Hasta La Gadget!

Looking for a more official announcement than a forum post? Beyond the read link awaits Popcorn Hour’s official press release for the C-200 containing some of the details we so desperately wanted, like a July release window and price of $299. Otherwise the details remain the same with support for nearly every codec we could ask for and a front mounted drive bay ready for HDD or optical drives of your choosing. We sent over a query about the Blu-ray and Blu-ray live support mentioned, but were unable to nail down any new details — we’d bet on being able to play back your de-AACS’d rips & backups but that’s about it. Any other questions that need answering once we score some hands on time with this do it all media box?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Networking

Popcorn Hour prices C-200 media streamer at $299, launches next month originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The followup to the popular PopcornHour media streamer series has finally been announced, and the list of features makes it look worth the wait. Revealed in a post on the Networked Media Tank forums the C200 contains an upgraded Sigma SMP8643 667 Mhz processor, HDMI 1.3 out, two SATA slots, a drive bay for mounting your own HDD, DVD or even Blu-ray drive (requires internal HDD or 1GB USB stick) and supports a list of networking standards, codecs and containers far too long to recount here. At first glance, only DivX jumps out as missing from the list, have a look at the forum posting and let us know if you spot. Of course, there’s already a video unboxing available, seen after the break (along with the copied list of specs) or check out the full Google translated early hands on impressions from HomeTheater.co.il. The most pressing questions of when will these be available and for how much, will have to be answered at another time.

[Via HomeTheater.co.il & Geek Tonic]

Continue reading PopcornHour’s latest C200 media box is Blu-ray (& anything else) ready

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Networking

PopcornHour’s latest C200 media box is Blu-ray (& anything else) ready originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Conceptronic has been doing a fairly admirable job with promoting itself as a serious player in the crowded media streamer market, and while its atypically designed Grab ‘n Go was certainly worth a look at CES, it’s the Yuixx that could really launch it into the next level. Shown over at Computex, this HD media streamer was loaded with broad format compatibility, Intel’s fledgling CE 3100 media processor and support for Yahoo! widgets, TV tuning, a “Firefox-based” web browser, a 3.5-inch internal hard drive, WiFi and Ethernet. We’re told that three variants will be made available for those looking for a more stripped-down version, and while an exact release date has yet to be set, an autumn introduction and a price range of around €250 ($354) to €450 ($638) is expected. Peek the read link for a few looks at the sleek user interface.

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Conceptronic shows off potent Yuixx media streamer at Computex originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 09:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wait, what’s this? ASUS diving head first into the HD media streamer game? Based on images and details acquired by Hardware, we’d say chances are looking pretty good. Reportedly, the aforementioned outfit will showcase its very own media player at Computex next week in Taiwan, and our expectations are already fairly lofty. The O!Play (codename HDP-R1) is said to be a fair bit quicker than competing models, and the file compatibility list is also worthy of laud. Port wise, this one’s packing eSATA, USB, HDMI, stereo audio jacks, optical digital audio, Ethernet and an AC port. If all goes well, we could see this little bugger in European stores by July, with a price tag pegged at €119 ($168). Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem as if that price nets you an internal HDD, but we’ll find out for sure soon enough.

[Via The Inquirer]

Filed under: Home Entertainment

ASUS to introduce O!Play media player at Computex originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 30 May 2009 17:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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After being introduced to the world late last month, we’ve heard little else about HP’s lower-end MediaSmart Server LX195… until now, obviously. This little media streamer made its way into the HotHardware labs for a little Q&A, and it managed to escape with lots of praise, a mild amount of criticism and a price tag that’ll likely be too steep for most to swallow. As for performance and features, the LX195 was found to shine; the Media Collector, iTunes server and Time Machine backup functionality all worked great. Unfortunately, the “endless loop of updates” seen during the initial setup and the lack of an April update — which was sent out to the EX series last month — left somewhat of a bitter taste in reviewers mouths. Overall, the system delivered and worked as advertised, but the $360 to $400 street price is apt to turn all but the hardest of hardcore HP fans away, not to mention that the aforesaid EX update (which will hit the LX195 this fall) will require users to completely wipe their HDD and start over from scratch. Check the read link for the full writeup.

Filed under: Home Entertainment

HP’s MediaSmart Server LX195 reviewed: impressive, but flawed originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 May 2009 09:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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