Home Cinema Media Centers Hi-Fi Wireless Networks More!

APRIL ’05 ISSUE 24

RETURN OF THE…

TEN NEW PCs THAT ARE A REAL OPTION FOR THE LIVING ROOM “Imagine 50Mbps broadband!” INSIDE INTEL p21

ESSENTIAL GUIDE Which HOW TO: Big TV? Make FREE phone calls with VoIP Get the most from online music Choose the best tech Understand DVD formats LCD DLP CRT PDP PLUS! Tips & tricks for Mac OS X Reviewed & Rated DIGITAL HOME APRIL 2005 £3.95 HOME DIGITAL

Sonus DAB Radio MobiNote DVX-Pod Optoma ThemeScene Check out the 7-inch widescreen LCD, Humax 26” LCD TV The latest and greatest digital radio from 20GB hard disk and DivX/WMV playback The new H30a delivers stunning images Pure with brand new ‘voice’ features The LGB-26DDT claims that it’s “HD- and near-silent running for £1,000 Ready”, but does that make it a winner? TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! On The Cover

The best Media Center PCs fight it out in our trademark Top Ten p61

We report from Intel’s annual tech-fest, the Developer Forum p21

Which Big TV? We show you how to choose an LCD, plasma, DLP or CRT p27

Transform your home into a ‘digital home’. Tech help starts on p74

The Humax LBG-26DDT is big and HD-ready. But is it worth the money? p40

The new H30a is an ideal projector for that home Digital radio is enjoying a cinema effect p47 quiet revolution. Read all about it on p78 & p17

It’s the biggest portable video player yet – check Welcome to Digital Home out the 7-inch LCD p54

Three years ago, the idea of a ‘digital home’ didn’t stretch far beyond having a computer in one room and your TV and VCR in another. The two could be linked together, but only five star geeks knew how. Today, Media Center Edition PCs have the potential to bring the two rooms together, enabling you to record TV, browse digital photos and listen to your MP3 music collection. In the 2005 edition of the MCE , you can burn recorded video to DVD and have MSN Messenger running in the background while you couch potato through Match of the Day with a bowl of chips. It’s easy to become a fan. But if Media Centers are so flexible and powerful, why have sales been so sluggish? Why aren’t all new PCs being sold as Media Center PCs? Has it been the sobering fact that they’re three times as expensive as a DVD recorder? Or are their prospects still hindered by their legacy IT complexities, making them fiddly to use and prone to a myriad of random system problems? Yes, there’s safety in a consumer electronics device, but there’s undeniable vision and power in an IT-based one. While Media Center PCs are far from perfect, looking at machines like the Elonex Lumina and the Hi-Grade DMS 2 this issue, we can see that they’re getting better all the time. We’ve picked the best Media Center PC systems for this month’s Top Ten test – the countdown starts on page 61. It’s the highlight of a packed issue that also includes a Buyer’s Guide to Big TVs (page 27). See why DLP is often better than LCD, and how CRT sets are about to make a comeback.

Enjoy the issue.

Dean Evans, Editor [email protected]

Cover image: Be Cool, released 1st April

+ + = ULTIMATE ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! ULTIMATE ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY Inside p61 MEDIA CENTER 2005 TOP 10 The worlds of computing and home entertainment are colliding head on in the form of Media Center 2005. Sam Kieldsen is given the task of finding the ultimate convergent device. p61 WHICH BIG TV? p27 Plasma v LCD v DLP v CRT. The choice of big TVs has IN YOUR never been greater, but which is the best technology? FREE CUSTOM INSTALL MAGAZINE… ● A £2 million refurbished apart- ment in Mayfair ● Complete guide to HVAC ● Find a custom installer near you TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! Contents p46 R&R REVIEWED AND RATED Sagem Axium HD-D45 36 Linn Kinos 38 Humax LGB-26DTT 40 JVC LT-26D50BJ 41 XDR-M1 42 Sharp DV-HR300H 43 Citygizmos Mini PC 44 Goodmans GPDR40 45 Mustek PVR-H140 45 Pure Sonus -1XT 46 p36 Optoma ThemeScene H30a 47 Nokia 9500 48 AJP Z71A 50 Averatec 3300 51 p48 Packard Bell DVD-DivX 350 52 Widio audio player 53 Mobinote DVX-Pod 7010 54 D-Link DWL-G810 55 p52 Rotel RSX-1056 56 Six of the best Media Center alternatives 58 p44 The UK's Top 10 Media Centers 61 THE NEW AGE OF COMPUTING p21 Where next for the humble desktop? You’re about to be blown away… HIGHLIGHTS Solutions THE SMALLEST PC EVER P44 14 PAGES OF EXPERT ADVICE FOR YOURDIGITAL HOME A full blown PC in an optical drive box GET THE BEST FROM YOUR EQUIPMENT LATEST NEWS ON THE PSP P14 It's almost time... will the wait be worth it? SKY CONFIRMS HDTV DETAILS P6 How to… But no information of pricing yet PLUS! EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW Get the most from Got a problem? ABOUT BUYING A MAC P90 online music stores 78 We solve your Plus! Tips & tricks for Mac OS X From iTunes to Napster to Wippit, how to get more digital dilemmas CONNECT 6 from today’s virtual record stores News and analysis from the tech frontier Understand DVD formats 82 Q&A 74 WIN! the UK’s best AV amp 16 The mighty Denon AVR-3805 could be yours -R +R -RW +RW -RAM = confusion, understandably NEXT MONTH 18 Get more from your Mobile video, Top Ten PVRs and much more. On sale Thursday 5th May Media Center PC 84 Did you know you can get RSS news feeds through Media Center? INBOX 19 You haven’t read this, then Your letters. SUBSCRIBE TODAY 67 Get started with VoIP 86 Get Digital Home for a couple of quid Slash your phone bills with broadband telephony

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! DIGITAL HOME 5 Connec t PLUG IN TO THE LATEST PRODUCTS & TECHNOLOGY THE ROAD TO HDTV Prepare for all-digital signals, high-quality pictures and hard disk recording when Sky launches high-def in the UK

New details of the UK’s first high definition TV service, set to debut in 2006, confirm that you can expect visuals of startling quality, with an all-digital link between the HDTV receiver and your TV. Broadcasters will be able to transmit programmes in the highest quality HDTV format available. But owners of older TV sets could be left because of plans to encrypt the broadcasts all the way to the screen, for which you’ll need a new or recently bought set. The HDTV service is being planned by Sky, which aims to offer high-def entertainment, sport and documentaries over its satellite network from next year. The service is sure to incur an extra subscription cost, and you’ll need a brand-new set-top box to receive programmes. Speaking at the recent DVB World conference (DVB is the Europe-wide standard for digital TV broadcasts), Sky’s chief operating officer Richard Freudenstein said the new boxes would decode both HDTV formats – 720p and 1080i, and broadcasters will be free to choose which will suit their programming. The devices will provide an HDMI connection that will send a pure digital signal to your TV. Cable connections such as Scart lose some picture quality because they convert the signal to analogue, but an HDMI link should result in a picture that’s indistinguishable from the original. To take advantage, your TV will need to have either an HDMI or a DVI socket. If you’re buying a new TV, Sky recommends that you look for the ‘HD Ready’ label, which confirms that the set has a screen resolution of at least 720 DIGITAL CONNECTIONS Most new plasma, LCD and DLP carries a video signal that’s televisions now include a digital compatible with the one used by socket connection as well as HDMI, but no audio, which traditional analogue links such instead goes through a separate as Scart or component output. analogue connection. In TVs, HDMI (High Definition Multimedia personal video recorders and Get ready to treat your flatscreen TV to the best TV pictures available, as Interface) carries both video and DVD players, both HDMI and DVI Sky confirms details of its high-def audio from one device to another, work with the HDCP encryption set-top box. Sky recommends a set ensuring that the entire standard. DVI links used by PC with a digital connection and a broadcast remains fully digital. and flatscreen monitors do not screen of at least 26 inches. DVI (Digital Video Interface) recognise HDCP transmissions.

6 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! New Movies

The kind of flexible hard disk recording features already seen in today’s Sky+ boxes will also be on offer in the new generation of HDTV receivers.

DVD OF ★★★★★ THE MONTH House of Flying Daggers Region 2 Sublime photography illuminates this tragic folk tale, brought to life with understated, intimate acting and kick-ass fight scenes. Zhang Yimou also directed Hero, which was released earlier this year on DVD to great critical acclaim. This sumptious double-disc HDTV set presents the movie in crisp 2.35:1 Y widescreen and Dolby 5.1 audio, while the centrepiece of the extras lineup is an STANDARDS extended documentary showing how the film was made. You can also expect cast Every TV broadcast consists of interviews, a comparison between the individual frames, with European storyboards for key scenes and the filmed version, and – possibly a first a for DVD extras transmissions updating the picture 50 – a report on scouting out locations. times a second. Programmes can be www.houseofflyingdaggers.com. 2nd May broadcast using either progressive or interlaced pictures. If the picture is horizontal lines and a digital socket. It’s estimated that around important distinction with progressive, the entire image is 400,000 sets now in use qualify as HD Ready. Sky expects that Freeview. Limits on the changed with each update. If the Birth This moody piece drew controversy picture is interlaced, each update figure to rise to two million by the end of 2006. broadcast bandwidth over its storyline and Lauren Bacall’s changes only every other line, with The Sky HD box will also provide component outputs that available to Freeview comments about co-star Nicole Kidman. the subsequent update changing the Fans of the film will be disappointed provide an analogue signal to older sets without HDMI, but the mean it would struggle to other lines. Progressive transmissions with the lack of extras. Region 1. 19th April picture won’t be as good. You could also lose the ability to view offer more than a few create a more stable picture but Blade: Trinity require more effort to transmit. some programmes or channels. HDMI supports an encryption HDTV channels. Wesley Snipes’ vampire hunter returns technology called HDCP or High Definition Digital Content Freudenstein told the DVB The two HDTV standards Sky in two editions. The unrated version has intends to use are 720p, which an extended widescreen cut, while the Protection. Any programmes broadcast with HDCP encoding World audience: “Our delivers 720 horizontal lines in a standard version offers the cinema would work only through an HDMI- or DVI-equipped set. ambition is to raise the bar progressive transmission; and 1080i, release in widescreen. Region 1. 26th April The set-top box, which will be made by Thomson, will also again. We want to reaffirm which sends 1,080 horizontal lines in Hotel Rwanda provide personal video recording facilities of the type offered by that the digital satellite an interlaced transmission. The recent movie awards season dramatically raised the profile of this today’s Sky+ units. You’ll be able to play one recording while platform is the home of compelling glimpse into the dark heart making another or time-shift live programmes so you can watch the highest-quality viewing experience available.” of Africa. Includes commentaries from them from the start while recording of the event continues. Sky’s own channels are sure to offer plenty of opportunities the director. Region 1. 12th April Sky sees its plans for HDTV as an important revenue- to view HDTV. Sky One has access to plenty of American Meet The Fockers earner. It will be able to charge premium prices for visuals that imports that are already filmed in high-def. The BBC is also The crass title’s a perfect indicator of the level of humour in this hit sequel, will offer around four times the detail of today’s digital active: programmes like the recent Supervolcano docudrama are but you’ll enjoy Robert De Niro and broadcasts. Upcoming sporting events such as the 2006 World already made in HD, and the corporation intends to make all its Dustin Hoffman locking horns. Region 1. 19th April Cup and the 2008 Olympics are expected to provide a major programmes in HD by 2010. You can expect a limited BBC shop window to show off high-def pictures. It’s also an option as soon as Sky’s HD service launches. National Treasure It’s not exactly an Indiana Jones for the 21st century, but this Nic Cage vehicle delivers spectacle nonetheless. The DVD includes an alternative ending. Region 2. 25th April

Ocean’s Twelve Many rated this sequel in the style of Six things to do in APRIL the Rat Pack movies as lazy and self- indulgent, but the star power of Clooney, ORDER AN VISIT THE SMART Pitt, Damon and Roberts makes this an ONLINE ALBUM HOME SHOW irresistible choice. Region 1. 12th April MAY WE SUGGEST MARTHA HOME AUTOMATION MEETS HOME Sideways WAINWRIGHT’S DEBUT (4TH CINEMA AT THE NEC IN BIRMINGHAM. A satisfying and subtle movie gets a APRIL) FROM NAPSTER? WE’LL BE THERE. JOIN US. generous DVD presentation, with extras See page 78 14th-17th April including deleted scenes. The audio commentary by the two lead actors should be a highlight. Region 2. 2nd May CHEER ON ALAN CELEBRATE TRAILERS ST GEORGE’S DAY SHEARER! MAY WE SUGGEST THAT OUR NEW NATIONAL A Scanner Darkly WILL NEWCASTLE’S CAPTAIN MAKE IT TO EMBLEM SHOULD BE AN HD-READY Keanu Reeves and Robert Downey Jr headline THE FA CUP FINAL? BBC/Sky, April 16th WIDESCREEN LCD TV? a paranoia piece, with animators working over the top of their performances. www.apple.com/ 23rd April trailers/warner_independent_pictures. Release TBA

Dig! This documentary, exposing the feud between WATCH THE RENT I HUCKABEES the Dandy Warhols and the Brian Jonestown EXISTENTIAL DETECTIVE WORK THAT GRAND Massacre, could be the next classic rock LOOKS GOOD PLAYED BACK THROUGH movie. www.digthemovie.com. July NATIONAL A MEDIA CENTER THE UK’S GREATEST See page 61 Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy RACE 9th April A superb trailer sees Stephen Fry as the Hitch-Hiker’s Guide itself as he takes the mickey out of movie trailers. TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! http://hitchhikers.movies.go.com. June Connec t

Philips Wireless Music System £800 Philips takes multi-zone audio systems to the mass market

Until recently multiroom wireless hard disk and, as it comes with the user to set up six different music music systems were the preserve of software that rips CDs to the MP3 streams to six different rooms. PC-loving geeks or seriously rich hi-fi format already embedded, users can For serious digital enthusiasts enthusiasts. This is now set to transfer any disc to the hard drive, there are, however, limitations. The change with the release, in the even those with copyright protection, system isn’t compatible with summer, of the Philips WACS700 at speeds of up to 4x. downloaded music files, it won’t play Wireless Music system. Once stored on the hard disk back any format other than MP3s and Originally unveiled at CES in users can either play the music back it won’t connect to an external music January, the system follows the form via the unit’s built-in amplifier and player such as an iPod. Yet given its of traditional music room setups by speakers, or stream the MP3 music competitive price and ease of use, it pumping music to slave devices in to slave devices around the home. will certainly gain wireless audio different rooms, but operates using Christened the WAC700 station and many new converts. wireless 802.11g technology rather available for £200 these devices are www.philips.co.uk than standard cables. At its heart is smaller than the main unit and an attractive £600 black and silver feature just an amp, speakers and KEY FEATURES B&O-style hi-fi that’s designed to be integrated wireless facilities. Up to CD drive; 40GB hard disk; remote hung on a wall or placed on a stand. six of the units can be wirelessly control; MP3 playback; 802.11g wireless It features a CD player and a 40GB tethered to the main system enabling compatibility; 2x 40W digital amplifier

Kiss Technology DP-558 £TBA The first you can programme online or via a mobile phone Last year Sky promised owners of The recorder also offers the option of the Sky+ hard disk based digital rewinding or pausing live TV. video recorder that they would soon For the DP-558 to access the be able to remotely programme their electronic programme guide it has to unit via the internet and mobile connect to the net via broadband. phones. Sky has not yet delivered on Users can harness its PC-Link facility its promise, and now Kiss Technology to stream music, video or image files is set to get there first. This Danish from either a PC or a Mac. Recorder company is releasing the DP-558, a programmes can also be transferred feature-packed digital video recorder from the DP-558 to a PC, enabling operated via a web-based interface them to be archived on a DVD. Other that can be accessed either via a PC features include a web radio tuner or smartphone. Users simply set up and access to online games. their own web page to control the Kiss Technology is keeping quiet KEY FEATURES unit’s electronic programme guide about availability and price, but we 80GB hard disk; DVD player; remote remotely. Footage is then stored on expect it to debut in the UK in the programming via web or smartphone; the unit’s 80GB hard disk (a 200GB summer for around £800. pause live TV option; audio, video and version is apparently on the cards). www.kiss-technology.com image streaming from PC or Mac

Sony Ericsson W800 £TBA The first phone to join the family

Sony may have lost a number of the flash memory; in this instance a Sony handset also features a two- battles in the personal audio market, Duo card. megapixel camera, and but judging by its recent launches, it Sony has also addressed one of video capture facilities. isn’t intending to lose the war. With the big issues of music-playing Sony Ericsson is expected to Apple set to unveil an iTunes-playing phones by delivering a battery that release the W800 in the UK and the phone manufactured by Motorola in will run for around 30 hours when the rest of Europe in the summer. There the near future, Sony has nipped in handset is used solely for music, and is no final word on price yet but the there first and produced a Sony 15 hours if the user makes calls. The company says it will be similar to the Ericsson handset that wears the phone is also accompanied by cost of other high-end handsets, Walkman brand. software which, according to the such as its K700. Designed to be as much a music company, makes it very simple to www.sonyericsson.com player as a mobile phone, the W800 load music on to the handset. Handily combines music playing software if the phone rings while the user is KEY FEATURES with a generous amount of storage, listening to music, the phone will MP3/ATRAC music player; 512MB as well as providing quality automatically set the track to mute to Memory Stick Duo card storage; earphones and speakers. The device enable the user to take the call. with integrated speaker; will play back MP3 and ATRAC files, In addition to its music playing two megapixel camera and video which are stored on its 512MB of facilities the chocolate bar style capture; Bluetooth

8 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! New Music Alienware DH2 £1,000 Alienware’s living-room friendly Media Center PC

Alienware has done more than most There’s also a movie finder option KEY FEATURES to reinvent the PC as living room that details films by time, rating or XP Media Center friendly. The US company’s Microsoft even director. Another standout Edition 2005 with Service Pack 2; 2x TV TUNE OF ★★★★★ Media Center PC DH2 takes the feature is the advanced cooling tuners; DVD writer; EPG; up to 400GB THE MONTH concept a step further by not only system that ensures an ultra quiet hard drive; Intel Pentium 4 processor resembling a consumer electronics operation. Prices will start at around with HyperThreading Technology; up to M Ward box, but also actually behaving like £999 for a basic system. 2GB of memory; compatible with Big Boat one. In terms of design it looks not www.alienware.co.uk Microsoft Media Center Extender system If you’re prepared to invest the time, the web unlike a DVD player. Round the back offers plenty of opportunities to discover there are sockets, including unfamiliar acts. This free track is a brief introduction to M Ward’s fourth album, composite AVs and S-Video ports, Transistor Radio. ‘Big Boat’ grabs your normally found on AV products rather attention in seconds as a boogie piano riff and than traditional PCs. ramshackle drums establish an off-kilter Unlike rival Media Centers, rhythm. But the killer touch is Ward’s voice, which combines the rasp of an elderly included with the DH2 is a pair of bluesman with the attitude of a young Elvis. analogue TV tuners, enabling the As the brief track fades out, you’ll be viewer to watch one channel while convinced that here is a performer you should find out more about. simultaneously recording another. www.betterpropaganda.com. Out now MUSIC ONLINE

50 Cent Disco Inferno (Edit) Napster claims an exclusive version of this lolloping rap track, but it turns out to be merely the album version with all the swear Cowon iAudio X5 £249 (20GB version) words taken out – which kinda defeats the A rival for the iPod Photo that does video too object. Napster. Out now Beck Game Boy Variations EP Korean manufacturer Cowon has Media Audio, WAV and Ogg, although On the back of his new Guero album, Beck is released some impressive personal there’s currently no compatibility releasing a flurry of web remixes, cashing in audio products and now has video with downloaded copyright protected on the trend of recording tracks with the most loving consumers in its sights with WMA tracks. The player also comes basic synthesisers available. iTunes. Out now the iAudio X5, due to reach stores in with JetShell software which DJ Shadow vs Keane the next month or so. A rival to the apparently makes it easier to create We Might As Well Be Strangers iPod Photo with its 1.8-inch 160 x 128 playlists and transfer tracks. With the trio’s debut album strip-mined for pixel LCD display, the iAudio X5 has The iAudio X5 is currently singles, this is a glitchy remix of Hopes And available with either a 20GB (£249) Fears’ most windswept song. the advantage that it’s compatible iTunes. Out now with MPEG-4 video files as well as or 30GB (£269) hard disk – and a JPEG image ones. It also supports the 60GB version may follow. Ben Folds Landed recently introduced USB on the go www.mp3-plus.net The indie pianist and songwriter delights in format enabling users to directly issuing internet-only releases. His latest is a tuneful update on the classic Elton John upload images from similarly KEY FEATURES sound. iTunes. Out now equipped digital cameras. 1.8-inch 160 x 128 pixel LCD display; This slim, stylish device plays 20/30GB hard disk; MPEG-4/JPEG Natalie Imbruglia Shiver back almost all the major audio playback; MP3, WMA, WAV and Ogg A preview of what could be a make-or-break album, after the sales wipeout of White Lilies formats including MP3, Windows playback; JetShell software Island, sees Imbruglia playing it safe with a return to pleasant pop. iTunes, OD2 affiliates. Out now

Nas iTunes Originals The latest in a series of exclusive recordings by the New York rapper. New versions of fan favourites are interspersed with Nas’s commentary on his work. Inverto IDL-7000T £219 iTunes. Out now Feature-packed hard disk Freeview recorder MUSIC ON DISC One of the biggest disadvantages of which the manufacturer many of the hard disk-based video claims can store up to Faithless Forever Faithless Following on the heels of last year’s recorders that access Freeview’s 60 hours of video in No Roots, this career summary digital terrestrial transmissions is long play mode. Also includes the best work of the hip hop that they often tend to only sport one unlike some rival collective plus a smattering of new digital tuner. This creates a problem products which only offer material. Audio CD. 2nd May VHS for consumers in that they can’t limited electronic programme guides, Genesis The Lamb video recorders watch one digital TV channel while the Inverto delivers two weeks of on Lies Down on Broadway recording another. The Inverto IDL- screen programme listings. The usual and series record, for when the After a successful search for the 7000T, which has just gone on sale hard disk video trickery is also user wants to archive the entire original master tapes, the definitive via the online retailer www. featured, including instant replay of programme in a series. The IDL- prog rock album is remixed into pristine 5.1 surround. SACD. 18th April unbeatable.co.uk, solves this by live TV and the option to pause a 7000T is available for around £250. adding a second digital tuner, which programme halfway through. Another www.unbeatable.co.uk Nitin Sawhney Philtre enables users to record not one, but useful facility is picture-in-picture Sawhney’s latest dance project sees two digital channels simultaneously. which allows the viewers to watch KEY FEATURES a mix of hip hop and drum ’n’ bass with world music influences. A host In spite of its competitive price two digital channels simultaneously. 2x digital TV tuners; 80GB hard disk; two of collaborators comes along for the the Inverto boasts a high level of Other features include one touch week on screen programming guide; one ride. Audio CD. 2nd May features. It sports an 80GB hard disk, transfer of recorded programmes to touch VHS archive; picture-in-picture Bruce Springsteen Devils & Dust The title track is The Boss’s take on Iraq so don’t expect a mellowness to TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! the country songs. Audio CD. 26th April Digital Life DualDisc in the UK The hybrid music format arrives at last – just in time to face some stiff competition

After a month-long delay, the latest inability to work on CD players, attempt to coax us into buying music will be packaged in the recorded in surround sound is same way as CDs and will be placed reaching the UK. DualDisc offers in the same racks. This way you tracks recorded in Dolby 5.1, which can buy a DualDisc now and play plays through the CD layer, then enjoy the equipment as long as you have a surround mix once you upgrade. DAVE GORMAN compatible player. While previous Some manufacturers, however, Comedian Dave Gorman attempts to market surround sound have advised against buying this talks about the joy of ‘txt’, formats have met with mixed music format while they conduct digital radio and the iPod fortunes, the record labels backing tests to assess their compatibility. DualDisc believe the format’s While DualDiscs have been Favourite websites? compatibility with CD players, which available in the US since last year, the I love chortle.co.uk, it’s very professionally can use a stereo mix also on the disc, presence in Europe of the similar put together. I also go to B3ta.com which has great links for weird websites. will prove popular. DVDPlus format has delayed the Three labels operated by 5.1 newcomer’s arrival, because of a What computer do you have? Entertainment Group are the first to dispute over patent rights. DualDisc I’ve got the latest Apple iMac G5. It doesn’t launch titles on 25th April, with also faces competition from Super take up much space and it looks nice too – I’m such a tart. I’ve also got two identical Universal and EMI expected to follow Audio CD, which already provides Mac Powerbooks, one I use on the road shortly. The 5.1-channel mix is held dual-device compatibility. Warner, and one I use just for the show. on a layer of the disc that’s compatible meanwhile has muddied the waters Have you always been a Mac man? with DVD-Audio equipment. While even more by issuing album packs No I first got a Mac about three or four previous DVD-A releases have that contain both a CD and a separate years ago. But it’s a bit of a one way confused some customers because of DVD-A disc. street; once you start you don’t want to go back to PCs. non-standard packaging and an www..com

Do you have wireless? What you While I was living in New York I got Wi-Fi THE SHINY DISC MUSIC MAZE can get for my laptop. There were so many Wi-Fi DualDisc UK releases include users out there I was able to piggy back on DVD-Video Offers video and 5.1- DVD-Audio Offers a 5.1-channel for DVD or CD players. Some discs Blondie their networks – it was magic. But I don’t channel sound recognised by any mix that plays only in compatible also include video that’s playable The Curse of Blondie have a wireless handheld device because I DVD player. It’s the dominant DVD-A players, plus a stereo mix on any DVD machine. would end up downloading lots of spam. Robert Cray standard and hugely popular. recognised by any DVD player – Time Will Tell although a minority of releases DVDPlus Offers a 5.1-channel mix Do you get loads of emails? The Mavericks Super Audio CD Offers a 5.1- instead include a 5.1-channel mix for DVD players, plus a flip-side Yes, hundreds a day. That’s why I don’t The Mavericks channel mix that plays only in recognised by any DVD player. stereo mix for CD players. have my broadband connection at home Gary Moore set up to retrieve email automatically. It compatible SACD players, and Back to the Blues would just be pinging every ten seconds. usually features a standard stereo DualDisc The new tech on the ‘Double Disc’ The unofficial name Todd Rundgren mix that can be recognised by any block offers a 5.1-channel mix for for titles packaged with one CD Liars Who do you use for broadband? DVD or CD player. DVD-A players, and a stereo mix and one DVD-A of the same album. I have ADSL through Virgin but haven’t been very happy with it. The email service, in particular, has been terrible.

Do you own a camera? I’ve got a Nikon 4-megapixel model and am looking to buy a photo printer next. My Mum’s got one. She used it recently to SMART HOME SHOW print out pictures at my brother’s wedding! She’s so tech-savvy, she even texts me. New show dedicated to the digital home opens its doors on Thursday 14th April

Do you text? The Smart Home Show, the UK’s first consumer exhibition advice on all the latest in home entertainment technology, I’ve got a tri-band Nokia phone and text all dedicated to integrated home technology opens its doors this networking and security. Exhibitors confirmed to appear the time. But even in text messages I spell month on 14th April at the Birmingham NEC. include Crestron, Siemens, Philips, Hitachi Europe, things out properly. What annoys me is people who use text abbreviations – it’s The show has been designed as a showcase for ‘smart SmartKontrols, Lutron, Music Matters and Goelst UK. Digital easier to read ‘great’ than ‘GR8’. home living’ solutions and will feature product demos and Home and T3 will also be there. A highlight of the show will be the Sevenoaks Sound and You must have an iPod too? Vision Fusion Lounge, a ‘real room’ feature demonstrating the Yes, I have a 40GB third generation model with 4,000 songs on it. Because I’m world’s best home entertainment systems. The show will also travelling I use it all the time. I have it on host a programme of free daily seminars, which will provide random play most of the time. help on installing home technology. For tickets, call the Any other gadgets? Hotline on 0870 730 0964. Tickets are £10 on the door or I’ve got three digital radios including two £7 in advance. www.smarthomeshow.co.uk Pure Bugs. They look great next to the iMac. I love the fact that you can record the radio on to a hard drive. I’ve also got the iStation for the iPod, which is great for listening to music when you’re in hotels.

Dave Gorman’s Googlewhack Adventure is published by Ebury Press, priced £7.99 10 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! Connec t

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CeBIT 2005 depth. Two years after the original’s Media Center Clancy’s barely-lit world of espionage and Like CES before it, the demonic bloodbath, you return to the 2006 intrigue. Once again, super-duper-spy Sam 01 dominant themes of CeBIT shattered UAC site on Mars to investigate a 04 According to press Fisher (voiced by Michael Ironside) is as 2005 in Hanover were: big TVs, small mobile mysterious artefact. Cue more exploration, reports in the US, Microsoft has decided bendy as a Romanian gymnast and blends phones, portable audio/video players and ‘things that go grrnnghhh-urgh in the dark’ against releasing a new standalone version into the shadows better than a black cat on Wi-Fi. The new multimedia skew marks a tension, new weapons (such as the double- of Windows XP Media Center Edition for a black leather sofa. New for this game is a significant change in the content of the once barrelled shotgun), and legions of extra- 2006. Speaking at CeBIT, Microsoft Product lethal new combat knife; a remote camera; business-orientated trade show, and there dimensional hellspawn intent on pulling Manager Tom Laemmel revealed: “It’s plus better enemy AI, smoother 3D graphics was the odd digital home highlight amongst your intestines out through your arse. looking like it will be an update, not a new and a multiplayer mode. Available for PC, the hundreds of stands. Samsung led the www.activision.com version” and that any update would be Xbox, PS2, GameCube and N-Gage. technological bragging, unveiling its new “bigger than your standard Windows update, www.splintercell.com 7-megapixel SCH-V770 camera phone, and Pentium 4 6xx but smaller than a Service Pack.” An MCE showing off its 102-inch plasma, 82-inch series processors update would act as a handy bug-fix and Mac media LCD TV and 71-inch DLP sets. Sharp had its 03 While some have add new functionality (let’s have a web adapter new HD-ready Aquos displays (HDCP- proclaimed that the ‘Pentium 4 is dead’, browser and email client!), without 06 Newly available for compliant), while NEC debuted an external Intel’s new 6xx series of P4 chips ramps up disenchanting everybody that has invested download, El Gato’s EyeConnect application HD-DVD drive (pictured), supporting 20GB the power of the desktop Pentium. Like in the 2005 version. Expect more details enables Mac owners to access music, single layer and 32GB dual-layer discs. AMD’s Athlon 64s, the new P4’s digital when the annual Microsoft WinHEC photos or video clips on their machine’s home-friendliness is aided by its EM64T conference kicks off at the end of April. hard disk through their TV or hi-fi. Doom 3: architecture, making it the first of Intel’s www.microsoft.com/mediacenter EyeConnect links to any media adapter Resurrection consumer chips to be 64-bit ready. The 6xx based on the Universal Plug ’n’ Play AV 02 of Evil series P4s also feature double the L2 cache Splinter 3: standard, such as Philips’ Streamium For anyone who was saddened by Doom than their forebears, plus HyperThreading Chaos Theory MX6000i (pictured), so you can broadcast 3’s superficial gameplay and monotonous support (which fools the PC into thinking 05 When a big game rolls Mac media over a wireless or LAN network. ‘lights go out, monsters attack’ design, that it has two cores). They’ll make ideal into town, you’ve got to sit up and take You can get a free preview version of Resurrection of Evil promises more Mars- workhorse chips for Media Center PCs. notice. Chaos Theory, the latest episode in EyeConnect from the El Gato website. based gunnery, but with some satisfying www.intel.com the Splinter Cell series, returns to Tom www.elgato.com

12 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! Connec t The latest on: Sony’s Portable PlayStation Expectations run high as the UK waits impatiently for the imminent arrival of Sony’s latest addition

A year ago, everyone understood handheld gaming: Handheld gaming meant a screen, a d-pad, and a copy of Advance Wars. Then Nintendo and Sony changed the rules, and no-one quite knew what would happen next. Nintendo went out on a limb, inventing a console that sounded like a joke, looked like a mistake and is only now getting games which are showing its real worth. In contrast, Sony’s PSP sounded like heaven, looked like it would bankrupt you, and still isn’t on the shelves. Its vision of a multimedia games machine with a generous widescreen display and PS2 quality gaming has been dogged with rumours of dismal battery life and inflated retail prices. But it’s now teetering on the brink of world domination. Retailing for just $249 in the US and equipped with a battery which will get you through the day (if not much more), the stage is set for the PSP to take Europe by storm. Sony’s PSP has flown off the shelves in Japan, leaving many What’s the latest? bitterly disappointed. Several months after its release, Sony is still struggling to meet demand, leaving many Japanese gamers frustrated. What’s bad news for them, AVI files to the Memory Stick, no online games ready use it to take your PSP online for gaming use, but however, is good news for us. One of the reasons for for play. The US launch should fix all that, and there’s whether the tantalising prospect of internet access the stock shortages is that Sony is stockpiling PSP’s every reason to hope the same will be true for the UK. will be implemented isn’t yet known. ready for the US launch (March 24th) and console’s The PSP is billed as a portable multimedia hub, imminent UK debut. Those lucky few who bagged one but it’s still a little unclear how this is going to work in When do we get it? of the Japanese machines are mostly still in awe – practice. It will be possible to buy some UMD movies We don’t know, although Amazon has claimed the even after months of play, the clarity of the screen is for it, but support from film studios is still almost non- 24th June. Ultimately, we’ve not got long to wait. In extraordinary. Game support is also improving: the US existent. Movie files can be saved to Memory Stick, the US and Japan, Sony only announced the release is looking forward to over 20 release titles. but you’ll need software which ‘wraps’ the MPEG-4 date six weeks before the machine hit the shelves, so The US is also going to benefit from Sony having files in a Sony wrapper, without which the PSP won’t it’s likely that the PSP will arrive in the Summer. And sorted itself out a bit. The Japanese launch was very recognise them. Sony is promising downloadable when it arrives, we’ll have the best line-up of launch badly supported – no UMD movies available, despite movie content, but there’s no news on how or when games, a selection of UMD movies and the possibility all the big talk about the multimedia future, no that might happen. Online capability is also unclear. If of full online play. The price still hasn’t yet been software (initially) to allow users to code their own you have a Wi-Fi network installed you will be able to announced but it’s likely to be £150-£180. The analyst’s view Stats

Ever since Sony launched the original PlayStation ten years The PSP is a general-purpose, networked, digital Despite Nintendo’s head start ago, people have been asking when it would attack portable appliance masquerading as a game console – a brave move in the US, Sony is winning the gaming – a space dominated so far by Nintendo’s Game Boy. by Sony, particularly given an RRP that must hurt its bottom software battle The PSP is an extremely impressive device that targets the line. Content will make or break the platform, as always: not 18- to 34-year-old technology/entertainment market, rather only must the games be extremely good but, more than Nintendo’s early teens. Clearly, Sony will sell as many importantly, Sony must look to the future and develop Wi-Fi PSPs as it can manufacture in the next 12 months. networking services, encourage people to buy movies on But the PSP represents more to Sony than just a “Game UMD, and build an iTunes-like music and video download Boy killer”. It can help Sony regain lost ground in the digital service that really engages. And all these applications need audio playback, portable video, and even communications to be easy to use if Sony is to realise its aim of a mass- markets. In short, it could restore the innovative, cool, market controller and media device for all consumers. device-manufacturer image that has slipped recently as Paul Jackson, Principal Analyst, Forrester Research

Apple, Microsoft, and others have surged ahead. (www.forrester.com) 20 24 DS games released in the DS games released US by the end of March in the PSP games released US by the end of March

14 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! Processor Display The PSP is powered by two 32-bit MIPS R4000 The PSP’s display is a 4.3-inch, 16:9 TFT LCD, with a resolution of processors, with clock speeds of up to 333MHz. The 480 x 272 pixels and 16.77 million colours. It has three selectable games released so far are of a graphical quality brightness levels, and can be switched off when the console is roughly equal to that of most current PS2 titles, but being used as an MP3 player. After some trouble with dead pixels, there’s no question there’s room for improvement. Sony is rumoured to have swapped to a manufacturer that offers Some developers have been cutting clock speeds to better reliability with slightly reduced colour quality. ensure performance, but results will improve as they become more skilled at exploiting the hardware.

Wireless Memory Stick The IEEE 802.11b connection enables both ‘ad hoc’ The PSP takes the Memory Stick Pro Duo, which is used for saving and ‘infrastructure’ modes, which means that you’ll be game data and updates, and can store MP3 and movie files for able to connect with local PSP users for gaming playback on the PSP. Duo Pro is currently only available in the UK up sessions, as well as those further afield when you get to 512MB – big enough for a movie but not much more. But Sony is online via a Wi-Fi network. No online games are yet promising larger sizes, as well as price drops, in the coming months. released, so it’s not yet clear exactly how full Wi-Fi access will work, but Sony is working to make it as painless as possible. The first games

Archer Maclean’s Mercury Infected Wipeout Pure Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade This amazingly tactile puzzler asks you to manoeuvre A zombie-killer with a difference, Infected pits you The game that defined the original PlayStation is likely to Destined to be one of the PSP’s most popular multiplayer balls of mercury through fiendish mazes and past against a legion of undead who can only be killed with work the same magic for the PSP. Stunningly presented, games, Brotherhood takes the dungeon hack ’n’ slash vicious traps. The mercury is beautifully fluid, splitting bullets dipped in your blood. Multiplayer lets the winner the feel of anti-gravity racing transfers well to the PSP’s pleasures of the PS2’s Champions Of Norrath and lets up and splurging round the obstacles it faces, and the ‘infect’ the loser’s PSP with his avatar, and whoever the analogue nub. Taking full advantage of the PSP’s Wi-Fi to four players drop seamlessly in and out of a puzzles and level design are perfectly calibrated to hit loser goes on to defeat will also be infected with your abilities, it will be possible to download new tracks and surprisingly detailed and beautiful world. The PSP that sweet spot between infuriating and irresistible. identity. A website tracks how far you’ve spread. design your own skins for the game’s interface. version might well be the best yet of the series.

Coming soon… The Downside The biggest disappointment about the Other upcoming The UMD movies announced PSP is that Sony has cut corners on the games include: in the US so far are: finish. The on/off/suspend switch is Metal Gear Acid; Lumines; Spider-Man 2; xXx; flabby, the analogue nub can be easily Need for Speed Underground; Resident Evil 2; Once Upon pulled out if your PSP gets snagged on The Rivals; Tony Hawk’s a Time in Mexico. The its case, and one of the main buttons Underground 2 Remix; heavily hyped Final Fantasy has a squint and slightly unreliable contact – a deliberate decision by Sony, Death Jr; Namco Museum; VII movie Advent Children is not a manufacturing error, designed to Ridge Racer; Twisted Metal. also in the works. accommodate the sumptuous screen.

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! WIN! Denon AVR-3805 “The UK’s best AV amp” – Digital Home 22

To enter simply log on to our website www.digitalhomemag. “The results are stunning. The Denon has com/competition Closing date: power and potency aplenty and combines Thursday 5th May this attitude with articulation that’s way ahead of the pack.” Digital Home 22

Two months ago we reviewed and rated the Top The AVR-3805 is full-fat home entertainment at KEY FEATURES Ten AV amps in the UK. It was a bloody battle, its very best. It’s powerful but articulate; Dolby Pro Logic IIx but ultimately Denon triumphed with the producing a sound that is both huge and delicate DTS ES formidable AVR-3805, worth £1,000. And now at the same time. Whether you’re watching Bruce 7x 120 Watts you have a chance to win one. Lucky you, eh? Willis or listening to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, (8 Ohms, 20Hz-20kHz) the mighty Denon AVR-3805 will handle it with This month, Digital Home has teamed up with consummate ease. www.denon.co.uk Video up-conversion Denon to offer one winner an AVR-3805 Flatscreen universal remote multi-channel amplifier. All you have to do is log To be in with a chance of winning this fantastic control included on to our website and complete a short form to be amplifier, go to www.digitalhomemag.com and 7.1 channel input in with a chance of winning it. click on Competitions. 9.1 channel preamp output

16 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! Disconnect

The sound of litigation Many computer owners are against the use of digital rights management technology, which prevents or limits the copying of video and music files, because they believe that entertainment industries should instead embrace a more enlightened policy of unfettered distribution. Scott Moschella’s protest was a little more creative than most, however. Winning a freebie iTunes Music Store track in a competition, Moschella downloaded his chosen track, stripped out its DRM protection and posted it on his website. While this might normally be an invitation to get sued, the track OPINION Moschella chose was ‘(Silence)’ by Ciccone Youth, comprising of a minute Bo Lundberg/Folio or so of nothing. When even complete silence is copy-protected, maybe the geeks have a point. THE QUIET REVOLUTION www.itunes.com Falling prices and sexier gimmicks are helping to ensure dramatic growth for Phone home A new service DAB. Just don’t expect it to be front page news. Chris Price reports enables you to make phone calls to aliens. Your $4-per-minute With all the hype surrounding the technology isn’t always about selling the benefits of better call is automatically Apple iPod and the brouhaha over digital quality, but coming up with new features that excite people, routed to a large TV, it’s easy to forget a digital technology albeit in a very small way. satellite dish pointed at a region of space which doesn’t have such great free PR: Whereas in the early days of digital radio there was a with a high density of digital radio, or DAB (Digital Audio strange kind of snobbery about the technology which meant stars, which in theory Broadcasting) to give it its official name. that the only people who bought units were bearded hi-fi buffs means plenty of planets where While news that ten million iPods and Classic FM listeners (or both), these days the someone might be have now been sold worldwide was manufacturers are pitching their products at a much younger waiting to take your extensively reported in the press,ss, some and tech-savvy audience. This has resulted in more funky- message. The Talk equally impressive statistics about DAB over thee last few lolooking portable units and, of course, iPod-type functionality. To Aliens service aims to add email and instant months were largely ignored by the media.. In January the Undoubtedly the turning point for digital radio came just messaging soon. Digital Radio Development Bureau (DRDB)DRDB) reported that one over a year ago when Pure Digital, a company best known for www.talktoaliens.com million digital radios were sold in the UK in 2004000400 – taking the its elegelegantgant but somewhat sosober digital radios, announced a If you’re that clever… overall total to 1.3 million – and that by the enendnd of 200520 this partnershpartnershipship with designer WWayne Hemingway. The end result Police in the South Korean city of figure is expected to rise to 2.4 wwasas The Bug, a digital radio that Kwangju have been brought in to get to million. DRDB predictss that by 2008 “These days the aactuallyctu looks more like the head and the bottom of an elaborate student 8.3 million people will have a digital sshouldersho of a robot dog than any bug cheating scheme. The ringleaders manufacturers are recruited around 40 students who had radio and that the market, currently I’vI’vee ever seen, but which has done well in exams, providing each with worth around £90 million, will haveve pitching their nneverthelessev apparently sold by the two mobile phones. The phones were risen to a whopping £500 million.lion.n. sshedload.he Of course the reason the Bug purchased with the help of other students who agreed to put their names Nor is this optimism confinednedeed to products at a much hhasas proved so popular isn’t just down to the purchases. The ringleaders then the industry’s own body – it’ss alsoo younger audience. ttoo iitst innovative, if somewhat strange, rented a motel room where the 40 swots reflected in the retail sectorr itself. Inn This has resulted in sstyling.tyl It’s also because of the onboard could practise texting answers to test February Dixons announcedced that ttechnology.ech Like the audio equivalent of questions in the shortest possible time. During the exams, which assess sales of DAB radios in itsts stores were more funky-looking SkSky+,y the Bug lets you pause live radio, students before they enter college, the outstripping those of analogue radios portable units” rerewindw to the start of the track and fast-fingered swots used one phone to by two to one. recrecordo to an SD memory card. send answers to another group of students positioned outside the exam So what has brought aboutout this quiet revorevolution?vollutionution? Is it the Noww Pure Digital has gogone one step further and introduced rooms, who then relayed each answer realisation that radio broadcasts don’t have to have a perpetual a digitadigital radio that actually speaks to you. Tap the snooze bar of back to all 40 students’ second phones, hiss? Or is it that maybe people are powerlesswerless to resist the aural the SSonus-1XT once and it will tell you the time in human tones as well as phones belonging to other delights of digital radio stations like XFM, 1XtraXtra and BBC7? no less. Tap it twice and it will confirm your alarm settings with collaborators. You are not alone in thinking it might have been easier to However it seems it’s neither of the above. That salesales of digital yyou. It can even spell out DAB’s scrolling text. Quite why just do the sodding revision. radios are doing so well is largely down to two factors: anyone would need a speaking radio is beyond us, but then just improved hardware choice (both in terms of radio design andd like comedians need a catchphrase, so do new gadgets need a features) and falling prices. Around three years ago you were gimmick. And, sadly perhaps, a digital radio that speaks to you looking at spending the best part of £500 on a standalone or which lets you rewind a particular song is a much more sexy digital unit. Now you can get a decent DAB radio for under £50. message to get across than one that offers hiss-free broadcasts. What’s more, the manufacturers of digital radios seem to See page 46 for a review of the Pure Sonus-1XT. have learned a valuable lesson from their digital TV set-top box Do you agree with Chris? Let us know what you think by emailing manufacturer cousins: that attracting people to a new [email protected]. TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! COMINGCOMING NEXTNEXT MONTHMONTH ININ

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18 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! inbox Send to: [email protected] EMAIL This month: Getting ready for HDTV; buying a PVR; printing problems; and is Sony replacing its laptops too fast? OF THE

WHAT’S IN A NUMBER? PVRs scheduled in for our next issue, on sale MONTH Reviews of the Sony Vaio 5th May. Along with the big-hitters such as S2 have finally convinced Sky’s 160GB Sky+ box, we’ll also be looking HDTV CONFUSION me to move on from the at the various Freeview alternatives from Am I the only one who’s getting confused Sony PCG-R600 that has Toshiba, Sharp and JVC. We’ll try to include about the specs for HDTV? As I understand it, served me well for the the PVRs you mention, but release dates and HD will appear in two different resolutions, past five years and invest product availability will ultimately determine namely 720p and 1080i. But there’s also a in some new technology – the contenders. 1080p specification planned, so where does it’s a testament to Sony that fit in? And apparently, if I don’t buy a TV that anyone can get five YOU ONLY PRINT TWICE with an HDMI connection I won’t be able to years out of a laptop! While I was very interested in both the get Sky’s HD service next year. Is the same I went down to Tottenham ‘Linksys Media Center Extender’ and true for the terrestrial services when they Court Road to see one for myself – it is a ‘Listeners flock to digital radio’ articles on launch? How are we supposed to make a beauty to behold. But imagine my angst page 12 of your March issue of Digital buying decision when nobody is explaining when I realised that the next version, the Home magazine [issue 23], I have to admit the standards! S3, was already available. Having looked at that I wasn’t interested enough to read Stephen Richards the specs for the two I haven’t convinced them again on page 14. You’re right, the HDTV landscape has yet to myself that the S3 is an improvement. My Mr Tennant settle down in Europe but a concerted marketing real worry is on the graphics and that the If you listen carefully, you can hear the sobs campaign is about to begin. EICTA, the Go 6200, on the face of it, would appear to of those responsible as they are demoted to European ICT Association, has recently be a step back from the 9700. plate collecting and pot-washing duties in the approved a handy ‘HD Ready’ logo, to highlight Have you guys tested the S3 (did I miss office canteen. Needless to say, you didn’t the equipment that it has deemed capable of it?) if not what are your thoughts? At knock miss a page of editorial in that issue – the displaying high definition broadcasts. This down prices the S2 looks like a steal, or am printing error simply duplicated page 12 over enshrines a minimum set of specifications for I missing something? an advert for our sister magazine PC Plus that any wannabe HDTV set, which are: a minimum Patrick Fogarty was destined for page 14. 1,280 x 720 or 720p resolution (at 50 and 60Hz), We’re in total agreement with you. The S2 is a component video inputs, plus an HDMI or DVI fantastic laptop, but it’s interesting you THE IMPORT BUSINESS connection. Sky has confirmed that it will should mention the S3, as we’ve come to I’m off to the States at the weekend to go provide its HD services in both 720p and 1080i essentially the same conclusion as you. The skiing, and I want to purchase a Media formats, starting in 2006; the BBC has yet to S3 does use newer technology, with faster Center Extender by Linksys or HP. I had define its own specifications and memory, a faster processor, etc. The graphics assumed that they didn’t work, but in the will probably wait until may be a slight step down, but there’s very March issue of Digital Home [page 12] you there’s sufficient little in it. The main problem is the battery imply that a US Extender will work demand. As for true life. Whereas the S2 stretches to an average provided that the power supply is sorted 1080p, nothing is being approaching five hours, the S3 will only last out. Can you please confirm that the broadcast in this you up to about two-and-a-half, due to the Extender can be modified to work with a resolution, even in the more powerful components inside it. From PAL system? US, while sets that our point of view, this makes the S2 a better Graham Cummings claim to support it are bet, especially at a knockdown price. Yes, the US Extender will work: the power up-scaling the picture. supply is not a problem, just the plug. You’ll If you’re thinking of Buying a new NOT A FAN OF FANS need an adapter to plug it into a UK mains buying your next big TV, TV? Then check Have you chaps reviewed the Digifusion socket. US Media Center Extenders only the 720p/1080i approach the HD specs. FVRT200 yet, or are you still waiting for it? output a signal in NTSC, not PAL, and the US will likely become the I’m waiting for it to go on sale, but now it boxes can’t be forced to embrace it. However, standard for Europe. looks like the Panasonic TUCTH100 might most modern TVs will cope with NTSC be on its way too, so I’m not sure which one signals. Check your TV’s manual to see if it’s to get – the quietest one, preferably. Will compatible. The MPEG-2 video format is not GET IN TOUCH you be reviewing the TUCTH100 too? specific to one system or the other, so a US Your feedback is valuable to us. What do you think of this P Douglas extender talks to a UK Media Center edition of Digital Home? Did you find the information you need? And what topics do you want us to discuss in the No, we’ve not had a chance to review the perfectly. However do bear in mind that US future? We’ll give the writer of the best recommendations a FVRT200 yet, although Digifusion has MCE’s don’t support widescreen TVs Bug DAB digital radio from Pure Digital, worth £150. Send recently announced a FVRT300 model, which properly, don’t have RGB outputs, and offer your letters to [email protected]. looks even better. We have a Top Ten test of cut-down MCE functionality.

