Syabas, the makers of the Popcorn Hour Media Tank, have announced their intentions to launch a lower-cost media playback device this spring. The Popbox ($130) retains much of the impressive codec and high resolution/bitrate support seen in the Popcorn Hour line, but will also emphasize web content such as Netflix (via “Popapps”) and feature a refreshed user interface. However, it’s not enough to have a good idea in making the transition from geek niche to mainstream — as I learned firsthand with SlingCatcher. They probably have the right hardware, but they’ll also need right UI, the right bizdev folks, and the right project management to pull it all together. But I’m feeling optimistic, given that rich new UI (see below) and Syabas’ solid previous hardware initiatives. So I’ll do my best to crash their CES suite Wednesday or Thursday for more details. Stay tuned.

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I hope my fellow Zatz Not Funny readers are having a wonderful holiday season. Among other goodies, Santa kindly left a few Blu-ray movies under our tree. One nice thing, in theory, is that each disc is bundled with a free digital copy. Since I’m heading out to Los Angeles for business next week, I intended to put the movies onto my iPod Touch for the plane ride. For those that haven’t yet tried the digital copy, it’s very simple. Pop the disc in your computer, select video format (iTunes or Windows Media), and when asked, enter the code found on the DVD insert. A few seconds later, you’re enjoying the movie on your handheld of choice. Things were going great until I got to the Star Trek Blu-ray.

After entering my download code, I was greeted with the following message: “This code has already been used. Each code may only be used once.” That can’t be right. This was a sealed package with the security tape intact. I must have mistyped the code. My second, third and fourth attempts were rewarded with the same failure message.

Now comes the fun part. I swung by the Paramount support site and found info regarding problems with serial numbers (screengrab below). I then clicked through the Contact Us link to provide the necessary information in hopes of getting this resolved.

After filling out the form, I hit the submit button and was redirected to an Apple support page. It would have been nice to receive a confirmation message indicating the form was actually submitted. Something to give me that warm fuzzy that the data was received (and then promptly ignored). The automatic redirect seems like a brush off. And since filing my claim (twice) on Christmas day, I’ve yet to hear anything.

Some searching on the Internet turned up others with the same problem, including a related thread on the Apple support forum. A reply by Stephen Zupan, of Deluxe Digital Studios, indicates that Paramount knows of the issue and is working on a solution. Has anyone else had problems pulling down their digital copy of Star Trek?

With CES nearly upon us, the leaks and pre-announcements continue to pile up. Next is Netgear’s Push 2 TV box, which just hit the FCC. So I helped myself to a few test photos and took a quick gander at the manual. The Intel-based technology sounds a lot like “Projector” functionality offered by SlingCatcher. Basically, video output of a computer is wirelessly streamed to Netgear’s small set-top box, which is connected to a television. From the manual:

Intel Wireless Display allows consumers to use their HDTV as a huge, remote screen for their laptop. With Intel Wireless Display, consumers can connect their laptop to their TV and enjoy and share their personal media collections, latest YouTube videos, downloaded or streamed movies, music, or a variety of other Internet content from the comfort of their couch.

Intel Wireless Display appears to be both a hardware and Windows 7 software solution. Which may be bundled into a variety of upcoming laptops (pic immediately below). And I imagine Netgear is likely one of numerous vendors to support the spec for piping Internet and personal video from PC to TV.

I’m curious if there will be any output limitations (think DRM-ed video or the Hulu-dream-destroyer) and of course wonder what sort of price point we’re talking. ($149?) I assume these mysteries will be cleared up next week and I plan to hit Netgear’s press conference bright and early Wednesday. Stay tuned! (Thanks, Brad!)

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Now that I’ve firmly planted a stake in the ground, declaring that we’ll regurgitate fewer press releases… let’s discuss a press release. Because Rakesh Agrawal, founder and CEO of SnapStream, is a good guy. And because I’ve been fascinated with automated business intelligence collection techniques since being collocated with a startup in that space during the first Internet bubble.

