Remember the Samsung Media Center Extender I saw at CES? (see this video) well it finally due for release and has had a name change from Home Digital Media Adapter to MediaLive. This is the extender for Windows Media Center that is designed for 2008 model Samsung HDTVs using HDMI-CEC connection. It has all the normal Media Center extender functionality but can sit behind the TV as it used the TVs remote control and the control signals are sent over the HDMI cable.
According to the press release on eHomeUpgrade the unit will be available in August (US only) for $200.
Official Press Release:
Samsung's MediaLive: the Ultimate HDTV Accessory, Bringing Digital Content from the PC to the Big-Screen
Combines Microsoft's Extender for Windows Media Center Technology
with Samsung High Design and Cutting-Edge Functionality for a New Era
of Home Entertainment
RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J.--(Business Wire)--
Samsung Electronics America Inc., the leader in the U.S. digital
television market, lets consumers view PC-content on a Samsung HDTV
with the retail launch of the company's MediaLive adaptor. Samsung's
MediaLive delivers digital content (including HD content) in real-time
from Windows Media Center on a PC running Windows Vista Home Premium
or Windows Vista Ultimate operating systems to the big screen of a
Samsung HDTV via a wireless or wired home network. From photos, music,
feature films, home movies, and live and recorded TV programs,
Samsung's MediaLive is the ideal plug-and-play complement to most
2008-model Samsung HDTVs.
"The PC is quickly becoming the hub for entertainment in the home
and Samsung's MediaLive gives consumers the freedom to enjoy and
manage movies, photos, and music on the bigger screen of an HDTV,"
said John Revie, Vice President of Visual Display Marketing at Samsung
Electronics America. "Samsung's MediaLive opens up a constantly
expanding world of content for consumers, adding yet another
connectivity option to the latest Samsung HDTVs."
Easily connected to an existing wireless or wired Internet
connection, Samsung's MediaLive allows PCs running Windows Vista or
Windows Vista Home Premium to stream a personal movie, photo, music,
and video collection to any 2008-model Samsung HDTV in the home with
an HDMI-CEC connection. With the ability to display content at up to
Full HD resolution and support for a range of video, audio, and image
codecs such as AC3, H.264, JPEG, MPEG2, MPEG4, WMA, and WMV, consumers
will be able to enjoy an impressive variety of video and audio files
using Samsung's MediaLive. Instead of crowding around a 15-inch PC
monitor to share their latest music or movies, users can transfer the
same PC content in real-time and share it on a 50-inch HDTV with a
group of friends. One PC can stream content to up-to five Samsung
MediaLive boxes connected to a TV through a home network - providing
total access to entertainment from most 2008-model Samsung HDTV's in
the home.
Beyond streaming personal entertainment, Samsung's MediaLive gives
consumers access to a wide range of entertainment options including
online services such as Vongo, MovieLink, Showtime TV, XM Radio, and
FOX Sports, as well as the ability to browse through top news stories
from Reuters and NPR. Additionally, in the U.S., Windows Media Center
features the Internet TV beta program, which offers access to viral
videos, news stories, movie trailers, sports clips, cast interviews,
movie concerts and more. For access to live and recorded TV through
the Samsung MediaLive, a simple TV tuner can be connected to the PC,
turning it into a powerful DVR with the ability to watch and record
favorite television shows and movies. In conjunction with FOX Sports,
consumers are able to access SportsLounge to quickly view up-to-date
sports scores, statistics and schedules - a perfect tool for any
fantasy sports fan.
"Microsoft is pleased to be working with an industry leader such
as Samsung, which shares our commitment to expanding TV entertainment
options through Windows Media Center," said Ron Pessner, General
Manager of the Connected TV Division at Microsoft Corp. "We're seeing
the industry recognize the value of delivering these types of
integrated solutions that allow consumers to extend pictures, music
and more from their Windows Vista Home Premium- or Ultimate-based PC
to the TV."
Employing the simple-to-navigate user interface and integrated
electronic program guide of Windows Media Center, content browsing and
playback is easily controlled using the arrow and enter buttons
available on either the included MediaLive Simple Remote, or the
Samsung HDTV's remote control.
Using the included mounting bracket, the compact device can be
easily mounted to the rear of select Samsung flat-panel TVs for a
clutter-free home theater setup. Operational commands are sent to the
MediaLive via the HDMI-CEC port for a high quality, single-cable
connection to the HDTV. The device connects to a PC via a RJ45
connected LAN cable, or wirelessly through a built-in 802.11 a/b/g/n
receiver.
The Samsung MediaLive will be available in August 2008.
-0-
*T
Specifications
----------------------------
MediaLive
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Online Content -- Windows Media Center online media
content providers
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Audio -- WMA, MP3, AC3
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Video -- WMV, MPEG2, MPEG4, H.264
-- HDMI-CEC output
-- Replay
-- Down & Play of recorded TV program In
PC
-- AV Streaming with PC (Server)
-- AV Streaming with PC (Client) - WMV,
MPEG2 file Streaming
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Photo -- JPEG
-- Zoom in/out, Rotation
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Input and Output -- DC Power
-- USB 2.0 Slave
-- USB 2.0 Host
-- HDMI-CEC
-- Ethernet (RJ45 LAN cable)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Works With -- 2008-model Samsung HDTVs 450 series
and higher, LCD, Plasma and DLP
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dimension (W X H X D, mm) -- 270 x 48 x 155
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Weight -- 1.8 kg
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated Selling Price $200
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Availability August 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------
*Subject to change without notice.