The O!Play media player was officially posted here some months ago and now the same player is officially available in the U.S. Carrying the same specs that allows users to enjoy 1080p HD media via their HDTV and support for common and popular media files, the O!Play Media Player is now being offered for only $99.99.

The O!Play Media Player also comes with various input (USB, eSata/USB combo port) and output (HDMI, composite A/V) options that makes this device a must-have for your home entertainment needs.

(Source) Engadget

If you’re the traveling type, then you be interested to hear about the new device from NetGear, the NetGear Stora.

It comes with a terabyte of online storage, and a suite of file management software options, but this isn’t really what the NetGear Stora’s biggest selling point is.  What that particular point is is it’s ability to be accessed remotely, and be used by any Internet capable device or smart phone.

There are some limits to this of course– your iPod will never be able to play Windows Media Audio formatted files, no matter how much you beg, plead, bribe or threaten the device.    But aside from these small limits, there are many useful applications for a device such as this.  And even better, the device only costs two hundred twenty nine dollars, which is approximately similar to the price of a particularly high end one terabyte hard drive.

Oh WOW.  Nine hundred and twenty Blockbuster Video locations are going to get the axe by the end of 2010, but I haven’t even told you the WEIRD part yet.  Despite the fact that almost a cool thousand stores are going to collapse like the Berlin Wall by the time the ball drops on 2011, that’s only twenty percent of Blockbuster’s stores.

That means Blockbuster had somewhere in the neighborhood of forty six hundred stores located nationwide.  Assuming a uniform distribution, that means there were, on average, eighty four Blockbuster stores PER STATE in the United States.  Each state, on average, is going to lose roughly eighteen stores.

On the one hand, this could be a calculated move designed to kill the video store business and instead focus more resources on the mail order video market, which they’re already doing with their own Blockbuster service.

Conversely, this COULD just be a move to kill some overage.  Eighty four stores per state?  Do you really need more than one, maybe two, per city?  Maybe you have to go across town to rent a video–I’ve got about a ten mile one way trip to MY nearest video store.  Excuse me if I don’t cry for you, Argentina.

But either way, this is going to mean a lot more job loss in an already bad market.

This product fits its billing to the T. Called a Network Media Tank, the Syabas Popcorn Hour C-200 should be the ideal solution for bringing digital movies, photos, and music to your living room via Ethernet or WiFi. You can also use another option which is by the usual USB drives or internal hard disk drives which can store various media files for your multimedia pleasure.

The whole lot costs $300 but excludes a hard drive. Built at about the size of a Blu-ray player, it can practically accommodate all files of any size and thanks to the flexibility of storage, the amount of files to be stored and played will totally depend up to you.

Unfortunately it lacks in the area of user-friendliness. Unless you are a techie geek, don’t be surprised if you end up groping to operate it. But then again, at $300, don’t expect to get the whole pie since something has got to be missing.

(Source) Dvice

Hoping to hook your Apple TV up via a CableCARD, broadcast live TV and possible record it using the device’s DVR? Well it looks like you’re out of luck as Apple’s CFO, Peter Oppenheimer, has said that the Apple TV will not be getting a CableCARD nor DVR capabilities.

But why? Well, according to Mr. Oppenheimer the device getting the two above mentioned components wouldn’t work well with Apple’s business plans. In other words, buy from the iTunes store, or die.

via ilounge

Okay, we’ve been talking about home theatre setups for some time now, and we’ve seen some really great ones and some that aren’t so great as the really great.  And today we’re looking at a home theatre setup from the AV Forums message board, posted by user Alyse.

Alyse gave a whole list of components, including a Sony 46″ Z4500 HDTV, a Sony DG910 AV 5.1/7.1 Receiver, a Sony S350 Blu-ray Player, 5.1 Speakers with subwoofer, an Xbox 360 and running Microsoft Vista Media Center on the whole thing.

