SlashGear Japan
First, it has a half terabyte of HDD storage, then there is a 200 disc Blu-Ray/DVD/CD changer. It has full HD (1080p) output from the disc changer or hard drive.
The hard drive can store up to 137 hours of video, 40,000 songs, or 20,000 photos. This thing is also Sony’s first device not connected to a computer that’s Blu-Ray capable other than optical drives and a few VAIO notebooks.
It also burns Blu-Ray and DVD discs from the content stored on it. The home entertainment server also connects to a network to collect meta-data for the media in its disc changer and for firmware updates.
The server also has tons of integrated software too, first there is the x-Application software, which is x-Pict Story HD and x-ScrapBook for photo slideshows and other presentations. Then there is the XMBTM or XrossMediaBar which makes navigating through all your content a breeze. With a separate wireless adapter you can also stream your media throughout your house through up to 10 registered devices with 4 streams at once thanks to the Digital Living Network Alliance or DLNA support. The DLNA support works with the PS3 and a few VAIO notebooks and if I remember right there was a standalone unit that you could get for other computers to support DLNA.
Another thing is that it looks amazing, it is a reflective black tower with dimensions of 12.25×31 5/8×15 7/8 inches. All the controls on the actual cabinet are backlit and touch sensitive and the display is viewable from either the top or the front.
There are tons of connectivity options too, other than the Ethernet and optional wireless, there is S-Video, composite, audio and HDV/DV(i-Link) inputs and HDMI with BRAVIA Theatre Sync, component, optical, coaxial, and analog out’s. There is even a card reader that supports MS, SD, CF, and xD memory cards.
Now comes the only downside of this amazing machine, the price, it’s a fair one for all it does, but its $3,500. It will be available from Sony’s online store, authorized retailers, Sony’s retail stores, and military bases.
5 Responses to “CEDIA 2007 – Sony HES-V1000 Home Entertainment Server, is amazing, like Grace”
Norbit September 6, 2007
Me want!
NeutralTy September 6, 2007
God, a Home Entertainment Server!?!?!? That is crazy!! I have never heard of a server for that kind of stuff. Weird but VERY cool!
NeutralHova September 7, 2007
Half terabyte? Thats only 500Gb, not really that big.
NeutralJames Allan Brady September 7, 2007
yeah, but a half terabyte tacked onto the 200 Discs it also holds, thats a lot, and 500GB for a device that i dont think acts as a DVR(which surprised me) is actually a pretty good amount
Neutraltom.grounds September 11, 2007
Any further technical specs available?
I have been looking for a server to manage my DVD library – I have over 1000 DVD’s and would love to know if this is a viable solution for me. I have been looking at the kalidescape system but I’m not ready to spend $51,000 for a solution. This seems like a nice compomise.
Some of the questions that I have are:
01) Did they think through expansion and growth? This only holds 200 DVD’s – will they allow for daisy-chaining or add-on components to the server to accomodate more than 200 DVDs? (Sony missed the boat with their 400 DVD player by limiting the number that can be chained together) and 500gig isn’t much – will there be the ability to expand the HDD?
02) Does the DVD player do any upscaling of the image to 1080p? or will they leave this off so that people purchase blu-ray replacements for their existing movies?
03) What is the user experience like when browsing/searching for movies? Will I be able to search by actor, awards, genre, title, play time, etc? The indicate that they grab meta-data off of the internet for each movie in the player – is the UI easy enough to search based on that data?
04) Streaming Video? Will this eventually allow for the streaming of DVD’s and other video to other devices on the network? It’s great to have a place for all your DVD’s, but you don’t solve the problem of wanting to watch something in a different room than where this device is located. Also, watching multiple programs. The new Receivers allow for 2nd room streaming – will this do that as well?
05) Environmental sound – it looks like a tall tower – I hope that the fans and drives are silent – This deivce has to be near your audio equipment for cable connections – what is the sound level of the internal fans, drives, etc. and will it be distracting since you can’t put it off in a closet someplace.
06) Loading of DVD’s and gathering meta-data: Is this loaded and stored on the internal hard drive? or will will device always go to the internet each time you access a movie?
07) Meta-data management/Configuration management – is this done via a web page from anywhere on the network? will I be able to see if I own a movie from any PC on my netowrk (or externally) when I have them all loaded in the device, or will I have to search for it on the device to determine I own it or not?
Well, those are just a few of my initial questions
NeutralTom.