We featured PlayOn Media Server last week on the site – it’s an application which allows you to view online video from a wide range of sources such as Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, CBS News, CNN and more on devices such as the PS3, Xbox 360 and a growing number of digital media receivers.
With a little tinkering, you can also use PlayOn Media Server with Windows Home Server!

Thanks to the guys at MediaMall Technologies, we have two free licenses (worth $39.99 each) to give away.

All I want to know is:
What is the best TV series of all time?

Head over to the WGS Forums to enter – You have a week to enter and we’ll pull two lucky winners out at random. Whilst the competition is open to all, PlayOn Media Server works best in the USA (as some of the content is restricted to US only viewers), so if you’re outside the US, you may want to give this one a miss (sorry!).

So, the competition closes on February 28th 2009. Get cracking!

More Info: Enter the Competition

Looks like the new HP MediaSmart Server started shipping today!

We’ve had reports from readers who ordered their units from hp.com that they received their shipping emails this morning.

The first units should be arriving by Wednesday – if you’re one of the first to get yours, let us know what you think of it!

D-Link were showing off a couple of new routers at CES this year, and whilst in general, routers are pretty unimaginative pieces of kit that we just want to work (especially uPnP port forwarding!), these caught my eye for slightly different reasons.

Xtreme N 450 Router 

The Xtreme N 450 is D-Link’s fastest router, with claimed speeds up to 450 Megabits per second (which compares to other devices which have claimed speeds of 300 Megabits per second – note the word “claimed” on both of these examples).

The Xtreme N 450 is a dual-band router (running at 2.4 and 5 GHz simultaneously) with 4 gigabit ethernet ports, printer sharing features and the company’s new D-Link Green technology which reduces power consumption through scheduling wi-fi only when needed and reducing power output by detecting port activity and cable length.

No pricing or availability as yet.

D-Link Xtreme N All-In-One 11 Router (DIR-685)

If you’re the kind of person who thinks tech should be hidden away in a cupboard you’re going to hate this one, but I thought it was pretty cool – the DIR-685 is an 802.11n wireless router with a couple of tricks up its sleeve.

Firstly, you’ll have noticed that 3.2″ LCD screen right in the centre – this is used for displaying diagnostics, but can also serve as a digital photo frame, connecting to an online service to display your photos along with streaming video, weather forecasts and more.

Secondly, slide a 2.5″ internal hard drive into the side of the router and it’s transformed into an all-in-one router and network storage device. Maybe not as powerful as your home server, but a neat solution all the same.  Again, pricing and availability is still to be released.

Who said routers were dull?

More Info: D-Link

At CES on Saturday I spent an hour with D-Link talking through the range of new products they’re releasing for 2009. Whilst their business has traditionally been focused on wireless routers (and indeed there’s a pretty cool new router slated for release this year with a built in digital photo display) their range of networked storage devices and peripherals is growing all the time.

One major new product line for this year is a new home/small business surveillance system utilising 802.11n wireless cameras.

To date, there has been no IP camera solution available for Windows Home Server, and whilst these new cameras cannot currently be controlled via a WHS add-in, D-Link tell me there are plans to support Windows Home Server in the future (they were displaying the camera plugged into the new Acer easyStore Home Server).

The new DCS-1130 is currently controlled via a website, and features easy installation and setup, mobile 3G and Web monitoring, 16x digital zoom, sharp resolution, and multiple profiles. It connects to the home or small business network using 802.11n Wi-Fi with WPS support, or via a standard network cable. You’ll also be able to pick up a wired-only camera (DCS-1100) if you don’t need a wireless connection.

Other cool feature is the ability to monitor the cameras via a live feed through any 3G enabled phone or mobile device, using a 3GPP player.

The cameras all come with stands, or can be wall mounted easily via screwholes on the rear of the device.

So, if you’re looking for a home surveillance solution that’ll record to a storage device and allow you to monitor you home through the day, make sure you check this out. Expect the new models to land in the first half of the year.

