HC2 as Media Centre .... cheap and simple

[Guest ericf]

Hi,

why not use this nice HC2 box as a cheap/simple media center. The problem today is that you need at home multiple box, hardware to be able to do some nice thing : manage the automation of your home, watch movies/DVD/DIVX,... on your PC or TV, go to internet + read your mail why not add a feature that a lot of people are looking for : a Media Centre ...

How to implement it ?

- do recreate what is very good, adapt/enhance it ... take for example XMBC :

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for the OS of the HC2

- rebuild/recompile it to be optimize for the hardware of the box

- use the NIC to share the movies

- use some shared storage ... (humm NFS to access a NAS, access a USB disk connected to the 2 USB connector in the rear of the HC2, ...)

- add some CPU consumption to not overkill the HC2 (resource management on the OS)

- and start a web browser (on you TV, PC, ...) to watch the movie ...

- could also be used to share the music ..

Regards,

Eric

[Guest ericf]

Also

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[derelict 0]

I'm with you in a certain way.... however... i don't think that the HC2 Hardware would be capable of being a full blown media center (full hd resolutions or even 3D! ) !

Secondly ... i don't see any evidence of an onboard graphic card (which would be required for h264 kind of playback) or even an hdmi connector somewhere

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/emoticons/default_icon_smile.gif" alt=":-)" />.... this "could" be circumvented with an usb graphic card... but i don't know if such an external usb graphic card with enough horsepower for full hd exists !?

I have deployed ZOTAC AD02 mini PC's on ALL TV's in my house. That box runs xbmc, a "home entertainment information webportal" and dvbviewer (connected to a central "tv server"). This way i already have a box which does all required for a TV.

Therefore... i would rather see some kind of client application (for windows, linux) running on pc's (not necessarily connected to a tv) connecting back to the HC2 Home Automation System (and i still think that's the approach for the hc2 hardware anyway) for various tasks like:

- precense detection and sending feedback to HC2

- voice recognition

- home status display

- phonecall display and handling

- weather information

- and so on... basically anything that can can be displayed and managed on a tv (or display) which is related to your "Home".

- that client could also be seen as an "extender" for HC2 to Displays and/or pc's taking use of the hardware on those PC's (webcam, microphone, graphics processing power and so on)

Just my thoughts

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Cheers

Marcel

[derelict 0]

something like the "speaker client" in homeseer..... but much better

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/emoticons/default_icon_smile.gif" alt=":-)" />

[Guest ericf]

agree

but that coudl be also the hardware evolution of the HC2 ... place in the living room --> it has a nice look to be just place near your TV

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/emoticons/default_icon_smile.gif" alt=":-)" />

Look to Apple TV and A5 CPU

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/emoticons/default_icon_smile.gif" alt=":-)" />

Maybe the next HC2 --> HC3 = 2 A5 or A6 (in place of Atom --> consumption is higher) 1 for the domotique part and the other for extra job (Media center ....)

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/emoticons/default_icon_smile.gif" alt=":-)" />

Regards,

Eric

[derelict 0]

smile... yes... if a new "HC3" woudn't be to expensive compared to a mini pc for the purpose of HDTV viewing and being a "HC2/3 Client".