The new Iomega Screenplay Director HD media player is an internet TV and home network set top box that offers HD online movies, YouTube & web TV, and access to media stored on devices on your home network.

The device replaces the old Screenplay TV link which came out in 2008. I got a hands-on look at the new media box while at CES 2010 and it certainly delivers on what it promises with a very reasonable price tag.

You can watch HD movies purchased or rented from Cinema Now, an online movie rental service similar to iTunes and Amazon Video-on-Demand.

Other online content includes YouTube, Flickr, Internet radio, RSS feeds, or podcasts, all accessible through the easy-to-use user interface and remote. Check out the GUI in the video below:

It also comes with a healthy 1TB internal drive and uou can also hook up additional storage via the 3 USB ports.

Home Network Media

The HD Media Player also gives you access to videos and media on your home network in a wide variety formats.

It can connect via Ethernet or Wi-Fi and has DLNA support making watching videos across your home network relatively seamless.

Unfortunately for WI-FI wireless access you’ll need to purchase the Iomega 802.11n Wireless Adapter separately or one of the following supported USB Wi-Fi devices which can be hard to get hold of:

• Trendnet TEW424UB (USB)
• Edimax EW-7316UG (11g USB)
• Encore ENUWI-G (USB dongle)

You could try your luck with another USB Wi-Fi device but quite often they’ve been reported not to work.

Wi-Fi networks tend be a bit sluggish for copying large files and playing HD anyway so you may want to look into a home plug adapter or CoAX adapter to extend your internet connection. These are usually offer a faster and more reliable connection compared to Wi-Fi, but are more expensive.

Full Specs

Media Formats

• Audio Formats – MP3, AC3 (Dolby® Digital Encoding), WAV, OGG, WMA
• Video Formats – MPEG-1, MPEG-2 (AVI/VOB), MPEG-4 (AVI/DivX®/XViD), H.264, WMV, AVCHD
• Photo Formats – JPEG, BMP, GIF, PNG and TIFF
• File Types – .mkv, .avi, .asf, .iso, .vob, .mp4, .mov, .wmv, .flv, .ifo
• PAL/NTSC – Full 1080p high definition (24 fps)
• AV Connections – HDMI, Composite video and audio R/L; Component video: Y, Pb, Pr, optical audio
• Hard drive format: NTFS (default), FAT32

Interfaces

• 1 x RCA Component Video Out – Rear
• 1 x Composite Video Out – Rear
• 1 x Stereo Audio Line Out – Rear
• 1 x HDMI Digital Audio/Video Out – Rear
• 1 x RJ-45 Network – Rear
• 3 x USB – Rear
• 1 x Toslink S/PDIF Out – Rear
• EthernetWireless
• IEEE 802.11b/g/n
• DLNA support

Other

• Versatile Supports many CODECs and file types including H.264 so you can enjoy your entire media collection
• Access online content on internet sites such as YouTube, Flickr, Internet radio, RSS feeds, or podcastsLarge capacity
• Save up to 1500 hours of video, 4,000,000 photos,or 18,500 hours of music on the  1 TB drive
• DivX Home Theatre Certified Includes Iomega Protection Suite anti-virus and backup software solutions

Pros

• Full HD support
• Supports lots of file formats
• 1TB storage included
• Rent movies online and YouTube access

Cons

• Needs separate adapter for Wi-Fi support
• Would like to see more online TV and internet features

Bottom Line

Retailing at $250 the Iomega Screenplay Director HD (model number 34650) is a healthy price when you consider the 1TB storage included (an external Iomega 1TB hard drive is typically $100 or more).

With full HD support, ability to watch videos on the home network, and online TV, movie rentals and internet functions it has a good amount to offer. Lack of built-in Wi-Fi is a real shame though.

Iomega Screenplay Director HD Marketplace – Deals & Discounts

On Amazon:
Buy it on Amazon.

On eBay:

Also See

• The Monsoon Volcano which offers internet TV, placeshifting, home network media playing and more.
• More Internet TV Set Top Boxes
• Homeplug Ethernet Adapters on eBay

Zagg has made a big jump into the home convergence & placeshifting set top box market, from their typical line-up of cell phone screen protectors. Enter the ZaGGbox…

The device acts as a central hub for your various home TV devices (Xbox, Blu-ray player, PS3, DVR, cable box etc.), a way to watch media from devices on your home network as well as a Slingbox style placeshifter.

Universal Remote

A neat feature of the Zaggbox, which is largely absent from other media streaming hubs, is the fact it has a truly universal remote.