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! DIGITAL HOME 19 !!"" ) #"(#"  &

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Imagine broadband speeds fast enough to stream several video Nearly a billion people – that’s about one-sixth of the world’s population – have an internet streams simultaneously and all in glorious high definition. Imagine connection at home. But very few – about three tuning your kitchen radio to any station in the world, or per cent of all humans – have fast internet access: broadband. That’s about to change. Dramatically. surfing thousands of global TV stations. Imagine And not because of lumbering developments in laptops with batteries that last a whole day and that over-worked landline communications, such as can connect to the internet anywhere, even miles ADSL. No. The long-awaited broadband boom will come about because of some giant leaps forward from the nearest telephone point and without in mobile technology. Broadband is about to take expensive 3G subscriptions. to the air, and the secret ingredient that will make wireless broadband cheap and available to the masses is silicon. All of this is possible, and it will happen A couple of years ago, a ‘hot spot’ meant a rocking nightclub or a sunny holiday resort. Then sooner than you think. Behold the along came Wi-Fi and upset the authors of the new age of computing. OED. But no sooner has the new definition entered the public consciousness when it becomes completely irrelevant again. An exciting By Kieran Potts development in wireless technology is about to obliterate the ‘spot’ and jack up the ‘hot’. Of course we already have wireless internet in the form of Wi-Fi, or Wireless Fidelity communications. But its short range makes it

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! DIGITAL HOME 21 useless for everything except home before, of course, from the 3G networking and checking your email operators. So what’s so different over a Starbucks latte. And anyway, about WiMAX? contrary to popular belief, Wi-Fi isn’t true wireless internet. It’s actually City-wide wireless only a networking standard; it just so WiMAX – less romantically known as happens that the network can itself IEEE 802.16 – is a new means of be connected to the internet. And that delivering broadband into homes and means that Wi-Fi is dependent on businesses, doing away with the having a nearby cabled access point. restrictions and expense of laying And its range is so restricted that cabling. A wireless chip inside your coverage of Wi-Fi will always be computer will simply connect to your extremely limited. local broadband access point – which But what if broadband internet could be as much as 30 miles away. could be delivered without having to You will pay a small subscription for use our age-old telephone lines? the privilege as you do now for What if broadband could reach out phone-line broadband. further than the few metres of today’s And the range is staggering. At Wi-Fi hotspots and be delivered the moment, a single 802.11g access Craig Barrett, CEO of Intel, quipped wirelessly over many miles, say from point will cover a small building. A base stations that are similar to single WiMAX tower located in, say, recently: WiMAX “will get us away mobile phone masts? Westminster, would have a range from the half-arsed broadband WiMAX does just that. WiMAX – extending out to Guildford in Surrey. which is short for WorldWide If you’re familiar with New York City, capabilities we have today” Interoperability for Microwave a single WiMAX access point would Access – is set to revolutionise how cover the whole of Manhattan, and a truck load of rare rocks for. It could delivered on that promise, at least not we communicate, play, work, and then some. It’s not so much LAN as get very interesting. yet. WiMAX just might. find information. We’ve heard all this WAN – wide area networking. And think of the applications. We shouldn’t have to wait long And that’s not all. You know you WiMAX enabled kitchen radios that either. Early trials of WiMAX are can only get 2Mb broadband now, if allow you to search thousands of already on the go and we could see you’re very lucky? Well WiMAX internet radios from all over the the first public demonstrations this should deliver speeds of up to 50Mb. world, tuned as simply as today’s year – in the US at least. Pentium- That’s insane. You couldn’t possibly digital DAB radios. And because Intel style WiMAX chips, which Intel has use all that bandwidth if you is already developing small nicknamed ‘Rosedale’, will be ready streamed the three extended Lord of computing chips with WiMAX as early as the autumn. And it’s the Rings films simultaneously in capabilities, almost any handheld because WiMAX can be easily high-def. As Craig Barrett, CEO of device could have built-in WiMAX commoditised into mass produced Intel, recently said to a room packed connectivity. In fact Intel and Nokia chipsets that WiMAX-enabled devices with journalists: WiMAX “will get us are already beavering away on a will not cost the earth. Moreover, away from the half-arsed broadband variant of WiMAX specifically for setting up a WiMAX network will be capabilities we have today”. mobile devices. Also the advertising inexpensive, especially if existing WiMAX is unlikely to replace industry has expressed interest in mobile phone masts could be used. current Wi-Fi standards, as both the technology: outdoor electronic Research firm In-Sat estimates that it serve different purposes. But the billboards could be updated remotely would cost a mere $3bn – pocket obvious development on the back of using a WiMAX connection. Digital change, in the grand scheme of This silicon wafer is the foundation for today’s computer processors. Each individual WiMAX would be mobile Voice over Home has been talking about the things – for the necessary equipment, square of the wafer is called a die, and each Broadband (VoIP) phones. That would concept of “anytime, anyplace, sites, towers, labour and set-up costs microprocessor within each die forms part of the ‘brain’ of a PC system. create serious competition for 3G anyhow” for over two years now… to beam WiMAX to 90 per cent of the networks, which UK telcos have paid and even 3G hasn’t properly population of the mainland US. So WiMAX will probably compete with all the communications systems we have today in cost more than WIRELESS TECH COMING SOON anything else. That’s very good news for you and I. No doubt there’ll be a slew of “base stations are killing my WiMAX 802.11n fish” arguments, but personally we IEEE 802.16 is the new wide-area network (WAN) format that’s The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is can’t wait. DH being pushed by the likes of multinational companies Intel and developing faster Wi-Fi, or 802.11, standards for wireless home Further reading: Nokia. It will provide direct wireless broadband speeds over networks. One of them is 802.11n, due for release later this year or www.WiMAXforum.org distances of up to 30 miles, with speeds of up to 50Mb for those early next. Its theoretical throughput speed could be as much as closest to the base station, which would trail off the further you 302Mbps, compared to 802.11g’s 54Mbps. Actual throughputs are away from it. should be at least 100Mbps.

UWB challenge in developing UWB has been that it works across a range Ultra-Wide Band is another new wireless technology being of frequencies, not just one, so the possibilities of interference and developed as a communication device between different a bad signal are high. But Intel says its work on the first chipsets is electronic components – a bit like Bluetooth today, but a hundred almost complete and we saw one of the first public demonstrations times faster. UWB is designed to transmit enormous amounts of last month in San Francisco. USB dongles will also allow us to use data quickly over very short distances – perfect for hooking your Ultra-Wide Band to connect components of our existing PC and TV to your high definition DVD player without cables. The main home cinema system.

22 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! THE NEW AGE OF COMPUTING The silicon gods

Demands on our PCs are rising. We want graphics intensive software, and several programmes running simultaneously. And we want to be connected, anytime, anywhere, using simple handheld devices. The secret ingredient to achieving this dream is silicon. Today’s silicon chips are impressive pieces of engineering. Silicon chips are made up of millions of transistors, each one playing a computer processing has been on Taiwan is taking the lead in entertainment PC different role. Think of it as a football clock speeds, this is only one aspect design. Here is just one of many exciting new field in which every blade of grass is of the performance of a chip. For Media Center PCs to come from the country recently. The Atlas (above) is from Fic Q&A individually mown and facing in a example, the Pentium M actually had (www.fic.com.tw) and is one of several specific direction. That’s the level of a lower core clock speed than its cool designs from the company. engineering that goes into a single predecessor, but was better in other silicon chip. ways, such as its ability to fetch data To increase processor speeds, from the CPU. Intel’s latest version of found in the digital home. We want you need to increase the number of Pentium M leaves the 2 gigahertz our media PCs to act as a PVR, music transistors. At the same time, rating unchanged but instead boosts player, high definition video player, however, consumers want smaller, performance by increasing the speed and multiplayer gaming platform at more portable electronics devices,. of data flow between the processor the same time. Dual-core technology The solution to this is to create even and other components. will boost the performance of all of smaller transistors. Today’s this because each of the different transistors are about 90 nanometres Multi-core processor ‘threads’ can handle Donald J MacDonald, vice in diameter, a nanometre being a The next big leap forward in chipset different tasks – it’s more efficient president Intel’s Digital billionth of a metre. By contrast a design won’t come until late this year than one processor doing the lot. human hair is about 10,000 or early 2006, when dual-core The Pentium D also promises to Home Group, talks about be extremely power efficient, and if it the challenges ahead for delivers, we could finally see chip manufacturers Two slow processors working together powerful notebooks that run all day will increase performance without on a single battery charge. Well, You’ve talked about reinventing the that’s what the white papers claim. desktop. What do you mean by this? consuming vastly more power The move to dual-core chips will The desktop is still our largest sector in be slow as software applications need Intel today. But it’s poor – we have to nanometres thick. And the processors become readily available. to be developed to make the most of make it more interesting, to do more technology will almost certainly go The first dual-core chip will be Intel’s the multiple processing streams. For things. Having the entertainment smaller than that. Pentium D (formerly known as one, we’ll need to wait for Longhorn – functionality, having the networking Yonah), which has two processors in the next version of Windows – before capabilities, finding new ways to get Intel inside a single chip. The idea is that two dual chips can become mainstream. some excitement back into the PC… In fact, the number of transistors on a slower processors working together And that’s not expected to arrive then we can come up with some interesting new applications for the chip has doubled roughly every 18 will boost performance without until late next year. desktop. Dual core will really help this months to two years since the 1960s. consuming more power. But dual-core is just the start of a sort of functionality – you’ll be able to Today there are roughly 42 million Combine dual-core chips with new trend away from single chip record TV and play games through a transistors on a Pentium 4 processor. HyperThreading – which divides a processors. Eight-core chips aren’t single PC at the same time. And there shouldn’t be a finite single processor into two streams – far off, and in the years to come we’ll ceiling to computing power, either. and you’ve got some serious grunt. see chipsets made of dozens, even Is Hollywood starting to listen? While in the past the emphasis in A good example of multi-tasking is hundreds, of processors. DH Well, the talk is good, but nothing’s changed. Some people in Hollywood do understand the technology. We’ve had some successful meetings with some of the top stars and they see the potential of distribution through the internet. But they still don’t completely understand the technology and they still think the PC equals piracy. We at Intel have spent a great deal of time, patience and energy talking though some of our anti-piracy measures and showing them that it doesn’t have to be this way.

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! DIGITAL HOME 23 TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! Which Big TV? By Richard Stevenson It’s not easy buying a big screen with myths, the most infamous TV these days. The era when you being that plasma TVs offer could simply ponder whether better pictures than CRTs – you wanted a 28-inch or 32-inch generally they don’t! Buy into a widescreen CRT and then nip off cheap plasma TV and it will look to Dixons have long gone. Pop a whole lot better on the wall into a TV retailer today and you switched off than it will switched will be faced with screen sizes on. At the other end of the up to a whopping 70 inches, spectrum we have seen plasma using a confusingly diverse pictures to die for – but deep range of display technologies. pockets and in-store bravery are Plasma, LCD, CRT and DLP- essential requirements. based TVs are all vying for your And what of connectivity? buying pound and, despite the With HDTV around the corner advertising blurb, not every one (although this corner is still a is suitable for every situation. little way off) has your chosen TV Judging which screen technology got the right connections and the is best for you means delicately correct resolution to make it juggling value, picture quality, future proof? TV technology has style and convenience – not easy never been so exciting or offered when no two TV technologies so much for your cash. Don’t offer the same balance of each. venture to the shops without Just to compound this issue reading our definitive guide to further, the TV market is awash big screen TV technologies.

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! DIGITAL HOME 27 Choosing CRT £500-£750 Traditional televisions may be as unfashionable as mint- coloured trousers, but CRT screens still have a future… Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) technology is a of CRT models in the US using a wider golden oldie of consumer electronics. It’s dispersion electron gun. The SlimFit 30- been around since 1967 in colour form and inch TV is an appealing 16 inches deep, but that’s a whole lot of time for manufacturers Samsung is yet to announce either a launch to get things right. In terms of picture date or a sensible name for these CRT quality per pound there is nothing to beat a models in the UK. good CRT TV and manufacturers still manage incremental increases in screen Buying advice performance every year. When choosing a CRT TV it is difficult to Innovations like Sony’s Wega Engine, really fault the picture performance of any Philips’ Pixel Plus and Panasonic’s Quintrix big name brands, reducing the variables to technology have ensured not only CRT’s screen size (widescreen naturally), survival, but its continued success as the cosmetics and features. Assuming you have best selling TV technology. Well, that and opted for a good-looking widescreen model the fact that they cost a fraction of the price that fits in your living room, the features of new technologies, of course. count is like adding extras to a car – you pays your money and takes your choice. There’s life in CRT yet Top of the list should be either 100Hz or Despite this bargain basement status and progressive scan technology for a smoother venerable image, CRT packs a number of image and a built-in Freeview tuner to benefits over other technologies. Its natural maximise all that free high quality digital colour, superb contrast and super-smooth content without another set-top box. Even with a budget as tight as £750, scrolling are second to none, it won’t lose getting a new big screen TV is not a great brightness over time like plasma, and the A CRT is likely to outlast challenge. While newer technologies viewing angle is much better than LCD. such as plasma and LCD are out of the Okay, below a 14-inch screen size, CRT other technologies with a picture if you want cinema-sized viewing becomes relatively too bulky, and at over life expectancy of 12 years there are plenty of excellent 28-inch CRT 32 inches, the additional weight of the glass TVs and even some 32-inch models on tube means that you need to be a body the market that fit the bill nicely. While builder to move it. But a CRT TV is also Connectivity is generally excellent on hanging one on the wall is out of the likely to outlast other technologies with a brand name models, but make sure you question, the picture quality benefits from life expectancy of 12 years or more. have at least two or three Scart sockets, a 50 years of CRT R&D. It has the lowest Of course, it’s not all roses with CRT component input for best quality DVD, plus energy consumption of any current TVs, even between 14 and 32-inch screen front mounted AV inputs for a camcorder or display technology and is still going to sizes. The electron gun at the neck of the Xbox. Sadly no CRT TV currently available look pretty cool on a sexy AV rack in the tube needs to be almost as far back from is fully HD compatible, and digital video corner of your room. the screen as it is wide, leading to a heavy inputs (DVI/HDMI) are as rare as good and bulky product. They are clearly not acting in an episode of Hollyoaks. This Recommended product going to hang neatly on the wall, and bigger situation could improve this year, but if you JVC HV-32D40 £750

models can be armchair-sized. want a future-proofed set for the coming TV? Which Samsung, however, has recently HD age, newer technologies and deeper announced an altogether more lithe range pockets are essential.

How CRT works Using a very high voltage, the electron gun at the neck of a TV tube causes a cathode (negative electrode) to emit rays of electrons towards an anode (positive). These streams are directed with a steering yoke through the vacuum in the TV tube towards the screen. They pass through a fine mesh called a shadow mask to further focus each beam on to red, green and blue coloured phosphors coating the inside of the screen. The phosphors hit by the electrons glow, creating coloured points of light. Each line of phosphors is scanned 50 or 100 times per second (50Hz or 100Hz) to form what you

see as the TV picture. Magictorch

28 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! Which Big TV?

How LCD works LCD technology works on the basis that light polarised in one direction will not pass through a filter polarised at right angles to it. An LCD panel consists of two sheets of polarising plastic filters and layers of electrically sensitive liquid crystals in between. When a voltage is applied to a pixel, the crystals turn through an angle. This effectively blocks light passing through the panel at that point, creating a ‘switched off’ pixel. Add alternate rows of red, green and blue filters, put a strong light behind the panel, and the result is a display capable of showing full motion video. The slim construction results in an

Magictorch equally slim TV, suitable for wall-mounting.

Choosing LCD Slim and desirable, LCD screens are the new belles of the TV ball. But they’re not as perfect as you think…

Liquid Crystal Displays have been around weight than plasma models, as the LCD for over 20 years but have only recently itself is made from plastic rather than glass.

become a reality in the TV market. The Screen resolutions are HD friendly on Which TV? reason being that their fundamental larger screen models and each pixel has a With a grand to blow on a big screen TV operation relies on crystals moving in a much better defined edge definition than the options really open up. Don’t be viscous liquid and, like wading in treacle, the glowing phosphor dots of plasma or tempted by a cut-price plasma TV at this it’s a very slow process. Early generation CRT – creating a very sharp image. LCD level because they are truly poor and LCD panels simply could not switch pixels TVs do not suffer screen burn-in from another flatscreen technology is well on and off fast enough to cope with a constantly displaying static images, are within reach – LCD. While currently 27 moving video image, and consequently inches is about as big as £1,000 will get remained in clock displays and PC monitors LCD spec sheets can read like you, we think there will be a plethora of that were predominantly used for near- Tolkien-scale fiction. Get a 30 and 32-inch LCD TVs with a street static images. price below £1,000 this summer. Buying Thankfully, as the technology has demo – try before you buy! an HD compatible LCD TV gives you a developed, the pixel-switching time has super crisp image in a sleek hang-on- dropped dramatically and, in the very best the-wall package – the perfect balance models, causes very little motion blur on silent in operation and, from an energy- between style and functionality. moving images. This has opened the saving perspective, use little electricity. floodgates for LCD TVs from 14 inches right But the biggest key to LCD TV’s rise Recommended product up to over 30 inches. However, unlike has been falling prices. Each panel is cut Sagem Axiom HD-L27 £999 plasmas, price is no indication of quality. out of a single large sheet of fully engineered LCD and each new Hot or not? manufacturing generation creates LCD contrast ratio is generally poorer than larger initial sheets. This reduces any other TV technology as the backlight cost per unit and hence the street can leak through the ‘switched off’ pixels. A price – with near 30-inch models potent backlight can lift the brightness now on sale for less than £1,000. figures, but colour is dependent on single Considering the best 32-inch CRTs block filtering, so the total range of colours are still approaching that price, the and the colour saturation are also mediocre. hang-on-the-wall LCD TV has an The deep liquid crystal substrate means the unshakeable appeal. picture integrity fades away as you move LCD TV costs will continue to off axis, although the latest models claim a fall, the picture quality will continue viewing angle up to 130 degrees. That said, to rise and, as features like digital manufacturer’s specification sheets can tuners, memory card readers and £750-£1,000 read like Tolkien-scale fiction at times, so wireless connectivity become getting a demonstration of an LCD TV mainstream, LCD TVs will dominate before you buy is essential. the 14- to 32-inch TV screen market. So why is LCD currently the must-have As long as you make sure you are technology? Not only are LCD TVs a super buying an HD-ready model and try before slim flat panel, they are much lighter in you buy – you can’t go wrong.

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! DIGITAL HOME 29 Choosing DLP £1,000-£2,000 While LCD gets all the attention, DLP TVs balance out stunning picture quality with a slightly fatter back-end… Digital Light Processing has come of age although can be replaced for around £250.) in the last few months. DLP rear projection For the style and space conscious, DLP RP TVs have hit the high definition resolutions (rear projection) TVs are a half-way point of the best plasma models and do so at half between very deep CRT models and super- the price. In fact the technology can offer slim flat panels. Most DLP RPTVs are brighter images than plasma with no currently around 12-18 inches deep at a 50- screen burn-in, higher contrast than LCD inch screen size, although Thomson and even better sharpness and picture unveiled a model at CES this year that is motion than CRT – so what’s the catch? less than six inches deep. Manufacturers are generally fitting decent sized The catch is… loudspeakers too – making DLP models the As you’ll see from our description of how best sounding TVs available. DLP works, it’s an indirect view display technology. Light has to be generated Buying advice externally and reflected off the DLP chipset Almost every DLP RPTV model now sports on to a screen inside a rear projection HD resolutions of at least 1,280 x 760 pixels television. This means that the overall and DVI or HDMI connectivity to hook up picture is not only dependent on the quality to HD sources as they become available. of the DLP chipset and image processing, Simply don’t consider any models that do but also requires excellent optics, very pure not have these features and look out for light and a method of generating the progressive scan and twin tuners to add primary colours – red, green and blue. quality and usability. The viewing angle Quality glass optics, UHP lamps and colour wheels spinning at exactly the correct Models start at around 40 With £2,000 in your pocket a plasma TV speed do not come cheap and, as DLP is a might be on your purchasing radar – but patent technology of Texas Instruments, inches, but really impress at hold on. At this price nothing can get DLP TV builders have to buy TI’s devices. 45, 50 and 60-inch sizes close to the clarity, brightness and sheer All this technology has an impact on impact of a good DLP rear projection TV. the price tag, and while DLP rear projection Okay, a DLP TV is not as slim or as sexy models are certainly cheaper than similarly should be at least 140 degrees to ensure as flat panel, but if the picture quality of specified plasmas they are still a lot more you can see the TV from every seat in your what you watch is top of your priority list costly than CRT TVs. On the up-side, the room, and physically check vertical viewing DLP will beat a sub-£2,000 plasma every technology is easily scalable without a angles as older models can suffer reduced time. Better still the technology means great impact to the manufacturing cost, so brightness if viewed from standing up. that vast screens are only a little more the larger the DLP screen the better the As a final note of caution, make sure to expensive than standard sizes – putting relative value. Models start from around 40 ask what chipset it uses. Only consider 50-inch models within your budget. inches but don’t really come into their own models sporting HD2+ (DarkChip2) or HD3 until 45, 50 and 60-inch screen sizes, when (DarkChip3) technology at present, and Recommended product they have a significant price advantage look for HD4 models later in the year. With Optoma ThemeScene HD50 £1,999

over larger screen plasma TVs. (One note of the lower cost of bigger screen sizes, HD TV? Which caution: the DLP projector bulbs are only compatibility and ever shrinking cabinet likely to last you three or four years, depths, DLP TVs have a very bright future.

How DLP works DLP technology uses a tiny chipset backed by a rectangular array of up to 1.3 million hinge- mounted mirrors, each measuring one-fifth the width of a human hair. This Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) is addressed by a video signal to individually tilt each mirror thousands of times per second, effectively turning pixels on, off or creating a greyscale. Light from a pure white lamp is reflected vertically off of the chip, through a focusing lens and bounced from a large mirror on to the screen of the TV. This basic image is black and white, so a spinning wheel containing red, green and blue filters

colours the image in fast refreshing frames. Magictorch

30 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! Which Big TV?

How plasma works A plasma panel is a great big sandwich of glass and the filling is an array of tiny sealed pockets. There are three pockets per image pixel, each coated in either red, green or blue phosphors and filled with a plasma gas. Electrodes span these tiny cells and when electricity is applied the plasma gas gives off electrons that excite the phosphors into glowing. The sophisticated electronics in a plasma TV generate a range of electrical potentials between the electrodes of each cell, creating a range of colours and brightness levels for each pixel. The net result of the entire array being lit in this way is the video

Magictorch picture you see.

Choosing Plasma The ultimate choice for the ultimate TV. But not all plasmas are created equal – if a model is cheap, it’s bound to be nasty…

If your prime reason for buying a new TV 10,000 hours – that’s about three years of is simply to exude a classy air of style and average viewing.

sophistication then give up on other In the other camp, you have the Which TV? technologies and go for a plasma TV right pinnacle of TV technology; drop-dead When money is no object, top-spec large away. Nothing has the big-screen hang-on- gorgeous pictures in a sleek, stylish hang- screen plasma TVs offer a heady mix of the-wall kudos of a large screen plasma. on-the-wall package. The difference is, of stunning picture quality, flat panel But hang on just a minute. Did you course, the budget. The top crop of plasma convenience and serious peer-group know that most low-cost plasma TVs have a TVs from Pioneer, Philips and Sony boast at respect. A top-of-the-range plasma TV resolution some 30 per cent lower than least 1,280 x 768 HD resolution and all the from a leading brand name is going to your old CRT model, and can’t even display set you back at least £2,500-£3,000 and the full resolution of broadcast TV? How The plasma market can be nearer £4,000 to £5,000 for a 50-inch about the fact that the brightness of a divided in two: the flagship model, but the step up in performance plasma TV begins to permanently decrease over basic, low-cost plasmas is vast. from the moment you switch it on, or that models and the cheap s**t Colour, brightness and contrast approach they are very susceptible to screen burn-in that of good CRT TVs, and spending this from static images such as channel logos? much assures you of HD-compatibility Possibly less well known is that the necessary DVI or HDMI connectivity to and connectivity that will see you well contrast ratio of some brand new plasma back it up. They have hi-tech video into the future. TVs can, in a brightly lit room, fall to a level processing to emulate the smoothness of that, were it a CRT TV, would be classed as CRT and superb brightness and contrast Recommended product irreparably faulty. ratios. Each incorporates an array of Pioneer PDP 505XDE £4,500 software to reduce screen Avoiding the rubbish burn by subtle image- Basically the plasma market can be divided shifting, and some of the £2,000-£5,000 into two categories; the big brand name latest panels boast a 50,000 flagship models and the ‘cheap s**t’. Sadly hour half life. the market is awash with unknown brand Size-wise, plasma TVs 42-inch plasmas with bargain price tags to are only really viable to make your Barclaycard leap spontaneously manufacturer upwards of out of your wallet. These models will have a around 32 inches although resolution of 640 x 480 pixels, which is the race is on for ever larger native 4:3 stretched to widescreen and too models, and 60-inch-plus low to accurately display 625 line broadcast screens are already TV. Grim contrast ratio and brightness available. As long as you figures are the norm here, and the most choose a plasma TV with basic video processing is likely to show your head and eyes and more artifacts and digital banding than a won’t be tempted by a dot-matrix printer. Worse still, they will bargain basement cheapie,

burn-in every channel logo or PS2 game there really is nothing to All rights reserved pictures. ©Touchstone you play, and have a half-life (time to beat a big screen plasma TV as an all-round diminish to half brightness) of just 8,000- paragon of home electronic technology.

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! DIGITAL HOME 31 Which Big TV? Future TV tech A number of new display technologies are set to revolutionise the future of the humble TV. And some won’t… OLED 3D LCD Organic Light Emitting Diode displays offer 3D TV could become a reality in all of the benefits of a traditional LCD the not too distant future, and display but each pixel radiates its own much of the research has been light. The main advantage is that you no done at Sharp’s UK R&D facility. longer need a backlight as in traditional The company already produces LCD TVs, massively reducing power 2D/3D monitors that use a consumption and making the screen clever barrier system on the considerably thinner. LCD substrate that creates Sanyo and Kodak have jointly different viewing zones for each developed this technology, mixing the eye. Sit in the hot spot in front of former company’s expertise in TFT LCDs the monitor and you’re rewarded with a with the latter’s organic electroluminescent true 3D image with an extraordinary technology. Unsurprisingly the first real perception that extends out towards you OLED devices will be designed for the and deep behind the monitor. mobile phone and digital camera markets, On the downside, there is really only If you want really big screen home but larger scale displays are also on the one hot spot where the effect works, so it’s cinema, nothing is going to leave your drawing board. The seriously slim designs not exactly sociable, and the image needs friend’s jaws hanging quite like a good could make hang-on-the-wall TVs no deeper some heavy processing power to split it projector. The latest DLP and LCD than an oil painting. into two independent zones. projectors are more than capable of producing crisp 72-inch-plus images in a SED 3LCD darkened room, and if you feel like a little Surface-conduction Electron-emitter This system improves on a standard colour- excess you can always zoom out so the Display is an evolution of good old CRT filtered LCD by using three individual image fills your entire wall. technology into a flat-panel form. Co- panels for red, green and blue. The So what’s the catch? Well, quality developed by Toshiba and Canon, SED projected light is split into its three projectors are going to set you back collides electrons with a phosphor-coated component colours using dichroic mirrors £2,000 or more, plus you need a good screen to emit light. Tiny electron emitters, and fed through the dedicated panels. The screen to get the best results, and the like a miniature CRT tubes, are embedded image is re-assembled into full colour using image all but disappears if someone between two glass layers each driving a a prism, and projected either on to the TV opens the curtains in daylight. Moreover, single pixel. mirror (in rear-projection models) or out on while the thought of having a screen to The advantage is that you get the super to a screen. match the local multiplex might be high brightness and greyscale of CRT The key advantage is that light appealing, the resolution of even DVD

technology in a flat panel format, while efficiency is excellent, meaning a brighter option The projector soon begins to show its limits if you go neatly sidestepping the slow pixel refresh bolder picture, and colour rendition can be much larger than an 80-inch image size. rate of LCD TVs or the ever diminishing far more accurately controlled. This gives The technical issue of brightness brightness of plasma technology. SED TVs rise to good greyscale results meaning really precludes a projector being your could appear as early as this year. more colours are actually visible. main source of TV viewing as it is impractical (and unhealthy!) to shut yourself in complete darkness to watch the soaps on a day-to-day basis. For dedicated movie watching on the other Which Big TV? CRT Plasma LCD DLP hand, they simply cannot be beaten for scale and impact. If budget allows, go for Ideal screen size range 14 to 32-inch 40 to 60-inch 14 to 30-inch 45-inch-plus a direct view TV and a projector – adding Relative cost per screen inch Low High Moderate Moderate a motorised screen to drop in front of the Brightness Very good Average Good Excellent TV for some serious kudos.The DLP projector above produces a gorgeous Contrast Excellent Good Average Excellent picture on screen sizes up to 100 inches Picture motion Very good Very good Average/poor Excellent and won’t break the bank at around Power consumption Low High Low Moderate £1,800. It’s extremely quiet, has a built-in lens shift to save having to use picture Screen burn-in Possible Yes No No damaging keystone adjustment and it Viewing angle 170 degrees 170 degrees 130 degrees 140 degrees has more picture enhancing controls than Progressive scan Optional Yes Yes Yes a Hollywood mixing desk.

HD compatible No Optional Optional on large screen Optional Recommended product On board sound Good Fair Poor/fair Very good Optoma ThemeScene H57 £1,800 Operational noise Low Low/moderate None Moderate Possibility of dead pixels No Yes Yes Yes Longevity (on average use) 10-12 years 6-8 years 8-10 years 3-4 year bulb life Style temperature Tepid Ice cool Cool Pretty chilled

Note: All comments are based on the relative market average, and individual models may be better or worse than stated for any given parameter.

32 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! COMPO COMBO! WORTH £3,500! For Smart Home Show tickets, call 0870 730 0964 or visit www.smarthomeshow.co.uk WIN! A 42" plasma To enter log on to: www. digitalhomemag. Have you ever dreamed of an intelligent home, which brings com/competition together the latest in home technology with touch screen Closing date: controls at your fingertips to satisfy every whim? Smartcomm is 5th May one of the UK’s leading custom installers of audio-visual Smartcomm provides complete turn-key home technology and a pioneer of the growing trend for high quality automation solutions covering design, supply, engineering consultancy, which offers consumers true installation and maintenance. The company’s portfolio of high- ‘manufacturer-independent’ advice about complete home profile builds includes the Million Pound Property Experiment KEY FEATURES technology solutions. These include: Home Cinema, Multi-Room and Southampton Football Club. 16:9 aspect ratio Audio, Scene Lighting, Wireless Internet and Email, Heating and A highlight of the Smart Home Show for home Contrast ratio 3000:1 Air-conditioning and Security. entertainment enthusiasts will be the Smartcomm Live Demo Your home can be a haven of comfort and luxury. Imagine Room Experience, where visitors will be able to get a first look at Brightness: 1000 candela/sq metre watching your favourite movie whilst relaxing in the bath; peace the all-new £17K projection screen from brand leader Fujitsu. It 852x480 pixels of mind with CCTV control which you can even view over the net will include 5.1 surround sound and living control mood-lighting 1.07 billion displayable colours whilst away from home. Or losing yourself in a film watched to give consumers the full sensory experience. AVM (Advanced Video Movement) from your very own state-of-the-art home-cinema. To make these Smartcomm have teamed up with Fujitsu to offer Digital Dims: (HWD) 642x1037x85mm (not dreams a reality, Smartcomm offers a unique “one-stop” service, Home readers the chance to win Fujitsu’s best selling home including projection portion) to project manage your home technology needs, no matter how cinema screen, the P42VHA31WVGA Plasma. Visit stand 3050 at Smartcomm is a member of great or small. With over 10 years experience, a team of highly the Smart Home Show or see: CEDIA the custom electronic design and specialised engineers and our trusted supplier networks, www.smartcomm.co.uk installation association.

WIN! OK, so you love your big, shiny plasma screen. wood) or solid panel designs and are also But let’s face it, plasmas are not so attractive available in cherry, walnut, maple, oak, or A plasma TV when there’s nothing playing on them… and painted to match décor. For further info, visit they can ruin your carefully planned interior stand 3432 at the Smart Home Show or see: Cabinet style statement. www.picturehousecabinets.com Picture House Cabinets, launched in 2004, is the UK’s leading designer of Plasma TV screen cabinets. The company specialises in hand- crafted cabinets which allow you to hide away your plasma screen when you’re not watching it – and when you do want to watch TV, simply press a button on the remote for the screen to glide into place at a perfect viewing height. No more black hole in your decor, no messy wires. When you’ve finished watching TV just press the remote and the TV magically disappears inside the cabinet. To enter Digital Home readers can win an log on to: Illusion Plasma TV Cabinet – worth www. £2,850. The “Illusion” cabinets are in a classic style with a variety of hand-made Brand new at The Smart Home Show will be the ‘Firelight’ cabinet (patent digitalhomemag. pending), where the TV screen resides snugly inside the ultimate focal point grilles (solid brass, chrome, aluminum, of your room – the fireplace. ILLUSION CABINET com/competition WORTH £2,850! ClosingTEAM date: LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! 5th May TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! REVIEWED AND RATED

THE LATEST REVIEWS, ★★★★★ THE BEST WRITERS digital home Below are the finest technology journalists in the kingdom. This month: we asked star ratings these great minds to recommend their favourite online radio station. ★ An uninspiring, seriously flawed product. IAN CALCUTT ★★ Performs adequately, Former editor of Home but big shortcomings. Entertainment magazine. Woxy - fantastic indie and ★★★ A decent, dependable alternative rock from Cincinnati. solution, though hardly www.woxy.com innovative. ★★★★ DAN GRABHAM Well executed and Dan is reviews editor of our new innovative. Recommended, sister publication, Computer even if not top of its game. Upgrade – issue 1 out now! Triple J - Australia’s answer to ★★★★★ One of the best in Radio 1. www.abc.net.au/triplej its class. Highly innovative. Superior performance. GEOFF HARRIS Geoff witnessed the birth of photography and now edits Digital A reference product that Camera Shopper. exceeded all of our The African Hip Hop Radio show. expectations in www.africanhiphopradio.com DIGITAL quality, HOME SAM KIELDSEN performance, GOLD Sam specialises in consumer value and electronics, though his real AWARD passion is for the written word. innovation. BBC Five Live - whenever the cricket’s on. www.bbc.co.uk

Any product that, though JEREMY LAIRD We’ve poached Jeremy from the maybe flawed, offers other side of the office where he’s fantastic value knocks out technical copy for our for money DIGITAL sister title PC Format. HOME He’s only ever listened to Radio 4. compared to VALUE similar AWARD SHAUN MARIN products. Shaun ‘Smartphone’ Marin has Humax LGB-26DTT edited numerous home “The flesh is like a badly applied fake suntan and as for the uninspiring entertainment magazines. stand we’ve seen more attractive Gothic gargoyles.” - page 40 Alt Country - cosmic US music from Holland. www.altcountry.nl

ALEC MEER Deputy editor of PC Format, Alec 25 hot new products reviewed and rated owns no fewer than seven PCs. Brainwashed - wilfully weird and, Sagem Axium HD-D45 36 Goodmans GPDR40 45 Packard Bell DivX 350 52 often, absolutely terrifying US station. www.brainwashed.com the Linn Kinos 38 Mustek PVR-H140 45 Widio audio player 53 digital home guarantee Humax LGB-26DTT 40 Pure Sonus-1XT 46 Mobinote DVX-Pod 7010 54 RICHARD STEVENSON JVC LT-26D50BJ 41 Optoma ThemeScene H30a 47 D-Link DWL-G810 55 Last only for alphabetical reasons, We’re completely independent. ‘Parker’ used to edit ERT Weekly. Our hard-hitting reviews are Sony XDR-M1 42 Nokia 9500 48 Rotel RSX-1056 56 Hard Radio - tough, loud, and red- necked heavy metal cyberstation never influenced by Sharp DV-HR300H 43 AJP Z71A 50 Six of the best Media Center from Texas. www.hardradio.com manufacturers or advertisers. Citygizmos Mini PC 44 Averatec 3300 51 alternatives 58 All products are thoroughly reviewed before they’re rated. We are the only magazine to offer the complete mix of entertainment technology solutions. We only recommend equipment we would spend our own cash on. More reviews online www.digitalhomemag.com

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! DIGITAL HOME 35 R&R

Rear Projection TV Sagem Axium HD-D45 You want a huge high definition-ready screen but don’t have the budget for LCD or plasma. Sagem’s DLP rear projector is batting its eyelids in your direction

KEY FEATURES When it comes to display technologies, rear of its box, so preventing grubby paw prints Due processing PAL/SECAM compatible; HDTV from spoiling the sheen. compatible; Faroudja DCDi; Nicam projection is usually viewed as the backward Wisely, Sagem has fitted some image stereo; Virtual Dolby Surround; and quite possibly in-bred cousin of the likes An excellent range of connections is processing technology in the reliable form of analogue TV tuner; Teletext of plasma and LCD. The criticisms are many: provided on the side and rear panels of the Faroudja’s DCDi. Now a popular choice among HARDWARE 45-inch 16:9 DLP rear projection screen; 1,280 x while the new flat panel aristocracy is trim Axium. Of chief importance to those interested consumer electronics manufacturers, DCDi 720 resolution; 2x 30W speaker and tidy around the in high definition scales-up video signals, increasing detail and Price £2,000 output CONNECTIONS 3x Scart; waistline, rear projectors compatibility is the DVI sharpness while simultaneously de-interlacing DVI-D input (HDCP); component See it www.sagem.com video input; 2x S-Video inputs; 2x wear the kind of bulk more input, which is fully HDCP to eliminate jagged edges and flicker. We tried Buy it www.comet.co.uk composite video inputs; VGA input; often associated with a compliant; this means that it out briefly with the built-in TV tuner and 4x analogue stereo inputs (RCA); analogue stereo input (3.5mm); sumo wrestler. What’s more, the picture they it will work both with the current crop of were very impressed: a quick glimpse of This optical digital audio input; create is wonky and, frankly, a bit cack, while HDMI and DVI outputting DVD players and Morning left us open-mouthed at Philip analogue stereo output (RCA); with any future devices that use all-digital optical digital audio output; their connectivity is rubbish. Schofield’s silvery locks, which had never headphone jack But over the past few years we’ve seen the video outputs – including HDTV receiver looked so silky smooth. DIMENSIONS emergence of a new breed of rear projectors. boxes. The DVI connection also has its own DCDi also works well with higher quality W1,297 x H791 x D372mm The technology dictates that this kind of companion stereo audio input. sources like DVD (see Tested With) and games screen will never rival the litheness of a Other connections include a VGA PC input consoles, although we did find that the former plasma TV, but darn it if some of this lot don’t (located at the side), component video input, a exposed a couple of small flaws that are often actually look pretty attractive. And in terms of trio of RGB capable Scart sockets and digital associated with DLP projection technology. performance, even more striking audio in and outputs. We really can’t say that First, there’s the infamous ‘rainbow effect’ improvements have been made, mainly due to there is anything important missing, apart caused by DLP’s colour wheel. Although manufacturers’ adoption of superior DLP from perhaps an HDMI input, which would be Sagem seems to have done a fine job of projection technology. nice if only for the sake of completeness. eliminating it in the main, we did notice the

Rear projector pluses This evolution is characterised by rear Sagem is so keen on maintaining the projectors like this one, the French designed lovely shine of this finish that it supplies Sagem Axium HD-D45. Sagem may not be a particularly well known or prestigious brand, white gloves with each set to prevent but this 45-inch model looks fantastic, even grubby paw prints spoiling the sheen without its stand (a £350 optional extra). With a depth of only 372mm, it isn’t particularly The Axium isn’t just a display – it’s actually a odd occurrence here and there – but it’s not a large for a screen in its size bracket, and it television, and as such comes with an aerial huge problem. The other is the occasional input, an analogue tuner and peripheral appearance of a motion artefact during quick TESTED WITH… boasts a glorious piano black frame. Believe it LAYER CAKE or not, Sagem is so keen on maintaining the features including Teletext and Nicam stereo. horizontal pans; again, this is nothing too The Axium takes to this stylish lovely shine of this finish that it supplies a Granted, we were a little disappointed at the disruptive, but you notice it all the same. thriller’s dark scenes like a couple of pairs of white gloves with each set. lack of a digital tuner to complete the setup, Get past these niggles and the advantages duck to water, even to the point where you can distinguish a These, of course are, to be worn while you and but adding an external Freeview box is hardly offered by DLP are numerous. This is most balaclava’d, ninja-fied Daniel a helper lift your newly purchased Axium out an expensive option these days. notably reflected in the Axium’s brilliant Craig from the inky blackness contrast range, which enables it to run the surrounding him. A high end CONNECT TO plasma couldn’t manage that. DENON DVD-2910 entire brightness gamut from deep black to piercingly clear white; just try replicating that on a plasma screen – it can’t manage it. You’d be hard pressed to find a better connection selection. The Overall, we’re incredibly impressed by only no-show is HDMI. Sagem’s Axium screen. It’s very easy on the eye – both in terms of casing and screen ability – it’s able to accept HDTV, and boasts a picture quality that gives the current range of top LCD screens more than a run for their money. Speaking of which, it will set you back £2,000; for a 45-inch high definition display that sounds very reasonable to us. SK

For Excellent contrast range; ready for HD; good connectivity; more affordable than a plasma or LCD Against Some DLP side effects

Verdict A fantastic-looking, impressive and less costly alternative to plasma and LCD flatscreen displays.

36 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! R&R

DIGITAL HOME GOLD AWARD

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! DIGITAL HOME 37 It may look a little underwhelming, but the true quality of the Kinos lies in its powerful performance capabilities.

AV Pre-Amplifier and Controller Linn Kinos Integrated AV amplifiers have never been better, so this high-end pre-amplifier had its work cut out to impress. But impress it did...

