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Intel's Linux Based Home Media Gateway

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the this-oughta-take-awhile dept.

An anonymous reader writes "This article at LinuxDevices.com takes a look at a new 'home media gateway' design that was unveiled today by Intel at the Intel Developer Forum in San Jose, CA. The device is expected to be manufactured by multiple consumer electronics manufacturers in Asia, and will enable the distribution of PC digital media to TVs and stereos throughout the home. The gadget is based on one of Intel's new XScale processors running a customized version of Linux, provides support for JPEG, MP3, and WMA digital content, utilizes 802.11b wireless networking, and supports NTSC/PAL/S-video TV connections and AC-97 stereo connection. The home media adapter is a key component of Intel's 'Extended Wireless PC Initiative', which is part of Intel's greater Digital Home initiative."

2 of 158 comments (clear)

  1. whats the real feature? by stratjakt · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "Intel anticipates that PC vendors will bundle the media adapters with multimedia PCs in order to allow consumers to deliver music and video to their entertainment centers from their PCs."

    Ok, aside from it not using the PCs CPU horsepower, how is this altogether different from a really long set of A/V cables? (or a 900mhz broadcaster?)

    Oh yeah, DRM.. Silly me. Asked and answered.

    Of course this is automagically wonderful because they used linux to save time during development.

    --
    I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
  2. why this idea misses the mark by jjtime4sko · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Here's what the customer experience has to be to make something like this OK for the mass market:

    1. Turn on.
    2. Select media.
    3. Push play.

    What this idea would look like:
    1. Turn on "media adapter"
    2. Walk across the house to where the computer is.
    3. Boot computer. Wait 5 minutes for boot.
    4. Walk back to living room.
    5. Find remote for media adapter.
    6. Browse through dozens of menus and file systems to locate content.
    7. Computer crashes. Repeat steps 2-6.
    8. Push play.
    9. Wait for content to buffer.
    10. Little Johnny decides to play his new networked game.
    11. Repeat steps 9-10 until (A) Johnny doesn't get to play any more or (B) you give up.
    12. Turn off media adapter.
    13. Shut down computer.
    14. Go to bed.

    I'll wait for the Apple version, thank you.