IPTV Technology Featured Article

HP today announced the availability of its “MediaSmart Connect” digital receiver, a device that provides digital media from around the home or the Internet to any high-definition television.

 

HP officials say the MediaSmart Connect can retrieve digital videos, music and photos stored on a notebook across the room or a desktop in a home office, and can display all of them in a single list on any HDTV.

 

The technology’s users can use digital media receiver to get connected to a large amount of online content from wherever they watch TV, according to HP. They can rent or purchase thousands of day-and-date release movies from CinemaNow, share and purchase photos from Snapfish, and discover new Internet radio stations from Live365, company officials say.

 

HP MediaSmart Connect had been initially announced as part of the HP product launch at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show, company officials say, adding that it offers a nice design with a piano-black finish apart from HP’s exclusive “Zen” imprint design and ambient blue lighting.

 

Carlos Montalvo, a vice president of marketing and services at HP, said that MediaSmart Connect is an ideal complement to any HDTV, as it enables consumers to enjoy videos, music and photos on their big-screen HDTVs, instead of their PCs.

 

HP MediaSmart leverages the features offered by Extender for Windows Media Center technology, and the users can enjoy an additional set of features using PCs with Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Ultimate operating systems.

 

Content from a number of online services such as Vongo, MovieLink and FOX Sports is also available to the users through HP MediaSmart Connect, company officials say. Windows Media Center also features the Internet TV Beta, which offers more than 100 hours of video from MSN, including new shows from providers such as A&E, Bio, CNBC, DIY, Fine Living, Food Network, FOX Sports, HGTV, History Channel, iFilm, MSNBC, National Geographic, NBC News and StupidVideos. The MediaSmart Connect also enables the users record and watch broadcast TV on their HDTVs through a TV tuner.

 

Ron Pessner, a general manager at Microsoft (News - Alert), said that with HP MediaSmart Connect, HP is bringing to market a compelling Media Center Extender device, and connected products like these are delivering engaging consumer experiences for today’s digital lifestyle. Pessner said he expected that the new MediaSmart Connect will help people extend their entertainment to their HDTV from a Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Ultimate-based PC, and will deliver innovation as a result of Microsoft’s relationship with HP.