Next-Gen Media Center Extenders? - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

tg989 · 2007-05-16, 04:28 PM

Anybody have any links to resources, reviews, or even hearsay?

I'm asuming that with Vista out and considering there hasn't been a media center extender upgrade in quite a while (I think linksys isn't even making theirs anymore) that something is in the works. With the upcoming 802.11n wireless draft approaching completion, I don't see why there shouldn't be a new extender coming out in suit.

Does anybody have any info on it? Dates or specs or anything?

jacksparrow · 2007-05-16, 05:27 PM

Last thing I heard was that dlink is going to be following linksys, and stop making their as well. You can still get the linksys one in places like canada computers.

I don't think they really took off like the manufacturer thought, and with HTPCs everywhere now. It's kind of like the mini disc really, I still have my flat credit card size sony one knocking around

chadsfake · 2007-05-16, 06:56 PM

I would guess the same thing they are on the way out. I spent months recently trying to decide what to purchase and I found nothing to my liking. I wanted FLAC support and DivX, stand alone control (not having to load stuff in media center on the PC downstairs to get it to play in the family room upstairs) for a reasonable price.

I settled on building a HTPC out of spare parts I had and purchased an IR receiver and remote off of eBay. This way it is upgradeable as new music or video formats that gain popularity only need to download a new codec.

I found separate media extenders / receivers were too limited and too expensive compared to even a new HTPC that could do so much more and have all the possibilities the future could throw at it for a few years to come.

sansp00 · 2007-05-16, 08:35 PM

If you are talking about digital media servers/extenders, the offering is booming ! TViX, Netgear, DLink, Linksys (via Kiss), Neodigits, Ziova, Mediagate etc (we could even include the AppleTV and the Xbox & Xbox360) have all put out new devices this year and plan on other in the next year or so.
Most of them are based on Syabas middleware which have an update chip in the pipeline.
HTPC are expensive, clunky and noisy for the most part. So there is still a lot of room for media servers.
Patrick S.

TedS · 2007-05-17, 03:16 AM

v2 Extenders for Vista Media Center are coming. In fact, BillG mentioned them in his keynote from WinHEC on Tuesday morning. These extenders are based on "Pika" embedded technology - which has been made available to interested companies for several months. Rumors indicate that we'll see more near the end of the year.

Ted

pnear · 2007-05-17, 03:36 PM

I'll back up Ted on this one - they're coming and I'd expect to seem them in much higher quantity than before. It's less of a device now and more of a capability that can be added to any device by slapping in a pika chip.

Pete

tg989 · 2007-05-28, 01:56 PM

awesome, thanks Ted. I know its in the pipeline but I was wondering if any retailers had picked it up yet and started with something. I heard many dates from mid july to early 2009, but i'm hoping somewhere this fall there should be a mce2 out on the shelves by linksys or otherwise.

tg989 · 2007-07-30, 04:50 PM

any news from dlink or any of the other manufacturers on new devices that are mcev2 or may be? no early reviews?

KingBuzzo · 2007-07-31, 12:52 PM

I heard they are planning on re-releasing Vista Media Center this xmas so I would assume that all of the v2 extenders will be coming out then.

If you can't wait, you cannot go wrong with a 360!

avengingangel · 2007-08-01, 11:20 AM

Just pick up an XBOX 360. It has a fully functional Media Extender built in and is fully compatible with Vista !

2007-05-16, 04:28 PM	#1
tg989 Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 16	Next-Gen Media Center Extenders? Anybody have any links to resources, reviews, or even hearsay? I'm asuming that with Vista out and considering there hasn't been a media center extender upgrade in quite a while (I think linksys isn't even making theirs anymore) that something is in the works. With the upcoming 802.11n wireless draft approaching completion, I don't see why there shouldn't be a new extender coming out in suit. Does anybody have any info on it? Dates or specs or anything?

2007-05-16, 06:56 PM	#3
chadsfake Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Coquitlam BC, Hitachi 55HDT79, Toshiba 47HL167 Posts: 110	I would guess the same thing they are on the way out. I spent months recently trying to decide what to purchase and I found nothing to my liking. I wanted FLAC support and DivX, stand alone control (not having to load stuff in media center on the PC downstairs to get it to play in the family room upstairs) for a reasonable price. I settled on building a HTPC out of spare parts I had and purchased an IR receiver and remote off of eBay. This way it is upgradeable as new music or video formats that gain popularity only need to download a new codec. I found separate media extenders / receivers were too limited and too expensive compared to even a new HTPC that could do so much more and have all the possibilities the future could throw at it for a few years to come. __________________ Hitachi 55HDT79, Yamaha RX-V540, Panasonic F87K, Energy 4.1e,2.1e,HTS 1,S8.3, Motorola 3416,Harmony 880, PCH A-110

2007-05-16, 08:35 PM	#4
sansp00 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Beloeil,Quebec Posts: 73	If you are talking about digital media servers/extenders, the offering is booming ! TViX, Netgear, DLink, Linksys (via Kiss), Neodigits, Ziova, Mediagate etc (we could even include the AppleTV and the Xbox & Xbox360) have all put out new devices this year and plan on other in the next year or so. Most of them are based on Syabas middleware which have an update chip in the pipeline. HTPC are expensive, clunky and noisy for the most part. So there is still a lot of room for media servers. Patrick S. __________________ In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is ...

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

2007-05-16, 05:27 PM	#2
jacksparrow Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southern Ontario Posts: 1,066	Last thing I heard was that dlink is going to be following linksys, and stop making their as well. You can still get the linksys one in places like canada computers. I don't think they really took off like the manufacturer thought, and with HTPCs everywhere now. It's kind of like the mini disc really, I still have my flat credit card size sony one knocking around

2007-05-17, 03:16 AM	#5
TedS Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Surrey, BC Posts: 67	v2 Extenders for Vista Media Center are coming. In fact, BillG mentioned them in his keynote from WinHEC on Tuesday morning. These extenders are based on "Pika" embedded technology - which has been made available to interested companies for several months. Rumors indicate that we'll see more near the end of the year. Ted

2007-05-17, 03:36 PM	#6
pnear Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Milton, ON Posts: 662	I'll back up Ted on this one - they're coming and I'd expect to seem them in much higher quantity than before. It's less of a device now and more of a capability that can be added to any device by slapping in a pika chip. Pete

2007-05-28, 01:56 PM	#7
tg989 Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 16	awesome, thanks Ted. I know its in the pipeline but I was wondering if any retailers had picked it up yet and started with something. I heard many dates from mid july to early 2009, but i'm hoping somewhere this fall there should be a mce2 out on the shelves by linksys or otherwise.

2007-07-30, 04:50 PM	#8
tg989 Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 16	any news from dlink or any of the other manufacturers on new devices that are mcev2 or may be? no early reviews?

2007-07-31, 12:52 PM	#9
KingBuzzo Join Date: May 2007 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba Posts: 273	I heard they are planning on re-releasing Vista Media Center this xmas so I would assume that all of the v2 extenders will be coming out then. If you can't wait, you cannot go wrong with a 360!

2007-08-01, 11:20 AM	#10
avengingangel Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 173	Just pick up an XBOX 360. It has a fully functional Media Extender built in and is fully compatible with Vista !