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Hardware

ZapStation CD/MP3/DVD Player/Server 86

Posted by Hemos from the fun-new-toy dept.
emc3 writes: "On a whim, I decided to actually pay attention to my daily MP3.com spam^H^H^H^Hmember update. While checking out what was left of my online CD collection after the recent shakedowns, a banner ad caught my eye. It's for a device called the ZapStation. This soon-to-be-released device claims to be able to play audio CDs, DVDs, MP3 CDROMs, and it can serve as an MP3 jukebox, DVD jukebox, Web browser, and it can probably julienne fries by hooking up to your Cuisinart via the USB port. What's the catch? It's not on the market yet. But for $599, you can reserve one before they roll out of the factory (next month). Sounds pretty friggin' cool. Did I mention that it's got a 566MHz Celeron, USB port, and wireless keyboard? Sounds like it's just dying to be hacked." Not bad - good amount of space, and it sounds like it will be cool - if it comes out.
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ZapStation CD/MP3/DVD Player/Server More

ZapStation CD/MP3/DVD Player/Server

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  • I'm currently debating whether ebaying PC and embedding it in a case or buying something similar to this. The biggest features that would lead me to buy a system like that are missing. I want Component Video to hook up to my Sony Wega TV. And I think this is the only DVD player today (ok maybe not the only one) that doesn't have Dolby Digital Outs. For 600 bucks -

    It seems to me that for 600 Dollars Those two features should have been snuck in....I guess with it being just a PC this is asking a lot. But I'm just dreaming :)

    Cheers

    /me raises a pint of Sierra Nevada Pale to the geek community

  • I certainly hope this isn't aimed at the geeks. I mean many of us have built similar systems most for less.... the real question though is does the general public, or even the "Gotta beat the Jones'" need or want a system like this ? How much streaming video is there out there ? (and most of it would not be full NTSC screen size...which by the way is absolutely NO JOY for web browsing, email etc.) I also noticed no video inputs, so what digital video are you storing ? and Why ? Dont get me wrong I like the general idea (why else did I build my own custom entertainment center box) but I just dont think it's going to do well: most geeks will build their own if they want one, non-geeks will just pass it up either not getting the idea, or not wanting to cough up the cash.
  • Perl's just another simple scripting language. Do C. Theres nothing that C cannot do. I'm a perl programmer to, and a newbie Java. I'm beginning to like C... hopefully I catch it really quickly. Hey! I just spend over $600 on my new set! Damnit! Anybody wants a 1U rack mount server? :P
  • The company I work for is helping with the mechanical design of this box. The story that I was told was that the company's focus is on the ZapMedia (Media Stream? Internet Portal? Physical Media?). When I heard the term ZapMedia, I assumed it referred to the physical media, in hindsight, perhaps that's not the case at all. It will be out shortly, though I'm not clued in on all the details since I'm not working on that particular project.
  • cost only about $200 more, and it's a dual celeron 450, plays MP3s [theharms.org], etc, AND runs a Q3 server, UOX3 server, http server, mail server, file server, and 100Mbit router/firewall for my roommate and I...
    Why spend $600 on something that can only play music??
  • XBox has everything this thing does, it's cheaper ($299) and you get a harddrive to boot (no pun intended).

    As for the PS2? Well, as it stands now, no ether, no harddrive, and there will never be VGA output for it, quite a shame too, because that limits you to interlaced TV output which, for text, to put it plainly, sucks.
  • Way kewl, d00d. I was telling my wife and a good friend yesterday that this would be my next project for our house.

    I had been working on the MP3 player system that Linux Journal detailed in their March 2000 issue, and as soon as I get a new PC my existing K6/233 will be dedicated to that. Now, however, I envision something more detailed, kinda like this Adomo system. Music on demand, that's my goal. Of course, what I'm talking about doing is so trivial, it's pathetic that I don't have it done already. Later, when I get above 10Mbps network, video on demand. My biggest conceptual problem right now is: what to use for the receiving end of the streaming music/video? PCs are too big and costly. Perhaps Adomo will have something I can use.

    When I was at a doctor's office the other day, I read about a similar system in Stereo Review, I think (January 2000 issue). This guy has a way kewl setup at his house. Someone knocks at the door, his wife turns the nearby ceiling-mounted TV (which she had been using to watch her kids in their playroom) to another CC channel - a view out the front door. She picks up the phone and dials the extension of the front door intercom. She then instructs the delivery guy to leave the package on the doorstep, then flips back to watch her kids again. Too cool.