As PC-based DVR followers probably know, SnapStream has gone pretty quiet on the BeyondTV consumer front as they pursue an enterprise-class television monitoring solution. And it sounds like they’re finding some success. The Daily Show and Colbert Report will soon use SnapStream’s television recording appliances, not for business intelligence in this case, but to efficiently collate potential clips for inclusion on their shows:

The SnapStream TV search solution to be deployed at the Daily Show and Colbert Report will provide for a completely high-definition (HD) workflow, allowing the show’s producers to centrally record and archive more than 30 channels of traditional HDTV; then subsequently search those recordings, create clips that can interact with Avid and Final Cut Pro video editing systems.

Of course, SnapStream isn’t the only time-shifting service provider having fundamentally realigned their business strategies and target market to prosper. TiVo, once primarily about consumer content discovery and “TV your way,” now invests heavily in audience measurement and advertising while working licensing deals via the judicial system. Guess there’s a finite number of folks willing to bypass their cable or satellite provider for DVR functionality. And corporations have deeper pockets than consumers.

As you may have heard, much of the mid-Atlantic region has been crippled by winter weather. And my neighborhood was hit with maybe 18″ of snow yesterday. So, having some indoor time on my hands, I jumped on a few gadgety projects and looked to digital media for distraction.

Inspired by Mari’s netbook disaster, I had ordered a Time Capsule during Apple’s post-Thanksgiving sale (via WiFi-ed iPhone while in Munich). Leaving me with a perfectly good Airport Extreme Base Station. Given the AEBS’s ebay valuation (and effort involved), I scrapped my living room MoCA plans and instead reconfigured the set-top boxes to use that now secondary wireless router. Hardwiring the Xbox 360, Roku, and TiVo HD using three short Monoprice Ethernet cables (2 @ 2′, 1 @ 1′) took those devices from 802.11g to 802.11n and the AEBS also effectively extends the reach of my wireless network.

Once that was done, I pillaged my gadget closet. And packed up a variety of devices no longer in use for cash at Gazelle.com — in lieu of the eBay consignment store I used to patronize, now inconveniently located across the Potomac. Valuations aren’t great, but unloading stuff couldn’t be easier. After selecting the items and noting their condition, Gazelle makes an offer and, if accepted, immediately emails a UPS shipping label. Alternately, they’ll send a pre-paid box for shipping if needed. I’ll most likely blog or tweet the outcome at a later date.

While rummaging through the gadget closet, I also came across Blockbuster’s now-discontinued (?) 2Wire MediaPoint video-on-demand box. I didn’t particularly care for it in 2008, and a year later it still sucks — the same wireless network connectivity issues, random UI lockups, and DRM/licensing issues are in effect. I blew two credits, worth ~$10, trying to download and play Crank 2. As you can see below, it clearly didn’t work out. Instead, we ended up streaming Food, Inc. in HD via Netflix on TiVo. (And learned that nearly all our domestic issues can be blamed on corn. Which I’ll be thinking over at the KFC.)

With the last holiday shopping weekend of 2009 upon us, it’s probably time to list my favorite home entertainment boxes of the year. This list is by no means exhaustive, these are just some of my faves – top picks, suitable for mainstream audiences and geeks alike. Keeping in mind, that for the second straight year, the Xbox 360 ($300) is still my #1 digital media powerhouse – the one box I cannot part with. Take my TiVo. Take my Roku. But you better come armed if you want this 360. Not only does it feature the best online gaming experience, it also boasts THE best Netflix instant streaming client – in addition to offering a variety of other media playback options.

Video

In the video category, there are two standouts for those sticking with physical media – and a higher quality of HD. But the snappy LG BD 390 set-top box (<$300) and the redesigned PS3 gaming console ($300) are much more than capable Blu-ray players. Both offer a variety of connected services (and 802.11n), including Netflix instant streaming. Those who have current or potential gamers in the house should probably look to the PS3 (and budget another 20 bucks for a remote), while everyone else would be quite happy with the Vudu-streaming LG. If you’re less picky and/or on a tighter budget with a higher tolerance for networking pain, look to the Samsung BD-P1600 (~$150) for similar features.

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Chanukah has arrived, yet Comcast’s Xfinity is nowhere to be found. Or is it? I have it on good authority that Comcast did indeed attempt to launch this week. In fact, I’ve dug up at least one live web page (above) featuring dual Fancast-Xfinity branding. Plus, I received an email yesterday announcing the imminent closure of the Fancast Store (screengrab, below right). So we’re probably just mere days away from the unveiling of Comcast’s revamped TV Everywhere web experience, featuring HBO (!) content.

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