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Myka ION brings Hulu, Boxee and other web content to your TV

by Darren Murph posted Nov 6th 2009 at 7:11PM

It's been almost a full year since we heard a peep from the fine folks at Myka, but it looks like we could be talking about 'em a lot more often judging by the specs list on its latest contraption. The simply-titled ION is an Atom-based media PC that relies on NVIDIA's Ion graphics set and a customized interface that brings Hulu, Boxee and pretty much any other web content you can stumble upon to your television. Within, you'll find a 1.6GHz dual-core Atom 330 CPU, up to 4GB of RAM, ten USB 2.0 ports, VGA / DVI / HDMI outputs, an eSATA connector, Ethernet and plenty of audio outputs. The fanless design ensures that things remain quiet, and for those oozing cash, a Blu-ray drive, HDD and WiFi module can be implanted. It's up for order right now starting at $379, but you'll be stuck waiting four to six weeks for delivery.

Gallery: Myka ION brings Hulu, Boxee and other web content to your TV

Okoro delivers mini Media PCs with a full size price tag

by Richard Lawler posted Sep 30th 2009 at 3:43PM

Continuing its streak of questionably high priced media PCs Okoro has announced the new OMS-Q100 and OMS-Q200 Quantum mini Digital Entertainment Systems. Combining an Intel Atom processor and NVIDIA ION in the OMS-Q200 and Mobile Core 2 Duo in the OMS-Q200 with 4GB of RAM with 320GB of hard drive space, 7.1 audio outputs, OTA & QAM recording capability (plus optional digital cable tuner) these tiny, quiet boxes could find a welcoming home theater somewhere, though the starting price of $1,295 may make for a difficult fit. You probably don't need our help to put together something equivalent or better for less than that, but feel welcome to it.

ASUS EeeBox EB1012 teases home theaters with dual-core Atom and Ion graphics

by Thomas Ricker posted Sep 1st 2009 at 5:41AM

Looks like our dreams of a discrete, low cost home theater PC are about to be realized. ASUS has a new EeeBox PC EB1012 touting a dual-core Atom N330 (just as rumored), NVIDIA MCP7A ION graphics, a 250GB SATA hard disk, 2GB of DDR2-800 memory expandable to 4GB, gigabit Ethernet, 802.11n WiFi, S/PDIF 5.1 audio jack, and HDMI out. As such, this little 222 x 178 x 26.9mm box should handle your hardware accelerated 1080p content just as readily as it does full-screen Flash video from Hulu and beyond -- a place where single-core Atom-based Ion nettops fail. It also features an eSATA jack, 4x USB ports, and an SDHC card reader for plugging in more media. No word on price or ship date but we'll keep an eye out.

[Via eHomeUpgrade]

Silicon Mountain debuts Allio Link streamers and HTPCs

by Darren Murph posted Jun 24th 2009 at 3:12AM

Up until now, the only way to really get the all-in-one "Allio Experience" was to purchase one of its HDTV / HTPC hybrids. But, let's just say you wanted to have that same experience on your current set. The answer? Silicon Mountain's latest wares: two new media streamer models and five Allio Link HTPCs. The entry-level $299 Allio Link ADTI-194500 gets powered by an Intel Atom N330 CPU and features 1GB of DDR2 RAM, 4GB of flash storage, GMA950 graphics, four USB 2.0 sockets, VGA / S-Video ports, Gigabit Ethernet and Ubuntu 9.04 running the show. If you're interested in an integrated DVD player, you can snag an upgraded model for $399. If those just aren't potent enough for your needs, you can snag one of five Allio Link Media PCs, which range from $659 to $1,199 and feature Windows Vista, 2GB of RAM, the same Atom N330 CPU, a built-in TV tuner and a 250GB HDD. Each of the units are available to order right now, with most shipping out within a week.

HABEY's second 1080p-boasting, N270-powered mini HTPC brings along video proof

by Ross Miller posted Mar 21st 2009 at 6:16AM

Following up on its impressive debut earlier this month, HABEY's unveiled the BIS-6540HD mini HTPC that, like its 6550 counterpart, is capable of running an impressive 1080p signal with a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor -- special thanks go to its HD hardware decoder for that feat. The fanless unit also features up to 2GB of DDR2 RAM, eight USB ports, a built-in CF socket, two SATA II ports with SSD support, DVI and VGA outputs, ethernet, and options for wireless and HD TV tuner. No word on pricing or availability, but it looks like it's being marketed as an OEM product and we suspect it'll cost more than a pretty penny. Check out the video after the break to see it rocking Planet Earth on Blu-ray.

