HP MediaSmart Connect x280n: Member of a dying breed?
(Credit: HP)Call it a one-two punch: Monday's news that HP is discontinuing its MediaSmart Connect line follows Friday's report that Linksys' line of Media Center Extenders is also on its way out.
While two announcements doesn't a trend make (you need three for that), I'm hopeful that one of my consumer electronics wishes is finally coming true. We may be seeing the end of the standalone network digital media player. And I say "good riddance." This is a product category that never really should've existed in the first place.
To be clear, I'm not talking about digital music players--those products like Sonos, Logitech's Squeezebox line, or the growing number of cheap (often sub-$200) Wi-Fi radios available. That's a maturing product line that's providing real value--allowing you to access your PC-based digital music, Internet radio, and the growing array of online music services (both free and premium ones).
No, I'm talking about video-enabled digital media adapters. (Which brings me to gripe No. 1: the industry couldn't even agree on a common terminology. The products were alternately known as digital media adapters, digital media players, network media streamers, set-top boxes--or some amalgamation thereof.)
There were three big reasons the product category continued to languish in the enthusiast realm and never really went mainstream. ... Read more
The Sophisti DD-3 is geared toward flat-panel owners with some computer savvy.
(Credit: JVC)Back in November of last year, our U.K. sister blog reported that JVC would be releasing a new line of sleek, flat-panel-friendly, virtual surround home-theater systems that also featured streaming media capabilities in a couple of the models. Well, word is that one of those systems, the Sophisti DD-3 is actually shipping--or about to ship--in the U.S. It carries a list price of $999.95 and seems semi-intriguing on paper.
JVC calls the 3.1-speaker system, "A new type of home theater system, featuring a Network Media Player that serves as the nerve center of the home entertainment set up, allowing consumers to retrieve music files, movies, digital images and other digital files stored on their computer. In keeping with the system's ease-of-use concept, the DD-3 features JVC front surround technology, so there's no need for rear speakers and the placement problems they often create. The DD-3 is designed to complement the latest generation of flat panel TVs, with a sleek, low-profile main unit and slim, elegantly designed speakers." The speakers can be used with the included stands or be mounted to a wall. A 6.5-inch powered subwoofer ships with the unit.
With USB hosting on board, you can directly access files from portable media players, USB card readers, and digital cameras. Alas, there's no built-in WiFi, only an Ethernet connection, so in order to wirelessly stream MP3, WMA, WAV, MPEG-4, JPEG, and DivX files over your network, you'll have to attach a wireless Ethernet bridge. Powerline Ethernet adapters are another option to tap into your LAN. You can connect directly to your router, but most people don't keep their routers in their living rooms.
According to the release, the network media player is also DLNA-certified (Digital Living Network Alliance), which means that files can be accessed from other DLNA-compliant devices. The DD-3 also has 720p upscaling capablities, via its HDMI output.
Impressively, JVC avoided using the word "sophisticated" anywhere its press release. We look forward to giving the system a spin when we get our review sample soon.
- prev
- 1
- next