KEY FEATURES What kind of person decides against buying five big ones worth of cool. You may well the Kinos can even output the menu in Decodes Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby one of the most capable high-end home find yourself looking disappointedly at your progressive scan, which is flash beyond the Digital EX, Dolby Headphone, Dolby Pro-Logic II (Music and cinema integrated amplifiers on the market, new purchase, and having to explain to your call of duty. Movies), DTS Surround, DTS and instead opts for a more expensive partner exactly why you spent the cost of a Once you’ve had the Kinos installed you 96/24, DTS ES Matrix and Discrete; adjustable lip synch component-based system, with this Linn round-the-world holiday on this unassuming won’t even notice half of what’s going on: audio delay; 4x 12v triggers for Kinos controlling grey box. just start up a source and the Kinos will Price £5,000 operating projectors and screens; operations? The kind of The good news is that handle the rest. Elsewhere, Sharp multiroom capability; See it www.linn.co.uk person who cares about the big bucks have been processors look after the audio side of convenience sockets under front Buy it Radfords 0117 944 1010 panel CONNECTIONS 5.1 audio absolute quality, that’s spent on the inside where things which Linn claims, far from being analogue inputs; 4x component video inputs; 2x Scart inputs; who. The kind of person who isn’t so easily it really counts. The Kinos does a delicate hampered by all the computational power component video output; 7.1 placated when there are mere ‘noises’ balancing act very well: it manages to use on board, are more effective because of the audio analogue outputs coming out of their rear speakers. Who computational brawn to control your system presence of the PowerPC chip. DIMENSIONS W381 x H80 x D368mm instead wants to be certain that those and make it easy to use, while also paying The Kinos offers a host of other user sounds – whether they be important effects heed to audio and visual concerns by friendly features, such as instantly selecting in movies or music from high-resolution retaining the integrity of the source the best surround sound format, giving you surround sound formats such as SACD – are components that you connect to it. control over how fast the volume turns up, exactly what the creator of the disc had in Inside, a PowerPC processor takes care and pretty much everything you imagine a mind. Basically, any person interested of all labour-intensive controlling and high-end system could offer. Plus, if enough in quality to buy Digital Home and switching work. This pays dividends when multiroom is your thing, then the Kinos can with enough money to pursue their passion it comes to the way the Kinos operates, and feed and control four other zones around by investing £5,000 in an AV pre-amplifier. it really is a breeze to set up and use. The your home, or be incorporated into the Having said that, at first glance the menu system is in depth but easy to get to impressive Knekt multiroom audio system. Kinos is slightly underwhelming. Okay, so it grips with, and flexible rather than The Kinos is obviously designed to be looks pretty cool, but it doesn’t look close to frustrating. If you have a compatible screen, partnered first and foremost with other Linn

38 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! R&R

DIGITAL HOME GOLD AWARD

components – there’s even a one-button and price, people may expect some kind of of Linn’s high-end stereo pre-amplifiers, command in the menu to connect it with HDMI provision. making it one of the best stereo Linn’s Unidisk players. Despite this, other In terms of audio quality there’s performances we’ve heard from a multi- manufacturers haven’t been ignored; not nothing we can criticise the Kinos for – it’s channel surround controller. Playing Van only does the remote control have hundreds simply first rate all down the line. Partnered Morrison’s The 1967 New York Sessions left us of other companies’ commands built into its with some Linn amplification it offers one of amazed at the level of emotion the Kinos internal memory, but also connectivity is the best movie experiences this side of the brought to the party. TESTED WITH… Many prospective Kinos buyers will HERO This stylish movie The real surprise comes when you start already be Linn converts, and need no encapsulates everything the persuading that it’s worth the price tag. Linn is good at: a real grasp of spinning CDs. Playing The 1967 New York Once you get past the less-than-exciting the subtleties of surround sound, with lots of Sessions left us amazed at the level of styling, the Kinos should lure in a lot more atmospheric rear effects, to the Linn way of living. First rate. SM partnered with a strong grasp emotion the Kinos brought to the party of the musical score and, when called upon, a firm hand with loud action sequences. spot on, with plenty of inputs and the right Empire Leicester Square. The sound is big kind of outputs. While we particularly like and bold, but still digs out subtle details in For Comprehensive spec; excellent sound and picture; intuitive to use the way the normally pretty useless well-recorded soundtracks such as those of composite video inputs double up as Hero or The Incredibles. Against Expensive, but doesn’t have the four-figure looks to match component ones – which in turn leaves The real surprise comes when you start room for some very handy Scart connections spinning CDs. The Kinos features the same Verdict An incredibly well-thought- – we do think that on a product of this type two-channel processing as featured in some out home cinema controller that majors in top-notch audio. CONNECT TO LINN UNIDISK Digital Home, Issue 14

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! DIGITAL HOME 39 The Humax is high def-ready, comes with integrated digital terrestrial, and is inexpensive. So what’s the catch?

DIGITAL HOME VALUE AWARD

TESTED WITH… SKY NEWS The news channel’s scrolling text looks clean and crisp, and free from the noise that often plagues digital TV, while the white areas of the picture shine out brilliantly. Detail from the satellite feed is actually very reasonable, but play some HD video and the complete lack of image enhancement technology becomes all too obvious.

26-inch LCD TV Humax LGB-26DTT Want to dump that bulky CRT in favour of a svelte LCD flatscreen, but think you can’t afford it? Think again. Here are two low-cost solutions

KEY FEATURES With CRT televisions boarding the express features to show high definition TV in all its engine found in Sony displays or Philips’ Pixel 26-inch 16:9 LCD screen; 1,280 x glory once broadcasts begin next year. We’ve Plus. The result is that the picture quality 768 resolution; HD-ready; auto train to obsolescence, we’re all looking to flat tuning; digital and analogue panel technologies – LCD in particular – for a got all the ingredients for a great TV here. doesn’t come close to the levels of detail of tuners; Teletext; picture-in-picture; replacement. And what you may not have Even without HDTV content, there are JVC’s similarly priced 26-inch model. dual screen; 16ms response time; 800:1 contrast ratio; 450cd/m2 realised is that LCD’s biggest bugbear, its cost, plenty of goodies to feast on. You’ve got built- Worse is the box the screen comes in. The brightness rating; PAL, SECAM and is much less of an issue. in tuners for both digital design is bland at best, and the quality of the Price £1,200 NTSC compatible; SRS WOW Take this 26-inch LCD and analogue terrestrial build is pretty poor too. The flesh is like a audio; 2x 7W speakers; Nicam See it www.humaxdigital.com stereo CONNECTIONS DVI (HDCP TV from Humax. TV, giving access to badly applied fake suntan compared to JVC’s Buy it www.johnlewis.com compliant) input; composite video Admittedly £1,200 is still a Freeview channels, and a glamorous efforts. And as for the uninspiring input; S-Video input; component video input; 3x Scart; PC RGB great deal more than you’d have to shell out seven-day programme guide. The Common stand, we’ve seen more attractive gargoyles. monitor input; 2x analogue audio for a 26-inch CRT, but much less than it would Interface slot gives you the option of watching Ultimately, this is an inexpensive and inputs; analogue PC stereo input; have been a year ago. And you get a lot of LCD even more repeats with Top Up TV. Motion future-proof flat panel TV solution that optical digital audio output; headphone jack loving for your cash. blur almost doesn’t exist thanks to the quick benefits from an excellent array of features. EXPANSION Common Interface; For starters, this TV proudly sports the response time of the panel. Dark areas of the But mix in the poor build, bland styling and Smart Card; RS-232C DIMENSIONS new industry-standard ‘HD-ready’ logo. With picture are deliciously fulfilling, colour second-rate picture quality, and you’re left W696 x H538 x D225mm built-in HDCP (built-in content protection) and gradation is fine, and the sound quality is with a bitter-sweet taste in your mouth. SK a DVI input, it’s got all the prerequisite pretty tasty if not quite as satisfying as the virtual surround of the JVC opposite. We’re pleased to see that All very impressive for the price. Guess the connections include For Excellent connectivity; fantastic range a DVI input. what? There’s a catch. What really makes a flat of features; HD ready; affordable TV today is not the quality of the panel, but the technology that processes and enhances Against Low-rent build quality and styling; no image enhancement technology the picture before placing it on screen. This TV noticeably doesn’t have any kind of image Verdict An inexpensive LCD but the enhancement technology, such as the Wega design is naff and the screen risks relegation from the second division. CONNECT TO SAMSUNG DVD-HD945 Digital Home, Issue 22

40 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! There’s no doubt that it looks the part, R&R but the JVC is going to be near useless in five years’ time.

TESTED WITH… KING ARTHUR DIRECTOR’S CUT The JVC gives a good account of itself with a high quality video source, and this DVD is no different. The drab scenery is replicated brilliantly, while the battle scenes don’t have even a hint of blurring.

26-inch LCD TV JVC LT-26D50BJ You might expect that this 26-inch flat screen from home cinema stalwart JVC would trounce the Humax. But would you be right?

This is a gorgeous TV. You could call it interlacing with up-scaling to create a picture Can you see the obvious mistake here? No digital plain. We call it superbly understated. While nearly as detailed as a proper high-def image. video connects… the combination of a glossy black frame with While the result ultimately doesn’t quite equal the silver stand and speaker panel is not the real thing, it’s certainly a big step up from exactly adventurous, you can’t deny it doesn’t basic definition television. Although the work. Build quality is Humax opposite is a full Price £1,700 everything we’d expect blown HD screen, it misses See it www.jvc.co.uk from a brand like JVC. And this kind of processing. there are features galore and performance is Buy it www.jvc.co.uk with a depth of just a few Even with HD content excellent. But in our book it’s inexcusable to inches this TV will fit in and look good more showing on this non HD screen, the JVC’s ignore digital video connects on a digital or less anywhere. picture is from another world in comparison. screen – especially when second-tier brands Things only get better. Plug it in and go Now a word of warning. In the future you like the Humax are HD-ready. Otherwise the through the simple set-up process, and behold might have a problem getting this telly to JVC is easily a five-star product, but we don’t a picture quality that’s as impressive as the accept HDTV. The reason is this. Sky says its give more than three stars for these KEY FEATURES frame bordering it. The image is detailed, HDTV boxes will only output digital video. So, ommisions. What’s the point in not buying an 26-inch 16:9 LCD screen; 1,366 x 768 (WXGA) resolution; DIST colour reproduction is accurate and, unlike if you decide to upgrade to Sky HDTV when HD-ready screen? SK image processing; BBE audio; auto many LCD screens, dark areas don’t appear as the service airs next year, you will almost tuning; Teletext; picture-in-picture; poorly defined pits of murky blackness. And certainly need a screen with DVI or HDMI multi-picture; 800:1 contrast ratio; 500cd/m2 brightness; digital and the bonus is the picture is good no matter the inputs to see anything at all. Both connections analogue tuners; PAL and NTSC source. Games console, DVD, or the built-in are missing from the JVC. The component For Detailed, well defined picture; wealth compatible; 2x 10W speaker of features; attractive styling output; Nicam stereo digital TV tuner – you name it, the JVC will input is HDTV capable, but whether or not this CONNECTIONS 2x Scart (both RGB turn it into a pseudo-HDTV image. will become a viable option remains to be Against Not HD-ready, which is completely capable); component video input; inexcusable with a digital TV It does this by JVC’s homemade DIST seen. You have been warned. S-Video input; composite video input; analogue RGB PC input; 4x image processing system. DIST, or digital The JVC is a TV for the moment, but not Verdict Not the most future-proof of analogue audio inputs; analogue image scaling technology, combines de- necessarily for tomorrow. The design is nice, TVs, but a fine combination of audio output; headphone jack technology and features. EXPANSION Common Interface CONNECT TO DIMENSIONS EVESHAM EBOX Digital Home, Issue 19 W703 x H491 x D107mm

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! DIGITAL HOME 41 It’s a good-looking beast, certainly, but it’s bringing nothing to the market, and it costs way too much.

TESTED WITH… BBC RADIO 5 LIVE The range of BBC stations is more than enough to test the range of any DAB radio. We found that 5 Live was the most taxing, with its combination of speech and sport clips. The Sony came through with flying colours, however.

Portable DAB Digital Radio Sony XDR-M1 It’s certainly the most chic pocket DAB radio we’ve seen, but is it the familiar Sony story of style over function?

KEY FEATURES Common perception has it that Sony has lost very fine touch to push it in the right way switch between the different station areas a lot Both DAB and FM stations; 40 without pressing it down as if we were to click more easily. Of course, this won’t impact on presets; up to ten hours playback; its way. Despite the company recently takes AA batteries employing a Brit as its MD, such new ‘OK’. Between stations is also difficult. the national multiplexes, but it will mean that HARDWARE DAB and FM tuner; measures don’t have a retrospective effect. In Despite these design flaws, there’s no you have to go through a lengthy scan dot matrix display; in-line remote; Sony headphones any case, he’s got his work cut out. This doubt that the Sony DAB looks fabulous. We whenever you leave a locality. This can never CONNECTIONS 3.5mm pocket-sized DAB radio took the XDR-M1 to be completely sorted out, but some element of Price £130 headphone jack may look the part, but Twickenham to test its auto-scanning so stations can be picked up as DIMENSIONS See it www.sonystyle.co.uk W60 x H80 x D22mm sadly this is backed up function on the move. And they become local would be preferable. Buy it www.amazon.co.uk with awkward usability. a portable certainly comes Although it’s £25 cheaper, the Sony really That’s not to say it’s not a very good radio – into its own in such a location. What most isn’t a match for the Pure Pocket DAB or the indeed, quite the contrary. It’s just it’s not the impressed us after the trip was the remote. We similarly-priced Philips DA1000. Both of these usual quality we expect from Sony. found it needed a screen, but the remainder of devices have far less style, but far more Let’s start with the display. The inverse- the remote functions are superb, exactly the function. Digital radio might finally be taking LCD display isn’t backlit by default; you have kind of build quality Sony expresses with its off in the UK, but at this physical size the to press a button to illuminate your listening. MiniDisc portables. This is more like it. technology needs far more convincing Because Sony has made the display inversed – The shell of the XDR-M1 is – functional arguments for existence. DG the text on the screen appears light upon a niggles aside – a work of art. The broad silver dark background – it’s actually really hard to buttons are tremendous. All they do is enable see. Even at maximum contrast, any kind of you to access the menu or switch the unit sunlight puts paid to listening pleasure. between FM and DAB modes but, even so, For Sublime looks; well-designed remote; great sound The other really disappointing aspect is they’re quite handy. However, the process of the main joystick. It just isn’t definite enough. scanning for new digital multiplexes (groups Against Poor main control; still expensive for a radio; awful screen We found it most annoying when altering the of DAB stations) is rather complex. Portable contrast of the screen. All we had to do was to DAB radios are bound to be taken up across Verdict Despite its flaws, we like the move the joystick up and down, but it took a the country, and they should enable you to XDR-M1. But we need cheaper DAB portables, not more expensive ones. CONNECT TO SENNHEISER MX500 IN-EAR HEADPHONES

42 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! If you can ignore the piddly hard drive R&R capacity, you can pick up a capable PVR for only £350.

Personal Video Recorder Sharp DV-HR300H If you haven’t got a hard drive somewhere in every room of your house, you’re not living properly. Start making amends with a hard disk video recorder

It’s hard to fight off preconceptions for a £350 instantly rewind as with Sky+. Still, your for a scheduled recording. An hour of KEY FEATURES 80GB hard drive; TV tuner; DVD piece of technology that carried a £700 price £1,200 Media Center PC is entirely justified in recording can be transferred to a disc in playback & recording tag upon its release just under a year ago. looking a little ashamed of itself right now. around five minutes, so long as you originally CONNECTIONS AV input & Surely there’s something wrong with it? It’s baffling, then, that all this progressive made the recording in ‘high speed dubbing S-Video; DV input; stereo output; optical output; co-axial audio It becomes rapidly obvious that the DV- goodness is built around an interface priority mode’, which means you can’t edit it output; RGB Scart; S-Video Scart; HR300H is showing its age. apparently ripped from a at all. Otherwise, you’re looking at around 20 component output; antenna in/out Price £350 Geriatric, it’s not, but its late-1990s VHS recorder. minutes to fill a disc. DIMENSIONS See it www.sharp.co.uk W430 x H323 x D59mm paltry 80GB hard drive will Menus are about as So, there’s a lot to like here, and the Buy it www.amazon.co.uk see its match in the next intuitive as a Boeing 777 Sharp’s myriad functions are far better generation of MP3 players. And the lack of cockpit control deck. And a huge oversight is integrated into the familiar confines of a set- DVD+R and DL compatibility, at just 2x write that the auxiliary Scart port isn’t RGB, so top box and remote control than the youthful speeds, makes it something of a one-wheeled recordings from a satellite set-top box will be incompetence of the Media Center PC concept. bicycle. A 200GB hard drive and all-format at the unhappy lower ground of S-Video. There’s a lot of room for improvement though, support would make for a different story and, A shame, because at its highest setting the with that non-RGB auxiliary Scart, and the doubtless, an entirely different price. quality of the recordings is exceptional. We’re low-end hard drive left standing around A quick run-down of what the Sharp is talking full 720 x 576 DVD resolution, around pathetically in the dust of the competition. AM capable of reawakens our lust somewhat. 20 hours of which you can store on the hard Recording to hard drive or DVD? Yes. Dubbing drive. This goes up to 100 hours if you resort between the two? Yes. Basic video-editing to the lowest setting, which halves the For Everything under one roof; high TESTED WITH… functions to remove bothersome adverts? Yes. resolution’s width and presents you with TV BROADCAST, BBC quality recordings and DVD playback. Automatic chapter creation in your blocky, blurry video. LOOK AROUND YOU recordings? Yes. Recording from auxiliary There are some impressive functions to Against Crude menus; dated drives; a few The second series of BBC’s baffling omissions. sublime retro science spoof, inputs? Yes. And what about time-shifting? stave off the threat of a maxed out hard drive, aired in March of this year, is a Well, yes, but the recording happens only from notably automatically altering resolution and Verdict You may well be happy at this visual and comical treat and a fine test of how the Sharp’s the moment you press ‘pause’, so you can’t bit-rate to ensure you don’t run out of space price, but we’d strongly advise holding recordings can replicate all out for a bigger and better box. those unearthly browns and CONNECT TO SONY STR-DB795 AMP Digital Home, Issue 22 greys of 1970’s British TV.

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! DIGITAL HOME 43 Okay, it’s rubbish with games, but just check out how small it is! It’s only 15cm wide…

TESTED WITH… 3DMARK03 The definitive 3D benchmarking app proved a little too much for this machine’s processor and graphics chip: not all the tests would run, and the final score was a piffling 110 3DMarks. So that rules out Doom 3 then.

Compact PC Mini PC UK Pentium M PC It wears its “smallest PC in the world” badge with pride, but is there any other reason to spend your money on it?

KEY FEATURES Citygizmos claims that this is the smallest marvel is well geared up for basic PC tasks So we’ve established that it’s a perfectly GPS receiver; Bluetooth HARDWARE 8-inch 16:9 TFT PC in the world and, having seen the device in like word processing, email and web surfing. decent PC (unless you’re a gamer) and that it’s monitor (touchscreen); Intel the flesh, we have little reason to doubt its A spacious 80GB hard disk means that you very small. Now all we need to do is work out Pentium M 1.7GHz; 512MB RAM; word. We can refer you to our Key Features could even use it as an in-car music server, just what you’re supposed to do with it. Unless 80GB hard drive; DVD+/-RW drive; Intel Extreme Graphics; mouse box if you want to know the exact dimensions, even for high quality uncompressed tracks. you fancy mounting one in the dashboard of SOFTWARE but a comparison might There isn’t a great your motor, we don’t really see what Price £915 (£499 without monitor) Windows XP Professional give you a better idea. deal of graphical power advantage a device like this has over a laptop. CONNECTIONS Firewire; 3x USB See it www.minipcuk.com 2.0; 10/100 Ethernet; VGA output; “The size of a best- on hand, which isn’t The Pentium M model costs £915 with the Buy it Mini PC UK, 01403 275527 mic input; line output; headphone selling novel!” gasps the surprising given that there touchscreen, and you could buy a lavishly output; serial port; parallel port DIMENSIONS product’s website, without specifying is no space for PCI Express or AGP slots here, equipped notebook for that. You’d get a bigger W148 x H41 x D254mm paperback or hardback (and why “best- and all the processing has to be done by a chip screen, decent graphical power, a battery and selling” anyway?). As you might suspect, if on the motherboard. The machine struggles built-in wireless networking. The only plus this PC is the size of a book, it’s a hardback – with anything slightly demanding in this area, point the Mini PC has in its favour apart from not quite as impressive as a paperback, and complex 3D games are out of the question. the size, is its GPS feature. perhaps, but noteworthy all the same, A handful of notable accessories come If you don’t have a specific need for a fully especially when you consider the reasonably supplied, the most interesting being an 8-inch functioning home computer this tiny, we powerful set of components lurking within. LCD touchscreen. Unfortunately the wouldn’t recommend the Mini PC over a Powered by a Pentium M processor touchscreen wasn’t working on our sample, laptop. So, unless you’re desperate for a running at a respectable 1.7GHz, and in but as a display it does the job reasonably hardback book-sized PC, you might be better possession of 512MB of RAM, this miniature well. It’s worth noting, however, that it’s got a off spending your money elsewhere. SK 16:9 aspect ratio, but because the processor doesn’t support any widescreen resolutions you end up with a stretched out picture. Luckily, the monitor is an optional extra, For Tiny dimensions; does most things a full-size PC can do and unless you’re planning on setting up your small PC in a place where a mouse isn’t Against Not as flexible or mobile as a notebook; not cheap Not the most impressive practical (inside a car, for instance) there’s connections; but where really no need to buy it. Other peripherals would they go? Verdict A decent diminutive PC, for include Bluetooth and in-car power adapters. those few people who would prefer this kind of thing to a laptop… CONNECT TO ADI MICROSCAN I700 MONITOR Digital Home, Issue 17

44 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! Spot the difference: the Mustek PVR- R&R H140 and the Goodmans GPDR40 are essentially the same machine.

Portable Video Recorders Mustek PVR-H140 and Goodmans GPDR40 Portable video players are like mushrooms in the spring in the Far East. Now they’re coming here

A 40GB personal video recorder for around Once past this glitch, the big colourful £200? Sounds like a steal to us. The solution is kindergarten menu icons are impossible to one of the many cloned Far Eastern imports miss. Shame, then, that the screen is rather that are invading the UK’s online electronic less eye-catching. Compared to similar devices stores like some kind of disease. The question from Archos and Creative, the screen is is: are they any good? Our muddy, lacking both Price £199 review here is based on the crispness and resolution. TESTED WITH… See it www.mustek.co.uk Mustek PVR-H140, but our On the positive side, the LITTLE BRITAIN Buy it www.dabs.co.uk Recording the nation’s favourite Okay the one on the right findings also apply to the screen is a good size at 3.6 off the TV was simplicity itself, Price £230 has a yellow bit, but those Goodmans GPDR40, which inches, and doesn’t drain connections look similar… and with 40GB on tap, you can is essentially exactly the See it www.goodmans.co.uk the battery life unduly. The afford to up the quality settings. Buy it www.amazon.co.uk While the screen won’t win any same product – only the inclusion of an SD card slot If you must have a PVR, but can’t justify prizes, it’s fine for casual badge is different. is also handy for photographers. blowing £500, the Mustek makes sense. If replays. The colours and While the Mustek is rough around the Copying and playing audio files is easy video recording plays second fiddle to photo brightness of the screen are fine, it’s the lack of sharpness edges, it’s certainly good value for money. If enough, with the usual support for WMA and display and audio, we’d still pay the extra for and resolution that niggle… you’re simply after a workman-like video MP3 files. Sound quality is respectable but the slicker Archos Gmini 400. GH playback device with plenty of room for music unspectacular, if truth be told. You’ll need to and photos, you won’t go wrong. Be warned, compensate for the lack of equalizer functions KEY FEATURES though, it’s built down to a price. For example: by plugging in some decent headphones. The Digital audio playback (MP3, WMA, turn it on and you sometimes never get further Mustek is better when it comes to recording For Portable video recording for chump WAV); video recording and change; plus music, photos and games playback (MPEG-4, DivX); photo than the welcome screen. The operating TV and video. It’s great to have such flexibility playback (JPEG, BMP); calendar, system hangs as often as a Pygmy Pipistrelle on a £200 player, especially as you can time Against: Muddy screen; idiosyncratic OS; games HARDWARE 40GB hard too chunky to squeeze into your jeans bat. The solution is a forced restart using a the recordings and choose the quality settings. disk; 3.6-inch colour screen CONNECTIONS USB 2, AV in/out, paper clip, in the manner of old Apple Macs. Playback on medium and high settings is fine, Verdict A sound budget portable SD/MMC slot EXPANSION USB 2 It’s got – how can we put it? – character. the screen notwithstanding. video recorder, let down by dodgy COMPATIBLE WITH Windows Me screen and lack of finesse. and higher; Mac OS 9 and higher CONNECT TO DIMENSIONS SENNHEISER PXC 250 NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES Digital Home, Issue 23 W110 x H80 x D30mm

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! DIGITAL HOME 45 Pure Digital has stuck to the same design TESTED WITH… aesthetics – which is good – but has BBC RADIO 6 added speech technology – which is odd. One of the best digital stations available, Radio 6 plays a choice mix of great rock and pop that gives a good idea of the Sonus’ capabilities. We were impressed by the clarity of the reception and the punchiness of the delivery, aided by the radio’s beefed-up bass functions. The Sonus really is a leap forward in sonic quality from the earlier Evoke radios from Pure.

Digital Radio Pure Sonus – 1XT You’d expect to hear voices from a digital radio, but the latest model from Pure really does speak to you, as well as doing a lot more besides. But is £120 pushing it?

KEY FEATURES As Apple is to digital music players, Pure is to time, so we’re hardly talking life or death stuff jack to enable you to download updates from HARDWARE DAB radio functions here. More essential is the sound, and we’re the net. The clock automatically updates itself with Band III reception; dual digital radio – a pioneer, a first mover, a independent alarms with station or charismatic brand that shouts “accept no pleased to say that the Sonus is one of the best for British Summer Time, too. tone selection; hi-fi speaker with substitute”. Faced with competition from sounding digital radios we’ve heard. Even While all of these extras are good to have bass reflex port (XT-1 add-on speaker optional); volume every direction, Pure is fighting back with the though our review sample only had one on a radio, some cynics would say they’re just equalization technology; ‘Snooze Sonus-1XT. And it’s very speaker, it managed to shoehorned in to justify the price. Pure is Price £120 Handle’ SOFTWARE iVox speech cool. According to Pure, the sound beefier than our going to have to work hard to convince people technology CONNECTIONS Digital See it www.pure-digital.co.uk output; stereo output; headphones; Sonus is the first digital battered stereo Evoke 2, that they really need those functions, Buy it www.johnlewis.com auxiliary speaker; aerial radio with “unique iVOX and certainly has more especially when the £120 asking price would NETWORKING USB 2.0 DIMENSIONS voice feedback technology” – in other words, it options. Bass is punchier, too, making the buy you a cheap mini hi-fi that included DAB W210 x H175 x D110mm speaks to you. The Sonus tells you what DAB Sonus a much more convincing performer functionality. We’d argue that the improved stations are available in an optional female/ than its predecessors. There’s even a widget in sonic performance still makes the Sonus male voice that manages to sound soothing, there called Volume Equalisation Technology worth the money, but we wouldn’t be at all sexy and imperious all at the same time. This (VET), which monitors the audio levels of surprised if market pressures mean that Pure means you don’t have to squint at the radio’s stations so you can jump between one and brings out a stereo version for roughly the LCD as you change channel. It’s a bit belt and another without having to change the volume. same money, six months down the line. GH braces, however, as the Sonus’ LCD is a lot We’d recommend coughing up the extra easier to read than the older Evoke’s. Another for the second speaker, unless you mainly bonus feature is the Snooze Handle. Grab hold intend to listen to it through headphones. of the handle and the radio tells you the time While you can certainly get more strikingly For Great sound; great looks; voice/alarm innovations and lots more besides (there’s a more conventional radio alarm designed digital radios, the 1XT looks great, function as well, and the ‘voice’ talks you with Pure’s trademark maple cabinet, and Against £120 still seems quite a lot for a digital radio with only one speaker through how to set it up). While these touches feels as if it’s built to last. It also comes with a are neat, we’ve been enjoying digital radios nine-event timed record function for use with Verdict Unless you’re an oversleeper without them speaking to us for quite some MiniDisc or other recording device, and a USB with lots of cash, you’d be wise to wait for the two-speaker version. CONNECT TO PHILIPS GOGEAR RECORDING JUKEBOX

46 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! The H30a is petite enough to be hidden R&R away, but it doesn’t live up to its high definition boast.

DLP Home Cinema Projector Optoma ThemeScene H30a Can a product be ‘fully high definition compatible’ with only 480 lines of resolution? Sadly no, but the new ThemeScene projector can still create good looking results

Great progress is being made in giant rear- The small casing doesn’t leak excessive light for example, colours are more vivid, there’s KEY FEATURES WVGA resolution (854 x 480 projection TVs using DLP but there are or noise – in the lower brightness mode the less video noise because it omits an analogue pixels); PAL, SECAM, NTSC; substantial gains in standalone projectors too. fan noise goes down to about 26dB and the stage, and the detail is as clear as you can get image zoom/shift modes; digital Optoma’s ThemeScene H30a (the ‘a’ stands for lamp life should reach 3,000 hours before it with VGA. The slight softness actually hides a keystone correction; 3 preset picture modes & 2 user defined; ‘advanced’) costs little more than £1,000 but needs changing. The H30a is similar to the multitude of sins, so movies with graininess 6-segment colour wheel; manual carries some of the latest InFocus ScreenPlay 4805 don’t look too bad. The drawback is that the zoom lens; throw distance 1.4- Price £1,145 DLP technology. (issue 21) in that it also best source material will be compromised. 12m; maximum image size 300 See it www.themescene.tv inches; contrast ratio 3,000:1; You could call it a uses Texas Instruments’ With better brightness and contrast than 200W lamp; fan noise 26-30dB; Buy it www.creative-audio.co.uk pseudo luxury model. The new DarkChip2 for DLP the ScreenPlay, the H30a is still good value. It maximum brightness 850 ANSI Lumens CONNECTIONS DVI port basic specs are strong despite how tiny the projection. Its picture quality is gorgeous, is HDTV compatible in that you will get a with HDCP; composite video projector is. The contrast rating is a high helped by the six-segment colour wheel. The picture as opposed to a blank screen if you input; S-Video input; component video input (phonos) 3,000:1, so you’ll get deep blacks without downside of the colour wheel is that there are plan to go HD, but don’t expect amazing DIMENSIONS impairing the white levels, and the brightness momentary traces of rainbow artefacts. benefits. If you have a DVD collection that you W271 x H87 x D212mm is powerful enough to create a watchable The projector’s other big drawback is that won’t be replacing with HD-DVDs, or you picture without needing a totally blacked out the imaging chip is only VGA resolution. The watch digital TV but you’re not upgrading to room. There’s built-in deinterlacing to turn irony of having an HDCP compatible DVI port Sky HD, then it’s worth considering. IC video signals into progressive scan, in case is that you can connect a high definition TV this isn’t done at source, and there’s a DVI receiver or a DVD player that upscales its port that connects to any PC or DVD player output to 720 or 1080 lines. Unfortunately the with a digital video output. H30a then scales the resolution down to 480 For Very high contrast; DVI/HDCP digital video input; compact; easy set-up The projector’s looks are acceptable too. A lines to give you an image. So, although the TESTED WITH… lot of data-orientated models do double duty in picture looks good in most ways, it cannot give Against Some rainbow artefacts; VGA CODE 46 resolution only This sci-fi drama is packed people’s homes for movies at the weekend. you ultra-sharp resolution. For normal DVD with neon-lit night-time But the H30a is one of the few to be equally viewing it’s fine. The DVI socket gives best Verdict A small projector with most of exteriors, saturated colours and dusky interiors. It shows good at showing Excel as it is with X-Men. results. With Michael Winterbottom’s Code 46, the credentials of bigger counterparts off the projector’s ability at but lacking in resolution. recreating skin tones and CONNECT TO PIONEER DV-868AVI Digital Home, Issue 14 smooth handling of movement.

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! DIGITAL HOME 47 R&R

Mobile Phone Nokia 9500 Communicator The road warrior’s favourite gets another upgrade, though the style gurus clearly weren’t called in to give it a makeover…

KEY FEATURES Old school has a habit of becoming ‘new main desktop PC is straightforward too, applications will obviously drain the battery Integrated keyboard; Symbian school,’ and it’s ironic that some of the early reflecting the Communicator’s strong PDA faster, but the Communicator is certainly 7 OS; tri-band; 640 x 200 pixel screen; second screen; VGA adopters of this chunky new Nokia will be the heritage. All practical stuff, but we’re not quite competitive in this area, with intelligent camera; MP3 player; same people who laughed at Gordon Gekko sure why Nokia felt the need to squeeze in a battery management. Another great feature is speakerphone; 80MB of internal memory; SD card slot; HTML/ brick phones a few years back. We have to say, puny little camera; the inclusion of an MP3 the built-in Wi-Fi finder, which automatically XHTML web browser; full email for the record, that despite player is also puzzling. tracks down any public access hotspots in Price £400 (free on some networks) support (SMTP, POP3, IMAP4) its great connectivity, the Much more useful is your vicinity. There is also full support for CONNECTIONS GPRS; Bluetooth; See it www.nokia.co.uk 9500 is very ugly. It’s the keyboard. It’s a proper Virtual Private Networks (VPN), the mainstay 802.11b Wi-Fi; infrared Buy it www.carphonewarehouse.com DIMENSIONS bulky, corporate looking, QWERTY number and the of any self-respecting road warrior. W48 x H57 x D24mm and the novelty of the clam-shelled keyboard keys are beautifully engineered – responsive The 9500 is now available for under £400 and screen soon wears off. In Nokia’s defence, yet durable – although, only those with depending on your network. If you don’t mind the device is primarily aimed at business Lilliputian hands will be able to touch-type. the styling and bulk, it’s very tempting. It’s users, and the look and feel of the The screen can be split into various certainly more flexible than the sort of cheap Communicator range is well established. windows and viewing modes too; this sounds and nasty notebooks you could get for this Weighing in at over 200g, however, you’d like a minor feature, but it’s a real boon when money, and the 9500 synchronises with your better buy a jacket with reinforced pockets. you’re connected to the net at the same time main PC without skipping a beat. GH As a phone and texting device, the Nokia as using the word processor and spreadsheet. is great. Powering the 9500 is the Symbian 7 Despite the dull interface design of the operating system, and as you’d expect of a operating system, the screen is great, and device of this pedigree, there is full support for offers 65,000 colours (640 x 200 pixels). For Well connected; straightforward GPRS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Not to mention Battery life is comparable to earlier synchronisation with desktop PC various Microsoft Office compatible Communicators, in other words, up to 20 Against Bulky at 230g; looks as appealing applications such as word processor, hours of talk time and about 300 hours on as a Monday morning in January spreadsheet and internet. There’s even a tool standby with the wireless features turned off. for viewing PDFs. Synchronisation with your Making use of more processor intensive Verdict A solid tool for business people on the move, but unlikely to appeal to more casual users. CONNECT TO SONY VAIO PCG-TR5MP

48 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! "+('#'-'#&.'#

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TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! The AJP is surprisingly light at 2.9kg. Okay, so it’s hardly an ultra-portable like the Averatec opposite, but it’s certainly not in the realms of a heavy desktop replacement.

TESTED WITH… SHREK 2 The computer animation means you can really see the calibre of a laptop’s screen. Plus, at 89 minutes in length, we should be able to watch a lot of it without the AJP running out of juice.

Windows XP Centrino Laptop AJP Z71A What do you get when you cross a second-tier manufacturer with a new technology? The answer is a surprisingly good portable PC

KEY FEATURES We don’t expect companies like AJP to make but, as with the Averatec, we’d like to see a hungry Sonoma chipset. But we got a Centrino mobile technology; dedicated graphics chip. It’ll cope with most respectable three-and-a-half hours out of this. wireless networking; DVD writer; anything that actually looks nice. Developing 15.4-inch widescreen; decent laptop chassis is an expensive business, so things you throw at it, but DVD playback isn’t The 1.6MHz processor is more than capable processor; sub 3kg weight small firms like AJP tend to buy them in from the finest. Fast action scenes are jumpy, and for handling most tasks; power users can HARDWARE Intel Pentium M 730 1.6Mhz; 512MB RAM; 60GB hard Far Eastern factories. That’s why so many non- colour gradation is about as smooth as the always opt to spend a bit more for the 2.13MHz drive; DVD-RW/CD-RW drive; Intel main-brand laptops all look the same, and for national flag of the Republic of Congo. Don’t version. You’ve also got a respectable 60GB GMA 900 Graphics SOFTWARE the most part have taken a bother playing back any hard drive – though it’s only 4,200rpm, so it Windows XP Home; Panda Price £880 Platinum Internet Security painful beating from the sort of high-def video. can be a bit slow in response time. See it www.ajp.co.uk CONNECTIONS 5x USB 2.0; ugly stick. The Z71A is well £880 isn’t a greedy asking price for all Firewire; TV output; S/PDIF output; Buy it www.ajp.co.uk PC card slot; VGA port But AJP has served up connected, with more this. There’s cheaper bric-a-brac in PC World, NETWORKING Ethernet; a treat here with a chassis that isn’t in sockets and plugs than a bath shop. There are of course, but you won’t get anywhere near 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi mainstream UK circulation. The sloping five USB 2.0 ports, and Firewire is retained this level of specification. Unless portability is EXPANSION 3-in-1 card reader (MMC, SD and Memory Stick) underside has a pattern reminiscent of an art even though many large vendors are your biggest demand, or you want to play DIMENSIONS deco cinema, and the DVD-RW drive is also abandoning it. You’ve also got TV and S/PDIF games and run other graphics-intensive W357 x H35 x 276mm nicely incorporated into the body. outputs to connect to your home cinema applications, the AJP Z71A should make a The Z71A’s beauty isn’t just skin deep. AJP system, while a 3-in-1 card reader (MMC, SD confident grab for your wallet. DG has grabbed hold of the latest generation of and Memory Stick) is handy for downloading Intel’s Centrino technology with both hands. pictures from your digital camera. Such an Not only does it boast one of the latest array of ports is rare on laptops of this size. Pentium M processors, but it also has a brand But… No, only kidding. There is no ‘but’. For New Centrino features; great battery life; excellent performance new 915 chipset with PCI Express. And, as The performance of this machine won’t break well as supporting 802.11b and g, you’ve also any records, but for the price it’s pretty damn Against Looks are a bit staid; poor software bundle; slow hard drive got 802.11a support should you need it. decent. Take battery life, for instance. Many of Part of the new chipset is the integrated the latest Centrino laptops haven’t performed Verdict Good steadfast performance 64MB graphics. This is fine for most purposes well in this field because of Intel’s more power + nice design + low cost. The sums actually add up this time. CONNECT TO NETGEAR DG834GT 108MBPS WIRELESS ROUTER

50 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! The Averatec 3300 is both beautiful and R&R light as a feather – plus it’ll set you back less than 800 quid: we are impressed.

DIGITAL HOME VALUE AWARD

TESTED WITH… THE INCREDIBLES This digitally created animation film shows up the deficiencies in the Averatec’s small screen, but the battery life more than matched up to the duration.

Windows XP Centrino Laptop Averatec 3300 It’s an unwritten rule; new kids on the block don’t produce good-looking laptops. So what’s the deal with this wafer-thin marvel?

Here’s a name to look out for: Averatec. new chipset if you desire a slender portable main body. Our only bugbear is that you need KEY FEATURES Good looks; lightweight; great Averatec is actually an arm of Trigem, the gaming platform above all else. to manually activate the Wi-Fi connection. And battery life; 802.11b/g Wi-Fi; company that’s responsible for the Delve deeper and you’ll see that it’s not while the 3300 doesn’t turn heads like an lightweight at 2kg manufacture of many of the world’s branded just in graphics that the 3300 is outdated. Apple PowerBook: it sparked some interest HARDWARE Intel Pentium M 715 1.5Ghz; 60GB hard drive; 512MB desktop PCs. You’ve probably never heard of While it boasts one of the latest Pentium M from Digital Home’s neighbouring colleagues memory; DVD-R/CD-RW drive; them, but you’ve definitely seen the processors running at a reasonable 1.5MHz, in the office, but they don’t get out much. 12.1-inch XGA TFT; Intel Extreme company’s products the Centrino platform it An AMD Athlon XP-M version of this Graphics SOFTWARE Windows XP Price £795 Home; CD/DVD bundle before. The 3300 is the uses is an old one. Intel has laptop is also available, for £100 less, but the CONNECTIONS 3x USB 2.0; audio See it www.averatec.co.uk company’s first stab at the recently upgraded both the Centrino platform represents the best option output; microphone output; PC Buy it www.compuclick.co.uk Card slot; VGA port laptop market. It’s an chipset and the wireless for battery life. We managed to get a good NETWORKING Ethernet, inexpensive Centrino-based model and, what’s card that – together with the processor – make three-and-a-half hours out of it. We’d expect 802.11b/g Wi-Fi EXPANSION 3-in-1 card reader more, it’s an ultra-portable. up the Centrino trinity. The latest Centrino this to drop to around two-and-a-half hours (MMC, SD and Memory Stick) It’s actually a very decent platform, and chipset, which isn’t in this laptop, incorporates with use, depending on how much time the DIMENSIONS certainly has some decent entertainment new technologies such as PCI Express and optical drive spends spinning. If you’re in the W270 x H25 x D240mm credentials. But just like the AJP opposite, 802.11a compatibility (not just b and g). market for a thin and portable PC solution, there’s much that is traded off for the small 802.11a is certainly useful if you visit the this one’s definitely worth considering. DG form factor. Like the AJP, there’s no dedicated States – most Wi-Fi hotspots there are 802.11a. graphics chip here. It will still be some The 3300 would lose a beauty contest if it months before we start to see ’s Go was up against anything from the houses of 6600 graphics chip come to market, which Apple or Sony, but it wouldn’t be with nil For Great battery life; lightweight; smart design; fully featured; excellent price should make high-level 3D gaming on ultra- points and an embarrassed bow. Apart from portable laptops a reality. With PCs it’s pretty the oversized bezel around the top of the 12.1- Against Based on the old Centrino platform; inadequate graphics much always the case that if you can wait a inch screen, the unit looks good and is well few months, something better will turn up, screwed together. Everything works well. The Verdict This is wonderful value. The and it’s definitely worth holding out for this trackpad, for example, is nicely flush with the addition of a decent graphics chip would render it pretty untouchable. CONNECT TO LINKSYS WAG54G ADSL WIRELESS ROUTER

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! DIGITAL HOME 51 It looks cheap – and it is; but the DivX 350 is well-equipped for its price. Format fussiness DivX-compatible DVD players are notoriously particular about what forms of DivX- encoded movie they will and won’t play. We didn’t have any problems with this one, probably because we encoded the movies ourselves using the VirtualDub and DivX Pro programs. If you plan on watching downloaded content, bear in mind that just because the movie says it’s DivX, it may not be one hundred per cent compatible with your particular player.

DVD Player Packard Bell DivX 350 Yes, it’s another budget DVD player. But don’t turn the page yet – this one’s got a couple of tricks up its sleeve

KEY FEATURES What MP3 is to music, DivX is to video: a But DivX isn’t the half of it; the player is also We’re not particularly sold on the player’s Plays DVD-Video, SVCD, CD, MP3, compatible with SVCDs, digital photos and design. Yes, it’s might be almost slim enough JPEG, Kodak Picture CD, MPEG-1, form of encoding that manages to make MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DivX 3.11, 4x, movies relatively small while retaining high HDCDs. Granted, there aren’t a lot of the latter to be slid under a door, and there’s a pretty 5.1x; PAL and NTSC output; Dolby quality. So it makes perfect sense that, just as around, but we managed to dig a couple of cool little disc tray that pops out, but the whole Digital and DTS decoders CONNECTIONS Scart output; more and more DVD players started including them out of our CD rack (Joni Mitchell’s a big thing looks a tad flimsy, and rather cheap. component video output; S-Video MP3 compatibility a few fan of the format, Which it is, we suppose, so fair play. Price £50 output; composite video output; years ago, we’re now apparently) and found Of course there’s a remote control. In this 5.1-channel analogue audio See it www.packardbell.co.uk output; co-axial digital audio seeing a good portion of them to sound pretty darn case, it isn’t a particularly good one: the Buy it www.pcworld.co.uk output; optical digital audio output them boast the ability to good through the player’s design is fine, but we found it to be very DIMENSIONS W430 x H38 x D255mm play back DivX videos on CD-R discs. analogue stereo output, with the slight bit rate unresponsive, sometimes requiring several The simplest way to get hold of DivX increase over a standard CD giving a distinct attempts at button pressing and a dash of bad content is via your PC, and appropriately bump in clarity. language to get the player to do anything. enough it’s Packard Bell, the PC manufacturer, Despite this flexibility, most users are Overall though, it’s a nice, well-equipped that has come up with the DVD-DivX 350, an probably going to be spending more time package for a reasonable price. We tip our hat affordable DVD deck that is fully au fait when watching DVDs on this thing than doing to Packard Bell for its successful first foray it comes to playing back that content. anything else, and thankfully it’s no slouch in into the consumer electronics market. SK We burnt a small selection of DivX movies this department either. You wouldn’t expect on to CD-R, and the player welcomed them in. the likes of DVI or HDMI outputs here, and In fact, it welcomed them in with open arms, a you don’t get them, but there’s a progressive For DivX and HDCD playback; respectable TESTED WITH… cup of sweet tea and a plate of French Fancies. scan-capable component video output that’s DVD performance; affordable THE HUNT Pop a disc in and a menu screen appears, ideal for larger screens, as well as the We burnt this short animated displaying the available folders and file ubiquitous Scart socket outputting RGB video. Against Cheap-looking design; annoyingly DivX movie (available from unresponsive remote control www.divx.com) to CD-R, and it names. You select your movie and away you Both of these provide a fairly detailed, crisp played without a hitch. Audio go. We even managed to get an XviD movie image; it’s nothing spectacular, but it’s fine for Verdict A budget priced but not-very- was clear and the picture was playing, although oddly without any sound. a fifty quid product. nasty-at-all DVD player with a good excellent considering the file size. We did notice some amount of format flexibility CONNECT TO compression artifacts, however. JVC HV-32D40

52 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! Granted it’s a silly name, but the Widio is R&R as clever and as stylish as we’d expect a wireless streaming device to be.

Wireless Streamer Albatron Widio Will this wireless gadget for streaming audio to your headphones prove just as clever as it seems?