  • Is there anything that can play DVDs that can't play SVCDs???

    Yes -- almost everything. DVD players can all play VCD, not SVCD. SVCD uses a completely different format on the medium and also requires completely different decoding.

    Anyway, I wasn't talking about playing SVCD but about playing and recording SVCD, like the newer Chinese players. Excellent for capturing episodes of Buffy! :-)
  • Maybe if you were to burn mp3s on cds, then you could get all the mp3s you wanted, and it would be easy to get, all you would have to do is get an cd playing jukebox and fit it to play mp3s. Might be a little hard to find songs on tho.
  • It doesn't have anything yet, all I see are vapour trails. If and when it actually comes out, then I'll judge it on it's merits, but don't hold your breath. Windows 98 took 3 years to come out and added virtually nothing to Win95 except integrated IE, NT5 took 4 years and doesn't have all the stuff originally promised, the integration between the NT and 9x codebases was promised for ME but that hasn't happened yet. Microsoft talk a great product and release an average one a year behind schedule and full of bugs. If the X-box turns out to be anything other than vapour designed to slow sales of the Playstation 2, I'll be one of the interested observers, other than that I'll go back to watching DVDs on my PC.
  • (s)he is probably talking about the discontinued X10 Mouse Remote from x10.com [x10.com]. Read about it here [x10.com].

  • It DOES run Linux (a variant of Red Hat 6.2 I believe). It uses a licensed hardware DVD decoder. And it has Windows Media player too (which was licensed from MicroSloth, see the press release).
  • I made one using BookPC and a 27 GB hard drive. Now I just have to figure out how to get linux to output to the video-out instead of the monitor port. It has the infrared keyboard (with built in eraser mouse), a DVD drive, Celeron 566 using the i810 chipset. Its the size of a telephone book and works great.
  • From the agreement: ...Any other use, including, modification, reproduction, uploading, posting, transmission, or distribution in any form or by any means without ZapMedia's prior written permission, is strictly prohibited... So we have to ask before we hack :)

    ========== .sig
    Intelligence should not be rewarded; ignorance should be punished
  • At my last job the village VB programmer turned a humble NT workstation into a control unit that played CDs, DVDs, MP3s, access music, movies, streaming video, video downloads, Internet radio, Web surfing, e-mail... Wait - that sounds like what this ZapStation does. (And he this it almost 4 years ago.)

    I was planning on doing this to my own entertainment system downstairs... I guess I might break down and get one of these things (but only if the price comes down).
  • A number of people have pointed out that you could build something yourself with more impressive specs for less. That being so, if I wanted to build such a device (DVD player, HD, ethernet, component output, SVGA out, Firewire, with remote) does anyone know of plans for such a thing?

    It would be great if there were kits with nice looking cases to match other home theatre components, but even that wouldn't be essential...

    I know that there are licencing issues with MPEG-2 and AC-3. But if someone just had plans and/or software availiable online, would they need to pay that fee?
  • If it is, then there are going to be some problems: the RIAA is going to complain about the music, the MPAA is going to complain since the thing must be running DeCSS, and and Microsoft is going to complain because it is not running Linux.

    The answer: it has to run enbedded Win2K, so it can have 'legal' DVD support. Good luck hacking it guys!

  • I hope the machine runs Linux. I hope this person [slashdot.org] was right,and someone listened to him.

  • Interesting! Mind if I run this on Propaganda?
    Bowie J. Poag
  • So basically we move ever-closer to the day of perfection. Simply motify this unit to fit into a padded swivel chair. Then add a food and beverage replication system and an "elimination" chamber, and we're all set.

    Heck, we should also add an auto-exercise mode that prevents chair-sores. Don't fret though, it would come with a sedative to be applied before each workout begins. Nanobots could even be trained to clean us and give the occasional haircut...

    The future? Bring it on!


  • Do C. Theres nothing that C cannot do.

    Let's see it clap then.

    C blows as a language. Still built around the mistakes made way back in the 70's. A little tip. Never bother with a language that has been around longer than Seinfeld. Learn something decent like Python.