Now, Alyse seems to have this theatre in a room with windows, or at least some kind of glass blocks facing outside, because there’s some light in there.  And a second thing you’ll notice is the glass coffee table right in front of that sweet Sony TV, giving off a reflection back at you. Generally, folks, the home theatre is a bad place for any kind of reflective surfaces that aren’t transmitting a picture.

Aside from these two fairly minor problems, however, Alyse definitely has a sweet home theatre setup.

Okay, this is gonna kill you.  Seriously.  Sit down–you’re going to want to sit down for this–and brace yourself for the logic bomb that the U.S. District Court in California just put out about Real Networks’ (makers of RealPlayer) DVD copying utility RealDVD:

Even so, Judge Marilyn Patel did not issue a blanket condemnation of personal-use copying. In fact, she invoked the DMCA and the fair use doctrine in the same sentence when she stated: “while it may well be fair use for an individual consumer to store a backup copy of a personally owned DVD on that individual’s computer, a federal law has nonetheless made it illegal to manufacture or traffic in a device or tool that permits a consumer to make such copies.”

So…it’s legal to make copies of movies you own…but it’s illegal to make software that will do something legal?

That’s like saying it’s legal to drive a car but illegal to manufacture gasoline.

Of course, now we’re left with the question, “what now?”  Naturally, Real Networks plans to review the decision and will probably stage an appeal with the very pointed legal question of “how can it be illegal to distribute software that accomplishes a purpose shown by law and statute to be legal”?  But one way or another, the arguments over copying DVDs will go on hard and fast for a long time to come.

In a recent announcement, Microsoft has said that their Windows 7 Media Center Edition will be getting built-in compatibility with Netflix Watch Instantly.

If you’re not familiar with this service it essentially allows you to stream Netflix movies with little to no wait time. Of course, this feature was included with Windows Vista all the way back in May but only now this announcement comes out about Windows 7.

Furthermore, Windows 7’s version of Netflix Watch Instantly will feature a full touchscreen interface for you luxurious folk out there.

Read (AppScout)

MediaGate is proud to announce the launch of their MG-M²TV HD player. This device will a welcoming offering for budget concious consumers as it is currently selling for close to $100.

Spec wise, you’re going to find support for just about every kind of video format you can think of like AVI, Xvid, and WMV9 in addition to just about every audio, and image format out there. The MG-M²TV will also support 1080p output, subtitles and features HDMI and component connections.

While it currently only touts the ability to stream content from a connected USB hard drive or memory card, MediaGate says they have plans to introduce a WiFi add-on at some point in the future making the MG-M²TV a perfect streaming device.

via Engadget

Back at CEDIA we saw what would go on to be Sony’s 400-disc Blu-Ray MegaChanger, but at the time we hypothesized that this thing would cost an arm and a leg. Well today, Sony has announced that it will be officially named the BDP-CX960 and that it will only cost an arm, effectively sparing your leg.

For just $800 you will get a Blu-ray player with the ability to hold up to 400 Blu-ray discs but also touts the ability to play DVDs and CDs. This is a feature that Sony pretty much had to have because who has 400 Blu-ray discs, anyways? Spec wise expect to find 7.1 channel Dolby TrueHD/Dolby Digital Plus/DTS-HD High Resolution Audio/DTS-HD Master Audio codecs and an HDMI port.

Additionally, Sony also offers the BDP-CX7000ES essentially the same thing as the above mentioned model but also features an RS-232 port and 12-bit Deep Color output. Oh yeah, did we mention it would run you $1,900?

via Gizmodo

Olive has kept pretty tight lipped for some time now regarding any of their future projets but today they have le the cat out of the bag. What you see above is Olive’s Opus No. 4 music server.

This particular device will feature a full 2TB of space, a full-color display, WiFi, USB and Ethernet ports and optical/coaxial/analog outputs.

How much would you pay for such a device? It better be right around $1,799 because that’s what Olive plans to charge for it.

via EngadgetHD

LaCinema Rugged HD

LaCie have unveiled their latest multimedia drive called the LaCinema Rugged HD. This new device offers upgrades, greater functionality and the ability to play 1080p video through the HDMI port of any compatible TV. The drive has 500GB storage capacity which allow you to save up more HD videos and movies. 

