Looks like a new HD Satellite Service will be coming soon:

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2007/12/20071213-xstreamhd.jpg

XStreamHD (http://www.xstreamhd.com/index.html)

Pictures of the Set Top Boxes (http://www.engadget.com/photos/hands-on-with-the-xstreamhd-boxes/)

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/2008/01/xstreamhd_rec.jpg

This has been announced at CES2008:

Engadget HD info on XStreamHD (http://www.engadgethd.com/tag/XStreamHD/)

The XStreamHD Revolution

XStreamHD is leading the Full HD revolution with the first transport network to bring 1080p video and 7.1 channels of lossless audio directly to the home via satellite. Never before has there been a home theater experience that combines all of the features, quality, value, and convenience that consumers want. XStreamHD offers affordable access to the highest quality HD movies, music, broadcast TV, electronic games, and more - without the limitations of programming schedules, storage space, or physical media, and without the hassles of video rental stores, slow mail service, or out-of-stock titles. With XStreamHD, consumers will never miss the new releases or the broadcast HD content they love. The hottest movies and new releases are delivered via satellite, while vintage titles may be delivered over a broadband Internet connection.

With XStreamHD, consumers can build a customized, unique, and unparalleled in-home entertainment network and enjoy the content they want most, when it's most convenient, anywhere in the home, and at the quality today's home theaters were designed to support. Only XStreamHD's proprietary technology delivers video in Full HD (1080p) - twice the quality of current cable and satellite offerings - and up to 7.1 channels of lossless audio, achieving sound quality that is identical to the studio master and surpassing any other direct-to-home service available.

The complete XStreamHD solution includes three core components that are quickly and easily installed by the user or, if preferred, by a qualified technician. The first is a small outdoor satellite antenna that captures multiple streams of Full HD content delivered by XStreamHD through existing standard geosynchronous satellites. From the dish, titles are stored centrally in the XStreamHD Media Server located inside the home. The Media Server stores your pre-selected titles in your Virtual Personal Library until you access them with any XStreamHD Media Receiver or DLNA-compliant device throughout your XStreamHD home network.

Pricing & Availability

The XStreamHD solution will be available to consumers in early Q4 2008. The introductory price for a complete XStreamHD home solution, including a Media Server and a Media Receiver, is available to initial subscribers starting at just $399.

Featured System Highlights

-- Satellite delivery of Full HD 1080p video, MPEG-2 or MPEG-4/H.264 in 4:3 or 16:9 screen formats

-- Satellite delivery of up to 7.1 channels 96kHz/24bits of lossless DTS-HD(TM) Master Audio

-- View four Full HD video streams simultaneously throughout the home

-- Learns users' choices and preferences to adopt their entertainment profile and continuously updates the Virtual Personal Library with titles they're likely to enjoy

-- Equipped with three ATSC tuners and a Network Video Recorder for viewing and recording three HDTV broadcasts at the same time - even while watching a fourth selection from your Virtual Personal Library(TM)

-- Patent Pending Adaptive Recording(TM) ensures accurate recording of HDTV programs from start to finish, even if broadcast schedules change or are delayed

-- Easy-to-use on-screen menus to manage content preferences, parental controls, spending limits

-- DLNA v1.5 certified to integrate all compatible devices on the XStreamHD network

-- Dual slide-in drive bays enable scalable storage featuring Seagate(R) Technology hard drive storage - 500GB, 1 TB, 2 TB options - and the ability to configure an external storage subsystem via the eSATA interface

-- Includes a feature-rich Personal PBX business-class phone system; also supports VoIP calls and offers free calls between XStreamHD subscribers

-- Uses gigabit Ethernet (GigE) permitting the transfer of HD video and audio at 1 gbps throughout the home

-- HDMI interface simplifies installation and ensures signal integrity for vibrant 1080p video

-- Front panel USB port for MP3 audio downloads

XStreamHD @ CES

Interesting - sounds like they are going for the BluRay/HD-DVD quality end of the market with MPEG4 and DTS-HD MA audio.

