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Automation
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SMART
EARTH SERVICES
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SMART
MEDIA SERVERS
are now an integral part of home automaiton and home
entertainment requirements.
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Introduction
to the Media Center PC
Digital
Video Recorder, Music Server, Broadband Entertainment... your
home theater will never be the same!
If you've only recently heard of a media center pc, your not
alone. The first generation of these devices didn't look like
anything more than a regular desktop PC. Doesn't make a whole
lot of sense if you ask most folks. What are you supposed
to do?... close everything you are working on, put down the
mouse, and pick a remote control to point at a computer that's
only a foot away? Nonetheless, the media center pc platform
was hailed by most as the ultimate future platform for playback
of our digital entertainment. A media center pc is a single
device that uses a hard drive to store all forms of digital
entertainment. The simple to use, living room friendly interface,
and included remote control, allows all users simple playback
of their digital music collection, digital photos, recorded
television, radio, DVDs, and much more. The following paragraphs
will lay out several important factors around the concept
of the media center pc.
Living
Room Computing
If you want to watch TV, listen to music, browse your favorite
photos, most people will point to the living room as the center
of their home entertainment. So the logical next step is to
place your media center pc in the living room, right? Wrong.
Most people we have talked to agree with us, the traditional
PC tower stands out like a sore thumb. There is simply no
style in having a tower PC next to your TV. While most folks
have taken a little pride in their living room entertainment
center arrangement, the tower pc simply does not fit. Additionally,
there's the noise factor. Most of today's performance pcs
need a fan to cool the processor, a fan to cool the power
supply, a fan to cool the motherboard, and a fan to blow all
that hot air out the back of the case. All those fans add
up to one noisy machine. Even the quietest fans are too loud.
Some will argue that the fan noise doesn't bother them in
the living room, since they the noise from the television
or stereo will drown it out. That's where we start to doubt
these folks even have a media center pc. Assuming you are
going to use your media center pc as a digital video recorder
(think Tivo™), then your media center pc is going to be left
on 24/7. That means that when you are enjoying those more
traditional living room activities, like reading a book, thinking,
staring at art, talking to a friend or family member, that
media center pc is still ON, actively recording your favorite
shows. TRUST US, even the quietest fans get annoying at that
point.
The
answers are plain and simple. A living room computer must
be stylish and quiet.
Living
Room Control
So once you've settled on a quiet and stylish media center
pc (you might take a look at our own fanless Niveus Media
Centers), it's time to start enjoying the system. That will
lead you to the next interesting dilemma, how do you control
a living room pc? I'm sure you can't imagine yourself sitting
two feet away from the television, using a mouse on a nearby
magazine to control your digital entertainment? Well neither
can we. Media center pcs use a combination of remote control
and wireless mouse/keyboard to drive your experience. The
remote control is used to navigate the media center on-screen
menu, while the wireless mouse/keyboard is used to access
the traditional desktop applications and start menu. As these
devices evolve, you will be able to drive 100% of your experience
from the included remote control.
So,
since you still need to use a mouse and keyboard for some
of your computing experience, it's important to understand
that not every wireless mouse or keyboard will do for the
living room, in fact, Niveus Media would argue that most wireless
mice and keyboards don't work well in the living room. Imagine
where you will be sitting when you use a living room computer.
Most of us have a couch or sofa that allows us to sit comfortably,
shall we say, for hours at a time. Whether there is a coffee
table nearby or not, you don't want to be leaning over it,
dependent upon a flat surface for your wireless mouse. That's
assuming your even close enough to the wireless mouse receive
to work. Most mainstream wireless mice and keyboards have
a range of about 6 feet. Even more interesting is how hard
you have to search for this information on the manufacturer's
website. Through the testing of serveral products over the
past several years, Niveus now strongly endorses the wireless
keyboard/mouse combo as implimented in the Microsoft Media
Center Keyboard Combo. The beauty of this combination is that
not only do you not need a flat surface to use the mouse,
but you also do not have to put once device down to use the
other (keyboard & mouse). With this new product, you can
now mouse and type from the same device. You can learn more
about this media center friendly product here. The future
is open for enormous innovation in the area of input device/control.
