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Article: PC World on Best Products for Streaming Audio and Video

In MSN Tech & Gadgets (love that subsite) there’s an informative post from by PC World columnist Lincoln Spector on the “Best Products for Streaming Audio and Video With Ease.” 



“Want to watch your movies in the bedroom or listen to your albums in the kitchen? We identify which devices do the best job of streaming PC-based video and audio all over your home.


“It’s easier than ever to liberate your collection of audio, video, and photo files from the confines of a PC–so you can enjoy it at the level of comfort and quality that your home theater setup provides. Streaming media players, also known as digital media receivers, connect to your TV and surround-sound speakers and, via an interface on your television, let you stream multimedia files from networked PCs, hard disks, and (in some cases) the Internet.”

 PC World evaluates seven current digital media adapters:



Also of interest from the article:



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There’s a good chance your next computer will be a notebook

Unless you are buying a workstation-class comuer for development or high-end use (video gaming, video editing), chances are that your next computer will be a notebook. And for most consumer purchasers, this seems to be even more likely.


The industry analyst isuppli reports this week that they estimate that PC shipments will rise worldwide in 2007 given the demand for notebook computers this year.



“Following stronger-than-anticipated shipments of notebook computers in the first quarter, iSuppli Corp. has upgraded its 2007 PC shipment forecast. iSuppli predicts global PC shipments will rise to 264 million units in 2007, up 11.2 percent from 239 million in 2006. The previous forecast envisioned 10.7 percent growth for the year.”


iSuppli said that notebooks should make up nearly 40% of all new computer shipments this year.


My completely unscientific straw poll over the last few weeks of neighbours and friends found that nearly all of them are thinking about getting a notebook computer as their next PC. The exception? Customers considering a new PC that has Media Center capabilities (such as with Windows XP Media Center Edition or Windows Vista Home Premium) complete with a TV tuner card.


The numbers break out about two-thirds of people are looking for a new notebook with a dual core processor, and the bulk of the rest looking for a quiet, family room or home office PC that provides TV DVR and entertainment content management.


Almost none of the consumers I’ve spoken with said that they were looking for a new computer without these capabilities. 


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IPTV, Media Centre, VOD rumours… oh my

Long Zheng reports in his blog earlier this week that “a trademark application in Australia… looks to be for a video-on-demand service from Microsoft yet to be identified has been made available publically.”


Ars Technica picked up on Zheng’s report noting that “the trademark description also mentions downloadable video content, as well as the ability to transmit photos, video, and music over their broadband connections.”


Sounds familiar. 😉


Ars also picks up on Zheng’s reference to Joost, in that “Media Center already has the ability to record shows, view pictures, and listen to music, so adding on-demand TV or movie programming would be a natural extension of the software’s abilities. A Joost-like service could also be incorporated into the Xbox’s video offerings, rounding out the console as a full-on media center.”


Perhaps a new chapter in Xbox Live video services? Sounds interesting.


[Added later… Fortune reports “Joost just received $45 million in funding in a recent round of venture capital funding. In another sign that Joost is becoming the go-to web video site for the media establishment, the site just inked a deal with the big-time talent and literary agency CAA.”]

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The great US digital television migration starts on February 17, 2009

Do you have a TV antenna connection that plugs directly in to your TV or Media Center PC? If so, think about how you will prepare for a transition that is finally coming in the industry: on February 17, 2009, the US will make the transition to digital television, as analog TV channels will be cut off. See the article Will Box Shortage Mar DTV Transition?



“Digital-to-analog convertors that would keep old sets going are supposed to be available by January 1, 2008. But David Rehr, president of the National Association of Broadcasters, says the supply of set-top boxes may not meet the need.”


So if you are what is framed as an “over-the-air” television viewer (aka OTA), then you should be aware of the change. But if you’re one of the majority of US households that receives television programming from cable or satellite, then your analogue TV receiver won’t be impacted. Cable and satellite provide set top box convertors. And OTA HD programming is not impacted, so if you’ve hooked up a new HD TV receiver to an antenna, you won’t be impacted.


Other interesting TV facts from Nielsen Media: 



  • There are an average of 111.4 million TV homes in the United States for the 2006-07 TV season.

  • 98% of American households own a TV, and over 76% of American households own 2 or more TV’s (82% of U.S homes have more than one television set at home)

  • The average U.S. TV home has 2.5 people and 2.8 television sets

  • 28% of U.S. TV homes have digital cable

  • 64% of homes have wired cable hook-ups (down from 68% in 2000) and 23% have satellite or specialized antenna systems to receive television signals

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Microsoft to offer Vista upgrade coupons starting Oct. 26

Express Upgrade to Windows VistaAP reported yesterday that “people who buy certain Windows personal computers this holiday season will be offered free or heavily discounted coupons to upgrade to Microsoft Corp.’s new operating system, Windows Vista, under a program designed to spur sales despite Vista’s delay.”


Companies including HP, Compaq and Dell are quoted with more details on the upgrade offers for purchases starting Thursday, October 26th. (“Price, terms, and conditions may vary. Additional shipping, handling, and other fees may apply. See your PC manufacturer for availability and applicable offer details.”)


From the Microsoft Windows Vista web site: details on Express Upgrades to Windows Vista…



“If you’re in the market for a new computer this holiday season, be sure to ask your retailer about the Express Upgrade to Windows Vista, being offered by participating PC manufacturers. When you buy a qualifying Windows Vista Capable PC between October 26, 2006 and March 15, 2007, you may be eligible for an Express Upgrade to Windows Vista.


“Don’t wait to enjoy the benefits of owning a new PC. Buying a Premium Ready Windows Vista Capable PC means you can buy a great Windows XP computer today, with the confidence that it will easily upgrade to the Windows Vista edition of your choice. Express Upgrade to Windows Vista offers from participating PC manufacturers will ensure you can easily enjoy Windows XP today and Windows Vista when it’s available.”


More details on the program are on the Express Upgrade site.


As noted on AP’s web site, “the coupon program begins Thursday and runs through mid-March. Particulars of the deal will vary depending on the computer maker and retailer.”


PC manufacturers mentioned in the article include Hewlett-Packard (for certain HP Pavilion, Compaq Presario and HP Digital Entertainment Center computers equipped with Windows XP), Gateway (“free upgrades for people who buy Vista-capable computers directly from the company) and Dell (for “Vista-capable Dell computers running Windows XP Home Edition” will be able to upgrade to Windows Vista Home Basic; Dell’s rep said that “buyers of computers running Windows XP Media Center or Windows XP Professional will only have to pay shipping and handling to get a comparable Vista version.”)


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