Blu-ray or HD DVD? That’s the big question these days when we’re talking about high definition video content. Well.. the folks at Axonix Corporation are saying - why not have both with their new MediaMax HD Entertainment Server. MediaMax HD is the first Media Server system to play via Cover Art or Metadata both HD DVD and Blu-ray movies. The system actually includes a MediaDeck 4 system and a MediaServer box with oodles of storage space. MediaMax HD DVD provides the following:

• Instant playback of media stored on it’s Media Server including HD and SD DVD movies, CD, MP3, and WAV music, photos, and downloaded music and movies via the Axonix NetPlay service
• Includes a MediaServer and one or more MediaDeck 4 HD Media Players which include either an SD, HD DVD or Blu-ray drive
• MediaMax interface allows you to browse your media collection utilizing vivid HD quality cover art
• Browse via metadata including Genre, Actor, Director, Artist, Album, Title, Favorites, or by Playlists
• Supports SD/HD DVD movies, downloaded movies, music CDs, downloaded WMA and MP3s, imported or ripped WAV, converted iPod music, Internet radio, JPEG photos, etc

MediaDeck 4 is $3495 with an SD DVD/CD drive; $4995 for the MediaDeck 4 HD DVD with integrated HD DVD drive, $5995 for the MediaDeck 4 Blu-ray  with integrated Blu-ray drive. All the MediaDeck 4 models support the playback of HD movies loaded on the MediaServer. MediaServers with up to 13 TBs of RAID 6 are available with or without HD or SD drive. The Spectra 2 SD 500GB Series MediaServer starts at $5795.

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OK - so tell me that you wouldn’t want one of these new Sharp Internet Aquos systems (i-aquos)? The company has announced 16 new versions of the Internet Aquos system spanning a G series and a D series. The new G series is broken up into the GX line which features:

LC-52GX3W, LC-46GX3W, LC-42GX3W and LC-37GX3W

LC-52GX4W, LC-46GX4W, LC-42GX4W and LC-37GX4W

LC-52GX35, LC-46GX35, LC-52GX45 and LC-46GX45

and the GH line which features:

LC-32GH3 and LC-26GH3

LC-32GH4 and LC-26GH4

The G series feature full HD displays (1920 x 1080) and are designed to be slim and compact.

Three other new models makes up the D series which include:

LC-32D10, LC-26D10 and LC-20D10

These new displays work in conjunction with three PCTV systems - the PC-AX120S, PC-AX80S, and PC-AX60S - all of which come with a remote control and Windows Vista Home Basic. Curious though why the OS doesn’t come with Home Premium or Ultimate - considering you’ll need that to get Windows Media Center going.\

[Check it out via Akihabara News]

Technorati Tags: Sharp, Internet Aquos

If you’re wondering where things stand between Blu-ray and HD DVD currently, check out this comparison chart published by News.com whcih shows background information, and some early sales figures for the two competing formats. The numbers are interesting and of course somewhat misleading right now as Blu-ray is integrated into the Sony PS3 console. What is evident is the role the game consoles are playing in helping users choose a high def format. HD DVD has the slight edge when it comes to standalone players sold but Blu-ray has the edge in content availability of course and in backing.

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Those of you considering getting the Plextor Mini Digital HDTV Receiver might want to read the review published by LaptopMag. The Mini Digital HDTV Receiver (model PX-HDTV500U) connects to your PC’s available USB port and allows you to tune into over-the-air HDTV signals. Features include:

• Supports US DTV ATSC protocol
• Free Air-to-Air Digital Terrestrial TV and Audio Program Playing
• Automatic Channel Scanning
• Electronic Program Guide (EPG)
• Supports 4:3 and 16:9 ratios
• Measures 71.2 x 13.8 x 28.1 mm and weighs 19.8 grams

At $99 dollars, the Plextor HDTV tuner looks like a good deal but here’s the verdict from LaptopMag:

The Plextor Mini Digital HDTV Receiver delivers high-def goodness on the cheap, but you’d be better served with the $150 Hauppauge WinTV-PVR USB2. It costs more, but you get better software in more portable package.