Starting with our own product, Niveus Pocket (Pocket PC) Remote,
manufacturers are beginning to use wireless 80211.x networking
to enable Pocket PC type devices to control your media center
pc from any room of the house, or even from outside the house.
Stay tuned for Niveus Media and other manufacturers to make
major advances in networked remote controls over the next
couple years.
Living Room User Interface
While there are several other topics we can discuss in
the future, we wanted to close with a few comments on the
importance of the user interface, of central menu. If you
haven't seen the menu to a media center pc, then you haven't
seen the media center pc in full glory. One of the biggest
advances the media center pc makes over traditional computing
is in the area of ease of use. Hand the media center remote
to anyone, turn on the media center pc, step back and watch.
From novice to expert, anyone can easily use the media center
in just a few minutes to start playing back their digital
music, photos, or pause live TV. You can view a few screenshots
here. Living room aside, this is a simple, but huge step forward
for computing in general. Simplifying the interface like this,
including a familiar device like a remote control, will bring
digital entertainment to more people and new computer users
more than the traditional desktop or office computer ever
will. Just our opinion anyways.
Example
of some media servers . . .
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Home
entertainment integrated to home control and automation
control all on the one platform in a profesional series
from NIVEUS MEDIA
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HOME
CONTROL FROM HAI
HAI
builds interface to Windows Media Center so you can
control your music an dvideo as well as your home form
the same screen. Control your home from Microsoft's
Windows Media Center. HAI has an interface called HAI
Home Control that allows you to drive the HAI controller
form WMC. HAI Home Control is software that runs
on a Windows Media Center computer for controlling lighting,
temperatures, and security on a television using a single
Media Center remote control. A Windows Media Center
coordinates music, television, and home photography
for an enjoyable home entertainment experience. HAI's
Home Control coordinates security, temperature, and
lighting for comfort, convenience and safety. A
Windows Media Center is an easy-to-use integrated digital
entertainment center. It can play, pause and rewind
live TV, play DVDs and CDs, store your digital music,
videos and photos, browse the Internet, e-mail and run
Windows XP applications. With HAI Home Control, the
Windows Media Center presents your HAI system's features,
too. You get menus for lighting control, security, temperature
control, macros, the event log, and more. So you can
settle in for a great movie with the lights, temperature,
and security adjusted exactly as you please. The following
are the minimum requirements for this software: HAI
Omni LT, Omni, Omni II, OmniPro, or OmniPro II controller
with 1.8 firmware or later.Your Windows media center
PC must be connected to the HAI controller (see User's
Guide (PDF) for the connection requirements. 2 GHz processor
or higher, Pentium IV, or equivalent (3 GHz processor
or higher, Pentium IV, or equivalent recommended. Microsoft
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 or Microsoft Windows
XP Media Center Edition 2005 (recommended) 512 MB of
RAM (1 GB of RAM recommended), 80 GB hard-disk space,
CD-ROM or DVD Drive.
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Visit:
www.niveusmedia.com
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MEDIA
SERVER EXCELLENCE . . .
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Denali
Edition - Reference Media Server with more storage
& Pro VideoIntroducing the all new, powerful, Denali
Edition Media Center. With its fanless construction, and
high-end amplifier styling, the always silent Denali won't
interfere with its Professional Grade 118 dB SNR 192Khz/24-bit
8-channel sound, or its 720p/1080i grade High Definition
Television. Powered by world class computing performance...
1TB of internal storage, Intel Core 2 Duo, no other media
center system compares! |
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Denali
Limited Edition - Extreme Performance with Pro Audio
& Video & Blu-Ray Niveus
Media builds and designs its systems from the ground up
to surpass anything available on the market. When Niveus
Media began designs on a its Limited Edition line of product,
it set out to surpass not only the market's benchmarks,
but Niveus' benchmarks as well. Learn more about exclusive
dealer products by Niveus Media.The Reference Niveus Media
Center with Pro 7.1 Audio & 1080p Video. This
is the ultimate digital media home theater source device.
