ASUS is really taking things up a notch. We just learned about the company’s new Intel Atom N330 + NVIDIA ION mini-ITX board designed to compete with the Zotac IONITX-A-U called the ASUS AT3N7A-1. Well, folks… it appears that ASUS has quietly upgraded their ultra compact EeeBox PC with specs ready to challenge the barebones ASRock ION 330. I’ve got to hand it to ASUS for recognizing and acting on a hot trend. No word on price or availability, but it looks like it should be out sometime by year-end. MORE »

AnandTech has a battle royal of reviews up pitting the ASRock ION 330 vs. ASUS AT3N7A-1 vs. Zotac IONITX-A-U. So, if you’re enamoured by the Intel Atom N330 + NVIDIA ION combo, you’re going to want to read up. But, I’ve got to tell you… my head feels like it’s going to burst with the data the review sifts through. Reason being, AnandTech is comparing products that are so similar that it’s the minor details that set them apart. MORE »

Anythingbutipod.com has posted a video and pics for all of us to inspect featuring the Creative Zii EGG Development Kit. While the product still looks a bit rough around the edges, it has tremendous potential. Check out our earlier post on the device. Personally, I’d like to see Creative open up the product even further than just its own Plaszma OS and support for Google Android. How cool would it be if other open source MID operating systems (example), today or in the future, could be loaded on to this device like we’re able to do with PCs?

All I can say is, WOW. Xtreamer will soon be launching a new 2-Bay NAS product to compliment their Xtreamer Media Streamer. The new device will be known as the Xtreamer eTRAYz and will be available to current Xtreamer Media Streamer owners until October 31, 2009 for just €59 (plus €20 shipping)! But don’t let the low price fool you… the Xtreamer eTRAYz is a powerhouse of functionality. Below are some of the highlights mentioned in the announcement FAQ. [via] MORE »

I know many of you have been waiting anxiously for the release of Popcorn Hour’s C-200 Networked Media Tank [spec sheet] that we covered back in June (and was supposed to be released in July). Well, folks… it’s HERE! Popcorn Hour has updated their online store and has the C-200 listed for $299 and $311 with the Popcorn Hour IR Remote Kit (IRK-200).

Niveus Media today is announcing the addition of the Niveus ZONE PRO to the ZONE family of multi-room, small form factor Blu-ray HTPC products. The new ZONE PRO ($1,999) is now three times faster than the original ZONE ($1,499) and includes a solid state drive to make the player even quieter than it was before [spec sheet - PDF]. Like the original ZONE, the ZONE PRO functions as a multi-room and multi-zone PC that’s capable of receiving content from a central server, sharing media content with other ZONEs, and discovering content from networked PCs and storage devices. Also new and noteworthy… ZONEs will be able to “support sharing of HD cable content amongst other ZONEs on the home network.” MORE »

One of the great new features in Windows 7 for us connected home types is the addition of Play To that allows users to target which network devices they would like to serve streaming media content to from their PC. As such, WonderMedia has designed their SoC PRIZM platform to leverage this technology along with DLNA / UPnP standards. But if that wasn’t enough, WonderMedia has also made the SmartFrame capable of streaming Internet radio, tapping into web services, pulling RSS feeds, checking email, playing video, and even web browsing all on its own. While the SmartFrame shown in the image above is a reference design from the company, WonderMedia plans to license the technology to OEMs so they can produce both SmartFrame and SmartPlayer (TV digital media adapter) devices. [via] MORE »

Wow, the ASUS EeeTop is getting a bit more attractive. The guys at Netbook News got a chance to play with the ASUS ET2002 which features a 20-inch (16:9) touch screen, Windows 7 with Voice Control (for weather, currency exchange, music, etc.), Intel’s Atom N330 processor, and the smoking hot HD capable NVIDIA ION graphics chipset. No word on price or availability. But, if the ET2002 comes in at $800 or less for the whole package, ASUS is going to have a winner on their hands. [via]

I was browsing some of my YouTube subscriptions and I stumbled on an episode of Geekbrief TV from July (#590) that I thought you folks might like (I know I did). Cali Lewis goes through the process of unboxing a PogoPlug and then configuring it in real-time. Cali also demos the remote media streaming functionality of the device, which you’ll see is pretty impressive. If you’re unfamiliar with PogoPlug, it’s essentially a $99 wall-wart sized NAS adapter for a USB drive that plugs directly to a power outlet and router. Once connected, PogoPlug acts as a file server (both on the network and remotely) and a streaming media server utilizing UPnP.

Ian Dixon has posted some early screenshots of Brian Binnerup’s My Movies 3 that will available for Windows Vista and Windows 7 on September 1st as a pre-release and then as a full release on October 22nd to coincide with the official launch of Windows 7. Additional details on how you can get your hands on the pre-release are below. Also, be sure to check out Ian Dixon’s forthcoming The Media Center Show podcast where Ian will chat with Brian about what My Movies 3 has in store for users. MORE »