You can control any device hooked up to the device with the remote (pictured below) or with the iPhone/iPod touch app. Remote control apps for other smart-phones are also due to be released.

I got to check out the Zaggbox at this year’s CES and it does have an easy-to-use onscreen interface. So using the universal remote to manage your integrated home media equipment from one convenient control is pretty easy.

Record from any Device

You can record from any device that is hooked up to the Zaggbox too onto its internal 1TB drive. This gives it basic DVR functionality as well as creating an easy way to record of gaming consoles or any other set top box.

When recording the ZAGGbox automatically reads and transcodes any video codec into two formats at one time; one for television viewing and a separate version optimized for the Apple iPhone/iPod family.

It’s video compression ability makes for high quality placeshifting if you want to view your home TV content on a computer or iPhone with an internet connection.

Stream Within & Beyond the Home

Media stored on the ZAGGbox can be broadcast within the home or beyond the home (like the Slingbox) via a browser or cell phone client.
The media content streams through UPnP, Video Podcasting, or a built-in web server. You can also share media with friends but the Zaggbox will screen the videos your share for copyright and may restrict what you can share.

In addition, the ZAGGbox has the ability to aggregate the video from compatible security cameras, which can be viewed on a live stream with a mobile Internet device. It makes sense that the Zaggbox could also be used as a live broadcaster – aka slingcatcher.

Being internet enabled it would have been a sweet bonus to have access to online video, but that could be cheaply achieved with a PopBox.

Home Automation

The ZAGGbox allows for home automation. Utilizing the Z-Wave system, it will be compatible with security systems, HVAC systems, door locks, or lighting. This feature set will be available shortly after launch.

Feature Overview

• True Universal Remote
• 3 HD inputs & 2 SD inputs
• 1TB internal hard drive.
• 4 USB ports for expandable storage
• UPnP and DLNA support
• iPhone/Ipod remote control Apps
• Stream media from devices on home network
• Watch home recordings on any internet/3G/wi-fi connected iPhone or computer
• Home automation functions.

Zaggbox Specs

• Hard Disk – 1Terabyte
• Network – 100 Base-T
• Wireless – 802.11b/g/n; Ad-Hoc Open with WEP or Infrastructure Open with WEP, WPA-PSK with TKIP or AES
• Connectivity – SMB (Microsoft Windows share) or UPnP
• HDMi Output – v1.1
• Audio ADC – MP3, AAC, M4A
• Video Decoder – MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4.2, WMV9, VC-1, MPEG4.10(H.264)/AVC, DivX®, Xvid
• HD Encoder – 10X compression for HD .mov files; 50X-100X compression for iPhone platform
• Inputs – 3 component, 2 composite video/S-Video, 5 USB 2.0, 8-1 Multi ready (SD, Xd, MMC) SD card reader. No HDMI Inputs?
• Parental Controls – USA TV/Movie, Canadian English/French rating levels, user-defined ratings, channel block, front panel control lock
• Closed captioning – Analog and digital closed captions with customizable colors, fonts, and backgrounds. Single-button CC on/off.

Pros

• True universal remote
• Plenty of inputs
• Aggregate home network onto the TV set
• Works great with iPhone
• Healthy 1TB internal hard drive & USB ports for more
• Access home media from anywhere

Cons

• Pricey
• No access to online TV channels
• Small monthly subscription fee
• No HDMI inputs

The Bottom Line

Priced at a whopping $999 (with a $799 pre-order option) this is an expensive device. If you have a bunch of black TV gadget boxes in your front room then this is a great device to bring them all together and make them accessible from one remote and allow online access. As a home media convergence device it does the job well, but still costly.

However, I can’t understand why there are no HDMI inputs. If you want to access all your home media devices via the Zaggbox interface then some of those will connect via HDMI, but you would have to settle for an SD composite connection unless they can stream over the home network.

Zagg did also mention a small monthly subscription fee (about $5/mo) which appears to be for the ability to stream your media beyond the home.

It is available for pre-order from the Zagg website, and any eBay deals will appear below when available:

Also See:

• The Monsoon Volcano – Another home convergence device (which is cheaper)
• More internet TV set top boxes on WebTVWire
• HDMI cables on eBay

The XstreamHD service has been in the works for a few years and is finally due for public release later this year. It essentially offers DVR functionality, on-demand video and sharing of video across your home network.

When you buy an XstreamHD you would get a HD Media Server unit which will store your video content on a hard drive, and a HD Media receiver which hooks up to your TV.

