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Consumer Home Media Gallery
Networked digital media around the home
by Douglas Dixon
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These galleries provide notes on some interesting technology and trends in
digital home media.
They include some sample products illustrating these trends.
Information and pricing are summarized
from public sources as of when they were added,
and may be incorrect or out of date. Corrections and updates are welcome. |
Home Networked Media
Home Networked Media Technology
- UPnP, DLNA
Home Media
Sharing Products
- Apple TV, Archos, VUDU, Sling
PC / TV Media: Capture and Transfer
PC TV and Video Capture - ATI,
Pinnacle
Portable TV Recording: PC to TV
- SanDisk
See Game
Consoles:
PS3, Xbox 360
Home Video Monitoring and Webcams
Consumer Web Cams: USB
- Logitech
Consumer Internet Cameras: IP
- Creative, WiLife
Home Media Servers - Backup / Archiving
Backup -- External Hard Drive
Share, Archive --
NAS - Network Storage, Media Servers
See also:
Consumer HDTV
Gallery
High-Def
DVD Gallery
- Share stored
content around the house over home network
- Connections among PCs and consumer electronics devices
- Don't need to go to a specific room
and use a specific player device to access home media library
- Play music stored on PC (or streamed directly over the Internet) on stereo
system
- Watch movies downloaded to your PC on living room TV
- Watch TV shows from set-top digital video recorder on bedroom TV
Trends - CES 1/2008
Purchased content is becoming less encumbered, with DRM-free MP3 downloads
and managed transfers within the connected home. But do you want TV on your PC,
and/or PC features on your TV -- with RSS feeds in pop-up windows? And who will
control the box that bridges the two worlds, the cable company or Apple TV?
- Local devices: Bluetooth, Wireless USB
WirelessHD, multi-gigabit uncompressed, lossless audio,
video and data
- Whole-home: Wi-Fi (802.11n, Powerline HomePlug (Zytel) vs. HD-PLC
(Panasonic)
Z-Wave Alliance - Connected Home wireless home control
and automation
- Neighborhood: WiMAX (Xohm / Sprint, Intel)
Infrastructure
- TV displays and set-top players include network connectors
- Digital cable boxes serve as network media servers
- Software media players act as networked UPnP players and even servers
InterVideo WinDVD (www.intervideo.com),
CyberLink PowerDVD (www.gocyberlink.com)
- Microsoft Windows Vista has built-in networked media support
Windows XP
Media Center computers
Windows Media Connect option for Windows XP acts as an UPnP server,
Access from remote Media Center Extender devices
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter
- Microsoft Xbox and Xbox
360 serve as media gateways
www.microsoft.com/xbox
Universal Plug and Play (UPnP)
- Simple and robust connectivity between stand-alone devices and PCs from
different vendors
Consumer electronics, intelligent appliances, mobile
devices
- 848 members: Computing, printing and networking; Consumer
electronics;
Home appliances, automation, control and security; Mobile
products.
- www.upnp.org
Digital Living
Network Alliance (DLNA),
- Established 2003
- More than 250 companies: consumer electronics, computer and mobile device
manufacturers, component and software developers.
- 6/04 - First DLNA Interoperability Guidelines for DLNA Certified products
- 3/06, 10/06 - DLNA Interoperability Guidelines, version 1.5
Support RTP for A/V streaming, QoS over entire network,
AVC (MPEG-4) video, Bluetooth
More home and mobile devices, printers
Link protection for secure transmission of protected
digital content
- www.dlna.org
Home Networking Technology
Home Networking Technology
|
|
Theoretical
|
Actual
Rate
|
Latency
|
|
Ethernet
|
100
Mbps
|
96
Mbps
|
<1
ms
|
|
802.11g
|
54
Mbps
|
20-25
Mbps
|
20-30
ms
|
|
MoCA
|
270
Mbps
|
135
Mbps
|
5
ms
|
|
HomePlug
AV
|
200
Mbps
|
100
Mbps over coax
50-55
Mbps over powerline
|
20-30
ms
|
|
HPNA
|
240
Mbps
|
80-100
Mbps
|
20-30
ms
|
|
802.11n/e
|
200+
Mbps
|
100
Mbps
|
??
|
See Wireless Media Resources: Wireless Broadband Networking Technology
Wi-Fi
- 802.11b - 2.4 GHz spectrum with a bandwidth of 11 Mbps
- 802.11a - 5 GHz frequency range with a maximum data rate of 54 Mbps
- 802.11g - 2.4 GHz frequency but with a maximum data rate of 54 Mbps.
