If you’ve got some cash to spend and AppleTV doesn’t really fancy you well, it may be worth a minute to check out the new Hangar18 HTPC from Alienware. Equipped with radical features such as a Gyration remote, this box will kick new life into your home theater setup. Dual tuners, a 5.1-channel amp, HDMI, and 1080p output are all included. You’ll also find 2TB of storage space, 4GB of RAM, and an AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core CPU. So you’ve got the power, but what about the pricetag? Extremely rad features like these don’t come cheap. The Hangar18 will set you back $1999, not including the 2TB of content you’ll need to come up with to make the most of this unit. Alienware Lifts the Veil on its High-Def Hangar18 HTPC [Gizmodo] → Read More
Over at Zatz Not Funny, the greatest name ever for a blog, Zatz asks an important question: What’s up with CableCARD-ready PCs? Did they fall off the face of the planet, or are people just not enthusiastic about the idea of sticking a PC in their entertainment center? → Read More
AMD has developed a prototype media vault device that can be used to store and stream content to TVs and PCs. The, as of yet, unnamed device is aimed directly at the market Apple hopes to broach next year with its iTV. While there are few details currently available about the AMD prototype, Joe Menard, the corporate VP at AMD, speculates that we could begin seeing the AMD media device sometime next year. The device will be contained in a case tailored to blend with home theater equipment, so potential owners can shed those fears about having an obtuse computer case in the living room. I’m intrigued to see what else this thing will have to offer. AMD designs prototype PC for the living room [CNET] → Read More
Threading with the ever increasing move toward combination machines, Sony unleashed its newest amalgamation, the VAIO LS1 TV/PC. The rig presents itself iMac style with the chassis built into the back of the 19″ WSXGA+ display. It is powered by an Intel Core Duo processor, 2GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive and integrated 802.11 b/g. The included wireless mouse and keyboard apparently fold into the system for a clean appearance when not in use. The unit ships with Windows Media Center 2005 and an NTSC TV tuner, so the system can be used as a DVR. Users can then back up their recordings with its included DVD burner. The LS1 will be available in mid-September for about $2100. Sony Merges Quality LC TV with Desktop PC for a Sleek Combo → Read More
San Francisco, CA
