Each year at CEDIA, we've been downright floored with Niveus' lineup. Unfortunately, it's out of reach for the vast majority of "mainstreet" dwellers. At long (long!) last, the company has decided to expand its reach and offer a product for the blue collars in America, and on paper, the Zone looks like a real champ in the flagging HTPC arena. Measuring in at 6.5- x 6.5- x 1.97-inches, this 3.2 pound box packs an awful lot of media playing oomph into a ridiculously small enclosure. Specs wise, we're looking at a 2GHz Core 2 Duo T5750 CPU, 2GB of RAM, gigabit Ethernet, a 160GB SATA drive, slot-loading Blu-ray optical drive, front-mounted IR receiver, bundled media remote, Intel's GMA X4500 HD graphics, HDMI 1.3 / eSATA ports and support for 7.1-channel surround sound. Over on the software front, you'll see Windows Vista Home Premium along with Niveus' own suite of apps (Movie Library, Studio, Media Server Companion and Weather). Unlike any other Niveus system, consumers can purchase the Zone for $1,499 directly from the outfit's website, and there's also a unique Zone Community down in the read link; check out a promotional vid after the break if you wish.
That's nice, but Sony offers the VGX-TP25E/B for only $1699 right now. And it includes 2 ATI DCTs, wireless keyboard, remote, and the specs are better.
Niveus even says it recommends the HP Smart Media server to help hold additional storage. I wounder how nice it would play with my movies software running on the hp server or if you would need to load up something from Niveus.
This is the kind of stuff we need. OEM support of a blu-ray/dvd storage HTPC. Yeah you'd still have to install some software to rip those onto the hard drive I bet, but once it's there this should play it all back just fine. That and lossless codec support would make this something worth saving up for.
In this regard you're not paying that price for the hardware, but the software. But unfortunately the value of the software is impossible to judge on paper.
I'm really hoping we get to play with one of these.
Hello guys, I work for Niveus and would like to respond to some of your comments. The great value that comes with a Niveus Media solution is the knowledge and experience behind it. Niveus is currently shipping like it's 7th generation of Media Server, we've seen it all. Compare that with a support email sent to Sony or Dell asking about HDCP compatibility with your AV Receiver or LCD or CableCard questions or assistance programming your Harmony, Universal, Pronto or Crestron remote. I strongly doubt you will receive the same level of knowledge from a big company call center like Sony or Dell. I and others will be constantly monitoring our community forums to answer any such questions.
For homebrew systems, it's always been the case that you can build something yourself for less, but people either don't know how, know how but don't have the time or prefer not to have to spend their time testing drivers and Microsoft updates for compatibility. What Niveus and other Media Center manufacturers offer is a solution you can plug in right away and spend your time watching and enjoying your media center instead of troubleshooting it and supporting it yourself. Also ZONE is CableCard certified, something no homebrew machine can boast.
Niveus spends a great deal of time and resources developing software for Niveus systems such as Niveus Movie Library which aggregates all your movie content whether it be DVD, Blu-ray, WMV downloads or even recorded TV into one easy to use native MCML interface. Other Niveus apps include Niveus Weather, Niveus Studio, Niveus Companion which allows you full two way control of Niveus Media Severs or Extenders through any PC or UMPC. There are some other cool Niveus only applications do out soon but I can't go into detail just yet :o)
Our products have never been the most affordable and may not be the perfect solution for everyone, but we've always stood behind our products and worked hard to further the development of the media center platform.
By the way, I'm an engadgetHD junkie, spending more time on here than my employer probably would like.
CableCard is cool, but it's already being phased out with new cable ideas. But my question is will the Niveus play nice with "my movies" that I have already set up on an HP ex475? I could build something but in pricing your opition it's not bad. A good self built htcp is going to run around $800. Your $1400, but you do have some other add ins. So if I buy a zone will it work my movies, or do I have to change things?
Hey Justin, just as Niveus was a pioneer in understanding and deploying CableCard solutions, you can count on us being instrumental in the future HDTV solutions that have been and are in the works.