- 802.11n - at least 100 Mbps, up to 540 Mbps
WiMAX
- Range 50 km, data rates of 70 Mbps
MoCA (Multimedia over Cable Alliance)
- Fastest: theoretical 270 Mbps, actual 135 Mbps
- Low latency rate: 5 milliseconds actual usage, 20 to 30 for HomePlug AV and
HPNA
- Minimal interference from other TV signals and no interference from
household appliances or devices, operation on a protected signal above the
850 MHz spectrum that ensures no interference with cable TV, digital
broadcast satellite or other media
- Verizon - 100 Mbps Actiontec router for FiOS TV customers
- www.mocalliance.org
HomePlug Powerline Alliance
- HomePlug AV - 2005 - maximum theoretical data rate of up to 200 Mbps
- HomePlug Turbo - 2004 - 85 Mbps HomePlug 1.0 - 2001 - 14 Mbps
- most pervasive wiring in the home
- throughput of only 50 to 55 Mbps
- noise, interference possibly incompatible
- www.homeplug.org
ZyXEL DMA1100Pdigital media adapter
- HomePlug AV Powerline technology, DLNA server
- 1080i high definition (HD) streaming, HDMI connection to HDTV and USB 2.0
support
- Streams digital music and HD video to the home entertainment system with
ease over power lines
- 2/08 - $269
- us.zyxel.com
HD-PLC - High Definition Power Line Communication
- 190 Mbps, nearly four times current wireless home networks
- Products:
PLC, WiFi bridge and PoE bridge
PLC-networked AV equipment
USB-PLC bridge solution for extending the use of USB
devices throughout the home
PLC-based POS system for retail businesses
LED streetlights incorporating IP security cameras and
PLC
PLC adapters and routers for sharing broadband access in
the home
- CEPCA, CE (Consumer Electronics) Power Line Communication Alliance,
established May 2005
www.cepca.org
- HD-PLC Alliance, established September 2007
www.hd-plc.org
- Panasonic
Home Phoneline Networking Alliance - HomePNA - HPNA
- Existing copper phone lines for in-home networking
- Recently added the ability to network over coax as well
- International Telecommunications Union, HomePNA 3.0 (G.9954)
- Data rates of up to 240 Mbps, average data rate of 107 Mbps
- www.homepna.org
Home A/V Networking Technology
High Definition Audio-Video Network Alliance (HANA)
- Incorporated October 2005
- Members from IT, content provider, service provider , consumer electronics
industry segments.
- Mission to utilize existing standards and technologies to create a design
guideline for secure High Definition AV networks that will advance
commercial deployment of products and services and will enhance the consumer
HD entertainment experience
- Focus initially on IEEE 1394/FireWire
- www.hanaalliance.org
WirelessHD (WiHD)
- Formed in 2006, 40 companies
Intel, LG, Panasonic, NEC, SAMSUNG, SiBEAM, Sony,
Toshiba
- Next generation wireless digital network interface specification for
consumer electronics products.
