Ceton announces new 6-tuner outboard whole-house DVR system

Just in case this announcement at CES was not seen by Media Center users reading this forum, here's the article on Engadget:

Ceton previews multi-room DVR and Echo extender (hands-on)


Here is a video demonstration.


Home Entertainment
Ceton previews multi-room DVR and Echo extender (hands-on)

By Ben Drawbaugh posted Jan 10th 2012 3:01PM


The company that has almost single handedly spurred the golden age of CableCARD has found a new way to deliver its technology to consumers with a 6 tuner multi-room DVR with a 2TB hard drive, codenamed Q, and its companion extender, codenamed Echo. No word on the price of either but both are expected to ship in 2012.

While the Q and Echo might look like Microsoft Media Center, they aren't. Based on the Windows 7 Embedded platform, the Q picks up where Microsoft left off but still leverages the great DVR functionality and free guide data.

In addition to being used as an extender for the Q, the Echo is also a fully compliant Extender for Windows Media Center.

The Echo will support both ethernet and MoCA for communication to the source and has HDMI-CEC for control as well as an included remote. When used with the Q, it will extend the entire Q experience, including streaming sources and enhanced search that facilitates content discovery.

Speaking of the Q, that slot up front is a Blu-ray drive and in addition to being able to play Blu-ray Discs, the plan is to integrate as many streaming sources as possible (no partners to announce yet, though).

The Q will also work with other Extenders for Windows Media Center, like the Xbox 360, but while the custom themes are there, the other streaming options aren't.

Ceton has even developed a Windows 8 Metro and Windows Phone 7 app to extend the Q experience to the handhelds -- iOS apps are on the road map. These apps are primarily designed to be companions to the Q's search and discovery features, but will provide access to content via WiFi.

I believe I have found MECCA and its name is Ceton Q.

This is exactly what I have been searching for!
Currently, I'm using MCE7, Ceton Infini4 and two Xbox360s to get a very similar experience. However, my ideal setup is small boxes that can be VESA or hidden mounted behind flat screens and a primary box that does all the MCE work down in the basement next to the router.

Voila!!! Ceton has done it again!

About time the Extender has evolved beyond the clunky, power hungry Xbox 360/HTPC realm.

I beleive SageTV was very close to accomplishing this as well - until Google sent them to oblivion.

More in-depth 27-minute video on Q/Echo can be viewed here.

I just hope their price point makes the Echo a viable alternative to a used Xbox 360 that I can find on Craigslist for under $100. So if the Echos sell for around $80, I'm game.