A quick search on the web shows that there’s a lot interest in a SIRIUS Internet Radio plug-in for Windows Media Center, but no one has created one — until now. The good news is that 2010 Niveus Media Server / Player owners will get Niveus’ new SIRIUS XM plug-in out of the box (requires a SIRIUS Internet Radio subscription to tune in). In addition, the plug-in has been designed to be multi-room friendly allowing one to listen to audio across multiple rooms via Niveus ZONE players. The bad news… Niveus appears to want to keep the SIRIUS XM plug-in exclusive to their systems for the time being. MORE »

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 »

On the surface the Niveus ZONE comes across as being a media streamer of some sorts, but it’s actually a mini, mult-zone Windows Media Center PC that’s capable of accessing content from a central home server, network storage shares, and other PCs. The ZONE comes equipped with a DVD/Blu-ray slot loading drive and is able to output native/upscaled 1080p video via HDMI. In addition, ZONE comes bundled with an HD photo/slideshow viewer that can be set to your favorite music tracks, is compatible with popular external TV tuner adpaters (it’s also CableCARD ready), and comes bundled with Niveus’ own Movie Library application among other proprietary apps. The ZONE starts at $1,499 and is available now. MORE »

If you’ve been curious about the direction of Windows Home Server, you’ll be interested to see [WMV HQ] what the Director of the platform, Todd Headric, has to say to On10.net regarding its evolution both in terms of capabilities and product form factors. Servers on display range from a single drive Pico-ITX inspired VIA box similar in size to the Roku Digitial Video Player to a server rack mountable 16 drive bay monster from Niveus Media packing 24TB of storage. Todd also highlights some of the new Mac-centric features in HP’s ex485 / ex487 MediaSmart Server line, which won “Best in Show” at Macworld earlier this month.

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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Niveus Media, Inc. announces beta availability of the new unified Niveus Search, which enables easy retrieval of content accessible across the local network and Internet. The patent-pending Niveus Search offers Windows Vista ® Media Center users an easy-to-use, 10’ interface that provides an all encompassing scan of both the Media Center and Internet sources. MORE »

Niveus Media is invigorating the whole-home TV viewing experience by announcing that select Niveus media servers will simultaneously support up to eight digital cable (CableCARD) tuners and ten Media Center Extenders. Announcing availability concurrently with the introduction of the 2009 Niveus media server line, boasting impressive enhancements in processing and performance, Niveus now doubles the capabilities of the Niveus Entertainment System. MORE »

Niveus Media unveils its 2009 line of media servers, enhanced to provide an incredibly robust entertainment experience in as many as eleven independent zones. All Niveus media servers, including the passively cooled Summit Series’ Rainier and Denali Limited Edition and the rack mountable Pro Series, have been upgraded to incorporate bleeding-edge technologies for the most powerful Media Center performance. MORE »

Niveus Media introduces the Niveus Storage Server – Cargo Edition, a powerful storage device based on the Microsoft Windows Home Server platform, designed for the custom install channel. Featuring up to 16TB of scalable storage, Cargo provides a seamlessly integrated and flexible storage solution for the perpetually growing HD digital content market. MORE »

Designed exclusively for Niveus Media customers, the Niveus Movie Library is a robust movie management tool that aggregates an entire movie collection into one distinct and intelligent interface. Upgraded to accommodate a growing number of movie sources, Niveus Movie Library 1.5 now features: disc-in-drive support; a 10’ interface for backing up movies to the Niveus Media Server; and expanded metadata with high resolution cover art (including Blu-ray!). MORE »