Filed under: Features, Gaming, Peripherals

So we snagged ourselves an Xbox 360 Messenger Kit (aka Chatpad + Chatpad headset), unboxed the hell out of it, and here’s what we think:

• Blister packs suck. Microsoft, we’re sick of ‘em.
• The Chatpad is a little difficult to get on and off, but once engaged it fits perfectly on the controller (duh), and feels like a seamless extension. Unfortunately there are two awkwardly placed screw holes on the underside, but you’ll learn to ignore ‘em.
• Players with longer fingers may be annoyed, this thing kind of prevents finger-wraparound.
• The keys are nice and tactile. And with the keyboard sounds the 360 makes in text entry you can be sure your typing is getting through. Still, thumb touch-typing on this is going to be almost out of the question for most, the thing is basically a straight up button grid.
• The shift / caps / alt green and amber buttons were kind of wonky and took some getting used to. No big deal though.
• It feels light at first, but after not too long it really starts to affect the balance of the controller, and could weigh you down a little. We suggest removing it when you don’t need it.
• The headset now has an inline mute / volume switch (with clip), so now you have move your hand off the controller mid-play to adjust the audio. Super lame.
• The Chatpad headset can be used on the controller without the Chatpad, but why would you want to? The old style headset is more efficient (see above) and sounds just as good.
• In fact, while we’re on the topic, the original headset doesn’t use those two data paddles either — so we have no idea why the Chatpad didn’t just skip bundling a second headset and instead include a port that could accept the original kind. We suspect this was to raise the consumer price of the package without raising Microsoft’s cost much more. Either way, it’s sucky.

Should you buy one? Well, $30 isn’t really too crazy of a price for this thing, but we’d say if Microsoft releases a $20 version that doesn’t come bundled with the new headset (and can use the old headset kind), yeah, plunk down. Otherwise, we have a feeling only completionists and heavy message senders will really need this thing.

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Filed under: HDTV, Media PCs

If you’ll recall, Fujitsu’s unsightly TEO HTPC was first seen way back in January, and while the newest iteration most certainly steps it up in the hardware department, the aesthetics are still sorely lacking. Nevertheless, the TEO90X/D sports a 1.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5500 processor, 2GB of RAM, a half terabyte of HDD space, integrated multicard reader (SD / Memory Stick / xD support), WiFi, FireWire, gigabit Ethernet, audio in / out, and of course, a Blu-ray writer. Furthermore, you’ll find an optical digital audio output, HDCP-compliant HDMI / DVI connectors, an ATI Radeon Xpress 1250 graphics set (um, weak?), digital TV tuner, and Vista Home Premium runnin’ the show. Slated to hit Japan here shortly, the TEO90X/D is priced at ¥265,000 ($2,282).

[Via AkihabaraNews]

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Filed under: Home Entertainment, Media PCs

They may have taken a bit longer than the company initially claimed, but S1Digital’s new CableCARD-enabled Media Centers are apparently now finally shipping. That desirable option is available on the company’s ProLine Quad Server and FX Editions, and its Home Series Platinum Edition, each of which boast a pair of CableCARD slots to let you watch and record two channels at the same time. It looks like you’ll also be able to keep plenty of those recordings on deck, with up to 3.75 terabytes of storage on the Server Edition and 2.25 terabytes on the Platinum Edition. Otherwise, you can expect Core 2 Duo or Core 2 Quad processors depending on the model, along with optional HD DVD or Blu-ray drives, and NVIDIA PureVideo HD video processors, with Windows Vista running the show. From the looks of it, S1Digital is only selling the Home Series Media Center directly to customers, with the higher-end options reserved for dealers and custom installers.

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Filed under: Home Entertainment, Media PCs

Fujitsu-Siemens is supposed to debut the Scaleo, its first entry in the Windows Home Server market, later this week at IFA, but this press shot — the first non-renders we’ve seen — have surfaced a bit early, along with some more specs. The Scaleo will feature 4 internal drive bays, four USB 2 ports, two eSATA ports, “always-available” operation as opposed to being always-on, and silent operation. No word on that rumored two-drive RAID array or that 50W power consumption, but we’ll know more when we get our hands on one at the conference.

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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Media PCs

Hot on the heels of Dell and HP launching (or in the case of the latter, relaunching) CableCARD-equipped machines of their own, along comes Okoro Media Systems to give you yet another option to consider. Truth be told, you’ve now got five more alternatives to ponder, as the firm’s OMS-TH540, OMS-TH550, OMS-BX300, OMS-GX100, and OMS-GX300 all come with CableCARD availability. Christopher Curry, VP of Sales and Operations, even stated that CableCARDs should “soon be available in [the outfit’s] entry-level systems,” too. Price wise, the ATI TV Wonder Digital CableCARD Tuner (or two, if you so choose) will run you $250 (apiece) above the price of the standard “OTA HDTV and Analog SDTV Recording” option.