With scaling of DVDs up to 1080p resolution, and pro 7.1
audio solution, the Denali not only manages your entire
home's digital media collection, it does it with the finesse
that has made the Denali the industry's reference point
in media center excellence. New for 2008... Professional
7.1 analog audio with Burr-Brown DACs & 118dB SNR,
Specialized Seagate DVR Hard Drives, 8 Series Nvidia PureVideo
HD, Faster Memory, and Niveus v3.0 Companion Software,
along with updates to almost all Niveus MCE Plugins...
This model has been designed to be used with the Niveus
Digital Cable Receiver add-on accessory. There are no
internal tv tuners in this model. |
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Rainier
Edition - High Performance Media Center with Blu-Ray
The
Rainier Edition is a premium living room media center
based on Microsoft Vista Ultimate Media Center software,
featuring proprietary Niveus Media Technology, & ISF
Video Quality Certification. The all new Rainier supports
Blu-Ray movie playback as an available option. The Niveus
Media Center is capable of storing, managing and playing
television, music, movies, photos and more.
The Rainier Edition 2008 Vista is a premium living room
media center based on Microsoft Vista Ultimate Media Center
software, featuring proprietary Niveus Media Technology,
ISF Video Quality Certification, and Intel Core 2 Duo
Technology. The all new Rainier supports Blu-ray Disc
movie playback on various configurations. The Niveus Media
Center is capable of storing, managing and playing television,
music, movies, photos and more. The
Rainier Edition is the first of three Summit Series Media
Centers by Niveus Media. Boasting up to three television
tuners, including HDTV (Antenna), Pro 7.1 analog and digital
surround sound, up to 750GB of digital media storage,
broadband and network connectivity, and video resolutions
that go beyond 1080p, the Rainier Edition is the ultimate
media center for any location in your home.New for Vista...
Digital Cable Compatible (requires Niveus Digital Cable
Receiver), higher performance, Component Video Out, Vista
Ultimate Software, new exclusive Niveus MCE Plugins, and
more... |
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the one that's right for you . . . |
Family
room friendly or rack mount options. |
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DENALI
EDITION
High
Performance Audio & Video...
The 2008 Denali Edition Vista inherits all the computing
performance of the 2007 Denali Edition, but gains the
audio precision respectable of professional recording
studios, 2 channel audio purists, and home theater aficionados.
With the addition of Niveus Pro Audio, the Denali can
work as a preamp to even your most elaborate music and
home theater setups. Additionally, the 2008 Denali has
been upgraded to support Nvidia's latest 8 Series Technologies,
including PureVideo HD. The 2008 Denali truly sets a
new standard for signal purity, versatile synchronization,
powerful hardware decoding and encoding, and rear panel
connections. Silence is Golden – No Fans!
While other media centers clutter up your life with
noise pollution, the Niveus Media Center has no fans,
and is virtually silent. Massive Storage...
The Denali comes 1 Terabyte of storage... that translates
to as much as 100 hours of HDTV recording, over 100
days of continuous lossless digital music, and enough
storage for over 670,000 high resolution photos.
High Performance Storage...
The Denali comes with a specialized hard drives for
Digital Video Recording. Not found any most competing
media centers, the hard drives used by Niveus Media
address many DVR-specific challenges such as power consumption,
video streaming performance, acoustics, and reliability.
Family Room Friendly Design
Size - Boasting a true audio/video form factor, the
Niveus Denali measures just over 17 inches wide, and
just under 8.25 inches tall, resulting in a true high-end
A/V component look and feel.
Style – The radical departure from the traditional PC
form factor allows the Niveus Media Center to fit in
even the most stylish living room environments. Available
in black, users are able to blend the Niveus Media Center
into any existing home theater design scheme. High Performance,
Home Theater Computing
Featuring Intel’s Core 2 Duo Technology & Nvidia's
Pure Video HD, the Niveus Denali will power media applications
that go way beyond those found in traditional consumer
electronics devices. For end users, this means higher
quality television, faster music encoding, rich multimedia
graphics, and quick application response time. Key Features
& Solutions
Store all your digital files on specialized DVR Hard
Drives with 1 Terabyte of Storage (100 Hours of HD,
3000 Hours of Digital Music at lossless compression)
View Slideshows of your family digital photos
Playback DVDs at high resolution 720p/1080i/1080p
Store and view your homemade digital videos
Organize your digital music library
Access the Internet via specific media portals made
for your television
Pause, Record, Rewind High Definition Cable Television...
all while watching a 2nd television show (requires Niveus
Digital Cable Receiver)
Serve up your digital entertainment collection to a
Rainier Edition Media Center, Xbox 360, and networked
client devices around the home. (not all media types
supported by all media adapters)
Leave the television off, and control the media center
via the Niveus Media Center Companion™ Software. Browse
your entire media collection via Companion.
