I think he's also asking about native output. Say you switch to a 720P channel. Does it provide 720p to the set, or does it change to 1080i or whatever you have your extender set up for.

Lots of folks want native resolution pass through. If he isnt asking that, then I am :)

Yeah, I agree. Overall, I like the new logo (the old one was getting kind of dated looking) but I think the color should be different or at least other colors added.

For that matter, anybody know how the name "Sage" was chosen for our beloved software? Does it imply sage as in the spice? or a 'wise old sage?', or what?

-PGPfan

Sorry, I have to correct my earlier post. It doesn't look like the MG-35 at all. I got confused with a device I saw earlier at CES and it isn't the MG-35.

What was being shown isn't in final packaging. It just had a power switch on the front, and no other controls. No dvd slot, and it's pretty light.

It looks a little bit like the HDHomeRun, except flatter profile and about the size of a small textbook.

I forgot to bring my camera - I had it out but it was early when I left for the airport and I forgot it. I'll see if one of my friends here doesn't have a cmera I can take some pictures with and post them after the show today.

I am pretty sure it can decode MPEG-4 in HD, but will ask again today.

thanks,
mike

I'm very curious as to how it handles 480i as well. There is still a lot of programming than is SD so it needs to do a good job on all types of content.

you are at CES! There are digital cameras everywhere, steal one!! :D

I'll upload some H.264 captured content if they want to show it off :)

If this device really uses Sigma's latest and greatest, there should be no transcoding required for most formats incl h.264.

http://www.sigmadesigns.com/public/P...30_series.html

Glad to hear you all like the HD extender and the new media server. :) They'll be out sometime in Q2 of '07.

Most of your discussions are pretty accurate so far on it. You're all pretty good guessers.

And it does play HDD based DVDs since that was asked a few times. ;) And it can also do 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i output over component or DVI.

Care to comment if it will do native resolution pass through (optionally)? Leaving the TV/Display to switch modes, rather than forcing everything to 1 resolution.

Here's hoping for early Q2!!! :goodjob:

Can you say.........Pre-orders?
Put me down for two :D

Or say, a Gennum VXP. :D

I'm probably good for one, two if it can replace my HTPC (see below).

That's one thing down....

Just to clarify, does/can/could it automatically switch to a "native" output format (ie if you play an SD recording, 480i, 720p->720p, 1080i->1080i) or do we have to choose one.

The next quesiton is, can it handle aspect ratio control for video in addition to UI? Ie can it alone compensate for non-square pixel displays (2.35:1 displays)?

it may have some competition from the new Apple TV. Think Sage can get its shows streamed to it?

Media server????

I'll need one for sure; migrating to the HDTV scene soon as we get some $$$ put back.

I thought I heard the Apple TV will have a hard drive, if so, they can not beat the price from SAGE. Apple probably will add thier DRM to the stream, iTunes store and everything, to keep the studios happy. I would hope this would not cause a problem but it could be a road block for anybody trying to use it for other things beside Apple content.

It's a pre-configured hardware/software system that is in an Antec 'Aria' case from what I understand. It just means that a potential customer wont have to setup anythng.

-PGPfan

it does have a HD, a small one - 40GB, syncs with 1 Itunes computer but can accept streams of up to 5.

Price - no competition - 300.

However, since there are other uses for it, I am more inclined to buy one of those. If sage could make a server plugin for Itunes to make recordings available - then I could watch them via the Apple TV that way :) I'd even be willing to pay for the plug-in - the same fee we pay for the media extender license. Only fair I think.

Then again, maybe one of the gurus on this forum will figure out how to make a free plug-in that does the same thing? (I see profit opportunity for Sage here)

Or rather, BETA testers??? :D I'll beta test it if need be! ;)

Uh, yeah, I'll be happy to beta test too!

Good for one now. Second one probably later this year.

The iTV can only do 720p, but it has HDMI though, along with DVI and component. It cost $300.

Details! We need more details and some official press releases! Plus LOTS of pictures.

Oh and what about 1080p?

seriously....Sign me up for the Beta list on this one! I have tons of HD content to start enjoying on my 55" HDTV! :goodjob:

I'm up for a beta... Watching HD while recording 3-4 HD streams is murder on my server.

Any beta might actually involve purchasing one of those devices - at least that's how I would do it.

Still, I think, there won't be any shortage of testers ;)

I hope analog outputs are available... would be nice to have a more powerful extender available, such as no transcoding for divx/xvid, or even down resed HDTV.

Narflex,
What's there to like, we ain't seen nothin yet!:D

Seriously, can you at least divulge if the HD extender will be based on an existing box or will it be something OEMed for SageTV?

Also will it be available and supported for European users (PAL support etc)?

Will its announcement be in Q2 as well?

This would have been great about 1-1.5 years ago... Have a whole house full of XBOX 360 to watch HD content now through my MCE interface.

Oh well.

Jason Bottjen

And if you are in an area that is getting ATT U-verse, or have another provider going the 'Microsoft TV' way, you are going to love whats coming for the XBOX! (http://on10.net/blogs/tina/you-heard...arbon-is-real/)

Hell, i'd buy 2 to get into the beta group ;)

I.

pics are strangely missing from this thread 2 days later... :(

c'mon fellas please wet our appetite just a little bit more and oh yeah, i'll be waiting on that beta-team invitation - i have $400 just burning a hole in my pocket here :D

Sign me up ;)

Put me down as a beta testers, and I'll pre-order 2 today (if I could)! :clap:

Here's my order:

QTY: 2
Product: Sage HD Extender
Ship to: address on file

Let me know if you need more info. ;)

Thanks in advance. :thumb:


(probably be here Day 1 of Q2) :clap:


Gerry

Ok, I have good news and bad news.

The bad news is that I didn't have time to get back to the sage booth and take pics before flying home.

The good news is that a friend of mine who is also a power sage user is still at the show today, and I called him up and he took pics of the HD extender with his cell phone. So as soon as I get them from him I'll post them.

thanks,
mike

Hey you guys......Get in line:D

Will the new server use windows or linux?

Have I not been saying for quite a while that the HD extender is a Linktheater from Buffalo? (Well, look like it might not be a off the shelf one, but surely based on it, and I'd bet dollars to doughnuts it's the LT guts in a new fancy case...).

Now to find the order link so I can order 2 for me, and a multitude for my customers :p.

ok... Lets see... List of things to do...

1. get new HD Media Extender

2. Put Better System board & CPU from Client PC into Server

3. Sell Server System Board, CPU, Case, Etc.. on EBay

So Jeff... Where is the Sign up list for these puppies ??? :jump:

More on iTV

Hmm. I didn't know it did that. iPodifier (which I still use in preference to sage's transcoding) has a great feature that when it's done transcoding it inserts the updated file into iTunes ready for sync with your iPod. Is should be more than trivial for that to be updated to simply stick referenced files straight into iTunes...

Now, if the sage extender worked as well / better than the MVPs do for SD stuff and is available before the end of Q2 then I won't even bother looking at the Apple Toy. Even though I love both Apple and toys!

here are pics of the front and back (or vice versa).

Thanks Pez, PICTURES!!! :clap:

I for one, can't wait to get a couple of these... I still was hoping it had a built-in DVD player (maybe they can slip one in for the production model.)

come on Sage guys, put a dvd player in it!