- Wireless streaming high-definition content between source devices and
high-definition displays
- Combine uncompressed high-definition video, multi-channel audio,
intelligent format and control data, and Hollywood approved content
protection
- Uncompressed HD video, audio and data transmission, scalable to future
high-definition A/V formats
- High-speed wireless, multi-gigabit technology in the unlicensed 60 GHz
band
- Smart antenna technology to overcome line-of-sight constraints of 60 GHz
- Secure communications, Device control for simple operation of consumer
electronics products
- Error protection, framing and timing control techniques for a quality
consumer experience
- Architected and optimized for wireless display connectivity,
- First generation high-speed rates up to 4 Gbps at ten meters for
CE, PC, and portable devices
- Core technology theoretical data rates as high as 25 Gbps
- 1/08 - WirelessHD 1.0 Specification
- www.wirelesshd.org
Pulse~LINK - Ultra Wideband (UWB)
- CWave Whole-Home Interactive HD solution
- Whole-home distribution of interactive HD multimedia content over a hybrid
wired/wireless network
- Room-to-room distribution of multiple HDTV streams and multimedia
content
over both coax and wireless connections simultaneously
from the same chipset
- Multiple simultaneous HDTV streams with "Trick Play" (pause,
fast forward and rewind capabilities)
- Data rates more than 400 Mbps
- MAC/Baseband/RF chipset exceeds 1Gbps in UWB communications
- www.pulselink.net
DisplayLink - Networked Displays
- Extended display to multiple monitors -- Real-time video playback across a
USB link
- High-performance Hardware Rendering Engine (HRE) network display chips and
Virtual Graphics Card (VGC) software that power high-quality, fully
interactive 32-bit true-color graphics
- Adaptive compression algorithm and graphics protocol can also transmit
graphics over other standard network interfaces, including wireless USB,
Ethernet or Wi-Fi
- www.displaylink.com
See also - Local Device Networking Technology:
Wireless USB, Bluetooth, Near Field Communication
Top
- Media sharing over home network
- Media content downloading
- DVR sharing across home network
- See Game Consoles:
PS3, Xbox 360
Apple TV
|
 |
- Watch iTunes library, iTunes Store rentals:
Movies, TV shows, music videos
- Free internet content: YouTube videos, podcasts, HD video podcasts
Photos from Flickr or .Mac Web Galleries
- Standard Definition rentals: 720 x 480 anamorphic, stereo,
New releases
$3.99, Library titles $2.99
- High Definition: 1280 x 720, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound,
New
releases $4.99, Library titles $3.99
- 30 days to start watching, once started have 24 hours to finish watching
- 1/08 - 40 GB $229, 160 GB $329
- 3/07 - introduced - 40 GB $299
- www.apple.com/appletv
-
 Find the Apple
TV
on Amazon.com |
Specs
- Intel processor, 40 or 160 GB hard drive
- Up to 50 / 200 hours of video, 9,000 / 36,000 songs, 25,000 pictures
- A/V: HDMI, Component video, Optical audio, Analog RCA stereo audio
- Network: 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, 802.11n wireless
- Ports: USB 2.0, IR receiver (works with included Apple Remote)
- Footprint: 7.7 by 7.7 inches (197 by 197 mm), Height: 1.1 inches (28 mm)
- Weight: 2.4 pounds (1.09 kg)
Formats
- Video: H.264 / protected H.264 (iTunes Store): Up to 5 Mbps, Progressive
Main Profile (CAVLC) with AAC-LC audio
up to 160 Kbps (max 1280 x 720 at 24 fps, 960 x 540 at 30
fps) in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
- iTunes Store purchased video: 320 x 240, 640 x 480, 720 x 480
(anamorphic), or high-def 720p
- MPEG-4: Up to 3 Mbps, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps (max
720 x 432 at 30 fps)
in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
- Audio: AAC (16 to 320 Kbps); protected AAC (iTunes Store); MP3 (16 to 320
