ISE 2012: Top 10 Intriguing Products
Super Bowl: The Ultimate Home Theater System
Inside Former New York Giant Amani Toomer's Home Theater
Neat-O: Wired for Prime Time Makeover
Print
Email
Comments (0)
Share
Media Center TV Pack – Vendors Jockey for Position Pre-CEDIA
The big announcement on TV Pack (aka "Fiji") will come at CEDIA, but Fluid, S1Digital and Cannon hope to take the early lead.
Image courtesy of Fiji Suva Mission
The day after we published news from Fluid Digital about incorporating Microsoft's TV Pack into the next generation of Media Center, we got a reminder from S1Digital that they were first, and a press release from Cannon PC announcing its implementation of TV Pack.
Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008, formerly known as "Fiji," enables advanced TV functionality for Windows Media Center, most notably the integration of ClearQAM (unencrypted digital cable) content within the Media Center ecosystem.
The official word on TV Pack will come at CEDIA Expo 2008, but PC vendors are already jockeying for position.
S1Digital's Paul Heitlinger says, "We just started shipping systems with TV Pack this week."
Cannon PC says it will begin shipping systems with TV Pack beginning in early September.
Still, none of them is allowed by Microsoft to divulge much about the new platform. Fluid's Chris Morley sort of speaks for them all when he says, "I can't speak for what other OEMs are doing. I can just tell you that these are the features of our PCs."
Like the others, Cannon says its PCs have native support for four digital cable tuners, ClearQAM tuners, and PlayReady (more details in our original TV Pack story).
One big reason that PC makers want to get into the game early is because TV Pack is not available as an upgrade to existing Vista PCs. It can only be found in new computers.
Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008, formerly known as "Fiji," enables advanced TV functionality for Windows Media Center, most notably the integration of ClearQAM (unencrypted digital cable) content within the Media Center ecosystem.
The official word on TV Pack will come at CEDIA Expo 2008, but PC vendors are already jockeying for position.
S1Digital's Paul Heitlinger says, "We just started shipping systems with TV Pack this week."
Cannon PC says it will begin shipping systems with TV Pack beginning in early September.
What Do You Expect from CEDIA? Share Your Thoughts and Win!
Sanus is giving away 100 units of its Elements Screen Care Kit during CEDIA Expo 2008.
All you have to do to qualify is participate in this discussion at CEDIAnews.com. Tell us: It's been almost a year since 2007 -- what products introduced at that event have stood the test of time? And, what are you excited to see this year?
Sanus is giving away 100 units of its Elements Screen Care Kit during CEDIA Expo 2008.
Still, none of them is allowed by Microsoft to divulge much about the new platform. Fluid's Chris Morley sort of speaks for them all when he says, "I can't speak for what other OEMs are doing. I can just tell you that these are the features of our PCs."
Like the others, Cannon says its PCs have native support for four digital cable tuners, ClearQAM tuners, and PlayReady (more details in our original TV Pack story).
One big reason that PC makers want to get into the game early is because TV Pack is not available as an upgrade to existing Vista PCs. It can only be found in new computers.
Subscribe to CE Pro CEDIA Daily Alerts
Receive the latest news, products and more from CEDIA delivered straight to your inbox.
Subscribe to the CE Pro Newsletter
Read more Media Center stories
VidaBox Combines Control, Multiroom Audio, Windows MediaKinect Hacker Unwittingly Spoofs Windows Media Center
Niveus Drops Media Center PCs to Focus on OEM Software
Lifeware Pulls out of AVAD, Sells Direct to Dealer
Meet Meridian’s Sooloos Control 15, Media Source 600
More in Media Center
About the Author
Julie Jacobson, Editor-at-large, CE Pro
Julie Jacobson is co-founder of EH Publishing and currently spends most of her time writing for CE Pro, mostly in the areas of home automation, networked A/V and the business of home systems integration. She majored in Economics at the University of Michigan, earned an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin, and has never taken a journalism class in her life. Julie is a washed-up Ultimate Frisbee player with the scars to prove it. Follow her on Twitter @juliejacobson.
Post a comment