Patriot Memory, a global pioneer in high-performance memory, NAND flash, storage, and enthusiast computer products, today expanded its media player ecosystem with the introduction of its new PBO Alpine media player. Offering the flexibility and functionality of the Android platform, the PBO Alpine will make the leap into the next generation of home media players.

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The PBO Alpine is powered by an ARM926 Processor which will support HD video output in full 1080p resolution at 30 frames per second. Providing entertainment right out of the box, the PBO Alpine will come preloaded with iRadio, iTV, YouTube, Picasa, and a fully functional web browser. For enthusiast buyers, the PBO Alpine will offer support for user developed Apps that can be side-loaded for custom functionality.

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Building on the success of the award-winning Roku streaming players, Roku today unveiled a new solution to make a better Smart TV. The new Roku Streaming Stick is a wireless device about the size of a standard USB flash drive that will plug into a TV to instantly transform it into a Smart TV. The Roku Streaming Stick will feature built-in WiFi, processor, memory and software to deliver Roku’s growing collection of streaming entertainment. With these new Smart TVs, consumers will enjoy a fully integrated high-definition streaming experience.

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“Insignia is proud to be among the first manufacturers to pair the Roku Streaming Stick with a TV,” said Scott Jacobi, director of Exclusive Brands at Best Buy. “The Roku Streaming Stick provides an elegant and easy over-the-top streaming solution for customers who want the full experience of a Smart TV without adding an external set box, HDMI cable and power adapter to their TV. Insignia looks forward to rolling out our first MHL-enabled TVs compatible with the Roku Streaming Stick in 2012 at Best Buy.”

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ViXS Systems Inc., a leading provider of smart network multimedia processors, today announced that Lite-On IT (Lite-On), a global leader in digital storage solutions is utilizing the XCode® 4210 System on Chip (SoC) for its latest Streaming Media Gateway product, μ-Play. At the heart of the Lite-On μ-Play is the XCode 4210 which performs as a single SoC gateway IC and executes all the software stacks required to allow it to manage and distribute all media content.

By taking advantage of the powerful multi-format hardware HD transcoder integrated in the XCode 4210 SoC, μ-Play can seamlessly stream any video / music to any connected smartphone / tablet anywhere. In addition, μ-Play can handle multiple streaming without compromising the service quality; for example, it can stream a movie to a tablet remotely through a wireless wi-fi connection while other family members stream additional media content to a smartphone at home. With XCode 4210’s patented adaptive transcoding technology, all media files are also optimized based on the immediate bit-rate of network providing smooth viewing experience to the consumer even over a wireless network.

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Western Digital, the world's leader in external storage solutions and maker of the acclaimed WD TV® media player family, has added streaming movie service VUDU, as well as several additional new sports and entertainment services to the WD TV Live™ and WD TV Live Hub™ media players, adding to the media player family's current content offerings from Netflix®, Hulu Plus™, Blockbuster®, CinemaNow®, Spotify™, Pandora®, YouTube®, Facebook® and many others. In addition to VUDU, new services include SnagFilms, XOS College Sports, SEC Digital Network, Comedy Time and Watch Mojo.

Additionally, the new WD® TV Remote™ app improves the navigation experience for WD TV Live and WD TV Live Hub users by turning their iPhone®, iPod touch®, iPad®, or Android™ compatible mobile device into an advanced feature remote control for their WD TV. The WD TV Remote advanced features allow users to more easily navigate the wide variety of digital media WD TV users enjoy on their television, from leading entertainment services to personal video, photos or music.

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Syabas Technology Inc., a leading global distributor of digital entertainment solutions, is excited to announce the latest addition to the Popcorn Hour product line. The Popcorn Hour C-300 is one of the first players to utilize Sigma Design’s SMP8647 chipset providing fast, fluid like navigation. In addition to the increased CPU speed, improvements to the industry’s most user friendly jukebox interface makes the Popcorn Hour C-300 even more appealing. The new built-in color TFT display can be used for navigation without a TV-set. With support for full 1080P HD video, audio, photos and web content, users can experience the content they want, how they want. The Syabas Apps Market, containing over 80 free and premium TV apps, gives users a broad selection of additional entertainment via the web.

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The Popcorn Hour C-300 will include some exciting new features to enhance the media playback experience. In addition to video metadata and posters, users can now download subtitles directly from the web without having to use a PC. Users can also select 1 of 22 different languages they prefer the information and subtitles to be downloaded in.

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A revolution is happening in the living room. Xbox 360 is transforming how you enjoy TV entertainment and is giving you the power to control it with your voice. The next generation of TV entertainment begins with the announcement by Microsoft Corp. of the launch of an all-new Xbox 360 experience including the first group of new, custom applications from world leading TV and entertainment content providers on Xbox LIVE.