3rd Party control support via RS-232, IR, and IP (AMX,
Crestron, Netstreams, Vantage, and more…) Consult your
dealer for additional licensing details.
Supports future upgrades
Certifications & Technologies ISF™,
Nvidia PureVideo HD™
Microsoft Vista Ultimate - Media CenterUnsure which
version of the new Microsoft Windows Vista software
is right for you? Don't worry, standard on all Niveus
Media Centers is the all-inclusive Windows Vista Ultimate.
Windows Vista Ultimate features Windows Media Center
so that you can enjoy your entire digital entertainment
library on your television. Use your Media Center remote
control to view your photos in a cinematic slide show,
browse your music collection by cover art, easily play
DVDs, or watch and record your favorite TV shows. Media
Center even makes it easy to download movies and enjoy
them whenever you want.
Starting with the launch of Windows Vista Ultimate,
the award-winning Niveus Media Center is now Digital
Cable Compatible. With over two years invested by Microsoft,
CableLabs, and ATI, Niveus is now ready to support Cable
Card technology via the Niveus Digital Cable Receiver.
This highly sought after add-on accessory enables you
to record one high definition channel while simultaneously
watching another high definition channel. You'll never
miss a show. . Read more here... Heat
pipe technology is used to draw heat away from the processor,
northbridge, and video graphics card. The heat is then
drawn to the external fins on the sides of the chassis.
The fins, manufactured with extra surface area in mind,
radiate the heat away from the chassis. In effect, the
entire case works as one large heat sink. The net effect
is that the Denali runs quietly in near silent operation.
Additionally, Niveus ConvergencePanel™ adds high performance
audio/video ports to the rear panel of the Rainier and
a level of modularity that makes future upgrades a snap,
including next year's exclusive Niveus CableCARD Upgrade.
The Niveus Media Center is a unique blend of exclusive
hardware and software. Niveus engineering is continually
working on value-add features, enhancements to the Microsoft
Media Center platform, and media center integration
with Niveus add-on products (Ice Vault, AV Storage Server).
The 2008 Vista Niveus Media Center includes the new
"Niveus Media Center Companion" software,
and "HD Media Store" to name a few. Niveus
software updates are almost always free to current owners
and backwards compatible with previous years.
Niveus Media Centers are ready for your advanced control
system. Over the past year Niveus Media Centers have
been tested, calibrated, and qualified with all of the
most popular 3rd party control solutions on the market.
Whether you're looking to integrate the new Crestron
MCE Control Module, enable your Universal Electronics
Nevo, or install Exceptional Innovation's Lifeware Solutions,
the Niveus Media Center has been pre-tested to ensure
success across a variety of protocols, including RS-232,
IR, and IP. The 2007 Niveus Media Centers includes a
discrete RS-232 port.
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DENALI
LIMITED EDITION
Extreme Performance Niveus Media
Center with Pro 7.1 Audio & 1080p Video The 2008
Denali Limited Edition is the highest configuration
of the Denali media server for your high-end home theater.
With scaling of DVDs & Blu-ray Discs up to 1080p
resolution, and a Pro 7.1 audio solution, the Denali
not only manages your entire home's digital media collection,
it does it with the finesse that has made the Denali
the industry's reference point in media center excellence.
New for 2008... Professional 7.1 analog audio with Burr-Brown
DACs & 118dB SNR, Specialized Seagate DVR Hard Drives,
Nvidia 8 Series graphics with PureVideo HD, 4GB of Faster
Memory, Blu-ray Disc playback, and Niveus v3.0 Companion
Software, along with updates to almost all Niveus MCE
Plugins... This model has four built in television tuners
(2x NTSC & 2x ATSC) and has been designed to be
used with the Niveus Digital Cable Receiver add-on accessory.
