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.

[Check it out]

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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

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