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multimedia hard drive posts

Video: Seagate introduces Free Agent Theater HD, designs it like a Betamax player

by Darren Murph posted Jan 8th 2009 at 12:58AM


We're going to give you just a moment to sit back and peer at the image above, and we'll politely remind you that this object was likely designed in the year 2008. For whatever reason, Seagate has chosen just about the ugliest design imaginable and applied it to its Free Agent Theater HD, though word on the street is that the user interface is actually a horse of a different color. The drive is simply a multimedia HDD that enables users to pop drives in that are full of digital media for easy viewing on the TV. It's expected to drop in March for $229.99 (250GB) / $299.99 (500GB), or those on a tight budget (or Free Agent Go HDD owners, actually) can opt for a $129.99 media player / remote control-only version. A very strange demo video is hosted just after the break.

[Via Notebooks]

Continue reading Video: Seagate introduces Free Agent Theater HD, designs it like a Betamax player

Iomega's Home Media Network Hard Drive backs up files, streams content

by Darren Murph posted Jan 5th 2009 at 11:00AM


Slowly but surely, the multimedia hard drive is becoming more and more relevant. At first, it was outlets like Mvix doing the honors, and then mainstays such as LaCie got in while the gettin' was good. Now, we've got ole Iomega trying its hand at the game, with the introduction of the Home Media Network Hard Drive at Macworld in San Francisco. The drive, which includes the firm's LifeLine software, enables users to easily backup their precious files and stream music, photos, videos and all manners of other multimedia between computers, networked TVs, gaming consoles, etc. For those curious, it'll function just fine as an iTunes server and play oh-so-nice with DLNA certified devices, and aside from the obligatory gigabit Ethernet jack, there's also a USB port for adding a shared network printer or extra capacity. It should be available early this month for $159.99 (500GB) / $229.99 (1TB).

Movie Cowboy stores your HD media, outputs on-the-go

by Darren Murph posted May 15th 2008 at 8:25AM


Move over Mvix, there's a new vaquero in town, and it goes by Movie Cowboy. Comically titled as such by manufacturer Digital Cowboy, this portable HD multimedia hard drive comes ready to accept whatever 2.5-inch SATA drive you want to toss within, and after you've loaded it up with material via the USB port, you can slam it down in the bundled cradle for big screen enjoyment. Said dock boasts stereo / coaxial digital / Toslink audio outputs along with component / composite / HDMI video outs. The media player itself supports a respectable quantity of file formats, including WMV, DivX HD, MPEG1/2/4, XviD, ISO, IFO, VOB, AAC, WMA, MP3 and OGG. Not that we really see this thing heading Stateside anytime soon, but those in Japan can pick one up in the coming weeks for ¥24,800 ($237). Shot of the rear is waiting after the jump.

[Via AkihabaraNews]

Continue reading Movie Cowboy stores your HD media, outputs on-the-go

Mvix unveils pocket-sized MV-2500U HD multimedia drive

by Darren Murph posted May 1st 2008 at 1:42PM


If you're already taken care of on the HD media streamer front, Mvix is hoping you'll look its way for a more portable solution. The pocket-friendly MV-2500U checks in at just 5- x 3- x 0.8-inches and makes room for a 2.5-inch internal hard drive. The simple, LCD-less exterior means that you'll need to access the interface on-screen after plugging in the (component, we presume) cables to your HDTV, after which you'll be able to watch video files encoded in MPEG1/2/4, DVD (VOB, IFO), DivX, XviD, BivX or VCD (DAT) for both PAL and NTSC systems. You'll also find support for AC3, MP2, MP3, WMA, OGG and M3U audio formats, and even JPEG photos can be shown in beautiful 720p / 1080i. Unfortunately, this wee piece will run you a stiff $149 before you even go hard drive shopping, but Mvix will happily add an 80GB, 160GB or 250GB HDD in there if you've got the coin.

Iomega's 500GB ScreenPlay HD multimedia drive touts HDMI

by Darren Murph posted Apr 9th 2008 at 1:56PM


As the multimedia hard drive market continues to quietly swell in the shadows, Iomega is making sure it keeps pace with the competition by giving its long-standing ScreenPlay HD a few attractive extras. The unit has certainly come a long ways since its 60GB days, now packing a full half-terabyte of space, an HDMI port and component / composite connections to boot. Furthermore, the drive understands WAV, WMA, MPEG-1/2/4, MP3, OGG, AC3, AVI, DivX, XviD and JPEG file formats, upconverts SD content to 720p / 1080i and even comes bundled with a remote to keep your hindquarters firmly planted. Not too shabby for $218.45, but just make sure you've got a place laid out to hide this thing from straying eyes.

[Via EverythingUSB]




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