My Movies is awesome for collection management and it works very well with Niveus Movie Library which will read the cover art and XML meta data generated by My Movies.
We do have some other add ins (Weather, Search, Control Server + Companion) that you can find out more about on our community forums. The stuff that really excites me though I am not at liberty to discuss but I know will be very popular and available soon.
I have an EX-470 at home (ram upgrade of course) it really is the perfect companion to Niveus ZONE. I like the backup feature which allows me to sample the latest third party plugins without fear of hosing my system, I can just do a restore from Windows Home Server.
Sorry if my posts come off as sales pitches everyone, I live for this stuff and sometimes go overboard! I worked for a long time at Kaleidescape where I was forbidden to participate in online communities, which is just as well since we offered virtually zero support for third party hardware or software so there wasn't that much to discuss anyways!
I have been waiting a lifetime for a system that will store my 2000+ SD and 300+ BD and approx 500 HD-DVD's. I was waiting for Kal to store hd material and was going to take the plunge but they are clearly going to be last out to the party. I still care about quality.........I have a $1,000,000 purposebuilt home theater with a 10ft screen and a Sony Ruby pushed by an anthem Statement d2 (soon to be V) and ton of power to push an 8.4 sound environment. I want the ease of use that comes with the Kaleidescape system but I don't want to compromise on the quality of output. Any other solution I have researched at any cost does NOT come without some complicated hacking process to deal with the DRM.
I have no interest or motivation to defeat the DRM, I just want to load the data ( or, ideally automate the transfer from my disks to the NAS) and watch what I legally acquired. I have about 10 TERB now but can add as much as I want or need.
Hey Casey - Great to see you on engadgetHD answering all these questions.
I have a question about the movie library and blu-rays - If I were to buy a a ZONE HTPC, I assume that I would I be able to connect any extender to it (Linksys DMA2100/XBOX 360), if that is true, would I also be able to play blu-ray movies from these non-Niveus devices?
"I am looking for a device that will stream sound from one source to several recipients. For example, I want to stream sound from my TV or stereo to my phone or MP3 player that has radio and Bluetooth capabilities. I have looked into radio transmitters and they seem like a decent choice, but I can't find one that uses external power (USB or from the plug) and I would want one with a transmit range of around 50 meters. Thanks!"
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posted Apr 1st 2009 8:41AM
That's nice, but Sony offers the VGX-TP25E/B for only $1699 right now. And it includes 2 ATI DCTs, wireless keyboard, remote, and the specs are better.
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665296592
A 160GB HD???
if you are getting one of these you will most likely be doing some kind of NAS solution. This + a windows home server would be really awesome.
Niveus even says it recommends the HP Smart Media server to help hold additional storage. I wounder how nice it would play with my movies software running on the hp server or if you would need to load up something from Niveus.
This is the kind of stuff we need. OEM support of a blu-ray/dvd storage HTPC. Yeah you'd still have to install some software to rip those onto the hard drive I bet, but once it's there this should play it all back just fine. That and lossless codec support would make this something worth saving up for.
In this regard you're not paying that price for the hardware, but the software. But unfortunately the value of the software is impossible to judge on paper.
I'm really hoping we get to play with one of these.
That's just an Aopen case with a high spec mini-itx board. Could build yourself for almost half that.
Hello guys, I work for Niveus and would like to respond to some of your comments. The great value that comes with a Niveus Media solution is the knowledge and experience behind it. Niveus is currently shipping like it's 7th generation of Media Server, we've seen it all. Compare that with a support email sent to Sony or Dell asking about HDCP compatibility with your AV Receiver or LCD or CableCard questions or assistance programming your Harmony, Universal, Pronto or Crestron remote. I strongly doubt you will receive the same level of knowledge from a big company call center like Sony or Dell. I and others will be constantly monitoring our community forums to answer any such questions.
