Gadgets: Seagate gets FAT
Let me get this out of the way first – I have moved my site to GadgetyNews.com. There, that's the self-promotion out of the way ;)
Other things in the world of tech that caught my attention was that Amusement magazine tested out the possible future of the printed word, a date was set for the Apple WWDC and what appears to be a MacBookMini was spotted.
Skype has landed on the iPhone and will appear on the BlackBerry around May whilst Honda develop mind controlled robots!
My favourite gadget this week was the Moxia Sphere – I'm just hoping that it wasn't actually an April Fool's joke but I reckon that's doubtful unless those trixters went to the trouble of filing a patent!
So, we all love media streamers don't we?
If you happen to own a Seagate FreeAgent portable drive you're gonna like this even more!
The FreeAgent Theater takes all the movies, music and pics you've shoved onto your portable drive and plonks it on your TV screen – as easy as that!
All good so far, and the FreeAgent Theater (FAT?) will chuck out HD video up to 1080i - but via component. Would it have hurt to have lovely HDMI output?
You get digital audio output so Dolby Digital is no problem and the player is DivX-certified so will play DivX files. It will also handle MPEG-2 files at up to 1080i – but oddly it can only decode MPEG-4 at up to 720p. To me that sounds a bit front-to-back, surly the newer 4 should've been better catered for?
For me, if you already have one of Seagate's drives this will cope with your stuff for little outlay – if you're looking to join in the media streaming fun from scratch.....it might be worth looking around for something like the Syabas Popcorn Hour A-110 for instance.
Cost wise you're looking at £100 without a drive.
If you haven't got a FreeAgent there'll be packages available that include one; or just buy a drive separately for £60-£120.
Check it out here
........
Jay Garrett is a a professional bass player and gadget junkie. Check out his blog GadgetyNews.com
If you happen to own a Seagate FreeAgent portable drive you're gonna like this even more!
The FreeAgent Theater takes all the movies, music and pics you've shoved onto your portable drive and plonks it on your TV screen – as easy as that!
All good so far, and the FreeAgent Theater (FAT?) will chuck out HD video up to 1080i - but via component. Would it have hurt to have lovely HDMI output?You get digital audio output so Dolby Digital is no problem and the player is DivX-certified so will play DivX files. It will also handle MPEG-2 files at up to 1080i – but oddly it can only decode MPEG-4 at up to 720p. To me that sounds a bit front-to-back, surly the newer 4 should've been better catered for?
For me, if you already have one of Seagate's drives this will cope with your stuff for little outlay – if you're looking to join in the media streaming fun from scratch.....it might be worth looking around for something like the Syabas Popcorn Hour A-110 for instance.
Cost wise you're looking at £100 without a drive.
If you haven't got a FreeAgent there'll be packages available that include one; or just buy a drive separately for £60-£120.
Check it out here
........
Jay Garrett is a a professional bass player and gadget junkie. Check out his blog GadgetyNews.com
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