Moxi HD DVR update: Hulu & Netflix, DLNA, home automation

Digeo have released an update for their Moxi HD DVR, adding DLNA streaming support and a workaround to bring Hulu, Netflix and other streaming content direct to the set-top box. There’s also new support for controlling Z-wave home automation devices, together with Rhapsody music streaming and the ability to view and bookmark websites.

Press Release:

Digeo® Releases Major Enhancements to Flagship Moxi® HD DVR

Moxi® Entertainment Experience Gets Even Better with PlayOn™ Internet Video; Rhapsody®
Music; Home Theater Controls; and Enhanced Photos, Internet Services and DLNA-Certified™
Home Networking

KIRKLAND, WA – April 09, 2009 – Digeo, Inc. today announced new features and enhancements to the Moxi® High Definition Digital Video Recorder (HD DVR), further advancing the world’s best DVR. The Moxi HD DVR has new services available directly from the on-screen menu including Internet video from YouTube, Netflix, Hulu™ and more streaming directly to the TV through MediaMall Technologies’ PlayOn™ media server software as well as the streaming digital music service from Rhapsody®. The Moxi HD DVR also now includes eControls, a home automation feature that allows users to customize the home theater experience by adjusting lighting and other Z-Wave supported products. The Flickr® online photo service and MoxiNet Internet browser were also enhanced, and Moxi is now certified to support the DLNA® standard for improved home networking.

These new services will be available automatically to customers with a Moxi HD DVR via a software upgrade at no additional charge from Digeo.

Additionally, as part of this new functionality, the company is offering existing and new Moxi customers a PlayOn® license key (value $39.99) free for a limited time, as well as a free 30-day Rhapsody trial (value: $12.99).

“In the current economic climate, people are more focused on at-home entertainment options and on getting the most out of their HD investments,” said Greg Gudorf, CEO, Digeo. “The world’s best HD DVR now delivers even more valuable entertainment services for the best home entertainment experience.”

The Moxi HD DVR is designed to appeal to the most demanding digital cable entertainment enthusiasts. With its native HD interface and Emmy® award-winning Moxi Menu, dual tuners, and up to 75-hours of HD recording space (up to 300 hours at standard definition, and expandable well beyond with an external eSATA drive), the Moxi HD DVR makes it effortless for consumers to discover, experience and share high definition media from their digital cable provider, PCs on the home network and the Internet.

Adding to an extensive list of advanced features and services, the enhancements announced today as part of the Moxi HD DVR Spring 2009 software release include:

• PlayOn – This media server software currently provides access to Internet videos from YouTube, Hulu, CBS, Netflix, CNN, ESPN and more through the Moxi HD DVR from a PC on the home network. Video formats are automatically converted so Moxi users can watch Internet video directly on their widescreen HDTV.

• Rhapsody® – The leading on-demand digital music service is now available through the Moxi HD DVR, allowing users to easily listen to any one of more than 7 million songs from all the major record labels and hundreds of smaller independent labels. Rhapsody delivers complete control over the music experience, helping users to easily find and play full length tracks, build playlists of favorites or listen to Rhapsody’s professionally programmed genre & artist channels. Starting today, Rhapsody and Digeo are bringing music without limits to every user of the Moxi HD DVR.

• Media Link – Certified to support the DLNA home networking standard, Media Link connects the TV or home entertainment system to PCs on a home network. Moxi users can easily stream digital movies, videos, music and photos from their PCs for viewing or listening from the comfort of their home entertainment environment.

• eControls – Moxi users can now manage their home entertainment environment through the Moxi menu to set the mood. Users can adjust most Z-Wave-certified products such as lighting (e.g., turning sets of lights on, off or dimming), control volume and power on AV devices, as well as monitor IP baby-cams or outside cameras, all from the remote control.

• Mosaic – A new browsing feature for the Flickr® online photo service available through the Moxi menu, Mosaic allows users to rapidly scroll up, down and across their photos as they are displayed as mosaic tiles on the display.

• MoxiNet –Moxi registered users can now bookmark their favorite websites at Moxi.com and browse them on their home entertainment display using the Moxi remote as a virtual mouse. This expands upon MoxiNet’s quick access to news, sports scores, movie times, weather and other information from the Internet.

For more details, including details of the PlayOn license key offer, technical specifications and screen images of the Moxi HD DVR expanded feature set, please visit: www.moxi.com. You can also follow Moxi on Twitter at www.twitter.com/moxi_hd or on Facebook at http://tinyurl.com/c9vuxf

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Hitachi Details Updated Wooo TVs

The last generation of Hitachi's Wooo TVs hardly left us wanting, so it's with open arms that we welcome their 2009 successors.

Coming form April the 25th we have three LCDs, two - the 42in L42-XP03 and 37in L37-XP03 - with Full HD 1,920 x 1,080 pixel panels and one - the 32in L31-XP03 - with an HD Ready 1,366 x 768 pixel resolution. All three TVs feature built-in 250GB hard drives, DLNA connectivity, and add what Hitachi calls Wooonet - Yahoo widgets to you and I. All three sets have three HDMI ports,

Hitachi's plasma line is being similarly updated. The entry level 42in, L42-HP03 sports a 1,024 x 768 pixel resolution a 30,000:1 contrast ratio and three HDMI ports, with the 50in P50-XP03, 46in P46-XP03 and 42in P42-XP03 offering four HDMI connections alongside 1,920 x 1,080 pixel displays with 40,000:1 contrast ratios. Again DLNA, Wooonet and hard drives are present.

Next up, we have the UT800 series, with the 47in UT47-XP800 (pictured), 42in UT42-XP800, 37in UT37-XP800, 32in UT32-XP800. All offer 1,920 x 1,080 pixel resolutions and as per the last generation are notable in keeping all their inputs, tuners and the like in a separate, UWB-connected, unit. Again, DLNA streaming, Wooonet and hard drive-recording capabilities are present.

All of the above televisions, both LCD and plasma, also have "Intelligent Auto" sensors, optimising their output depending on ambient conditions, helping improve power efficiency. That's in addition to improvements which make the latest range more power efficient to begin with.

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Panasonic rolls out new $500 Blu-ray player in Japan

Panasonic announced the DMP-BD60 in Japan today [JP], a Blu-ray device, which is at the same time the company’s first without a recording function. Panasonic is marketing the $500 player as a low-priced machine that people can use as a second device, for example in their bed rooms.

The Blu-ray disc player is equipped with DLNA, supports 1080/24p as well as 1080/60p, is compatible with BD Live and comes with a YouTube function. It also features an HDMI port, VIERA Link, a LAN port and a SD/SDHC port.

The DMP-BD60 goes on sale in Japan on April 25. Panasonic hasn’t said yet whether it will be available outside Nippon as well. The company plans to produce 2,000 units per month.

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