For homebrew systems, it's always been the case that you can build something yourself for less, but people either don't know how, know how but don't have the time or prefer not to have to spend their time testing drivers and Microsoft updates for compatibility. What Niveus and other Media Center manufacturers offer is a solution you can plug in right away and spend your time watching and enjoying your media center instead of troubleshooting it and supporting it yourself. Also ZONE is CableCard certified, something no homebrew machine can boast.
Niveus spends a great deal of time and resources developing software for Niveus systems such as Niveus Movie Library which aggregates all your movie content whether it be DVD, Blu-ray, WMV downloads or even recorded TV into one easy to use native MCML interface. Other Niveus apps include Niveus Weather, Niveus Studio, Niveus Companion which allows you full two way control of Niveus Media Severs or Extenders through any PC or UMPC. There are some other cool Niveus only applications do out soon but I can't go into detail just yet :o)
Our products have never been the most affordable and may not be the perfect solution for everyone, but we've always stood behind our products and worked hard to further the development of the media center platform.
By the way, I'm an engadgetHD junkie, spending more time on here than my employer probably would like.
CableCard is cool, but it's already being phased out with new cable ideas. But my question is will the Niveus play nice with "my movies" that I have already set up on an HP ex475? I could build something but in pricing your opition it's not bad. A good self built htcp is going to run around $800. Your $1400, but you do have some other add ins. So if I buy a zone will it work my movies, or do I have to change things?
Hey Justin, just as Niveus was a pioneer in understanding and deploying CableCard solutions, you can count on us being instrumental in the future HDTV solutions that have been and are in the works.
My Movies is awesome for collection management and it works very well with Niveus Movie Library which will read the cover art and XML meta data generated by My Movies.
We do have some other add ins (Weather, Search, Control Server + Companion) that you can find out more about on our community forums. The stuff that really excites me though I am not at liberty to discuss but I know will be very popular and available soon.
I have an EX-470 at home (ram upgrade of course) it really is the perfect companion to Niveus ZONE. I like the backup feature which allows me to sample the latest third party plugins without fear of hosing my system, I can just do a restore from Windows Home Server.
Sorry if my posts come off as sales pitches everyone, I live for this stuff and sometimes go overboard! I worked for a long time at Kaleidescape where I was forbidden to participate in online communities, which is just as well since we offered virtually zero support for third party hardware or software so there wasn't that much to discuss anyways!
I have been waiting a lifetime for a system that will store my 2000+ SD and 300+ BD and approx 500 HD-DVD's. I was waiting for Kal to store hd material and was going to take the plunge but they are clearly going to be last out to the party.
I still care about quality.........I have a $1,000,000 purposebuilt home theater with a 10ft screen and a Sony Ruby pushed by an anthem Statement d2 (soon to be V) and ton of power to push an 8.4 sound environment. I want the ease of use that comes with the Kaleidescape system but I don't want to compromise on the quality of output. Any other solution I have researched at any cost does NOT come without some complicated hacking process to deal with the DRM.
I have no interest or motivation to defeat the DRM, I just want to load the data ( or, ideally automate the transfer from my disks to the NAS) and watch what I legally acquired. I have about 10 TERB now but can add as much as I want or need.
Does this look close to coming to fruition????
Peter
I did not see a way to Private Message someone here.
Peter feel free to give me a call or email me, I'd be happy to answer any questions you have about Niveus, Kaleidescape, or media servers in general.
Casey Benjamin
Channel Sales Engineer
NiveusMedia
c.benjamin@niveusmedia.com
(866) 258-2929 EXT 117
Hey Casey - Great to see you on engadgetHD answering all these questions.
I have a question about the movie library and blu-rays - If I were to buy a a ZONE HTPC, I assume that I would I be able to connect any extender to it (Linksys DMA2100/XBOX 360), if that is true, would I also be able to play blu-ray movies from these non-Niveus devices?
I thought this is Aopen MP45, and it costs 500 bucks.
http://xc.aopen.com.tw/CubeProductnews_01.aspx?auno=10453
way too expensive.