Kbps); MP3 VBR;
Apple Lossless; AIFF; WAV; Dolby Digital 5.1 surround
sound pass-through
- Photo: JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PNG
ARCHOS TV+ -- WiFi Digital Video
Recorder (Q4 07)
- WiFi Media Player plus DVR
- 80 GB hard drive stores up to 100 movies, 800,000 photos, or 45,000
songs
- 250 GB hard drive stores up to 310 movies, 2,500,000 photos, or
145,000 songs
- Play movies, music, photos, podcasts, Web video, surf full
Internet on TV
- Stream PC media library to the TV
- Download from the ARCHOS Content Portal: movies, TV shows and music
- Record and schedule TV shows and movies with the TV Program Guide
- Record video sources including satellite/cable box, VCR, DVD player,
MPEG-4 format
- Remote control with integrated keyboard and mouse pointer
- Surf the Web, access online email, play Web video from sites like YouTube
(optional Web browser plug-in)
- Sync your recorded TV shows to your ARCHOS portable media player
(10 minutes to sync 2 hour movie)
- Video playback: MPEG-4 (ASP@L5 AVI, up to DVD
resolution)
WMV (MP@ML, up to DVD resolution)
- Optional software plug-ins:
Podcast plug-in: H.264 up to DVD resolution and AAC
sound
Cinema Plug-in: MPEG-2 MP@ML up to 10 Mbps (up to
DVD resolution) and AC3 stereo sound
- Audio playback: Stereo MP3 decoding @ 30-320 Kbits/s CBR
& VBR, WMA, Protected WMA, WAV (PCM/ADPCM)
- With optional software plug-ins: AAC stereo , AC3 stereo audio and
5.1 sound
- Photo viewer: JPEG, BMP, PNG
- PDF viewer: Reads PDF documents (not all PDF features)
- Video recording: Records NTSC/PAL/SECAM to MPEG-4 SP files with
ADPCM stereo sound,
VGA resolution (640 x 480)@ 30 or 25 f/s, in AVI format
- Audio recording: WAV (IMA ADPCM or PCM) format
- 250 x 164 x 37 mm, 1294 g
- Q4 07: 80 GB $249, 160 GB $399
- www.archos.com/products/gen_5/archos_tv/index.html?country=global&lang=en
Find the ARCHOS
TV+ on Amazon.com
ARCHOS TVportation Plug-in - Stream live TV (5/08)
- Use ARCHOS TV+ as a streaming media server
view live home TV over the Internet, change channels
(not viewing of recorded / stored content)
- Clients for ARCHOS 605 / 705, Windows PCs / laptops, Windows Mobile
smartphones
- available 5/08 - free server download for ARCHOS TV+
$49 server for ARCHOS 605 and
705 WiFi and DVR Station
- Press
release (PDF)
VUDU - Internet Movies on Demand
(9/07)
|
 |
- Instant access to HD films, TV shows, approximately 5,000 movies
- Pay as you go - no activation fees and no subscription fees
- Rental movies 99¢ to $3.99,
purchased movies $4.99 to $19.99, TV episodes
$1.99
- Displays HD content up to 1080i/1080p24
- Two USB ports for future storage options (available within six months)
- Height: 2.4 in, Width: 8.9 in, Depth: 7.3 in, Weight: 4.2 lbs
- Storage: Unlimited rentals, 100 hours of owned movies'
- Requires High-speed broadband Internet connection
3 Mbps advertised (2.0 actual) for instant viewing
1.5 Mbps advertised (1.2 actual) for delayed viewing
- Audio Outputs: HDMI v 1.1, Digital Optical, Digital Coax, RCA (Dolby 5.1)
- Video Outputs: HDMI v 1.1, Component, S-Video, Composite
- Video Resolution: 1080p/24, 1080i, 720p, 480p, 480i -- HD
recommended
- VUDU XL - high-end version designed for integration into high-end
home theaters, ship end February
- 1/08 - price lowered to $295
- 9/07 - Introduced - $399
- www.vudu.com
-
Find the VUDU
box
on Amazon.com |
Sling
Media Slingbox: Networked Video / Place-Shifting
Slingbox - Watch set-top video on PC or mobile devices
- Transmit set-top TV signal to
PCs and mobile devices
- Run SlingPlayer on PC, Mac or Mobile device to watch TV remotely
- Access home devices over the Internet -- to
catch a favorite show or to watch local news
Digital cable, satellite receiver, DVR, DVD player
- Use the virtual remote control to set up digital video recorder to record a show.
