Long time platform nVidia Ion didn’t have any competitor in case if it’s needed compact, noiseless HTPC with 1080p support. Maybe that’s why its second generation was mostly marketing ploy. But now situation changed. AMD launched its new platform AMD E-350 APU which combines CPU and GPU on one chip. And according to information Hot Hardware and AnandTech it beats Intel Atom D525 with ION 2 on all categories except gaming – productivity, music, PCMarks, communications, and movies. Moreover, AMD E-350 APU supports Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA bitstreaming over HDMI. So, looks like nVidia should know what new features and improvements will be in the third generation of Ion. If it’ll be released, of course.

[via eHomeUpgrade]

Iomega launched two new HD media players in the ScreenPlay lineup – Iomega ScreenPlay DX HD Media Player and its lightweight model, Iomega ScreenPlay TV Link DX HD Media Player. Both of them offer access to services like Netflix and Pandora, are DLNA certified, support 1080p video playback with Dolby / DTS decoding. Players can be connected to LAN over WiFi using USB adapter. The wireless controller with QWERTY keyboard makes navigation in the media library or web pages easy and comfortable. So, the Iomega ScreenPlay players look nice. But I’d like to see the Iomega Boxee model more.

The prices of new Iomega players are reasonable. The ScreenPlay DX HD Media Player with internal 1TB HDD can be found in B&H at $199.95. 2TB model is priced at $299.99. The diskless ScreenPlay TV Link DX HD Media Player is $149.99.

[via eHomeUpgrade]

Samsung announced its new $99.99 remote control included QWERTY keyboard. It’ll make navigation through various online media services added to Samsung Smart TVs more convenient.

The new Samsung QWERTY TV Remote will come bundled with LED D8000 and D7000 Series and Plasma D8000 Series Smart TVs. It’ll be also compatible with LED D6300 Series models and up.

Syabas who produces well-known HD networked media tanks Popcorn Hour and media streamers PopBox, just announced a support of Matroska 3D container on its devices. That feature will be available via free firmware update. The owners of the Popcorn Hour C-200 and the A-200/210 can get support of MK3D even now. PopBox update is on the way.

Actually this is a nice feature. Especially no other media streamers can do that. But the problem with to find some 3D movie converted from 3D Blu-ray to MK3D. I guess only Torrents will an option.

[via eHomeUpgrade]

I recently wrote about kwikwai – device which is used to send control command over LAN, USB or RS232 to the AV equipment connected to it via HDMI. Actually it should replace old school IR transmitters to integrate AV equipment into whole house control system. RainShadow offers similar device but it works opposite way, i.e. it sens commands from AV equipment to the HTPC using HDMI-CEC technology. Currently the HDMI-CEC to USB and RS-232 bridge is supported by both Windows and Linux without custom device drivers.

If you’re interested to buy the HDMI-CEC to USB and RS-232 bridge you can do it now by reasonable price – $134 including international shipping.