  • Let's keep the ads at the top of the page and not in the middle of the list of articles, okay?
    --
    No more e-mail address game - see my user info. Time for revenge.
  • Why would anyone want to hack it? To make it into a regular linux box? It's basically a cheap celeron computer with a big HD and a dvd drive. Wow, that's amazing!
  • Adomo is taking a client/server aproach, where the clients is small wireless stations for everything you would can imagine. It uses Linux and the protocols, etc. is, of course, going to be released under the GPL.

    Link to adomo.com [adomo.com]

    A good preview of the technology can be found here [zdnet.com].
  • Good lord, if you haven't read "The Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand, you are hereby commanded to do so immediately. You have perhaps unwittingly given a direct quote from the main character (whom I happen to admire...)

  • Interesting. I've never tried the Sierra Wheat. I really like the Pale Ale it is double plus good. :) Although IMHO it is a little bit too strongly hopped to really be called a Pale Ale, I would have classed it as an EPA or perhaps an IPA but it's a little too thin for either of these styles. Overall I haven't been too impressed by the Sierra beers. I think that they all taste kind of like the pale ale even if they really shouldn't. Especially the stout. The stout is really over hopped. It's difficult to taste any of the roast malts that define a good stout. Well, this is getting really off topic, but it's a topic dear to my heart.
    ________________
    They're - They are
    Their - Belonging to them
  • The (in)famous Apex AD-600A can play SVCDs,
    but then again it was orignally designed for the far-east market.
    Available at your local Circuit City for $179
    (assuming you live in the US) Look for Hiteker
    elsewhere..
  • Doh! I should have not tried to read slashdot before achieving consciousness.
  • ... hey, I am interested in how you are pulling off the resin/styrofoam part of your project. Sounds like it could be just what I'm looking for to do my own project.

    Can you drop me a line at tobywong@phatchicks.com ?

    Thanks,

  • If this device is truely aimed at the stupid "to dumb for even Windows" newbis, why was it posted on Slashdot?
  • Also interesting - the bugs work. Pagecount seems self-explanatory, but what is pc.gif for? The same? Looks like AC's really aren't, which could be very annoying...

    BTW: They're easier to spot in the page structure display -

    Articles: ZapStation CD/MP3/DVD Player/Server has the following structure:
    (snip)
    http://images2.slashdot.org/Slashdot/pc.gif?/com ments.pl,969741865002
    http://images.slashdot.org/pagecount.gif?/commen ts.pl,969741865002

  • Too bad they'll epoxy the ports (Score:3)

    by d.valued ( 150022 ) on Saturday September 23, 2000 @10:55AM (#759984) Journal
    Let's hope that the creators of this newest techno-wiz-bang toy follow the models of our favorite hacked devices:

    Release 1. Easy to hack. No unwanted epoxy; hell, they'll leave the IDE (or better! SCSI! Yeah, right!) pins standing.

    Release 2. Harder to hack. Soldering skills a must for attatching the spare pins from your 286 drekbox (and yes, we all have one. I know you do. I've seen your house through that lame ass webcam of yours.)

    Release 3. I don't know what'll eat through that nasty black epoxy that's popular these days.... I mean, epoxies are SUPPOSED to be acid-proof...

  • Re:Pet project (Score:1)

    by Anonymous Coward
    Pimpin'!
  • My current project is to build a floor standing MP3 jukebox (like you would find in a tavern). It will be styled like a classic wurlitzer... crossed with an alien artifact (ala H.R. Giger). I'm shaping the exterior out of epoxy resin painted over an inverse mold made of styrofoam. After scooping out most of the styrofoam, the interior will be loaded with a linux computer and monitor. The sound will pipe through my stereo, and the entire thing will be controlled by two big dials and three buttons (which will be interpreted as mouse input by a custom written interface). I'll be documenting the entire thing on a web page as the project gets farther along. I have all the materials, and the custom software is 75% written. Should I try to create downloadable plans so anyone can reproduce this thing?
  • I am fairly certain that this thing will not go into manufacturing on time.
  • I've seen a few places looking to make similar devices. Personally, i've been working on doing the same thing based on the hardware the Websurfer Pro is based on. All in one home entertainment device, just add internet connectivity and it's golden. The website for the folks who built the Websurfer is:
    GCT Allwell [gct-allwell.com]
    They have a model coming soon with a DVD drive and LCD display...I may wait for that and just hack it to add server capability.
    Shawn

    --Who am I, and why am I in this handbasket?

