HP introduces MediaSmart Receiver

January 21, 2008 – HP introduced its new MediaSmart Receiver at the recent CES 2008 show in Las Vegas, offering Windows Media Center Extender capability and the option to stream media from multiple PCs to the TV.

The device can connect to a home network via a wired Ethernet connection or embedded Wi-Fi antennas supporting 802.11 a/b/g/n.  The device is certified for Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) and Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) connectivity.

In terms of physical connections, the device offers HDMI, Ethernet, USB, analogue audio, component video and optical audio connectors, as well as a Pocket Media Drive bay.   The device is compatible with many popular file formats including DivX, H.264, MPEG-2, WMV, MP3, WMA and AAC, JPEG, BMP and PNG.

The MediaSmart Receiver can stream both standard- and high-definition video, and allows users to control video with pause, fast-forward and rewind features.  The device can also connect to the Internet through the HP Online Services menu, allowing users to download movies from CinemaNow, and access over a million songs on demand.

No details have yet been released on price or launch dates.