The Home Media Player

The Home Media Player
A new intermediary that has thrust itself onto the scene is the media player,
which is a device whose goal is to simplify the PC-to-entertainment system
interface. Simply, these boxes give you an easy way to get at information on
your PC, for playing or viewing on your TV and stereo system, by giving you
an onscreen display, a remote control, and even a wireless keyboard.
Specifically, this device sits between your TV and your PC. And instead of
using your computer display to see what’s going on, the media player displays
its own user interface on the TV set — a lot like the AudioReQuest that
we mention earlier in this chapter. Thus, they can make it a lot simpler to
merely play a song (a lot better than having to boot up a computer, open a
program, and scroll around!). It interfaces with your PC via a wireless (or
wired) connection.
The PRISMIQ system that we mention earlier in this chapter is a great example
of this. By using an Internet-capable home computer and linking stored
media and the Internet connection itself, the PRISMIQ system can perform a
variety of functions:
Play DVD-quality video
Play Surround sound and CD-quality audio
Stream a library of MP3 files
Act as a video-on-demand set top box
Display digital photos on the television
Provide Web access on the television
Show live, personalized news feeds to the television
Connect users over the Internet to friends and family

The PRISMIQ MediaPlayer (see Figure 13-4) is a compact system, less than
half the size of most DVD players. It can be used conveniently on any television
in the house, yet it has all the capabilities of a high-end audio-visual
component, such as Surround sound audio support and MPEG-1 and MPEG-2
video playback. The associated and bundled MediaManager software, which
lets one or more computers in the home deliver content to the MediaPlayer,
runs on Windows 98 SE, Me, 2000, and XP. Like the SONICblue DVD D2730, the
PRISMIQ MediaPlayer supports Ethernet 10/100 natively and has embedded
driver support for a variety of PCMCIA card/bus cards for 802.11b, 802.11a,
802.11g, and Home Phoneline Networking Alliance (HPNA) interfaces. It
allows just about any sort of wireless connectivity through its PC Card slot



Figure 13-4:
The
PRISMIQ
MediaPlayer.
Other players are getting into the act, too. HP’s Digital Media Receiver
(www.hp.com/go/digitalmediareceiver; $299) 5000 Series extends digital
music and photos on your PC to your TV and stereo systems. By using a standard
remote control, the receiver enables you to browse through your
favorite music and photos and choose what you want to view or listen to
without having to go to your PC and use your mouse and keyboard. The HP
Digital Media Receiver provides access to digital content from a PC on a
user’s wired Ethernet or wireless 802.11b home network.
The photos section will appeal to those with a digital camera. Digital photography
enthusiasts can access JPEG, GIF, BMP, and PNG images and share
their favorite moments with others in picture shows displayed on their TV in
the living space of their choice instead of on a PC monitor. The receiver also
allows users to print the currently displayed picture on any PC-connected
printer with the simple push of a button on the remote control. In addition,
the product allows users to combine music and photos on the TV and stereo
for a multimedia experience.
What’s neat is that multiple HP Digital Media Receivers can be connected to
the home wireless network so that music and photos can be enjoyed
throughout the home, simultaneously accessing digital files — including, if so
desired, the exact same song or picture (say, during a party). In fact, the multiple
devices can be controlled from each other to create a full-house listening
experience.