Kodak Bringing Media Hub To Your Living Room

[Tim Williamson]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/news/2008/07/new_kodak_theatre_hd_player_transforms_living_rooms_into_personal_home_theatres.php' target='_blank'>http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/news/20...me_theatres.php</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"ROCHESTER, N.Y., July 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE:EK) today unveiled the KODAK Theatre HD Player, a High Definition (HD) media player that enables consumers to interact more freely and creatively with their most valuable possessions -- their memories. Harnessing Wi-Fi and HD technologies, a wide array of organizational and display features and access to online content through unique partners, the KODAK Theatre HD Player turns consumers into the directors of their own show with a wireless remote control pointer in-hand. The device will roll out in stages, with a market trial commencing in September 2008."<br /><br /></em><img style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1215757819.usr209.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br />It looks like Kodak will be bringing their own HD media hub to your living room, the KODAK Theatre HD Player, which appears to be in competition with Windows Media Center and Apple TV.&nbsp; I haven't seen any pictures of the interface or actual hardware, but it will be really difficult to compete with Media Center's interface and Apple TV's hardware.&nbsp; Right now it looks like it will only be able to display video at 720p, why wouldn't they have this device future-proofed and give it the ability to display at 1080p???&nbsp; I'm not too excited about this device, but I'll have to see the final hardware before making final judgement.</p>

[Hooch Tan]

Several pics are available here:

Hardware:
http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/10/kodak-theatre-hd-player-at-last-a-reason-to-sit-on-your-ass-an/

Interface:
http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/10/hands-on-with-kodaks-latest-and-greatest/

According to CrunchGear and DigitalTrends, the cost will be around $299, which for me is a mind killer. I'd be much more comfortable setting up a full computer with Media Center Software or even some XBMC variant at that cost, and have it offer many more features.

[Tim Williamson]

Thanks for the links, I'm with ya there, you could spend a little more than $299 and have a great Media Center experience and not be limited to Kodak's features. The interface looks decent, but I'll have to see it in motion to see how responsive it is. I guess for the less tech savvy people who don't want to set up a PC in their living room, the Kodak box might be a decent option for them.