Smart Home Blog

Simplify Media released a new version of its software for mobile devices. That version includes following new features: using Amazon Web Service to search album art, getting artist bios from last.fm and lyrics from lyrics wiki, select Shuffle from the top of any song list, and the tracks from an album, a genre, an artist or a playlist will be randomized for your enjoyment.

Note that build 949 of Simplify Media Mobile is a recommended update for all iPhone and iPod Touch users with firmware 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.1.3 and 1.1.4. Enjoy!

[via SimplifyMedia weblog]

Recently I wrote about Myka – small box with allows to download media content from BitTorrent or local server and playback it directly on TV. Here is a similar device named Popcorn Hour A-100. It supports wide range of audio/video formats and connectivity ways including BitTorrent, UPnP, Samba, NFS and FTP. Additionally it offers watching of YouTube and Google Video clips, photos from Flickr and Picasa, peer-to-peer TV SayaTV and listen internet radio. The Popcorn Hour has HDMI v1.1 (up to 1080p), Component Video (up to 1080p), S-Video, Composite Video, Stereo Analog Audio, S/PDIF Coax Digital Audio and 2 USB ports. Also it can be equiped by PATA HDD to store media content. It’s a compact (270x132x32 mm) and stylish. So, you can place it near or behind TV and enjoy rich media player.

The Popcorn Hour A-100 is tagged just at $179.00 (without HDD). But it isn’t available at present time on the producer’s online store. However, one friend of mine recently bought it. So, we’ll see that box in action soon and confirm or refute its advantages.

Sqeezebox together with SlimServer is the easiest way to create a multiroom music system. Now with plug-in mceSoftsqueeze it’s possible to use Windows MCE as a Softsqueeze – software emulator of real Sqeezebox. It logs into SlimServer (preferably installed on a separate networked PC) and can be managed directly from your Media Center’s 10-foot interface and remote in your entertainment area.

[via eHomeUpgrade]

Now you can buy Windows based media center software ArcSoft TotalMediaâ„¢ 3.5 together with a Network Attached – Dual Digital Tuner HDHomeRun. The ArcSoft TotalMediaâ„¢ 3.5 offers the same bunch of features as any other media center software based on Linux, Windows or Mac OS. Many of them support HDHomeRun. For example, MythTV. So, I don’t see any reason to spend 80 bucks for that except ArcSoft will give a good discount on HDHomeRun.

[via eHomeUpgrade]

Recently Mvix lunched a new version of its media player MV780. Unlike the previous model – MV760, the MV780 sports a native HDMI output. As result it can deliver full 1080i HD to your plasma or LCD without losing signal quality.

Unlike other network media players MV780 doesn’t need any additional software. When it’s added in your home LAN using Ethernet or WiFi the media player is detected as external storage. So, you can copy there any media content easily (additionally MV760 offers a synchronization between PCs in the local network or with popular filesharing programs, i.e. eMule, KaZaa, BitTorrent). Disadvantage of that approach is impossibility to stream movies or music directly from the source PC without storing locally.

The MV760 supports a huge number media formats. So, you shouldn’t have a situation when the movie cannot be played or image isn’t displayed. The new Mvix player seems very good but personally I don’t like its design. It looks like DSL model or WiFi router for me. Moreover, the MV760 cannot be placed horizontally under TV and it will stand out against a background of your A/V equipment.

No more words about the availability of the Mvix MV760 or its price. But taking into account the cost of the previous model we expect that the MV760 will be tagged not less then €250.

[via eHomeUpgrade]