Will be interesting to see the delivery mechanism - whether it is selective push (you chose which of the films scheduled to be pushed you store - so you don't store movies you'll never watch and need terabytes of disc space), simple push (where everyone gets the same movies filling up their hard drive), some form of demographic push (where it tries to automatically chose what you want), or some form of pull (where you request a movie from a list and it is then sent to you)

Suspect the latter is very inefficient - and could be faked with a selective push model?

*** EDIT - just read the Engadget article. Talks about "Up to 2TB of hard disc space. That sounds like Push rather than Pull - given that an HD-DVD/BluRay typically takes less (sometimes a lot less) than 30Gb for the feature at decent MPEG4 AVC quality? ***

Wonder how much transponder capacity they have - that would dictate how much content they can distribute in a given time period.

updates added above

I believe they are saying it can be used much like the HDHomerun product. You put the product on the network and it can be seen by MythTV or Windows MCE for them to do the recording.

is this a voom wannabe?

I too am seriously confused by what exactly this is. It kind of sounds like a poor mans Kaliedescape system, but instead of loading the movies yourself, you buy/rent them from the service and it gets beamed to your box over sat. Supposedly in 1080p/DTS-HD MA. Once its on your box, you can share it simultaneously across 4 TVs.

One positive I see, is that it is NOT like Voom that put up their own sats with a lot of expense. They are using existing sats. So it seems like a more of a "leasing transponders" type deal.

The press conference sounded pretty confusing from what I heard :).

Even though I don't live in North America, I find this service very interesting. As far as I can tell, this is some kind of VOD-service using either satellite or even the internet for distribution.

The box itself supports mpeg2 and h.264 in bitrates up to 80 mbit and 7.1 lossless DTS-HD Master Audio! On top of that it has 3 ATSC-tuners so you can grab some OTA HD-content. For storage, it supports up to 2TB internally and a eSATA-connector for even more external storage.

It's DLNA compliant and can stream up to 4 1080p-streams simultaneously over the network, through it's gigabit ethernetport.

If they get some decent content, this service seems pretty interesting.

Specs: http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/08/xstreamhd-details-continue-to-emerge/

From the pressconference: http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/08/xstreamhd-unveiled-press-conference-live/

The company itself, XStream HD: http://www.xstreamhd.com/

Found the hardware images here (http://www.slashgear.com/ces-2008-xstreamhd-satellite-1080p-media-system-089517.php)

Interesting - sounds like they are going for the BluRay/HD-DVD quality end of the market with MPEG4 and DTS-HD MA audio.

Will be interesting to see the delivery mechanism - whether it is selective push (you chose which of the films scheduled to be pushed you store - so you don't store movies you'll never watch and need terabytes of disc space), simple push (where everyone gets the same movies filling up their hard drive), some form of demographic push (where it tries to automatically chose what you want), or some form of pull (where you request a movie from a list and it is then sent to you)

Suspect the latter is very inefficient - and could be faked with a selective push model?

*** EDIT - just read the Engadget article. Talks about "Up to 2TB of hard disc space. That sounds like Push rather than Pull - given that an HD-DVD/BluRay typically takes less (sometimes a lot less) than 30Gb for the feature at decent MPEG4 AVC quality? ***

Wonder how much transponder capacity they have - that would dictate how much content they can distribute in a given time period.

I would think they'd have a queue based system. After you watched (deleted) a movie, it would just start downloading the next one in your queue . Based on the plan, maybe you'd be limited to to like 20 downloads a month, depending on your plan, or it would just be PPV (all conjecture on my part)

Interested to see what the subscription plans are. If they can deliver the content, the $399 price, and a reasonable subscription plan, I'll be all over it.

looks cool if i can keep the movies i get

Would be super slick if they can integrate with SAT providers. DirecTV announced PC adapters with dual tuners in them... if they could somehow hook up to that, this thing would be killer.

How long will it take to download? Will I have to decided what movie I want to watch a full day before I want to watch it?

It won't take off. I'd rather buy a movie than rent it.

How long will it take to download? Will I have to decided what movie I want to watch a full day before I want to watch it?

It won't take off. I'd rather buy a movie than rent it.

