Myka has launched the Myka ION media center set-top box this weekend, giving users a one-stop shop for Internet video services and video playback via your HDTV.
The ION has an Intel Atom 1.6Ghz Processor 330,a NVIDIA ION Graphics Processor, as well as 4GB of RAM, ten USB 2.0 ports, VGA / DVI / HDMI outputs, an eSATA connector and Ethernet.
“Technology has finally caught up with what consumers want out of Internet video services,” said Myka President Dan Lovy. “They want to be freed from their computers and watch the growing variety of Web video content on their large-screen, high-definition living room TVs. And they want to do it without a lot of hassle and without video quality suffering.
You can add a Blu-ray drive, HDD and Wi-Fi module, but that will increase the price significantly.
Prices start at $379 USD.
Result for: video content
It’s not exactly a headline any of us would have expected soon just a couple of years ago, but the former cheerleader of the HD DVD format, Toshiba, has applied to join the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA). The company is set to introduce products that use the Blu-ray format, which beat the HD DVD format in becoming the standard disc format for High-definition video content.
“As a market leader in digital technologies, Toshiba provides a wide range of advanced digital products, such as DVD recorders and players, HDTVs and notebook PCs that support a wide range of storage devices, including hard disk drives (HDD), DVD, and SD Cards. In light of recent growth in digital devices supporting the Blu-ray format, combined with market demand from consumers and retailers alike, Toshiba has decided to join the BDA.” a statement from Toshiba reads.
Toshiba aims to introduce digital products that support the Blu-ray format, including BD players and notebook PCs integrating BD drives, in the course of this year. Details of the products, including the timing of regional launches, are now under consideration.
Result for: video content
Sonic Solutions has announced that they will finally be bringing HD streaming to its Roxio CinemaNow online video
service, using a new technology dubbed Sonic CineVision Adaptive HD which the company promises will make films look Blu-ray-esque in 1080p full HD.
Sonic’s competitors, such as iTunes, Amazon, VUDU, and Sony have all had HD streaming or downloads for some time now.
CineVision Adaptive HD will also be available “as part of the company’s CineVision Master Encoding system” says TWICE, “enabling others to maximize the quality of streaming video content.”
The CineVision Master Encoding system is used in current Blu-ray production, so the company says the streaming quality will be second to none.
Adds CinemaNow executive VP of strategy Mark Ely: “Consumers not only want instant access to new Hollywood hit movies on their connected TVs and Blu-ray players, they want it in HD.”