- Works over Ethernet network, or use SlingLink Powerline Ethernet Adapters
to pass network connection through home electrical wiring
($99)
- Slingbox TUNER - connects to cable modem or basic coaxial connection,
9/06 $179 (OLD)
- Slingbox AV - SD - 2/08 $129, 9/06 $179
- Slingbox SOLO - HD - 2/08 $179
- Slingbox PRO - up to 4 A/V devices, HD - 2/08 $299, 9/06 $249
- HD Connect accessory for HD $49.99
- SlingLink TURBO Powerline Ethernet Adapters - 2/08 $79, 9/06 $99
- SlingPlayer Mobile - for Palm, Windows Mobile, Symbian - 2/08 $99
- www.slingmedia.com
SlingCatcher - Watch PC / Internet content on TV (Q2 08)
- Digital video player for TV
- Watch video from Slingbox, PC / laptop, or virtually any video site on the
Internet
- SlingPlayer for TV - watch video from any device connected to a
Slingbox
- SlingSync - copy digital media files to USB hard drive attached to
SlingCatcher
- SlingProjector - project anything playing on computer screen
directly onto a television
- Due Q2, $249
- www.slingmedia.com/go/slingcatcher
- press release - www.slingmedia.com/get/pr-slingcatcher.html
Find the Slingbox
PRO on Amazon.com
Sonos multi-room digital music system
Logitech Squeezebox
- Networked Music Player
|
|
-
Access PC music library
from living room stereo
-
Connects to stereo system (analog or digital or
headphones)
-
Uses a wired or wireless network connection to deliver music
-
Use IR remote with bright fluorescent display to browse
stored music on the PC (SlimServer software)
-
Access
streaming Internet radio stations, Rhapsody's 2 million song collection
(with subscription)
even when computer is turned off
-
Formerly Slim Devices
- 06 - $249
- www.slimdevices.com
Find theLogitech
Squeezebox
on Amazon.com |
Logitech
Wireless DJ Music System: Wireless
Music (06)
|
|
- Broadcast PC's music library and Internet radio stations to stereo system
- Uses a digital radio connection (long range wireless Bluetooth), 300 feet
- Browse music like MP3 player using display on remote control
- Plug wireless antenna unit into PC's USB port,
- Remote control with recharger cradle, audio cables to connect to stereo
or powered multimedia speaker system using stereo-mini input
jack
- Add additional receivers for
other locations around the house
- StreamPoint server software on PC plays common music file formats
plus music libraries from Apple
iTunes, Windows Media Player, Musicmatch Jukebox
- 06 - $249
- www.logitech.com
Find the Logitech
Wireless DJ Music System
on Amazon.com
|
Top
- Desktop and set-top, CE and PC
- Watch TV on PC: Desktop or laptop
- Analog and digital, off-air broadcast and cable
Diamond / ATI TV Wonder HD 600 USB - HDTV Stick (08)
|
 |
- Compact, hi-speed USB HD digital video recorder for notebook or desktop PC
- Watch, pause or schedule recordings of TV programs - Analog &
digital / HDTV
- Find favorite programs with Electronic Programming Guide
- Convert video for portable media player or stream to media center extender
device
- AMD LIVE! On Demand
- Access DVR from a broadband-connected computer
- Hybrid TV Tuner Stick
Over-the-air / Cable Analog TV (NTSC) & Over-the-air Digital TV / HDTV
(ATSC)
- Capture from VCRs, camcorders with included audio/video input cable
- Telescopic antenna to receive free-to-air TV channels
- Remote control - control TV from a distance
- ATI Catalyst Media Center software - Full PVR and time shifting
DVD Playback, DVD Authoring, ATI Theater Video Converter
- F-Type coax connector for Analog TV (NTSC) or HDTV (ATSC)
Adapter for composite video, S-video, Stereo audio
input
- http://ati.amd.com/products/tvwonder600/usb
- Distributed by Diamond Multimedia
www.diamondmm.com/TVW600USB.php
- 4/08 - $99 - Also PCI $99, PCI Express $99 versions
Find the ATI
TV Wonder HD 600 USB Stick
on Amazon.com |
Diamond / ATI TV Wonder HD 650 USB - HDTV (08)
|
|
- Watch, pause or schedule recordings of TV programs - Analog &
digital / HDTV
- Digital cable reception of Clear-QAM channels (unencrypted Digital
Cable TV)
requires Windows Vista
- Combo tuners - Watch analog TV while recording digital TV at the
same time
- Find favorite programs with Electronic Programming Guide
- Convert video for portable media player or stream to media center extender
device
- AMD LIVE! On Demand
- Access DVR from a broadband-connected computer
- Combo tuning with two built-in tuners:
Over-the-air / Cable Analog TV (NTSC) & Over-the-air Digital TV / HDTV
(ATSC)