More Info: D-Link

You know, it’s funny – I caught up with a couple of people from the Windows Home Server team yesterday morning at CES about various things including the fact that TwonkyMedia really needed to release their TwonkyMedia Server to all Windows Home Server owners. (Currently, the add-in is only available to HP and Fujitsu-Siemens SCALEO owners – everyone else has the complexity of using the standard Windows edition).

Not sure if the guys over at TwonkyMedia were eavesdropping, because this was just announced in their forums:

We have a special version of TwonkyMedia that runs as an Add-in on WHS. Currently it’s only available when you buy an HP MediaSmart server, but we’re hoping to offer this to all WHS users — as soon as it’s properly tested…. We understand that many of your have built your own Windows Home Servers and plan to sell a version designed for you guys as well. I don’t have an ETA yet, and won’t have one for at least a week because I’m at CES all this week.

Great news – looking forward to giving it a try-out.

Padding around the floors of CES this week, one big trend I saw from the big Consumer Electronics manufacturers was the launch of the networked TV.

Sony, Samsung, LG and Toshiba were all showing off TVs with ethernet connections which could be used to display Yahoo widgets (which were everywhere and causing a lot of interest) as well as content from YouTube, Picasa and others.

A couple of models were boasting DLNA compliance, which meant that they could very easily connect to other compliant storage devices around the home (like a home server running Twonky Media Server, perhaps?) and playback Music, Videos and Photos without the need for any kind of separate set top box, extender or digital media receiver.

I think this is great for two reasons – firstly, who needs more boxes under the TV? Secondly, the big CE guys are very experienced in communicating features in simple and easy ways for consumers to understand. Sure, they’ll all create silly names for network playback like BraviaLink Display+ but, the feature will work every time, consumers will understand what it does and best of all, whilst the TV will be able to play lots of content in the cloud, it will reinforce the benefits of a home server, acting as a hub for all of your media.

This is probably the main reason we didn’t see any new Extender news from HP, Linksys and D-Link at CES this year, but expect to see more networked TVs, DVD and Blu-Ray players heading your way in the next few years.

Here’s a few shots I took of networked TVs around the show:

LG showing networked TVs and the same NAS device displayed at IFA last summer, as part of a “Connected Home” exhibit.

We’ve already discussed Toshiba’s adoption of Windows Media Center:

Sony’s DLNA compliant TV will play content from compliant devices including home servers:

as will Samsung’s own DLNA compliant offering:

With millions of dollars about to be spent by these guys educating consumers on the connected home (let’s face it, TV companies have to sell TVs and there’s not a lot of other news for them to shout about right now) there’s a huge opportunity for Microsoft and home server manufacturers to jump on board and shout about how their products will realise the value of the TV purchase.

The next version of Windows Home Server will be DLNA compliant out of the box – up until then, TwonkyMedia Server gives any home server DLNA compliance for $30 bucks or so. Things are becoming a lot more simple for consumers who want to get this stuff working together.

The next 24 months will be interesting – let me know what you think.

If you read our review of the HP MediaSmart Server and are thinking about buying one, make sure you get yours first!

The don’t ship until February in the USA, but you can place your pre-order today over at Amazon.com – the 750Gb EX485 is now available to pre-order at the link below for $569.99.

Pre-order: HP EX485 MediaSmart Home Server

Over in San Francisco this week, Macworld visitors have been treated to a glimpse of the new HP MediaSmart Server which now supports data backup for Apple Macs.

Whilst it’s incongruous to think of a Windows-based product being showcased at a Mac trade show, clearly it’s hit the mark as Macworld magazine editors awarded the product a “Best of Show” gong yesterday.

They said, “HP’s MediaSmart Server is a server for the home. The idea is that it gives you one place to store all your family’s shared libraries of photos, music, and video, and provide a backup drive for every computer in the house.

It looks like a mini-tower. It’s got four drive bays. You can buy it with one or two of those bays full, for 750GB or 1.5TB of storage. You can plug any SATA drive into the remaining bays if you need more storage.