[Via MSMVPS]

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Filed under: Home Entertainment, Media PCs

Not a lot to go on here, but it looks like a couple sites leaked tentative pricing information for HP’s first Windows Home Server machine, the MediaSmart Home Server. OnSale.com, PC Mall and Best Buy all listed the 1TB EX475 at $749, while the 500GB EX470 appears to be set at $599. Amazon also listed both models today sans pricing, so it looks like we’ll have these in our hot little hands soon.

Read - PC Mall cache
Read - Onsale.com cache

[Via We Got Served]

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Filed under: Laptops, Media PCs

Toshiba just launched a pair of updated Qosmio media laptops in Japan. A new G40/97D configuration sports a 17-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) display; 2GHz, T7300 Core 2 Duo proc; 256MB of NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics, 2GB (up to 4GB supported) memory, 320GB of disk (2x 160GB); Gigabit Ethernet; HDMI out; a 2 megapixel webcam; and an HD DVD-R drive. It also brings plenty of expansion with 5x USB, Firewire, multiple memory card support, and a PCMCIA and ExpressCard/54 slot. Pretty much what we’ve seen before. Now, however, we’re looking at a pair of digital tuners so that you can record and watch that sweet, sweet TeeVee at the same time. It’s also pre-loaded with CyberLink SoftDMA allowing it to pull your HD recordings off your VARDIA series of recorders wrapped in a DRM-ladden, DTCP-IP hard candy shell. Want more Tosh integration? Great, ’cause it also supports HDMI-CEC allowing the G40 to control your new HDMI connected REGZA series of TVs. All that for ¥400,000 or about $3,470. Too much? Then check the new Qosmio F40 which does much the same only on a 15.4-inch screen for about $850 less.

[Via Impress]

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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Media PCs

HIDVAN’s DABODA HMC-1 most certainly isn’t the most attractive HTPC we’ve seen, but it should do the trick for South Koreans looking to spruce up their AV center with a hint of PC. Interestingly, this media center is reportedly also an NDAS, which enables users to easily share their media over a local network. Furthermore, you’ll find 5.1-channel surround sound outputs, DVI, Ethernet, component / composite / S-Video, USB 2.0 ports, and a SIGMA 8621 chipset for decoding. Not a lot of details beyond that just yet, but feel free to click on for a few more shots of this September-bound machine.

Continue reading DABODA HMC-1 media PC heads for Korea

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Filed under: Ask Engadget, Media PCs

We were keeping it simple last week on Ask Engadget, helping in Perry’s quest for a stripped-down GPS unit. This time Xtopher Robin is looking to do more with less, with big hopes for his aging laptop. If you’d like your own question answered by the best tech minds ever to click a comment submit button, be sure send it to ask at engadget dawt com for next week’s round of fun. And here’s Xtopher:

“I have a 3 year old laptop (1.89GHz Athlon XP, 1GB of RAM, 64MB Radeon) loaded with all kinds of music, pictures, movies, etc, and I’m looking for a good media center program. I have XP Pro, and want a “MCE-like” experience. I have tried MediaPortal, but I’m less than thrilled with the experience. I’m looking for something that can be controlled via a Bluetooth controller (ie: Salling Clicker through a cell phone, Wiimote, PDA, etc). Any ideas?”

Sounds like a tall order for those specs, but perhaps a bit of Linux will give the thing a new lease on life? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Media PCs

If you thought HTIBs were convenient, the FUZE Media System should have you grinning from ear to ear. Similar to the uber-pricey ConnectedLife.Home in a box, this all-in-one solution brings together a FuzeBox HTPC with “multiple CableCARD tuners,” FuzeMini HD Media Clients, the Fuze Whole-Home remote, a four-inch wall-mountable touchscreen interface, and a number of on-wall control switches to deliver complete multimedia integration throughout your domicile. According to FUZE, you’ll find “all the necessary components for media storage and distribution: a primary media server, video clients, audio clients, and multiple interface options.” Interestingly, it even notes that “DRM-friendly whole-home HD video” won’t be a problem with this here equipment, and while the firm has yet to talk dollars and dates, we’ll hopefully be getting a much closer look at what’s involved when it sets up shop at CEDIA.

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