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HP Updates MediaSmart Server Software

Apr. 13, 2009 Paul Thurrott | Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows

From HP:

HP today announced the release of a software update for the HP MediaSmart Server (EX485/EX487 models), providing remote video streaming and video conversion of unprotected content.

The new software enables the HP MediaSmart Server to automatically convert videos (including unprotected DVDs) into two resolutions. The original, high-resolution file will stream to most devices on a home network including PCs, Macs and gaming systems.

The mobile resolution version of the video can be downloaded and played on popular mobile devices including the iPod touch, iPhone and PlayStationPortable (PSP).

The video converter will transcode most popular video formats into both high and mobile quality MPEG-4 (H.264) versions.

“Our enhanced software features will help eliminate the frustration people experience when attempting to stream their videos to connected devices in the home or remotely to their mobile devices,” said Jason Zajac, vice president and general manager, Worldwide Attach Group, HP. 

In addition, owners of an iPod touch and iPhone can download a new HP MediaSmart Server iStream application at no charge from the iTunes App Store, enabling them to stay connected to their digital media stored on the MediaSmart Server. Users can easily access their pictures, listen to their music collection and watch their favorite videos  – all streamed directly to their mobile devices from their HP MediaSmart Server.

Other software enhancements include an improved mobile streaming user experience, a more robust HP Media Collector, an improved Apple Time Machine configuration, and the ability to create public and private albums in the Photo Viewer.

The HP MediaSmart Server, designed for use with both Microsoft Windows-based and Mac computers, automatically organizes files across PCs and streams media across a home network and the Internet.

Based on the Microsoft Windows Home Server platform, the HP MediaSmart Server EX485/EX487 shipped to customers in January. Acting as the heart of the home network, the MediaSmart Server is a central repository for automatically backing up and accessing digital photos, music, videos and documents from multiple computers on a home network.

Pricing and availability

The software update will be available at no charge later this month as an automatic download to the HP MediaSmart Server (EX485/EX487 models).

I've been working with this software for a while now and should have a review up this week. Obviously, this isn't as big a deal as a major software update, but it's nice to see HP evolving the capabilities of its home server outside of Microsoft's comparatively glacial development schedule. These types of update are one of many reasons why the HP WHS boxes are, in my opinion, the obvious choice.

