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HD Media Centers

Kaleidescape Cinema One - Review
Home Theater Blu-ray HD Media Centers

Kaleidescape Cinema One - Review

The Kaleidescape Cinema One is a 4TB media server priced at $3,995, capable of storing up to 100 Blu-ray-quality or 600 DVD-quality movies, with bitstream pass-through of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio over HDMI. Testing against an Oppo reference player in a high-end home theater revealed that a default-enabled detail enhancement setting degraded image quality when used alongside a Darblet video processor, and AACS licensing requires the physical Blu-ray disc to be present during playback of imported titles unless a $3,995 DV700 vault is added. Factoring in hardware amortization, per-movie cost-of-ownership for Blu-ray collectors ranges from roughly $60 to $105 depending on system configuration, making the value proposition heavily dependent on collection size and usage pattern.

Rodolfo La Maestra •
Articles
Kaleidescape Offers Industry's First Internet Delivery Of Movies That Match Quality And Extra Content Of Blu-ray Discs And DVDs
Home Theater HD Media Centers Streaming HD

Kaleidescape Offers Industry's First Internet Delivery Of Movies That Match Quality And Extra Content Of Blu-ray Discs And DVDs

Kaleidescape has launched what it claims is the industry's first digital movie download service delivering full Blu-ray-quality video and audio, including 1080p resolution, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio lossless soundtracks, and 24fps progressive scan video. The service, backed by a multi-year Warner Bros. Digital Distribution agreement covering nearly 3,000 films, also includes complete disc extras such as director's commentary, deleted scenes, and alternate endings - content previously unavailable through electronic delivery. For home theater enthusiasts, this means no compromise between the convenience of digital downloads and the full-quality experience of physical media, managed through the kOS 5.0 operating system.

Shane Sturgeon •
Bulletins
Home Theater HD Media Centers

HDTV and Home Theater Podcast - Podcast #465: McTiVia Review

The McTiVia ($230) is a compact wireless display adapter measuring 5.1 x 2.6 x 0.9 inches that mirrors a Windows or Mac desktop to an HDTV over HDMI, supporting up to 8 connected computers. Despite wired Ethernet delivering acceptable mouse responsiveness, audio output was limited to two-channel stereo even through an AV receiver, a notable shortcoming for a device at this price point. It performs adequately for web browsing and streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, but falls short as a full Media Extender replacement.

The HT Guys •
Podcasts
Home Theater HD Media Centers

Hauppauge Introduces High Definition Video Recorder Support for Windows Media Center

Hauppauge's HD PVR, a $199 high definition personal video recorder, now integrates with Windows Media Center via a free software update, enabling recording of premium cable and satellite HD content through component video at resolutions up to 1080i with 5.1 channel audio via optical connections. The device uses an IR blaster to automate channel changes on set top boxes, allowing the Windows Media Center electronic program guide to schedule recordings without manual intervention. Users of Windows 7 Home Premium or Professional can now build HD libraries of premium subscription content that was previously inaccessible to Windows Media Center.

Shane Sturgeon •
Bulletins
Mvix HDHome Converges Home Theater, Gaming and Home Computing Into a Single Device
Home Theater PC (HTPC) HD Media Centers

Mvix HDHome Converges Home Theater, Gaming and Home Computing Into a Single Device

The Mvix HDHome is a Windows 7 Media Center-based HTPC that integrates a slot-load Blu-ray player with PowerDVD, an embedded TV tuner, Wireless-N networking, and RAID-enabled hot-swappable HDD bays into a compact living room unit. Available in two configurations - the 2-bay HDHome S2 at $999 and the 4-bay HDHome S4 at $1599 - both models support true 1080p playback, HDMI output, optical audio, and Gigabit Ethernet. For buyers seeking a single device to replace a media player, BD player, NAS, and gaming PC, the HDHome presents a densely featured but premium-priced option worth examining closely.

Shane Sturgeon •
Bulletins
Kaleidescape Introduces Next Generation Movie Players
Home Theater Blu-ray HD Media Centers

Kaleidescape Introduces Next Generation Movie Players

Kaleidescape's new M500 and M300 Players, built on the proprietary M-Class architecture, introduce Blu-ray Disc support with 1080p/24fps video and bitstream pass-through of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. The M500 copies Blu-ray Discs, DVDs, and CDs to a server for multi-zone playback, though studio compliance requires the source disc to remain present during Blu-ray playback. Priced at $3,995 and $2,495 respectively, these players integrate with an expanded Movie Guide of over 135,000 titles including 3,300 Blu-ray entries, making them a serious option for high-end home theater installations.

Shane Sturgeon •
Bulletins
CableCARD Home Theater HD Media Centers

Microsoft Enhances the Digital Cable Experience and Names 2009 Windows Media Center Ultimate Install Winner

Windows Media Center in Windows 7 gains native support for QAM and ATSC broadcast standards, switched digital video (SDV) via a tuning adapter, and an increased limit of four simultaneous TV tuners per type, up from two. CableLabs and Microsoft also enabled portability for 'copy freely' (CF)-marked digital cable recordings to other PCs and portable media, while AMD released new ATI TV Wonder firmware adding SDV and CF support for Windows Vista and Windows 7 users. These changes meaningfully expand what a CableCARD-equipped Windows 7 PC can do as a whole-home cable TV hub.

