Microsoft, Chenbro, Gigabyte, Streaming 21, WNC, Sampo Establish the Digital Home Alliance

Over in the Far East, Microsoft have initiated a series of Windows Embedded workshops which are showcasing a new hardware and software ecosystem focused around the Windows Home Server platform.

In Taiwan and Seoul yesterday, the Digital Home Alliance was presented to industry audiences, with partners from Streaming 21 (a media streaming company), Chenbro (chassis manufacturer), Gigabyte (motherboard and component manufacturer) Sampo (home applicance manufacturer) and WNC (IPTV business) showing off hardware and software applications designed for an integrated Windows Home Server solutuon for the home.

According to the Digital Home Alliance’s website, the partnership has been formed to promote simple and universal ways to deploy standard technologies, services and content which enable and enhance the lifestyle experience in the Digital Home.

At a press conference today announcing the alliance, Streaming 21 will present their branded Home Server appliance which enables new digital home applications such as the IP Refrigerator, IP-Set Top Box and a 42″ LCD Full HDTV (supporting 1080p with HDMI) which features embedded STB and supports DLNA and UPnP standards via wired or wireless networks.

Streaming 21 have built a web-based platform on top of Windows Home Server which makes it easy to add unlimited applications for service expansions and allows users to subscribe their preferred services via Windows Home Server. This unique Home Server allows users to manage personal content (such as photos, videos and music), enjoy internet community content (web photo albums and video sharing for example) and display real-time internet content (Internet news, weather, stocks and more) on TVs. It also offers many intriguing features such as Personal Video Recording (PVR), streaming music, IPTV, VOD and many more. The open web-based platform makes it easy to add unlimited applications for service expansions. Personal broadcasting and commercial content services such as Internet radio, movie rentals or home karaoke services are forthcoming.

Sampo will be showcasing an Internet Refrigerator which can act as the central control center for the kitchen. The Internet Refrigerator, with a 15″ touch screen panel enables many interesting new services such as food management, on-demand cooking tutorials and recipes, video on demand, RSS feeds, streaming music, and more. Internet radio, IP surveillance and other communication features will be available soon.

Further sessions will be held in Singapore, Taiwan, China and elsewhere in Asia to showcase the partnership and applications in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, the Digital Home Alliance is continuing to seek new partners to join the ecosystem, and futher applications are expected to be announced in 2008.