A l b at ro n i s taking o n t h e b i g p l a y e r s i n t h e S e t t i n g u p t h e t r a n s c e i v e r t o w o r k i s s i m p l e W e ’r e i m p r e s s e d b y t h e a m o u n t o f i n n o v a t i o n KEY FEATURES Transceiver and receiver for digital d i g i ta l m u s i c p l a y e r m a r k e t w i t h i t s o d d l y e n o u g h , a n d t h e m a n u a l d o e s a g o o d j o b o f t h a t’s g o n e i n t o t h e W i d i o , b u t w e’r e n o t s u r e audio playback (MP3, WMA, WAV, n a m e d b u t i n g e n i o u s W i d i o . T h e i d e a b e h i n d e x p la i n i n g e v e r y t h i n g . T h e c o n n e c t o r s a n d t h a t t o o m a n y p e o p l e w i l l b e q u eu i n g u p t o DVD-A, any audio source) Widio i s th at i t c a n t u n e i n t o m u s i c b e i n g c a b l e s a r e c o l o u r c o d e d , t o o . S o l o n g a s y o u r s p e n d $ 1 2 0 o n o n e , seeing as it’s u p a g a i n s t HARDWARE Wireless transceiver/ receiver combo working at 2.4GHz p l a y e d a r o u n d t h e h o m e o r o f f i c e f r o m a k i t h a s a l e f t / r i g h t a u d i o - o u t c o n n e c t o r , i t q u a l i t y r i v a l s s u c h a s A p p l e ’s A i r P o r t E x t r e m e . frequency and 2Mbps transmission v a r i e ty o f s o u r c e s: i t c a n s h o u l d w o r k w i t h W i d i o . T h a t s a i d , w e c a n s e e t h e W i d i o a p p e a l i n g t o C O N N E C T I O N S 2x R C A j a c k s; m i n i Price $119 (£62) p i c k u p a u d i o s i g n a l s f r o m W i d i o w o r k s a t 2 . 4 G Hz o f f i c e - b o u n d d r o n e s ( u s , b a s i c a l l y ) w h o l i k e t o h e a d p h o n e s o c k e t See it www.widio.com C O M P A T I B L E W I T H M o s t d i g i t a l a T V , hi-fi, e v en P C , D V D f r e q u e n c y a n d c a n t r a n s m i t l i s te n t o m u s i c f r o m a v a r i e t y o f s o u r c e s a u d i o s o u r c e s Buy it www.newegg.com and games consoles . a u d i o s i g n a l s a t 2 M bp s w i t h o u t d i s t u r b i n g colleagues . A b i g v i r t u e o f D I M E N S I O N S Transceiver: W1 2 5 x H115 x D40mm; Receiver: W65 T h e W i d i o s y s t e m c o n s i s t s o f a t r a n s c e i v e r w i t h o u t t h e n e e d f o r e x t r a c o m p r e s s i o n . T h e t h e s y s t e m i s i t s e l e g a n t d e s i g n a n d l i g h t x H105 x D15mm a n d r ec e i v e r . Th e t r a n s c e i v e r c o n n e c t s b y r e c e i v e r c a n p i c k u p s i g n a l s f r o m s e v e n w e i g h t , a n d i t w i l l d e f i n i t e l y a p p e a l t o s t y l e - c a b l e t o y o u r a u d i o s o u r c e , w h e r e i t r e c e i v e s separate b as e s t a t i o n s , t o o . c o n s c i o u s m u s i c f a n s . W i t h t h e p o u n d s o a u d i o s i g n a l s. I t t h e n d i g i t i s e s a n d r e t r a n s m i t s W h i le A lb a t r o n c l a i m s t h e t r a n s c e i v e r c a n s t r o n g a t t h e m o m e n t , t h e W i d i o i s w o r t h t h es e s i g n a l s , w h i c h a r e p i c k e d u p b y t h e t r a n s m i t u p t o 5 0 m e t r e s i n a n o p e n a r e a , y o u c o n s i d e r i n g , and we e x p e c t b i g g e r n a m e s i n p o r t a bl e r e c e i v e r a n d f o r w a r d e d t o y o u r w o n ’ t w a n t t o s t r a y t o o f a r a w a y f r o m t h e d i g i t a l m u s i c p l a y e r s t o s t a r t i n c o r p o r a t i n g h e a d p ho n e s . A s a n a d d e d b o n u s , W i d i o c a n t r a n s c e i v e r , a s t h e s i g n a l q u a l i t y will t h i s k i n d o f t e c h n o l o g y b e f o r e t o o l o n g… GH w o r k w i t h a n y h e a d p h o n e s , n o t j u s t t h e e a r - d e t e r i o r a t e, and i t ’s a l s o p r o n e t o i n t e r ference c l i p n u m b e r s A l b a t r o n s u p p l i e s. A s a n f r o m m i c r o w a v e s . T h e s o u n d q u a l i t y i s TESTED WITH… a l t e r na t i v e t o w i r e l e s s h e a d s e t s , t h e W i d i o i s r e a s o na b l e , d e p e n d i n g o n h o w f a r y o u a r e MYLO For Cheap, flexible system for streaming DESTROY ROCK AND ROLL a n e l eg a n t s o l u t i o n , a n d w e’ r e i m p r e s s e d b y f r o m t h e t r a n s c e i v e r , b u t n o t p a r t i c u l a r l y The saviour of dance music in audio to your headphones t h e c h i c d e s i g n a n d s m a l l f o o t p r i n t . T h e s p e c t a c u l a r , a n d i t ’s a g o o d j o b y o u c a n u s e 2004 still sounds great in 2005, r e c e i ve r o b v i o u s l y t a k e s i t s s t y l i n g c u e s f r o m d i f fe r e n t h e a d s e t s a s t h e o n e s s u p p l i e d i n t h e Against Sluggish recharge, worthy but and the Widio did a good job of unspectacular sound distributing the joyous grooves t h e i Po d which is no bad thing, i t ’s c o m p a c t b o x can s o u n d o v e r l y t r e b l y a n d b r i g h t . and mentalist samples around e n o u g h t o c a r r y a r o u n d i n y o u r b r e a s t p o c k e t, B a t t e r y c h a r g i n g c a n b e a t a d t e d i o u s t o o , a t Verdict Kudos to Albatron for packing the Digital Home, er, home. The kit works fine, so long as you and F M r a d i o c a n b e p i c k e d u p , t o o . just o v e r t w o h o u r s . so much wireless functionality into don’t have walls like a medieval such an elegant device. fortress or live near a CONNECT TO KEF KIT-100 INSTANT THEATRE Digital Home, Issue 20 microwave testing facility.

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! DIGITAL HOME 53 iPod-esque styling and an astonishingly sharp image talk the talk, but can this portable video player walk the walk?

Portable Video Player Mobinote DVX-Pod 7010

TESTED WITH… Desperate for Apple to release a video iPod? Don’t fancy the Windows-based PMC ICE AGE Computer-rendered content alternative? Then the Mobinote DVX-Pod might be just the ticket such as Fox’s Ice Age is extraordinarily clear and crisp, Portable video: it’s the next big thing. So But what if there was a portable video video output to both PAL and NTSC TV sets but the DVX-Pod’s screen far, though, pocket-sized video players have player with a large, high definition screen and high quality video capture to MPEG-4. handles live action footage just as well. The earthy, dusty remained unflinchingly underwhelming. that was capable of playing your existing Bung in support for both MP3 and WMA tones in cult hit Memento look The small, low resolution displays typically library of digital video files without audio playback, as well as photo viewing fabulously natural. on offer do a resoundingly good job of conversion? A player that could not only and voice recording, and you’ll find defeating the purpose of display full DVD quality yourself with all the ingredients for a killer Price £395 these devices – that is, video, but capture it too, mobile multimedia device. See it www.mobinote.com.tw enjoying video on the and output to almost any If that’s the theory from Mobinote, Buy it www.designervision.co.uk move. Of course, the TV? We give you the what’s the DVX-Pod like in practice? Well, latest generation of high resolution PDAs Mobinote DVX-Pod 7010. On paper, it any attempt at truly pocket-sized certainly deliver impressive image quality. delivers all that, and more. portability must have been But have you tried watching a full length The headline specifications are unceremoniously thrown out of the window feature film on a 3.5-inch PDA screen? It’s impressive: a seven-inch, 720 x 480 pixel early on in its development because this far from ideal. LCD display; support for a wide range of thing is big. The screen bezel and inch-deep popular video formats and codecs including frame make this about as pocketable as the CONNECT TO SHARP DV-HR300H Reviewed this issue, page 43 MPEG-4, DivX, WMV9 and QuickTime; Complete Works of Shakespeare.

54 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! R&R

KEY FEATURES Video record via PAL/NTSC AV-in; recording in MPEG-4 (*.asf) format, 25 fps at 704 x 240; audio recording in MP3 format, 32kHz at 48/96/192 kbps; AV-out in PAL and NTSC formats VIDEO PLAYBACK DivX 4+ (.avi) 30 fps at 720 x 480; DivX 3.11 (.avi) 30 fps at 352 x 288; Microsoft WMV 9 (.wmv) 30 fps at 352 x 288; Apple QuickTime 6 (.mp4) 30 fps at 640 x 480 AUDIO PLAYBACK MP3; WMA IMAGE PLAYBACK MPEG; BMP; GIF HARDWARE 7-inch LTPS LCD (6.5-inch viewable); 720 x 480 resolution; 20GB 1.8-inch hard disk SOFTWARE MManager content management software for Windows CONNECTIONS USB; AV-in; AV-out; headphone jack Wireless Networking Bridge COMPATIBLE WITH Windows XP; Mac compatibility in generic USB storage device mode D-Link DIMENSIONS W192 x H115 x D28mm DWL-G810 The whole of Chicago is going wireless. Get there first by de-cabling your games console

The bigger they are, the harder they fall. Or, with wireless networks, Which makes the relatively modest 20GB Mobinote provides a transcoding application the faster they are, the more havoc microwaving soup in the next room capacity of the Toshiba hard disk all the that should guarantee almost universal causes. With so-called Super G wireless devices, such as this bridge, more galling. With your average DivX compatibility. Likewise, transferring files from the mooted promise is 108Mbps speeds – a shameful exaggeration, of movie clocking in around 700MB, you’re a PC is quick and easy. Synchronisation course, but it is almost twice as fast as its precursor, 54Mbps vanilla G. limited to about thirty movies tops. A 40GB software is provided, but videos and music can Unless the microwave’s on, Price £63 version is on the horizon, though. simply be dropped straight on to the device for then that speed goes through See it www.dlink.com As for the aesthetic of the DVX-Pod’s playback from any PC with a USB connection the floor. But, for when you’re Buy it www.wlanplanet.co.uk chassis, the homage paid to Apple’s – drivers are not required. not preparing ready meals, our Jonathan Ive-era design ethic is obvious. Once on the device, finding and playing real world tests had this D-Link and a Netgear DG834GT router That’s fine if you’re still charmed by content is about as brain taxing as watching copying 300MB of data between two PCs in just over two minutes, as Apple’s best-selling music player. For Teletubbies. Sadly, its features are about as opposed to G’s five minutes. Not quite justification enough to use the some, however, the ubiquity of the iPod rudimentary as Laa-Laa and Po’s activities, word ‘blistering’ with impunity, but a vast improvement nonetheless. has bestowed anything hewn from white too. There’s no facility for queuing up video Yet this is neither wireless access point nor receiver, but a bridge plastic with a whiff of trailer park trash. content and you can’t browse playlists while aimed primarily at fooling games consoles or printers into thinking Still, we’ve no quibble regarding build listening to music. Similarly, while the video they’re hooked up to the web by a standard Ethernet connection, so quality; it’s a solid unit. capture function produces reasonable results they don’t need to be in the same room as your phone point or router. But the best news involves the DVX- in terms of quality, there are no scheduling And because a console only needs a standard 512kbps broadband Pod’s stunning image quality. The LTPS options whatsoever; it’s simply play or record. connection, most of this bridge’s capabilities remain unused – a PCI or LCD panel is really bright and boasts bags But battery life is reasonable – between three PC card is better sense if you just want to bless your PC with Super G. of contrast and a superfine pixel pitch. The and four hours. Set-up is in theory straightforward, but in practice the D-Link’s ugly result is breathtakingly sharp video It’s the same story with every personal but simple interface tends to hang mid-configuration, while hitting the playback – it’s truly impressive. And yet video player yet: enticing, but ultimately top speeds took a lot of settings tweaking. Compatibility is a greater it’s annoying that the unit fails to use the flawed and far from perfect. Come on Apple, concern: many Wi-Fi whole screen to display content: there are show them how it’s done! JL devices claim speeds thin black bars on either side of the of 108Mbps, but they display. Mobinote tells us that future don’t all use the same For Impressive speeds, doubling those of revisions will feature an option to stretch technology. Be sure its predecessor; pleasingly small the image over the entire screen (there are For Breathtaking screen; good codec your other kit uses Against Ropey interface – lots of tweaking support; simple to use approximately 50 pixels on either side not the same Atheros required; limited compatibility currently being used). But be warned: this Against Too big; limited storage capacity; chipset as this, rudimentary playback and record options Verdict A definite speed boost, but will be a hardware upgrade not available to otherwise you’ll be with Wireless-N on its way you may existing owners. Verdict Delivers unparalleled image stuck with plain old want to wait. The majority of the DivX, QuickTime quality. Nearly fabulous, but size, cost 54Mbps speeds. AM and WMV9 files we tried played without a and limited functionality disappoint. CONNECT TO D-LINK DI-624 WIRELESS CABLE/DSL ROUTER hitch, and for the minority that won’t,

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! DIGITAL HOME 55 R&R

LONG TERM TEST Multi-Channel Receiver Rotel RSX-1056 In the AV world seven channels is rapidly become the norm, so how could a five- channel offering possibly survive?

KEY FEATURES When the Rotel representative dropped off as this is one of the best surround sound The Rotel can handle most of the current crop 5x 70 Watts amplification into the RSX-1056 a few months ago he was almost amplifiers we’ve ever heard. of surround sound formats, and does a better 8 Ohms; Dolby Digital/EX, DTS/ ES/ES Discrete/DTS 96/24, Dolby apologetic. In a market where even £400 You only have to look at it to see that it job at it than our reference Denon DVD-2900 Pro Logic II processing; two zone receivers are packed to the gills with seven means business. While the heat sinks along universal disc player, which is some feat. multiroom option; RDS FM tuner; learning remote control channels of amplification, this vast hunk of each side are as much for show as they are There’s also plenty going on around the back, CONNECTIONS Eight channel silver and black metal only practical, the silver fascia with connection options for every conceivable Price £1,200 analogue input; nine source comes with five. For an is well crafted, with an source component except HDMI or DVI, which inputs; 2x optical digital input; See it www.rotel.co.uk 3x co-axial digital input; 3x amplifier to get good impressive army of buttons are still rare on receivers and not vital until Buy it Sevenoaks, 0800 587 9909 component video switching; reviews and big sales it located either side of a you have more than one product boasting the full set of pre-outs DIMENSIONS seems seven is the magic number, even solid volume knob and a large, clear LED connection that needs wiring up to a screen. W432 x H162 x D442mm though the vast majority of surround sound display. Rotel has made a feature of its visible homes in the UK only use five channels. If that controls, turning them to form part of the Less is more school of thought has adversely affected the aesthetic appeal of the box, which means There’s a simple law to multi-channel sales of this receiver then it’s a damn shame, much less scrambling for the remote. amplifiers: a seven-channel model selling for the same price as a five-channel won’t have power amps of the same quality. It’s obvious: An excellent array of connections – the only financial savings have to be made so the thing missing is HDMI or quality is lowered. Also power amps need DVI video switching. space to work at their best, and the more amps, the less room. The RSX-1056 demonstrates this in a very practical way. When compared to the likes of Denon’s impressive seven-channel AVR-3805 operating in 5.1 mode, the Rotel sounds considerably more composed and refined. Okay, perhaps that’s not what you want when trying to impress a gaggle of your mates with a quick blast of the giant wave crashing down Fifth Avenue in The Day After Tomorrow. But live with the Rotel for a few months and you begin

56 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! R&R

DIGITAL TESTED WITH… HOME MORRISSEY PRESENTS – THE RETURN OF THE NEW YORK DOLLS, LIVE FROM THE ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL GOLD 2004 (DVD-VIDEO) AWARD Digital Home was actually at this historic gig, so we can attest to the accuracy of both the disc itself and the Rotel’s performance in replaying it. The live sound is relayed with excitement and passion, but never at the expense of detail and realism.

TESTED WITH… THE INCREDIBLES (DVD VIDEO) This animated masterpiece is incredibly well served by the Rotel. Dialogue is delivered with such panache that you never miss a gag, and the surround effects from the rear speakers offer more than enough to satisfy.

to appreciate its abilities. And you’ll decent stereo amplifiers a run for lots of bang for your buck, more important is find it hard to return to the more their money. There’s a sense of space the 75 Watt per channel power rating. Even TESTED WITH… up-front bombastic performances of and airiness to the sound that though this is into a very real world 8 Ohm THE BEST OF REM (DVD-AUDIO) less capable products. amplifiers, such as Pioneer’s new load, the figures aren’t as tantalising as, say, The high-resolution stereo is If you really want seven VSX-AX5Ai-s, fail to match with the the Denon AVR-3805’s 160 Watts into 6 Ohms. delivered with startling ability channels, the 1056 is more than likes of Mercury Rev’s The Secret Finally, the remote is a bit of a pain. While for a multi-channel amplifier. Michael Stipe’s eccentric capable of decoding them. On the Migration CD. Switch to the less it’s functional, it’s not up there with the best vocals still make absolutely no occasions when we’ve had it popular, but considerably better that Denon and Marantz offer. sense whatsoever, but the running with a full 7.1 surround sounding high-resolution formats, If you are the kind of person who must voice is crystal clear while the guitars and drums rock out system, the simple addition of and once again the Rotel comes out have the very latest technology then you when called upon. Rotel’s RB-1050 two-channel power fighting. The Best of REM on DVD-A probably haven’t read this far. If you’re still amplifier (£300) has paid immediate sounds so good in the 5.1 mix it here, remember that 5.1 still rules in 95 per dividends. Tonally the pair are seemed as though Michael Stipe had cent of surround sound homes, and this perfectly matched, and with the entered the room. Scary moment. stunning hunk of metal is one of the best power amp driving the front two If you want 5.1 surround sound sounding 5.1 amplifiers we’ve ever speakers there’s plenty of oomph on and two channel music from the encountered. Coupled with the stereo power tap. Okay, so it’s an extra unit you same source, then this, partnered amp, it’s one of the best seven channel amps need to accommodate, but if you with Denon’s new DVD-2910 as well. We’ll be wearing black armbands the have room in your life for seven universal player, is about as close to day Rotel takes back our review unit. SM speakers and a subwoofer, you could perfection as you’re going to get probably fit in one more small box. without re-mortgaging your home. It’s even capable of driving a high- The money shot end speaker system such as B&W’s For Stunning multi-channel sound; excellent stereo performance; solid build The thing that really excites us about new 800 series, and would work this Rotel is that it’s one of the few incredibly well with, say, five 805s. Against Only has five channels of amplification; remote is a dog affordable surround sound receivers Our only gripes concern that not only sounds passable in features. We’ve mentioned the lack Verdict Look beyond the headline stereo, but actually gives most of seven channels, but if you want features and this could be the multi- channel receiver of your dreams. CONNECT TO DENON DVD-2910

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! DIGITAL HOME 57 R&R SIX OF THE BEST Media Center Alternatives If you’ve already got a PC yet want Media Center-style functions, Microsoft leaves you high and dry. But you could always consider these substitutes…

When Microsoft released Microsoft Windows XP Media about £30 and you can put together a multimedia PC for far Center Edition, it confirmed something that most of us less than the cost of a new system. However, if you don’t already knew; Microsoft want the PC to invade the living want to build a new system or reformat your Windows room. But officially, MCE 2005 is only available on new installation to install Media Center, you could do far worse systems, and you have to pay a premium for it. than choose one of the alternatives we’ve picked out here. There are websites, however, where you can buy OEM Some of these options are purely TV-related PVR versions of the Media Center OS, so it is possible to create software. Others are true Media Center alternatives that your own system – we looked at converting your existing PC enable you to handle music, DVDs and pictures too. Some into a Media Center in our last issue. Buy the software, pick will do the job every bit as well as Microsoft’s product and, yourself up a Microsoft-branded Media Center remote for as you’ll see, they cost a lot less money too.

Beyond TV 3 Price $70 (£36) From Snapstream See it www.snapstream.com Beyond TV’s price puts it on a par with ShowShifter. The commercials, which is a great addition. Unlike in the free website also sells a bundle deal with a Hauppauge apps, there’s excellent support with TV listings from tvtv. WinTV-PVR150 card, but as this is a US site, the pack is co.uk, while there’s no problem when you’re searching an NTSC only one. for specific shows, either. Series recording is also The software is more fully featured than the other incorporated, something that’s one of the best features of Media Center knock-offs we’ve shown here. There’s Windows XP Media Center. support for more than one TV tuner, for example. This If you can’t afford any extra storage space, Beyond TV may not seem much, but dual tuners are now becoming has a feature called ShowSqueeze that means you can more commonplace; Hauppauge even sells a card (the shove more shows on to your hard disk. Don’t pack your PVR-500) with two analogue tuners on the same board. hard disk too full though; Beyond TV has some natty touches. The SmartSkip your PC will slow to a function enables you to skip through blocks of frustrating crawl. Media Portal Price Free – open source From SourceForge See it http://mediaportal.sourceforge.net And we thought Pinnacle’s Media Center software unpluggable. As such, open source applications are looked like Microsoft’s Media Center. If imitation really is always growing. the sincerest form of flattery, then the chaps behind Listings are provided by a utility that grabs them Media Portal might as well be kissing Bill Gates’ feet. from other sites in XML. Media Portal is broader than just Media Portal looks exactly like Windows XP Media Center providing PVR functions, however. Like ShowShifter, it Edition. And, if Media Portal was a retail software product enables you to play your music and watch video clips or instead of being open source, we can imagine that DVDs. Radio is also catered for, should you have a Microsoft would be battering down the door. compatible card within your PC. Usability is pretty The benefit of open source software is that anybody similar to Microsoft’s Media Center, but it’s slightly less can offer improvements or plug-ins for the software – polished. You’ll also need often you can find modifications to open source software Windows XP to run it. But for that plug gaps in functionality you previously thought free, you can’t complain. MythTV Price Free – open source From SourceForge See it www..org From the outset, it’s blindingly obvious that MythTV ShowShifter and the Pinnacle product, it’s not attempting isn’t for the beginner, as much as the natty cartoons on to be a complete media solution. True, MythTV does look the screen might have you think otherwise. It’s an open quite snazzy and it’s also fully compatible with digital source application, which means its source code is posted terrestrial tuners. on the web for all and sundry to improve or modify. It’s Unfortunately, UK listings have to be imported using also not a Windows or Mac-based piece of software – it XML, and this isn’t really too convenient for your average runs on and is designed for those who want to build TV viewer. The application does include a scheduling tool, a specific Media Center-type box. Unless you’re already a so it does really have all TV functions pretty much Linux convert and enjoy doing things the hard way, we covered, but we’d recommend that you put your hand wouldn’t recommend you plump for this product. deeper in your pocket and MythTV concentrates on the business of recording TV buy something like for playback so, unlike other applications here such as ShowShifter instead.

58 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! Pinnacle PCTV Media Center 300i Price £76 From Pinnacle See it www.pinnaclesys.com Pinnacle has long been interested in providing Media Player’s file management facilities. It’s far more useful Center alternatives – even before there was a Media too. Music, video and pictures are available on different Center OS, in fact. It’s ShowCenter box is a marvel, so it tabs and are easily accessed. The remote isn’t the finest, only seems right that they should release something that but it fulfils most of the functions you need. enables you to take the concept to your existing PC. Pinnacle has chosen to retain much of the familiar Pinnacle has bundled its software with a Freeview digital blue that embodies Microsoft’s familiar blue Media TV tuner card, plus a handy remote. This trinity enables Center interface. Menu highlights are even similarly you to completely embody the Media Center spirit but shown in green. If you want to get Media Center with remarkably less hassle. functionalities on an existing box, it represents rather The PVR functionality is fairly easy to master, but good value for money, our favourite part of the software is Pinnacle Media especially considering that Manager, essentially a nicer version of Windows Media digital terrestrial receiver. SageTV Price $150 (£78) From Frey Technologies See it www.freytechnologies.com Like most of the other applications listed here, SageTV However, its major disadvantage is that it only supports says it is intended purely for use as a PVR. However, it US listings. That doesn’t render it completely useless by has the added bonus that you can play back music and any means, but it does mean that you have to schedule video using it, too, so it is somewhat more of a full Media recordings by time rather than simply selecting a Center alternative. Plus, it also enables you to record programme and clicking a button. It also means that the programmes in MPEG-2, MPEG-4 or the remarkable menus are written in American English which will annoy DivX format. the pedants among you. Realistically though, this There is support for multiple tuners as well. Sage TV inevitably means that you’re not going to choose this is cleverer than most, since it can also support more than solution over and above any of the others we’ve shown on one tuner on a network. So, if you have a PC with a tuner these pages. And that’s why elsewhere on your network, you can combine the two into it can’t attain a favourable one interface. It’s a unique feature. score in our test. Shame. ShowShifter 3.11 R&R SIX OF THE BEST Price £35 From Home Media Networks See it www..com WINNER The move from Showshifter 3.0 to 3.1 was rather more that it does feel a little clunky to use from time to time, than a mere single point release would suggest. Home especially compared to Microsoft’s MCE 2005. Depending Media Networks, already sitting on the main alternative on how comfortable you feel with ShowShifter, you can to Media Center, has completely redesigned the interface change the user level of the software. This will then of its innovative product. It really is like a brand new dictate how many options you can change. There’s still version. And it’s cracking. You can even change your room for improvement with ShowShifter, especially in recorded TV programmes into the DivX format – just terms of being able to fine-tune the interface to suit your superb. This release has also had a number of other individual needs, but the price point (less than half the general fixes and improvements to make the software price of SageTV), and the marked improvement shown by more stable than previously. this version renders it a There’s also an improved TV listings support together serious choice should you with a much cleaner interface. However, you will find already have a TV card. CONCLUSION

You’ll have noted that our group test is split into two remote, complete with green Windows Start button – groups: fully-featured Media Center alternatives on it is, quite simply, a superb bundle. But alternative one hand and PVR-specific software on the other. Of Media Center software is great for those of us who the fully featured apps, there’s no doubt that various have an existing PC that we want to add some Media iterations have blessed ShowShifter a better Center-style functionality to. interface, making it a better product. Already got a As we move towards 2006’s Longhorn, the next tuner? Then ShowShifter is an ideal option. It’s fully version of Windows, it’s becoming clear that the new UK supportive and easy to use. And UK support is OS will have Media Center functionalities built in as something you have to watch out for – Windows XP standard. But because Media Center alternatives will Media Center Edition has it sewn up. If you don’t run on your existing system, you could use any one already have a TV tuner card, we recommend you get of these apps to turn an old PC into a PVR. That’s NEXT MONTH a hardware/software package like the Pinnacle. where these alternatives can still carve out a niche. It’s an interesting time for Media Center And, what’s more intriguing is whether the smaller R&R alternatives, that’s for sure. Where Microsoft leads apps can react to new technology quicker than SIX OF THE BEST the way is in the complete integration of Media Microsoft. How soon will we be seeing Sky support DVD/VHS Center into the Windows operating system. The on a PC? Your guess is as good as ours, but we bet COMBI PLAYERS company supplies its own branded Media Center that Microsoft won’t be there from the off. On sale Thursday 5th May

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TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! {™Ê-/", -Ê /" 7 ÜÜÜ°ÃiÛi˜œ>ŽÃÜ՘`>˜`ۈȜ˜°Vœ°ÕŽ R&R MEDIATHE UK’S TOP TEN CENTERS

The worlds of computing and home cinema are converging like never before, and much of this is down to Microsoft and its latest baby: Media Center. Which computer is the best carrier of this intriguing software? Read on and find out By Sam Kieldsen. Photography by Philip Sowels

It’s been a little over a year since Microsoft idea is for the frequently separate worlds of IT unleashed Windows XP Media Center Edition and AV to be brought crashing together in one (MCE) upon us, but Bill Gates and co. are ultimate entertainment device. already pushing their second version of the Assembled here are ten of the very best software. An updated 2005 model comes replete machines available, put into order of merit. with a handful of new features and a promise to Microsoft insists on a minimum spec for any PC revolutionise the way that we experience our carrying MCE so you can expect a roomy hard entertainment media in the home. disk, decent graphics capabilities and full Put simply, Media Center 2005 is Windows multichannel surround sound. XP Professional with a difference. Aside from But there’s also a lot to set the models apart. providing the basic Windows setup and all the Some manufacturers have bundled bags of trappings we’d associate with it, it transforms equipment with their machines, while others any computer into a television, a DVD player, a have left these as options for the buyer. The video recorder, a digital jukebox, a radio and a designs vary from classic PC tower cases to photo viewer. It also allows each of these metallic hi-fi-esque units. Whatever the case, if functions to be accessed from a clear, simple a Media Center is on your shopping list, on-screen menu using a remote control. The feast your eyes on our ultimate round-up…

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! DIGITAL HOME 61 R&R TOP TEN

How we review and rate Media Centers

With most of these models costing well over a with some HDTV content (movie trailers downloaded fashioned stereo audio through a pair of high- grand, it’s clear that a Media Center PC is going to from the net), and also take a look at the quality of its powered KEF speakers. represent a major investment for most people. integrated TV tuner(s) by lashing up an antenna. For all its audiovisual jiggery pokery, a Media Naturally, you want the best model for your money, We then connect the PC to a set of THX-certified Center is still a PC, so we benchmark the model so we think it’s only fair that we put each one Creative Gigaworks speakers to test surround using 3DMark03 and a copy of the spectacular through rigorous tests before we start expounding on performance, and later to a high-end AV system to get Rome: Total War game. its good and bad points. a taste of its two-channel sonic chops. To give the And after that, we also take into account the level TESTED WITH... With a fair few machines Gigaworks a workout, a Return of the King DVD is of connectivity on offer, how easy the system is to now on the market, we first slipped in. Keeping it on a regal tip, we rip a copy of use, and last – but far from least, how nice it looks. have the tricky job of picking The Kings of Leon’s Aha Shake Heartbreak CD on to Phew. And you think we sit around playing games out the ten best. Assuming that the hard disk in order to sample some good old and watching DVDs all day.

Rome: Total War (PC CD- most buyers will be placing ROM game) their new Media Center in the Fatal Error: Microsoft in your living room living room enables us to weed out the less ‘aesthetically “Why would you want to put a PC in your TVs, audio jukeboxes and PVRs all in one. features a menu providing easy access to sound’ models; after all, nobody living room?” A few years ago, if you had Often these computers incorporated an functions like video recording, music wants a bloody great beige box told someone of your intention to buy a easily negotiable menu system that sat playback and television. ALEXANDER (HD trailer) sitting next to the telly. Once computer for the purposes of home over the operating system, allowing users Media Center Edition 2004, the first we’ve got our grubby mitts on a entertainment and hook it up to your living to control the various functions from their version launched in the UK, was only few suitable models, we’re able room’s audiovisual gear, that is just the sofas with remote controls. available pre-loaded on new machines built to quietly dismiss any that kind of response you could have expected. With the PC operating system market by a select band of Microsoft partners aren’t quite up to the job, Computers were grey boxes with tinny almost completely in its grip, Microsoft has including HP, Evesham, Mesh and Elonex, speakers and tiny screens, not hi-fis. always been keen to jump on to a revenue- but the new version, cleverly dubbed Aha Shake Heartbreak (CD) leaving us with the ten lovelies Things soon changed. Thanks to the generating bandwagon; it happened ‘2005’, can be bought by any PC builder as you’ll see in the following pages. huge digital revolution in consumer several years ago with the company’s foray an OEM product. Because of this, and also And so on to the testing process. Each model is electronics, not to mention the rise in into the games market, first via PC and because of the forthcoming UK launch of hooked up to a Humax LCD TV via a VGA connection stylish PCs, the idea of using a computer then through the launch of the Xbox, and Media Center Extender (a device which (and a DVI connection if the PC supports it); its mainly – or even solely – for entertainment soon it was happening with entertainment allows wireless streaming of Media Center 26-inch high definition panel is perfect for revealing purposes no longer seems ludicrous. PCs and Media Center Edition. This content to different parts of the home), it any shortcomings in the Media Center’s video Suddenly, PC manufacturers began to entertainment-focused version of Windows looks like 2005 will be a much better year performance. We put the model through its paces launch machines that acted as DVD players, has been designed for large displays, and for Microsoft’s multimedia OS.

measures of processing power and multichannel wizardry to complement your ARIES MEDIA DIGITAL memory. The Radeon X300 graphics movies and games. HOME card struggles to get to grips with the The Media Experience doesn’t excel in EXPERIENCE 64 EXCLUSIVE latest games (including bundled any area except price. Depending on your £799 software like Far Cry), but is more than needs, that could be a selling point or a Costing a bit of fan noise, not to mention a slight adequate for running Media Center – matter of no importance, but we think it’s 10 shade under whirr from the hard disk. except when it comes to WMV-HD. The worthy enough to warrant a placing. £800, the Aries is the cheapest model in Look past the bog standard styling Alexander trailer gives this machine a www.savastore.com our Top Ten by some margin. And, at and build quality, though, and you’ll find thorough kicking, and even less taxing least on the surface, it looks it. The case a good home for your media collection. high definition movies display a slight For Great value for Features ★★★★★ ★★★★★ has the kind of small, slimline shape that Wisely, costs have been kept down by touch of horizontal ‘tearing’ during money; decent all- Performance ★★★★★ mirrors an AV device and should not including speakers or a monitor, but panning movements. round performance; Connectivity compact case Design ★★★★★ therefore suit a Media Center, but up the package does include a Microsoft Audio quality is definitely decent Value ★★★★★ close it lacks the air of quality and cordless keyboard, mouse, and a game enough, but as the on-board sound chip solidity exuded by the likes of the controller together with an external USB doesn’t have its own surround decoders, Against Dull design Verdict Has much to Tranquil and the Hush. Also, unlike Wi-Fi adapter. you’ll have to make use of the co-axial and average build admire but does little to quality; no built-in amaze. A solid Media these models, the Aries lacks a passive There’s a 250GB slice of storage output and some good external multichannel sound Center at a tempting price. cooling solution, so it does belt out a fair space on offer, as well as respectable processing if you want a serving of

It might resemble a dodgy Taiwanese DVD recorder, but there’s a respectable Media Center underneath.

KEY FEATURES Athlon 64 3000+ processor 512MB RAM 250GB hard drive 802.11g Wi-Fi

62 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! MEDIA CENTERS

The Advent’s mirrored finish ADVENT looks like a nice idea, but seems to attract greasy fingerprints like MC3040 nobody’s business. £899 When PC World told about these things. The level of 9 decides to throw its equipment and features is fine; integrated considerable bulk behind Windows Wi-Fi, a card reader, speakers and a Media Center, you can be pretty sure that 17-inch LCD monitor all being part of the the software has entered the mainstream. package. Ordinarily we’d question the This isn’t the first Media Center that inclusion of the speakers, but this system Advent, one of the flagship PC ranges is available for around £100 less if you sold by the retail monster, has launched, opt to leave them out, so we’ll let it slide. but it’s certainly the best so far. A reasonably muscular Pentium 4 The MC3040 sports a distinctive processor keeps Media Center ticking design. There’s an eye-catching mirrored along nicely, and there’s an acceptable front panel (one side of which opens up to 160GB of hard disk space. Audio and reveal front connections and card slots; video quality is standard, and WMV-HD the other hides the DVD rewriter tray), video runs fine. The inclusion of an and, in PlayStation 2-esque style, it can ageing GeForce FX5200 card is be mounted either horizontally or disappointing, and it only just broke the vertically. These quirks can’t hide the fact 1,000 barrier on 3DMark03. that, compared to most machines here, Performance and features-wise the Advent looks a little shabby. Advent has done a passable job. But in We’d like to erase the cordless such attractive company as the Elonex keyboard and mouse from our minds, and Hi-Grade offerings, this is left such is the utter garishness of their looking like the ugly duckling. styling, but we feel you people should be www.pcworld.co.uk

For Comparatively Against Previous Features ★★★★★ Verdict A decent affordable box; nice generation graphics Performance ★★★★★ Media Center but a slice of processing card; uninspired, Connectivity ★★★★★ few glaring flaws give KEY FEATURES oomph; good range cheap-looking design Design ★★★★★ it a low position. 2.93GHz Pentium 4 processor of features Value ★★★★★ 512MB RAM 160GB hard drive 802.11g Wi-Fi

While this configuration helps reduce with new drivers in time, but we can only TRANQUIL heat and power use, it’s pretty feeble review the model in front of us. PC T2E when compared to those used by the We love the T2e’s case dearly, but its other models here. performance side needs some work; a £910 The audio side of things is fine, and forthcoming Pentium M version could be When it comes to device that would look right at home in the processor is potent enough for most the answer. Until that surfaces, the Hush 8 design, few Media most hi-fi racks. The glowing blue MCE MCE functions, but simply couldn’t cope gets our vote as the better silent runner. Centers can touch the Tranquil. Like the logo on the front may divide opinion, but with WMV-HD video – the Alexander www.tranquilpc.co.uk Hush, this aptly-named machine exhibits otherwise there is little to fault in the trailer jerked along, with sound and little more than a whisper of noise when machine’s styling. picture hopelessly out of synch. For Lovely compact Features ★★★★★ running, thanks to a clever choice of However, it seems that in making The graphics processor, meanwhile, design; noise free Performance ★★★★★ ★★★★★ components, solid build quality and the model so petite, Tranquil has had to is too basic to run anything more cooling; decent price; Connectivity ★★★★★ most importantly, a passive, fan-free compromise in certain areas. There’s no advanced than Minesweeper. In fact, it dual digital tuners Design Value ★★★★★ cooling system. room for built-in Wi-Fi, for instance. The can’t even output a true widescreen That’s some achievement, but the machine is based on the VIA SP13000 mode, which for a Media Center is Against No Verdict Why not buy the Tranquil goes one better and trumps the motherboard, which features an downright inexcusable, as it severely widescreen output; case on its own and build a pricier Hush with its incredibly compact integrated 1.3GHz C3 processor, as well restricts DVD playback. Now, Tranquil no Wi-Fi; awful more capable Pentium M HDTV performance PC. Now there’s an idea…. dimensions; this really is a tiny, slimline as on-board graphics and audio chips. believes this oversight will be remedied

Fin-tastic: it’s noise free and unbelievably small, but the Tranquil sacrifices a little too much to be ranked higher.

KEY FEATURES 1.3GHz VIA C3 processor 512MB RAM dual tuners 160GB hard drive

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There’s no way for you to upgrade ELONEX the Lumina yourself. You can instead specify a number of LUMINA upgrades when you purchase it. £2,250 Elonex is a dab respectable 200GB of hard disk space at 7 hand when it comes its disposal. The latter is upgradable to to building self-contained Media Center 400GB before purchase, and you can also systems, wowing the PC world last year bump the 512MB of RAM to 2GB. with the launch of the intriguing eXentia. Whatever you choose, the standard Featuring a 17-inch screen with an entire loadout is more than adequate for Media computer system built into a small box Center. Digital TV, DVDs and especially behind it, the eXentia is ideal for small WMV-HD videos look glorious on the rooms, student accommodation and so crisp, clean LCD panel, and the 9600 is on, but it’s too limited in scope to really able to run games quite handily. belong in our Top Ten. Our main gripe is with the speakers The new Lumina model is an entirely which, while they’re not bad by television different kettle of fish. This time, Elonex standards, they aren’t really ideal for has raised its sights, cramming the guts listening to music. Still, as with the other of a Media Center into the casing of a machines here, there’s nothing to stop lovely 32-inch high definition LCD you from connecting your own. screen. Look at it – it’s even got a Overall, it’s difficult not to be brushed aluminium finish. impressed by the ease in which the The designers haven’t compromised Lumina combines PC and TV (although on the performance, either. The Lumina is you need to use two remotes). That said, powered by a 3GHz processor, uses a it’s too much of a specialised product to dependable (if ageing) Radeon 9600 card place higher in the Top Ten. to provide graphical muscle, and has a www.elonex.co.uk

For Smooth melding Against Average Features ★★★★★ Verdict A bit of an of PC and TV speakers; needs two ★★★★★ oddity, certainly, but Performance KEY FEATURES functionality; lovely remote controls; too Connectivity ★★★★★ by no means a bad 3.0GHz Pentium 4 processor styling; strong all specialised to appeal Design ★★★★★ piece of kit. 512MB RAM 200GB hard round performance to everyone Value ★★★★★ drive 32-inch LCD TV with 1,366 x 768 resolution

The m1260.uk doesn’t scream out for a spot in your living room. HP PAVILION Maybe HP will get the design right next time. M1260.UK £999 Of all the machines Wi-Fi, card reader and, best of all, a 6 here, the HP suffers 160GB removable hard drive to most from ‘desktop hangover’. While complement the 160GB one already there. most manufacturers have decided that a While we might moan about the Media Center ought to look like a slick, design, the system’s large case means compact refugee from the hi-fi rack, HP that HP has been able to fit in some real have stuck with a tower design. quality in the form of the Audigy 2 ZS. While it isn’t hideous, the Pavilion While the other nine machines use remains a far cry from the living-room motherboard-based audio processing, this friendly designs used by the Hush, separate sound card makes the system, Tranquil and Elonex Artisan. It’s too sonically, the best here. noisy, too bulky and too plasticky - in The X300SE graphics card, other words, too much like a computer. meanwhile, won’t get diehard gamers’ The poor styling is a shame, because pulses racing, notching up just under this PC is mighty impressive in other 2,000 3DMarks. However, it’s capable of areas. The specification is fine, and it doing its primary job, which is to ensure copes well with the main aspects of that Media Center works nicely. Media Center, the only oversight being Without its design flaws, it would be the lack of twin digital tuners. We’re not a very good Media Center. Until these are big fans of the bundled monitor and sorted – and its forthcoming z550 model speakers, but happily you can buy the HP looks promising – there are other without these for £90 less. Otherwise, the machines more worthy of your money. level of equipment is superb: integrated www.hp.co.uk

For Fantastic sound Against Unattractive Features ★★★★★ Verdict The HP’s quality; nifty Desktop PC looks; Performance ★★★★★ design stops it from KEY FEATURES 3.0GHz Pentium 4 processor removable USB noisy fan; no Connectivity ★★★★★ achieving its full 512MB RAM 160GB hard hard drive digital tuner Design ★★★★★ potential. drive 802.11g Wi-Fi Value ★★★★★ 17-inch LCD monitor

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Total War at full detail levels without a Paying for top notch video performance and HUSH hitch, and also mustered a stellar 10,181 quality design is one thing, but the Hush is E3-MCE 3D Marks in benchmarking. missing a lot of features that are standard But while it boasts unrivalled design issue on far cheaper models. And until the £2,300 and Herculean video performance, the price is lowered, this silent-but-deadly If the German PC and put together piece of kit. The Hush is a surprisingly basic Media machine is going to remain languishing 5 meisters at Hush granite-like solidity of the build and the Center. You do get a 400GB hard disk, among the also-rans. Technologies have a motto, we’re classically handsome styling make it the which is nice, but as standard this model www.hushtechnologies.net guessing that it’s probably, “Let’s have kind of achingly desirable product that features a solitary analogue TV tuner, no some quiet time”. Nobody makes silent will have your family and friends built-in Wi-Fi and no memory card For Peerless build Features ★★★★★ PCs with the same panache and sheer gawping like goons. What they won’t reader. Even the remote control is of the quality and passive Performance ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Teutonic efficiency as these chaps, and notice is the fan and hard disk noise, older, non-backlit design. cooling; brawny Connectivity ★★★★★ what better canvas upon which to paint because there isn’t any. Fine, you’re probably thinking, I’ll graphics card Design Value ★★★★★ their masterpiece of noiselessness than Nope, not even the high-end Radeon simply tick a few boxes on the website, a Media Center, where silence is most X800 graphics card needs a blower, with pay a little bit more money and get all Against Verdict Not even the top definitely golden? a heatsink and the case’s distinctive fins the features my heart desires. But take a Outrageously notch power and build We don’t want to overstate this, but doing all the hard work. One for the second to look at the basic price of this expensive; short quality can justify the on features Hush’s grandiose price tag. the Hush really is a brilliantly designed serious gamers, the X800 runs Rome: machine. It’s well over two grand.

It’s got more fins than a posse of sharks, which spread and dissipate heat. So the Hush has no need for noisy cooling fans.

KEY FEATURES AMD Athlon 64 3500+processor 1GB RAM 400GB hard drive

The Mesh’s small case features an integrated card reader and a MESH MEDIA+ handy set of connections concealed beneath its front flaps. X4 HOME £1,299 Mesh is one of the large scale battles of Rome: Total War in 4 few PC silky smooth fashion, and providing a manufacturers that uses small form detailed, sharp DVD picture. Also, the Shuttle cases for its Media Centers. Why Mesh had little difficulty running the more companies don’t follow their lead high definition Alexander trailer, and is we don’t know – the Shuttle XPC is a an ideal WMV-HD player. superb little box that both looks fantastic The nForce3 motherboard provides (check out that brushed black aluminium high quality integrated 5.1-channel sound finish) and manages to stay cool, in spite (which for music and movies is more of its cramped innards. It even features a than adequate), as well as a fine set of multi card reader and extra hidden connections, including a digital audio connections. The only drawback is a output if you prefer external decoders. touch of fan noise and the lack of internal The system isn’t above criticism, receivers for the remote control and though. There’s only one digital TV tuner, cordless mouse and keyboard. and no Wi-Fi. Also, Mesh has thrown in a The Media+ X4 is Mesh’s top-of-the- ViewSonic (non-widescreen) monitor and range Media Center, and as such it wields Creative speakers, which while they’re a fair slice of power. There’s a beefy decent enough, are unnecessary. 64-bit Athlon processor at the centre of Overall, the X4 is a powerful Media things, along with a gigabyte of RAM and Center system at a competitive price, but a generous 300GB of hard drive space. its handful of notable flaws prevent it The GeForce 6600GT graphics card is from breaking into the top three. also well worth a mention, running the www.meshcomputers.com

For Small case; Against Potentially Features ★★★★★ Verdict While not powerful unwanted extras; no Performance ★★★★★ perfect, the Mesh is a specification; good Wi-Fi; some fan Connectivity ★★★★★ stylish and highly- KEY FEATURES value for money noise; just the one Design ★★★★★ specced machine. Athlon 64 3500+ processor digital TV tuner ★★★★★ 1GB RAM 300GB hard drive Value

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TESTED WITH… Kings of Leon EVESHAM EBOX S Aha Shake Heartbreak From the choppy, high-pitched guitars of £999 the song’s intro to the rolling drums and Caleb Followill’s distinctive vocals, the ebox does a fine job of rendering this Taking a winning design and shaking it up isn’t necessarily easy, but track. Just don’t expect audiophile levels Evesham has made an excellent fist of it with the new, revamped ebox of sonic mastery. 3 – and it’s yours for under a grand

The ebox finished our successful way. The Tranquil, Hush, last media PC Top Ten Elonex Artisan and Hi-Grade machines in The ebox also boasts a pre- installed 802.11g Wi-Fi card, (see Digital Home, issue our line-up all employ silent cooling allowing you to hook it up to your 19) as overall champ, techniques, while the Evesham still network in seconds. with its twin digital makes use of a fan. tuners and low profile Additionally, the ebox doesn’t feel as form stealing our hearts well put together as any of these four; and sealing pride of place while it isn’t going to fall apart at the atop the winners’ podium. slightest touch, it certainly lacks some of Back then (we have to the solidity boasted by its rivals. Still, it strain our brains to remains an extremely attractively remember, it was all of designed piece of hardware, with the five issues ago after all) brushed aluminium front panel likely to these were big selling attract coos of delight from passing processor running at 3.0GHz, backed so you don’t need to worry about obtaining points, especially the twin friends and family. The thin, unobtrusive up with 512MB of RAM and a such a gadget yourself. tuners, a feature which slot for the DVD rewriter is a nice touch, reasonably capacious 200GB of hard The ebox hasn’t lost any of its charm Evesham was among the as is Evesham’s incorporation of remote disk space (each of these can be and sophistication, and it’s fair to say that first firms to implement. control and cordless keyboard IR upgraded prior to purchase). Along other manufacturers have simply gained But things move rapidly in the world receivers into the case itself. This helps with these, there’s an ATI Radeon X300 more in the past few months. We felt that it of technology. Twin tuners are now an keep things very neat and tidy, which is graphics card (proving to be a very was going to take something special to beat optional upgrade on many a Media probably high on your list of priorities if popular choice with Media Center a model that so excelled in design and Center, and the concept of a slim you’re planning to have the machine in builders) which, when we rigorously styling, and it has; this can only be a good consumer electronics-style design has the living room. benchmarked it, managed a half-decent thing for consumers. been embraced by most of Evesham’s The included cordless keyboard has a score of 1,846 3DMarks. In the end, Evesham has simply been rivals. And crucially, many of these firms built-in trackball rather than being As with eight of the other models beaten at its own game by both Elonex and are now implementing it in a more teamed up with a mouse, so it should go in this line-up, the audio processing is Hi-Grade. The ebox, while still a well put down a treat with couch potatoes. carried out by a chip on the machine’s together Media Center, cannot compare to The system’s sleekness isn’t Connectivity is flexible, with DVI and motherboard rather than by a the quality of design displayed by the spoiled by an ugly external VGA monitor outputs offered alongside remote receiver, as Evesham has standalone sound card. However, it’s of Artisan and DMS II. Maybe next time. squeezed it into the case. digital and analogue audio output more than acceptable quality, whether www.evesham.com options. You also get integrated 802.11g you’re listening to music, movies or Wi-Fi, although this does require an television, and the opportunity to For Stylish design; Features ★★★★★ antenna at the back. One prominent implement 7.1-channel surround sound bags of useful Performance ★★★★★ design bum note is the non-appearance of is not one to be sniffed at. features; strong all Connectivity ★★★★★ a built-in card reader, which sets this The dual digital tuners are as round performance Design ★★★★★ ★★★★★ model apart from the machines useful as ever, allowing you to record Value occupying first and second place. one channel while watching a second. Against Outputs a Verdict The ebox remains The ebox’s performance reeks with Helpfully, the package includes an wee bit of noise; one of the best machines the welcome whiff of solidity. At the external device that routes the signal lacks an integrated money can buy, but has centre of the Media Center is a Pentium 4 from a single aerial to both RF inputs, card reader been eclipsed by its rivals.