  • IPs (Score:1)

    by Streiff ( 34269 )
    If this is using a internet connection than
    ip more than likely needs an ip unless masquerading is taking affect. Is there a statistic on how many ips there are for use, and what percentage of that is free?
    Come see my website.
    http://come.to/streiff
  • How long before they are sued by MPAA, RIAA, etc ?
  • This sounds honestly cool. I tip my proverbial hat to you. Good luck with it.

  • The Future is Here! (Score:4)

    by Chris Pimlott ( 16212 ) on Friday September 22, 2000 @07:35PM (#759992)
    Web Audio/Video Player -- View and listen to streaming events such as concerts, news and television broadcasts right through your television and stereo

    Need anything more be said?
  • You already have a computer. Just add an ATI All-In-Wonder RADEON [ati.com]. Save money and insure upgradability.
  • Yes it has the cool DVD/MP3/CD/VCD playback capability and storage capability for the audio, but that's not the 'killer app' they are providing.

    The real move that they are trying to make here is with downloading video files off the net. The box demands a broadband connection right? It's for downloading mpeg movies. Most broadband owners can suck down huge files with ease these days.

    The idea is that people don't sit in front of their computers to watch TV, they sit in front of their TV to watch TV. They want you to watch the net based mpeg movies on your tv.

    Right now if you go to atomfilms.com or ifilm.com, you need to stream the tiny window version of the films to watch them. The Zapstation is capable of going out and grabbing 200-500 MB (or larger) files and storing them on the internal hard drive. So when you want to watch the latest kewl new video, you get it in high quality, full screen mode instead of in computer tiny window mode.

    I work for one of those trans-national media megacorps, and the ZapStation peopel wanted us to work with them to provide the high quality mpegs they need to show people. Yes, the initial price is high, but it will drop down soon enough.

    Think of it as a Tivo for internet video. Make sense?


    -----
  • Sorry, it's www.gctglobal.com. My bad.

    Shawn
  • Obviously you are missing the point.

    What people are you talking about? My brother listens to MP3s and DVDs and reads email, but he couldn't set up a Linux box to do this on his television (hell, it would be annoying for me to do it). Remember, this product needs to appeal to as many people as possible in order to make a profit. If only programmers and sysadmins can use it, it won't sell.

    Also, if you don't mind hacking a remote control interface for your desktop and putting the tower on top of your television, then I guess you are fine. The point of this device isn't to best your desktop or a top-notch DVD player, but to be an all-in-one solution.

    If you want perfection, buy indivudual components (and spend a fortune).

  • If they haven't included Super Video CD [uwasa.fi] recording on CDR media in the unit then they've missed out on a golden opportunity.

    This format is huge in the far east, effectively being a sort of "poor man's recordable DVD", and companies like Shinco, Mico and Amoisonic are gearing up to market SVCD player/recorders over here (they all play MP3 as well). If the ZapStation doesn't handle SVCD, it'll soon lose market share to those that do.
  • Just to let you know, QNX RTP already supports DVD. It comes with a software-decoding DVS player.
  • Actually no - it does have a digital S/PDIF output (specs [zapmedia.com]).

    And if you can really tell the difference between S-Video and component inputs I'd be surprised --- I tried it myself and found that while there is a difference in the default color/hue balance, once it was corrected via the set's controls, I honestly could not begin to tell the difference when switching inputs from my DVD player. S-Video is fine for regular interlaced TV.

    The only thing you're going to see that will make DVD's better is progressive scan component inputs as are on DTV's.

    You have a transitional piece of equipment (as do I) -- component inputs will be a thing of the past in a few years in favor of a standard vga 15pin connector and/or 5-BNC.
  • My Apex DVD player plays DVDs(although it chokes on T2:Ultimate Edition), and MP3 CDs and it only cost $150. My Sega Dreamcast plays games and has internet access via it's built in modem and it can be picked up for $150.

    So why would I want to give these guys an extra $300?
    D

  • It's actually only a little bit more than a high-end DVD player

    Actually, it's a lot less than a high-end DVD player. A Toshiba 6200 is going for $699, a Panasonic DVDH1000 is $1800 and an Ayre is $10K+.

