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Microsoft's PBDA platform makes Big Content happy, should make TV tuning easier

by Darren Murph posted Sep 12th 2008 at 8:03AM


What's this? A little standardization in the TV realm? Announced today at IBC2008, Microsoft has launched its Protected Broadcast Driver Architecture (PBDA), a new worldwide platform that was made possible by the recent release of Windows Media Center TV Pack. In short, this system enables the "PC-TV hardware ecosystem to integrate virtually any free or premium TV service into Windows Media Center," which keeps content guardians ultra-stoked while giving consumers more choice when it comes to TV tuning. Essentially, PBDA gives OEMs and tuner-makers the ability to develop and ship wares for WMC "regardless of geographic location or television standard." The initiative is being backed by some serious players, too -- Hauppauge, AVerMedia, NEC, and NXP just to name a few -- and a couple have already shipped PBDA-based solutions overseas. Hit the read link for more... if you dare.

AMD LIVE! Home Cinema platform debuts for a second time

by Darren Murph posted Jun 4th 2008 at 10:10AM

Aside from the obvious PR blitz, we can't really figure out what AMD is doing here. You see, its AMD LIVE! Home Cinema platform was actually introduced way back in January of 2007, yet it seems pretty confident that this stuff is brand new at Computex. Whatever the case, we can now assume that a new aspect has been added in to "enable solution providers to address the growing home entertainment arena through a consistent, highly-capable design." The package also supports Phenom X4 9000 / X3 8000 CPUs and ATI Radeon HD graphics, and it's obviously designed to be used on HTPCs, mini-towers and otherwise vanilla desktops. If you're interested in wading through the mess that is the press release about this "new" technology, be our guest via the read link below.

Revision3 content now available on DivX Connected devices

by Darren Murph posted May 12th 2008 at 6:43AM


Online TV network Revision3 has just announced a lovey-dovey partnership with DivX that will make watching the outlet's content via DivX Connected devices a lesson in simplicity. Put simply, the deal enables Revision3 material (you know, PixelPerfect, Diggnation and our personal fav Tekzilla) to flow smoothly over the DivX Connected platform. According to Jim Louderback, CEO of Revision3, the agreement will make watching its original HD programming in the living room much easier than in months past. Now, if only some of these DivX Connected items would find their way over to America, we'd be set.

AMD Live! to support HD DVD / Blu-ray in Q3 2007

by Darren Murph posted Dec 29th 2006 at 3:35PM

The cat and mouse game being played by Intel's Viiv and AMD Live! isn't exactly enthralling, especially when you consider a vast majority of the HTPCs out there get along perfectly fine without either label slapped on them. Nevertheless, AMD is hoping to garner a bit more attention by announcing that its media-centric platform will be gettin' friendly with HD DVD and Blu-ray late next year. In a (likely futile) attempt to grab a "bigger share of the multimedia market," AMD Live! will be supporting the two major high definition movie formats as of "Q3 2007," and sources with PC vendors reportedly stated that it could prove to be a boost for the blue-laser market. So while a select few wait around to see what the fuss will be about this time next year, we'll probably be content with all the options already surrounding us.




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