Continue reading HABEY's second 1080p-boasting, N270-powered mini HTPC brings along video proof

HABEY intros Atom N270-powered mini HTPC, makes it crunch 1080p

by Darren Murph posted Mar 11th 2009 at 3:05AM


An Atom N270-powered rig that can handle 1080p content? Say it ain't so! The relatively unknown HABEY has stepped forward with a minuscule media PC that includes a fairly weak CPU and a potent hardware decoder that can supposedly handle 1080p content and even Blu-ray flicks. The BIS-6550HD is meant to be one of the most energy efficient machines on the planet to adequately play back 1080p material, with the entire system sucking down under 13 watts. Complementing the 1.6GHz processor is a single SODIMM slot for carrying up to 2GB of RAM, wireless / HDTV tuner options, a slew of video outputs, multicard reader, gigabit Ethernet and four USB 2.0 sockets. Unfortunately, pricing and availability both remain undisclosed, but we get the feeling you'll be paying dearly for the chance to see 1080p sans stutter on a machine this tiny.

Intel admits that GN40 chipset is no match for Blu-ray

by Darren Murph posted Mar 10th 2009 at 3:02PM


We know, we're just being greedy at this point, but hey -- did you honestly expect anything less? We knew Intel's new Atom N280 processor, when paired with the equally fresh GN40 chipset, could deliver silky smooth 720p video playback. What we didn't know, however, was how well it could handle 1080p material. According to Fudzilla, an Intel product manager has stated that the GN40 is "designed to do 1080p HD playback for typical broadband internet content," but that it wasn't engineered to "enable full Blu-ray capability where the bitrates and demands of multi-layer content are significantly higher than that of internet HD content." The optimist within us is hoping that the GN40's successor will take the next logical step and handle BD films, but we wouldn't dare suggest you get your own hopes up that high if you're not good with handling disappointment.

[Image courtesy of TechArena]

Silicon Mountain debuts Atom-based Allio Lite LCD TV-PC

by Donald Melanson posted Feb 2nd 2009 at 5:17PM


It's just been a few months since Silicon Mountain rolled out its first Allio LCD TV-PCs, but it looks like the company has already found some room for expansion courtesy of everyone's favorite cost-reducing processor. While the TV portion of the 1080p 42-inch model and 720p 32-inch model each remain identical to their predecessors, the innards have taken on more of a netbook/nettop flavor, with each packing a dual-core Atom 330 processor, along with a 250GB hard drive, 2GB of RAM, and a DVD drive (no Blu-ray option, it seems), plus Windows Vista Home Premium for an OS. That, as you might expect, lowers the cost of entry a tad, with the 42-inch model now demanding $1,599 (the same as the full-featured 32-inch model), while the Atom-based 32-incher will run you $1,299.

Onkyo's HDC-1L straddles the fence between nettop and HTPC

by Darren Murph posted Dec 2nd 2008 at 1:31PM


Now this -- this is an interesting character. Part nettop, part HTPC, the Sotec-branded HDC-1L series is a unique mixture of components that are traditionally found in either a diminutive desktop or a media center PC (but rarely both). First and foremost, this little bugger relies on a 1.6GHz Intel Atom 230 CPU, and it only packs 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, Windows XP, Ethernet, audio in / out, VGA, slot-loading DVD drive, a few USB ports and a remote input. Sadly, there's no integrated TV tuner to speak of, but with a starting price of just ¥59,800 ($640), we suppose you could add one and still come in well under the cost of most pre-fab HTPCs. The box should be available in Japan as early as tomorrow, and it'll purportedly be sold with a number of upgrades and extras for those fond of the bundled approach.

[Via Impress]

Gallery: Onkyo's HDC-1L straddles the fence between nettop and HTPC

Tranquil ships T7 and T2e Atom media PCs

by Joshua Fruhlinger posted Jun 3rd 2008 at 2:01PM


Ignoring all those silly Atom shortages, Tranquil PC has their T7 and T2e Atom media PCs ready for delivery. As expected, the T7 is based on a fanless design for your uber-quiet home theater and measures only 8.8 x 9.1 x 2.2-inches with space for a 2.5-inch SATA drive. Meanwhile, the T2e can be fitted with a slot-loading DVD drive and comes in a more media rack-friendly form factor. They both pack the Intel Atom 230 at 1.6GHz and will set you Brits back starting around £189 and £284 (or $371 and $554 US), for the T7 and T2e, respectively.

Read - T7 Atom at Tranquil PC
Read - T2e Atom at Tranquil PC




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