It can also be utilized to store music files and photos. You can transfer content to the drive via a USB 2.0 connection. It’s compatible with both Mac’s and PCs and support many codecs including MKV, MPEG-4, H.264 and WMV9. The LaCie LaCinema Rugged HD retails for $349.99.

Here is something for people who want a conservative way to make audio rendering masterpieces. Indaba Music introduces the Session Console 2.0 for their online recording needs. The application is built on Sun Microsystems’ JavaFX platform and is being launched in conjunction with a contest to remix stems from Rivers Cuomo, lead singer of the multiplatinum music group, Weezer, who endorsed the application.

The Session Console 2.0 enables all musicians to record high-quality audio directly to Indaba Music, access advanced mixing and editing tools as well as use the software either online or offline. For many, the application eliminates the need to purchase expensive audio production tools. In addition to today’s DAW launch, Indaba Music also redefined its professional membership offerings and made live new Community and Sessions pages.

Indaba Music’s selective redesign and updated professional membership tiers make the site increasingly more accessible for its geographically diverse, highly-engaged community of musicians. The new membership tiers include: a free account, a Pro account for $5.00 per month and a Platinum account for $25.00 per month.

(Source) Press

A home theater experience and entertainment system will not be complete without the videos to watch. And for people who rely heavily on videos online, Truveo has just made life easier for you with the expansion towards 17 countries and a much improved video search tool that makes it easier for you to find videos. Truveo is the second largest video search engine worldwide, with 25.6 million unique visitors, 11.4 million of those in Europe.

Here is what you can expect from the latest Truveo.com:

• The most comprehensive global video index: With more than 350 million online videos from thousands of sources across the Web.3
• Quicker and easier discovery of online video content: Offering a cleaner, redesigned homepage with improved search, browsing functionality and upgraded loading times.
• More personalized control over search: Navigation that lets users browse their searches by channel, category, show, popularity and most followed on Twitter. Users can also easily filter results to find videos on their favorite websites and channels.
• The broadest coverage of videos4: Providing a greater emphasis on helping users easily find the professional videos they want, whether its popular TV shows, music videos, sports highlights, news or more. A new page dedicated to TV show listings lets users browse for shows alphabetically or by network.
• Extended share features: New tools let users save and send their favorite videos and search terms to friends and share them on Bebo, Facebook, MySpace and StumbleUpon.

“With the launch of the new Truveo.com, we are showcasing the breadth of content discoverable in our search engine,” said Pete Kocks, President of Truveo and Vice President of AOL. “With thousands of channels and TV shows in our index, Truveo has long been recognised as a leader in video search technology, and today we are building on that reputation with an improved experience that makes discovering and sharing video content even easier and more personalised.”

(Source) Press

With the intent to continue its drive as one of the premier video hosting sites people go to today, Metacafe gears up for the UK market by announced the launch of three new premium hubs to cater to the genres which are featured at their new home page design.

With the varied tastes aimed at business, entertainment and personal needs, Metacafe has been a prime site to check out aside from known video sharing sites such as YouTube. Another factor that was predominantly crucial was the fact that these videos are aimed at supporting marketing professionals who make use of them for their varied needs.

“Metacafe is committed to advancing online video as a media business, serving the needs of viewers, content creators and brand advertisers alike,” said Erick Hachenburg, CEO of Metacafe. “Unlike online TV destinations and video-sharing platforms, Metacafe is committed to presenting the full spectrum of content in a way that provides today’s consumers the choice they demand and enables advertisers to connect with them when and where they are immersed in the entertainment experience.”