I guess you could consider it an equivalent to Netflix or Amazon's DVD rental service? You could have an online list of movies you want to watch, which are downloaded over time, and then once you've watched them on your box, they are deleted and replaced?

Looking at the aims and functionality of the device it does appear very ambitious... Hope it doesn't end up being vapourware.

This sounds like a really cool product to me. I don't buy too many HD media disks because I know I'll rarely watch them more than once. Netflix allows up to 3 movies at a time. There are quite a few times I have company that wants to watch flicks in the theater but I am limited to the 3 netflix movies and this could really fill that void and eliminate netflix. They have my attention. Now it just comes down to the price whether subscription service or PPV.

I have to say this has my interest can't wait to learn more about this product. This almost sounds to good to be true.

If they get some decent content, this service seems pretty interesting.

I think that's the key question right there.

If the Movie industry does not gum up the works they are supposed to have whatever movie is available in disk format as soon as it is released to disk. I just hope that greedy Sony does not offer incentives to the movie studio's to hold back content from XstreamHD.
Lets face it we need to progress forward with technology. If XstreamHd is capable of offering BluRay quality downloads for rent or purchase to a media server then BluRAy is no longer needed except for those that cannot get line of sight to the satellite.

is this a voom wannabe?

that is what I thought too: look what happened to VOOM

this sounds like a wonderful service: somewhat skeptical though as to its chances for success

Sounds interesting. Kind of like an updated Unity Motion service crossed with Netflix. My one question is how much is the monthly cost? It says $399, but it is not clear if that is the up front cost plus a sub cost per moth based on what you get or if it is a $399 per moth all you can watch type of system.

sounds good... to have everything on a server would declunk the movies

WOW sign me up.

Didn't Disney already screw this concept up with Moviebeam?

Sounds interesting. Kind of like an updated Unity Motion service crossed with Netflix. My one question is how much is the monthly cost? It says $399, but it is not clear if that is the up front cost plus a sub cost per moth based on what you get or if it is a $399 per moth all you can watch type of system.

My understanding is $399 is the equipment cost. Yet to see how much the subscription is (or subscription plans, which I would assume there would be several of).

I am definitely keeping my eye open for any news about this.

...Based on the plan, maybe you'd be limited to to like 20 downloads a month, depending on your plan, or it would just be PPV (all conjecture on my part)

Interested to see what the subscription plans are. If they can deliver the content, the $399 price, and a reasonable subscription plan, I'll be all over it.

I agree. I think if the price is right and they can deliver on the content I could see them giving netflix a run for the money. I would easily drop netflix for this service.

this sounds like voom all over again....Appealing to such a small niche never works.

Nothing like Voom except that it is a niche product. This will not replace your television provider.

Nothing like Voom except that it is a niche product. This will not replace your television provider.

tell us more?

I hear they are leasing spot beam slots

I agree. I think if the price is right and they can deliver on the content I could see them giving netflix a run for the money. I would easily drop netflix for this service.

I agree. Even if it was $50 a month, if I can get the content without worrying about scratched discs while at the same time eliminating the "Very Long Waits" in my queue and the whole waiting for the mail (not to mention no mail on Sundays or Holidays), I'd drop Netflix in a second.

Of course, for much more than $50 a month, I'd have to think about it.

I am eagerly awaiting more details.

I agree. Even if it was $50 a month, if I can get the content without worrying about scratched discs while at the same time eliminating the "Very Long Waits" in my queue and the whole waiting for the mail (not to mention no mail on Sundays or Holidays), I'd drop Netflix in a second.

Of course, for much more than $50 a month, I'd have to think about it.

I am eagerly awaiting more details.

Great concept, but no content providers have signed on yet. It's all just neat tech until they do.

Great concept, but no content providers have signed on yet. It's all just neat tech until they do.

I am guessing they need some marketing blitz before they will get any providers to sign up. I am guessing CES has done that for them???

Great concept, but no content providers have signed on yet. It's all just neat tech until they do.

Agreed, but it still seems that the holy grail of home entertainment is on the way, and not as long as I would have thought.