    Tv's are advancing rapidly in quality and features. Two features that we're seeing more of are component inputs and the ability to display a 480P (480 lines, progressively scanned) picture instead of the 480i picture. Thus, if a DVD player doesn't have a progressive scan output it will give me an inferior picture to what I am used to, and will negate the value of the extra money I spent on my TV.

    I wish some manufacturer would bite the bullet and make a box that came with a video output better than the piece-of-crap S-video.

  • I won't comment on Ayn's philosophy, but you should know that the character of Howard Roark was created with liberal theft from the actual architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Even the old, washed up mentor (forget that character's name) has a basis in fact, namely Wright's apprenticeship under Louis Sullivan, who is a giant in architectural history in his own right.

    If nothing else, Ms. Rand picked good templates for her characters.

  • Ummm.. try hooking your computer up to something like the (old, but servicable) 52 inch big screen TV at my parents house. At 800x600 (prime DVD resolution) component video gives extremely jagged diagonal lines with some sort of ringing effect (like anti-aliasing) whereas S-VIDEO gave a much, much sharper picture. Mind you, I wouldn't use the TV for doing anything BUT watch videos on it, but for that I would much rather use the higher bandwidth connection.
  • Both current and planned US aircraft carriers run Windows NT, and Slashdot has carried an article [slashdot.org] about the story (and I saw the spec for the new carrier in a government technology magazine).

    Are any of us going to go out and buy an aircraft carrier? Of course not. So then why post it to Slashdot? Because it's the technology at use and it's application that is of interest.

    Also, the fact that a MP3/DVD/CD/Video media server is being mass marketed shows the migration of technologies that was once the sole purvey of the computer savvy into the general arena. As someone once said "I find the most amazing thing about computers is that they are no longer amazing" meaning their commonplace nature is striking given their role only a few years ago.

    The techno-eliteism shown on Slashdot is very short-sighted; just because *we* can do better with our own skills does not mean that we should look down our noses at those who cannot. I imagine Seamus Heaney [ibiblio.org] (nobel laureate poet) couldn't configure a Linux box to do this, but this does not reflect ill upon him. The fact that he can now have the same functionality in a device is striking.

    So yes, this is news for nerds; we get to see the fruits of our labors shared with the general public. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and that a company has decided to build a public product based on our private hacks should be something to feel good about, not to scoff at.

  • mp3.com spam unsubscribe how-to (Score:4)

    by Sleepy ( 4551 ) on Saturday September 23, 2000 @03:33AM (#760005) Homepage
    Ah yes, the unwelcome, unsolicited mp3.com spam. I sent them one email WAAAY back, right when they were making a transition from a "warez leet mp3 site" due to some problems viewing pages in Netscape (real LEET webmasters only test webpages in IE on Win98 - heh).

    I never went to the site again - who needs them? But then I started getting mp3.com *HTML* spam... some of it nearly 50K. Like all scumbag spammers, no unsubscribe details were provided. It got to the point that if I didn't check my email every day like it or not, my mailbox would overflow and I would lose email. Sending "unsubscribe replies" did not work, and neither did forwarding them to webmaster@mp3.com (the same bastard who involuntarily signed me up in the first place).

    What you gotta do is do a whois, and mail their Finance department and tell them what pricks they are. Be sure to hit all the "generic email lists" you can think of, such as mp3@mp3.com, sales@mp3.com, firstletter-lastname@mp3.com of any person's name on the website, and so on.

    cc'ing 20 people there was probably disruptive, but hey so is spam. It worked. :)

    I did get replies back from management... heh but all the replies were pure-MS Word attachments, and I couldn't read them. The spam stopped tho...
  • A developer is a member of my local linux enthusiast group.

    http://mail.ale.org/ale-archive/ale-2000-05/msg0 0059.html
  • Is it discontinued? I see it at http://www.x10.com/products/x10_mk19a.htm [x10.com] and it looks like they still sell it.
  • No no no! Component is not Composite. Component is 3 separate cables with RCA jacks for RGB. Composite is garbage, I totally agree S-Video way way better than composite. Component is very cool in reality, progressive scan (rather than interlaced like every other tv signal) component inputs are even cooler --- but I don't find component to be visually much better than s-video... maybe I'm blind though :-). Here is more info on component video [pioneerelectronics.com] if you're interested.
  • Outputs Stereo Audio Digital Audio (S/PDIF) Composite Video S-Video SVGA from http://www.zapmedia.com/html/products/specificatio ns.html Thanks, and come again
  • Open ass, remove head, says I!

