| STB brings Windows XP Media edition to couch potatoes |
Aug. 30, 2004
[Updated Dec. 12, 2004] -- Most devices running Windows XP Media Center Edition (MCE) are simply PCs with added multimedia bells and whistles. Hush Technologies has announced a more "consumer friendly" implementation, packaging MCE in a fanless set-top box that combines TiVO-like capabilities with A/V media-playing, web-browsing, email, and PC functions.
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With a simple remote, "couch potatoes" can easily command the Hush ATX MCE to: - Pause and rewind live TV
- Record an entire TV series or genre for viewing at more convenient times
- View digital photos, videos, and DVDs
- Play music from a "jukebox"
In addition to its multimedia record/playback features, the Hush ATX MCE is also a full PC, supporting traditional tasks such as web browsing and word processing. Features of the Hush ATX MEC include: - Disk storage up to 400 GB
- DVD ROM or DVD+R/DVD-R
- ATI Radeon Series graphics adapter with DVI, CRT, and TV output
- Analog or digital terrestrial TV/FM Tuner Card
- 6 channel audio output for 5.1 sound with SPDIF out
- Rear panel I/O connectors -- four USB 2.0, two IEEE 1394 Firewire, RS232, parallel, mouse/keyboard port, DVI, VGA, S-VHS, FBAS, 5.1 Audio, Optical/RCA S/PDIF (AC3)
- Front panel I/O connectors -- two USB 2.0, two IEEE 1394 (FireWire), headphone, mic
- 10/100/1000 Ethernet LAN
- Wireless LAN or Bluetooth are optional
- Infrared Remote Control
- MS Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 operating system
Update, December 2004: Hush has added a Dual Tuner card option for the ATX MCE, which the company says enables users to watch one channel and record a second channel simultaneously, or record two channels at the same time. The card includes dual analog TV receivers, dual FM radios, dual MPEG2 encoder chips, dual PAL Multistandard Tuners (B/G, SECAM, I, DK), and external RCA audio/video inputs, the company says.
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