"A new era in entertainment begins where all your entertainment is together in one place — your games, movies, TV shows, music and sports," said Don Mattrick, president of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. "With this update, Xbox 360 system owners will experience Kinect voice control integrated with Bing search, making your TV and entertainment experiences more social and personal than ever."

"Microsoft has just built and delivered it: A single box that ties together all the content you want, made easily accessible through a universal, natural, voice-directed search. This is now the benchmark against which all other living room initiatives should be compared," said James McQuivey of Forrester Research in "Engaged TV: Xbox 360 Leads The Way To A New Video Product Experience,"* Sunday, Dec. 4. "...with more than 57 million people worldwide already sitting on a box that's about to be upgraded for free, Microsoft has not only built the right experience, it has ensured that it will spread quickly and with devastating effect."

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NETGEAR, Inc., a global networking company that delivers innovative products to consumers, businesses and service providers, today announced it has added a broad range of premium content channels to the NeoTV Streaming Player (NTV200), including Best Buy's CinemaNow.

With the CinemaNow channel, NeoTV users can choose from a large selection of entertainment content and instantly stream it to their TVs in up to full 1080p HD and surround sound from the comfort of their living room. The addition of the CinemaNow channel provides NeoTV users with access to more than 15,000 titles, including the latest blockbuster movies, classic films, current TV shows and past seasons, and even next day programming.  CinemaNow joins a rapidly growing list of free and premium channels already available on NeoTV*, including Netflix, Vudu, YouTube, Pandora, Crunchyroll.com, Flingo and hundreds more.

"Instead of driving to a kiosk or waiting for movies to arrive by mail, NeoTV provides consumers with access to one of the world's largest collections of premium movies, TV shows, music and web videos–thousands of titles instantly streamed to your TV," said Damir Skripic, product line manager for connected entertainment at NETGEAR. "Channels such as Best Buy CinemaNow offer an ideal, on-demand streaming experience.  All you need is an Internet connection."

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PowerColor today introduces all-new multimedia solution, SlingIt, which is designed to help centralize and distribute entertainment to various devices inside your home. SlingIt creates a gateway to wireless entertainment by offering a pair of devices that builds a bridge among multi rooms.

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Any devices with HDMI connection can be supported by SlingIt. SlingIt allows users to set up easily by just plugging the transmitter to HDMI source and the receiver to HDTV, and then you can stream Youtube, play games, or share photos with your friends. SlingIt brings incredible HD experience to users with a variety media formats.

SlingIt presents flexible and uncompressed 1080p wireless transmission from desktop PC or notebook to HDTV, users are available to enjoy full 1080p HD video, Blu-ray 3D playback with up to 1920 x 1080 resolution for all HDMI devices. The most important of all, SlingIt transfer HD content without noticeable latency, brings amazing lag-free home entertainment.

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Western Digital, the world's leader in external storage solutions and maker of the popular WD TV media player family, today introduced the next generation of its WD TV Live streaming media player, an easy to use Wi-Fi enabled media player that is the first in its category to deliver the Spotify music service.

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WD TV Live features WD's newest intuitive user interface that delivers the latest hit movies, TV shows, music and online services from companies like Netflix®, Hulu Plus™ and Blockbuster® directly to your TV. The new streaming media player connects to the Internet wirelessly or through an Ethernet connection, with the high performance 802.11n wireless connectivity supporting Full-HD 1080p video resolution.

In addition to premium Internet content, WD TV Live allows users to enjoy personal media such as photos, video and music on their home entertainment systems by supporting a wide range of file formats for streaming content from any connected USB drive, digital camcorder or camera, network drive such as the My Book® Live™ personal cloud storage, and any networked PC or Mac® computer in the home.

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ASUS has just released the O!Play BDS-500 and BDS-700, two complete Blu-ray/media player devices that enable accessible and easy to use HD video and audio alongside the widest media format support available in their product class, just as native online connectivity and Wi-Fi bring multimedia to a truly live state. ASUS is including a variety of added features, such as dual HDMI and USB ports, a custom user friendly interface, smartphone remote control, and gold-plated terminals.

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Both new models ship with Qdeo™ video processing to reduce image scatter without adversely affecting sharpness. Color and contrast are also improved and optimized for a more lifelike picture and increased viewing immersion. Complete support for Blu-ray Disc ISO and Blu-ray Disc 3D ISO (including menus) is also provided, and precision upscaling of DVDs to HD comes ready right out of the box.

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