Tuesday, January 11, 2005
HP Media Hub Sneak Peek - And Where is LightScribe?
Posted by Jason Dunn in "NEWS" @ 01:00 PM
"This fall, HP will release a new media hub, offering a simpler interface for consumers who don't want a full PC experience in the livingroom. CEO Carly Fiorina gave attendees to her 2005 CES keynote address a sneak peek."
I watched this video with interest because I was expecting it to be a Windows Media Center Edition PC - but it's not. Instead, HP seems to have created their own user interface, one that's similar in feel to the MCE interface, but quite different in terms of functionality. I wonder why HP would go this route, making their own custom 10 foot UI, their own electronic programming guide, etc.? Why reinvent what MCE already offers? I was excited to see LightScribe mentioned as well - it's a technology that I'm really excited about, but one that seems to be moving very slowly. LightScribe was announced over a year ago, and they make noise about licensing it to third party CD/DVD drive makers, but nothing seems to have come of it. This article has a blurb about LightScribe for those of you not familiar with it:
"Using the same laser that burns data right inside your CD/DVD drive, this technology enables you to create customized, silk-screen quality labels directly onto discs with images and words that organize your digital collection and express your unique personality. LightScribe-enabled drives will be available in select models across HP's consumer PC line in 2005."
As much as I salivate over being able to burn a CD or DVD with a laser-etched top, I won't purchase an HP PC to do so. Has anyone heard anything about drive makers such as Pioneer, Plextor, or LiteOn licensing this technology?
I watched this video with interest because I was expecting it to be a Windows Media Center Edition PC - but it's not. Instead, HP seems to have created their own user interface, one that's similar in feel to the MCE interface, but quite different in terms of functionality. I wonder why HP would go this route, making their own custom 10 foot UI, their own electronic programming guide, etc.? Why reinvent what MCE already offers? I was excited to see LightScribe mentioned as well - it's a technology that I'm really excited about, but one that seems to be moving very slowly. LightScribe was announced over a year ago, and they make noise about licensing it to third party CD/DVD drive makers, but nothing seems to have come of it. This article has a blurb about LightScribe for those of you not familiar with it:
"Using the same laser that burns data right inside your CD/DVD drive, this technology enables you to create customized, silk-screen quality labels directly onto discs with images and words that organize your digital collection and express your unique personality. LightScribe-enabled drives will be available in select models across HP's consumer PC line in 2005."
As much as I salivate over being able to burn a CD or DVD with a laser-etched top, I won't purchase an HP PC to do so. Has anyone heard anything about drive makers such as Pioneer, Plextor, or LiteOn licensing this technology?