Clear-QAM (unscrambled) Digital HD Cable + FM Radio
- ATI Theater Video Processing Technology
Hardware MPEG-2 compression, Automatic Color, Gain
Control
Motion Adaptive 3D Comb Filter, Noise Reduction,
Edge Enhancement
- ATI Catalyst Media Center software - Full PVR and time shifting
DVD Playback, DVD Authoring, ATI Theater Video Converter
- F-Type coax connector for Analog TV (NTSC) / FM radio
F-Type coax connector for HDTV (ATSC or ClearQAM)
Adapter for composite video, S-video, Stereo audio
input
- http://ati.amd.com/products/tvwonder650/usb
- Distributed by Diamond Multimedia
www.diamondmm.com/TVW650USB.php
- 4/08 - $139 - Also PCI $129, PCI Express $129 versions, Combo
USB for MAC $149
Find the ATI
TV Wonder HD 650 USB
on Amazon.com |
Pinnacle PCTV HD Pro / Ultimate Stick (10/07)
|
 |
- Ultra-portable USB 2.0 HDTV tuner stick with integrated Flash PVR -- no
installation required
- Supports both analog (NTSC) and digital (ATSC) TV signals
Hardware ready for ClearQAM (unencrypted digital cable)
reception
- Includes mini remote control and high-gain telescopic antenna
- On-stick memory with preinstalled TV tuner and PVR application, plus available
storage
Record up to 2 hours of TV directly to the stick
- A/V adaptor cable, capture from composite video (RCA), S-Video, stereo
audio (3.5mm headphone)
- Includes Pinnacle Studio QuickStart to edit and trim videos
- TV tuner fully compatible with Windows Media Center
- PCTV HD Ultimate Stick - $129 - software on device
- PCTV HD Pro Stick - $99 - A/V input, remote control
- PCTV HD Stick - $79 - HD
- www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSite/us/Products/Consumer+Products/PCTV/PCTV
Find the Pinnacle
PCTV HD Ultimate Stick
on Amazon.com |
Pinnacle Video Transfer (2/08)
|
|
-
Copy analog video directly to any USB 2.0 mass storage device – no PC
required
Record to USB hard drive or flash memory stick
Transfer to Apple iPod or Sony PSP
- Multiple analog inputs for S-Video, composite video and stereo audio
- Record TV shows, digitize home movies, back up vacation videos
- Directly record gaming sessions from game console
- One-touch start/stop recording from any video source
including TV, DVD player, PVR, camcorder, set-top
box, gaming console
- Encode to H.264 video (MPEG-4), up to 720x480/576 (NTSC/PAL)
Good: 320x240, 512 kbps video, 96 kbps stereo audio 48
KHz
Better: 320x240, 768 kbps video, 128 kbps stereo audio 48
KHz
Best: 640x480, 1.5 Mbps video, 128 kbps stereo audio 48
KHz
PC: 720x480/576, 1.5 Mbps video, 192 kbps stereo audio 48
KHz
- Capture for mobile devices, full-screen PC, video editing, DVD burning
- Recharges iPod battery during video transfer
- Small and portable: 4.8 x 2.6 x 0.9 in.
- www.pinnaclesys.com/pvt - Press
release 2/08
- Introduced 2/08 - $129.99
Find the Pinnacle
Video Transfer
on Amazon.com |
Top
SanDisk Sansa TakeTV - PC-to-TV Video Player (10/07)
- 10/07, 4/08 - 4 GB $99, 8 GB $149 (5 / 10 hours video)
(1.5 Mbps video at 720x480 with 128 Kbps audio)
- PC to TV Flash media player: Play PC video content on TV
Download digital content from PC,
plug-and-play directly on TV
- On PC, insert TakeTV Player unit into USB port, drag video files to
flash storage
Works with Windows Vista, Windows XP, latest versions of
Mac and Linux
- Carry player to TV, slip into TakeTV TV Cradle
Plugs into standard TV A/V connectors, NTSC and PAL
AV composite or
S-Video inputs, power
- TakeTV Remote control stored as cover of Player unit (built-in cell
battery)
Use on-screen guide play stored content
- Video formats: .AVI with MPEG-4 - DivX, XVID (DivX DRM)
DivX Certified for Home Theater profile
- Resolution up to 720x576 / D1, 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios, max bitrate 7
Mbps
- Concept introduced 1/07 as USBTV
Future: Plug directly into built-in port on new TV sets
- Product - www.sandisk.com/Products/Catalog(1383)-SanDisk_Sansa_TakeTV_Video_Player.aspx
- Press release, 10/07 - www.sandisk.com/Corporate/PressRoom/PressReleases/PressRelease.aspx?ID=4022
- www.take.tv
Find the SanDisk
Sansa TakeTV on Amazon.com
Find related SanDisk
articles in the Manifest Tech Blog
SanDisk Fanfare - Entertainment download service - Public BETA (10/07)
- Digital entertainment content distribution platform
- Download TV shows to Sansa TakeTV and watch on TV
- Free (ad supported) and paid episodes
- First U.S. content partners include
CBS, Jaman.com, Showtime, Smithsonian, The Weather
Channel, TV Guide.
