Niveus Media’s systems have for a long time been held up as the Rolls Royce of Windows Media Center systems but now Niveus have got out of the Media Center business. Their site normally shows off high end Windows Media Center systems including the Rainer and the Zone but when I visited the site today there is no mention of hardware products (apart from digital signage) and not a Media Center box to be seen. So I contact Niveus CEO Tim Cutting and he told me the reason they have stopped making their hardware is that they are now focusing 100% on Project Snowbird which is a software projecting aiming to bring premium content to multiple platforms:
This exciting new technology allows cable and satellite customers to gain greater access to the television and movies they already pay for with their monthly subscription. By enabling the secure streaming and file transfer of protected shows and movies from the set-top box; the PC, Mac, and popular Mobile Devices become the ultimate companion to your television viewing experience
So Project Snowbird will work with the PC but is not specificly designed for Media Center. Tim told me they will stop selling their hardware range from November 1st and they will be releasing more info on Project Snowbird soon but its aimed at Cable & Satellite Operators as a way of bring their content to the PC
I think this highlights a trend of commoditisation of home entertainment equipment, where Niveus would charge $5000 for a Media Center System in the past there are now embedded devices costing hundreds and not thousands. I think with boxes like the new Apple TV, Boxee and the new Windows Embedded devices you can see the direct the market is going.
Having said that there are some still some great high end Windows Media Center systems out there like S1Digital in the US and Evolve Media in the UK as there is still a demand for hight quality whole home solutions but it must be a bit of a blow for the hight end Media Center business.
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