Rumors Fly About Secret Microsoft Device

by Alan Sheckter, Smart TV & Sound news editor

Although Consolewire.com, an Internet news service, said that Microsoft denies the rumors, PC Format, a British computer gaming magazine recently reported it uncovered a proposed, top-secret Microsoft home entertainment device with a code name of “HomeStation.”

The unit, dubbed “son of Xbox” by the magazine, is projected to be jam-packed with a large hard drive, broadband connection and Windows Media Player 8-based compression technology. In addition, PC Format concluded that given its big hard drive, the “HomeStation” could also act as a TiVo-like personal video recorder. The magazine further speculated that the device could wirelessly communicate with PDAs, MP3 players, digital cameras and telephones. In addition, PC Format reported that a proposed Microsoft server would be in place to offer movies, messaging, music and TV programming.

The magazine received no confirmation from Microsoft, but quoted sources close to the company who said Microsoft was keeping it under wraps so it wouldn’t distract the public from its imminent Xbox release, set for Nov. 15

PC Format said that the HomeStation’s launch would be quite dependent on the availability and growth of broadband, but theorized that Microsoft could be marketing the machine an about a year.