A maximum of four television tuners are supported. The
"Limited Edition " Difference Nothing
held back...
Niveus Media builds and designs its systems from the
ground up to surpass anything available on the market.
When Niveus Media begins designs on a its Limited Edition
line of product, it sets out to surpass not only the
market's benchmarks, but Niveus benchmarks as well.
High
Performance Audio & Video...
The 2008 Denali Edition inherits all the computing performance
of the 2007 Denali Edition, but gains the audio precision
respectable of professional recording studios, 2 channel
audio purists, and home theater aficionados. With the
addition of Niveus Pro Audio, the Denali can work as
a preamp to even your most elaborate music and home
theater setups. Additionally, the 2008 Denali has been
upgraded to support Nvidia's latest 8 Series Technologies,
including PureVideo HD. The 2008 Denali truly sets a
new standard for signal purity, versatile synchronization,
powerful hardware decoding and encoding, and rear panel
connections.Next Generation DVD...
The "Denali Limited Edition" is the first
of the Denali Series to incorporate next generation
Blu-ray technology. Supporting the playback of true
1080p high definition DVDs, the Denali LE has stunning
picture and smooth, flawless video performance. Massive
Storage...
The Denali LE comes 1.5 Terabyte of storage... that
translates to as much as 150 hours of HDTV recording,
over 100 days of continuous lossless digital music,
and enough storage for over 1,005,000 high resolution
photos. High Performance Storage...
The Denali LE comes with a specialized hard drives for
Digital Video Recording. Not found any most competing
media centers, the hard drives used by Niveus Media
address many DVR-specific challenges such as power consumption,
video streaming performance, acoustics, and reliability.
Always silent...
The Denali Limited Edition represents the highest performance
passively cooled system by Niveus Media. By incorporating
the Niveus Glacier Passive Cooling Technology across
Intel multi core processors and Nvidia Pure Video HD
Technology, the Denali Limited Edition represents extreme
performance without a compromise in room acoustics.Professionally
installed or delivered..
Niveus' limited edition line of product is sold exclusively
through the Niveus Authorized Dealer network where available.
This professional extension of the Niveus business can
provides consultation, installation, and in-home support
to its clientele.
Key
Features & Solutions
Store all your digital files on specialized DVR Hard
Drives with 1.5 Terabytes of Storage (150 Hours of HD,
4500 Hours of Digital Music at lossless compression)
View Slideshows of your family digital photos
Playback DVDs at high resolution 720p/1080i/1080p
Store and view your homemade digital videos
Organize your digital music library
Access the Internet via specific media portals made
for your television
Pause, Record, Rewind Cable or Satellite Television...
all while watching a 2nd television show. With the Denali
Limited Edition, you can even record a 3rd or 4th television
program in high definition with the included dual ATSC
tuners
For HD Digital Cable support, the Niveus Digital Cable
Receiver is required.
Serve up your digital entertainment collection to a
Rainier Edition Media Center, Xbox 360, and networked
client devices around the home. (not all media types
supported by all media adapters)
Leave the television off, and control the media center
via the Niveus Media Center Companion™ Software. Browse
your entire media collection via Companion.
3rd Party control support via RS-232, IR, and IP (AMX,
Crestron, Netstreams, Vantage, and more…) Consult your
dealer for additional licensing details.
Supports future upgrades
Certifications & Technologies
ISF™,
Nvidia PureVideo HD™
Microsoft Vista Ultimate - Media CenterUnsure which
version of the new Microsoft Windows Vista software
is right for you? Don't worry, standard on all Niveus
Media Centers is the all-inclusive Windows Vista Ultimate.
Windows Vista Ultimate features Windows Media Center
so that you can enjoy your entire digital entertainment
library on your television. Use your Media Center remote
control to view your photos in a cinematic slide show,
browse your music collection by cover art, easily play
DVDs, or watch and record your favorite TV shows. Media
Center even makes it easy to download movies and enjoy
them whenever you want.
