Linux-based picture frame adds Internet radio, widgets, multimedia

By Eric Brown
2009-09-17

Article Rating:

/ 1

Rate This Article:

Add This Article To:

HP announced an ARM-based digital picture frame enhanced with multimedia capabilities, Internet radio, and widget-based clients for services such as Facebook and Pandora. The HP DreamScreen provides a 10- or 13-inch display with 800 x 480 resolution, 2GB of RAM, WiFi, Ethernet, and dual card readers, says HP.

The DreamScreen 100, said to be shipping now, is equipped with a 10.2-inch screen while the 13.3-inch HP DreamScreen 130 is due later this fall. Instead of offering a Web browser for unrestricted Internet access, the DreamScreen provides widgets that deliver partner sites and services, such as Facebook, Pandora Internet radio, and the Snapfish photo site, says HP.

Equipped with a remote control, the DreamScreen can stream photos and music from a PC, or users can copy photos, music, or video to the tablet and/or a connected storage device for local playback, according to HP. Although the device is billed as distributing PC multimedia anywhere in the house, it does not appear to run on batteries.

HP DreamScreen 100
(Click to enlarge)

The tailored services approach along with the lack of a touchscreen -- users interact via a series of navigation buttons and/or a remote -- is somewhat similar to that used by the Linux-based Chumby alarm clock computer and push-based Chumby service. According to an HP spokesperson, however, the DreamScreen is not based on one of the recently introduced Chumby DPF reference designs or any other third-party designs. Instead, the DreamScreen was "built ground up within HP's Futures and Innovations group, and we are using the software experiences from TouchSmart and MediaSmart software suites of applications that come on our PCs," the spokesperson added.

DreamScreen 100 with remote

The spokesperson also confirmed that the device runs Linux on an undisclosed ARM processor, but said the distribution is not based on the Ubuntu-based HP "Mi" distro used on HP's "Mini" netbooks.

DreamScreen 100 (rear view)

The DreamScreen provides 2GB of flash memory, of which 1.5GB is user-accessible. The device also includes two card readers -- one compatible with SD/XD/MMC/Memory Stick/Memory Stick Pro formats, and the other compatible with Type I/II CompactFlash cards and Microdrives -- plus dual USB ports. Access to the Internet and a networked PC are provided by WiFi and Ethernet connections, says HP.

The device's remote control nestles behind the screen, while touch controls, which become visible on demand, are located along the display's border. A stand and wall mount are also supplied, as is a power adapter, the company says.

DreamScreen 100 running Pandora

The DreamScreen includes stereo speakers, as well as headphone and speaker jacks. The device supports standard music and photo formats, as well as video formats including MPEG 1/2/4, AVI, M-JPEG, H.264, and MP4, says the company.

Music playback features are said to include search by artist, album or genre, with album cover art displayed simultaneously with music. The Pandora Internet music service is also available, letting users rate songs or artists to refine personalized music selections. In addition, the HP DreamScreen offers the HP SmartRadio service, which is said to aggregate streams of live Internet broadcasts from more than 10,000 radio stations.

DreamScreen 100 photo display

A slideshow mode displays photos simultaneously with music that is either stored on the device or streamed from a networked PC, says the company. Additional features include five-day weather forecasts, a calendar, and an alarm clock with digital or analog displays, dual time-zones, and multiple alarms.

Specifications listed for the HP DreamScreen include:

Processor -- ARM-based
Flash memory -- 2GB (1.5GB usable)
Expansion:

1 x SD/XD/MMC/Memory Stick/Memory Stick Pro reader
1 x Type I/II CompactFlash reader (Microdrive compatible)

Display -- 10.2-inch or 13.3-inch 800 x 480 display
Audio -- Stereo speakers; line in; line out
Networking -- 10/100 Ethernet
WiFi -- 802.11b/g
USB -- 2 x USB ports
Other features -- Remote control; navigation buttons; stand; wall-mount
Operating system -- Linux

Stated Satjiv S. Chahil, SVP, worldwide marketing, Personal Systems Group, HP. "With HP DreamScreen, social media, web services and digital entertainment can be enjoyed in more areas of the home."

Availability

The HP DreamScreen 100 is now available in the U.S. for $250 from online distributors including BestBuy.com, Amazon.com, and HPDirect.com, and will be available at Best Buy retail outlets starting on Oct. 11. The HP DreamScreen 130 is expected to be broadly available this fall in the U.S. for $300.

More information on the DreamScreen devices may be found here.

Related Stories:

	Discuss Linux-based picture frame adds Internet radio, widgets, multimedia

	>>> Be the FIRST to comment on this article!



	>>> More News Articles >>> More By Eric Brown

Email Article To Friend ♦ Print Version Of Article ♦ PDF Version Of Article

FUEL Database on MontaVista Linux
Whether building a mobile handset, a car navigation system, a package tracking device, or a home entertainment console, developers need capable software systems, including an operating system, development tools, and supporting libraries, to gain maximum benefit from their hardware platform and to meet aggressive time-to-market goals.

Breaking New Ground: The Evolution of Linux Clustering
With a platform comprising a complete Linux distribution, enhanced for clustering, and tailored for HPC, Penguin Computing¿s Scyld Software provides the building blocks for organizations from enterprises to workgroups to deploy, manage, and maintain Linux clusters, regardless of their size.

Data Monitoring with NightStar LX
Unlike ordinary debuggers, NightStar LX doesn¿t leave you stranded in the dark. It¿s more than just a debugger, it¿s a whole suite of integrated diagnostic tools designed for time-critical Linux applications to reduce test time, increase productivity and lower costs. You can debug, monitor, analyze and tune with minimal intrusion, so you see real execution behavior. And that¿s positively illuminating.

Virtualizing Service Provider Networks with Vyatta
This paper highlights Vyatta's unique ability to virtualize networking functions using Vyatta's secure routing software in service provider environments.

High Availability Messaging Solution Using AXIGEN, Heartbeat and DRBD
This white paper discusses a high-availability messaging solution relying on the AXIGEN Mail Server, Heartbeat and DRBD. Solution architecture and implementation, as well as benefits of using AXIGEN for this setup are all presented in detail.

Understanding the Financial Benefits of Open Source
Will open source pay off? Open source is becoming standard within enterprises, often because of cost savings. Find out how much of a financial impact it can have on your organization. Get this methodology and calculator now, compliments of JBoss.

Embedded Hardware and OS Technology Empower PC-Based Platforms
The modern embedded computer is the jack of all trades appearing in many forms.

Data Management for Real-Time Distributed Systems
This paper provides an overview of the network-centric computing model, data distribution services, and distributed data management. It then describes how the SkyBoard integration and synchronization service, coupled with an implementation of the OMG¿s Data Distribution Service (DDS) standard, can be used to create an efficient data distribution, storage, and retrieval system.

7 Advantages of D2D Backup
For decades, tape has been the backup medium of choice. But, now, disk-to-disk (D2D) backup is gaining in favor. Learn why you should make the move in this whitepaper.