It might not run as stealthily as some, but the ebox is as fine- looking a Media Center as you can buy.

KEY FEATURES 3.0GHz Pentium 4 processor 512MB RAM 200GB hard drive 802.11g Wi-Fi

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TESTED WITH… Alexander ELONEX ARTISAN LX (WMV-HD trailer) This trailer proved a match for all our £999 Top Ten models, with each of them slipping up at certain points. The Artisan proved more capable than most, It’s mean, it’s moody and it wants your media sitting on its hard drive. however, and displayed the clips of Elonex’s answer to the ebox is finally here, and dang it if it doesn’t have Oliver Stone’s flawed epic in vivid detail. 2 the number one spot in its sights

Yes, yes, we know that this Unfortunately the Artisan we were is the second Elonex sent to put through its paces was an machine in the Top Ten, but early review sample, which perhaps please don’t take that to explains why it wouldn’t complete our mean we’re biased towards 3DMark03 benchmark tests and the company. It just therefore couldn’t provide us with happened that, once we’d a definitive score to compare it had a chance to see its exactly to the Evesham. In practice, Media Centers in the flesh, however, there appears to be little we felt there was no way difference in how the two machines that we couldn’t include run Media Center’s various them both. applications. High definition video, The Lumina, a few music, DVD and TV all tick along pages back, is worthy of its smoothly here. There is one notable place because it’s a bizarre Media Center-related variation, which but impressive piece of kit – is that the basic Artisan has twin a gamble that paid off, if you analogue tuners, not digital ones. Elonex has also added a healthy set of front sockets, and an like. While the Artisan is here because… Happily, this is another option that always-handy card reader for well, because it’s pretty much everything the buyer can change, and the digital snappers. a Media Center should be. upgrade to dual digital tuners is We don’t know this for sure, and we absolutely free (this will use up disk, so you won’t find fan noise If not for the excellence of the Hi-Grade imagine Elonex would never admit to another PCI slot, however). distracting you from that episode of DMS II, the Artisan would certainly not look such a thing, but it almost seems like the In terms of design, the Artisan Desperate Housewives. out of place as overall winner of our Top company’s design team has studied the has stolen a real march on its Annoyingly, the receiver unit Ten. Sadly for Elonex, the DMS II is simply Evesham ebox, copied all the similarly-specced rival. The styling required for the included cordless a better machine, but we still think that the performance-centric bits, improved says ‘consumer electronics’ more than keyboard is a separate USB device, so Artisan’s brilliant design and reliable considerably on the design and styling, any other model in the Top Ten: a you have to find somewhere to put it performance make it a truly fantastic Media put it on sale at exactly the same price moody piano black finish, deftly set while trying not to spoil the Artisan’s Center, and a deserving recipient of our and then waited for the consumers off by a blue front LED display and a good looks too much. While we’re on the Quality Award. to work out that it’s a much better huge volume control dial. The LED subject, the keyboard (also included with www.elonex.co.uk offering on which to splash their cash. display is initially very impressive, the Lumina) has a very sofa-friendly Performance and spec-wise, the and looks just dandy, but in terms of design, with a thumb joystick negating For Gorgeous styling; Features ★★★★★ Artisan LX is almost indistinguishable the actual information it gives you, it the need for a mouse. passive cooling; well Performance ★★★★★ from the ebox. At the heart of the system doesn’t match the one on the Integrated 802.11g Wi-Fi and a front stocked with features Connectivity ★★★★★ is a 3.0GHz Pentium 4, accompanied by Hi-Grade. The case’s clean lines also card reader come as standard features, Design ★★★★★ ★★★★★ 512MB of RAM, an ATI Radeon X300 incorporate an internal IR receiver for while the connectivity is excellent: DVI Value graphics card, 7.1 channels of on-board the Media Center remote control. and VGA sockets, 7.1-channel analogue Against External IR Verdict Its design and sound and a 200GB hard disk. Most of Like the Hush, Tranquil and Hi-Grade outputs, both kinds of digital audio receiver for keyboard performance are superb, these things are upgradable on the models, the Artisan uses passive output and some real phono connections while falling just short of Elonex website. cooling, as well as an ultra-quiet hard for in and outputting stereo signals. the quality of the Hi-Grade.

The Artisan offers hi-fi looks, a powerful PC in the engine, and a price that doesn’t require a second mortgage. DIGITAL HOME QUALITY AWARD

KEY FEATURES 3.4GHz Pentium 4 processor 512MB RAM 250GB hard drive 802.11g Wi-Fi

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TESTED WITH… Rome: Total War The DMS II’s X300 graphics card can’t HI-GRADE DMS II 3400 cope with the game’s marching legions with the settings cranked up to maximum, but it’s more than £1,099 capable of running the huge battles at medium quality. Despite visual evidence to the contrary, there really is a PC lurking beneath that metal skin, and it happens to be the very best you can buy. Hi-Grade 1 has come up trumps in the design stakes to snatch first prize

Once you’ve pulled it from the Even discounting these major And the surprises don’t end there. Take to be properly mounted into the box, confines of its nondescript box, criticisms, neither of the a gander at the back panel of the AV-style, rather than on shakey, the first thing you’ll notice aforementioned models come computer and, well, you’ll find that it removable PCI cards like some others we about the DMS II is the design. close to achieving the overall doesn’t really look much like a computer could mention. With no exaggeration, it’s head quality of design boasted by at all, looking far more like your average We also like the way in which Hi- and shoulders above that of the this machine. The DMS II, like common or garden high-end DVD player. Grade has styled its model. The case isn’t competition. The feel of quality it the Artisan, has a snazzy LED You still get all the usual PC connections, particularly showy or fancy, and it isn’t exudes is such that even display on the front, but it’s including LAN, modem, USB, Firewire one of the smallest, most compact something as finely crafted as the even better than the Elonex’s, Elonex Artisan pales looking a bit more presentable Take a gander at the back panel and you’ll significantly in comparison. The and providing additional only other models in the Top Ten information. Concealed beneath find that it doesn’t look like a computer at that match the physical solidity a panel that runs the length of all, it looks far more like a common or and toughness of the DMS II are the front, meanwhile, is a wide the Hush E3-MCE and the selection of sockets and a 7-in-1 garden high-end DVD player Tranquil e2; the first costs twice card reader, along with a nifty as much as Hi-Grade’s model, joystick-and-buttons combo that and DVI and VGA monitor outputs, but products here, but it possesses a rugged, while the second lacks anything allows you to control Media these have been joined by a full set of elegant look which should fit in like the level of performance Center (handy if the remote has phono outputs for 7.1-channel surround effortlessly with most modern hi-fi and that’s required to be a top taken an unplanned trip into the sound, as well as digital audio, S-Video home cinema systems. The sleek lines contender in our rundown. wilderness at the back of the sofa). and composite video sockets that appear are somewhat spoilt by the need to plonk

Hi-Grade’s well-chiselled beast runs silently, performs brilliantly and feels tougher than a panzer.

DIGITAL HOME THE UK’s BEST MEDIA CENTER

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the external IR receiver for the cordless keyboard somewhere, however, but at the same time it’s worth noting that the Wi-Fi adapter is completely internal. On balance, this makes it one of the tidiest looking machines around. The DMS II is as whisper quiet as the Artisan, using similar cooling techniques and a clever choice of components – such as the Radeon X300 graphics card – which don’t need a fan, rather than relying on the more outwardly obvious, fin-heavy system employed by the Tranquil and Hush models. We can’t say with any certainty which of the models cools its components most effectively. Although we have a feeling that the Hush and Tranquil are leading the pack in this respect, the methods employed by Hi- Grade seem perfectly efficient when it The DMS II has ‘proper’ phono surround sound outputs, just comes to the nitty gritty of actually like you’d find on a high keeping the components cool. quality DVD player. The general feeling of top quality continues once the machine has been The Radeon X300 isn’t an especially that the videos and DVD look decent Sound quality is also pretty good, plugged in and fired up: with its 3.4GHz noteworthy graphics card, true enough, (although it should be noted that, despite although as with most of the machines Pentium 4 CPU, the DMS II is one of the but Hi-Grade has clearly used it the huge amount of processing power at here, we’d hesitate to call it excellent. most capable PCs here when it comes to primarily because it’s passively cooled. their disposal, none of these PCs can With that said, a freshly ripped WMA processing power. If the 512MB of RAM What’s more, in combination with the produce as sharp and detailed a DVD version of The Kings of Leon’s Aha Shake and 250GB hard disk sound pretty other components, it managed a very picture as you’d get from a top-of-the-range Heartbreak certainly sounds serviceable unremarkable in comparison, you can reputable score of 2,637 in 3DMark03. Pioneer or Denon player ‘out of the box’; enough through the analogue phono always opt to upgrade them (to 2GB and More importantly, it is an adequate card this is primarily a software issue, and outputs, and we can’t imagine anyone but 400GB respectively) on the Hi-Grade for Media Center, and, along with the surely something for Microsoft to consider the most discerning of audiophiles having website pre-purchase. rest of the components, it helps ensure when planning the next update of MCE). a cause to moan about the audio side of things. These are the sort of people that will happily chuck down six grand on a CD player and then spend their evenings listening to turgid prog rock albums in the dark, so their opinion might not hold much weight with you anyway. Despite our gushing praise, we can reveal that the DMS II isn’t totally free from faults. As well as the external IR receiver already mentioned, there is no option for twin digital TV tuners; you get a dual analogue tuner card instead. By the time you read this, Hi-Grade should be offering buyers a single digital tuner option, but the lack of available space means that two of these can’t be fitted at once. The company has said that it expects single PCI Express cards with twin digital tuners to become available at some point later in the year, however. Aside from this, the DMS II has got the lot. With this brilliant hunk of metal around, there really is no other Media Center in the Top Ten with a credible claim on the coveted number one slot. Hi-Grade, we salute you. www.higrade.com

For Masterful design Features ★★★★★ and build quality; Performance ★★★★★ powerful processor; Connectivity ★★★★★ excellent range Design ★★★★★ of connections Value ★★★★★ Against No dual Verdict A solidly built, digital tuner option; hugely impressive and KEY FEATURES external IR receiver almost impeccably 3GHz Pentium 4 processor 512MB RAM 250GB hard for keyboard designed Media Center. drive 802.11g Wi-Fi

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! DIGITAL HOME 69 R&R TOP TEN NEXT MONTH What does it all mean? THE UK’S TOP TEN 3DMarks 3DMark03 is software for quality is extremely poor in comparison two channels at once, or to watch one shows and is very running at the benchmarking a PC’s performance. The to DVI and VGA. channel while recording another. useful when setting PVRs 802.11b/g standards. rating it gives the PC at the end of the Digital audio Digital audio connections Sometimes referred to as ‘twin tuners’. the recorder. On sale WMA Windows Media Thursday 5th test is called a 3DMark. (co-axial and optical) that can carry DVI A common sight on a PC, the Digital MCE Media May Audio. A compressed AV (audiovisual) Once separate digital audio data in its raw form. Are Video Interface is the digital alternative Center Edition. digital music format used entities, the worlds of AV (home cinema, found on CD/DVD players, AV receivers to the analogue VGA video output. You’ll S-Video An analogue video by Windows Media Player. hi-fi, TV) and computing are now and increasingly on PCs. Their ability to find DVI inputs on many monitors, flat connection. Appears on many WMV-HD A high definition version of converging. Media Center is probably send multichannel surround sound data panel TVs and projectors. computers and AV products, but makes the Windows Media Video file format, the most obvious example of this. down a single cable makes them a EPG (Electronic Programme Guide) a poor alternative to DVI or VGA. currently only viewable on a PC. While Composite video An analogue video popular choice. Media Center has its own 14-day TV Wi-Fi A common name for wireless standard definition is 480 lines (480p) connection that runs through a phono Dual tuners Some Media Centers have listings guide, updated every day via networking. Many Media Centers have or lower, WMV-HD features content in lead. Common on AV kit and PCs, its two TV tuners, allowing you to record the internet. Offers info on upcoming integrated wireless connections, usually the 720p and 1080i formats.

At a glance Features Connections What we like What we don’t like Verdict

Athlon 64 3000+ processor; 512MB 6x USB 2.0; 2x Firewire; LAN; Slimline case; low price; decent Slightly unattractive styling; An average performing Media ARIES MEDIA RAM; 250GB HDD; DVD-/+RW; ATI VGA out; S-Video in; S-Video out; performance with music and underwhelming 3D graphics Center which is made EXPERIENCE 64 Radeon X300; 802.11g; 2x digital TV composite video in; composite DVD; nice games bundle performance; no built-in 5.1 audio markedly better by its tuners; keyboard and mouse; backlit video out; stereo analogue audio decoder; external remote receiver reasonable price tag. £799 remote; game pad out; co-axial digital audio out; 10 W430 x H62 x D285mm mic in; serial 2.93GHz Pentium 4; 512MB RAM; 6x USB 2.0; 1x Firewire; LAN; Built-in Wi-Fi and card reader; Slightly iffy design and styling; Lacks the polish of most of ADVENT 160GB HDD; DVD-/+RW; Nvidia VGA out; 5.1-channel analogue decent processing power; choice truly hideous cordless keyboard the models here, but packs MC3040 GeForce FX5200; analogue TV tuner; output; serial; parallel; card of placement and mouse some good features and a 802.11g; keyboard and mouse; 6.1 reader moderate performance punch. £899 speakers; 17-inch LCD monitor 9 W94 x H330 x D435mm 1.3GHz VIA C3 processor; 512MB 4x USB 2.0; 1x Firewire; LAN; Excellent low profile, AV-style No widescreen video output A lack of power limits the TRANQUIL RAM; 160GB HDD; DVD-RW drive; VGA out; S-Video in; S-Video out; design; passive cooling means currently supported; weedy potential of this wonderfully PC T2E onboard graphics and sound; 2x composite video out; silent running; affordable processor; poor handling of high designed product. As it is, it’s digital TV tuners; fanless design; multichannel analogue audio compared to the Hush; dual def video; hopeless 3D graphics a touch disappointing. £910 backlit remote control out; mic in; serial digital tuners performance; no built-in Wi-Fi 8 W375 x H66 x D345mm 32-inch LCD; 3GHz Pentium 4; 5x USB 2.0; 1x Firewire; LAN; A completely self-contained Not worth getting if you already A well realised Media-Center- ELONEX 512MB RAM; 200GB HDD; DVD- 5.1-channel audio out; optical system; it’s a real looker; own a decent display; cheap- in-a-box, but it certainly won’t LUMINA /+RW drive; ATI Radeon 9600; digital audio out; mic in; decent quality LCD screen; looking remote control; non- appeal to anyone who doesn’t digital/analogue TV tuners; 802.11g; headphone jack nice selection of useful features; upgradable once purchased need a nice big LCD display. £2,250 card reader; keyboard wall mountable 7 W792 x H620 x D130mm 3GHz Pentium 4; 512MB RAM; 6x USB 2.0; 2x Firewire; LAN; Removable 160GB ‘Media Drive’ Large, noisy tower case There’s a long list of things to HP PAVILION 160GB HDD; DVD-/+RW drive; ATI VGA out; S-Video in; S-Video out; USB hard disk; nice haul of admire, but the design isn’t M1260.UK Radeon X300; analogue TV tuner; composite video in; composite features including integrated one of them. Perhaps the 802.11g; card reader; keyboard and video out; analogue audio in; Wi-Fi and card reader; excellent z550 will remedy this. £999 (£810 without monitor) mouse; 2.1 speakers; 17-inch LCD 7.1-channel analogue audio out; Audigy 2 ZS sound card means 6 W190 x H380 x D420mm mic in; serial; parallel great audio performance Athlon 64 3500+; 1GB RAM; 400GB 4x USB 2.0; 2x Firewire; LAN; Unparalleled build quality; Very, very pricey; no twin digital An excellent performer, but HUSH hard drive; DVD-/+RW drive; ATI DVI out; VGA out; S-Video in/out; passive cooling; beefy graphics tuners as standard too low on extra features and E3-MCE Radeon X800; on-board 5.1-channel composite video in; stereo audio card; tons of storage space too high on price to place sound; analogue TV tuner; fanless in; multichannel audio out; higher in our line-up. £2,300 design optical digital out; co-axial digital 5 W440 x H96 x D380mm audio out; mic in; serial; parallel Athlon 64 3500+; 1GB RAM; 300GB 4x USB 2.0; 1x Firewire; LAN; Compact and stylish Shuttle Only one TV tuner; no Wi-Fi; Powerful with plenty of MESH MEDIA+ HDD; DVD-/+RW drive; Nvidia DVI out; VGA out; S-Video in; S- case; decent processor, memory monitor and speakers push up the storage and a nice design. A X4 HOME GeForce 6600GT; Realtek sound; Video out; composite video out; and graphical power; plenty of price; emits a bit of fan noise; couple of drawbacks stop it digital TV tuner; keyboard and mouse; multichannel analogue audio out; hard disk space; excellent external IR receivers from gaining a higher spot. £1,299 card reader; 19-inch TFT monitor optical digital audio out; mic in; cordless mouse and keyboard 4 W200 x H190 x D310mm serial; parallel 3GHz Pentium 4; 512MB RAM; 6x USB 2.0; 1x Firewire; LAN; Small, sexy case with integrated Some fan and hard disk noise; no A nicely styled machine, but EVESHAM 200GB hard drive; DVD-R/-RW drive; DVI out; VGA out; S-Video in; S- IR receivers and Wi-Fi; card reader; build quality not up to Hi-Grade and Elonex have – EBOX S ATI Radeon X300; 7.1-channel Video out; 7.1-channel analogue twin digital tuners; nice price to the standards of some rivals this time – outdone Evesham sound; 2x digital TV tuners; 802.11g; audio out; optical digital out; line power ratio at its own game. £999 keyboard; backlit remote in; mic in; serial; parallel 3 W433 x H92 x D380mm 3GHz Pentium 4 ; 512MB RAM; 6x USB 2.0; 1x Firewire; LAN; Excellent design and quiet External IR receiver for keyboard In a world without the DMS II, ELONEX 200GB hard drive; DVD-/+RW drive; DVI out; VGA out; S-Video in/out; cooling; integrated Wi-Fi and Elonex’s masterpiece would ARTISAN LX ATI Radeon X300; on-board sound; composite video out; stereo card reader; superb connectivity; be worthy title holder. As it is, DIGITAL HOME 2x analogue TV tuners; 802.11g; phono in/out; multichannel audio good value for money; nice the design pips it to the post. QUALITY £999 built-in card reader out; co-axial digital out; optical cordless keyboard AWARD 2 W102 x H54 x D32mm digital out; mic in; serial; parallel 3GHz Pentium 4 ; 512MB RAM; 4x USB 2.0; 3x Firewire; LAN; Plenty of power; excellent build Dual analogue TV tuners only at The best Media Center yet. HI-GRADE 250GB HDD; DVD-/+RW drive; ATI DVI out; VGA out; S-Video in/out; quality; handsome styling; lovely present; integrated IR receiver for Value for money, great DMS II 3400 Radeon X300; on board 7.1-channel composite video in/out; 7.1- front display; silent cooling; cordless keyboard would have performance and inspired DIGITAL HOME sound; 2x analogue TV tuners; built-in channel audio out; optical digital dizzying array of connections at been nice design puts it in pole position. THE UK’s BEST £1,099 802.11g Wi-Fi; built-in card reader out; co-axial digital out; mic in; front and back; decent value for MEDIA 1 CENTER W430 x H100 x D395mm headphone; serial; parallel money

70 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine !   .34')3   .33  .9!:/3.334 3$4/43 . 4-/3+8!# ''$3&3!4-/3  

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How to… Get the most from online music stores 78 Buying music online is easy, but be aware of the playback restrictions. James Morris takes you on a tour of stores, files and formats. Understand DVD formats 82 Your choice of DVD format ultimately affects the disc’s compatibility. Ian Calcutt explains how to tell your DVD+RWs from your DVD-RAMs. Get more from your Media Center PC 84 Are you getting the most from your Media Center? Richard Hill reveals his tips and tricks for improving Microsoft’s multimedia OS. Get started with VoIP 86 With a VoIP service you can make free phone calls over the Internet. Richard Cobbett signs up to Skype to show you how. PLUS Q&A: your questions answered 74

the digital home advice panel Email your problems and queries to our team of experts: [email protected]

CHRIS PRICE GORDON LAING JAMES MORRIS IAN CALCUTT RICHARD HILL RICHARD COBBETT A technology journalist Journalist and former James is the former Former editor of Home Richard was editor of the Features Editor on PC specialising in hi-tech Editor of Personal editor of PC Pro and Entertainment magazine, magazines Mobile Plus magazine, Richard homes, Chris founded Computer World, Gordon wrote the Convert your Ian now contributes Computer User and WAP, regularly wanders the www.tech-digest.co.uk is a self-confessed techie PC into a Media Center regularly to Digital Home is a long standing Internet in search of the and contributes to the and has just published feature in last month’s and several home cinema contributor to Digital quirky and the free. He is Daily Mirror and the his first book, Digital issue. What he doesn’t and entertainment titles. Home and T3, and has fascinated by how new Guardian. He edits the Retro: the Evolution of the know about online music His expertise lies in big- written one book, Simply Internet services can be Q&A section with Gordon. Home Computer. isn’t worth knowing. screen technology. Mac OS X. used in the digital home.

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! DIGITAL HOME 73 Solutions Q&your questionsA answered [email protected] Encoding videos for PDAs, dual-layer DVD compatibility and the continuing rise of Microsoft’s Media Center software…

ENCODING VIDEO Player unsurprisingly prefers quality. For example the FOR PDAS videos in Microsoft’s own popular DivX video format can I’ve seen people watching videos Windows Media Video (WMV) produce high quality results, on their PDAs and wondered how format, but it’s easy to convert and with the right software can you go about doing this? I’ve got files if necessary. Windows also be played on Pocket PC an HP iPAQ 4150 Pocket PC that Media Player 10 can PDAs. To encode (or watch) has , but so automatically convert a video DivX files on your PC, you’ll far I’ve only used this for playing file using its Sync option – just first need the DivX codec; if you music. Can I use Media Player on connect your PDA. If you’re not don’t have this installed, visit the PDA for video too? already running Media Player www.divx.com/divx and Tom Harris 10, it can be downloaded free download the third option at the from Windows Update. bottom of the screen – this is Yes, the software on your Windows Movie Maker can the free DivX codec. Pocket PC can play videos, and also export videos in WMV Now you’ll need encoding with the unit turned on its side format optimised for use on software; while DivX’s own Dr and the picture filling the Pocket PC PDAs. Use the option DivX software is excellent, screen, it can rival dedicated to save it to your computer, we’ve found a free alternative portable video devices. The then tick the later option to that’s great for PDAs. The biggest problem you’ll have is show other settings – here appropriately-named Pocket the shortage of memory space. you’ll see presets optimised for DivX Encoder can convert many Even after video compression the Pocket PC. If you’re after video formats into DivX and there won’t be enough room in something more sophisticated, optimise them for a number of portables including Pocket PCs Before your PDA can play a and Palm OS PDAs. It offers a number of complex looking video file, convert it into a options, but produces great With the aid of a We’ve found the video quality is results if you just open your file decent memory card better than WMV and the file and some free format it can understand and click the Direct Encoding software, it’s possible sizes often smaller too. Owners button. Again the encoding to turn your PDA into a of Palm OS PDAs can download respectable portable your PDA for much more than a visit www.microsoft.com/ process can take some time video player. MM Player to watch DivX files. few minutes. windowsmedia and download depending on the length of the Note that under UK Luckily most PDAs can take the free Windows Media clip and the speed of your PC. copyright law it’s illegal to copy memory cards and these days Encoder. This also offers preset Since Microsoft’s Pocket commercial DVD movies to they’re not expensive: a 256MB modes for Pocket PCs. PC Media Player won’t play your PDA, or any other SD card for your iPAQ from Depending on the speed of DivX files, you’ll need to device, without the Crucial costs just £17.61 and your PC and the length of the install additional Quick content owner’s could store around two hours of video, the file may take several software on your PDA. permission. Products reasonable quality compressed minutes to several hours to Sadly, you can’t just tip such as PocketDVD encode, after which you can Studio allow you to video. You could, of course, buy download the DivX Palm PDAs often struggle to play a bigger card for longer playing copy it to the card using a card codec for your PDA; back DivX fi effectively ‘record’ a les, but the Kinoma times, but your PDA’s battery reader, or with the card instead you’ll need a player ( DVD in real-time, life may restrict you to a couple inserted in the PDA and the new media player with www.kinoma.com thereby avoiding the provide a po ) can of hours of video playback – unit connected to your PC. a built-in codec. One of werful an breaking of its CSS quality alternative d that’s still enough for many While WMV is the obvious the best, which is also . encryption system, but journeys, though. choice for use on Pocket PCs free, is Betaplayer (see the you’re still making an Before your PDA can play a due to compatibility with its recommended products). unauthorised copy. In the UK, video file, it must be converted built-in Media Player, there are Download and install it, then this is a civil offence that into a format it can understand. other options that are more copy the DivX AVI file from carries the risk of being sued The standard Pocket PC Media flexible and deliver better your PC on to the memory card. by the content owner.

74 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! A YEAR’S BROADBAND Write into Digital Home’s Q&A forum and you could win a year’s FREE 512Kbps broadband internet access from Freedom2Surf. The ‘Pure IP Home User’ package features uncapped downloads, and is worth £22.50 per month. We’ll also throw in a modem and installation. Send your problems and queries to [email protected] www.freedom2surf.net house, or will I need a digital terrestrial box for each of my TVs? David Knowles

The cheapest and simplest each extra card. solution to watching Sky TV However, installation is free. throughout the house is by Of course, it’s much cheaper connecting an aerial cable from to buy a digital terrestrial set- the RF2 output of the Sky top box for your additional TVs rewritable dual-layer Digibox to a second TV set. For (which cost around £50 each), is unlikely to happen in the additional TV sets it’s best to but then you obviously won’t

Dual-layer DVD blanks future. We’re much more likely use a distribution amplifier get the same number or range written using a PC to graduate straight to such as the Global T140 four- of channels. should work fine in standard DVD players. rewritable HD-DVD or Blu-ray way model. RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS PC drives. The problem with this Global T140 distribution amplifier Crucial 256MB SD card £17.61 RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS solution, however, is that you’ll £24.99 www.parabolic.co.uk www.crucial.com/uk NEC ND-3520A £38 only be able to watch the same Sky Multiroom £10 www.sky.com Windows Media Encoder www.dabs.com www.microsoft.com/windowsmedia Nero 6 Reloaded £35 DivX codec www.divx.com/divx www.nero.com If you want to watch different Pocket DivX Encoder Sky channels on separate http://divx.ppccool.com DIGITAL TV Betaplayer http://betaplayer. Quick SWITCHOVER TVs you'll need a quad LNB corecodec.org I live in Yorkshire and MM Player www.mmplayer.com tip was reading recently digital channel throughout the EDITING MEDIA PocketDVD Studio approx £20 about the analogue house. If you want to watch CENTER’S TV www.pqdvd.com DVR-edit is a neat utility that enables switch-off due in my different channels on up to four RECORDINGS you to remove unwanted padding or area in 2010. I have separate TVs you’ll need a quad I’m building up quite an archive of www. DUAL-LAYER DVD adverts from TV shows recorded Sky Digital on one TV LNB (the same one that is used recorded TV shows using my by Media Center. Go to . COMPATIBILITY thegreenbutton.com set, but only ordinary for Sky+), as well as additional Windows XP Media Center PC. It’s I’m interested in writing dual- analogue TVs around the subscription cards. Sky now nice to be able to go back and view layer video DVDs using my PC. rest of the house. Is there a offers a multiroom set-up (see old favourites, but is there any Are there any compatibility issues cheap and simple way of sending www.sky.com/multiroom for way to edit them so there’s no when it comes to playing them in the digital satellite signal from my details) costing £99 for each padding on either side, or indeed normal DVD players? Sky Digibox around the rest of the additional Sky box plus £10 for remove the adverts? It’d be more Benny Francis

So far we’ve found no compatibility issues using dual- Improving your home cinema sound layer blanks on domestic DVD TOP TIPS players, as long as they contain standard DVD video files of Get the best cables It’s all about ‘positioning’ Wireless surround course. The only things you’ll Don’t use the cheap cables packaged It’s crucial that you set up the front For the best purity and quality of need are a dual-layer DVD 1 with your AV amplifier. Set aside a 4 left and front right speakers for 7 surround sound effects, it’s still best writer such as the NEC ND- good portion of your budget for high quality good stereo reproduction. Try to site the to avoid wireless surround sound speaker 3520A, and software that can speaker cables. centre speaker at the same height (or as systems (available from companies such as exploit the additional capacity near as possible) as the tweeter on the left Sony, Samsung and Pioneer) if at all of dual-layer media such as Bi-wire your speakers and right speakers. possible. This is still new technology and Nero 6 Reloaded – make sure If the connections are provided, use sound quality still tends to be a lot more you have the latest version for 2 two pairs of cables to connect each Professional tuning ‘hissy’ than if you are using cabled surround DL compatibility. speaker to the amplifier (a process known Although it is possible to set sound speakers. As for blank media, there as bi-wiring). This keeps high and low 5 individual speaker levels by ear, a are two formats to choose from: frequencies separate, resulting in a cleaner, much more accurate result can be obtained Single speaker surround DVD+R9 and DVD-R DL. Like less distorted signal. with a sound pressure meter. These cost Advances in speaker technology single-layer +R and –R blanks, around £40 and are very simple to use. 8 now allow faked surround sound to there’s little to recommend one Protect your speakers be generated from a single front speaker. over the other; ensure your Make sure that any speakers that Running speakers in Yamaha’s YSP-1, for example, features two writer is compatible before 3 are going to be placed next to a New speakers do take some time woofers sited either side of an array of 40, buying blanks, however, as television with a traditional CRT display are 6 to bed in. Leave them for a couple 4cm beam speakers. These project the early dual-layer models can magnetically shielded. This will help to of weeks before deciding to make any sound into the room, bouncing it off of rear only write on +R9. Also note prevent possible damage. serious sound adjustments. walls to create a surround effect. that dual-layer blanks are currently write-once only and

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! DIGITAL HOME 75 Solutions Q&A

convenient, and of course free up do the rest. DVR-Edit is also Unfortunately current DVD some space on my disk too. supposed to be able to convert recorders won’t be able to read Jon Miles DVR-MS files into the standard Blu-ray or HD-DVD discs. CDs MPEG-2 format, but at the time and DVDs use a red laser, while The Linksys Windows XP Media Center of writing this feature had not the next-generation of discs use WMCE54AG is one of Edition records TV shows using yet been implemented. a higher frequency blue laser to the first Media Center MEDIA CENTER Extenders, designed to Microsoft’s proprietary DVR-MS RECOMMENDED WEBSITE read/write information. Once stream content from EXTENDERS format; the problem is finding a The Green Button Blu-ray and HD-DVD appear, we XP Media Center I recently bought a PC running Edition PCs. We’ve program that understands this. www.thegreenbutton.com expect you’ll be able to buy seen it, used it, and Windows XP Media Center Edition Luckily there’s at least one dual-format DVD recorders that sent it back! 2005 and want to watch my third-party utility that can do ALL-IN-ONE RECORDER feature both blue and red lasers recorded TV shows in another what you’re after. PRODUCTS for maximum compatibility. room. I know various digital Click the Download Center I have a few questions regarding As for DVD format media adapters are available for link at The Green Button recording on DVD. Firstly, if I buy terminology, there’s actually a streaming media from a PC to website and choose DVR-Edit a DVD recorder now, will it be able tutorial in this issue that TVs, but wondered whether any explains all the technical work with XP MCE’s TV differences between the main recordings? I heard there were Once Blu-ray and HD-DVD disc formats, see page 82. specific models for use with MCE, Lastly, if you want a combined but can’t find them in any shops. appear, you should be able to DVD/VHS/HDD system, take a Simon Mansell buy dual-format recorders look at the JVC DR-MX1SEK. This brand new machine Windows XP Media Center from the list. This small and to play future Blu-ray discs and HD provides an olde-worlde VHS Edition (MCE) records TV simple program enables you to DVDs? Also, can you tell me deck, a DVD-R/RAM drive and shows using MPEG-2 video, open any MCE recording and whether an all-in-one system an 80GB hard disk drive, all in but then embeds programme crop it from either end, down to featuring a hard disk drive and one handy unit. information and saves them in frame accuracy. It’s also DVD and VHS decks exists? RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS a file format called DVR-MS. possible to use mark-in and Finally is there a good website that Panasonic DMR-E85H £430 Today the only devices that can mark-out controls to remove can explain all the terminology www.panasonic.co.uk stream these files are the Media advert breaks in the middle of a used in DVDs – for example Toshiba RD-XS32 £419 Center Extenders. These can recording. Once you’ve set your DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM, www.toshiba.co.uk be stream recorded (or markers, all you have to do is DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD-ROM. JVC DR-MX1SEK £TBA Quick live) TV shows, photos or save the file and DVR-Edit will Peter Day www.jvc.co.uk music from a Media tip Center PC over a home Buy a big network. They also TV with a D forthcoming VI port employ the same on- HD service . Sky’s NAPSTER Rights Management is 720p and 1080 will support screen menu as a Media VERSUS iTUNES? embedded. You need a will limit connectivityi resolutions, to but Center PC, and you can I want a digital music certain digital music even fire-up the EPG and with HDMI or D TVs player with easy-to-use player, such as VI. schedule new recordings. software to transfer my Creative’s Zen Micro or Unlike a Media Center huge CD collection. I also a portable media center PC though, Extenders won’t want to download music (see www.napster. stream DivX or XviD videos, or legally from websites. I co.uk/compatible_ any video format other than like the idea of Napster’s devices). If you stop MPEG-1, MPEG-2 and WMV. service where you subscribing to Napster, Annoyingly they won’t stream a subscribe to download as downloaded tracks DVD that’s inserted into your many tracks as you want, won’t play or burn to MCE PC either, and only output but I’ve read that I’ll need CD. To transfer your standard definition TV signals. a special digital music CDs we suggest Apple’s If you still like the sound of player; if I get a Napster- iPod, but it can’t play them though, there’s currently compatible player will it Windows Media Audio three models to choose from: work with other music files (unless you two are set-top boxes made by services such as iTunes? convert them) and HP and Linksys (costing around Stuart Adams tracks from the iTunes £200), the third is software that store are encoded with runs on the Xbox games The Napster To Go Apple’s FairPlay DRM, console. Costing about £40 the subscription service is so they can’t play on latter seems like a bargain, and controversial; for £15 a other devices. To put of course the console itself can month you download Napster tracks on an play games and DVD movies. unlimited tracks but iPod you need to burn On the other hand, the set-top you never own them – them to CD first and boxes run silently and include Microsoft’s Digital import them to iTunes. both component outputs and wireless connectivity as

76 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! JARGON BUSTER Codec Short for ‘compression/ decompression’. Basically an algorithm or system of rules to encode/decode video. Another option to consider is to DRM Digital Rights Management. stream your Media Center Technology used to securely deliver content shows to another PC. There’s a for playback on a computer, portable download on Windows Update device, or network device. that enables Media Player on a Windows XP system to play the DVD-RW DVD Rewritable. A rewritable DVD DVR-MS video format. It’s also format, similar to DVD+RW, with a read- possible to open these directly write capacity of 4.7GB. over a network into Windows Media Player. Windows Update DVD+RW A 4.7GB rewritable DVD format can be found in the Programs and rival to the DVD-RW format. D VD+RW Pioneer’s latest range of section of your XP Start Menu. plasma screens are all fully discs cannot be read in all DVD players. CHOOSING AN HD HDTV compatible. There shouldn’t even be any PLASMA SCREEN DVI Digital Visual Interface. Created by the need to copy or move the I am looking to buy a plasma may be possible to view HD Digital Display Working Group (DDWG), DVI recordings into a shared screen but have read recently pictures on a cheaper VGA is a form of video connector initially made network folder either. By about them being incompatible screen, you’ll only see them to maximise display quality of flat panel default XP MCE should save TV with high definition TV in low definition, which LCD computer monitors and high end video shows in a folder called channels when they launch. Is defeats the object. Ideally go cards. Now found increasingly on AV Recorded TV, which is in the this true? If it is true, how do I for a 1,024 x 720 (XGA) products such as projectors and plasmas. main Shared Documents folder. make sure that I buy a plasma resolution screen or, better Simply browse to this Shared screen that’s fully compatible still, a 1,280 x 1,080 (SXGA) High-bandwidth Digital-Content HDCP folder using your other PC and with future HD services? There or 1,920 x 1,080 (Wide Protection. A specification developed by you’ll be able to directly open seems little point shelling out SXGA) model. For Sky’s Intel for protecting digital entertainment and play your TV recordings. a few thousand pounds, only proposed HD service (due content that uses the DVI interface. Additionally if you want to to find out in a couple of years’ next year), you’ll also need a schedule recordings from a time that the screen is useless. plasma screen with either HDMI High Definition Multimedia Interface. different machine over the HDMI or HDCP-enabled DVI Industry-supported, uncompressed, all- James Boxer network, try running Remote connections (see Jargon digital audio/video interface. HDMI provides Desktop Connection, found Buster). Unfortunately, this an interface between any audio/video The problem is that the under the Communications source, such as a se t-top box, and an audio minimum HD resolution is limits your choice of plasma section of Accessories under and/or video monitor, such as a te levision. 1,024 x 720 lines and many screen even further as many the Start Menu of XP cheap plasmas only display units don’t have these Professional systems. This VoIP Voice Over Internet Protocol. VGA resolution (640 x 480) sockets on board. Technology which uses Internet Protocol for program enables you to access – this is lower quality than RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS delivering voice information. This means your MCE PC in a window and today’s PAL standard (576 Pioneer PDP-505XDE £3,999 sending voice information in digital form in effectively operate it by remote visible lines). Although it www.pioneer.co.uk discreet packets rather than in the circuit- control. You won’t be able to committed protocols of the public switched watch videos, but you can fire telephone network (PSTN). A major up the guide and schedule advantage of VoIP is that it a voids the tolls recordings. Until Microsoft Skype that can make calls for free make calls, so you will either charged by ordinary telephone services. launches the MSN Remote over the Internet. How does this have to use the microphone in service for MCE in the UK, this work and will it save me money? your PC or a special VoIP is one of the only ways you can Do I need to use my PC to make phone, such as Firebox’s remotely schedule recordings. calls, or can I use a normal phone? Cyberphone that hooks up to RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS Stella Price your PC via a USB connection. standard. Unfortunately, all Linksys WMCE54AG www.linksys.com Additionally, you will have to three products are currently (This extender is not yet available in Skype (www.skype.com) uses pay for calls to people who are only available in the US, and the UK, as Microsoft needs to convert VoIP technology (see Jargon not Skype subscribers. Microsoft has not yet made any Another service worth plans to convert them for investigating is Gossiptel (www. launch in the UK. Calls between Skype users gossiptel.co.uk). Like Skype, it It’s possible to import both are free, wherever they uses VoIP technology, but you the set-top boxes and the Xbox don’t need your PC on to make software though, and (with happen to be in the world voice calls. Instead, a special some caveats) get them working adapter connects to your PC’s in the UK. For example, the set- it to PAL. However, we reviewed it on Buster) to transmit voice over a Ethernet port. You then simply top boxes output NTSC video, import back in issue 23.) standard broadband internet plug your existing wired (or but most UK TVs will happily connection. Again, we’ve DECT) phone into the adapter lock on to this signal. The Xbox WHICH VOICE OVER got a tutorial on how to do to make and receive calls. software is an additional IP SERVICE? this on page 86. Calls between RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS challenge as it will only run on I work from home and make a lot Skype users are completely free Firebox VoIP cyberphone £30 UK consoles that have mod- of phone calls during the day, for wherever they are in the world. www.fi rebox.com chips. In a future issue we’ll go which I pay BT a fortune. I read of The problem is that you still Sipura 2000 adaptor £80 into this in more detail. a service from a company called need to connect via your PC to www.gossiptel.co.uk

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! DIGITAL HOME 77 Solutions How to get the most from online music stores Never go to a record shop again – you can get all the music you ever wanted over the internet DIFFICULTY INTERMEDIATE TIMESCALE THE REST OF YOUR MUSIC-LOVING LIFE KIT REQUIRED DESKTOP COMPUTER (PC OR MAC), INTERNET CONNECTION (BROADBAND RECOMMENDED), CD BURNER (OPTIONAL), PORTABLE MUSIC PLAYER (OPTIONAL)

The internet has had a big effect on the way we buy music online, although the facility may be built into In the main, online stores sell protected content. This things. Last Christmas, for example, online sales were set-top box devices in the future, and a limited version functions via Digital Rights Management, and permits up 20 per cent year on year. But the internet’s biggest is starting to appear on mobile phones. If you plan to certain activities, such as listening to the file on your impact has been on the entertainment industry. listen to your downloads on the road, you’ll want a computer and burning it to CD. In the US, 130 million songs were bought online portable music player as well. You’ll also find a CD The main formats used by online music services, in 2004, up from 19 million from the year before. Total burner useful, so you can make compilations and burn therefore, are not open standards. The most prevalent sales amounted to more than $158 million – quite a albums to play on your hi-fi and in the car. file types are WMA and M4P. WMA is a proprietary chunk considering legitimate sales only started in Online music stores hit the US well before the Microsoft format, and an M4P file is a protected 2003. So despite the continuing availability of less UK. But that’s meant that we’ve avoided some of the version of AAC, and is essentially exclusive to iTunes. salubrious peer-to-peer music downloads, legitimate teething problems, such as the limited numbers of Other music formats you may come across are online music sales are going strong, showing that songs on the initial services. Plus, advanced options MP3Pro, Ogg Vorbis and Real Audio. MP3Pro files people really were willing to pay money for music like Napster To Go have downloads – they just needed to be given the option. launched at the same time in Despite arriving in the UK only this time last the US and UK. With so many alternatives, year, online music stores are already coming out of Now that there are so the woodwork. Windows Media Player now has six many alternatives, choosing choosing an online service services integrated, and there are still more accessible between online music services through their own has become a quagmire. has become a quagmire proprietary software. Wanadoo Music Club, Tiscali But all of them share and MSN Music all price tracks at just 69p, while require specialised software to get the full benefit, the benefits of the Tesco’s Download Store, iTunes and Napster charge although they can be played by any MP3-capable internet, including 79p a track. And in most cases, you can listen to 30 software with reduced quality. Ogg Vorbis files will easy browsing. seconds of a track for free. require extra software to play, too. But neither format For the time There will be some music that’s exclusive to a offers DRM, so aren’t favoured by online music stores. being, you really particular store, leading you to favour that vendor, but Sony is the wild card with its MiniDisc-oriented need a computer your choice of music player could be a deciding factor ATRAC compression format. Other than MiniDisc to buy as well. The iPod, for instance, only plays AACs and players plus Sony’s own portables and SonicStage MP3s, plus a handful of uncompressed formats. And it software, precious little will play ATRAC files. So Sony doesn’t support WMAs, so most Windows Media- Connect hasn’t met with much critical acclaim so far, based music services aren’t compatible. If you find the despite the technical excellence of the format. you like isn’t available on iTunes, you’ll have to certainly hasn’t created the perfect competition to the turn to the likes of Creative and iRiver for your player. Apple iTunes/iPod combination. The major UK online music stores at a glance Napster Napster Light Napster To Go Apple iTunes MSN Music Sony Connect Monthly subscription £9.95 N/A £14.95 N/A N/A N/A Tracks per month (downloaded) Unlimited N/A Unlimited N/A N/A N/A Tracks per month (streamed) Unlimited N/A Unlimited N/A N/A N/A Cost per track £0.79 £0.79 £0.79 £0.79 £0.69 £0.99 Cost per album £7.95 £7.95 £7.95 £7.99 £6.99 £7.99 Cost per play N/A N/A N/A N/A £0.01 N/A Tunes available 1,000,000 1,000,000 1,000,000 800,000 400,000 500,000 File formats WMA WMA WMA M4P WMA ATRAC Portable players supported See page 79 N/A See page 79 Apple iPod See page 80 Walkman DRM technologies used Windows Media 10 Windows Media 10 Windows Media 10 Apple Fairplay Windows Media 10 Open MagicGate

Website www.napster.co.uk www.napster.co.uk www.napster.co.uk www.apple.com/itunes www.msn.co.uk/musicclub www.connect-europe.com

78 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! How to get the most from online music stores How the stores compare Napster/Napster To Go

Napster is the most well-known brand in music facilities, such as Real’s Rhapsody. But in the UK, the Napster Light downloading, having started off the whole craze back Napster subscription service is unique, its only Price 79p per track, £7.95 per album in 1999. The original service created by Shaun Fanning competition being the 1p-per-play options that are Tunes available One million was eventually shut down in mid-2001 under legal provided by some stores. File formats WMA pressure from the RIAA (Recording Industry Portable players supported Most Windows Association of America). But Roxio bought the rights to Music to go Media compatible devices – see www.napster. the name and reanimated it in the US as Napster 2.0 in With its premium Napster To Go service, though, co.uk/compatible_devices/index.html October 2003, although by then Apple’s iTunes had Napster has gone one better still. For £14.95 a month, for more details become the first legitimate online music store. Napster To Go extends the licence to play music DRM technologies used Windows Media 10 However, Napster and iTunes launched almost downloaded as part of the subscription service on to simultaneously in the UK, and they’ve traded blows certain selected portable devices. The list of compatible Napster ever since. Napster is slightly ahead in terms of raw portables is pretty short for the time being, but support Price £9.95 per month track count, claiming to have a million tracks available. is likely to be a checkbox in most future hardware. Tunes available One million But iTunes has the indubitable draw of the iPod in its Accessing any of these three versions of the File formats WMA favour, which has been one of the consumer electronics Napster store requires the Napster 3 application, Portable players supported N/A successes of the millennium so (track purchase required) far. We’ve still given Napster the DRM technologies used Windows Media 10 greatest space in this article – Napster and iTunes launched Napster To Go not necessarily because it’s the almost simultaneously, and Price £14.95 per month best service, but it does have a Tunes available One million number of unique features, at they’ve traded blows ever since File formats WMA least compared to other online Portable players supported Creative Zen music stores in the UK. which is a free 11MB download. There’s also a plug-in Micro, Creative Zen Portable Media Center, First of all, unlike other music stores, Napster now Napster for Windows Media Player 10, and a TV- Audiovox SMT5600 Smart Phone, Dell Pocket has three modes – the basic Napster Light plus two friendly version built into the Windows XP Media DJ, Gateway MP3 Photo Jukebox, Iriver PMC- subscription services. With the Light version, Napster Center Edition 2005 operating system. You can search 120, Samsung YH-999 Portable Media Center is similar to most online music stores. You can try 30 the music database via www.napster.co.uk without the DRM technologies used Windows Media 10 seconds of a track, then purchase it to hear the rest. app, but you can’t access any content using a web www.napster.co.uk But with the £9.95 subscription version of Napster, browser. The full Napster app works as a standalone you can listen to every track on the service in its jukebox, as well as offering access to the shop, and can entirety. These can either be streamed directly, or rip CDs to WMA or MP3 with an extra plug-in. It has downloaded locally to up to three different systems. In decent library management, and CD burning plus the US, there are other services offering similar simple label creation are also built in. Napster’s subscription services may seem like a music-lover’s heaven, but they do have one drawback – you can’t guarantee that tracks will always be available. Although digital music is unlikely to be deleted from a store’s catalogue due to supply or space constraints, it is susceptible to the vagaries of business deals between the record companies and online shops. We’ve seen albums disappear from Napster. If you’ve already purchased the tracks, you’ll still maintain your existing rights. But with the subscription service, you’ll no longer be able to play the songs – even if you’ve downloaded them to your hard disk. And if you cancel your subscription, all your downloaded tracks will become unplayable. In its Light format, Napster is also far from revolutionary. At 79p a track and £7.95 an album, it’s not the cheapest around. However, Track Pack bundle deals bring prices to a level comparable to the cheapest alternatives. You can pick up 50 tracks for £33.99, which works out at 68p each, with 25- and 10-track options successively less good value. With its one million tracks, Napster is clearly one of the most comprehensive online music shops. If you like the songs it has available, one of its subscription services could well give you all the music you’d ever need. However, for those to whom the subscription model doesn’t appeal, Napster’s track and album prices aren’t as low as MSN, Tiscali or Wanadoo, making one of these the cheaper option if it has your chosen songs available.

