Netgear Launches Digital Entertainer HD

Cross-platform device streams digital content over home networks to high-definition entertainment systems.

As Apple begins to ship the Apple TV, wireless equipment manufacturer, Netgear is now shipping its Digital Entertainer HD (EVA8000) device in the U.S.

Similar in size to a standard DVD player, the device ships worldwide in the second quarter of 2007, the company confirmed.

Digital Entertainer HD is a cross-platform device for streaming digital content over home 802.11n networks to high-definition home entertainment systems.

The US$399 system works with Windows and Mac, network storage devices, and USB media devices and can stream media from sites like YouTube and Flickr. It will play movies acquired at BitTorrent's new online film marketplace.

Additional features include support for Windows Media Connect and the capacity to stream many unprotected file formats from Macs and Linux computers, flash drives and iPods.

It can play internet radio stations and access RSS news feeds and NOAA weather and maps. It comes with a remote control.

The solution automatically discovers HD movies, TV shows, music files, and photos available to a home network, across multiple computers. It organizes these into a single media library displayed on the TV with no need for media server software running on the computer.