The MediaSmart Server isn’t new, but the latest version adds improved Mac compatibility. For one thing, it now works as an iTunes Server. You can copy your iTunes libraries to it, then access those combined libraries from any computer in the house. (Unfortunately, the media collection tool, which can go out and find all those libraries and do the copying on its own, only works with Windows PCs for now.)

The MediaSmart Server can also work as a centralized backup drive for everyone on the network. The key addition there: Unlike other network-attachable drives, it’s compatible with Time Machine.

The HP MediaSmart Server is specifically designed for homes with a mix of Macs and Windows PCs. It requires a PC for the initial installation in large part because the server itself runs on the Windows Home Server OS. But once you’ve done that set-up, the MediaSmart is fully accessible from your Mac.

All in all, it’s a really promising solution for any home that has both Macs and Windows machines and no central place to store and protect the family’s digital media assets.”

So what happened to that rumoured Apple Home Server, then?

More Info: Macworld

Following today’s announcement of the Acer Aspire easyStore Home Server, Acer now have more details of the product available on their UK website.

The Aspire easyStore Home Server: a wonderfully compact home appliance that allows you to store, protect, share and grow your digital library with family and friends.

• Store your photos, music and video in one place.
• Protect your files with automatic backups, quick recovery and antivirus software.
• Share your files with family and friends anytime, anywhere.
• Grow your storage capacity by adding hard drives as you wish.

Bringing the digital home together
With the Acer easyStore Home Server, families can store photos, music and videos all in one place, protect that precious digital content with automatic backups, quick recovery and antivirus software, and share files with family and friends anytime, anywhere. As the home library of digital content increases, hard drives can be added to increase storage capacity.

“Windows Home Server helps families ensure that their precious digital content is safe, secure and easily accessible at home or on the road. The new Aspire easyStore Home Server from Acer is a great example of this new generation of products,” said Charlie Kindel, general manager of Windows Server Solutions at Microsoft. “We are excited to have Acer join the growing Windows Home Server product category and bring this new offering to consumers.”

Aspiring the digital experience with ease and fun
Design for families who need more just video or picture storage at home. Through Aspire easyStore Home Server, close family members and friends can securely access with easy through Internet regardless where they are. With one-touch USB Copy, Power Saver Scheduler, and DLNA certified, Aspire easyStore Home Server brings in convenience for the family and friends.
“Aspire easyStore Home Server truly brings in gap between the technology and people.

With more people are travelling and live in different places, it brings the family together sharing memory and fun without boundary. In addition, we are excited to team up with Microsoft and Intel to share the same concept by delivering this fun and easy to use product out for consumers,” expressed Allen Jong, Director of Stationary Computing Business Unit, ITGO, Acer Inc.

Powered by Windows Home Server
Running on the Windows Home Server operating system, the Aspire EasyStore Home Server is equipped with an Intel® Atom™ Processor 230, a maximum storage capacity of 4TB and up to four 3.5″ hot-swappable SATA hard disk drives. The Acer EasyStore Home Server also comes with a 6-month free trial of McAfee® Total Protection™ Service.

Technical Specification

Media sharing

Enable the Media Library Sharing option to share chosen folders

PC backup

Once Aspire easyStore Home Server client software is installed, WHS automatically backs up the home PC every night.
After the initial full hard drive backup, changes are backed up incrementally.
The backup frequency and time is customizable.

PC Restore

If a home PC’s hard drive crashes, use the PC Recovery Disc to boot the PC and restore from a hard drive image stored on the Aspire easyStore Home Server.

Server management

Windows Home Server (WHS) Connector allows all home PCs with administrative access privileges to manage the Aspire easyStore Home Server through the WHS Console. Management options include customizing backups, assigning user access privileges, setting up shared folders and configuring server storage or security options.

