Wish you could access your HD DVR from anywhere in the world with an Internet connection? How about being able to not only to access and program your HD DVR remotely, but also be able to view live TV directly from the unit as well? If you’re answer is a resounding YES, you’re gonna wanna pick up the DISH Network HD DuoDVR SlingLoaded ViP 922 when it becomes available later this Spring. The ViP 922 is said to the first network HD DVR with Slingbox capabilities built-in. What’s more, it’s also capable of delivering on-demand content in 1080p resolution, accessing media content from a variety online sources / services, instant messaging, audio streaming, LAN content transfer, storing 1TB of media, and remote management via a PC, Mac, or iPhone using SlingGuide – the company’s new remote DVR manager, programming guide, and content search portal. Press releases for both products are attached below. MORE »

OMG. What unholy union has D-Link created here? D-Link today is unveiling to the world a cross-segment device that combines a 802.11n Wi-Fi router, 3.2-inch photo frame / data display, NAS server with UPnP / BitTorrent / FTP functionality, and SharePort server for printer and scanner sharing. Ok… so after all that has sunk in, it’s really not that bad. In fact, combining a NAS server with a wireless router is pretty cool. The big mystery is the LCD. The company’s press release states: “the vibrant LCD screen [...] displays device status via graphical gauges, digital photos, streamed video, weather forecasts and other live streaming Internet content in up to 1.6 million colors.” Something tells me D-links want you to place this device right on your desktop or bookshelf. Price, availability, and storage capacity: TBD. MORE »

For those looking for an enterprise strength home server that offers the ultimate in storage expandability in a compact enclosure, check out QNAP’s latest RAID configurable beast with full on 256-bit data encryption and Load Balancing. Honestly, this is probably overkill for the majority of homes, but if you’re intent on collecting a ginormous media collection of Blu-ray / DVD movie rips, lossless audio, and hi-res photos that will be served around the home to multiple computers, then the QNAP TS-639 might just be for you. Attached below is the press release with more details to whet your appetite and a video showcase produced by QNAP. MORE »

Interested in finding an economical, plug-n-play home media server to add to your network for PC backup, file sharing, and media serving duties to digital media adapters (including DLNA certified devices)? If yes, have a look at this little gem just released by Iomega called the Home Media Network Drive selling for just $229.99 with 1TB of storage (500GB @ $159.99). Product highlights include: Gigabit Ethernet, UPnP A/V Media Server, iTunes Server, Bonjour device discovery, USB print server functionality, browser based administration, and a copy of EMC Retrospect for scheduling (Windows / Mac) PC to network drive backups. All in all, the Home Media Network Drive not only sounds like a great deal but it appears to be a very capable device with all the right ingredients for a connected home environment. MORE »

If you live in a dual Mac and Windows PC environment, HP’s new ex485 (750GB - $599) and ex487 (1.5TB - $749) MediaSmart Servers launching in February 2009 are going to be right up your alley. The new machines, which come packed with a 2Ghz 64-bit Celeron processor and 2GB of DDR2 RAM, now offer Time Machine support so you can program scheduled backups of your Mac computers alongside your Windows PCs. The only catch Gizmodo reports, however, is that the new MediaSmart Servers still require a Windows PC for setup and administration. In other words, don’t plan on getting one of these if you’re starting out in a Mac-only environment. On a more positive note… the ex485 and ex487 servers can now be easily synced to Amazon’s S3 offsite “cloud” storage service for added data security and features a new browser based media player / remote media streamer powered by TwonkyMedia that enables users to access their digital library from anywhere in the world. HP is even providing people with a free domain forwarding service that will allow one to access to their MediaSmart Server using a custom HP URL linked to their home’s broadband IP address. Additional details are provided in the attached press release below. MORE »

In an effort to provide Niveus Media Server and Niveus Storage Server – Cargo Edition owners a higher end movie experience, Niveus Media has integrated the ability for people to download HD quality feature films from HDGIANTS’ movie collection directly through the company’s Niveus Movie Library application. The Niveus Movie Library, for those unfamiliar, is a proprietary movie management application that aggregates and displays stored — and now… available — movies along with high-res cover art and detailed metadata. According to the press release attached below, all movies downloaded from the service will be accessible from the system they were downloaded to as well as Media Center Extenders and other network PCs. Unfortunately, there’s no word on pricing for each HD title, but a preview of the selection can be viewed here.

CORRECTION: Just got an email from Niveus stating the following: “The movies are not downloaded via Niveus Movie Library (or any medium for that matter). The customer orders the movie package from the dealer and HDGIANTS sends the dealer a hard drive with the content. The dealer then loads the content onto the customer’s server and it is integrated into the Movie Library.” Sorry, folks. The press release gave me a different impression after reading it. However, now that we’re getting clarification on how the process works… too bad it’s not the case as previously thought (in regards to downloading HD movies directly through the Niveus Movie Library application).

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Look out! VUDU is taking their HD video on-demand box to a new level. The company is announcing the immediate availability of Internet content from sources like Flickr, Picasa, YouTube, as well as, a new “On Demand TV” feature with specialized material from more than 120 channels. But the best news, users will begin seeing a steady stream of new content channels becoming available due to the company’s RIA (Rich Internet Application) platform that any online content provider can leverage to deliver their services. Full press release details below. MORE »

I just got tipped off that Mvix has a new product set to release that not many people in the States are aware of. The device is called the MvixPVR and it essentially combines a PVR, HDD media player, and an iPod dock all into one device. The MvixPVR is capable of outputting 720p/1080i/1080p video with 5.1 Digital Surround Sound, HDMI, 802.11g connectivity, USB host functionality to stream media files from external drives, and can be used as a NAS server / UPnP media server / BitTorrent downloader. Interestingly, the device can record “digitally from any source, your set-top box, satellite receiver or camcorder.” Like other Mvix products, one has to bring their own hard drive to the game for on-board storage. Mivx documentation states that it can support up to a 1TB SATA hard drive (the YouTube video below hints that Mvix may be releasing configurations with an included hard drive). Lastly, the MvixPVR is cross-platform compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux PCs – in case you want to share files with the device via the network or plugged in as an external USB drive. [via] MORE »

Ever wish you could convert your large external USB storage drive into an NAS server? Well, Addonics says you can easily for $55. Just plug your USB drive to the back of this peripheral and connect the adapter via Ethernet to your router and you’re good to go. The Addonics NAS Adapter essentially converts your drive instantly into a network SAMBA share accessible by any Windows, Mac, or Linux PC. What’s more, users can FTP to their drive as well as use it as a BitTorrent appliance or print server.

UPDATE: Missed this let gem from the product page feature list: “Can be set as a UPnP AV server to share photo/music files stored on the file server with XBOX 360 video game consoles connected to the LAN.” Whoa, Mama! MORE »

Back in April people marveled at the $699 LinkStation Mini (LS-WS1.0TGL/R1) dual 2.5-inch hard drive (configurable to RAID 0 /1), DLNA compatible, NAS server that fit in the palm of your hand. Now the company has taken the product up a notch with the LS-WSS240GL/R1 (currently only available in Japan) and has swapped the standard notebook drives for dual 120GB (240GB total) Solid State Drives (SSD) to produce an insanely quiet 2.3db unit. Buffalo has also given the new LinkStation Mini iPhone and iPod touch remote access support, Mac Time Machine support, and the ability for users to upload media files directly to the unit via USB without a PC. Sounds good, right? Well, the new model is going to cost you $1,200 – if you’re able to get a hold of one. Worth it? I’m guessing: No. [via]