A remote control would also be provided to use the XstreamHD interface on your TV. As you can see from the pics below the GUI looks well designed and intuitive.

[Image Source: Sound & Vision]

Main Features

Video on demand will be delivered via satellite which seems odd given the move by most Set Top Boxes to IPTV based services. Video will be available in full 1080p HD and audio will be DTS-HD.

The device will also have 3 tuners allowing record and watch up to 3 ATSC over the air (OTA) channels with typical DVR functions.

DLNA capable devices will also be able pull video from the HD Media Server, but from what I gather if you had a DLNA TV you’d still probably want to hook it up to the Media Receiver to get the XstreamHD user interface.

You will also be able to manage media on your home network including videos, images and music.

XStreamHD’s Sales Pitch:

XStreamHD Invites You to Join the HD Revolution

XStreamHD invites you to enjoy a revolutionary in-home digital entertainment experience. Step up to unparalleled HD entertainment living with

XStreamHD’s whole home entertainment solution. Enjoy Full HD (1080p) video and up to 7.1 channels of lossless DTS-HD Master Audio™ content – including movies, music and games – at the highest level of quality that today’s advanced digital consumer electronics and home theaters were designed to support.

How XStreamHD Works – No-Hassle HD

Using a small outdoor satellite antennae, your XStreamHD system collects multiple streams of studio master quality HD entertainment at lightening fast speed. The content is streamed directly into one sophisticated XStreamHD Media Server in your home that collects, stores and organizes your pre-fetched movies, music and games in your Virtual Personal Library.

The HD Server is loaded with up to 4TB of removable internal storage, and additional access to external storage via an eSATA connection. Further, the XStreamHD Media Server includes a built-in Network Video Recorder that uses three HDTV (ATSC) tuners to capture all of your favorite off-air HDTV programs from start-to-finish – regardless of schedule changes – thanks to a unique patent-pending Adaptive Recording feature.

XStreamHD Whole Home Entertainment Solution

As a whole home solution, the XStreamHD Media Server can deliver multiple streams of content throughout your home to any television equipped with a compact XStreamHD Media Receiver or any DLNA Certified™ device – from computers, to next-generation televisions and game consoles.

With every XStreamHD Media Receiver you get an ergonomic, state-of-the-art XStreamHD RF One Remote Control that requires no line-of-site and integrates with most home A/V equipment. Additionally, XStreamHD has just released an audiophile-class PRO Media Receiver that permits you to leverage your
elite audio equipment that supports analog inputs to decode and output the latest generation of HD studio master quality audio and video.

Pre-Fetched Entertainment – Immediate Access to Studio Master Quality HD

Only XStreamHD provides you with Pre-Fetched Entertainment (PFE). PFE automatically delivers just-released HD movies, music and electronic games
directly to your Virtual Personal Library.

Leap forward to a world in which you can enjoy immediate access to the highest quality content sent directly to your home, without the wait times and hassles associated with in-store shopping, mail order programs, and slow Internet content downloads. Never be denied any of the latest titles.

XStreamHD Calling – FREE In-Network Calling

XStreamHD also provides you with a Business Class Phone Upgrade. Enjoy XStreamHD Calling – FREE in-network calling between XStreamHD customers.

Plus, you can add multiple extensions to your existing phone lines and gain additional VoIP advanced phone features including interactive voice response (IVR) and access to voicemail through your computer or television.

XStreamHD Interoperability – Easy Installation, Easy Integration

XStreamHD is a simple-to-install solution and operates with many existing home electronic components. XStreamHD integrates with DLNA Certified™ devices that include advanced flat-screen televisions, Blu-ray players, computers and game consoles.

The system promises to deliver unmatched quality, convenience and value to everyone who chooses to improve their in-home entertainment standard of living!

Price & Availability

The introductory model will contain a modest 500GB drive in the Xstream Media Server and come with HD Media Receiver for a relatively steep $399. 1TB and 2TB models will cost more.

The XstreamHD will also have an undisclosed monthly service as Dave Zatz pointed out. This will be for service, guide data, and VoIP calling to fellow customers

XStreamHD will soon be taking pre-orders for an expected spring delivery. When the devices are available on eBay live auctions will appear below:

You May Also Be Interested In:

• DISH ViP 922 1TB DVR Review | Slingbox Technology & HD On-Demand Streaming Full Episodes with TV Everywhere
• More DVR Reviews on WebTVWire
• 1TB DVRs on eBay