Apple is working furiously to get their ITV product into market early next year. However, this type of product is not a new idea. There have been a number of similar remote multimedia products since 2003, most based off the Syabas software stack. Geeks.com were very generous sending us over ADS' MXL-581 Media-Link Entertainment Receiver for a review, a Syabas-based device that's using the uCOS-II real-time kernel (introduction [.pdf]). Check inside for our review and many screenshots of the system.
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Member since:2005-06-28
If you had taken the time to actually read the review, I mention that there is component and DVI inputs. Nevertheless, these are pretty useless ports, because the device can't decode HD-resolution video anyway. It would only be useful for better quality SD video, browsing and picture viewing.
Edited 2006-11-04 06:31
Member since:2006-09-16
I read the review. I know you mentioned the DVI and component outputs (not inputs), which of course are capable of HD. That's why I thought it odd that you mentioned using s-video for HD, which won't work.
I'm interested in devices like this, and appreciate the time that you took to do the review. Because of that interest, I took the time to read the review closely. Closely enough to spot a minor error, one that I've had to explain to others under different circumstances. There are a surprising number of people watching SD on HDTVs because they used an s-video cable to connect to their cable box, and the manuals weren't clear that s-video is used only for SD. I thought OSnews readers might want to avoid that.
But I was wrong, as it seems that not hurting your feelings is more important than accurate information. I promise not to do it again.
Member since:
2006-09-16
The screen shot shows that the output settings include high definition as well as standard definitionmodes , but the review mentions HD over s-video. S-video is always standard definition.
HD requires DVI,HDMI, or component outputs. Composite and s-video are always standard definition.
S-video uses a 4 pin mini-DIN connector. I have an nvidia graphics card that has a 6 pin mini-DIN that a 4 pin s-video cable can plug into, leaving 2 pins unused. When set to s-video mode, the output is always NTSC or PAL standard definition. Higher resolutions are scaled down.
That 6 pin connector is used with an adapter dongle to provide composite video, which can be standard or high definition. Different mode, and will not work with an s-video cable.
I suspect that the reviewed device is similar, and can do either HD composite or SD s-video out the same connector, but not both at the same time. If you hooked up using an s-video cable, you were looking at SD.