TVSquad

D-Link has sent out review units of the DSM-330 HD Media Player, which will be the first commercially available set top box based on the DivX Connected platform. Bloggers Dave Zatz and Brent Evans have already unboxed their toys media extenders and posted some initial impressions.

The DSM-330 is basically a media extender device that does many of the same things as an Apple TV or Xbox 360. You connect the box to your television and your home network via Ethernet or WiFi (802.11g) and you can stream videos from your computer to your TV screen.

The unit can handle videos with resolutions of up to 720p and has an HDMI port. The included software lets you access music, movies, photos, and online media. And DivX is encouraging third parties to develop applications that will run on the box, so you could see new software from independent coders or from big names like Amazon or CinemaNow in the future (I'm not trying to start rumors here. I have no evidence that either company is working on software, I'm just saying it's possible).

Wish you could use that Apple TV box next to your TV for web browsing, reading RSS feeds, or even just playing DivX video? You could do a little software hacking yourself, or if you're worried about mucking things up, you could pay $60 for a USB stick from aTV Flash loaded with software that will do all the dirty work for you.

Here are just a few of the things you'll be able to do with your newly hacked Apple TV:

• Play DivX, XviD, AVi, and WMV files
• Play uncoverted DVD files
• Sync and play videos without iTunes
• Surf the web with a WebKit/Safari-based browser
• Rent HD movies from Jaman
• View weather forecasts
• Read RSS feeds

And best of all, the developers claim the software does not void your Apple TV warranty.

[via TUAW]

Hauppauge is probably best known for its line of TV tuners that let you watch and record live television on a computer. But it looks like the company is expanding it product line in a big way.

At CeBIT Hauppauge announced several new products, including:

• A 149 Euro portable media player that can pick up live digital TV using the UK's Freeview standard
• The 199 Euro HD-PVR USB TV tuner that encodes 720p and 1080i video on the fly using the H.264 codec
• The HVR2200, a 129 Euro dual-tuner Freeview card

And today, the company has announced plans to release a set top box using the DiVX Connected software platform. There's not a lot of information about this box, but I assume it'll allow users top access web content from sites like YouTube and Google Video. Once upon a time, DiVX was showing off this set top boxes that could access the company's Stage6 video sharing service, but that site was shut down recently. You'll also probably be able to stream content over a home network from any PC in the house.

Dave Zatz is continuing his investigative reporting on the next generation of Verizon's FiOS TV. A few months back Zatz uncovered some of the basic features included in the update. Now he's back with an in-depth look at Verizon's broadband television service.

First up, Verizon is turning the FiOS TV set top boxes into media extenders. You can already access photos and music from any PC on your home network. The next generation of this technology will let you stream video. And we mean pretty much any video, including MPEG4, DiVX, Flash, and so on. Verizon's software will transcode the video to MPEG2 on the fly for playback on your TV.

Verizon also plans to improve its mobile scheduling service, which lets you set recordings on your cellphone. You can browse a program guide, set recordings, and keep track of upcoming recordings. You can also delete recordings, adjust settings, and use voice search.

D-Link is the first company to sign onto the DivX Connected bandwagon. The forthcoming D-Link DSM-330 DivX Connected HD Media Player will be the first consumer device to use DivX's media platform for set top boxes.

Aside from the exceptionally long name, the partnership gives the DSM-330 a sleek interface for playing movies, music, or photos from a hard drive, or for streaming video from the internet. The platform supports online video from Stage6, and last time we saw it, you could also stream Google Video.

The DSM-330 is scheduled for release in the UK, France, and Germany later this year. No word on pricing, availability, or whether the box includes a hard drive or will just stream media from networked PCs within your house.

[via Engadget]

As expected, TiVo Desktop 2.5 has been released. Make that 2.5.274381 to be exact.

Here are a few of the updates in the latest version, some of which are long overdue:

• Compatible with Windows Vista
• Apple iPod has been added to the list of supported portable devices, and converted files are added to your iTunes library
  
• Supports transfer and playback of XviD and DivX (4.0 and up) files
• Adds the ability to convert previously transfered files

Now if TiVo could just come out with a patch that enables Windows Vista to startup and shut down properly we'd be all set.

[via Zatz Not Funny]

A little birdie, (or pony, actually), who just happens to work for TiVo has left a note in the TiVo Community Forums announcing that the company will be launching TiVo Desktop 2.5 as soon as Tuesday.

There are a couple of major upgrades in the new release, including:

• Support for Windows Vista
• Support for DivX and XviD video compression "for Web Video Conversions"
• Convert individual shows from TiVo Desktop's now playing list at any time to any profile by right-clicking

It's a bit silly that it's taken TiVo this long to implement Windows Vista support. The operating system's been out for more than half a year, and was readily available to beta testers for some time prior to that. But we suppose it's better late than never.

We're also not clear on what "for Web Video Conversions means." Is it possible that you won't be able to convert movies to DivX and XviD formats to save on your computer, but only to post online? We certainly hope not.
[via TiVo Blog]

We got a little peak at DivX Connected at last night's Digital Life press preview event. While there was a small set-top box next to the big TV showing off the software interface, it wasn't the GejBox that made a brief appearance last month, which shouldn't be surprising as DivX doesn't have plans to sell a set top box. Rather, the company is developing a platform that could be integrated with cable boxes, DVD players, and other set-top boxes.

The DivX connected platform functions much like an AppleTV, letting you access music, video, and pictures from any computer connected to your LAN. It's also internet enabled, allowing you to access online videos from Stage6 and Google Video. Because it's an open platform, expect other online video sites to be added to that list. The plan is to announce hardware partners by the end of the year.

More photos after the jump.

If you've been using TiVoDecode Manager to transfer TiVo recordings to your Mac, you may occasionally have the urge to compress your programs to DivX or Xvid.

The program allows you to use the open-source mencoder to compress video files. Now it looks like one user has taken it upon himself to release a version of mencoder that's optimized for Macs running Intel Core 2 Duo processors. The new version should encode videos about 50% faster.

[via Digg]

Ah Festivus, it's a magical time of the year. Hurricanes, week long power outages, how can you not be in the mood to celebrate? While my real world desires would lean more toward the practical, like a generator, so the next time 5000 trees get thrown on the power lines I don't have to miss Las Vegas, Dr. Who and South of Nowhere, these are some of my TV universe wishes for the coming year.

TV on DVD - Every week I read Bob's list of the new DVD releases, and every week I have the same reaction. How can THAT be coming out on DVD but none of my top 5 most wanted are? Seriously, there is more of a market for the Stacked DVD than any of these? I'm not greedy. I'll settle for just one of these shows to finally get the DVD set it deserves. Cupid, Beggars and Choosers, Going To California, Maximum Bob, or Mr & Mrs Smith.