository to your apt sources list and use apt to get it. Also note that Enna is a part of GeeXboX distribution. Users of other Linux distributions can install Enna from the sources.
Just found that picture on the Unplggd web site. Probably this is the best TV installation I seen ever! No any visible wires and stylish audio components. I’d like to know more about that installation. So, if you have some info, please, drop the comment.
UPDATE: The installation is used KEF KHT 3005 5.1 surround sound system (thanks to Paulo Hoppe for info!).
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.
INTELVISION will announce its newest home automation system “SmartUnity” at the biggest in Europe automation show “Light+Building 2010” that will take place in Frankfurt 11-16 April 2010. INTELVISION will be the first Russian company that will take part in this exhibition. We invite you to visit our Stand F70 (Hall 9.0).
SmartUnity is the new generation of home automation systems that can become a competitor to such systems as Crestron, AMX, KNX, C-Bus, etc.
Please find out more information in press-release and Light+Building official web site.
International “SmartUnity” web-site will be available this March. You may see the Russian “SmartUnity” web site or its English translation.