    "CD-ROM for playing/ripping audio CDs $25"

    This simply defies description. If you cut to the bone, you MIGHT get a burner for just over $100.

    $25 will get you a used, 6x CD-ROM on E-bay. (but you can FORGET about "ripping" anything...

    "One Cheap CPU, mobo & case" - sure. But it's really hard to get a 386 to do anything meaningful...

    I'd guess your age at about 14...

    -Ben
  • New $5000 Multimedia Computer System Downloads Real-Time TV Programs - Displays them on monitor see the whole story at: http://theonion.com/onion3308/realtimetv.html :-)
  • > I don't know what'll eat through that nasty black epoxy that's popular these days....

    A Dremel.
  • how much ram though? hmn.... currently I'm thinking along the lines of webtv alla broadband.... although imho wireless keyboards are often a pain in the a**

  • PS2 (Score:1)

    by MWoody ( 222806 )
    An interesting idea, but I fear it pales in comparison to the PS2, what with its DVD movie and gaming options. Add that to Sony's ability to sell at below cost for the system, and you can get a portable MP3 player, game system, and DVD player for less.

    Yet another attempt to make a cheap PC, which ends up as a *gasp* CHEAP PC.
    ---
  • This looks like an actually useful item if I could hook it up to my Linux box and download the mp3's to it. When are the Linux drivers coming out?? (i know - whenever i decide to write them myself :)
  • It looks like a glorified WebTv with a CD/Dvd player heh. I'm sure Microsoft/Aol would be interested in buying out this company.
  • This sounds like a cool deal, especially for the less technically inclined, but someone with a little patience could build a similar system from:

    DVD-Rom Drive
    TV Out Card
    Soundblaster Live or similar high-end sound card
    QNX RTP (when and if it supports DVD)
    NIC
    30gb hard drive
    A cool case
    Celeron 400 w/128mb of RAM and a Motherboard

    I've got my very own ZapStation clone sitting in my stereo cabinet. It uses a X10 Mouse remote, and while it doesn't do DVD yet (it's running Linux and I have an APEX) everything else is pretty simple to implement.

    Still, for non-techies, it's a cool idea, but a wee bit expensive...
  • But can it run my :cue:Cat?? sorry, i am funking stunk.....

  • ... that at $599, not including any monitor or speakers (as you're supposed to hook it up to your home entertainment system, i.e. TV), that chances are anybody, especially a Linux geek, would be better off getting a real computer (either by putting it together, getting it from some discount place, whatever).... even now it can be done for $599, and prices are only going down, so by the time this thing comes out $599 will be too high of a price. Only real possible use I see for it is for people who just aren't that comfortable with computers but still want DVDs, MP3s, etc., and want it mixed together with their whole home entertainment system. Also, I'm willing to bet that the audience I mentioned is the very sales target of this ZapStation thing, and that the target is NOT geeks.

  • nitpick (Score:1)

    by gtx ( 204552 )
    while i am one for hacking hardware, and find things like this fun to hack, it just seems for less than 600 bux you could prolly just build a celeron 600 or so with similar components. get yourself a nice black rackmount case, and you're set. it's not like an i-opener, where you can get them for real cheap and then hack it, and it doesn't seem to do anything that a cheap computer can't do today. in order for these types of boxes to be desirable, they have to have a primary application or low price which makes it a considerable alternative to a regular pc.

    or perhaps not. i guess we'll see how it sells.
  • sux. webtv. overpriced. low value.

    what are these morons thinking?

    the only future for this thing is the appliance crowd. those people who want to plug it in, and have it work.

    example: both my parents went to fryes, bought new computers, and both crashed on boot. both were returned to the manufacturer, who sent replacements, which worked.

    i just don't see the "pc in a box" thing happening. the road to "web tv" has been littered with bankruptcy so far.

    if anyone make a truly cool console/net/tv appliance, it will be someone like hp, dell, compaq, sun, sgi, sony. not these fools or microsoft x box.

    thus, the eventual winner will prolly run Linux just fine.
  • It's a low-end computer with a DVD-ROM, a remote, and a subscription service.

    Oh, and a cool case. Which must mean it's innovative.