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! DIGITAL HOME 79 Solutions

Apple iTunes Price 79p per track, £7.99 per album Tunes available 800,000 File formats M4P (Protected AAC) Portable players supported Apple iPod DRM technologies used Fairplay www.apple.com/itunes

THE STORES iTunes The original Napster may have popularised the idea of online music, but iTunes was the first service to offer tracks commercially, and it’s still the leading player in terms of volume of sales. The shop works through an iTunes app rather than the web. iTunes was previously an Apple Mac music player similar to MusicMatch Jukebox. There wasn’t a Windows Like the Napster app, iTunes is a full jukebox, with a lot of choice, although it’s not the cheapest online version for a while, but the latest 4.7.1 runs on the ability to import tracks in other formats, rip CDs music vendor out there at 79p a track or £7.99 for an Windows 2000 or XP as well as Mac OS X. On to AAC, and burn music collections to CD. It has a album. Also, if you want to listen to iTunes on the Windows, it’s a sizeable 21MB download, as the latest built-in graphic equaliser, playlist repeat and shuffle move, you’ll need to buy yourself an iPod, as nothing QuickTime software is included. The Mac version is modes, plus the obligatory wacky visualisations. else supports Apple’s FairPlay DRM schema or M4P only 11MB, although the latest QuickTime is still Uniquely, it can also share your music collection over files. But seeing as the iPod is everyone’s Most required for certain functionality. There’s no version a network – even between Macs and PCs. With over Wanted portable player, this is potentially more a for previous iterations of either operating system. 800,000 tunes now available in the UK, iTunes offers feature than a drawback.

THETHE STORESSHOPS MSN Music Club

You’d probably expect Microsoft’s music shop to MSN Music Club have positioned itself to dominate the market, just like Price 69p per track, £6.99 per album, pretty much everything else that Bill Gates puts his 1p for single play hand to. But although it’s true that Microsoft Tunes available 400,000 dominates the online music DRM world outside of File formats WMA iTunes, its own store is a bit of a lacklustre me-too Portable players supported Most Windows affair. Surprisingly, Microsoft has chosen to partner Media compatible devices – see www.microsoft. with a third-party company rather than go it alone. So com/windows/windowsmedia/mp10/ MSN Music uses Loudeye’s On Demand Distribution devicesupport.aspx for more details (OD2) infrastructure, just like MyCokeMusic and DRM technologies used Windows Media 10 numerous others. www.msn.co.uk/musicclub This means that MSN only has 400,000 tracks on offer – significantly less than Napster or iTunes with one million and 800,000 respectively. But on the upside, it is cheap, costing just 69p a track or £6.99 an album. Plus, if you haven’t heard enough from the 30- MSN only has 400,000 second preview, you can also tracks on offer – much less play selected tracks in their So ultimately although MSN doesn’t have all the entirety for just 1p a go, which music you can find on either Napster or iTunes, it than Napster or iTunes might work out a hell of a lot does have value on its side – and if you’re into music cheaper than Napster’s £9.95 in any way, it could certainly reduce your outgoings subscription if you play less than a thousand songs a substantially. It’s certainly well worth looking here month. The MSN service itself can be accessed via a first to check if it stocks what you’re after – unless web page, but it’s also integrated into Windows Media you object to lining Gates’ pockets even further… or Player 10 so you access it offline. you’re an iPod owner.

80 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! How to get the most from online music stores

THETHE STORESSHOPS Everyone else

A number of other sites apart from MSN now use the OD2 engine, and their content and pricing are remarkably similar. MyCokeMusic.com, Virgin, Wanadoo, Tiscali and HMV all operate via OD2. Tesco also launched a service in November last year, but in partnership with the German 24/7 Music Shop. Choosing between any of these stores is really a matter of seeing which ones have the music you want for the least money – and you might find the same tracks for the same price from multiple vendors. All of them use WMA, usually encoded at 192Kbps or above, allied with the Windows Media 10 DRM schema. So they’re all aimed at PC users. There are a few maverick shops which have gone in a different direction. We’ve already mentioned be downloaded from a 60,000-strong selection as part Sony’s Connect, which sells songs in ATRAC format of a £50 annual subscription. Emusic.com just sells Q&A and requires Sony’s SonicStage CONNECT Europe MP3s, however. It’s exclusively available via Edition software to function. With tracks ranging from subscription, which starts at $9.99 a month for 40 WHAT’S THE BEST FORMAT TO USE FOR A DIGITAL 99p to £1.09 each, it’s not cheap, and you’re confined to downloads. There’s a free trial including 50 free MUSIC COLLECTION? Sony’s own portable music players. Not surprisingly, downloads as well. Music is best kept in its original format – so if it’s from CDs, then 44KHz, 16-bit WAVs will be the optimum, and the service hasn’t challenged iTunes and Napster There are also numerous independent labels downloaded tracks should be left in the file type they came in. greatly so far. selling online, the best known of which is Bleep.com. However, if you’re transferring your CDs to your PC, WAVS If you want to avoid the restrictions of DRM This amalgamates a number of independents, such as require a lot of space. So use a format that’s compatible with altogether, there are a few sites which sell MP3s free Ninja Tune, under one roof. In fact, there are now so your portable player. MP3s are the most compatible, but to copy and burn at will. In the UK, Wippit offers many vendors out there, if you can’t find the music WMAs (for Windows Media portables) or M4Ps (for iPods) 350,000 tracks, although not all of them are available you want in the mainstream shops, we’d recommend offer better quality at a given data rate. as MP3 – some are WMA and require a Wippit trying a search engine such as Google. The web is registration to play. Tracks are sold individually or can awash with music. HOW PORTABLE IS ONLINE MUSIC? CAN I TRANSFER IT TO MY PORTABLE PLAYER? Music you’ve purchased online can be easily transferred to a compatible portable player. However, WMAs won’t work on iPods, and iTunes’ M4Ps will only work on iPods. Music that’s been downloaded using a Napster To Go subscription service may also be transferred to a few compatible devices (see www.napster.co.uk/compatible_devices/index.html for more details).

DO I OWN THE MUSIC I BUY? No – you never own the music you buy, even on CD. All you have purchased is a particular copy of the music and the right to listen to it. You may also have certain limited rights to copy it for personal use, but you certainly don’t have all the rights that full ownership would imply.

IS THERE A SEARCH ENGINE THAT ENCOMPASSES ONLINE MUSIC? There’s no overall search engine which amalgamates all the different music stores. Most of them have extremely good search facilities built in, however, so if you can’t find a track on your favourite service, you can always try searching a few The ins and outs of DRM others for it. IS MUSIC PIRACY REALLY KILLING OFF THE Digital copying has put the fear of God into record you play the file, your media player software will check the RECORD INDUSTRY? companies. Whereas each successive analogue copy of music certificate, and if it’s valid will allow you to play it. Different CD sales in the US did drop five per cent in 2002 and seven loses quality each time that it’s recorded, digital copies are certificates will give you different rights. For example, if you per cent in 2003, but they rose again by 2.3 per cent in always identical. So the owners of music content wanted download a track from Napster as part of the subscription 2004. In the UK, CD sales were up by three per cent in 2004. some form of control over digital copying before they’d let service, you’re given the right to play it on up to three different Considering the ever-increasing penetration of broadband and their tracks be sold online. That control came in the form of PCs – but not burn it to CD or copy it to a portable, unless you access to peer-to-peer networks, the recovery in the market Digital Rights Management (DRM). Using a combination of subscribe to Napster To Go. Once you’ve bought the track, rather negates the recording industry’s claims that it’s being encrypted files, licence certificates and media player you’re given burning and copying rights. You’re still not given killed by piracy. Perhaps it was just the recession after all. applications able to put the two together, DRM imposes complete control, though. limitations on what can be done with digital media files that Software without the DRM capability built in won’t be you purchase over the internet. able to decrypt the file at all, so won’t be able to play it or burn NEXT MONTH When you buy music from an online music store, be it in it to audio CD – even if you’ve purchased it. You’ll be able to Windows Media Audio or Apple’s Protected AAC format, you copy the file to a different location, but without the licence How to set up a multi- receive an encrypted music file and a certificate. Every time certificate it’s effectively useless. room audio system

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! DIGITAL HOME 81 Solutions How to understand DVD formats DVD recording is simple in theory but the differences between formats can be baffl ing. Understand them all with our beginner’s guide DIFFICULTY EASY TIMESCALE N/A COST FROM £0.20

Video recording used to be simple. You bought a range of media offering different capacities, qualities They are, however, ideal for archiving and are blank tape, and that was it. At the birth of VHS there and compatibilities. In the case of one DVD media recommended for use in DVD-HDD combis so you can was a format tussle with Sony’s , plus minor type, DVD-RW, it’s possible to format the same disc in get everything right before transferring to disc (often players such as Video 2000. However, aside from one of two ways. One offers more editing while the at high speed). For the cheapest deals, we suggest you camcorder variations, S-VHS and professional other restricts this in return for widespread buy online and in bulk – DVD-Rs can be found for as broadcasting gear, videotape was easy to grasp – even playability in other if the quality varied and rewinding was a pain. machines. Therefore you As a playback medium DVD-Video is don’t have to make this The most sophisticated medium straightforward too. Recording arrived later in DVD’s choice when you buy the evolution, with the first domestic recorder appearing hardware or blanks, but is DVD-RAM but its popularity is in 1999, about three years after the first players. you must decide when Because the underlying disc format was well recording to disc. limited by its incompatibility established, manufacturers faced a conundrum. The It’s no surprise that first option was to make recordings compatible with standalone DVD recorders are gradually giving way to little as 20p per unit. See retailers such as www. existing ‘legacy’ players but that wouldn’t enable combi recorders that include a hard disk drive (HDD). bigpockets.co.uk or www.rivieramultimedia.co.uk. clever editing features that engineers had developed This means you can record to HDD first, make any The most sophisticated medium is DVD-RAM but in the meantime. The other option was to provide necessary edits and decide what disc type to burn it to its popularity is limited by its incompatibility in other extensive editing but at the expense of compatibility later. The other common rewritable format is players and many PCs. At best it behaves like a thin in legacy players. Of course, various hardware DVD+RW, which offers basic editing options and is hard drive, providing simultaneous playback and manufacturers backed different DVD recording broadly compatible with other players. recording in some machines, but the discs are pricey. options rather than settling on one. The best discs for compatibility are the write-once The capacity of all basic blank DVDs is limited to Consequently, the recordable DVD landscape is kind, known as DVD-R and DVD+R. These are cheaper 4.7GB, though DVD-RAMs can be double sided. The much like the audio recording sector, where there’s a than rewritable media but you can’t reuse them. total running time depends on the recorder but the

STEP BY STEP Which DVD format?

DVD DVD DVD +R +RW -R

DVD+R DVD+RW DVD-R The write-once version of DVD+RW, invented The rewritable version of DVD+R. Discs can The popular write-once format used which is 1 by Philips and widely used in the industry, 2 be partially or fully erased if you want to copy 3 in a large number of PC drives and DVD-RAM especially in budget DVD recorders. It’s inexpensive something else on to them. DVD+RWs don’t have to or DVD-RW format recorders. Its cost and and easily read by DVD players, which means that be finalised for playback elsewhere, although changes compatibility benefits are similar to DVD+R – which compatibility is very high, so this is an ideal archiving such as hiding chapters must be updated in the disc’s means the discs can be played back in most medium. Discs must be finalised before playback in index (this feature is usually called ‘make edits machines – and discs must be finalised before playing other machines. Dual layer DVD+R blank discs are compatible’). Recordings are linear, like tape, so back in another machine. Dual layer DVD-R blanks are now available in the shops, but not all recorders and various erased segments cannot be combined for also available, though like DVD+R DL, suitable drives will write to them. continuous new recordings. recording hardware may be in short supply. www.dvdrw.com www.dvdrw.com www.dvdforum.org

DVD player compatibility DVD player compatibility DVD player compatibility

82 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! How to understand DVD formats

GLOSSARY

Blu-ray A next-generation, high definition DVD playback and recording format that has been developed and backed by a number of consumer electronics manufacturers and is supported by some Hollywood studios.

Dual layer Doubles the capacity of one side of a DVD-R or DVD+R; requires a compatible recorder.

Finalising A process that must be done at the end of recording to ‘seal’ the disc and enable it to be played in other machines. DVD-RW discs can be usually be unfinalised for later changes.

Hard disk drive (HDD) Self-contained, non- removable memory as used in PCs but which is increasingly common in digital video recorders as a common maximum is six hours or eight hours. Some DVD to HDTV quality by using lasers in the blue- useful temporary archive and to make edits and recorders are better with longer running times but violet part of the spectrum instead of the traditional compilations in DVD combis. it’s best to keep within three hours per disc. red. With advanced compression, such as H.264 A new development is dual layer (DL) blank disc (MPEG-4) or Microsoft’s WMV-HD/VC1 (www. H.264 An advanced MPEG video compression technology, which doubles the capacity of DVD+R and wmvhd.com), higher resolutions can be crammed on system with twice the efficiency of traditional DVD-R to two hours in top quality or 16 hours at to ordinary media, but it’s not ideal. MPEG-2 as used by DVD and digital TV. It can provide most. It also brings domestic recording in line with Unhelpfully, there are competing systems for HD both high quality and high capacity recordings. HD commercial DVDs, most of which are dual-layered. video discs, which means another format war. But recorders, among other new products, are likely to There are no dual-layer RW discs. While dual-layer both Blu-ray disc and HD-DVD are offering maximum feature this. recordings should play in most players and PCs, capacities of at least 15GB. See www.blu-ray.com and machines to record on DL blanks are rare. www.dvdforum.org for more. Like standard DVD, pre- HD-DVD The next-generation, high definition DVD However, multiformat machines are increasingly recorded HD movie and TV titles will be available to playback and recording format. Despite endorsement available, either as PC drives or standalone items. buy, while blank discs will be able to store vast by various Hollywood studios and the industry’s DVD Multi-format burners and recorders can amounts of PC data and standard TV recordings. Forum, it will still be competing in the market with write to three or four of the usual disc If you’re still deciding on a recorder, check Blu-ray, above. types, often DVD-R, DVD-RW and our breakdown of each format. For DVD-RAM. There is no absolute DVD+RW, Philips’ machines tend to offer Multiformat recording R/RW combinations are do-it-all device and many the most features, but Sony’s dual-RW normal but some recorders are Multi drives in that manufacturers only support RDR-GX700 is nicer to use. For DVD- they include another major DVD recording format. two formats, such as DVD+R/ RAM, Panasonic’s DMR-E65 is +RW with DVD-R. It seems unbeatable. Recommended DVD-RW obvious, Non-linear editing DVD-RAM and DVD-RW (in VR The next stage is high little but by paying that recorders include JVC’s DR-M10 and bit more for a multi-format mode) enable you to make changes to the running definition DVD, which propels DVD recorder Pioneer’s DVR-220S. , you will ensure order of the disc and erase and reuse various parts you have maximum flexibility that without leaving ‘gaps’. and compatibility. Simultaneous play and record An advanced feature of some recorders where you can play any title on the disc even if it is being used for a current recording. This is inherent to DVD-RAM and also found on some DVD-RW decks (providing the blank disc type offers DVD DVD at least x2 speed). -RW -RAM Windows Media Video HD An alternative method for getting high definition quality recordings. More effective than DVD’s traditional MPEG-2, two hours of WMV-HD content can be stored on 4.7GB DVDs.

Video mode The standard video recording format used by DVD-R and DVD-RW, which ensures widespread compatibility (if not re-editability) in other players. DVD-RW DVD-RAM The rewritable version of DVD-R and the DVD-RAM is also supported by the DVD VR mode The advanced video recording format used most high profile reusable format supported Forum but much less commonly used. With 4 5 by DVD-RW, which allows for non-linear editing and by the DVD industry body. Discs can be formatted in DVD-RAM, advanced non-linear editing and simultaneous play and record, among other Video mode for good compatibility or VR mode for simultaneous play and record are generally offered as sophisticated features. non-linear editing after recording (only players marked standard. RAM discs can be double-sided but tend to ‘RW compatible’ may play VR discs). Simultaneous be more expensive and sensitive to damage. It’s play and record is supported by some machines, but therefore a good idea to use discs with a protective you must use x2-speed discs for this. Discs must be cartridge – however, be warned that some machines NEXT MONTH finalised for playback and you cannot swap between require you to remove this. Compatibility in other How to get the most Video or VR modes without erasing contents. players is relatively rare. from your EPG DVD player compatibility DVD player compatibility

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! DIGITAL HOME 83 Solutions How to get more from your Media Center PC Tweak your Start page, add new programs and make sure you never miss a programme recording DIFFICULTY BASIC TIMESCALE 5 MINUTES COST NONE

Just when everyone had become used to the enjoy leisurely access to the music, video and idea of the PC as an office workhorse and photos that are stored on your PC’s hard disk. games machine, Microsoft offered an entirely Even better, you can plug in a TV aerial or new vision, the impact of which is still being digital set-top box, and then use your Media felt. Suddenly, the PC didn't have to be an Center PC to record programmes on the enormous towering unit squatting – and hidden same hard disk – just like a PVR. – underneath your study desk: it could be a With Portable Media Center and sleek device you kept on display in your living Media Extender devices enhancing the room, you viewed through your TV, and you basic set-up, the Media controlled with an infrared remote. Center PC is quickly Media Center Edition is a version of evolving into the Windows XP that’s available only when you buy most flexible way a new computer designated as a Media Center to enjoy all digital PC. Based around Windows Media Player, media. And our tips A Media Center Media Center Edition presents simple menus will help you move beyond PC can change the and controls that are designed to be read at a the basics to become a Media way you view – and create – your distance and operated by a remote. You can Center master. media forever.

TEN EXPERT TIPS

Media Center Edition 2005 can If you’re worried about missing the You can use your Media Center automatically check your monitor or TV, end of a recording due to Media remote to play Solitaire, supplied 1 then configure itself to present the best 5 Center starting to record another 9 free with Windows XP. Use Left and picture. Access the option via Settings, programme, use the Start When Possible Right on your remote to move to a card and Television, Configure Your TV Or Monitor. option found via Settings, TV, Recorder, press OK to select it. Use Up and Down to Recording Defaults. Start When Possible select a pile of cards on any stack. Use Left Media Center stores video in its own records a programme early to ensure you and Right to move between card stacks on DVR-MS format and, like MPEG-2 on don’t miss anything. different rows. 2 which it’s based, it’s not particularly storage-friendly. Cut down the size of your Decide which of your chosen series recorded programmes by slicing out the recordings should take priority You can adjust photos within Media adverts. Use DVRedit, available from www. 6 over another by following the Center Edition 2005 just as you thegreenbutton.com/downloads.aspx. instructions via My TV, Recorded TV, 8 would at a developing booth or on Scheduled, Series, Change Priorities. your PC – simple things like rotating, Various extra widgets are available for Media Center systems. Swing by HIDDEN GEM If you’re having problems watching recordings, or with synchronising 3 www.mediacenterware.com where recordings to a Portable Media Center, the fault may lie with your MPEG-2 video you’ll find trivia games, Calendar, To Do List decoder. Microsoft’s Windows XP Video Decoder Checkup Utility checks your PC for and Contacts applications. decoders and reports on the best option. It’s available from www.microsoft.com Media Center PCs can also Media Center Edition 2005 can Choose a Media Center PC model with cropping or removing red-eye, for example – access digital content stored on automatically record programmes a digital TV tuner only if you plan to but the option is hard to find in among all the 10 networked PCs or NAS devices. 4 starring a favourite actor or 7 receive Freeview. If you plan to take menus. you can find it by going to In My For example, to add extra music folders, covering a given theme, based on keywords your Sky Digital set-top box through your Pictures, selecting a picture and then press the More Info button on the remote you enter via My TV, Recorded TV, Add Media Center PC, you should choose a pressing the More Info button. After that, when in the My Music option. Then Recording, Keyword. model with an analogue TV tuner. select Picture Details from the menu. simply follow the onscreen instructions.

84 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! How to get more from your Media Center PC

JARGON BUSTER Downloads Media Center Extender If you can’t Visit Media Center’s Online connect your Media Center PC directly to Spotlight area to download these STEP BY STEP your TV, either because of distance or lack Customise of connections, you will be able to buy a fi ve superb enhancements your Media Center Media Center Extender that plugs into your TV and communicates wirelessly with your NewsGator Media Center PC. Start page Syndicated newsfeeds delivered via RSS are a Save on remote button presses or MPEG-2 One of the most common convenient way to scan technologies used to process a movie or add new programs to the menu dozens of websites for video clip so it can be stored in digital form. new stories. NewsGator DVD players use MPEG-2, while Media Media Center Edition Center Edition uses the MPEG-2-based DVR- enables you to view MS format to store its programming. stories via your remote, while synchronising subscriptions and stories with NewsGator options on other devices. Portable Media Center A compact device Free; extras from $5.95 pcm www.newsgator.com able to synchronise with your Media Center PC, enabling you to take recorded TV GalleryPlayer programmes or music on the road to watch If you run your Media at your leisure. Center PC through a plasma or LCD display RSS Really Simple Syndication is an on your wall, you’ll alternative way to present information in particularly appreciate IN THE BEGINNING web pages. RSS readers such as NewsGator this program, which Simple and attractive, Media Center’s Start can access RSS feeds then comp ile them so gives you access to the page presents basic options such as My TV you can quickly see dozens of s tories from 1 cream of fine art and enables you to present work from and My Pictures, as well as providing access to all your favourite websites, without visiting Cézanne, Warhol and others as digital paintings. You can buy settings. With a little knowledge, you can customise each in turn in your web browser. any work to build a collection or take out a subscription. the options that appear in the Start page’s menu. Free; single images from $2.99 www.galleryplayer.com

MSNTV Today Enjoy video clips on demand with Microsoft’s streaming service. Topics include entertainment, technology and sports, and there’s also up-to- date news reporting. You can add MSNTV Today to your More Programs selection to access it any time you like. Free www.msntv.com

Napster The popular online music download store is BASIC OPTIONS SIMPLE GAMES available through Media To change basic options, go to Windows Find Solitaire in the Start menu’s Games Center as well as the 2 Explorer’s Start menu and select Control 4 folder, then right-click on it and choose program you use in Panel, then open Add Or Remove Programs. Click on Create Shortcut from the menu that appears. Drag the Windows. If you’re Set Program Access and Defaults and choose new shortcut from the Start menu into the Media already a member, you Custom, then tick “Enable access to this program” Center Programs window, where you can rename it if can enter your existing account, then use your remote to and any options you want shown in Media Center. you like. choose songs to play or purchase. Free; songs from 79p www.napster.com

Live365 Your Media Center PC already enables you to enjoy radio, but Live365 grows that choice with thousands of stations, all delivered as streams via the internet. Use your remote to browse station listings. Free; optional services from $3.65 per month www.live365.com PROGRAM CHOICES OPENING GAMES IN MEDIA CENTER You can add your own program choices, too. Now open Media Center and navigate to the NEXT MONTH 3 Let’s add Solitaire. Start by opening a My 5 More Programs option, where you can use the Computer window, then navigate to your PC’s Start new Solitaire icon to run the game within Media How to get more from Menu\Programs\Accessories\Media Center\Media Center. See our Expert Tips to find out how you can your wireless network Center Programs folder. play Solitaire using your remote.

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! DIGITAL HOME 85 Solutions How to get started with VoIP Why pay a fortune just to chat to friends and family, when you can do it for free using nothing but your computer? DIFFICULTY EASY TIMESCALE 1HR COST FREE

Here’s the pitch: Free phonecalls. Not convinced? Not surprising. VoIP – that’s STEP BY STEP Setting up a ‘Voice over IP’ – is one of those technologies that has never really taken off over the years. Skype VoIP service Despite endless programs capable of turning Before you can make free calls, PCs around the world into the most expensive walkie-talkies ever built, with almost every you’ll need a Skype account… instant messaging client offering the ability to start conversations rather than simply wing around messages, there’s always been something to get in the way. Early on, it was bandwidth. Later, interoperability. And AVOIDING VOIP SPAM Let’s nip this one in the bud right away. Select whichever you opted for, the impossibility of Options from the File menu and click on the getting through to actual landlines was 3 ‘Privacy’ tab. ‘Calls’ are voice conversations – always a deal breaker. Modern VoIP systems chances are that you’ll want to restrict these to people are finally getting it right. No technical you’ve specifically given permission to contact you. knowledge is necessary, with a broadband ‘Chats’ are text-based, instant messaging sessions. connection hooking you up to anyone. Skype is by far the biggest name. Written by the original authors of file-sharing tool Kazaa (and entirely free of adware and other unpleasant surprises), it finally makes VoIP TOOLS OF THE TRADE work as promised. All conversations between First of all, you’ll need to get hold of Skype. It’s computers are completely free. Skype uses 1 a free download from www.skype.com, and exactly the same buddy list system as every available for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux systems. The Mac one can talk to the Linux one as easily as the other IM client, with the ability to send text Linux one talks to Windows, although the look and messages and files as well as start audio feel does vary slightly between platforms. Run the conversations. You can see who’s online, setup program to install it, and choose automatic or proposing a connection with a couple of manual startup for your Skype client. clicks. Your friend’s Skype client will start PREPARE THE HARDWARE ringing, giving them a choice of accepting the Next, spend some time experimenting with call when they see who it is, or turning it 4 your equipment. Skype’s noise reduction down. It's incredibly easy to get to grips with. software means that you shouldn’t have any trouble Skype’s most interesting feature, having a conversation even if you’ve got music playing however, is SkypeOut, which enables you to in the background. Ideally, you’ll either have a make internet based phonecalls to landlines headset, or a decent quality microphone. and mobiles. This does cost money, but nowhere near as much as calling far-flung lands from your landline. Rather than paying a monthly bill, you simply stock up on credit at the main Skype website, and use it until it runs out. Slowly, we’re starting to see companies go slightly beyond this, providing conventional handsets rather than asking you to use headsets or a microphone/headphone combination, along with the ability to punch IDENTIFYING YOURSELF ONLINE numbers into the handset and have Skype Now it’s time to create an address. You don’t make the call directly – but in most cases, 2 need to give any personal details for this, but NO FRIENDS AND FAMILY DISCOUNT you simply won’t need this for home use. remember that the username you choose will be the The ‘Add A Contact’ option in Tools gives you Skype does an excellent job of correcting for one that you’ll be handing out to anyone who wants 5 the ability to pull information out of your echos and other problems, and the most to get in touch with you. Next, you’ll either need to Outlook address book, or type in a name by hand. basic make of microphone should be enough persuade a friend to set up an account, or dig up their Once added to your contact list, simply select them to to get started. Skype username to say hello. begin dialing, and get ready to talk.

86 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! How to get started with VoIP

The VoIP Landscape Skype is the most popular VoIP system around at the moment, FAQs but by no means the only one. This is both good, and very, very bad. Nobody wants a world ruled by one closed- WHAT ARE THE LIMITATIONS OF THE standard, which Skype definitely is, as it restricts you to one The biggest limitations SKYPE SERVICE? company’s every little whim. Already people have complained lls if online are that you can only receive ca about parts of the license that appear to give the company the machine in (there is no official answering right to bolt on other features in the future – principally Skypeland yet), and people cannot phone features like a forthcoming voicemail service and SkypeIn, but nes. Both of these are you from landli with traditionally loose wording that could theoretically see it manageable. Two separate answerphone taking the Kazaa route of bundled adware in the future. That's extensions are available, called SAM and not a problem, unless you’ve become reliant on it for all your to make it as Pamela, while SkypeIn is due telephonic communication… dial out. easy to dial in as it is to The trouble is that every company wants to be the one standard that makes it. Instant Messaging tools demonstrate IS THE CALL QUALI TY REALLY AS the problem perfectly: AIM can’t talk to Yahoo!, Yahoo! refuses GOOD AS THEY SAY? For the most part, to talk to MSN and MSN denies all knowledge of ICQ. When yes. You’ll need a broadband co nnection to the corporates smell blood, interoperability becomes a very chat properly, and there will undoubtedly be STEP BY STEP distant concept. Ideally, everyone would settle on one of the the odd click or quiet patch should there be More open standards available, turning the fight away from sheer a hiccup, but aside from this, Skype is just numbers and moving onto straight features and usability. advanced features like speaking to someone over the As it is, whole groups have to adopt the same platform telephone. Skype uses P2P technology to VoIP services like Skype offer more just to talk. You probably have the ability to do so already, in route calls and access other information than computer-computer calling. any event. MSN, AIM and all the other major networks have that it needs, working out a path based on had voice and full video conferencing features built in, with Consider the following… the best route at the time rather th an applications like TeamSpeak and Roger Wilco providing chat filtering everything through a central point for gamers in everything from Counterstrike to Counterstrike. of failure. It’s a pretty stable pl atform. Well, in our experience at least. A few other VoIP contenders In addition, should you have any include Net2Phone (www.net2phone.com), PhoneGAIM (www. difficulty with the voice co nversation, you phonegaim.com), BT's own Communicator (www.bt.com/ can always switch to the low-bandwidth, communicator) and Glophone (www.glophone.com), all text-based IM mode until your connection offering slightly different takes on the market, from virtual improves. Skype can’t access MSN, AIM, Y! phone numbers to built in answering machines. or other networks, but it will handle these Importantly, VoIP isn’t restricted to computer-to- basic functions well enough. computer calls. Many businesses are implementing their own systems, mixing internal systems to use VoIP internally, but CAN MY TELEPHONE CALLS BE seamlessly switching to conventional phonelines when dialling HACKED? Well, never say never – but it’s out, for the best of both worlds. At least, the best for now. you say is encrypted unlikely. Everything Unsurprisingly, the world’s telcos haven’t glossed over what e internet, only SKYPE AS INSTANT MESSAGER before its trip through th the technology can do, and are currently idling away their Skype has all the features you’d expect to find converted back into speech on the other time either wetting themselves at the thought of everyone e secure than, for 1 in a dedicated IM tool, including the ability to end. This is certainly mor getting free calls (the FCC is currently investigating several US start text chats, send files, and look up profile example, e-mail – which spends its life companies after rumours emerged that they might be information on your contacts. All of these tools can be whizzing around the internet unencrypted, intentionally tracking down and degrading voice traffic on accessed by right-clicking on a contact’s name to and passing through umpteen different their networks) and trying to hook into the possibilities bring down the options list. You can use the same servers on its way to your destination. themselves. Naughty. menu to block incoming messages from people you Over here, BT has already announced a major push don’t want to talk to, or create a SpeedDial for anyone towards VoIP for standard phonelines. Rather than actually you want to get hold of immediately. replacing your phone, or plugging a PC into every socket, you’ll make your calls exactly as you do now – only the mode of delivery really changes. Of course, the odds of this leading to free worldwide calls are approximately zero to none, but the Internet based nature of the technology has plenty of potential to lead to savings for the rest of us over time. But whether we’ll actually get to see them is a different matter. For now, get on SKYPE OUT I CAN’T TAKE YOUR CALL RIGHT NOW… and try it for yourself. To make landline calls on Skype, you’ll need You’re not restricted to Skype’s built in tools. 2 to buy credit. A few things to watch out for 3 Head for www.freewebs.com/ here: while the 10 Euros (around £6) claims to give skypeansweringmachine to download SAM, or www. you around 10 hours worth of chat, call costs differ pamela-systems.com for Pamela. Pamela records NEXT MONTH from place to place. In addition, you can’t use Skype messages up to three minutes long, presenting them to contact the emergency services. Most importantly, in a list (complete with the caller’s identity and any Get started with X10 if you don’t use the service for 180 days, any credit on other info). In both cases, you can provide your own home automation the system will be lost – only buy what you need. greeting by pointing the software at a WAV file.

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2 22 22 2 22  22   22222 22 22  BUYER’S The best kit there is! CONSIDER NOTHING GUIDE ELSE

Compiled by the best hi-fi, home cinema and PC The Digital Home kit charts reviewers in the UK and updated monthly, the Big TVs 92 Digital Home Buyer’s Guide charts the new entries Small TVs 92 in our exclusive product charts. From the top ten big TVs to the best five solutions for audio All-in-one DVD home cinema 92 streaming, over the next eight pages you’ll find the Entertainment PCs 93 very best 150 products for your digital home. Streaming audio 93

Pricing & availability Computer accessories 93 All of the products in the Buyer’s Guide are available in the UK. Prices given are based on typical retail prices at the time of Streaming video 93 going to press. Prices are checked and updated every issue. AV receivers 94 Stereo speakers 94 Surround sound speakers 94 Audio players 95 Headphones 95 DAB digital radio 95 THE Projectors 95 Digital video recorders 96 150 Digital cameras 96 Digital camcorders 96 Mobile entertainment 97 PDAs & smartphones 97 BEST Mobile computers 97 PRODUCTS Gadgets 97 FOR YOUR DIGITAL HOME PLUS How to buy an Apple Mac ROUNDED UP & RATED Turn the page

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! DIGITAL HOME 89 The best kit there is! CONSIDER NOTHING ELSE

EVERYTHING YOU Your at-a-glance guide NEED TO KNOW to what to look for when buying a Mac ABOUT BUYING A… MAC HOT Once rated as only for designers and posers, the Mac has evolved into a thoroughly Extra memory modern computer. There’s now a wide range of machines to choose from PowerPC G5 processor AirPort Extreme (aka Wi-Fi) The idea that you can now buy a Mac for £340 takes some model. The price does not include a monitor, keyboard or SuperDrive (rewritable DVD) getting used to. Made by Apple, these machines have mouse, however. Either you already own these with your Functional design touches gathered a reputation for style and simplicity – but low prices previous computer or you can buy them for an extra £200 or DIY upgrade options have not been a selling point. Over the last few years, though, so, which covers a flat-screen display with a DVI or VGA Widescreen display millions of people have found a taste for Apple products connection, plus USB keyboard and mouse. thanks to the company’s best-selling iPod. Its success is The ’s specification is no-frills, as you’d expect DVI video output making those who’d dismissed the Mac as overpriced or “just from the price, although Apple’s definition of basic is a little iLife 05 suite for creatives” – wholly irrelevant. different from most other PC manufacturers. Slot-loading DVD drive Step outside of the tired “Mac versus Even the starter model includes an Ethernet Windows PC” debate, and the appeal of the Mac is socket for home networking, and Firewire for 64MB graphics card much the same as that of the iPod: once the initial linking to a digital camcorder. The Mac Mini’s Mac software bundle allure of its good looks fades, it remains a PowerPC G4 processor is now the slower of the Optical audio outputc pleasure to use. Its case and software design is two chips Apple uses: it’s capable and generates unobtrusive, and the stability of its operating little heat, but much faster is available. Nor do system, Mac OS X, is excellent. memory or storage go beyond the minimum. This The current Mac range is divided into seven makes the Mac Mini suitable for everyday tasks, Gigabit Ethernet areas, including the specialist server model the such as word processing or internet access, but Wireless keyboard and mouse Xserve. It’s important to realise that each machine only for casual use for games or video editing. is designed with a specific constituency in mind. The eMac is a similarly-specified model, with Processor clock speed If the model you are considering seems lacking in prices starting at £549. An all-in-one design FireWire 800 some way, there is almost certainly a more supplying both computer and monitor, it’s aimed Price competition appropriate choice you should look at. There’s at schools, where there is significant demand for enough variety to suit most people. Each model comes in a cheap computers that are easily transportable. The eMac is Floppy disk drive few ready-made configurations, although limited build-to- little promoted outside of the education market. Now that the order customisation is available via the Apple Store and the Mac Mini enables you to buy a computer and flat-screen nationwide network of AppleCentres. display for around the same price, you can dismiss the eMac. NOT The Mac Mini is the new kid in class that’s creating The iMac is Apple’s everyman computer, offering a headlines for its low price – just £339 for the lowest-specified balance of price and performance that will appeal to most

90 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! WHAT YOU SHOULD GET Tips & tricks for Mac OS X Price Model Processor Memory Screen Graphics Hard Drive Wireless 1. You can boost the performance £400 Mac Mini G4, 1.4GHz 256MB None 32MB ATI 9200 80GB Optional of the OS with extra memory or a bigger hard disk. Ideally, a new Mac needs 512MB of RAM. £550 eMac G4, 1.25GHz 256MB 17-inch CRT 32MB ATI 9200 40GB Optional 2. Update your Mac with Tiger-like £7,000 iBook G5, 1.2GHz 256MB 12-inch TFT 32MB ATI 9200 30GB 802.11g apps by downloading LiveSearch 1.2.3, NewsFire (RSS), DoThisNow 2.01 and Konfabulator 1.82. £1,000 iMac G5, 1.8GHz 256MB 17-inch TFT 64MB Nvidia 5200 80GB Optional 3. Recover hard disk space by £1,600 PowerBook G4, 1.67GHz 512MB 15-inch TFT 64MB ATI 9700 80GB 802.11g, Bluetooth deleting unused languages from applications. Control-click on an £2,000 PowerMac G5 2x G5, 2.5GHz 512MB None 128MB ATI 9600 XT 160GB None application icon, Apple's iPhoto for example, and select Show Package Contents. Open Resources and delete unwanted people, but in particular the affluent homeowner. It’s the first you to show up at any location and feel confident that you’ll language files (ending in .lproj). of the desktop range to offer a fast PowerPC G5 processor find a display to which you can link your PowerBook. Such rather than a G4, and all the other components are similarly benefits come at a cost – with prices starting at £1,049 – so be 4. OSX features an often forgotten boosted. Despite its stark appearance, the iMac is designed for sure that you actually need the exclusive features. built-in PDF creator. Select Print easy access, making it the first desktop Along with the standard connections, from any application, then choose Mac in the range to cater for those who each model offers a set of software, the Save As PDF option. prefer to upgrade their own computers. including Mac OS X and iLife, Apple’s As the name suggests, the media studio for working with music, 5. Add new applications to the PowerMac is the power user’s computer. photos and video and the foundation of Dock by simply dragging and dropping them to create an Alias. It relies on the fastest PowerPC the Mac’s credentials as a digital hub. processors, with the more expensive The Mac remains a stronger platform for 6. You can switch between apps models offering two processors working creating media, with El Gato’s EyeTV while dragging text. Select the text in tandem. The tower design allows easy system the only option that compares to you want to drag, and whilst in Microsoft’s Media Center PC. The Mac’s incompatibility with access for fitting extra internal hard disks or adding PCI or mid-drag, press Command-Tab to AGP expansion cards. While it makes a mean games machine, Windows Media files aside, there’s no difference between change applications. the PowerMac’s true constituency is the professional using music and video downloads on a Mac or on a PC. demanding high performance to edit video or 7. To make an application start digital images. Build-to-order options enable While it males a mean games machine, the automatically after booting, select you to choose a high-spec graphics card System Preferences in the Apple capable of supporting the huge flatscreen PowerMac’s true constituency is the menu, then Login. On the Login displays Apple also offers. Items tab, click Add. Select the Two portable models take their place professional demanding high performance application you wish to auto- alongside these desktop options. The to edit video or digital images launch. Tick the crossover appeal of laptops is such that Hide box if you portable Macs now account for around half of all Mac sales. The fact that it’s a company other than Apple converting the want the new The iBook is the laptop counterpart to the iMac, providing Mac into a personal video recorder highlights a key reason app to start respectable performance and features without the frills. why it’s a great time to buy a Mac. More so today than in years, minimised. The PowerBook is among Apple’s most drool-inducing a new generation of software programmers is choosing the Mac designs, but its specification means it’s not for everyone. It as the place to create innovative tools. Combine this with the offers high-powered G4 processors, a PC Card expansion slot simplicity and style that remain the Mac’s hallmarks, and you and a selection of integrated video output options, which allow have a machine worth investing in.

How to shop Don’t spend a penny until you’ve read our essential guide

Shop Around MacFormat are a good place to start. Apple also sells be pleased to hear that whether you choose to buy from No dealer makes a great deal of money on a Mac, so the direct through its own mail-order operation, with internet UK online retailers or on the high street, you have certain reality is that you’ll save little cash shopping around. and telephone options. Finally, there’s the Apple Store in statutory consumer rights that retailers have to adhere to Retail outlets include John Lewis, where a two-year London’s Regent Street. You can review your full list of by law in the event of a complaint. guarantee is standard, Selfridges and PC World. There’s options at www.apple.com/uk/buy. also the AppleCentre network of stores. AppleCentres Shop Smart aren’t run by Apple directly: they’re independent dealers Shop Safely Whatever you plan to buy, it pays to do some research on that must adhere to service standards set out by Apple to Only use retailers you trust or who have had good things what’s available, what the essential features are and to use the AppleCentre name. Most AppleCentres focus on said about them. Never respond to unsolicited emails try out the kit yourself before you hand over you cash. business customers, so check whether stated prices asking you to update your credit card or banking details – The Digital Home Buyer’s Guide is packed with useful include VAT. and remember that just like in the real world, if an offer advice, and recommended hardware listings, based on There are several long-standing Mac-focused mail sounds too good to be true then it probably is. Paying by the opinions of our reviewers. All of this should help you order dealers, where price competition is perhaps the credit card also carries a guarantee for goods and ask the right questions and choose the right hardware keenest. Adverts in Digital Home’s sister magazine services from the credit card company itself. You’ll also next time you decide to do some serious shopping.

