Microsoft Announces New Home Extender

By Digital Trends Staff September 27, 2007

The PC and home entertainment center have been growing inexorably closer over the last several years – we play music, watch videos, TV programs and DVDs on our computers. But Microsoft wants more, which is why they’ve come up with several devices to connect your PC to your home entertainment center. Known as Extenders forWindows Media Center, these are different from the similarly-named Windows Media Extenders, debuted in late 2004. Those put a version of the Media Center interface on your television, using your homenetwork. It didn’t catch on, but it did spark more research, and more successful work with the Xbox360. This new version, for Vista Premium and Ultimate (sorry, all you XP fans), usesthird-party Wi-Fi hardware devices to connect your broadband-connected PC to your TV, meaning you can send video, HDTV, music and more to your television, and do things such as pause the stream inone room, then start again in another. So will this one catch on? Initially, it seems so. Linksys, D-Link and Niveus are all offering units to make this work, and the HP MediaSmart LCD HDTV will support this through an optional softwaredownload that Microsoft expects to roll out early in the new year. All other devices, which include DVD players will be out just in time for your Christmas shopping pleasure. At present, lessthan 10% of US households have extender devices connecting the PC and TV. Whether this can stir excitement remains to be seen, but Microsoft is obviously hopeful. “We are excited toreveal the first series of totally quiet, cool and sleek-looking Media Center Extender devices designed to deliver the ultimate entertainment experience to every TV set in your home," JoeBelfiore, Microsoft’s corporate vice president of the company’s entertainment and devices eHome division, told TechNewsWorld.

Editors' Recommendations

Digital Trends Staff

Digital Trends has a simple mission: to help readers easily understand how tech affects the way they live. We are your…

Smart Home

Samsung’s new AI-powered washer and dryer combo is $1,140 off

The Samsung Bespoke AI Laundry Combo washer and dryer in a laundry room.

The development of artificial intelligence has resulted in a wide range of applications, which now include powering your smart home network. If you want to bring the technology into your laundry room, there's probably no better option right now than the Samsung Bespoke AI Laundry Combo. It's on sale from Samsung with a $1,140 discount that drops its price from $3,339 to $2,199 -- it's not cheap, but with all the conveniences that you'll enjoy with this AI-powered cleaning machine, it's going to be worth every single penny. You have to hurry with your purchase though, as we're not sure how much time is remaining on this offer.

Why you should buy the Samsung Bespoke AI Laundry Combo
The Samsung Bespoke AI Laundry Combo is an all-in-one washer and dryer with capacity of 5.3 cubic feet, with easy installation that won't require a dryer vent exhaust system. Like lots of washer and dryer combos, it will wash and dry your laundry without requiring you to transfer loads from one machine to another, for an efficient use of space.

Smart Home

Preorder Samsung’s new AI-powered robot vacuum and save $300

The Samsung Bespoke Jet Bot Combo robot vacuum and mop with the All-in-One Clean Station with Auto Steam.

Samsung is continuing its integration of artificial intelligence into its smart home devices, and the Samsung Bespoke Jet Bot Combo is one of its latest devices that will feature the technology. If you're interested in this AI-powered robot vacuum and mop, the good news is that it's already available with a discount during preorders from Samsung. Instead of $1,400, you'll only have to pay $1,100 for savings of $300. It's still relatively expensive compared to most robot vacuum deals, but it's worth it for all the benefits that you'll get from this cleaning machine.

Why you should buy the Samsung Bespoke Jet Bot Combo robot vacuum and mop
AI is already in your smart home network through applications such as digital assistants, so why not utilize the technology to make your household chores easier? The Samsung Bespoke Jet Bot Combo is an excellent example of how AI can simplify your daily tasks. Its All-in-One Clean Station with Auto Steam automatically cleans its mop pads using steam and hot water, empties its dust bin, refills water levels, and recharges the battery to minimize the hassle of using the Samsung Bespoke Jet Bot Combo. It also has a Floor Detect feature that selects optimal settings depending on the type of floor being cleaned.

Smart Home

Get up to $1,200 off Samsung’s new AI-powered smart refrigerators

The Samsung Bespoke Counter Depth 4-Door Flex Refrigerator with AI Family Hub+ and AI Vision Inside on a white background.

Samsung's latest Bespoke Refrigerators heavily utilize artificial intelligence for features that will benefit your whole family. They're pretty expensive, which is understandable considering the technology that you can find in these refrigerators, but Samsung is already offering discounts of up to about $1,200 if you buy any of them right now for lowered prices that start at $3,799. There's no telling how much time is remaining on these bargains, so if you want to get them for cheaper than usual, you're going to have to proceed with your purchase as soon as possible.
Samsung Bespoke 4-Door Flex Refrigerator in White Glass (29 cu. ft.) -- $3,799, was $5,014

Samsung Bespoke Counter Depth 4-Door Flex Refrigerator in Stainless Steel (23 cu. ft.) -- $3,899, was $5,114