All PVR

The Stinger (above) may be “old-school gamer” on the outside, but it’s all modern-tech on the inside.

David Flagg, President of Game Cabinets Inc., describes it like this:
“Anything you can do on your home computer you can do through this joystick on your TV.�? That includes surfing the Internet and having fun with online gambling, using Microsoft Windows Media Center Edition, loading in PC games and using its DVR function, he says, adding that it also has a DVD drive.”

Upgrade to The Stinger Plus, and it includes about a trillion old arcade games. It’s like a Video Game conjuring genie, magically producing games like Dragon’s Lair (1 &2), EA Tiger Woods PGA Tour, Pacman, Toobin’, and Dig Dug (click here for entire list of games).

It’s geared toward home theaters, but it’s also a fairly portable video game/entertainment system. With dimensions of 28.5w x 13.75d x 5h inches, you can easily take it to a buddy’s house.

Flagg says it successfully unites nostalgia and modern technology: “It wraps everything into one. The functionality is cool because there is so much you can do with it.�?

You can even get a Xbox and PSX adapter, which converts the output from the Stinger Controller into X-Box or PSX commands.

Think it’s expensive? Starts at $499 (’nuff said).

It’s alive…ALIVE! A report from Gizmodo has uncovered a creature so fierce, that Dr. Frankenstein himself would weep with jealousy. From the bowels of Harmon Kardon’s laboratory comes “the DVC600″ (insert scary voice here). All we know about this Unix-based media center is:

-It records up to eight high-definition TV shows simultaneously.
-It’ll record and playback Blu-Ray.
-It may, or may not be unleashed upon America (by the year’s end) Yet, it will most certainly flog Europe.
-It’s going to cost as much as Dr. Frankenstein’s electric bill, $3000 to $4000 Euros ($4092 to $5456 US Dollars).

Godzilla has been unleashed upon Japan…only…much smaller. The new Qosmio G40 from Toshiba is set to trample much of Nippon into a pulpy mess. It’s jam-packed with powerful guts, DUAL DIGITAL TV TUNERS, and a heavy price tag (did I mention dual digital TV tuners?).

Here’s a few specs:
-Watch one program, record another (contains CyberLink SoftDMA and HDMI-CEC compatible with new Regza TV’s).
-HD-DVD drive.
-NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics, 256MB.
-17-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) display.
-2 megapixel webcam.
-2GHz, T7300 Core 2 Duo processor.
-2GB memory, upgradable to 4GB.
-320GB of HD space.

And so, the “thunder-lizard” stampedes on, cutting a swath through Japanese cities the size of the Amazon river basin. To tame the beast it’ll cost you ¥400,000 or $3252.29 USD.

Engadget.com

Get DirecTV’s NFL Superfan and Sunday Ticket Packages and you’ll be able to stream live games to your PC. Unfortunately, Apple and Linux users won’t be able to use this feature. Streaming requires Windows Vista or XP. It also requires a football-sized wallet for the $368 clams you’ll be shelling out.

From Ars Technica.com

Could this be the solution to our home entertainment nightmares? It’s certainly a step in the right direction. The Sony VAIO LT is an “All-In-One” 22″ Widescreen TV/PC with a DVR (and BluRay). Here’s what Sony has to say about it:

“Watch and record TV - including premium HD cable.
The high performance VAIO® LT PC/TV lets you watch and record analog, digital and cable TV (including premium HD channels2) on a stunning flat screen display. Featuring Windows Vista™ Ultimate (or Home Premium) with Media Center functionality, a remote control, and an optional external cable TV tuner that works with a CableCARD™ from your local cable provider, the VAIO® LT PC/TV lets you watch and record your favorite cable TV broadcasts, including premium HD channels, right from the box.”

“The VAIO® LT PC/TV can serve as your entire entertainment center – it’s all-in-one. The 22″ LCD display2 with XBRITE-HiColor™ technology acts as your HD flat panel TV while the cable TV tuner works in conjunction with Windows Media Center to act as your cable set top box with DVR. And since the VAIO® LT PC/TV features an available Blu-ray Disc™ optical drive, you can enjoy a movie in Blu-ray Disc® format and experience incredible picture and stunning clarity.”
“The VAIO® LT HD PC is sleek, slim and beautiful, but it can also rock some serious power. With an Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor, 2GB of RAM and an easily expandable roomy hard drive, the VAIO LT HD PC/TV is super-fast and can run multiple demanding applications simultaneously - such as graphics-intensive games and high-quality TV and movies - while downloading music or running virus-scanning security programs in the background.”