Shane Sturgeon •
Bulletins
Home Theater HD Media Centers

More than a Media Server: S1Digital's New Digital Entertainment Platform Stores and Distributes All Kinds of Digital Media Including HD Movies and Television

S1Digital's Digital Entertainment Platform is a whole-home media distribution system built around an Entertainment Server offering up to 32 terabytes of protected storage in a 3U rack chassis, with support for CableCard and ATSC live HDTV streaming. Media Center clients receive smooth 1080p video and 7.1 channel audio over a local network, eliminating the need for dedicated tuners or cable boxes in each room. The platform integrates Blu-ray, DVD, and CD ingestion with automatic metadata retrieval, and supports control systems from Crestron, AMX, and RTI, making it a scalable option for custom home integration projects.

Shane Sturgeon •
Bulletins
Streaming HD Home Theater PC (HTPC) HD Media Centers

HDTV Almanac - Windows Media Center Gets Netflix

Netflix streaming integration with Windows Media Center gives subscribers direct access to over 12,000 movies and videos through the TV and Movies section, bypassing the need for a separate browser and Windows Media Player setup. This consolidation of streaming content into a living-room interface represents a practical shift for home theater PC users who can now navigate their Netflix queue alongside traditional media. The move signals a broader trend toward electronic video delivery that threatens both broadcast television and physical disc distribution.

Alfred Poor •
Columns
Streaming HD HD Media Centers

Microsoft and Netflix Enhance Movie and TV Watching on the PC

Microsoft integrated Netflix streaming into Windows Media Center, giving Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate users instant access to more than 12,000 movies and TV episodes powered by Microsoft Silverlight. The feature supports queue management, Netflix recommendation lists, and compatibility with any Windows Media Center-compatible remote control. Alongside existing Xbox 360 Netflix access via Xbox LIVE Gold Membership, this integration positions Windows Media Center as a consolidated entertainment hub, reducing the need to navigate separate web services for on-demand content.

Shane Sturgeon •
Bulletins
HD Media Centers

HDTV and Home Theater Podcast #371 - Data Robotics Drobo

The Data Robotics Drobo is a four-bay SATA I/II storage device that connects via FireWire or USB 2.0, distributing data across mixed-capacity drives so that a single failed or full drive can be hot-swapped without data loss. Four 1 TB drives yield approximately 2.7 TB of usable storage, with the remainder reserved for redundancy management. The optional DroboShare add-on ($180) converts the unit into a network-attached storage device, enabling features like a Firefly iTunes media server so any networked computer can access a shared library without a host PC running.

The HT Guys •
Podcasts
Home Theater PC (HTPC) HD Media Centers Home Theater

HDTV and Home Theater Podcast #364 - Mac Mini Video Server Update

The updated 2009 Mac Mini ($799, 2GB RAM, 320GB hard drive) is evaluated as a home theater video server handling 1080i and 1080p content, with the new model resolving choppy playback issues that plagued older Minis on overly compressed 1080i broadcasts and downloaded 1080p clips. The setup pairs the Mini with a Yamaha receiver via HDMI-to-DVI cable and mini TOSLINK audio, supplemented by an HD Homerun network tuner and El Gato EyeTV for OTA DVR functionality. Buyers on a budget can opt for the lower-end model and invest savings in a NAS or Drobo for expanded storage.

The HT Guys •
Podcasts
Shuttle Introduces a New Media Centre Mini-PC Platform to Meet High Definition Requirements
Home Theater PC (HTPC) Home Theater HD Media Centers

Shuttle Introduces a New Media Centre Mini-PC Platform to Meet High Definition Requirements

The Shuttle XPC Barebone SG45H7 is a Mini-PC platform built on the Intel G45 Express chipset, featuring the integrated GMA X4500HD graphics engine with Intel Clear-Video technology for smooth 1080p HD playback. It supports up to 16GB of DDR2 memory across four banks, a PCI-E 2.0 slot for dual-slot discrete graphics cards, and a full connectivity suite including HDMI, eSATA, optical SPDIF, and Gigabit LAN. Powered by an 80 PLUS-certified 300W supply, this compact system targets home theater and media center builds where quiet, efficient operation matters.

Shane Sturgeon •
Bulletins
Home Theater HD Media Centers Standards

HDTV and Home Theater Podcast #315 - Why aren't there any good DLNA servers?

DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance), built on the UPnP protocol, enables consumer electronics devices to share and play back media across a home network, with players from Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, and others well represented. Existing server options such as Windows Media Player, TVersity, and PlayOn each fall short in key areas, lacking robust transcoding support for formats like DivX and Xvid, proper cover art handling, and metadata integration with databases like IMDB. A truly capable DLNA server combining local and online source support, DVD backup, and automatic metadata population would address a clear gap in the home media ecosystem.

The HT Guys •
Podcasts
HD Media Centers

HP Announces Industry's First Integration of HDTVs and Media Center Extender

HP MediaSmart TVs became the first Internet-connected HDTVs to integrate Microsoft's Media Center Extender, enabling Windows Vista Home Premium or Ultimate PCs to stream pictures, music, and video directly to a 1080p LCD display over wired or wireless networks including dual-band draft 802.11n. The TVs feature three HDMI ports, UPnP/DLNA support, and compatibility with formats including XVID, WMV, AVI, WMA Pro, and AAC. For consumers, this eliminates the need to physically connect a PC to the TV while providing access to on-demand services such as CinemaNow, Starz, and over 100 hours of MSN Internet TV content.

Shane Sturgeon •
Bulletins