Is this the first Windows 7 Media Center embedded set-top box?

We've never heard of this German company Reycom before, but from the looks of it this could be the very first embedded Windows 7 Media Center. The Reycom Entertainment Solution is marketed to content providers in Switzerland and Germany, is powered by an Atom processor and is small and slick. All the user interface images on the site should look familiar to Windows 7 Media Center fans, but the newly announced embedded version of Windows 7 isn't mentioned by name -- even the image on the about page has a women holding a Media Center remote. Of course this doesn't mean much for those of us State side, but this is exactly the type of box we had in mind when we first heard of an embedded version of Windows Media Center.

[Jeff Kibuule Posted May 2nd 2010 6:51PM]

Will end users be able to install 3rd party software to support Blu-rays or is this completely locked down?

[FORDY Posted May 3rd 2010 6:49AM]

@Jeff Kibuule
I'd have thought BD's would be supported out of the box, fail if their not (would rely on it actually having a BD drive, of course)

But I get your point, the ability to add our own plug-ins etc. would be neat.

[Emiliano Posted May 2nd 2010 7:44PM]

I would love it if Windows 7 Embedded came with my AV Reciever....... The true ONE box to rule them all.

[brennok Posted May 2nd 2010 8:04PM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2zDrJgr9sI&feature=player_embedded

It starts about a minute in...in German.

[dmccall Posted May 2nd 2010 8:56PM]

So I'll bet it is a stand-alone unit that doesn't share its Recorded TV content with a network. But hey, even THAT would be a big improvement over TWC's DVRs.

[kevon27 Posted May 2nd 2010 9:29PM]

I'll let you guys on a little secret, just don't tell anyone..."The cable company DVR's aint going away. Windows 7 embedded, Ceton, Tivo, Moxi, etc.. are just gimmicks. The cable company STB dvr's are like the Ipod and everything else is like, everything else." Sorry, but it's the truth.. I know it hurts.

[jedi Posted May 3rd 2010 12:17AM]

@kevon27

> The cable company DVR's aint going away

So what?

Some of us are already bypassing them today as we have been for years and years. It doesn't matter if it's Tivo, MCE or MythTV.

[SpongeBobPistolPants Posted May 3rd 2010 9:29AM]

@kevon27 I'll let you in on a little secret, just because the rest of the world is made up of sheep, doesn't mean you have to follow the herd. though judging by your post you are probably happy doing just that.

[scottbakertemp Posted May 2nd 2010 10:31PM]

At first I thought these would replace extenders but I assume this is to replace the PC. So you would still wouldn't be able to protected content on a portable device, PC, or outside the house.

I have a feeling this will be as popular as Microsoft media room.

oh well.

[movedor Posted May 3rd 2010 3:26AM]

IF this works reliably and timely as any other AV component, say DVD player, THEN maybe it has a chance to become popular. Of course, it largely depends on MS deliverying something that actually works well in an embedded system running a lowly atom processor.

[adamzfun Posted May 3rd 2010 2:03PM]

Gee it would be really nice if Engadget editors actually read the site before making speculative remarks. The site explicitly says the device is for Cable and Telecom companies. So why even get us excited, that in essence means it will be controlled, compromised and restricted.

[BenD Posted May 3rd 2010 2:04PM]

@adamzfun

Gee it woud be really nice if Engadget commentors actually read the article before posting comments.

From the post above "The Reycom Entertainment Solution is marketed to content providers in Switzerland and Germany."

[usa Posted May 4th 2010 12:38AM]

@adamzfun (W7E-MC) STBs are naturally distributed over telecommunications provider ...

[kevon27 Posted May 4th 2010 11:40AM]

@adamzfun I told you guys that this stuff is just a pipe dream.. but no you guys down ranked me to death.. To truth shall live.

[usa Posted May 13th 2010 2:40PM]

Confirmed !
(Website Launched + Video)

http://www.mce-community.de/mceBlog/index.php?/archives/2461-Windows-7-Embedded-Media-Center-REC-von-Reycom-!.html

@usa from Germany :o)