It also comes with a wireless keyboard and mouse, built in camera and microphone, wireless LAN technology (802.11 b/g/n), and wall-mounting system.

To make the purchase of this small wonder, you’ll have to shell out $2900 clams. (there’s also a no-frills standard model, without the BluRay drive for $1900).

Visit Sony.

I have been trying out Vuze in the last week or so. Azureus bittorent client, which is a basis of Vuze, is something I have been enjoying for a very long time now. However, their venture into legal DRM’d downloads definitely needs a more work…

As you log into Vuze, you are greeted by a nice Guide, which attempts to seamlessly integrate Top Choice/Featured titles, yet still gives you the flexibility to navigate to specific channel or choose shows that are Shorter or Longer, for example.

Only very small amount of paid content is offered right now, but I hope this changes in the future once Vuze is out of beta and big content providers become more comfortable with the service.

If you do decide to purchase or rent something, the Vuze software acquires the license for you. It also does something that it calls ‘verifying that content can play on your system’, which in my case proved to be non-sense.

The paid media that I selected was downloaded without a hitch, but when it came time to play — no such luck. The DRM’d media requires Windows Media Player and apparently the version that I had (or something) on there wasn’t compatible.

But, overall, Vuze service is recommended. Just be sure to try it first with inexpensive or free DRM’d media (most paid shows offer first episode as a Free preview) before purchasing more, to confirm that it will work on your system.

How is this PVRs related, you ask? As promised, I really see increasing convergence of digital video, whether over the Web, via Cable, over Satellite and other means. Software like Vuze gives you the choice of getting the shows You want to watch delivered to your TV, that is if your Media Center is hooked up to your TV, like mine is. I haven’t tried this personally yet, but Vuze DRM’d media should have no problems playing on Media Center PC and on Media Center Extender, such as XBox 360, for example. And last but most important, there is plenty of High Definition content, most in 720p and some even in 1080p. Just make sure your computer is powerful enough to play it back without hiccups and Enjoy!

Vuze, Media Center, Media Player, Xbox 360, Media Extenders

Why not take your video from your TV to the computer, says Mark Cuban in his blog.

Cuban is the owner of the HDNet channel which only has HD programming, and recently hired Dan Rather for a news show. He argues that using your DVR as a computer is the best way to go since the DVR already sorts, saves and shows TV programming.

He says DVR users should be able to subscribe to Internet content, like YouTube or Google videos, and have them delivered directly to the DVRs, so that people can watch content in high quality using their TVs.

But one DVR already does that. Currently Tivo has TivoCast, which delivers Internet content like Heavy, Cnet video, Rocketboom and New York Times video. It’s nice content, but my main complaint is: Not Enough Content! But there are two things wrong with TivoCast.

1. TivoCast content is not updated very often. Sometimes I notice that there hasn’t been new content in a few days. That’s way too long in Internet time. I’ve seen the same New York Times and Cnet videos on TiVoCast for the last few weeks.

2. Limited TivoCast content. There are limited choices for content. Other than Heavy, Cnet, RocketBoom and New York Times, I don’t subscribe to anything else. I need the freedom to pick my own content from the Internet. For example why not be able to watch YouTube videos? Heck, why not let me surf the Internet or check my e-mail?

I guess I’ll have build my own DVR if I want these added Internet features.

Tivo, DVR, PVR, digital video recorder, Mark Cuban, Tivocast

ReplayTV announced a deal for its ReplayTV PC Edition, its newly released DVR software (sorry Macs, PC only). Originally $99.99, ReplayTV is offering the software for 20% by February 27th. Simply use the coupon code RTVJAN0720 at checkout.

The bad news? You must pay an annual fee of $19.95 for the electronic program guide service (the first year is included in the price). Doesn’t that seem kind of lame? Especially when you can get rival software, like BeyondTV without the annual fee.

It also comes with a 30-day free trial, if you’d just like to sample it before buying.

And if you need a tuner card, there’s also a rebate for $20 from Hauppauge–the WinTV-PVR 150 or WinTV-PVR USB2. Just buy either model by January 31st and get a $20 rebate direct from Hauppauge.

DVRPlayground reviewed the Pinnacle PCTV To Go and said the remote control interface was “unfinished” and that it needs support for more devices using the IR Blaster.

Shawn Kent wrote a pretty detailed article about his quest to build his own DVR. He describes all the prices, has great links and plenty of pictures. So if you’re interested in (or are thinking about) building your own DVR, this is yet another great take.

He uses an old Pentium 3 computer, a 250 GB hard drive, a DVD-RW drive, Windows XP and Beyond TV.