Hmm you might want to check out the Pinnacle Systems HDTV tuners which are also available for USB 2.0.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Plextor Mini Digital HDTV Receiver, PX-HDTV500U

It appears that someone at Shuttle has finally decided to fulfill my deepest desires for a small form factor PC - namely to have a barebones XPC system feature an HDMI output and support for HDCP. That’s right - that’s exactly what you get with the Shuttle XPC barebones system SG33G5M. This G5M based SFF beauty supports the latest Intel dual core and quad core processors and comes with a beautiful VFD display in the front. It screams “HTPC” all over and most of all, it comes with HDCP support which means you’ll be able to playback your protected high definition content on an HDCP enabled display. Right now, it appears the barebones system is available in Europe but you can bet the system should make it to the US sometime this year. There is a non VFD display Shuttle XPC with HDMI support here in the US but it’s a bit boring looking and it’s not clear whether it supports HDCP. Check out Krunker for additional information on this.

[Check it out via Krunker]

Technorati Tags: Shuttle, SG33G5M, HDMI with HDCP

CrunchGear has published a review of the Sony VAIO FZ180 notebook here on their website. The FZ180 is a 15 inch multimedia machine featuring an Intel Core 2 Duo processor and an integrated Blu-ray drive inside. Yes - there’s a Blu-ray drive inside which means of course, you’ll be able to watch Blu-ray movies wherever you take this notebook. Unfortunately the display has a resolution of 1280 x 800 which also means you won’t be able to enjoy the full 1080p splendor of Blu-ray movies. I know - it’s a bummer. Anyhow, here’s the verdict from CrunchGear:

This is a media machine. If you’re the type of person who wants to start up a decent Blu-ray library, and also needs a Vista-powered notebook, this may be for you.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Sony VAIO FZ180, CrunchGear Review

Many have known since day one that the Microsoft Xbox 360 HD DVD drive was usable on the PC platform. Back in the early days of the product rollout, you needed to get hacked drivers to make the product work on the XP platform but the drive worked just fine on the Vista platform - albeit with some memory unit question marks in the device manager. However, it turns out that somewhere along the way, Microsoft released full driver support for the Xbox 360 HD DVD drive on the Vista platform. Couple this drive with some HDCP/HDMI capable graphics hardware, HD DVD playback software, and an HDCP capable monitor, and you’ve got yourself an HD DVD capable system - potentially on the cheap (depending on whether you already had the graphics hardware to begin with)! The folks at Legit Reviews experimented with this proposition and wrote a good article about it here. I’ve been tinkering with the idea of adding an HD DVD drive to my home theater PC but I really need a processor upgrade to my system as Vista really chokes on the system - especially when I’m recording HD content. Anyhow, check out the article over at Legit Reviews. You can also read my old review of the Xbox 360 HD DVD player here.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Xbox 360, HD DVD player, Desktop PC, Legit Review

Toshiba is delivering on its’ promise to include HD DVD in future generations of notebooks with the introduction of the new Qosmio F45-AV412 A/V notebook. This 15.4 inch multimedia system is loaded with an HD DVD drive, 720p compatible display, and Dolby Home Theater technology. Want the HD picture on a larger screen? No problem - simply connect the HDMI output to an HDTV set and you’re ready to go. Specs to the Qosmio F45-AV412 include the following:

• Windows Vista Ultimate
• Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7100  running at 1.8 GHz
• 2 GB of RAM with a max of 4GB of RAM
• 250GB SATA HDD
• HD DVD-ROM/DVD SuperMulti drive
• 15.4 inch diagonal widescreen TruBrite display with 1280 x 800 native resolution
• Mobile Intel GMA X3100 GPU
• Two integrated Harman Kardon stereo speakers with subwoofer
• Intel Wireless Wi-Fi Link 4965AGN
• Integrated webcam and microphone
• Fingerprint reader
• HDMI output
• S/P DIF output

The new Toshiba Qosmio F45-AV412 has a starting price of $1649 but there’s also a 50 dollar rebate at this point - bringing the price down to $1599. You can check out the Toshiba website for additional information on this model.

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Technorati Tags: Toshiba, Qosmio, F45-AV412, HD DVD laptop