Programs available include CSI, Survivor China, Dexter,
Sleeper Cell
- User interface designed by Schematic
- Rights-managed content protected with SanDisk TrustedFlash
Security technology securely stores data on flash media
- www.fanfare.com
SanDisk V-Mate Video Memory Card Recorder (9/06)
|
 |
- 9/06 - $129
- Record video to flash memory cards, play back on portable device
- 5.1 x 2.6 x 0.8”
- Scheduled recording, IR emitter (to set-top box or VCR)
- Any composite video source
- Video: MPEG-4 Simple Profile, H.263 (MP4, 3GP, 3G2)
Up to 640 x 480 pixels, up to 30 fps, NTSC & PAL
Up to 3.5 hours video / GB
- 3.5mm composite video, audio left & right - input & output
- Cards: SD, SDHC, miniSD, miniSDHC, microSD microSDHC;
(RS-)MMC (DV), MMCplus , MMC; Memory Stick/PRO/Duo/PRO
Duo
- www.sandisk.com
Find the SanDisk
V-Mate
on Amazon.com |
Top
- Watch sleeping baby in the nursery
- Monitor out the front window for delivery trucks
- Watch from other PCs on the home network
- Access over the Internet
Open connection
through firewall, register with Web service to make the connection
- Direct connect to PC: Deliver the video over USB connection to computer
- Grab clips, run video conferencing software to
communicate over the Internet
- Run monitoring software on attached PC to act as a video server
- Server can run video surveillance software to alert on motion, changes in
scene
- Connect to the server PC over your home network to watch video from other
computers
- Creative
WebCams -- www.creative.com/products/webcams
- Logitech QuickCams -- www.logitech.com
- Start at around $30
Logitech QuickCam
UltraVision
|
|
- Clips to top of display
- 1.3 megapixel
sensor with 5 lens elements
- Compensation for dim, side-, and back-lit situations
- Video up to 640 x 480 at 30 fps, still
images up to 1280 x 960
- Microphone with echo correction
- Free video conferencing software
Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger,
Skype
- Logitech Video Effects software for fun effects and face enhancements
- 06, 08 - $129
- www.logitech.com
Find the Logitech
QuickCam UltraVision
on Amazon.com |
- Camera plugs directly into home network (or wireless): IP server
- Better solution for continuous remote monitoring
Creative Live! Wireless
|
 |
- Small network server box
- Wired Ethernet or untethered wireless connection.
- Monitor video feed
from Web browser
change display resolution, tweak brightness and
contrast, adjust camera settings
- Creative software to monitor up to four cameras
simultaneously.
- 06 - $149
- www.creative.com/products/webcams
Find the Creative
Live! Wireless
on Amazon.com |
Logitech WiLife Surveillance Products
- Sophisticated monitoring software for home and
small business
Indoor and outdoor cameras, lenses,
lighting kits
- Formerly LükWerks, launched 12/05, acquired by Logitech 11/07
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- Cameras encode video in real time into Windows Media Video 9 (wmv)
compressed
Full-color video - VGA (640x480) or QVGA (320x240), 15,
10, or 5 frames/second
(does not record audio)
- No wiring -- Connect cameras to PC with over electrical power line
Mount cameras anywhere -- plug into standard electrical wall outlet
- Up to 6 cameras -- Display and process live, streaming digital
video
- Cameras communicate with USB Receiver connected to PC
- Uses HomePlug power line networking, UPnP peer-to-peer networking
Best in buildings under 8,000-10,000 sq ft., or on single
electrical run 1,000 linear ft.