Overall, he said he spent $800, which is kind of pricey. But then again he won’t have to pay monthly fees, like with cable or Tivo, so it can pay for itself after a few months. Still, $800 for a Series 3 Tivo will give lots more space and HD capability.

Tivo, DIY, DVR, PVR, digital video recorder, personal video recoder, BeyondTV

SageTV announced on Thursday that it has released the SageTV Media Center Version 6 for Linspire Linux desktops, which comes with PVR functions.

“SageTV Media Center for Linspire and Freespire users broadens our support for desktop Linux and extends our reach into the rapidly growing desktop Linux market for the first time,” said SageTV CEO Mike Machado, in a statement. “This is a strong partnership that gives users access to an affordable, full-featured PVR, online video, music and photo solution for all their TVs and PCs at home and as well as away from home.”

The SageTV software (version 6) is available for download for $79.95, or with the Placeshifter for $99.95.

It comes with an electronic program guide (for U.S., Canada and Europe), and the ability to view video, photos and play music. SageTV can also place-shift, for viewing TV shows from any Internet-connected computer.

Also available is the $109.95 wired Media Extender as well as $159.95 for the wireless Media Extender.

A NY Times writer tries his hand at building a DIY home media network after being inspired by a top-of-the-line set-up from Seagate’s CEO who has 7 terabytes of storage. That means “600,000 songs, 584,000 photographs and 1,000 hours of TV shows.”

So on a quest, the Times writer tried building his own under $1,000. While doing research he spoke to a Tivo product manager who spoke about Tivo’s desire not to be a media hub.

James Denney, vice president for product marketing at TiVo, said the company had not set out to be the center of everything. “Our approach is that there isn’t one hub in the house,” he said. “Our role is a display device near the TV.”

The overall result? His media network cost just about $850. and whole lot of effort.

PVR, DVR, digital video recorder, personal video recorder, home media, media server, DIY

So Apple finally unveiled its Apple TV device, formerly known as iTV. But where’s the PVR functionality? Can you believe Apple launched it without any time shifting? Especially when days before the announcement, 64% of people voting on ZDNet.com said that PVR functions were the most important thing about the Apple TV.

Essentially, Apple TV is a yet another box that you’re going to have to connect to your TV right next to your cable/satellite box, DVR, DVD player, sound system and possibly a game system.

On the good side, Apple TV does have 802.11b/g/n wireless connectivity, USB, Ethernet card, 40GB hard drive and the ability to stream to 5 different PCs or Macs in your network. You can also download movies directly from the Apple TV or using media from your home computers. Having access to your digital music library is also nice.

Downside? No TV tuner, no PVR. And what about DRM? Will it be restrictive like the iPod? No support for Hi-Def or 1080p. It also doesn’t play Divx or WMV files, which, let’s face it, sucks. And the price ($299) is way too much money for an unnecessary piece of hardware.

I don’t need another box, I need fewer. I’d like my PVR and cable box in one. Do I need Apple TV to download movies, and access my music? My Tivo can already access Internet radio and my MP3 collection on my home network for free (or for about $12.95/month).

Overall, I think Apple TV is full of hype and false promises. Apple should be trying to lead the way, rather than making a device that is targeted to, well, nobody. Apple TV is a product whose time has come and gone.

Tip: Take a 360 view of the Apple TV.

Update: PVRWire points out that you can get the same funtionality as Apple TV with media extenders like Netgear’s EVA700 or even DIY media centers.

Update #2: Here’s my latest post on what other bloggers are saying about the Apple TV.

Apple, Apple TV, iTV

Hardware maker Pinnacle Systems announced that it was releasing two new products: PCTV To Go HD Wireless and PCTV To Go HD.

The Pinnacle PCTV To Go family connects to computers, and lets viewers watch TV with PVR functions. The ToGo part means that viewers can tune in using any PC in a networked home, or on a remote computer.

Pinnacle says the products will work with the Windows Media Center and with the forthcoming Windows Vista operating system.

The price is $249.99 for Pinnacle PCTV To Go HD Wireless and $179.99 for Pinnacle PCTV To Go HD.

[Press Release here.]

It’s a mashup between digital rights management (DRM) and software for set-top boxes. Macrovision said that it had acquired Mediabolic for $43.5 million.

Mediabolic makes software for devices like TVs, and digital video recorders.

As the battle for digital media dominance races into the living room, Macrovision gets a great introduction into software. Macrovision can expand its reach into software and widen its content protection plans so that DRM is firmly locked into the set-top box software.

Mediabolic is based in San Mateo, California.