    My mom is not a Karma whore!

  • Why make it look like a classic wurlitzer? This is the most common, and most depressing, design hurdle all new technologies seem to face: Getting past the point of having to make it look like something else. Jukeboxes looked like they did because that's the shape needed for them to do their job. CD juke's look similar because the discs are about the same size as 7" records and they don't function all that differently.

    So... why bother making a new thing look old? Make it look like an MP3 player. Everything, and I mean everything, that has stood the test of time as good design has always expressed its function in its appearance, from gothic cathedrals to classic sports cars to iMac's. Things that try to look like other things rightly end up scorned as ugly, like plastic "wood" veneers and non-structural "Greek Revival" columns on houses built in the 80's.

  • The Pale ale is actually my second favorite of the Sierra Nevedas - the Wheat Beer is really good but has a much smaller production window...

    Cheers
    /me raises a pint of Sierra Nevada Pale to the geek community

  • By "X10 Mouse remote", you you mean an X10 RF + IR TV-style remote like the Marmitek? Presumably that could allow one to navigate menus as one does with a DVD remote. If so, how do you use it as a mouse?

    Or is an "X10 Mouse" an actual product? If so, who makes them?
  • It's actually only a little bit more than a high-end DVD player, and about the same as that of a PC with similiar specs. I'm not saying it marks a high point in the evolution of humanity, but it doesn't look too bad.
    --
  • Damn! I just bought a DVD player and a Sony Hi-fi. Damn!
  • Is there anything that can play DVDs that can't play SVCDs???

  • What is really great about Adomo's "solution" is that it is all released under the GPL. That means that every company or private person who would like to make a "client" (for whatever perpose you can think of), can do so - without thinking about paying Adomo royalties!

    To get something like this widespread, you have to set a standard (like nearly anything else). If you create a good open standard, you will have a much better chance of succes and with Adomo's aproach, I think they could have a winner.

    The guy you talk about could also make his own private appliances (isn't that what it is called) for this standard.

    I really hope they succed, because I would like to have a such a system at home. Before such a system becomes reality, MP3 (and soon Ogg Vorbis instead!) will NOT be of much use IMHO, simply because I don't play music from my PC very often - I do it from my stereo.

  • This would be really cool if one could hack it into a Tivo like Appliance. Put that 30 gig HD to use.
  • You must be clinically retarded if you think you need a goddamn Celeron 566 to do NFS serving. You could throw a 486/25 in a baby-AT case for $50, theo nly difference between the two systems is that the Celeron 566 would be spending 99.999% of its time sitting there idle. Get a clue.

    You could aos get by on 16MB of RAM, which is so obsolete you cant even buy it new anymore. Bare DVD-ROM drives can be had for $50 these days OEM. More like you need to get your shit together before writing "offensive" notes, sir.

    Bowie J. Poag
  • If it sucks return it. 30 day money back garentee.
  • The sad thing is that this freakin' thing is faster and has no space than my current computer at home. :-
  • HELLO. It's a PC.
    THERE IS NO INNOVATION HERE.
    • No technical innovation; it's a PC.
    • No price innovation; it's $599. I *wish* my computer, which can do all those things, could sell for that much.
    • OEMs are already selling PCs, marketing them to do the exact things this is marketed to do. So, it's not even *marketing* innovation.
    You people are all silly.
  • I really hope they are not selling these devices with the intent to lock you into their ZapMedia portal. But I really want to know a few more under the hood details:

    1) Will the hard drive be encrypted ala TiVo or will I be able to replace it with a larger on?

    2) Will I be able to transfer file in and out via the ethernet port or just in?

    3) What is the operating system and will it be possible to alter it to play MPEG-4 files like DivX nAVI or pAVI?

    Boy I hope someone does a review of one of these things. I'm a little hesistant to sign up for something that might not be anything different than what APEX/TiVo does for twice the price.

    - JoeShmoe

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  • All it needs is either a DVD player or an ethernet NIC (or maybe both, in an ideal world) and it should be able to handle this stuff.

    Owning a TiVo, I wouldn't want to buy this too... I'd just wait until you can get both togehter. X-box anyone?

    Kevin Fox
  • This is wonderful! It has everything I want. People could use this or....
    ...maybe a real computer? You could a desktop that will do all that and more for less then $600. My desktop has been able to do all of this for two years.

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