New Extenders and Internet TV unveiled for Windows Media Center

Today at Digital Life in NYC the eHome Division and partners together announced new Extenders for Windows Media Center.  In combination with the new Extenders, we're also releasing a beta of a new feature for Windows Media Center called Internet TV.

Take a look at the new Extenders for Windows Media Center and you'll see that users are getting sleek and quiet devices that bring content to any room of their house.  Upcoming this holiday season is an impressive line-up of Extenders:

  • Linksys Media Center Extender DMA2100:  In a small form factor, the DMA2100 offers dual-band Wireless-N and all the necessary features to take full advantage of Windows Media Center.  Perfect for smaller bedrooms and offices where a small device is needed.  Estimated street price is US$299.99.
  • Linksys Media Center Extender DMA2200 with DVD Player:  Bigger than the DMA2100, the DMA2200 offers dual-band Wireless-N with a built-in DVD player on top of its Extender capabilities.  Estimated street price is US$349.99.
  • D-Link DSM-750 MediaLounge HD Media Center Extender:  The DSM-750 connects users to their home networks either via Ethernet or dual-band draft Wireless-N.  It also includes a USB 2.0 port for access to music, photos and videos stored on removable USB flash drives or hard drives.  Users of the DSM-750 can also enjoy HD videos at 1080i.  Estimated street price is US$349.99.
  • HP MediaSmart LCD HDTV:  The HP MediaSmart LCD HDTV (available in 42-inch and 47-inch sizes) has embedded Extender capabilities allowing the HDTV to tap directly into a Windows Media Center PC on home network via wireless (802.11N) or wired connections.  The HP MediaSmart HDTV supports HD resolutions up to 1080p as well.  The HP MediaSmart LCD HDTV is expected to be available in Best Buys nationwide.
  • Niveus Media Extender – EDGE:  Supporting 1080p video, the Niveus Media Extender – EDGE takes in the 3D user interface found on the award-winning Niveus Media Center as well as the proprietary Niveus Glacier Passive Cooling System for quiet and cool operation.  Pricing has not yet been announced for the Niveus Media Extender – EDGE. 

These new Extenders, available to users of Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate, allow quick access to premium cable and HDTV and support popular video codecs such as DIVX, XVID and WMV.  Users will be able to pause a recorded TV show and then resume watching that very same show in a different room.

The eHome Division is also launching a beta (currently for U.S. users only) of Internet TV for Windows Media Center users.  On 28 September, users of Windows Media Center on Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate will see the addition of Internet TV under the TV + Movies section.  Internet TV will deliver high-quality video content streamed over the internet to Windows Media Center.  Users will be able to watch full episodes of TV shows, concerts from artists, high-quality movie trailers and clips from MSNBC.  Internet TV is designed for both TV and PC screens and is accessible via Media Center Extenders (including the Xbox 360).  Brandon will have a more in-depth look at Internet TV on the Windows Experience blog shortly.

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Comments

  1. MarkCross
    Posted on: October 03, 2007 at 12:58AM  

    I have a Vista Ultimate system as well and I do not have Internet TV icon either. All updates are installed. Any ideas?

  2. Windows hosting
    Posted on: October 04, 2007 at 11:31AM  

    Good news. I do have a system running with the MCE.

  3. shellp
    Posted on: October 06, 2007 at 1:02AM  

    OK, I've gotten past all the previous issues. What if any Extenders are needed for Hp Media Ctr. m8120n?

    It does show none detected? When trying to set-up.

  4. leonid_lozner
    Posted on: October 07, 2007 at 3:48AM  

    I am wondering what will be the UI of new generation media extenders. I use extensively current models of D-Link extenders and familiar with Linksys device (probably having the same internals as D-Link) and they are pretty far from being called "user friendly". My media library is huge so usable "search" functionality is the key factor for extender UI.

    As far as I understand new extenders will be based on another network protocol(s) - hopefully better then current :-) Could we say the same regarding UI?  

  5. reynoldsfinepack
    Posted on: October 09, 2007 at 10:19PM  

    Could you let me know where I could get help to have my Xbox360 connect with my Windows Media Center on my new HP Vista Home Premium?  I see that my computer can see the Xbox360, but when going through the extender setup it stops and tells me my firewire might not be setup for UPnP.  I have looked everywhere and tired everything.  The computer is wireless and the xbox360 is hard wired in the 2wire modem/router.  The 2wire modem/router software can see the xbox360 and my computer in the home network, but the two just don't want to allow the extender process to take place.  I am only using Windows firewire have not even put any other virus protect on it yet.  I think I am close and was hoping to get help as to what I am doing wrong. Love Vista, very cool, but considering both systems are so new I can't understand why they don't work.  Thanks in advance

  6. Tac-Elf
    Posted on: October 19, 2007 at 5:11PM  

    So far, I haven't been impressed by the offerings on the new extenders.  Nothing in the announcements which make me feel I need to go get one of these right away.  My XBox 360 seems more than adequate except for the usual things (heat, noise, lack of DIVX).  Add to this the price, and I cannot see these selling very well.

    As for Internet TV beta, can't say I'm impressed there either.  The picture quality ranges from so-so to terrible, the organization is confusing, and the content itself uninteresting.  The "movies" part is just trailers... Big deal.

  7. Xepol
    Posted on: October 26, 2007 at 2:33PM  

    I have to echo the complaint about the lack of divx support.

    That said, I have an extender problem with my 360 - I find the picture is way, way to dark.

    Short of adjusting my tv brightness (which is already maxed) - is there any way to digitally increase the video signal brightness?

  8. dznetworks
    Posted on: October 28, 2007 at 8:32PM  

    I have a wireless network and it seems that the signal from the wireless reaches my 360 but I cant acess the Infrared fuctions through my 360. Its like the remote control has a hard time to change to the different menues. Is there another setting that I am not aware of or maybe try the wireless network on a different network channel maybe?

  9. tegler27
    Posted on: October 29, 2007 at 2:00PM  

    How about Quicktime files?  

    I have a Kodak digital camera, and spent much time setting up the Media Center on my in-law's TV, but the Media center is blind to any .mov files.

    This, I find out only after spending $$$ on new stuff for Vista.

  10. Nick White
    Posted on: October 29, 2007 at 2:18PM  

    Hey tegler27:  while we do not offer out-of-box support for .MOV files in Media Center, there are third-party extensions that do; I'd encourage you to check them out.

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Trackbacks

  1. Posted by: TV » New Extenders and Internet TV unveiled for Windows Media Center on September 27, 2007 at 2:21PM
  2. Posted by: The Windows Experience Blog on September 27, 2007 at 2:45PM

    On September 28th, users of Windows Media Center for Windows Vista (in the U.S. at this time) will see

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