Discuss this Article 15

dechah
on Apr 13, 2009
Does anybody know if HP will make this software update available to owners of HP's 470 or 475 Mediasmart servers?
stevejobs
on Apr 13, 2009
"The mobile resolution version of the video can be downloaded and played on popular mobile devices including the iPod touch, iPhone and PlayStationPortable (PSP)." What about unpopular products, like the Zune?
WebGuy3000
on Apr 13, 2009
Sorry to post OT in this thread, but Paul updated the Zune HD post to mention a "teaser site," and comments are closed there. zunehd.net doesn't appear to be a Microsoft site. It's registered through godaddy by someone called DomainsByProxy.com in Scottsdale, Arizona. http://who.godaddy.com/WhoIs.aspx?domain=zunehd.net&prog_id=godaddy Compare to the whois info for any real Microsoft site, like zune.net, and draw your own conclusions.
Master3
on Apr 13, 2009
"What about unpopular products, like the Zune?" Yeah, And AppleTV, MacBook Air, OSX, Macintosh computers, and Mobile Me? Those utter failures need to be taken care of too!
johnbaxter
on Apr 13, 2009
WebGuy, DomainsByProxy is GoDaddy's implementation of private registration (yet another Internet breakage caused by the spammers). (Other registrars may use it too--Network Solutions and SRS Plus (wholesale Network Solutions) use another. We now return to this thread. Still looking toward HP's MediaSmart Server product for later in the year (Dell arrival--Apr 17--and bank account recharge first).
notawindowsuser
on Apr 13, 2009
@Master3 So are you saying the Zune is a Utter failure?, because the AppleTV, MacBook Air, OSX, Macintosh computers, and Mobile Me, don't need mobile formats, they are all capable of playing HD formats.
Master3
on Apr 13, 2009
"So are you saying the Zune is a Utter failure?" No. Just illustrating the idiocy of the obvious troll posting of "stevejobs".
subzerohitman721
on Apr 13, 2009
This look like a nice upgrade to the MediaSmart server. Its definitely looking like a product if they keep at it, people will come around to.
Ocean
on Apr 13, 2009
Well, the Windows 7 surveys are rolling in: >>is corporate IT excited about the new operating system, or do they dread yet another release?" They pretty much dread it. The survey, of more than 1,100 IT professionals, is one of the first extensive looks at Windows 7's early sales prospects. It found that a whopping 83% of enterprises plan to skip the OS in its first year. << http://www.informationweek.com/news/windows/operatingsystems/showArticle...
Master3
on Apr 13, 2009
>>They pretty much dread it. The survey, of more than 1,100 IT professionals, is one of the first extensive looks at Windows 7's early sales prospects. It found that a whopping 83% of enterprises plan to skip the OS in its first year. << Stop being a dumb@ss troll. OF COURSE THEY DON'T UPGRADE IN THE FIRST $@!$#@# YEAR! It's not one person in their basement using it. They have to actually test all of their systems/apps/ and equipment to make sure everything works ok. THOUSANDS OF MACHINES! THAT TAKES TIME! But of course, you being a complete insufferable moron, always on the hunt for some anti-MS BS, thought that hey, that must mean they HATE windows7 and are totally disgusted with the idea of using it, and oh so wish they had a nice Mac set up that they would never have to upgrade ever! But in that oh so unlikely event that they ever would, it would be instantaneous, with no effort needed on their part other than to drop unicorn tears on a picture of Steve Jobs. Of course they $$#$# "dread" it you, tool! Doing stuff like this is a shi#load of work! If you actually worked in IT you would know. Now go troll around for that rare company that uses lots of Macs and see how their IT feels about having to upgrade all of those machines. And be stunned to see that they fell the same way.
Waethorn
on Apr 13, 2009
@master: Ocean doesn't do IT. He doesn't get it either. Oh, and as far as the DomainsByProxy thing is concerned, that company is owned by GoDaddy, and Microsoft has a big partnership with them (they are one of only 3 domain hosting providers that support Microsoft's domain API's for SBS). Microsoft has dealt with Network Solutions and Melbourne IT before, but GoDaddy is the king of bulk domain discounts, so it wouldn't surprise me if Microsoft was using them.
Waethorn
on Apr 13, 2009
@master: Ocean was one of those people that said the same thing when he was running Windows 98 and XP was on the way to RTM.
tayme
on Apr 13, 2009
I was going to state something similar to what Master3 said the other day when mikegalos went on about Unix being old technology, but Paul closed the thread before I got around to it. It is obvious who of the regular posters on this site actually support large production shops and who don't. Whether it is in the datacenter or on the desktop, upgrade projects in a large environment are time consuming and take careful planning. You have to make sure that you do not impact production in any way at the same time that you test each application and transaction type using hardware that will match your future state. Whether it is on Unix, Windows, zOS, whatever. Sure some of the technologies are old...but if they are still supported by companies like HP, Dell, Sun, IBM, even Apple...and continue to outperform anything that is considered "new technology", most shops are going to stick with the tried and true. So, all of you evangelists, consultants, sales people, and basement kiddies...think what you want about your OS of choice. Those of us that support large scale production environments will continue to snicker everytime you post your stats, dates, and white papers showing us how much better whatever you are harping on about at the time is supposed to be for our companies. --tayme
mikegalos@msn.com
on Apr 13, 2009
tayme Two things: 1) Master3 didn't reply to the comment you're talking about so it's hard to tell which comment you're agreeing with. Did you confuse Master3 and Lindy? How? 2) If you go back and reread what I said, you'll find that there's no contradiction between your statements here and what I actually said. I called the situation tragic but didn't claim it wasn't the current state of affairs. It's precisely the lack of compelling new technology that allows antiquated architectures to continue to be viable. Again, tragic because it does reflect the real world.
tayme
on Apr 13, 2009
@mikegalos - 1) Master3's frustration is with people that do not understand real world support of large scale environments posting idiotic comments. So no, there was no confusion on my part. 2) Are you saying that even Microsoft is guilty of not developing "compelling new technology"? Your statement "That anyone in the computer industry can justify the countless hours wasted on tweaking the old rather than inventing the new is one of the great tragedies of our age and I will rail against it at every opportunity." is also true of Microsoft. I stand by my comment about as long as we in the production support arena continue to recieve support from the upper echelon of technology companies AND they out perform the "latest and greatest" that is presented, we will continue to utilize them. Until it can be proven through true independent testing in an environment that can successfully simulate a true production environment, we will continue to laugh every time we go to the dog and pony shows that are given. Take fibre channel SAN fabrics...once it was proven that the continued support cost savings out weighd the initial infrastructure investment, nearly all large scale datacenters moved away from JBOD, DASD, and big standalone SCSI arrays. This was done over a long period of testing as described above...not through sales people and evangelist claims. I still laugh at the old joke about the difference between a used car salesman and a technology salesman...The used car salesman KNOWS when he is lying. So true! --tayme

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