Lots of storage (TB's) for all sorts of content. Lossless audio files to broadcast televsion to 1080p movies. Choices of multiple distribution methods (store purchased (disc, memory sticks) or the obvious downloads via internet or sat. A slick handheld device or remote(s)controlling the different zones of the home through networked software.

It sounds awesome except for all of the DRM issues that will inevitably arise.

I have a bridge in New York I would like to sell.......................

I have a bridge in New York I would like to sell.......................

and a HDDVD player.

tell us more?

I hear they are leasing spot beam slots

I'm only basing my comment on the specs listed above. 3 ATSC tuners so you can watch 4 channels in the home at one time (3 OTA channels and an HD program previously downloaded.

That doesn't sound compatible with most households' television requirements.

It may not be a VOOM wannabe but this discussion sure has that old VOOM feeling. I would only hope that if this sucker gets off the ground and then tanks, that the early subscribers will be treated as well as we early VOOMers were when VOOM finally went dark.

The features listed above look very interesting to me. Imagine if they could integrate it with satellite based SD and HDTV stations (e.g. DirecTV) so the media hub could also be used as a centralized DVR. Then you have 4 or more receivers (with their own HDTVs) that radiate out from the hub and each can independently and simultaneously deliver recorded 1080p movies as well as 480i/720p/1080i TV programming. That would be awesome!

I have a bridge in New York I would like to sell.......................

already sold. It helps to own it first. :D

The features listed above look very interesting to me. Imagine if they could integrate it with satellite based SD and HDTV stations (e.g. DirecTV) so the media hub could also be used as a centralized DVR. Then you have 4 or more receivers (with their own HDTVs) that radiate out from the hub and each can independently and simultaneously deliver recorded 1080p movies as well as 480i/720p/1080i TV programming. That would be awesome!

Yep - though Microsoft are nearly at that point with Windows Media Center, now it supports cable cards and is likely to gain the DirecTV USB external dual tuner that was leaked recently. Given that HD-DVD supports managed copy - then it is conceivable that you'd be able to play HD-DVDs ripped to a central server, watch live TV and downloaded movies over your network using media center extenders or an Xbox 360. (Managed copy HD-DVD would require enough processing power on the extenders to process dual streams and run the interactive layer - which the 360 can do as it already plays HD-DVDs)

If the Movie industry does not gum up the works they are supposed to have whatever movie is available in disk format as soon as it is released to disk. I just hope that greedy Sony does not offer incentives to the movie studio's to hold back content from XstreamHD.
Lets face it we need to progress forward with technology. If XstreamHd is capable of offering BluRay quality downloads for rent or purchase to a media server then BluRAy is no longer needed except for those that cannot get line of sight to the satellite.

all the PPVs come out long after the DVDs are out, so they'd have to do a lot of convincing with the studios. and you know those studio execs are scared witless of doing anything new or different.

Agreed, but it still seems that the holy grail of home entertainment is on the way, and not as long as I would have thought.

Lots of storage (TB's) for all sorts of content. Lossless audio files to broadcast televsion to 1080p movies. Choices of multiple distribution methods (store purchased (disc, memory sticks) or the obvious downloads via internet or sat. A slick handheld device or remote(s)controlling the different zones of the home through networked software.

It sounds awesome except for all of the DRM issues that will inevitably arise.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see this get off the ground. But before I lay down $400 they'll have to have some significant content deals signed. Otherwise Netflix will keep doing the job for me.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see this get off the ground. But before I lay down $400 they'll have to have some significant content deals signed. Otherwise Netflix will keep doing the job for me.

To clarify; I'm not saying that Xstream HD is the end all; I just like the direction that everything is going.

For homes with structured wiring in place, the hardware concept is a dream: a central server in the closet with up to 4 client players fed by gig-e drops. Might even be possible to bridge them with wireless AP's! But I digress...

I'm curious about the presence of component video output jacks on the client player. I find it hard to believe many content providers will be willing to allow first-run 1080p material be played out an "analog hole" device. Would the component output be down-rez'ed? I could see the component outputs being disabled if there is an HDMI sink connected, but what about some legacy HD receiver/monitors with no HDMI in?

Just thinkin'...

