Noise

by Charles Fulton
Winter 2002/Spring 2003

Intel Digital Media Adapters To Share Media Cost-Effectively
As part of Intel's new Extended Wireless PC Initiative, several PC manufacturers (including Dell and Gateway) have demonstrated "Digital Media Adapters," small set-top boxes which use the 802.11b wireless networking protocol to watch and listen to streaming or download-and-play media on standard home entertainment devices. The idea surfaced at Intel's Developer Forum, held from September 9-12, 2002 in San Jose, CA.

These devices go beyond the previous generation of wired convergence devices, which had their own hard drives and used traditional cabled networking to share media with other computers. They tended to be expensive, and as such, were not particularly enthusiastically received.

The cost of the new devices is expected to be between $100 and $200, and will most likely be available sometime in 2003.

SONICblue Announces ReplayTV Portable Video Player
SONICblue's ReplayTV Portable Video Player promises TV you actually want to see, not only whenever you want to see it, but also wherever you want to see it. The device, currently in development, but previewed at the recent Intel Developer Forum and slated to be available in 2003, will connect to a home ReplayTV box and accept native ReplayTV format video for playback on the go. The Intel XScale processor inside the device features very efficient power consumption for longer battery life. It will also be able to connect to PCs to transfer audio and video files.

Sony Spins a Cocoon in Japan
Sony has previewed "Cocoon" (Connected Community On Network), a hard drive recorder that can record 15 hours of high-definition programming or 100 hours of standard-definition programming. The unit will include a broadband connection for gathering program data. The Cocoon will also be able to recommend programming that it believes its owner will enjoy based on past selections, and will offer an apology if it recommends something the user doesn't like.

Another unique feature of the Cocoon will be the ability to be programmed with a cell phone (for an optional service fee).

The Cocoon will sell for 130,000 Yen (at press time, approximately US $1,100.) Sony is using the same strategy that helped them make the PlayStation and their line of VAIO computers successful internationally–by launching the product first in Japan this November. No plans have been announced for a rollout into any other countries at this time.

Moxi Set-Top Boxes On The Way
Subscribers to Charter cable systems may soon be able to experience the magic of Moxi, Digeo's innovative PVR/video server/music playing device, using Scientific Atlanta's forthcoming Explorer MC media center set-top boxes. The boxes will combine Scientific Atlanta's PowerKEY conditional access technology and an 80GB hard drive. The boxes are slated for rollout sometime in 2003. Also expected in 2003: Moxi's DISH Network box.

Microsoft Windows Media 9 To Make Your Streaming Experience Better
Microsoft's Windows Media 9 (in beta at press time) is the first streaming media format to offer 5.1-channel surround sound support and high-definition video. It also does not require pre-buffering before listening to or watching streaming media. All this in a format that requires less bandwidth to stream. Microsoft estimates that Windows Media 9-format audio can reduce bandwidth costs to service providers by 20% for audio streams, and by 50% for video streams.

Windows Media 9 will include such creature comforts as a Smart Jukebox feature that makes managing media collections much easier.

$200 Satellite Radio
Got satellite radio yet? Delphi Product & Service Solutions has announced the SKYFi Radio, a compact unit that sells for $130, but must be used in concert with either a home kit or a car kit (each sold separately for $70 apiece.) It features a remote control, direct channel entry, and 20 presets for rapid tuning of XM Satellite Radio's 100+ channels of audio programming. The unit's large, orange display shows artist names and song titles.

The vehicle adapter includes a cradle, a magnet-mount antenna, a cassette adapter, and a power adapter. The home adapter includes a stand, an indoor/outdoor antenna, an AC adapter and an audio cable to allow connection to a home stereo system.

Also available is the SKYFi Audio System, a dockable set of speakers with an integrated XM antenna that makes the unit a self-contained, portable receiver. It can run on batteries or can plug in to the wall.

VM Labs Files for Bankruptcy
VM Labs, creator of NUON technology for DVD players, has filed for bankruptcy. The assets were purchased by Genesis Microchip, a manufacturer of integrated circuits for flat-panel displays and digital television reception, for $13.6 million. VM Labs had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in December of 2001.

According to a statement on VM Labs' web page by Richard Miller, CEO, the company "could not achieve critical mass before running out of money. Having just shipped our first products, we desperately needed to invest in content and our next-generation lower-cost ICs. While struggling for funding, we lost momentum and gradually spiraled into bankruptcy."

VM Labs developed the NUON chipset, operating system and software tools. Four NUON-enhanced DVD movie titles and six video games have been released. The NUON chipset could also be used in network set-top boxes.

Only Samsung and Toshiba actually shipped DVD players with NUON chipsets.

ATI All-In-Wonder 9700 PRO Unveiled
ATI's newest video card, the All-In-Wonder 9700 PRO, features S-video and composite inputs and outputs, a cable-ready tuner, 128MB of DDR memory and is AGP 4X/8X compatible. It also features component video outputs, for those of you with a higher-end Smart TV setup, as well as an RF remote control. Like many past ATI products, the RADEON 9700 chipset also includes a built-in DVD decoder. If that weren't enough, ATI claims the 9700 is one of the fastest game cards ever created.