Moxi HD DVR update: Hulu & Netflix, DLNA, home automation

Digeo have released an update for their Moxi HD DVR, adding DLNA streaming support and a workaround to bring Hulu, Netflix and other streaming content direct to the set-top box.  There's also new support for controlling Z-wave home automation devices, together with Rhapsody music streaming and the ability to view and bookmark websites.

 

To deliver Hulu and Netflix, Digeo have turned to the PlayOn app.  This installs on a PC on the same network, and shuttles content to the DRV; usually the software retails for around $40 on its own.  Rhapsody, meanwhile, will require a subscription, but there's a 30-day trial for new users.

Finally, Moxi gets Flickr viewer support with a "Mosaic" browser.  That's a neat way of saying that it tiles all the thumbnails and you get to page through them.  DLNA, meanwhile, will let you view streamed content from a variety of media-server NAS devices.

The software update is free for existing owners.  A new Moxi HD DVR is priced at around $800 for the 500GB model, though there's no ongoing monthly fees.

 

Press Release:

Digeo® Releases Major Enhancements to Flagship Moxi® HD DVR

Moxi® Entertainment Experience Gets Even Better with PlayOn™ Internet Video; Rhapsody®

Music; Home Theater Controls; and Enhanced Photos, Internet Services and DLNA-Certified™

Home Networking

KIRKLAND, WA – April 09, 2009 – Digeo, Inc. today announced new features and enhancements to the

Moxi® High Definition Digital Video Recorder (HD DVR), further advancing the world's best DVR. The

Moxi HD DVR has new services available directly from the on-screen menu including Internet video from

YouTube, Netflix, Hulu™ and more streaming directly to the TV through MediaMall Technologies'

PlayOn™ media server software as well as the streaming digital music service from Rhapsody®. The

Moxi HD DVR also now includes eControls, a home automation feature that allows users to customize the

home theater experience by adjusting lighting and other Z-Wave supported products. The Flickr® online

photo service and MoxiNet Internet browser were also enhanced, and Moxi is now certified to support the

DLNA® standard for improved home networking.

These new services will be available automatically to customers with a Moxi HD DVR via a software

upgrade at no additional charge from Digeo.

Additionally, as part of this new functionality, the company is offering existing and new Moxi customers a

PlayOn® license key (value $39.99) free for a limited time, as well as a free 30-day Rhapsody trial (value:

$12.99).

"In the current economic climate, people are more focused on at-home entertainment options and on

getting the most out of their HD investments," said Greg Gudorf, CEO, Digeo. "The world's best HD DVR

now delivers even more valuable entertainment services for the best home entertainment experience."

The Moxi HD DVR is designed to appeal to the most demanding digital cable entertainment enthusiasts.

With its native HD interface and Emmy® award-winning Moxi Menu, dual tuners, and up to 75-hours of HD

recording space (up to 300 hours at standard definition, and expandable well beyond with an external

eSATA drive), the Moxi HD DVR makes it effortless for consumers to discover, experience and share high

definition media from their digital cable provider, PCs on the home network and the Internet.

Adding to an extensive list of advanced features and services, the enhancements announced today as

part of the Moxi HD DVR Spring 2009 software release include:

• PlayOn – This media server software currently provides access to Internet videos from YouTube,

Hulu, CBS, Netflix, CNN, ESPN and more through the Moxi HD DVR from a PC on the home

network. Video formats are automatically converted so Moxi users can watch Internet video

directly on their widescreen HDTV.

• Rhapsody® – The leading on-demand digital music service is now available through the Moxi HD

DVR, allowing users to easily listen to any one of more than 7 million songs from all the major

record labels and hundreds of smaller independent labels. Rhapsody delivers complete control

over the music experience, helping users to easily find and play full length tracks, build playlists of

favorites or listen to Rhapsody's professionally programmed genre & artist channels. Starting

today, Rhapsody and Digeo are bringing music without limits to every user of the Moxi HD DVR.

• Media Link – Certified to support the DLNA home networking standard, Media Link connects the

TV or home entertainment system to PCs on a home network. Moxi users can easily stream

digital movies, videos, music and photos from their PCs for viewing or listening from the comfort

of their home entertainment environment.

• eControls – Moxi users can now manage their home entertainment environment through the Moxi

menu to set the mood. Users can adjust most Z-Wave-certified products such as lighting (e.g.,

turning sets of lights on, off or dimming), control volume and power on AV devices, as well as

monitor IP baby-cams or outside cameras, all from the remote control.

• Mosaic – A new browsing feature for the Flickr® online photo service available through the Moxi

menu, Mosaic allows users to rapidly scroll up, down and across their photos as they are

displayed as mosaic tiles on the display.

• MoxiNet –Moxi registered users can now bookmark their favorite websites at Moxi.com and

browse them on their home entertainment display using the Moxi remote as a virtual mouse. This

expands upon MoxiNet's quick access to news, sports scores, movie times, weather and other

information from the Internet.

For more details, including details of the PlayOn license key offer, technical specifications and screen

images of the Moxi HD DVR expanded feature set, please visit: www.moxi.com. You can also follow Moxi

on Twitter at www.twitter.com/moxi_hd or on Facebook at http://tinyurl.com/c9vuxf