The
Niveus Denali Edition supports the following media server
software & exclusive Niveus plug-ins. Future software
upgrades are easily managed via Internet download.
Microsoft
Vista Ultimate - Media Center with all recent updates
The all new Niveus HD Media Store that enables high
definition downloads and purchases via the Music Giants™
Network
Niveus Media Center Companion 3.0 Software enables network
control of your media center from your desktop, laptop,
PDA, or wireless smartphone
Niveus Simple System Restore Feature - restore your
Niveus Media Center to its original factory specification
"Niveus Studio" enables advanced customization
of the Niveus Media Server, including Network TV sharing
for Vista and advanced DVD Library Editing
Niveus "Weather" provides real-time updates
on local weather, and satellite photos of any region
in the world.
Niveus "My Server" Media Center Storage Management
Feature (requires Niveus A/V Storage Server
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The
Niveus Media Extender - EDGE is a premium living
room media player based on Microsoft Extender technology.
Featuring proprietary Niveus Media Technology, the EDGE
extends the award winning Niveus Media Center experience
to additional rooms of your house. The Niveus Media
Extender will allow access to premium cable, high-definition
TV, a wide array of video formats, digital music, paid
movies, photos and more from any TV in the house, with
a wired network connection. Exclusive Niveus Software...
Niveus Media Companion 3.0, Niveus Control Server &
more come bundled the Niveus Media Extender, allowing
network control of the extender from any computer on
your home network. 
The
Niveus Media Extender is a unique blend of exclusive
hardware and software. Niveus engineering is continually
working on value-add features, enhancements to the Microsoft
Media Center platform, and media center integration
with Niveus add-on products (Niveus Digital Cable Receiver,
AV Storage Server). The Niveus Media Extender includes
the new Niveus Media Center Companion software. Niveus
software updates are almost always free to current owners
and backwards compatible with previous years.
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The
"Niveus" Difference Nothing held back...
Niveus Media builds and designs its systems from the ground
up to surpass anything available on the market. First
to market...
The EDGE is the first HD media extender built for the
custom install channel. Supporting the same stunning 3D
interface as the Niveus Media Center, and playback of
television and video true 1080p video & stunnning
3D interface, the EDGE has stunning picture and smooth,
flawless video performance. High Performance A/V...
The EDGE has the processing power to handle the most demanding
1080p displays and deliver pristine uncompromised video.
EDGE supports network playback of HDTV premium television
and multi-channel music stored on the Niveus Media Center.Silence
is Golden ...
While other living room media centers clutter up your
life with noise pollution, the Niveus Media Extender utilizes
the Niveus Glacier Passive Cooling System to achieve near
silent operation. Family Room Friendly Design ...
Size - Boasting a true audio/video form factor, the EDGE
measures just over 17 inches wide, and just under 4 inches
tall, resulting in a true high-end A/V component look
and feel.
Style – The radical departure from the traditional media
player form factor allows the Niveus Media Extender to
fit in even the most stylish living room environments.
Available in black, users are able to blend the Niveus
Media Extender into any existing home theater design scheme.
Key Features & Extender Applications
HDTV - Pause, Record, Rewind High Definition Cable Television
in one room... while others watch a 2nd show in another
(requires a media center that supports dual digital cable
tuners, such as any Niveus Media Center paired with the
Niveus Digital Cable Receiver)
Pictures + Videos - Your personal photos and videos on
the big screen.
Music - Access your entire music collection from any TV
in your home, including music downloads from the Niveus
HD Media Store.
Online Media - Access the Internet via specific media
portals made for your television
Sports - All the games, scores, stats, and sports updates
in real time.
Whole Home Control - Leave the television off, and control
the media center via the Niveus Media Center Companion™
Software. Browse your entire media collection via Companion.
3rd Party Control - Via RS-232, IR, and IP (AMX, Crestron,
Exceptional Innovation, and more…). Consult your dealer
for additional licensing details.
Upgrades - Supports future upgrades via broadband download.
Microsoft Extender TechnologyOne Niveus Media Center or
3rd Party XP or Vista Premium/Ultimate based PC can serve
up 5 Niveus Media Exteders. |
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