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Play downloaded movies and music on your living room TV
Linksys, a division of Cisco Systems – the supplier of just about everything technical at Jack Bauer’s CTU (and don’t we know it) – has released the first official Media Center extenders in the UK (Xbox 360-excepted) and the DMA2200 is unique in that it also contains an upscaling DVD player.
An HD Ready media player, the compact Linux-based MX-780HD can store media locally on a self-installed HDD. This isn’t included, but FAT32/NTFS-formatted drives of up to 1 terabyte in size are supported.
A home server is the logical conclusion to the growing media libraries that we’re starting to amass on our home computers. For those with multiple PCs on a network, having a central point from which to dispense audio and video is sensible; add in simple automated back-up and you’ve got Windows Home Server.
The DMP-1120w, which bears more than a superficial resemblance to the Mac Mini, jacks into a home network via Ethernet or 54g wi-fi. It will feed your display via composite, RGB Scart or component.
The Slingbox Solo enables you to watch your TV wherever a computer with a broadband network connection is available. It can stream video to a computer on your home network, or a remotely located one connected to the ‘net.
This Netgear 'digital entertainer' isn't exactly pioneering. It's been three years since we had streaming of audio and pictures over 802.11b and two years since the first video streamers...
We've always been enormously fond of the Slingbox, which lets you watch a video from your own AV equipment (digibox, DVD player, Media Center PC and so on) via LAN or the internet
One thing that’s immediately noticeable about the Streamium SLM5500 is that it lacks an HDMI port, so you’ll need to use Component if you want HD output. The only other video output is SCART, and depending on your choice of outputs you’ll have to move a switch on the rear of the unit.
Other than the Xbox, which is really designed as a games machine, this is the only streamer to include a DVD drive. The drive is locked to region 2, but it's an interesting addition and the Linksys Kiss 1600 upscales your DVDs to 720p and 1080i
The updated version of the TVIX M-3000U now includes a digital HD output in the form of a DVI connection, but strangely, no HDMI. Connectivity is via wired Ethernet, although you can attach a wireless USB adaptor to the USB input.
Music servers are coming thick and fast at the moment and the Systemline, from a part of the Armour Home Electronics empire, seems like a typical enough example. It has a CD drive, an internal hard disc and just enough buttons and front-panel display to make operation possible without attaching a TV monitor, or using the remote control.
Effectively a cross between an Mac Mini and a Philips Streamium, the Noxon 2 Audio is a digital media adapter that gives you access to 2,500 web radio stations. Its front is dominated by a large blue-backlit display
A house with access to the MP3 collection in every room used to be the preserve of the hardcore audiophile, but now we all expect a home with omnipresent tunes.
Networked multimedia is catching on, but a traditional downside is having to leave all of your PCs on. This isn't very efficient in energy terms, so wouldn't it be great if you could shove just the hard drive onto your network, and use that to store your multimedia files instead?
ZyXEL's DMA1000 digital media adapter (ZyXEL calls it a media streamer but it doesn't really do the streaming) is the size of a paperback book and it connects to a wired network using CAT5/RJ45 cables.
Pinnacle's ShowCenter 200 bridges the audio-visual gap between PCs and TVs.It plugs into your home network (or directly to a PC using the supplied 'crossover cable'). If that's too much hassle, Wi-Fi provides a wireless alternative.
Broadcasting TV signals to your laptop via a wireless or Ethernet network, the Pinnacle PCTV To Go Wireless (£200 inc. VAT) lets you view your favourite shows anywhere in your home
The concept of wirelessly streaming digital music around the home isn't new. We've noted the potential of the Slim Devices SqueezeBox, admired the design of the Roku Soundbridge, and had a soft, almost gooey spot for Cambridge Audio's Azur 640H
Most PC users have large music libraries, that they've either downloaded or ripped from their own CDs, but find they have no real way of playing that music on anything other than their PC's speakers
Once you've tried networked multimedia, it's difficult to go back to anything else - as any rich AV enthusiast will tell you. You might have read about dream kit like the Kaleidescape media system - yours for £25k
Media streamers are still a piece of kit for the dedicated digital media-head, but if you've got a few gigabytes of music, video and photos stuck on a desktop PC that you'd rather watch on your livingroom TV...
Media streaming isn't anything new, but the largest networking manufacturers seem intent on reinventing the wheel in the quest for the perfect digital home experience. This Netgear box adds something else to the mix
Orb presents a free software-based alternative to the Sony LocationFree and Slingbox. Run the Orb Media Windows XP application on the host PC, and specify the directories containing your media.
Orb isn't a gadget. It isn't a box. It's a web-based applicationthat gives you access to the digital media on your home computer via theInternet. In short, if you leave your PC on at home (and connected to your broadband)