Storage expansion

WHS Drive Extender allows the addition of an internal or external drive to increase the Aspire easyStore Home Server’s total storage capacity.
No need to power-off the unit.
No more drive letters for multiple hard drives.

Folder protection

Allows shared folders with the duplication option enabled to be duplicated on a separate hard drive on the Aspire easyStore Home Server.

Remote access

Set up a free and secure personal web address for remote access to the Aspire easyStore Home Server through the WHS Console and Windows Live™.
Enabling the remote access option and configuring user accounts via the WHS Console permits Internet access to the Aspire easyStore Home Server from a remote PC.

Network access

Connect to the Aspire easyStore Home Server directly from a home PC by installing the client software.

One-touch USB copy

A button that uploads all data on a device connected to the front-loading USB port; the data is automatically sorted and stored by file type into designated folders.

DLNA Certified™

Enjoy music, photos and videos on TV with family and friends via DLNA 1.5 certified Home Server (DMS) and digital media player (DMP)

Lights out

Save energy by scheduling standby and resume times for the Aspire easyStore Home Server.

Configurations

Acer Aspire easyStore Home Server
TS.R360W.011

Aspire easyStore Home Server, English preload. Windows Home Server, Atom 230, 1x1GB DDR2 800, 1x640GB HDD. UK, EUR, CH power cable.

More Info: Acer

Well, our great My Movies for Windows Home Server giveaway comes to an end today, with the final two licenses up for grabs.

If you haven’t been following the competition, My Movies for Windows Home Server was voted runner up in the WGS Reader Awards 2008. It’s a great add-in for ripping and archiving your CDs and DVDs and Brian Binnerup is doing a fine job of building new features into the add-in since release last year.

We’ve been giving away two licenses for the add-in every day for the past 4 days, and today is our final day of the competition.

To be in with a chance of winning one of today’s prizes, answer the following question:

What would you choose as the greatest movie of all time?

To enter the competition, post your answer in the forum and we’ll pick out two lucky winners who’ll each receive a full copy of the add-in, with all features unlocked.

Congratulations to Mark Johnson and Emerlin who won yesterday’s competition and will be receiving their licenses shortly.

A big thanks to everyone who has entered the competition this week – your entries have been fantastic! Thanks too to Brian Binnerup for generously donating the licenses. If you didn’t win, make sure you head over to Brian’s website and check out a great add-in for WHS.

More Info: Enter the Competition |  My Movies for WHS Website

It’s the penultimate day of our competition – this week, we’re giving away 2 licenses of My Movies for Windows Home Server a day for 5 days.

My Movies for Windows Home Server was voted runner up in the WGS Reader Awards 2008. It’s a great add-in for ripping and archiving your CDs and DVDs and Brian Binnerup is doing a fine job of building new features into the add-in since release last year.

To be in with a chance of winning one of today’s prizes, answer the following question:

What’s the worst movie of all time?

To enter the competition, post your answer in the forum and we’ll pick out two lucky winners who’ll each receive a full copy of the add-in, with all features unlocked.

Congratulations to MrMitch and moonloop9 who won yesterday’s competition and will be receiving their licenses shortly.

Check back tomorrow for another chance to win!

More Info: Enter the Competition |  My Movies for WHS Website

This week, we’re giving away 2 licenses of My Movies for Windows Home Server a day for 5 days – today is Day 3 of our competition.

My Movies for Windows Home Server was voted runner up in the WGS Reader Awards 2008. It’s a great add-in for ripping and archiving your CDs and DVDs and Brian Binnerup is doing a fine job of building new features into the add-in since release last year.

To be in with a chance of winning one of today’s prizes, answer the following question:

Which actor would play you in the movie of your life…. and why?

To enter the competition, post your answer in the forum and we’ll pick out two lucky winners who’ll each receive a full copy of the add-in, with all features unlocked.

Congratulations to bluesman821 and Tom_Hall who won yesterday’s competition and will be receiving their licenses shortly.

Check back tomorrow for another chance to win!

More Info: Enter the Competition |  My Movies for WHS Website