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IP-STB DVR transcodes video to and from mobile devices
2010-07-29 Article Rating:  / 0
Monsoon Multimedia announced a Linux-based IP set-top and DVR that supports streaming to and from remote PCs and Macs, plus the iPad as well as Android, BlackBerry, and iOS phones. The HD-ready Vulkano ranges in price from $259 to $379, starting with the Vulkano (8GB or 16GB storage) and advancing to the SATA-equipped Vulkano Pro (500GB or 1TB).
Like a number of IP set-top boxes (STBs), the Vulkano enables users to watch YouTube videos on a connected TV with resolutions of up to 1080i. Yet, the device can also record video and stream it to remote devices, replacing the functionality of multiple digital video recorder (DVR) boxes such as the TiVo, Slingbox, and Roku devices, claims Monsoon Multimedia. For now, the Vulkano's Web support is limited to YouTube, although support for services such as Netflix and Hulu are said to be in the works, as is a full web browser and Google TV support (see farther below).  Monsoon Vulkano (Click to enlarge) In addition, remote users using compatible devices supporting UPnP (Universal Plug n Play) can stream up to 1080i video through the Vulkano to a connected TV or to other supported devices, such as the iPad, says the company. Monsoon suggests that the Vulkano's capability of acting as a two-way intermediary between a TV and mobile devices is unique, though we've noted a few devices that appear to offer somewhat similar functionality. For example, KDDI's Motorola-made Au Box converts and transmits TV and Web content to the Japanese carrier's cell phone. (Some other recent IP STBs may be found in the list of related stories at the end of this article.)  Vulkano in white For example, iPad owners can schedule a recording, and have the resulting video automatically downloaded to the device via an included EPG (electronic program guide). In addition, software players for PCs, Macs, and iPads also support remote Pause/Live functions, says the company. Additional features available with the Vulkano are said to include:
As noted, the Vulkano is offered with either an 8GB or 16GB SD card, while the Vulkano Pro moves up to a 500GB or 1TB hard disk drive (HDD). Both units, however, are equipped with SD/MMC slots as well as SATA II ports.  Rear view of Vulkano Multimedia format support is said to include:
Next year, the Vulkano will also support Google TV, although in an interview with LinuxDevices, Colin Stiles, EVP of Sales and Marketing at Monsoon, said that this will be likely via a plug-in layered on top of the Vulkano stack, as opposed to a complete installation such as Logitech's Google TV companion box. To act as a complete Google TV platform, the Vulkano would also likely need to switch to an Intel Atom processor, like the initial Sony and Logitech Google TV devices. According to Stiles, the ultimate goal is to license its Vulkano technology to other STB vendors. "We're planning to port it to other devices," he said. "There's been a lot of interest." A GPL test case
C2 Microsystems' CC1200 The CC1200 SoC used in the Vulkano decodes all current broadcast formats and a wide variety of Internet content formats, says C2 Microsystems. The SoC is also said to perform audio post-processing and video de-interlacing and scaling for HD displays. The CC1200 transcodes content into several formats for place-shifting and for side-loading onto portable devices, and encodes video for monitoring, chat, and place-shifting applications, says the company.  C2 Micro's CC1200 block diagram (Click to enlarge) Additional features are said to include codec acceleration processors for digital broadcast standards, a 2D graphics accelerator, display and security processors, and extensive media codec support. Capable of encoding at D1 resolution, the SoC can decode digital broadcast video at up to 1080p and Internet content at up to 720p, says C2 Microsystems. Other features are said to include support for DDR2 memory at up to 512MB, as well as support for parallel NAND flash. I/O support includes gigabit Ethernet with an RMII/RGMII interface, USB 2.0 OTG, PCI-Express, SDIO, and various digital and analog A/V interfaces including HDMI, says the company. The CS1200 and earlier CS1100 both offer C2 Micro's Jazz 2 architecture, supported by a Linux 2.6-based Jazz 2 software development kit (SDK). The architecture provides hard real-time processing functions embedded within a pluggable Media Framework, says the company. Stated Steve Stone, CTO at Monsoon, "We designed Vulkano from the ground up to replace single purpose solutions, such as TiVo, Roku, Slingbox, etc. In the coming months we will be pushing new apps to Vulkano owners for free so they can rest assured that this is the first and last product they'll need for all their TV and Internet media needs." Availability Vulkano is available immediately for pre-order at Monsoon Multimedia's MyVulkano website, here and will be available on Aug. 10 at Amazon.com, as well as other selected etailers, retailers, and distributors worldwide, says the company. Pricing is said to be as follows:
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A previous Linux-based DVR from Monsoon Multimedia called the 
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