Beyond streaming personal entertainment, Samsung’s MediaLive gives consumers access to a wide range of entertainment options including online services such as Vongo, MovieLink, Showtime TV, XM Radio, and FOX Sports, as well as the ability to browse through top news stories from Reuters and NPR. Additionally, in the U.S., Windows Media Center features the Internet TV beta program, which offers access to viral videos, news stories, movie trailers, sports clips, cast interviews, movie concerts and more. For access to live and recorded TV through the Samsung MediaLive, a simple TV tuner can be connected to the PC, turning it into a powerful DVR with the ability to watch and record favorite television shows and movies. In conjunction with FOX Sports, consumers are able to access SportsLounge to quickly view up-to-date sports scores, statistics and schedules – a perfect tool for any fantasy sports fan.
“Microsoft is pleased to be working with an industry leader such as Samsung, which shares our commitment to expanding TV entertainment options through Windows Media Center,” said Ron Pessner, General Manager of the Connected TV Division at Microsoft Corp. “We’re seeing the industry recognize the value of delivering these types of integrated solutions that allow consumers to extend pictures, music and more from their Windows Vista Home Premium- or Ultimate-based PC to the TV.”
Employing the simple-to-navigate user interface and integrated electronic program guide of Windows Media Center, content browsing and playback is easily controlled using the arrow and enter buttons available on either the included MediaLive Simple Remote, or the Samsung HDTV’s remote control.
Using the included mounting bracket, the compact device can be easily mounted to the rear of select Samsung flat-panel TVs for a clutter-free home theater setup. Operational commands are sent to the MediaLive via the HDMI-CEC port for a high quality, single-cable connection to the HDTV. The device connects to a PC via a RJ45 connected LAN cable, or wirelessly through a built-in 802.11 a/b/g/n receiver.
The Samsung MediaLive will be available in August 2008.
Specifications Samsung MediaLive
Online Content
• Windows Media Center online media content providers
Audio
• WMA, MP3, AC3
Video
• WMV, MPEG2, MPEG4, H.264
• HDMI-CEC output
• Replay
• Down & Play of recorded TV program In PC
• AV Streaming with PC (Server)
• AV Streaming with PC (Client) – WMV, MPEG2 file Streaming
Photo
• JPEG
• Zoom in/out, Rotation
Input and Output
• DC Power
• USB 2.0 Slave
• USB 2.0 Host
• HDMI-CEC
• Ethernet (RJ45 LAN cable)
Works With
• 2008-model Samsung HDTVs 450 series and higher, LCD, Plasma and DLP
Dimension
• W X H X D 270 x 48 x 155 mm
Weight
• 1.8 kg
Samsung MediaLive price and availibility
• Selling Price: $200
• Availability: August 2008
[Via Samsung]
