Networked media players arrive on scene

What started as a trickle last year has turned into a massive flood as network vendors and other PC makers (and some small start-ups) all enter the field of the networked media players. At this year's Consumer Electronics Show, several companies showed off products that stream multimedia content (music, photos or video) from a user's PC to either a TV, stereo system or both.

The products range from audio-only products, to large component systems that include DVD players and sit right next to a stereo system. Most products now include wireless adapters to eliminate cable clutter, and most of them include Ethernet adapters for those people who already have Ethernet in their homes (that means you, Mr. Gates).

Check out the chart below for details on the latest networked media players that we've run across:

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What started as a trickle last year has turned into a massive flood as network vendors and other PC makers (and some small start-ups) all enter the field of the networked media players. At this year's Consumer Electronics Show, several companies showed off products that stream multimedia content (music, photos or video) from a user's PC to either a TV, stereo system or both.

The products range from audio-only products, to large component systems that include DVD players and sit right next to a stereo system. Most products now include wireless adapters to eliminate cable clutter, and most of them include Ethernet adapters for those people who already have Ethernet in their homes (that means you, Mr. Gates).

Check out the chart below for details on the latest networked media players that we've run across:

Networked media players / receivers Company Actiontec Product name Wireless Digital Media Player with Built-in Card Reader Availability February 2004 online and in retailers Price $199.95 Wired? Yes Wireless? Yes Wireless flavor 802.11b or 802.11g Audio file support MP3, AC3, AAC, WAV, WMA, Ogg Vorbis Picture file support JPEG, GIF, animated GIF, TIF, BMP and PNG formats Movie file support MPEG-1, -2 and -4, DIVX, Xivd and RMP4 video formats Internet radio Yes Other features Support for Compact Flash Type I and II cards, IBM Microdrive, Memory Stick Pro, Smart Media, Memory Stick, MultiMedia Card and SD Cards; HDTV and S-video, and digital optical outputs; Web browser Company Netgear Product name MP101 Wireless Digital Music Player Availability 2/1/2004 online and retailers Price Under $200 Wired? Yes Wireless? Yes Wireless flavor 802.11b or 802.11g Audio file support MP3 and Windows Media (WMA) files Picture file support n/a Movie file support n/a Internet radio Yes Other features Audio-only device; streams RealNetworks Rhapsody digital music subscription service; includes LCD display and remote control Company Hauppauge Digital Inc. Product name MediaMVP Availability Now available Price $99 Wired? Yes Wireless? No Wireless flavor n/a Audio file support MP3 Picture file support JPEG, GIF Movie file support MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 Internet radio No Other features Includes remote control; plays M3U, B4S, PLS and ASX music playlists from MusicMatch, Windows Media Player and Winamp; a/v connections include S-video, composite video and RGB, plus stereo audio output; PC support is Windows XP or Windows XP Professional only. Company PRISMIQ Product name Prismiq MediaPlayer Availability Now available Price $199 Wired? Yes Wireless? Yes Wireless flavor 802.11a, b or g via PCMCIA card slot Audio file support MP3, MP2, AC3, WMA, WAV (via software) Picture file support JPEG, GIF, PNG Movie file support MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, AVI Internet radio Yes (Shoutcast and WMA Internet radio) Other features Compatible with AOL Instant Messenger; a/v outputs include S-video, composite, S/PDIF, and RCA. Company Linksys Product name Wireless-B Media Adapter Availability Now available Price About $150 Wired? Yes Wireless? Yes Wireless flavor 802.11b or 802.11g Audio file support MP3 and Windows Media (WMA) files Picture file support JPEG, GIF, TIF AND BMP Movie file support N/A Internet radio No Other features S-video output; RCA connections, composite video connections; 128-bit WEP support; M3U and ASX playlists supported. Company Linksys Product name Wireless-B Media Link for Music Availability Not announced Price Not announced Wired? Yes Wireless? Yes Wireless flavor 802.11b or 802.11g Audio file support MP3 and Windows Media (WMA) files Picture file support n/a Movie file support n/a Internet radio Yes Other features Connects via RCA cables or optical SPDIF cable; includes embedded LCD screen; comes with remote control. Company Linksys Product name Linksys DVD Player with Wireless-G Media Link Availability Q1 2004 Price Not announced Wired? Yes Wireless? Yes Wireless flavor 802.11g Audio file support MP3 and Windows Media (WMA) files Picture file support JPEG, GIF, TIF, PNG and BMP Movie file support MPEG-2, MPEG-4 and DivX. Internet radio Yes Other features Connections include standard composite, component a/v or S-Video cables; includes DVD player. Company SMC Product name EZ-Stream 11Mbps Wireless Audio Player Availability February 2004 online and in retailers Price $129.99 Wired? No Wireless? Yes Wireless flavor 802.11b or 802.11g Audio file support MP3, WMA and M3U playlists Picture file support n/a Movie file support n/a Internet radio No Other features Includes LCD screen, remote control and supports UPnP protocol. Company SMC Product name EZ-Stream Universal 2.4GHz/5GHz Wireless Multimedia Receiver Availability Now available Price $205 Wired? Yes Wireless? Yes Wireless flavor 802.11a, b or g Audio file support MP3 Picture file support JPEG, BMP Movie file support MPEG-1, MPEG-2 Internet radio Yes Other features Supports 64-bit and 128-bit WEP encryption; UPnP support. Company Gateway Product name Gateway Connected DVD Player with Wireless 802.11b Card Availability Now available Price $199.98 Wired? Yes Wireless? Yes Wireless flavor 802.11b Audio file support MP3 and Windows Media (WMA) files Picture file support JPEG Movie file support MPEG-1, MPEG-2 Internet radio No Other features Includes progressive scan DVD player; plays CDs, VCD/SVCD, Kodak Picture CD, and CD-R/CD-RW MP3 files; Dolby Digital and DTS decoding and output; connections include composite video, S-video and component video output; includes optical and coaxial digital audio jacks and 5.1 channel jacks. Company HP Product name hp wireless digital media receiver ew5000 Availability Now available Price $129.99 Wired? Yes Wireless? Yes Wireless flavor 802.11b Audio file support MP3 and Windows Media (WMA) files, and M3U, PLS AND RMP playlists Picture file support JPEG, GIF, BMP AND PNG Movie file support n/a Internet radio No Other features Supports 64-bit and 128-bit WEP encryption; includes ad hoc mode; connections include composite video, S-video outputs; analog audio.

Company D-Link Product name D-Link Wireless Media Player Availability Late February 2004 Price $149 ($129 street) Wired? Yes Wireless? Yes Wireless flavor 802.11g and 802.11b Audio file support MP3, WAV, AIF and WMA files Picture file support JPG, BMP, PNG, TIF, JPG2000 and GIF Movie file support MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DivX, QuickTime, Windows Media Video Internet radio Yes, including Radio@AOL Other features Connects via standard A/V or S-video cables; supports Universal Plug and Play standard; 64- and 128-bit WEP encryption; M3U, PLS, ASX and RMP playlists supported.

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