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! DIGITAL HOME 91 BIG TVs 40 inches and above

Philips 42PF9966 Ambilight Plasma Hitachi 42PD5300 Plasma ★★★★★ £3,000 ★★★★★ CHECKLIST £4,500 The features you need Philips’ latest plasma blows the competition out of the water The shining star of last year’s ✓ aesthetically with its gorgeous backlight. It’s not a gimmick. plasma screens, this 42-inch ❏ HDTV-Ready The ‘ambilight’ does actually improve the perceived picture stunner is singlehandedly Make sure your TV is 4 quality, which is stunningly realistic as it is. www.philips.co.uk responsible for the recent increase HDTV-ready, capable in the UK’s divorce rate. Sit in front of showing 720p or of it and you’ll never move from 1080i pictures. Sagem Axium HD-D45 RP DLP NEW ENTRY £2,000 ★★★★★ your sofa again. It’s great value for ❏✓ performance, features and price, Inputs This 45-inch screen makes a wholesome alternative to plasma At the very, very least and the picture quality is just mind- and LCD. There’s so much contrast on tap that Peter Sissons your TV should have blowing. And it’s packed with digital looks like Emperor Palpatine. But you can always tone it down a 1 component inputs, but 5 bit. Reviewed page 36. www.sagem.com technology to boot. Fantastic. the minimum we www.hitachidigitalmedia.com recommend is a digital Fujitsu PlasmaVision P42HHS30 Plasma video interconnect ★★★★ (DVI). Ideally, your TV £4,200 will have the latest Simply the most breathtaking picture on the market…but a little Optoma Themescene RD50 RP DLP HDMI connect. too breathtaking. It’s perfectly suited to showrooms, but once in £2,000 ★★★★★ your living room you’ll soon go colour blind. At least you’ll want ✓ DLP is a serious contender to ❏ Speakers to. More addictive that satisfying. www.fujitsu-general.co.uk plasma and LCD. The best big Most big screens don’t screen DLP displays more often come with built-in Sony KDE-P42XS1 Plasma than not give better picture speakers, but if you will £4,300 ★★★★ quality… and for about half the use the screen for 42-inch HDTV-ready widescreen plasma with DVI connect, built- price. This particular model is a normal TV viewing, in stereo speakers, integrated analogue tuner, and a wealth of such as watching the high cholesterol, testosterone- picture controls. But the image picture doesn’t quite match the news, buy a TV with 7 maturity of its elders. www.sony.co.uk fuelled TV experience; so brilliant, built-in or side- in fact, it will scare the cat and any mounted speakers. small children in the vicinity. Big is JVC PD-42V31 Plasma 2 definitely very, very beautiful. ❏✓ £4,000 ★★★★ Progressive www.themescene.tv Buy a progressive scan Surpassed in the last year by newer screen technologies, this is source and video still a very fine plasma. And expect to find some good deals on upscaler to get the 8 the high street - it is about to be discontinued to make way for best picture quality on the 42B50. www.jvc.co.uk Pioneer PDP-50XDE Plasma big TVs. £5,000★★★★★ ❏✓ Goodmans GTV42P2 Plasma Sumptuous 16:9 widescreen plasma LCD or plasma? £1,500 ★★★★ LCD is fast catching up TV with such a warm picture you With a price like this, you would expect this to be the Brixton with the picture quality want to snuggle up in it. Moreover, Darts Club of the plasma world. Not so. It’s a solid rival to all the it’s technologically superior to of the best plasma and DLP displays. Today, 9 screens in the last five of our Top 10. It’s got last year’s tech but anything else on the market: HDMI LCDs are the best hey, who’s going to know? www.goodmans.co.uk connectivity, built-in Freeview, and choice for smaller CRT it even has a TV card slot for Top-Up replacements, but if it’s Sagem Axium HRD501 RP DLP TV. Its only flaw is its inability to home cinema you want, £2,800 ★★★★★ achieve truly black blacks… and plasma and DLP rear It’s an HDTV screen but annoyingly DVI and HDMI are absent. 3 it ain’t cheap. But it’s still as cuddly projection still offer the We’ve re-evaluated our ratings criteria this month and screens as a hot water bottle. Lovely. best big screen that aren’t ready for Sky’s imminent HDTV broadcasts have been www.pioneer.co.uk performance. 10 marked down, hence the Sagem now slides to 10. www.sagem.com

ON THE OFFICE TVs 37 inches and under HOME CINEMA PACKAGES DVD PLAYER Philips 32PF9986 LCD Panasonic SC-HT37R £4,000 ★★★★★ £999 ★★★★★ The ultimate CRT replacement. The latest Head and shoulders above the competition for its The Incredibles flatscreen from Philips boasts a gorgeous versatility, usability and value for money, The latest blockbuster from backlit design and highly detailed, crisp Panasonic’s latest out-of-the-box home cinema bundle Pixar combines every cliché entered straight in to number one in our cherished Top 10 and vivid picture that makes analogue TV feeds going yet manages to make look almost as good as high definition video. Now (DH, issue 20). The combination of DVD and HDD recording the mix seem fresh. If our that’s a might feat. Our only complaint is that it is a boon for movie-buffs everywhere, while the output is familiarity with the setting has no component connection and, er... that’s inspiring in every respect – picture and sound. And it’s still means there are few about it. We recommend that you cancel the easy to use and aesthetically discreet, though the design of surprises, the wit of a smart script is ample weekend in New York via business class and buy the speakers is nothing special. It goes to show that all-in- compensation. The double-DVD release this telly instead. Does New York have a one home cinema is not necessarily the compromise that it features a widescreen transfer, plus a great backlight? No, I don’t think so. used to be. Fantastic sound out of the box and it manages lineup of extras. Even the charming short www.philips.co.uk it for under a grand. www.panasonic.co.uk Boundin’ gets a making-of feature, while an all-new short shows what happened with the babysitter while the family was on its mission. JVC HV-32D40 CRT Philips MX-6000i Region 2 Out now £22.99 £750 ★★★★★ £500 ★★★★★ An attractive black frame and optional silver stand Five disc DVD changer, analogue radio tuner, and Arrested Development encases an extremely sharp screen. Built-in – uniquely – access to thousands of handpicked Series 1 Freeview receiver and a relatively low price make internet radio stations and digital media channels. The BBC was quick to bury this widescreen CRT a sweet deal. If you’re on a budget, A technological breakthrough, the MX-6000i takes home this American import in the this is the best standard living room TV today. www.jvc.co.uk entertainment into uncharted territory. www.philips.co.uk schedules, but Arrested Development deserves KEF KIT-100 Instant Theatre better. It’s one of the Icebox Flipscreen LCD ★★★★ cleverest sitcoms around, featuring elaborate £2,300 ★★★★★ £1,200 plotting and wonderfully surreal gags. The DVD Kitchen TVs don't get any better than the Icebox Wins the day for simplicity of set-up: just two collection enables you to keep up as extended Flipscreen, which is mounted under cupboards. A speakers that create a convincing virtual surround stories stretch across several episodes, while truly innovative design and highly practical with sound. It’s expensive, but if you’re looking for a good performing but ultra-compact virtual surround two- a decent set of extras offers previously unseen internet browsing, DVD playback, and plenty of options for material. Recommended for those who like integration into your digital home. www.iceboxeurope.com speaker system, look no further. www.kef.co.uk their comedy dry and on the rocks. Region 2 Out now £34.99 Sharp LC15L1E Aquos LCD wireless Pioneer NS-DV99 Shaolin Soccer £900 ★★★★ £400 ★★★★ The recent crop of Far East The first truly portable TV, Sharp’s wireless 15- A classy well-rounded surround package that film imports have taken after inch LCD Aquos can move throughout your home looks and performs well above its price. Multi- Crouching Tiger, Hidden and garden, receiving video signals from its format playback, compact speakers and Dragon in offering modern wireless adapter. A step forward, but set up is awkward and exceptional sound output are amongst the highlights. Sadly, folk tales told with grace and battery life is around three hours. www.sharp.co.uk it lacks progressive scan. www.pioneer.co.uk awe. Shaolin Soccer swaps out these elements for wacky comedy, Bang & Olufsen Beovision 6 LCD Sony DAV-SC8 creating a fusion unlike anything else. What ★★★★ starts as an affable comedy becomes an epic £2,800 £400 ★★★★ conflict of good and evil, taking the fight Flawed (low luminosity, quirky on-screen menu) Sumptuous curves and an impressive feature spec scenes of Crouching Tiger to intentionally but thoroughly engaging (deep blacks, razor make this look like a fantastic bargain. And it is. absurd levels. A documentary introduces you sharp pictures, excellent sound). The Beovision 6 However, the speaker quality doesn’t live up to to the real practice of shaolin. is HDTV-ready, connects to other B&O kit for multiroom the Pioneer, and it is let down by the limited range of digital Region 2 Out now £19.99 entertainment and, best of all, it’s B&O. www.bang-olufsen.com media it can handle. www.sony.co.uk

92 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! The best kit there is!

CONS N IDER ENTERTAINMENT PCs OTHING ELSE

Moore Innovations Medio Showshifter/WinXP Hi-Grade DMS II 3400 Media Center 2005 NEW ENTRY ★★★★★ £1,100 ★★★★★ CHECKLIST £2,000 The features you need This isn’t a Media Center machine (hence it’s not in our Our entertainment PC Top 10 gets turned upside down this month as we ✓ brought together more than a dozen new Media Center 2005 releases ❏ Connections Top 10 group test), but instead uses Showshifter. It even for the Digital Home Top 10 (page 61). Jumping to the top step of the Entertainment PCs are 4 handles the latest PC games, but it weights as much as a podium like an Australian in more or less any track and field sport, the intended to be the small passenger ferry. www.mooremedio.com DMS II - the entertainment PC we’ve all been waiting for. They’ve ‘hubs’ of the digital home, so choose a PC Mesh Media+ X4 Home Media Center 2005 NEW ENTRY forgotten to put in a dual digital TV tuner (must be a mistake?) and ★★★★ there isn’t an integrated remote control receiver, but otherwise this that has all the £1,300 connections necessary machine has got everything. And it looks EXACTLY like a piece of The square Shuttle case doesn’t look great on the AV stack, but to connect to the rest it’s small, as quiet as a dead mouse, and sylish in its own unique serious home entertainment kit, of your home right down to the rear-pancel gothic way. A single digital TV tuner and no Wi-Fi keeps it low in 1 entertainment system. 5 our Top 5. Reviewed page 65. www.meshcomputers.com connections. Reviewed page 68. ✓ www.higrade.com ❏ Wireless Hush E3-MCE Media Center 2005 NEW ENTRY Choose an EPC with ★★★★ built-in 802.11g £2,300 Wi-Fi to form the Nobody makes silent PCs quite like Hush. Top notch video Elonex Artisan LX Media Center 2005 NEW ENTRY basis of your wireless and quality build... but the E3’s got a solitary analogue TV £1,000 ★★★★★ home network. tuner, no Wi-Fi and no memory card slots. This doesn’t justify It’s mean, it’s moody and it wants your media sitting on its hard drive. ✓ the price tag. Reviewed page 65. www.hushtechnologies.net Elonex has taken on Evesham’s ebox… and triumphed. The Artisan ❏ HDTV doesn’t look good. It looks fantastic. It’s got all the charm and charisma Currently the only way HP Pavilion M1260.UK Media Center 2005 NEW ENTRY of a lion cub, and all the power and grunt of its daddy. The heart of the to get HDTV is from £1,000 ★★★★ system is almost undistinguishable from the Evesham, but you can recorded material on A powerful entertainment machine, but one that still suffers upgrade more or less anything when ordering through elonex.co.uk. hard drive. To play HD from ‘desktop hangover’. But the trade-off is this is still a robust, video, your EPC should Like the Hush, Tranquil and Hi-Grade models, this baby uses passive out-of-the-box desktop machine with matching screen and have at least a 3GHz 7 speakers, both equally hideous. Reviewed page 64. www.hp.co.uk cooling and a quiet hard disk, and you can just see Homer Simpson processor and 256MB using the well designed sofa- video graphics. friendly keyboard. Elonex Lumina Media Center 2005 2 Reviewed page 67. ❏✓ £2,250 ★★★★ Freeview www.elonex.co.uk If you can receive If you bought last year'zzzzs Elonex Exentia, you’re probably Freeview in your area, regretting it now. The new Lumina looks, oh just sublime. It’s a make sure your gorgeous TV and a decent Media Center in one. But, um, you entertainment PC has a need two remotes to use it! Reviewed page 64. www.elonex.co.uk Evesham ebox S Media Center 2005 built-in Freeview £1,000 ★★★★ decoder and video Tranquil PC T2E Media Center 2005 NEW ENTRY The updated ebox slides from our number one spot, making way for the recording software to £910 ★★★ turn it into a PVR. stunning new entries from Hi-Grade and Elonex. But don’t get us wrong Like the Hush, this aptly-named machine exhibits little more – this is still one of the best Media Center machines for a grand, its ❏✓ than a whisper thanks to the passive fan-free cooling system. No performance reeking with the welcome whiff of solidity and almost Specifications Make sure there’s a 9 one will bother nicking it - it looks like a DVD player from Asda. handcrafted manufacture. But its fan is still too audible and few things good quality graphics No Wi-Fi either. Reviewed page 63. www.tranquilpc.co.uk are lacking such as an integrated media card reader. The ebox hasn’t card, at least 512MB lost any of its charm and sophistication, but on the tally sheet the two RAM – preferably more Advent MC3040 Media Center 2005 NEW ENTRY models above offer just a smidgen more for the same money. You’ll get – and a decent hard £900 ★★★ excellent after-sales support drive capacity A solid Media Center with a distinctive design and a tempting 3 from these guys, though. (minimum 80GB for price, but at the end of the day it’s got about as much ‘wow’ Reviewed page 66. audio, 240GB for factor as a Big Mac. A 17-inch LCD screen is part of the package, www.evesham.com video storage). 10 at least. Reviewed page 63. www.pcworld.co.uk

STREAMING VIDEO PC ACCESSORIES STREAMING AUDIO

Philips Streamium SL300i 1 Best laptop Wi-Fi adapter Creative Digital Music Player £250 ★★★★★ Netgear WAG511 £150 ★★★★★ Upgrade your home entertainment system with this £55 ★★★★★ The Sound Blaster Digital Music Player from Creative affordable, small, quiet, and easy-to-use 802.11b/g www.netgear.co.uk Labs easily grabs our number one spot by dint of being digital media adapter. It is capable of streaming video small, easy to use and flexible. Up to four devices can 2 Best USB Wi-Fi adapter files from a PC, as well as other media such as audio, photos US Robotics 54G+ run on one system and the slick remote control has its own and your broadband connection. It’s just a brilliant piece of built-in LCD screen for track selection which makes all the ★★★★★ digital home technology, intuitive and easy to use. Want to £45 difference – why don’t more streaming devices do this? Set- www.usr.com stream video to your bedroom? This is the solution. The up is wonderfully easy as the device automatically finds and more expensive and larger SL400i features a built-in LCD 3 Best USB Bluetooth adapter compiles audio files when first connected to a network. Plus, screen, and if you want to take an even larger step and have Belkin F8T003 it’s competitively priced Easy setup + tiny form factor + streaming technology integrated into your home cinema £22 ★★★★★ brilliant remote = the best in wireless audio streaming. system consider the Philips Streamium MX6000i. www.belkin.co.uk Unfortunately it’s increasingly difficult to get hold of, so it might not be number 1 much longer. uk.europe.creative.com www.philips.co.uk 4 Best graphics card GeCube ATI Radeon X700 Philips SBC VL1400 Pro (PCI-Express) Philips Streamium MC-i250 £80 ★★★★★ £150 ★★★★★ £300 ★★★★★ Philips is stealing a march in the manufacture of www.gecube.com It looks like a normal micro hi-fi system, but you wireless streaming products. This device is 5 Best network camera can also tune into internet radio stations and dedicated to video sending. It also operates as an stream your MP3 collection throughout your Axis 205 RF extender and comes with a universal remote control… £160 ★★★★★ home. Also consider the bigger Streamium MX6000i DVD and a James Bond DVD. Bargain. www.philips.co.uk www.axis.com system, which offers all this and more. www.streamium.com 6 Best audio adapter One For All SV1720 TerraTec Aureon 7.1 Soundbridge £80 ★★★★ FireWire Audio Interface £180 ★★★★★ One For All’s video sender allows reception from £170 ★★★★★ A far better solution to streaming iTunes than the four video sources by adding extra transmitters. It www.terratec.net Airport Express. The quality is fantastic, and it’s too works as an RF extender, controlling up to superbly easy to operate. Bizarrely, it won’t play three AV devices. It’s good value for money, but not as 7 Best back-up device Amacom EZ2Disk purchased music, even from iTunes – it’s good only for polished as the Philips VL1400. www.oneforall.com subscribers. www.soundbridge.co.uk £345 (300GB) ★★★★★ www.amacom-tech.com AverMedia AverSender 300 8 Best Wi-Fi kit Digital Audio Adapter Netgear MP101 £50 ★★★ Belkin Pre-N £100 ★★★★ A little rough around the edges, but cheap as £168 (router and laptop card) An easy means of setting up multiroom audio, but chips. Connection is via twin Scart sockets, and it ★★★★ the screen is a little small, internet radio requires only controls two AV devices through its remote www.belkin.com/uk a subscription to Rhapsody, and Mac users will extender function. Recommended for extension of a single have to plump for the new Airport Express and an iTunes video source; limited expansion. www.averm.co.uk 9 Best X10 network kit subscription instead. www.netgear.co.uk Devolo HomePlug £90 ★★★★ Trust Wireless Televiewer V2 www.devolo.co.uk Devolo HomePlug Starter Kit ★★★ ★★★★ £120 10 Best TV tuner card £90 Versatile, easy to set-up, inexpensive and Pinnacle Media Center 100e A ‘plug-and-play’ solution (literally) to streaming reasonable quality transmission. But when put ★★★★ audio around your home that uses your mains side by side with Philips’ video streaming £70 electric cables as a data network. Several www.pinnaclesys.com solutions, it looks like a prototype. advantages over Wi-Fi, including range and usability. www.trust.com www.devolo.co.uk

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! DIGITAL HOME 93 AV RECEIVERS

Pioneer VSX-AX5Ai Denon AVR-3805 ★★★★★ £1,000★★★★★ CHECKLIST £1,200 The features you need The ultimate in amplification technology, so ultimate in fact, A slightly bland on-screen display. That’s all that we don’t like about you’ll need a PhD in acoustic engineering to figure out the this amplifier. You get seven channels of a solid 120 Watts, processing ✓ ❏ Connections bloody thing. It’s a thoroughly awesome device for the serious AV enthusiast, for every significant audio format, all the connections you could ever Buy a receiver with 4 and doubles as a heart defibrillator. www.pioneer.co.uk need, and accomplished performance that’s a class above every single plenty of AV inputs and other amp – except the Yamaha at number 2. Never before has such a outputs, both analogue splendid manufacturer Rotel RSX-1056 and digital, and with £1,200 ★★★★ graced the market for less plenty of S-Video and Audiophiles territory more than cinemaphiles. This is than two grand. Behold component switching the ultimate beating heart options. You need to an analytical and flexible observer of music, addictive to the point of of the 21st century home be able to connect all intoxication in its silky smooth, rhythmic production. Five channels out only, 5 trryyiing to sttayy awwakkee…zzzzzzz. Reviewed page 56. www.rotel.co.uk 1 the sources of your entertainment system. www.denon.co.uk entertainment system to your receiver. Arcam AVR250 ✓ £1,000 ★★★★ ❏ Sound formats It’s a little short on sheer horsepower and the remote Yamaha RXV-2500 The most basic control is almost as big as the amp. But the AVR250 is £900 ★★★★★ surround processors such a subtle and elegant musical performer it just might make Charlotte use a Dolby Pro Logic 6 Besides a case seemingly designed by a blind man with depression, this Church pack her bags and join the territorial army. www.arcam.co.uk decoder, but at the amp will deliver the closest experience possible to the latest multiplex very least we in your own living room for under a grand. Dialogue, blues, jazz, rap, Marantz SR5500 recommend a Dolby ★★★★ rock ’n’ roll and action packed blockbusters… you name it, the Yamaha Digital receiver, and £450 will do it and do it well. The sound can be so thunderous you risk preferably DTS also. The outright winner of the middle-price bracket, this is waking passengers in passing ✓ a good looking, feature packed, powerful amplifier. Moreover, it has more airplanes. A word of warning: ❏ Interface connections than spaghetti junction. A tad restrained for the likes of Texas The interface and on- 7 Chainsaw Massacre, if that’s your thing. www.marantz.co.uk you’ll also spend months tinkering with the settings, the screen menus should features list is so long. But be simple and intuitive, Onkyo TX-SR502 2 that’s a good thing. and the manual should £250 ★★★★ www.yamaha.co.uk give plenty of guidance Famed for its high-end and expensive amps, Onkyo on configuring and brings much of its legendary heritage to charity store clientele with this optimising your system. fabulously sexy, clean, loud and cheap six-channel model. Lacks digital audio ✓ 8 outs and ultimate grunt, but it’s still a bargain. www.onkyo.com Sony STR-DB795 ❏ Build quality £300 ★★★★★ In few other categories of home cinema Cambridge Audio Azur 540R It’s costs about a quarter of the bigger boys and yet gives about 95 per equipment does build £250 ★★★★ cent of their performance. As enlightening with The Essential Barbra quality reflect so The Jimmy Hendrix of amps, thunderously loud Streisand as it is with Bride of Chucky, it’s got more tricks up its intently on the quality and completely unsubtle. Available in silver and black, the 540R seems to be enormous sleeve than Gandalf the Grey. Built in Japan and fine-tuned in of the performance. 9 built from the leftovers of the Tyne Bridge and isn’t dissimilar in the way it’s the UK. And just look at the price. Look at that. With this machine Sony When buying an bolted together either. www.cambridgeaudio.co.uk has done more for equal amplifier, check the opportunities than any general build quality, NAD T773 government – now and check for firm £1,200 ★★★ connections on the everyone can have a high- There are more attractive Orcs than this, but this is still a performance home back plate. And 3 integrated amplifiers mightily powerful monster. Equally accomplished with music and movies, the entertainment system. should be heavy! T773 is unfortunately as awful to use as it is to look at. www.sony.co.uk 10 www.nadelectronics.com

ON THE OFFICE STEREO SPEAKERS SURROUND SOUND SPEAKERS PLAYLIST Definitive Technology Mythos One Acoustic Energy Aelite 5.1 £1,800 pair ★★★★★ £1,850 ★★★★★ New Order: Waiting For The thinking person’s fashion accessory, these If you want speakers to look anywhere near as The Siren’s Call articulate, refined 48-inch tower loudspeakers have good as they sound, that give you a taste of real New Order is a reference good timing, abundant detail and oodles of oomph. cinema dynamics while you’re sitting in your point for many of the latest Okay, they’re hardly traditional-looking on the exterior, in living room, and send goose bumps up and down your crop of bands to hit the fact they look like a missing part of the Tardis. But they’re spine with music, then this gorgeous system makes a mainstream which makes still absolutely gorgeous in their own way and the good whole lot of sense. Although we highly recommend all the Mancunian legends’ return for their eighth news is that, unbelievably, they sound even better than the setups listed below, once you’ve tried out this album all the more timely. Waiting for the they look. Overall performance is nearly on a par system, you’ll come to the realisation that those little Siren’s Call sees the group’s first official line- with the best of them, fantastic with both film and music, sub-sat speakers are really no substitute for a proper up change, but there’s little change to the yet they don’t cost the Earth. Who says quality comes loudspeaker package. And a proper system this is, sound established during the previous decade. at a price? Wasn’t us. despite the very reasonable price. It takes a few listens before the craft and the www.definitivetech.com www.acoustic-energy.co.uk hooks truly sink in and tracks like ‘Krafty’ lodge into your brain, but they will. Label London Out now £9.99 KEF Reference Series Model 203 Yamaha YSP-1 £3,000 pair ★★★★★ £800 ★★★★★ Brendan Benson: Transparent, open sound, with a particularly No, not a cock up by our picture department – this The Alternative To Love strong effort in the high frequency range, these really is a surround sound speaker system, and a Whether it’s windswept loudspeakers replicate everything from woodwind superb one at that. A sound so captivating you epics, pounding beats or to drum ’n’ bass beautifully. They fully justify their risk getting deep vain thrombosis. Just add subwoofer and confrontational rap, many ‘reference’ label. www.kef.co.uk rocking chair. www.yamaha.co.uk of today’s recordings bear the stamp of someone trying too hard to grab your attention. Benson’s third album, on the Ruark Talisman III Mordaunt-Short Genie 5.1 other hand, has a lighter touch. Its carefully £1,500 pair ★★★★ £800 ★★★★★ crafted songs, brought to life with winning Calling all hi-fi purists, the latest Ruark First class sub-sat system that really is a magical harmonies and chiming guitar backdrops, floorstanders have landed, and they’re definitely genie in a pint-sized bottle. It improves on the seem lacking in substance on first listen. Stick eye-catching… for all the wrong reasons in our performance of KEF’s KHT 2005.2 speakers and with tunes like ‘Feel Like Myself’ and its playful opinion. Love or hate the design, the sound is clean, precise becoming the new benchmark for £800 surround. warbling keyboards and you’ll discover a keen and fulfilling. www.ruark.co.uk www.hello-genie.co.uk intelligence underneath. Label V2 Out now £9.99 Wilson Benesch Curve Castle Acoustics Compact series 7.2 Basement Jaxx: £4,900 pair ★★★★ £2,100 ★★★★ The Singles The new Curve loudspeakers take the best bits An Englishman’s home is his Castle and now you A mere three albums in from Wilson Benesch’s ACT series and compile can furnish it with this well-fortified homegrown might seem a little early to them into a more affordable package. The sound system. Being 7.2 it obviously favours movies be delivering a career field is first-class, but the Mythos Ones do just as good a over music, but integration between speakers is excellent. retrospective, but that’s job. www.wilson-benesch.com www.castle.uk.com the modern music industry for you. DJs Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe delight in throwing different music flavours together, often to Mordaunt-Short Avant 906 Acoustic Energy Aego P5 Mk II thrilling effect. There’s everything from shouty £350 pair ★★★★ £500 ★★★★★ punk to irresistible samba here, with a These floorstanders aren’t the best of the bunch AE wrestles its way into our top five a second time constant rhythmic underlay. A limited-edition by a long stretch. They don’t cope well with with the Aego system, a tantalising alternative to double-CD set includes rare B-sides. extremes, and fans of Metallica and company will the Genie if a little short in the bass department. Label XL Out now £9.99 feel short changed by the performance at the bottom, but Articulate and uplifting, though a little reserved. But they check out the price! www.mordaunt-short.com are British. www.acoustic-energy.co.uk

94 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! The best kit there is!

CONSIDER NOTHIN AUDIO PLAYERS ELS G E

Meridian 800 DVD-A Pioneer DV-868AVi Universal ★★★★★ £950 ★★★★★ CHECKLIST £10,805 The features you need If DVD-Audio is your thing, then this enormous box contains A technical tour de force in every respect, Pioneer’s flagship universal ✓ a combination of cutting edge technology and killer performance that makes player packs in the features and offers the most up-to-date connectivity ❏ Audio connects this the current benchmark for DVD-A playback. through an HDMI port, two iLink ports, and all the other connections Buy an audio player 4 www.meridian-audio.com the digital home demands. There are both co-axial and digital audio with digital optical or ports, and sound is good no matter what flavour disc you throw at it. A co-axial outputs, combination of video processing from Faroudja, NSV and Pioneer’s own preferably both. Primare DVD30 Universal £2,000 ★★★★★ display technologies gives the DV-868AVi outstanding DVD picture ❏✓ performance. And this Surround Competent if not entirely captivating with For surround sound every format, the DVD30 handles DVD-Audio, DVD-Video, SACD and CD. outstanding universal disc audio, buy an SACD or play back, and all at an Fantastic video performance, scintillating audio playback, elegant understated 1 DVD-Audio player. But 5 design. Available in black or silver. www.primare.nu incredible price. don’t shy away from www.pioneer.co.uk two-channel music: Sony DVP-NS999ES SACD many audiophiles are ★★★★★ returning to high £700 fidelity CD players and Sony makes the widest range of SACD players, and Linn Unidisk 1.1 Universal stereo systems. this model is exceptional at producing pristine sound from two channel CDs £6,500 ★★★★★ and SACDs alike; and as a progressive scan DVD player it’s a highly ✓ 6 A simply awesome universal player offering class leading performance ❏ Universal recommended buy too. www.sony.co.uk with every silver disc you care to put in it. Side by side, the Linn If you want to play CDs performs better, marginally, than the Pioneer (above) in every respect, and both SACD and Denon DVD-A11 Universal but just look at the difference in price! Linn’s historic experience in DVD-Audio discs, you’ll £1,700 ★★★★ high-end hi-fi plays great dividends for this truly universal player. need to buy a One of the most flexible DVD, DVD-Audio and SACD Despite those unassuming looks, it gives a magical performance no ‘universal’ player. players available. Music sound ultimately isn’t the best – and certainly Universals can also matter the media. Highly recommended if you can afford it. If you can’t, nowhere near as good as the previous six players – but it’s brilliant double-up as DVD- 7 with movies. www.denon.co.uk only side by side can you really tell Video players. the SLIGHT difference in output ✓ between the Pioneer and the Linn. ❏ Writeable CDs Arcam FMJ DV27A DVD-A 2 It’s a no-brainer! £1,900 ★★★★ If you have a large www.linn.co.uk digital audio library, Arcam’s FMJ (Full Metal Jacket) DVD/ check your CD player CD player is simply awesome in DVD-Audio playback, good but a little jaded in can take CD-R/RW 8 parts in CD playback, and better than many dedicated DVD players though not discs and can play outstanding. www.arcam.co.uk Marantz SA-1 SACD ★★★★★ back MP3s. £5,000 ✓ Yamaha DVD-S830 A truly astonishing player, the Marantz is the ultimate reference ❏ External record £400 ★★★★ machine for SACD. The detail in the playback confirms that the format You’ll need a digital DVD-A It’s more than just a pretty face: has succeeded in what it set out to achieve. You’ll honestly hear stuff output – either co-axial the Yamaha is a very likable DVD-A player and boasts some generous fine- you never knew existed on your album collection, and it’s all done so or optical – to record to MiniDisc or CD-RW. 9 tuning functions normally reserved for much more expensive players. Great effortlessly. And for two-channel CDs it does just as good a job, getting ✓ value, but in performance it’s only above average. www.yamaha.co.uk 110 per cent out of the format and finding details no other CD player ❏ Volume control achieves. Astonishing, if Choose a player with Philips DVP720SA we haven’t said so ‘variable output’; one already. And it’s not so SACD that allows you to £140 ★★★★ silly-money as what adjust the volume 3 Super Audio CD doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. This DVD/SACD follows at number 4... without having to use www.marantz.com an amplifier. 10 player is surprisingly competent with both two-channel and multichannel for the price, and handles DivX, MPEG and others too. www.philips.co.uk

HEADPHONES DAB RADIO PROJECTORS

Grado RS2 Sim2 Grand Cinema HT300 Evolution £450 ★★★★★ £8,000 ★★★★★ Detailed, smooth, with unbeaten build quality, the Whether it’s worth spending the cost of a small car for the ultimate big Grado RS2’s are testimony to the fact that quality picture is a matter between you and your bank manager, but rest assured comes at a price. None-fatiguing detail matched by no every pound of this machine gives you something that nothing else will. The other semi-open headset, and a resonant bass, this is the latest in Sim2’s Grand Cinema reference system for semi-open headsets. The RS2s are line is HDTV compatible, is well beautifully handcrafted with mahogany, providing a connected with HDMI and smaller air-chamber than their RS1 predecessors, but as a analogue ports, stylish in design, result the balance between comfort and ultimate sound and the picture is simply quality is more in its favour. The behind-the-times styling enchanting. The undisputed king won’t appeal to everyone, but who cares? You can shut out of home cinema projectors... as it the rest of the world with these things. should be for eight grand. www.gradolabs.com 1 BT Voyager Digital www.sim2.co.uk Media Player £150 ★★★★★ Sennheiser RS65 www.btshop.com Optoma ThemeScene H57 £120 ★★★★★ £1,900 ★★★★★ Quality wireless headphones that employ RF 2 Tag McLaren AV32R Dazzling in white, shapely built, approachable, technology to good effect. They deliver a £2,300 ★★★★★ and tremendous to watch in action; no it’s not transparent, detailed picture with a surround- www.iaguk.com/tma Cameron Diaz, but Optoma’s new DLP projector. sound effect, and the velvet-like cushions make them one of 3 Cambridge Audio DAB300 Performance like this would have bankrupted Hollywood a the most comfortable. www.sennheiser.co.uk £120 ★★★★★ year ago. www.themescene.tv www.cambridgeaudio.com Sennheiser PXC 250 4 Pure Digital Legato Hitachi Illumina PJ-TX100 £80 ★★★★★ £350 ★★★★★ £1,100 ★★★★★ The ultimate middle ground between your bog www.pure-digital.com A home cinema bargain this, offering top- standard iPod earbuds and full monty studio cups. 5 Pure Digital The Bug end features and great picture quality at an Foldable, comfortable, and wholly enveloping £150 ★★★★★ attractive price. Lens shift, genuine sound; an essential accessory, and not just for chavs. www.pure-digital.com widescreen, DVI connect, and resolution up to 720p www.sennheiser.co.uk are among the highlights. www.hitachi.co.uk 6 Philips DA1000 portable £150 ★★★★★ Technics RP-F880 www.philips.co.uk Epson Dreamio EMP-TW500 ★★★★ ★★★★★ £55 7 Pure Digital Evoke-2 £3,088 Despite the low price, the semi-open F880s from A surprising entry in our chart, as Epson takes on £150 ★★★★ Technics offer a fulfilling listening experience www.pure-digital.com the traditional projector brands and succeeds with with all kinds of music. Treble, midrange and this gorgeous high-calibre LCD stalwart. Excellent bass are detailed and converse fluently together. Not a 8 Panasonic RF-D1 connectivity (DVI and even HDMI), detailed images and all perfectly snug fit though. www.panasonic-europe.com/technics £130 ★★★★ the picture controls you could need. www.epson.co.uk www.panasonic.co.uk Sony MDR-V700DJ 9 Ministry of Sound NEC HT410 ★★★★ MOSMC018 ★★★★★ £100 ★★★ £870, Suited more for rock and pop than other musical £200 The ultimate budget DLP home cinema projector, www.ministryofsound.com forms, with plenty of volume on tap. They lack the the NEC is packed with useful and desirable transparency of the Grado and Sennheisers, but 10 Sharp DV-DB1E features, boasts a natural picture with good they’re still excellent value for money and extremely £130 ★★★ colour saturation, and the stylish pearlescent finish belies comfortable. www.sony.co.uk www.sharp.co.uk its low price. www.nec.co.uk

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! DIGITAL HOME 95 DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDERS

JVC DR-M10 Toshiba RD-XS32 ★★★★★ £500 ★★★★★ CHECKLIST £400 The features you need A superb DVD player and recorder, with Granted, you’ll need to take a degree in electronics engineering to ✓ disc library system and class leading features. Personally, we’d still plump for master this hugely complex beast, but it’ll be well worth the effort when ❏ HDD recorders a HDD model, but JVC claws its way into our top ten for sheer playback quality you’ve got your head round it. This is the most flexible digital video We recommend you 4 and ease of use. www.jvc.co.uk recorder on the market today. There are extensive dubbing and editing consider a hard drive based digital video features, numerous quality levels for both sound and video, picture-in- Panasonic DMR-E85H picture and too many other useful tools to mention here. The Toshiba recorder for their ★★★★★ also features great connectivity and three ‘difficulty’ levels depending convenience and ease £430 on how complex you want to get. Yes, it’s even better overall than Sky+ of use. But for video 80Gb hard disk and DVD-RAM/DVD-R archival and back-up, in our opinion, recording are the important specs to note in this highly desirable and DVD recorders are though it was a affordable VCR replacement. There are several other excellent models in 1 recommended. 5 Panasonic’s DVR line-up, so shop around. www.panasonic.co.uk tough call. www.toshiba.co.uk ❏✓ DVD-R types Thomson Scenium DTH7500E Consider the type of £400 ★★★★★ DVD recorder: DVD- RAM recorders are the A stylish alternative to Sky+. Its picture quality Sky+ 160 most technologically shines through, and we like the design of the chassis too. Moreover, with a £400 ★★★★★ advanced, but DVD+RW built-in MP3 decoder and JPEG image playback; the Scenium could feasibily Sky has finally come up trumps and offered what we’ve all been waiting are the most popular. form a central server for your digital entertainment. www.thomson-europe.com for: a bigger storage version of its excellent 40GB Sky+ box, making it ✓ far more dependable. The new 160GB version, made by Thomson, boasts ❏ EPGs Kiss DP-1508 up to 80 hours of recording time in low-res mode and several positive Buy an HDD recorder From £350 ★★★★ tweaks to the interface and features. It will also work with the new Sky that comes with a Laced with useful convergence features, such as portable devices which are expected next year. It’s launch price is built-in electronic Ethernet and Wi-Fi networking, but it’s a pity more programme guide (EPG) admittedly on the expensive side, but the price is likely to drop some time wasn’t spent making it easier to use, and to automatically record 7 there’s no DVD-recording. www.kiss-technology.com time this year – make sure you keep an eye out. This or the 40Gb model your favourite shows. - Sky+ is an ✓ essential upgrade ❏ Connections Pioneer DVR-5100H 2 for Sky users. £600 ★★★★ Your recorder should www.skyplus.co.uk have component video This slim DVD-RW/HDD combi out, and preferably DVI features time-shifting with chasing playback, a smattering of editing controls or HDMI also. To 8 and an inviting user interface. But why on Earth doesn’t it have RGB and connect to a surround progressive scan output? www.pioneer.co.uk Sony RDR-GX700H ★★★★★ sound system, you’ll £400 need optical or co-axial Panasonic DMR-E500HEBS This fantastic DVD recorder is just so cool you’ll never upgrade to Blu- digital ouputs £1,300 ★★★★ ray or HD-DVD if the machines don’t look or work anything like this. ✓ Easy to use, excellent sound and picture, and ❏ Progressive The picture is as crisp as you’d want it to be and the colours richer than a massive hard disk capacity capable of holding just about every Friends Buy a progressive scan anything you will have seen through a DVD recorder before. There’s a episode ever made. One of the best DVD/HDD combos, don’t get us wrong, but whole heap of recording controls, and the 90-minute HSP (high quality recorder and player for 9 we expect better connectivity for the price. www.panasonic.co.uk standard play) is a novel – and useful – feature. DVD playback is so the best picture quality. good you’ll probably never notice the transition to HDTV when it comes. Top-of-the-line DVD Sharp DV-HR300H NEW ENTRY A brilliant, beautiful recorders employ a Faroudja de-interlacer. £350 ★★★ DVD recorder, To squeeze more video This brand new DVDR/PVR claws its way into our though Digital Home 3 on to your hard drive, Top 10, but its claws aren’t quite sharp enough. The price is the best thing prefers PVRs. buy one with variable about it. Crude menus, dated hard drives and a few ignorant omissions tell us www.sony.co.uk 10 bit-rate recording. to hold out for something better. Reviewed page 43. www.sharp.co.uk

ON THE DIGITAL CAMERAS DIGITAL CAMCORDERS OFFICE PVR Canon EOS 300D Sony DCR-HC40E £730 (with standard lens) ★★★★★ £560 ★★★★★ No Angels A groundbreaking camera that brought Compact and overflowing with features, While American TV digital SLR photography into the this camcorder’s value is matched by drama is thriving, the mainstream. This enthusiast’s camera excellent performance. Of the mountain of Brit equivalent has offers an enticing mix of hi-tech and low cost. features on offer, the most notable has to be a been feeling bogged SLR flexibility, compatibility with the entire true 16:9 widescreen mode and a picture quality down in detective potboilers and docu- range of Canon-mount lenses, flashguns and that packs a meaty punch, giving footage a dramas. Thankfully Channel 4 has accessories, and topped off with all the wonderfully cinematic field. Other highlights rediscovered its touch for contemporary convenience of the latest digital imaging include a 10x optical zoom lens and a generous drama. Shameless is confirmed for a third technology. The EOS 350D was announced last stocking of computer software for creation of series, while this antidote to the worn-out month and will be heading to a Jessops store basic DVDs and Video-CDs. A feature-packed Casualty has made a welcome return. The near you now. Check it out. camcorder. focus remains squarely on a quartet of nurses www.canon.co.uk www.sony.co.uk as they negotiate the challenges of sex, love and that great big grey area in-between. Channel 4 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ10 Canon MVX250i £400 ★★★★★ £550 ★★★★★ Dead Like Me Marrying a dynamic and detailed digital image It might not be a hugely exciting camcorder on It says much for the sensor with a bright and clean 12x optical zoom the outside, but it delivers where it counts with darkly comic tone of lens from the Leica stable, the Lumix takes fantastic picture quality. Bags of digital goodies, this series that of all compact cameras far beyond their original point-and-shoot direct print and plenty of options to connect to your digital the ways the writers brief. www.panasonic.co.uk home. www.canon.co.uk could have chosen to kill off central character Georgia in the first episode, they picked death FujiFilm FinePix F700 Panasonic SV-AV100 D-SNAP by toilet seat – one plummeting to earth from ★★★★★ ★★★★ the Mir space station. George’s untimely £270 £1,000 demise and the new life she found afterwards Innovative imaging technology that provides the Stylish, ultra-portable and versatile, this excellent is the premise of Dead Like Me, just returning best dynamic range of any digital camera, built performer serves as an awesome multimedia tool. for its second series. George enjoys a twilight into a slim yet high-powered compact body. One of Records in MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 to Secure Digital. existence, recruited to shepherd others to the the most flexible point-and-clicks, coping equally well in Capacities are limited but this is offset by the convenience afterlife and learning in the process why near-dark as the midday sun. www.fujifilm.co.uk of the camera’s compact size. www.panasonic.co.uk they’re not quite ready to join their charges. Sky One Kodak EasyShare DX6490 Hitachi DZ-MV580E ★★★★★ ★★★★ The OC £270 £800 Sure, it’s only a teen Just when you thought Kodak had bitten the Though limited to DVD-RAM and DVD-R media, drama, with the usual digital photography dust, it comes up with several this camcorder offers advanced editing software. elements of gorgeous decent consumer compacts including this small Colour reproduction isn’t always faithful, but leads, ornately 10x zoom model packed full with creative picture taking there are considerable advantages, especially in its direct intertwining relationships and the local bar’s controls. www.kodak.co.uk DVD recording. www.hitachidigitalmedia.com amazing ability to attract the country’s leading bands – but the saving grace of The OC is what might be the best-written dialogue on TV Casio Exilim EX-Z4U Sanyo Xacti VPC-C1 £280 ★★★★★ £500 ★★★★ just now. Cracking one-liners fly even as the Barely bigger than a credit card, the EX-Z4U from It might be compact in size, but this still-camera/ soapy storylines reach new heights of king of the ultra-compacts Casio somehow camcorder combi is not short on features. Storing absurdity. It may not be remotely realistic, but manages to pack in a 2-inch LCD preview screen, good quality 3.2 megapixel MPEG-4s on to SD it is supremely entertaining. Perfect morning- an internally-moving 3x zoom lens, and four million pixels flash card, the pocket-sized Xacti is the most convenient after eye-candy. of image information. Genius. www.casio.com option for on-the-fly videography. www.sanyo.co.uk E4, Channel 4

96 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! The best kit there is!