If the Movie industry does not gum up the works they are supposed to have whatever movie is available in disk format as soon as it is released to disk. I just hope that greedy Sony does not offer incentives to the movie studio's to hold back content from XstreamHD.
Lets face it we need to progress forward with technology. If XstreamHd is capable of offering BluRay quality downloads for rent or purchase to a media server then BluRAy is no longer needed except for those that cannot get line of sight to the satellite.

I went to the xstreamhd website today and found Sony prominently featured in the video describing the service - at least the PS3. I would assume that we could expect SPHE content if there is a partnership with Sony and xstreamhd.

I'm curious about the presence of component video output jacks on the client player. I find it hard to believe many content providers will be willing to allow first-run 1080p material be played out an "analog hole" device.

Are you equally confused/curious about component out on HD DVD players and BD players. Eventually component will get shut off on HDM and likely at the same time agreements between this service and the studios will require them to shut component off.

I guess I don't see the risk. Analog is likely going to be downgraded and then shutoff everywhere at the same time. The content companies are the ones pushing for this, the medium doesn't matter. It might be in a year (unlikely) or in 4-5 years. Either way if you have a component only HDTV you are equally screwed because nothing HD is going to work (sat, cable, HD DVD, BD, HD downloads, etc).

this sounds like voom all over again....Appealing to such a small niche never works.
nothing like voom at all.

$10/month subscription (that may not be there when the launch)

$2.99 - $4.99 movie rental
$399 hardware than includes a 500Mbyte HDD media server and a settop box to grab the signal.

80 Mbps transfer rate that exceeds that of blu-ray peak!

You queue the movies (like Netflix) and they download when they are available. They are stored on your server for future use. You can add drives to store more content. The server also contains an eSATA plug so you can add more drives!

with downloadable hd movies being widely available in a year or two. blu ray may
win nothing at all. if this format catches on who needs a br.

$10/month subscription (that may not be there when the launch)

$2.99 - $4.99 movie rental
$399 hardware than includes a 500Mbyte HDD media server and a settop box to grab the signal.

80 Mbps transfer rate that exceeds that of blu-ray peak!

You queue the movies (like Netflix) and they download when they are available. They are stored on your server for future use. You can add drives to store more content. The server also contains an eSATA plug so you can add more drives!
I assume you mean 500GByte, not MB since they haven't made drives that small since about 1990. Heck, even CDs hold more than that...

You thought the war between the two hd disk formats was bad wait untill the HD downloads get into full swing.
Between apple tv, amazon downloads, netflix, vudo etc. Right now StreamHD has my vote.

For StreamHD to really make it they will need full support of the movie studio's. we know one studio that will resist, I think it begins with an "S".
Also if they expect us to purchase the hardware and the cost of rentals and purchases are going to be equal to store prices.
Then i think the movie studio's should support StreamHD's overhead costs and not us the consumer. Otherwise why not stay with HDOD supplied by your local cable or fiber optic provider.

Missed it if vertical filtering has been outlined elsewhere. 1080p-only distribution, it seems, should eliminate the need for vertical filtering to minimize line twittering for 1080i distribution/viewing. If needed for interlaced-CRT users, the filtering might be built into the decoder (plus 2-3 pulldown for movies). Still wouldn't provide a full 1080 lines of effective vertical resolution, AIUI, unless perhaps the 1080p movie source originated from a 4k-resolution file: (much closer to 1080, just as 1080/24p master tapes downrezzed for 720p boosts its limiting resolution (http://archive2.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=5667245&&#post5667245).)

Reads like they could also distribute 1080/60p (3 Gbps uncompressed vs standard 1.5 Gbps), which according to this short pdf paper (http://www.ambarella.com/docs/1080p60.pdf) only requires a 20% higher bit rate. 1080/60p's higher vertical correlation, according to that paper, simplifies compression and "means that twice the vertical resolution can be obtained." Assume that doubling refers to standard 1080i/p@1.5 Gbps tending to appear like 540p during motion (see intro Resolution paragraph (http://www.atsc.org/news_information/papers/1995_acats/tsreport.pdf))--as well as elimination of vertical filtering. -- John