- Cameras transmit video to WiLife Command Center Software on Windows
PC
Control each camera's resolution, recording schedules,
alerts
- Cameras perform motion detection - monitor up to 16 zones within
the frame
Perform image processing, auto brightness
- Motion alerts - Detect motion in up to 16 zones
within each camera view
- Video recording -- Monitors and records video from up to six
cameras
Review video by month, day, hour, and camera
Can record only frames with motion
Continuous recording - QVGA - 2.2 MB per minute, 3.2 GB
per day
Motion detection - typically 10-20%, 3 to 6 GB per month
- Active Alerts -- Send motion alerts via cell phone, e-mail
- Remote Monitoring -- View from home PC over broadband - free
Internet browser or Windows Mobile cell phone, Though
account at online.wilife.com
- 400 MHz processor, high-performance digital image
sensor
- Lens: 80 degree viewing angle (diagonal), 50 degree pan (manual),
manual focus
- Objects visible up to 100 feet in optimal lighting
Low-light capabilities - down to 2 Lux (about twice the light of a full
moon)
- Indoor Camera - 10 ft Ethernet cable to power supply
Outdoor Camera - 12 ft standard electric cord, Spy Camera
- 8 ft electric cord
- Indoor camera: 5.0 x 3.2 x 1.8 in. (12.7 x 8.1 x 4.6 cm), 6.7 oz (190 g)
- Indoor Starter Kit - $299
Outdoor Starter Kit - $299 (weatherproof &
waterproof, +0 to +110 degrees F)
Spy Camera Starter Kit - $329 (fully
functioning digital clock)
- Add-On - Indoor Camera $229, refurb $185; Outdoor Camera $229; Spy Camera
$249
Wide Angle lens (120 degrees), Close Up lens, NightVision
Illuminator Kit
- NightVision 50 Illuminator Kit (for Indoor & Spy Cameras only)
$59.95
IR 80° lens, infrared illumination pass filter
Illuminator, 28 LEDs, 70°illum angle
NightVision 20 illuminates up to 10 ft (3 m) NightVision
50 up to 30 ft (10 m)
- www.wilife.com
- www.logitech.com/index.cfm/webcam_communications/video_security_systems/&cl=us,en
Find the WiLife
Indoor Starter Kit
on Amazon.com |
- WiLife Platinum software features ($80/year)
Scheduled Alerts: Email and cell motion, by days
and times
No Show Alerts: Alert if kids not home on time
Desktop Notifications: Alert tone and popup
message
Digital Pan, Tilt, Zoom: Scan and zoom within
frame
Password System Lock: Entire Command Center or
individual features
Online Video Storage: Review, organize, share
protected clips
Connection Monitoring: Email or cell phone message
if system goes offline
Remote Search and Playback: Access video by date,
time, site
Online Video Sharing: Distribution via email
addresses
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- Share, organize, archive digital media collection -- photos, music, video
- At prices under $1 per
gigabyte, can get a half-terabyte or more of storage
500 GB
-- stores some 400,000 photos, 5,000 hours of music, or 40 hours of DV video
- Connect to computer with USB or FireWire
- Set up folders to share
media files
- Run backup software -- Manual, scheduled, continuous
Save new and changed files from local computer, plus
other systems across home network
Maxtor OneTouch III
Find the Maxtor
OneTouch III on Amazon.com
- Network drive plugs directly in to home network
- Central home server with no computer required
- Network Attached Storage (NAS)
- Share media files, Back up across the network
- Add built-in support for media streaming to set-top devices
- Add enterprise
features like support for 10X faster Gigabit Ethernet
- Backup the server: USB ports to back up to external drives (or share)
- RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks)
Spreads files across multiple physical drives, still recover if one drive
fails
Buffalo
TeraStation
Find the Buffalo
TeraStation on Amazon.com
Infrant ReadyNAS
Find the Infrant
ReadyNAS on Amazon.com
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