CONSIDER NOTHIN MOBILE ENTERTAINMENT ELS G E

Creative Zen Portable Media Center Archos AV480 ★★★★ £600 ★★★★★ CHECKLIST £399 The features you need The first PVP to use Microsoft’s Media Center software, this Trounces Creative’s new Portable 20GB device might lack iPod-esque street cred and have a Media Center device with recording ❏✓ DRM prototype feel about it, but it’s a must-have for early adopters functionality as well as video If your digital audio 4 wanting the next big thing. www.creative.com playback and compatibility with a collection comes from a number of sources, good range of digital audio and Philips HDD120 video formats. The GUI is fiddly in watch out for the digital ★★★★ places, but you can put up with its rights management £300 quirks as it’s the most flexible (DRM) technology The next best portable audio player to the iPod, and our portable entertainment device on usually found on recommendation for WMA support. Snapping at the heels of devices from the market today. A smaller 20GB Apple, Philips offers line-in recording, a remote control, fast 1 established companies 5 scrolling and a large clear display. www.philips.com version is also available. such as Panasonic, www.archos.com Toshiba and Sony. Samsung YH-999 ★★★★ ❏✓ £400 MP3 formats The whole portable media center craze is in full swing, with more Buy a player that’s Apple iPod compatible with a models from iRiver & Co. expected imminently. Samsung’s effort £208 (20Gb) £270 (40Gb) ★★★★★ wide range of media doesn’t quite live up to Creative’s debut, above at number four. The latest, fourth incarnation of the formats: AAC, MP3, www.samsung.co.uk best-selling portable music player WMA, Ogg Vorbis, adopts the click-wheel from the iPod and so on. iRiver H320 ★★★★ Mini, which raises the benchmark ✓ £300 for usability another notch just ❏ Audio quality Playing back digital photos on its large, detailed colour screen, when you thought Apple had come Don’t buy a portable and tuning into FM radio, this good value model is more than an up with the definitive design. audio player with a MP3 player but doesn’t quite offer the all-in-one practicality of a signal-to-noise ratio of 7 Compatible with both PCs and PVP. www.iriver.com less than 85dB. Macs, the iPod looks set to retain ✓ its number one position in the ❏ Flash v HDD Creative Labs Nomad Jukebox Zen Xtra 2 portable audio market by some £160 (30Gb) £300 (60Gb) ★★★★ If you want the most margin. www.apple.com compact audio player Another worthy alternative to the iPod if it’s only audio you want possible, buy a flash- to take on the road, the Xtra offers excellent sound quality, a based, rather than a 8 large display and easy synchronisation. The design’s already looking a tad dated, though. www.creative.com Archos Gmini 400 hard drive, player. ★★★★★ ✓ £230 ❏ Video players Apple iPod Shuffle Archos is establishing itself as a Digital video jukeboxes £69 (512Mb) ★★★★ tour de force in the portable and all-in-one portable What, an MP3 player without a screen? Well, for a daily random entertainment market. The new media players are in selection of your favourite iTunes music on the journey to work, their infancy. Always try Gmini 400 is one of the best budget why not? 1Gb also available. out the device before 9 portable media players. It’s one up www.apple.com/uk on the iPod Photo just for its built-in buying, check screen memory card reader, and is a quality, ease of use, and the range of Albatron Widio NEW ENTRY serious contender to the iPod should compatible media £120 ★★★★ you tire of iTunes. Add the 20GB formats, both audio and We can’t think where they’ve got the pearly white finish idea 3 hard drive and video playback and video. Ideally, you want from, but this is more than just another iPod clone. It’s packed you have a very attractive package. built-in video recording full of functionality and wireless technology. Highly flexible www.archos.co.uk 10 capabilities. and unbelievably cheap. Reviewed page 53. www.widio.com

PDAs/SMARTPHONES EXTRAS MOBILE COMPUTERS

Sony Ericsson K700i 1 Apple Airport Express Apple 17-inch PowerBook G4 £240 (without contract) ★★★★ with AirTunes From £2,000 ★★★★★ We didn’t think Sony Ericsson would so soon better £99 ★★★★★ Expensive, but as desktop replacements go this the T610. It has. The company has redefined the www.apple.com is everything a mobile computer should be: mobile phone interface with the K700i, offering a powerful, connected, portable, and extremely 2 Neuston Virtuoso classy in appearance. The widescreen display is bright colourful, slick and more intuitive front-end than most of MC-500 Digital Media the competition. It’s packed with features, including an and simply gorgeous, and the backlit keyboard and Adapter organiser, MP3 player and even an image editor. Its ★★★★★ anodised aluminium chassis leaves everything on the predecessor but one, the T610, was a best seller around the £199 PC side of the fence drooling. It is expensive, www.neuston.com world, so the K700 has solid foundations. With built-in admittedly, but top marks in every other single field Bluetooth and loads of great software applications, this 3 DVDO iScan HD confirm the PowerBook G4 as still the most desirable smartphone is an essential entertainment accessory and Video Upscaler laptop around. Instantly recognisable, it’s a style icon personal organiser in one. ★★★★★ too. Pricey... but perfect. £1,000 www.apple.com www.sonyericsson.com www.dvdo.com 4 Super Cantenna Siemens SL65 Sony Vaio PCG-TR5MP ★★★★★ Wireless Network ★★★★★ £300 (without contract) Antenna £1,800 Stylish GPRS phone that comes with the latest mobile ★★★★★ Ultra-portable notebook with a superb feature set, phone gizmos – MMS and a built-in digital camera, $50 including 10.6-inch screen, 40Gb hard disk, www.supercantenna.com for instance – and it’s also great to use thanks to its wireless-G and Bluetooth connectivity, four-hour welcoming, elegant interface. 5 Oregon Scientific battery life, 1.1GHz Intel processor and even a built-in www.my-siemens.co.uk Weather Forecaster web cam. www.sony.co.uk £68 ★★★★★ i-Mate Jam www.skyview.co.uk Sony Vaio VGN-A217M £410 ★★★★ 6 LG U81103G Phone £1,350 ★★★★★ The Jam hits the right middle ground between compact £Free with 3-network contract Okay, a difficult entry under ‘mobile’ computing, mobile phone and functional PDA. We can’t quite go so far ★★★★★ considering it’s about as portable as a cello. As as to say the Jam is ‘the ultimate Pocket PC phone’, but it’s www.lge.co.uk desktop replacements go, this is a powerful damn close. entertainment machine. www.i-mate.com 7 D-Link i2eye www.sony.co.uk DVC-1000 Broadband Videophone HP iPAQ H4150 Toshiba Qosmio E10 ★★★★ £205 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ £278 www.dlink.co.uk £1,500 The best choice for portable wireless networking with Toshiba’s latest mobile entertainment PC is highly built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. A little short on 8 Linksys Wireless-G specified, well built and as reassuringly reliable entertainment features for our liking, but for professional WGA54G as, well, a Mac. We just don’t know why this use it’s an all-out winner. £55 ★★★★★ ‘entertainment’ PC hasn’t got a widescreen monitor. www.hp.co.uk www.linksys.com www.toshiba-europe.com 9 Buffalo TeraStation Blackberry 7100v £600 ★★★★ Averatec 3300 NEW ENTRY £Free with Vodafone contract ★★★★ www.buffalotech.com From £800 ★★★★★ It’s not full-blown 3G, admittedly, but this GPRS phone is If it had a decent dedicated graphics chip, this an easy-to-use solution to mobile email and internet. And 10 AverTV GO 007 Plus laptop would be untouchable in this market. But it can be cheap depending on your phone contract. £30 ★★★★ actually, you don’t really need it. This wafer-thin www.averm.co.uk Available from Vodafone. model would outmanoeuvre an Austin Martin DB9 if it were www.vodafone.co.uk a car. It’s cheap too. Reviewed page 51. www.averatec.co.uk

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! DIGITAL HOME 97 ULTIMATE ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY www.digitalhomemag.com [email protected] 30 Monmouth Street, Bath BA1 2BW Telephone 01225 442244 Fax 01225 732295 Issue 24, April 2005

EDITORIAL EDITOR Dean Evans [email protected] DEPUTY EDITOR Kieran Potts [email protected] DESIGNER Catherine Kirkpatrick [email protected] OPERATIONS EDITOR Esther Woodman PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Elizabeth Elliott ADDITIONAL DESIGN Graham Dalzell, Mark Mitchell, Alvin Weetman

CONTRIBUTORS WRITERS Ian Calcutt, Richard Cobbett, Dan Grabham, Geoff Harris, Richard Hill, Sam Kieldsen, Gordon Laing, Jeremy Laird, Shaun Marin, Alec Meer, James Morris, Ashley Norris, Chris Price, Margaret Robertson, Richard Stevenson, Henry Tucker ILLUSTRATORS Bo Lundberg, Magictorch

PHOTOGRAPHERS Philip Sowels, Katharine Lane-Sims, Steve Stephens OPINION ADVERTISING SENIOR AD MANAGER Michelle Blackwell

Magictorch [email protected] AD MANAGER Clare Butcher [email protected] KEY ACCOUNT MANAGER Matt Dalton HIGH DEF DISCS [email protected] SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVE Brad Francis Is it possible that manufacturers can support two rival formats at the [email protected] SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVE Tom Denning same time? Richard Stevenson hopes so… [email protected] SALES EXECUTIVE Mark Cowan [email protected] It brought tears to my eyes either format is still being developed, and already when the HD-DVD format was manufacturers are talking about merging pre- PRODUCTION, CIRCULATION & MARKETING announced. For once I thought recorded films seamlessly with streamed content. PRODUCTION MANAGER Clare Tovey [email protected] PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR Katty Pigott [email protected] an industry might unite While watching an HD film you could be able to CIRCULATION MANAGER Jason Comber [email protected] behind a single format, Blu- interactively choose the type of ending as you go MARKETING MANAGER Fiona Tully [email protected] INTERNATIONAL LICENSING DIRECTOR Simon Wear ray. I thought they might be along or run with numbers of different soundtracks. [email protected] able to avoid confusing the Different languages and extras no longer have to issue with mindless wranglingng bbe on the disc – you will simply stream them in MANAGEMENT and fisticuffs. Oh, how wrong. aloalongside the movie. Translate that into either of the EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Jim Douglas [email protected] PUBLISHER Stuart Anderton [email protected] At a press event at the recent Bristoll Hi-Fi Show, forthforthcoming consoles and the world of gaming is PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Dom Beaven [email protected] proponents from both camps took to the podium to about to hit levels of reality simulation and MANAGING DIRECTOR Robert Price [email protected] fight their corner in a clash off spec sheet trumps. interactinteraction that are hitherto the stuff of sci-fi. SUBSCRIPTIONS CUSTOMER QUERIES Blu-ray has more capacityity but HD-DVDD will be easier Niceties llilikeike full Javascript engengines are an integral 0870 837 4722 0870 837 4773 to replicate for filmm studios. Blu-ray wiwillwill be in part of bothh formats and it will be leveraged in PC OVERSEAS ORDERS OVERSEAS QUERIES PlayStation 3 but HD-DVD ssoftware,oft games and pre- +44 (0)1858 438794 +44 (0)1858 438795 [email protected] www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk will be in Xboxx 2. Blu-ray is recrecordedo entertainment. “By the time it got All contributions are submitted and accepted on the basis of non-exclusive worldwide recordable… HD-DVDD-DVD But from my point of licence to publish or license others to do so unless otherwise agreed in advance in writing. to the hurled bar Digital Home recognises all copyrights and trademarks. Where possible, we have might be by the timeme vieview,w there seems to be a acknowledged the copyright holder. Contact us if we haven’t credited your copyright and we products come to market.arket. furniture, Bob gegenuinen enthusiasm for will always correct any oversight.

By the time it got to theth hhighigh quality audio on Distributed by Marketforce (UK) Ltd, 5th floor, Low Rise Building, Kings Reach Tower, broken bottles and hurledleeed bar Stuart from Meridian tthesehe new formats. The Stamford Street, London, SE1 9LS. Telephone: 020 7633 3300 Overseas distribution by Future Publishing Ltd. Telephone 01225 442244 furniture stage, Bob Stuartrt pointed out that, ffinalina spec for either is from Meridian (formatmat at the application llikelyike to be eight channels Printed in the UK agnostic, ten winss by ten of 224bit/192kHz audio – KO’s) pointed outut that, at the level, the formats tthathat is eight channels of application level,vel, the formats are identical” tthehe highest resolution of Future Publishing is part of . are identical. They are both DVDDVD-Audio – and it’s Future produces carefully targeted specialist magazines for people who share a passion. We aim to satisfy that passion by creating titles offering value for money, reliable simply carriers of data,ata, and the features,featururees,s, going to bloblowlow away both CD anand DVD sound. information, smart buying advice and which are a pleasure to read. Today we publish more functionality, firmware andnd software that will get the As for which format will dominate – who cares? than 90 magazines in the UK, US, France and Italy. Over 80 international editions of our magazines are also published in 28 other countries across the world. world excited will easily go on either format. Will one win outright? I doubt it. The key here is not A silence descended. Chairs werere put down, to let this escalate into a war – it doesn’t need to be Future plc is a public company quoted on the London Stock Exchange (FNET). wounds were patched and there was an outbreakutbreak of oneone. I believe both formats will co-exist with similar, NON-EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN Roger Parry spontaneous male hugging. As we’ve seen withh DVD- susuperb benefits, just like the DVD-recording formats. CHIEF EXECUTIVE Greg Ingham RAM, DVD-RW and DVD+RW, a number of formats The essence is a huge advance in entertainment GROUP FINANCE DIRECTOR John Bowman UK FINANCE DIRECTOR Graham Harding can co-exist because it ain’t what you got – it’s what technology and I don’t want to miss out through www.futureplc.com you do with it. And what you can do with either over-zealous warmongering on the part of Bath London Milan New York Paris San Francisco format is going to be absolutely fantastic. manufacturers. Frankly, if chewing off my own arm Copyright©2004 Future Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved Recording many, many hours of standard TV per would get me either player and a bundle of software disc and getting high definition movies in a packaged right now, I would be salting my elbow as I write. NEXT ISSUE ON SALE format is just the beginning. The specification of Agree? Email [email protected] THURSDAY 5th MAY

98 DIGITAL HOME TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! CUSTOM LIVE THE DREAM

A seamless blend of period apartment, exquisite furniture and a 20 grand entertainment and lighting system

HOUSE A Mayfair fl at with hi-tech toys built in INSTALL Insider’s Guide To HVAC PLUS Find your nearest dealer TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! PERIOD PERFECTION A property developer has refurbished his £1.95 million Mayfair apartment with multiroom audio, fl atscreen displays and CAT-5 cable throughout LOCATION MAYFAIR PRICE £20,000 INSTALLER TECHAUS CONTACT www.techaus.co.uk, 01844 214 121

Wouldn’t it be nice just to be able to move straight into a hi-tech home? Not to have to worry about laying the cables yourself, or mounting giant plasmas on the wall and ripping out parts of the ceiling to install speakers. Well if you’ve got the money to spare, it is now perfectly possible to do just that. These days many new ‘executive’ homes come with CAT-5 cabling and home entertainment as standard while dozens of custom installers specialise in refurbishing period properties with all the latest mod cons. Here is a classic example. It’s a large two bedroom apartment in London’s From top to bottom A Panasonic 42- extremely swanky Mayfair which is currently on the market for a cool £1.95 inch plasma screen adorns the reception million. Owned by Richard Cutt, a partner in upmarket estate agent Knight Frank, room wall above the fireplace; speakers were fitted in the ceiling so that the it has been refurbished to appeal to wealthy customers who want the latest hi-tech walls were left clear for painting; a facilities. “Many of our clients now expect plasma screens, home networking and futuristic QED four zone Systemline control system has been installed multiroom audio as standard,” explains Cutt. “If they’re not included then it could alongside a Philips Pronto handset to leave question marks over other parts of the property.” provide multiroom control; yet another plasma screen decorates a wall in the And mindful of this customer expectation, Cutt spotted a perfect business dining room; the hub of the apartment is opportunity. He bought this central London apartment in a somewhat dilapidated the equipment cupboard, hidden state around two years ago, and teamed up with Oxfordshire-based custom installer discreetly away behind leather doors. Techaus. Their plan was to provide some of the latest hi-tech facilities with the view to enticing prospective buyers when the property went back on the market. “When Richard came to us he was quite convinced that there was money to be made from adding technology,” says James Misselbrook, sales and marketing manager for Techaus. “It was our job to work within the fairly tight budget to fi nd a solution he was happy with.” Approximately £20,000 was spent on technology in total, a fraction of the overall refurbishment spend (considerably more was spent on the home’s furniture), but enough to include the essential hi-tech solutions that most buyers in this market look for. These include a home cinema with surround sound, video entry system, multiroom audio, CAT-5 cable throughout and fl atscreen video displays in the reception room, kitchen and two large bedrooms. Work started in September 2003 and fi nished early 2004. “Technically it was quite a challenging job, largely because we were working on such an old period property,” says Misselbrook. “But we are quite pleased with the reliability of the system.” Undoubtedly the pièce de résistance of the entire property is the extremely large and very light and airy reception room. Here you will fi nd a 5.1 channel home cinema system comprising a Panasonic 42-inch plasma screen, fi ve in-ceiling speakers and a subwoofer. Although Techaus wanted to install in-wall speakers – which would not only have been simpler to do but would also have provided better overall acoustics – the client insisted that the speakers should be hidden away in the ceiling, leaving the walls clear for paintings. “As a result we compromised on Jamo rectangular speakers in the ceiling which we were able to balance up with the speaker itself, not just by using the AV amplifi er,” says Misselbrook. “Considering the TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! 2 CUSTOM INSTALL The airy reception room’s Jamo speakers were set into the ceilings, leaving the walls free for paintings

Top Gear We don’t normally highlight the equipment rack in digital homes – the whole idea is that the kit should be completely out of sight (and largely out of mind). But then not every equipment rack is so well built and beautifully laid out as the one in this fl at. Rather than throwing the equipment into an existing cupboard and hoping that it all fi ts, Richard Cutt has had a cupboard specially built. Located in the hallway behind the front door, it has lovely brown leather doors which gently spring open when you push them in slightly. On the right hand side is the cloak cupboard, on the left is the AV rack. Here (see photo on page 2) you’ll fi nd all of the digital home’s fi ve AV sources, including Sony and Panasonic DVD players, Sony FM/AM tuner and two Sky boxes. These feed the home’s various fl atscreen displays including a Panasonic 48-inch plasma in the living room, two Panasonic 20-inch LCDs (one in the kitchen; one in the master bedroom) and a Sony 15-inch LCD in the second bedroom-cum-offi ce. Also located in the AV cupboard is the QED Systemline 1.52 Commander, Systemline Multiroom controller and a Pioneer AV receiver.

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! CUSTOM INSTALL 3 Words by Chris Price. Photography by Philip Sowels and Steve Stephens extremely high ceilings, we are quite pleased with the overall sound,” he adds. Another problem the installer faced was with the original ‘lath and plaster’ ceilings (this is where plaster is bonded to thin, horizontal strips of timber.) As a result there was only four inches of ceiling depth into which the speakers could be installed – and this meant it wasn’t possible to use Jamo’s round speakers. Initially the Jamo subwoofer was located at the front of the room, but Cutt decided to move it to the back of the room behind the door – largely because he thought the sound was better from there. As well as the technical problems of working in an older style property, Techaus also had to deal with the client’s fi nancial constraints on the property’s refurbishment. One of Richard Cutt’s main requirements for the apartment was, understandably, to install a control system that could be used simply by any prospective buyer. However, he also wanted it to be able to handle up to fi ve different AV sources located in his equipment rack (see Top Gear box, previous page). This included two Sky boxes (one for Sky+), two DVD players (one for multiroom audio) and an FM/AM tuner. “The problem is that there is a huge difference in price between the four zone, four source control systems and the six zone, six source systems” explains Techaus’ Missselbrook. “A six zone system from a company like Living Control would have been overkill for this type of set-up.” As a result a compromise solution was reached. QED’s four zone Systemline control system was installed in most of the main rooms with a Philips Pronto handset providing additional control. Using Macros which were programmed in by Techaus, the Pronto toggles between the tuner and CD/DVD player options on the AV amplifi er, thereby effectively providing fi ve source control from a four zone From top to bottom The plasma system. Alternatively, it’s possible to use the wall-mounted QED Systemline panels screens dotted around the apartment can all be controlled by the Philips to turn the volume up and down and switch between the main sources (a red dot- Pronto, as can the lights and heating; the matrix display on most of the panels gives additional information such as the Futronix lighting system can store up to source name). “The great thing about Systemline is that it’s very discreet and fi ts 20 preset lighting ‘scenes’, controlled via a wall panel; the kitchen is equipped neatly into a standard backbox,” says Misselbrook. “The stainless steel surround with two Ethernet points, in case the also fi ts in very well with this property’s decor.” owner needs to check a recipe before cooking; the bathrooms are equally hi- While entertainment is the main thrust of the About Techaus tech, with in-ceiling lighting and home’s hi-tech system, it’s not confi ned just to fancy Based in Thame, Oxfordshire, sophisticated heating and lighting controls in each. sound and vision. There’s also some hi-tech lighting Techaus was formed in 2000. The (see Light Fantastic, opposite), a Nova BPT video company designs, commissions entry system and a Local Area Network (LAN). and installs its own cost effective home automation systems. It Structured CAT-5e cabling has been laid throughout also offers wired and wireless the two bedroom apartment with Ethernet points in networking, along with security, most of the rooms. There are even two points in the entertainment and custom lighting kitchen above the work surface – handy if you want solutions for hi-tech homes. to check out some recipes online before preparing a www.techaus.co.uk meal. Says owner Richard Cutt: “I don’t particularly trust wireless technology, there could be potential health problems in the long term which we just don’t know about yet. It could be the next asbestos.” While his fears seem largely unfounded at present there are nevertheless good reasons for choosing wired over wireless technology – for a start faster, it’s more robust and it’s also more secure. Given a budget of just £20,000 it’s really amazing what has been achieved in this fantastic two bedroom apartment. If you want the latest luxuries that technology affords all within a central London period style property then it’s defi nitely worth considering. The only drawback, for most of us, is the cost. With a price tag of £1.95 million, a luxury digital home like this certainly doesn’t come cheap! DH TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! 4 CUSTOM INSTALL The two-bedroom apartment is valued at almost £2 million – so the technology must be geared towards that bracket of buyer

Light Fantastic The good news is that you don’t have to spend thousands of pounds on a state-of-the-art Lutron lighting system. There are other more affordable, hi-tech lighting solutions around. Futronix (www.futronix-info.com) is a company we haven’t previously featured in Digital Home, but which seems to do a pretty good job of providing residential and commercial lighting systems. Located in the living room of this Mayfair apartment the Futronix system centres around a stainless steel lighting panel complete with red LED display (to match the Systemline keypads). Up to 20 light scenes can be programmed into the keypad to create different mood settings for watching a movie, reading a book or entertaining guests, and such like. To change between these you can either press the up and down arrows on the keypad or use the remote control that comes supplied with the system. In addition to the mood lighting in the living room, the apartment also features stainless steel rotary dials which control the lighting in the rest of the home, including the lights on the staircase leading up to the two bedrooms.

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! CUSTOM INSTALL 5 WHAT’S INSIDE THIS MONTH’S PRODUCTS UP CLOSE

1

2 1 QED Systemline S4.4 £2,600 From QED comes a multiroom AV system for those who want a fl exible home entertainment solution without spending an absolute fortune. A two box AV system, it comprises a commander, which is responsible for learning and routing IR codes, as well as providing external communication via an RS232 port, and a controller (pictured) which is a time-tested multiroom audio processor with programmable bass, treble and start-up volume settings. A four source system, it can be expanded to 20 zones with additional commander/ controllers if required. www.qed.co.uk

2 Jamo A7SUB £399 Subwoofers aren’t exactly renowned for their dashing good looks but this latest model from Danish fi rm Jamo is defi nitely more attractive than most. Created by 3 designers Smedegaard and Weis (responsible for the entire Jamo 2F range), it’s part of Jamo’s new A7 line- up and matches the company’s existing HDP4250 plasma screen and DVR50 DVD receiver. Sporting a 10-inch woofer, the A7SUB comprises a closed box design fi tted with a 200 watt digital amplifi er capable of delivering 500 watts of peak power. It has a low frequency extension of 35Hz. www.jamo.com

3 QED multi-source keypad £125 4 Designed specifi cally to work in conjunction with the QED Systemline 4.4 multiroom audio system, this sophisticated keypad features a red alphanumeric display and a bank of control buttons. Not only can you switch between four different sources (DVD, satellite, CD, tuner) you can also adjust the volume and skip through tracks. And to suit your digital home’s decor, it’s available with different fascias, including brass, white, chrome and nickel. www.qed.co.uk

4 Philips ProntoPro SBCRU980 £650 Control your complete home entertainment set-up with this latest touchscreen handset. Boasting a 3.8- inch colour display with more than 65,000 colours, the ProntoPro features an infrared database with codes for over 1,100 brands. It can also learn controls from other handsets. A built-in RF transmitter means that, unlike a standard IR control, it can be used through walls while the Pronto ProEdit NG software enables you to change the look and feel of the screen. www.pronto.philips.com

5 Panasonic TX22 LT3 £1,500 Great if you’re looking for a fl atscreen display for the bedroom or the kitchen, this 22-inch widescreen TV comes with a plinth stand or can be mounted directly on the wall. Features include WXGA panel (1268 x 768 pixels), 176 degree viewing angle, and both a Scart and phono input for hooking up external AV sources. It also comes with Nicam stereo speakers and bass-refl ex woofer for reasonable quality sound. www.panasonic.co.uk 5 TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! 6 CUSTOM INSTALL     

 

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TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! INSIDE GUIDE TO HVAC Heating, ventilation and air conditioning may lack the glamour and sexiness of fl atscreen video displays or fancy home automation systems. But it is – argues Chris Price – an extremely useful add-on for any digital home TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! CUSTOM INSTALL 9 When it comes to home entertainment, uk/homes.htm). Some, such as the £99 heating. However, both systems are usually technology has completely changed the way Drayton RF1 Digistat, will even connect to controlled ineffi ciently. many of us live. Flatscreen video displays, your boiler wirelessly. The conventional method of controlling multiroom audio and touchscreen control However, think how much better, and radiator systems is to use a timeclock and panels are now pretty much the norm in most more energy effi cient, it would be to heat mechanical thermostatic valve (known as a hi-tech homes. each room, or zone, of your house to an exact TRV) on each radiator. Similarly, underfl oor However, not all areas of home technology temperature? And imagine how useful it heating consists of loops of pipe fed by have seen the same advances. For example, would be to set your home’s heating to switch distribution manifolds connected to the main when it comes to HVAC (heating, ventilation, on or off remotely – either via the internet or heating and controlled actuators. As the air conditioning) it often seems that very your mobile phone – if, say, you want your temperature drops, the thermostat makes its little has changed in the past 50 years. house to be warm when you come back from electrical contact and the valve allows hot Typically most traditional plumbers holiday. This is exactly what the latest water to fl ow to the underfl oor pipes. still provide basic time-clocks and temperature-dial thermostats for their Imagine how useful it would be to set your home’s heating systems without giving any thought whatsoever to how the heating to switch on or off remotely – either via the technology could be integrated into internet or your mobile phone part of an overall digital home setup. Usually most home owners simply set the intelligent hi-tech heating systems will allow However the fundamental problem in both heating to come on at certain times of the day you to do. Conversely, it is now possible to setups is that thermostats are essentially on/ and adjust the main thermostat to heat the integrate domestic air conditioning units off control devices. When they get too cold, house to an approximate temperature. The within an HVAC system in order to keep your they turn on. When they get too hot, they turn most sophisticated the majority of home property cool in the summer months. off. As a result the room controlled by the setups get is to incorporate a digital thermostat will always be too hot or too cold thermostat. These are now widely available Continuous vs. thermostat control and temperature will cycle between these from heating companies such as Drayton Generally, heating systems in houses split two points. (www.invensyscontrolseurope.com) and into two different categories: radiator (or Fortunately, the latest hi-tech heating Honeywell (http://content.honeywell.com/ radiant panel) heating and underfl oor systems address this problem by controlling

With a SmartKontrols HVAC system incorporated into an AMX whole house network, you can now have even more control over what happens in your house. For you main room, AMX’s NXT- CV17 Modero (right) is ideal with its large 17-inch widescreen display. Other zones and sub-zones are equally controllable using NXT-CV15 15-inch (below) and CVD-CV7 7-inch (bottom right). You could also include the SeaChange GSM modem too.

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! 10 CUSTOM INSTALL room temperature more effi ciently. For benefi t of the SmartKontrols system. It also digital communications between a range of example, rather than basic on/off thermostat boasts other innovative and energy effi cient smart devices. As well as using the Siemens control, heating specialist SmartKontrols characteristics. For example, the hi-tech system for home entertainment (including provides much more accurate continuous HVAC system automatically learns the multiroom audio and video), property owners control. Temperatures are measured using thermal characteristics of a house, monitors have the option of choosing it for zone-based discreet temperature sensors, known as the outside air temperature and, using its heating control. As long as you have the thimble sensors, which are sited away from Optimum Start facility, then selects the best structured wiring already in place (the Smart the radiators to give a more accurate room time to switch the heating on in the morning. Home system will work over CAT-5), it’s reading. In order to provide comprehensive Similarly, an integral weather compensation possible to add digital thermostats for each temperature control each thimble sensor is feature ensures the heating system is only as room of the house relatively cheaply. These connected to a zone controller which manages hot as absolutely necessary. And when the thermostats drop the signal on to a twisted temperature and time control for each room. householder is away from home the control pair of cables for additional control via a These zone controllers are, in turn, system remains on duty, protecting the Siemens touchscreen display if necessary (a connected to intelligent actuators which building and its contents against damage colour LCD screen for the Siemens system either mount on the radiators or on the pipe caused by very low or high temperatures. For will set you back £1,650). that feeds the radiator. For homes with very sensitive contents, such as artwork, the Though you can, of course, spend much underfl oor heating it’s possible to use the system can even incorporate humidity-based more if you have the means, Siemens SmartKontrols system in conjunction with fabric protection – this is an approach which estimates the basic cost of heating control existing thermo-electric actuators located at SmartKontrols initially developed for the from them, for a two bedroom apartment, is each of the manifolds. Using SmartKontrols’ National Trust’s properties. around £384 – and this includes digital actuator technology, each radiator’s TRV is Of course SmartKontrols isn’t the only thermostats for every room. However, savings effectively replaced by a miniature motorised intelligent heating system on the market. on heating bills for each household could be valve, powered by a two wire bus (a tiny low Siemens’ Smart Home Technology also as much as 30 per cent per year, claim the voltage cable). provides a similar solution for homes and people at Siemens. “Given how much money businesses. Central to the setup is the you could save on energy it’s amazing the Intelligent solution Siemens European Installation Bus (EIB) government doesn’t get behind intelligent Being able to control each of your radiators Device Network – a two-wire installation bus heating control,” says Siemens’ Smart Home individually and intelligently isn’t the only (also known as an Instabus) that provides Business Manager, Hugh Whalley. And just

TOP TIPS Don’t rely on a single hall-based thermostat. It will only give very crude temperature control for a certain part of the house.

Choose digital thermostats, or ‘digistats’, if possible. These give far more accurate temperature readings than their analogue counterparts and can often be connected to the heating system wirelessly, so you don’t have to go through the bother of re-wiring your house.

Look out for zone-based heating systems. These give you very accurate room-by-room control settings, and will eventually save you money by not heating parts of the house you don’t use.

Unless you only want heating/air conditioning control in your house, always make sure that you choose a system that can be used in conjunction with other digital home automated solutions (ie, home entertainment, automation, lighting, etc) – you never know what might take your fancy – or the next inhabitant’s – in years to come.

If you install air conditioning units, try to integrate them into part of an overall HVAC system rather than keeping Anti-clockwise from top-left: 5 them separate. This will make the setup far more Homeywell’s Hometronic offers wireless energy effi cient. control of your heating system, making it an ideal fit for most homes; The AES Touchscreen displays are particularly useful for ease of Skylight electric roof gives you remote- use. Any decent custom installer will be able to operated window control; Smart heating programme a handset for you so you press a ‘+’ or ‘-‘ systems can monitor the temperature and adjust it as necessary; Both AMX button to adjust the temperature. and Crestron are able to give you HVAC mastery with a great deal more control If you are away a lot and like coming back to a warm than individual room sensors can offer; house, choose a heating system that can be controlled TEAM LinG - Live,The latest Informative, HVAC systems enable remoteNon-cost and Genuine ! remotely either via a mobile phone or PC. control via PC, PDA or mobile phone. CUSTOM INSTALL 11 like the SmartKontrols system, rooms that that you like. Another key facility that Far better is to integrate the two systems aren’t used that often in the home are set to SmartKontrols offers is SMS (i.e. text together using a single HVAC system. Though a minimum ‘Frost Protection’ mode in order message) based control via a mobile phone, combined heating and air conditioning to keep costs down. a facility it calls smartEtext. Here, the user systems are commonplace in offi ces, they’re taps in simple commands like ‘Heating On’ still relatively rare in home environments. Remote control and the system responds appropriately. However if we see more hot summers like the Of course the great thing about intelligent one of 2003, then they are bound to become heating systems is that control isn’t just Keeping cool more widespread. Using a system available limited to inside the house. One benefi t of It isn’t just heating which can be controlled from companies like SmartKontrols, you both the Siemens and SmartKontrols heating with hi-tech HVAC solutions. Air conditioning simply set the temperature you want for the systems is that they can be controlled can too. Increasingly, custom installers are room. It then decides whether heating, remotely, so you can be thousands of miles fi tting air conditioning systems from cooling or no action is required. from your house and adjust the heating – handy if you want to make sure your Rather than a thermostat in the hallway, these latest property is nice and warm when you get back off holiday. With the Siemens systems offer digital-based room control in order to system it’s possible to dial into the provide optimum temperature levels heating network using a landline or mobile phone, and switch the heating either companies like Daikin, Mitsubishi, Sanyo After 50 years of little change, it seems that on or off (it’s even possible to control each and Toshiba in order to keep properties cool a new breed of heating control system has zone or room remotely). during the summer months. fi nally arrived. Rather than a thermostat in The SmartKontrols system is even more Comprising indoor units (which absorb the hallway, these latest systems offer digital- advanced than this, thanks to a smartserver the heat) and outdoor units (which reject the based room control in order to provide which has been designed to ‘serve up’ details heat to the atmosphere), they usually come optimum temperature levels. Controllable of a property’s heating and/or air conditioning complete with their own built-in controls and via touchscreen panels or remotely via the system as HTML internet pages. With a PC user interface. However if the air conditioning net, these intelligent settings will even help and internet access you can then make any system is kept separate from the heating it save you money on your energy bills thanks adjustments to the home’s heating settings can cause confusion – and far higher bills. to increased effi ciency levels. DH

TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! 12 CUSTOM INSTALL Advertising Feature

FINDING A CUSTOM INSTALLER Once you’ve decided to opt for custom installation, the next step is to fi nd a dealer who can carry out the necessary work for you…

Whether you’re carrying out a major refurbishment of an out in regular houses – many CEDIA members are able to existing home, or building one from scratch, getting all the tailor systems suitable for use in more exotic locations like necessary work done can be a major headache. You’d like the stately homes, yachts or planes, the only real limits being the work to be carried out quickly, smoothly and professionally amount of space and the wealth of your imagination. and you defi nitely don’t want to have to worry about whether One of the biggest benefi ts of using a specialist installer it’s all been fi tted correctly. And nowhere is this more true like those from CEDIA is that you’re paying for and getting a than with custom consumer electronics. bespoke consumer-focused service. From choosing individual To put it simply, your average electrician is unlikely to components to whole systems, the dealer works with you to have the knowledge and training required to fi t sophisticated understand your lifestyle needs and then aims to satisfy alarm or multiroom audio and video systems, and is even less them in a professional and courteous way. As a non-profi t likely to be able to integrate these systems with each other organisation, CEDIA aims to maintain and raise standards for whole house automation. Even if he or she does, they’ll across the whole custom installation industry by helping its often fi t the system that suits their needs rather than a members enhance their expertise and keep up to date with bespoke setup to suit your own. What you need is a specialist the latest technology trends through an on-going programme installer who can discuss the various options, design a system of education and training. All CEDIA members also adhere for you and then liaise with your architect and/or builder to to a strict set of ethics and guidelines that ensure they deliver schedule the necessary works to integrate cabling, electronics the highest degree of service, system installation and design and controls with the minimum of fuss. Luckily, there’s a each time, every time – and any work carried out is backed nationwide network of specialist installers available to help by appropriate insurance and certifi cation, giving you you do just that – and many are members of CEDIA, the complete peace of mind. Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association – the Perhaps the best thing about calling on the services of a specialist trade association that not only helps promote the CEDIA member is that you won’t be left with an expensive industry, but also sets minimum standards for customer white elephant at the end of it. Your custom installer will only service, technical knowledge and expertise that ensure you fi t systems that have a proven track record of reliability, and get satisfactory service time after time. robustness and will ensure that you have a setup that has Originally founded in the home of custom install – the been designed around you, rather than the other way around USA – in 1989, CEDIA is now a worldwide organisation with – after all the best custom installation system in the world is over 3,000 members spanning three continents. The UK’s only as good as the control system that enables you and other 190-strong dealer network can plan, design, supply and members of your family to use it with ease. You can also rest install anything from a one-room home cinema system to a assured that your relationship with your dealer is likely to be complete home network, taking in intelligent lighting, a long and fruitful one. Any problems with the system will security, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) often be fi xed free of charge as part of a dealer’s continuing and even garden facilities, like lighting and watering along service, and your dealer will also work with you to upgrade the way. You don’t have to be super-rich to take advantage of and/or add to the system as your budget and needs dictate. their services either. A custom install can be yours for as little Indeed, future-proofi ng is a cornerstone of CEDIA’s customer- as a few hundred pounds, and CEDIA members often work focused philosophy, ensuring that when you decide to take with housing developers to install custom electronics in the next step, your local dealer will be there to help you. affordable homes. Indeed, houses fi tted out with home • To fi nd out more about CEDIA, please visit the organisation’s automation systems are often highly sought by both the website at www.cedia.co.uk or turn the page to fi nd a list of disabled and elderly. Installs don’t even have to be carried member dealers in your area. TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! YOUR LOCAL CUSTOM INSTALLER Once you’ve decided to opt for custom installation, the next step is to fi nd a dealer that can carry out the work for you…

England NG Systems Clarke Automation Jellybean Ctrl Ltd Blue Stream Audio Visual LEICESTERSHIRE Warrington Chelmsford Liphook Aylesford Cymbiosis 01925 632111 01245 231234 01428 751660 01622 717557 BEDFORDSHIRE Leicester [email protected] www.clarkeautomation.com www.jellybeanctrl.com www.bluestreamav.com 01162 623754 Sevenoaks Sound & Vision www.cymbiosis.com Bedford Sensory International Ltd Rayleigh Hi-Fi Sinclair Youngs Ltd Cohesys Ltd 01234 272779 Alderley Edge Rayleigh Basingstoke Westerham Stuart Westmoreland www.sevenoakssoundandvision.co.uk 08703 502244 01268 776932 01256 355015 01959 569977 (Holdings) Ltd www.rayleighhifi .com www.cohesys.co.uk Loughborough CORNWALL HERTFORDSHIRE 01509 230465 BERKSHIRE Smart House Solutions Ltd Colbach Hadley Audio Venue David King Technologies Basildon Audio Visual Projects Walmer The Ivy House Maidenhead Redruth 01277 264369 Harpenden 01304 374614 Melton Mowbray 01628 633995 01209 216912 01582 712969 www.colbachhadley.com 01664 822628 www.dktgroup.com www.audiovisualprojects.co.uk www.the-ivy-house.com Strandsystems Ltd Gemini Lighting Solutions Ltd Frasers Hi-Fi Video Halstead Slough AudioFile Maidstone CUMBRIA 01787 474711 Bishops Stortford 07989 324033 LONDON 01753 520244 www.strand-systems.co.uk www.frasers-hifi .com Peter Tyson 01279 506576 1st Stop Audio Visual Ltd Carlisle www.audiofi le.co.uk Imagine this (UK) Ltd T&T Communications Ltd Battersea Refl ex Limited 01228 546756 Newenden Clacton-on-Sea 0207 978 6262 Reading www.petertyson.co.uk AV Custom 01797 253759 01255 222111 08700 622390 Berkhamsted www.imaginethis.uk.com Audio T www.tandt-communications.com The Majik House Hertfordshire West Hampstead Tru-Fi Lifestyle Company Ltd 01296 682381 JFL 0207 794 7848 Ascot Milnthorpe Transcom Communications Bexley www.audio-t.co.uk 08702 408350 Chelmsford Conference Communications 01322 522521 01344 624020 Ltd www.trufi .co.uk www.majikhouse.com 01245 324347 Audio Visual Interiors www.custominstalls.co.uk St Albans Musical Images Battersea 01727 758000 Beckenham 0207 627 5360 BUCKINGHAMSHIRE DEVON www.ccomm.co.uk 0208 663 3777 www.avinteriors.net GLOUCESTERSHIRE www.musical-images.co.uk SmartComm Ltd Archangel Custom D & T Electronics Brabinger Audio Visual Machines High Wycombe Installation Specialists Potters Bar Cheltenham Seismic Interaudio Ltd 0207 248 4770 01494 471912 Plymouth 08702 415891 01452 561114 West Malling www.avmachines.com www.smartcomm.co.uk 01752 213481 www.dandt.co.uk www.archangelmultimedia.co.uk www.brabinger.co.uk 08700 734764 www.seismic.co.uk Audio Visual Systems Ltd Sound Creation f a b audio visual ltd Radfords Ltd Lambeth Coleshill Nast Hyde Sevenoaks Sound & Vision DORSET Bristol 0207 720 0505 01494 434400 01707 883831 Sevenoaks 0117 944 1010 www.avsltd.co.uk Dawsons Home Cinema www.fab-audiovisual.com 01732 459555 Symfony Custom Install Bournemouth Tunbridge Wells Auto Audio Installations Limited 01202 764965 Sevenoaks Sound & Vision Icon Connect Ltd Letchworth 01892 531543 Brent Park Whitchurch Bristol www.sevenoakssoundandvision.co.uk 0208 838 8838 01296 640715 Sevenoaks Sound & Vision 0117 974 3727 08702 330044 Poole www.iconconnect.com www.symfony.co.uk www.sevenoakssoundandvision.co.uk Sound Ideas UK Ltd Beyond the Invisible 01202 671677 08707 405859 www.sevenoakssoundandvision.co.uk Prestige Audio Faversham The Sound Gallery Rickmansworth 01795 591991 www.beyondtheinvisible.com High Wycombe HAMPSHIRE Sound Experience Ltd 01923 711113 www.soundideas.co.uk 01494 531682 ANT Cornfl ake.co.uk Poole www.prestigeaudio.co.uk www.soundgallery.co.uk Southampton Camden 01202 680666 Soundcraft Hi-Fi Ltd 08708 739711 0207 323 4554 www.sound-experience.co.uk Soundstage Ashford www.a-n-t.net Broxbourne www.cornfl ake.co.uk CAMBRIDGESHIRE 01233 624441 Stoneaudio UK Ltd 01992 440549 www.soundcrafthifi .com DC Communications Absolute Digital Dorchester Audio T www.soundstage-av.co.uk Harrow Cambridge 01305 257555 Southampton 0208 346 4746 01233 879935 www.stoneaudio.co.uk 02380 252827 LANCASHIRE www.audio-t.co.uk ISLE OF MAN In-Kontrol Audiovision Design Logistics Boxclever Bolton Lambeth St Neots EAST SUSSEX DBCC Limited Sulby Valley 01204 844444 01480 471202 0207 793 8181 The Powerplant Eastleigh 01624 897083 www.inkontrol.co.uk www.designlogistics.co.uk Brighton 023 8069 2555 www.boxclever.co.im Chameleon Integration Ltd Integrated Control Ltd 01273 775542 www.dbcc.co.uk JERSEY Digital Homedia Ltd St Neots www.powerplant.co.uk Manchester 0208 346 3488 01480 391489 DJ Willrich Ltd Archangel Custom 07973 348612 www.digitalhomedia.co.uk Installation specialists www.integratedcontrol.co.uk ESSEX Beaulieu 01590 612603 Grouville Discrete Architectural CHESHIRE Intellexa Limited ACM Installations Ltd www.djwillrich.co.uk 01534 852658 Electronics Chris Brooks Audio Ltd Bradwell www.archangelmultimedia.co.uk Clitheroe Waltham Forest Warrington 01254 827150 0208 988 9400 08702 423285 Integrated Media 01925 261212 www.acminstallations.com www.intellexa.co.uk www.discrete.co.uk www.chrisbrooksaudio.com Installations Ltd KENT Audio T Aldershot Audio T Wired for Living Gibson Music D&T Electronics Brentwood 01252 350280 Tunbridge Wells Great Harwood Fulham Altrincham 01277 264730 www.imi-ltd.co.uk 01892 525666 01254 880288 0207 384 2270 08704 445929 www.audio-t.co.uk www.audio-t.co.uk wiredforliving.co.uk www.gibson-music.com www.dandt.co.uk Integrated Technology Chew and Osborne Ltd and Control Authomeation PW Technologies Grahams Hi-Fi Enlighten Solutions Ltd Epping Romsey Beckenham Carnforth Islington Stockport 01992 574242 01794 368587 0208 658 1805 01524 272400 0207 226 5500 0161 484 5483 www.chewandosborne.co.uk www.itag.org.uk www.authomeation.com www.pwtechnologies.co.uk www.grahams.co.uk TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! 14 CUSTOM INSTALL Innerspace Systems NORFOLK One Touch Solutions (UK) Ltd WILTSHIRE Northern Ireland WEST LOTHIAN Lambeth Martins Hi-Fi Guildford Flamingbox Limited X home Ltd 0208 835 8568 Norwich 01483 302021 Maiden Bradley Uphall 01603 627156 www.onetouchsolutions.co.uk 01985 845440 COUNTY TYRONE 01506 811818 Link Media Systems www.martins-AV.com www.fl amingbox.com Kronos Hi-Fi Islington Oxberry Limited Dungannon 0207 251 2638 Chessington YORKSHIRE 02887 753606 STIRLINGSHIRE www.linkmediasystems.com NORTHUMBERLAND 0208 397 5624 ACM Installations Ltd www.kronoshi-fi .co.uk Hometech Integration Ltd Easylife Automation Limited www.oxberry.net Hull Stirling Listening Rooms Stocksfi eld 01482 709178 Scotland 08707 661060 Kensington 01661 844159 Plasma Warehouse UK www.acminstallations.com www.hometechintegration.com 0207 244 7750 www.easylifeautomation.com Farnham www.listeningrooms.com 01252 781600 ANT GRAMPIAN NOTTINGHAMSHIRE www.plasmawarehouseuk.com Hull Holburn Hi-Fi LANARKSHIRE The Little Cinema 01482 371000 Aberdeen SG Systems Ltd Company Ltd Castle Sound and Vision www.a-n-t.net Sevenoaks Sound and Vision 01224 585713 Glasgow Westminster Nottingham 0115 958 4404 Weybridge Audiocom.co.uk Ltd www.holburnhifi .co.uk 0141 445 4125 0207 385 5521 www.sgsystems.ltd.uk 01932 828525 Sheffi eld Intelligent Home Systems Ltd www.sevenoakssoundandvision. 0114 263 3400 Aberdeen Martin Kleiser Ltd OXFORDSHIRE co.uk www.audiocom.co.uk Stereo Stereo Hounslow 01771 624832 Audio T Glasgow 0208 400 5555 Defi nitions Oxford 0141 248 4079 www.martin-kleiser.com The Bigger Picture AV Ltd Brighouse FIFE 01865 760844 Cobham 01484 713996 www.audio-t.co.uk Custom Audio Video Wales Musical Images 08452 308900 www.defi nitions.uk.com Systems Ltd Covent Garden Dunfermline Sevenoaks Sound & Vision Lambda Technologies Ltd GLAMORGAN 0207 497 1346 Oxford The Fuller Picture Wakefi eld 01383 722720 www.musical-images.co.uk 01865 241773 Selsdon 01924 202100 www.custom-av.com Audio Excellence www.sevenoakssoundandvision. 0208 651 9008 www.lambdatechnologies.com Cardiff Olive co.uk LANARKSHIRE 02920 228565 Putney Lifestyle Technology www.audio-excellence.co.uk Zebra Boston Networks Ltd 0208 878 3529 Yarm South Croydon Glasgow www.olive-av.co.uk SHROPSHIRE 01642 793806 Citysatellite Limited 0208 688 2093 0141 427 5000 SMC Sound & Vision Ltd www.zebra.uk.com www.lifestyletechnology.co.uk Cardiff Oranges & Lemons Shrewsbury Glasgow Audio Ltd 02920 230900 Wandsworth Sevenoaks Sound Glasgow www.citysat.co.uk 01743 232065 & Vision Ltd 0207 924 2040 www.smcsoundandvision.co.uk TYNE & WEAR 0141 332 4707 oandlhifi .co.uk Leeds www.glasgowaudio.com SJI Systems Ltd DSE Digital 0113 245 2775 Cardiff Phase Limited SOMERSET Gateshead www.sevenoakssoundandvision.co.uk LOTHIAN 08452 309866 0191 491 4141 Harrow Custom Installations www.sjisystems.com www.dsedigital.com Single Point Media Ltd Dann Limited 0207 603 9565 North Petherton Yarm Edinburgh 01278 662555 01642 782372 08702 401249 GWENT Redhorn AV www.custom-installations.co.uk Global Hi-Fi Centre www.singlepointmedia.co.uk www.dannlimited.com Westminster Newcastle-upon-Tyne 0207 486 8604 Radfords Ltd 0191 230 3600 The Hi Fi Studios Hi Fi Corner Controlwise Ltd Bath www.globalhifi centre.com Doncaster Edinburgh Blackwood Rococo Systems and 01225 446245 01302 727274 0131 620 8061 01443 836836 www.thehifi studios.co.uk www.hifi corner.co.uk www.controlwise.co.uk Designs Newcastle Hi-Fi Islington STAFFORDSHIRE Newcastle-upon-Tyne 0207 454 1234 0191 285 7179 www.rococosystems.com Audio Visual Acoustics Ltd www.newcastlehifi .co.uk Cannock Smartautomation 01543 506766 Wandsworth WARWICKSHIRE Living Design 0207 223 4000 Fusion Group www.smartautomation.co.uk Stoke-on-Trent 01782 260047 Rugby www.soundspecialists.co.uk 01788 576906 SMC www.fusiongroup.uk.com Sutton 0207 819 1700 SUFFOLK Imagine by Tasc Ltd www.smc-uk.com The Edge Over Whitacre Ipswich 01675 481840 Sub Systems Integration Ltd 01473 288234 www.asktasc.com Fulham www.edgesmarthomes.co.uk 0207 381 1177 www.sub.eu.com Stour Capital Limited Interconnection Ltd Welford-on-Avon Bury St Edmunds The Hi-End 01789 750789 01284 768676 www.stourcapital.co.uk Barnes www.interconnectionltd.co.uk 0208 876 3355 www.hi-end.co.uk WEST MIDLANDS SURREY Frank Harvey Hi-Fi Audio T Excellence MIDDLESEX Epsom A & W Pounds Ltd Coventry 01372 748888 02476 222622 Enfi eld www.audio-t.co.uk 0208 804 3000 www.frankharvey.co.uk www.poundstv.co.uk Audio Vision Oxted IP Homenet.com Ltd Focus 21 Visual 01883 715617 Birmingham Communications 0121 778 6300 Staines Auditions Ltd www.iphomenet.com 01784 441153 Salfords 01293 822820 Music Matters Libra Solutions Ltd Birmingham Hatch End Coastal Acoustics Ltd 0121 742 0254 0208 428 2776 Guildford www.musicmatters.co.uk www.librasolutions.co.uk 01483 885670 www.coastalacoustics.com Sound Academy Musical Images Deckorum Limited Birmingham Edgware Caterham 0121 321 2445 0208 951 5846 08707 461789 Walsall www.musical-images.co.uk www.deckorum.com 01922 493499

SpaceFX Infi delity The Big Picture Brentford Kingston-upon-Thames Walsall 0208 380 0833 0208 943 3530 01922 623000 www.spacefx.co.uk www.infi delity.co.uk www.getthebigpicture.co.uk TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine ! Save 50% When you subscribe to Digital Home

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TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine !