AMD aims media servers at Christmas shoppers

Market for networked households is kicked started as festive season gets underway

AMD is targeting the home market in the run-up to Christmas with its first series of media servers designed for networked homes.
AMD’s Live Home Media Server line is based on AMD64 processors and Microsoft’s Windows Home Ser-ver software. The new-media servers are designed to allow consumers to store, access and share PC files, movies, photos and music throughout the home and remotely.
The first AMD Live system is the HP MediaSmart Server, but more are expected in the coming months from Medion and others. The Medion MD 90110 Home Server will launch in the UK, France, Germany and Spain before the end of the year.
According to market researcher IDC, multi-PC networked households with broadband are expected to grow to 150 million worldwide by 2010.
“As more consumers shift their media collections from hard copies to digital files, the need for adequate storage and file-sharing solutions becomes more important,” said IDC senior research analyst Ida Rose Sylvester. “Solutions that allow customers to consolidate, manage and protect their burgeoning digital media collections will be in high demand.”
Bob Brewer, corporate vice president of marketing and strategy at AMD’s computing solutions group, said: “We are excited to work with industry leaders HP and Microsoft to help pioneer a new class of user-friendly consumer electronics for home networking. The AMD Live solution was designed to simplify and enhance digital entertainment experiences. Helping consumers protect their valuable digital memories is a vital aspect of that vision.”
AMD is pushing its Live solutions for both homes and small busines-ses that are looking to centrally store and back up a lot of digital files.
The systems can stream content around the home via wired or wireless networks to TVs, hi-fis and home entertainment systems.
AMD has worked with software providers to develop entertainment applications for the systems. SageTV Media software, for example, will let users watch, pause and record live TV any time, and from anywhere, over an internet connection.
“The combination of AMD technology, the HP MediaSmart Server and Windows Home Server helps families protect, organise and share digital experiences,” said Steven VanRoekel, Microsoft’s director of Windows Server Solutions. “Our relationships with AMD and HP help create a new category of solutions for the needs of the connected home.”
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