The Three New Premium Hubs are:

• Movie Trailers, featuring HD – showcasing theatrical and home video releases from every major Hollywood studio and including HD capability
• Music Videos – featuring top artists and up-and-coming acts in Pop, Rock, Metal, Electronic, R&B and Hip Hop
• Sports Highlights – featuring a raft of premium sports content from Perform’s Omnisport.tv sports catalogue, which includes leading European club and International football, ATP tennis, PGA Tour golf and many more

(Source) Press

Microsoft has announced that the highly popular Xbox 360 video game platform, that is also now an effective movie download system, will be able to download 1080p video by this Fall. 1080p movies are bigger in file size  than the present standard for HD downloads set by Apple’s successful iTunes and Apple TV products which are currently 720p.

Some argue 720p is enough resolution for most consumers using smaller HDTV sets, but genuine movie fans note the much better looking 1080p video resolution is a great step forward. No word on whether the Xbox 360 will also offer Dolby TrueHD and or DTS Master Audio as part of their 1080p download service. Home theater enthusiasts and audiophiles will surely want this feature for their HDMI enabled theater.

CES 2008 was the event where NEC unveiled their 43-inch curved display (pictured above) but didn’t give a solid price point or release date for the hardware.

Well, the Tokyo based company has recently come forward and announced that the CRV43 will begin shipping to consumers in July for a not-so-modest $7,999.

For that $8 grand you’ll get the 43-inch curved display that has a 2880×900 resolution, 10,000:1 contrast ratio, 0.02ms response time along with USB, DVI-D and HDMI inputs.

Read (EngadgetHD)

Computex is not even here yet and we keep hearing stuff about some of the gadgets that will be soon presented in Taiwan. One of them is Asus’ O!Play media player which is said to pack under the hood features like eSATA, USB, HDMI, stereo audio jacks, optical digital audio, Ethernet and an AC port. The player should be available to anyone interested in it this July and it will cost you about $168 when it will be released.

via The Inquirer

Welcome to the age of digital storage as a new solution in storing timeless photos and videos can now be done through this new software announced by FarStone Technology. This software-hardware integrated solution virtualizes physical discs and stores them in manageable virtual CD towers. This solution suits the needs of libraries, schools and small businesses as it aids in the management and organization of music, DVDs, videos and applications.

TreasureStone VirtualDrive DVD Server can hold up to 1,000,000 digital photos, or 1,000 DVDs to be shared across a network among unlimited clients. With flexible management capabilities, the administrator can customize security access privileges at the high speed of 1000 MBPS. This virtualizing technology relieves the hassle of CD scratching, and conveniently helps organize physical discs.

(Source) Press

Harmonic Inc., has unveiled the ProView 700 integrated receiver and stream processing platform, the world’s first solution to combine a scalable video receiver, DVB descrambler, multi-format decoder, and MPEG stream processor in a single rack unit. The versatile and modular ProView 7000 paves the way for content providers, broadcasters, cable MSOs and telco operators to cost-effectively deploy today’s most advanced distribution and contribution applications.

Based on industry-leading Scopus integrated receiver/decoder (IRD) technology, the ProView 7000 is an outstanding solution for a large spectrum of content reception applications:

• Contribution and distribution applications: The ProView 7000 integrates seamlessly with Harmonic’s contribution encoders to provide a low-delay link that is ideal for newsgathering applications.
• Re-encoding applications: The ProView 7000 decodes all formats and standards including MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) in both standard and high definition, giving operators of DBS and IPTV networks maximum flexibility in their choice of content compression formats.
• Digital turnaround: Cable operators can significantly reduce operating expenses by descrambling multiple programs within a single compact unit.
• All-IP headends: The ProView 7000 can act as a receiver to descramble and transmit DVB-S2 satellite signals to Harmonic’s FLEX decoder blade for seamless encoding and enables the deployment of or migration to all-IP headend solutions. The entire video delivery infrastructure is easily managed and controlled using Harmonic’s NMX Digital Service Manager.

The new ProView 7000 platform will make its debut at the NAB 2009 Show in Las Vegas, April 20-23, in Harmonic’s booth #SU7209.

(Source) Press