Editors' Top Rated Media Centres

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  Apple has killed the video store; will ISPs be next?

  The Olympics are nearly over, and the Australian team deserves kudos for an excellent performance all around. Yet even as the Olympic sun sets on the Bird's Nest for the last time this weekend, millions of spectators around the world will be scanning their dials in the hope of finding something else to fill their viewing hours.

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  HD Olympics: A look behind the scenes

  We take a tour through the International Broadcast Centre at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, plus see some of the technology employed at the Olympic venues.

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  Inside Apple's new Chatswood store

  Apple selected a shopping centre in suburban Sydney as the location for its second retail outlet in the Asia Pacific. Our photo gallery takes you to its grand opening.

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  What's hot in AV: CEDIA 2008

  The CEDIA 2008 show on the Gold Coast is the closest thing we have to CES in Vegas, and we went along to find some of Australia's newest AV gear.

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  Eight tips to make your home eco-friendly

  Cnet.com.au's top tips to turn your home into a more eco-friendly household.

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  Intel and DreamWorks go to the movies

  The chipmaker and the movie studio announce an alliance designed to enhance DreamWorks Animation's 3D movie-making technology.

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  Photos: T[Life] Melbourne

  Telstra's new T[Life] store in Melbourne is glossy and enormous, and those south-of-the-border should count themselves lucky. Everyone else we bring you a virtual walk through.

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  Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000

  Unless you desperately need a full-sized keyboard covered in silver to match your decor, we'd suggest you pass on the Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000, and go for one of the cheaper options.

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  Linksys Media Center Extender DMA2200

  The MCE DMA2200 is probably the best media streaming device we've ever tested. It only works with Windows Vista, but for streaming media from a PC to the TV, it's ideal.

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  First Blu-ray disc drive won't play Blu-ray movies

  The first Blu-ray (BD) disc drive for desktop PCs is here, but be warned -- it won't play commercial BD movies.

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  Inside Apple's new Chatswood store

  Apple selected a shopping centre in suburban Sydney as the location for its second retail outlet in the Asia Pacific. Our photo gallery takes you to its grand opening.

• 

  Apple has killed the video store; will ISPs be next?

  The Olympics are nearly over, and the Australian team deserves kudos for an excellent performance all around. Yet even as the Olympic sun sets on the Bird's Nest for the last time this weekend, millions of spectators around the world will be scanning their dials in the hope of finding something else to fill their viewing hours.

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  IPTV off the radar in Oz

  Although Internet video seems to be going mainstream in the US, the idea of tuning in to IPTV content without needing to connect to a next gen console or home theatre PC is not catching on with Australian vendors, let alone consumers.

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  Web TV Top 10

  Here's a list of 10 must-have Web TV bookmarks that are guaranteed to help you find something online worth seeing.

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  Xbox, iPod dock and home automation in one box

  The ITC One is an all-in-one entertainment system with its own built-in amplifier -- but expect to pay handsomely for it.

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  Sony lines up iTunes video challenger

  Sony believes that the weak spot in Apple's iTunes fortress could be in video downloads. Considering that its iTunes rival, Connect, failed so spectacularly, what are its chances of succeeding this time?

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  DViCO's digital jukeboxes

  Korean company DViCO (that's pronounced duh-vee-co) has released two high-definition media players that do double duty as PVRs.

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  Having fun with Windows Vista

  There's more to Windows Vista than file structure and graphics engines.

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  Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000

  Unless you desperately need a full-sized keyboard covered in silver to match your decor, we'd suggest you pass on the Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000, and go for one of the cheaper options.

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  Linksys Media Center Extender DMA2200

  The MCE DMA2200 is probably the best media streaming device we've ever tested. It only works with Windows Vista, but for streaming media from a PC to the TV, it's ideal.

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  Sony VAIO TP2

  Sony's designed a nice looking unit in the TP-2, but its beauty proves to be only skin deep.

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  Helios X5000 HD Network Media Player

  When the X5000 works, it's amongst the very best home media centres we've ever played with. It's not perfect, however, in both design and implementation.

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  Acer Aspire e650

  The Acer Aspire e650 is a powerful, feature-rich media centre, but we're still not convinced that Viiv is mature enough for mass adoption.

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  Linksys Media Center Extender DMA2200

  The MCE DMA2200 is probably the best media streaming device we've ever tested. It only works with Windows Vista, but for streaming media from a PC to the TV, it's ideal.

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  Mediagate MG-350HD

  The Mediagate MG-350HD is an excellent all-in-one home media solution -- as long as you're not timid about installing a hard drive.

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  Helios X5000 HD Network Media Player

  When the X5000 works, it's amongst the very best home media centres we've ever played with. It's not perfect, however, in both design and implementation.

• Sony VAIO TP2

  When the X5000 works, it's amongst the very best home media centres we've ever played with. It's not perfect, however, in both design and implementation.

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  Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000

  Unless you desperately need a full-sized keyboard covered in silver to match your decor, we'd suggest you pass on the Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000, and go for one of the cheaper options.

More popular reviews »

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  D1 Home Media Centre

  The best digital media centre yet. Has all the features you could want, and is easy to use.

More editors' choice »

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  Gaming preview: Spore

  2008/09/05 13:00:20

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  Volkswagen Golf GT Sport TDI (Golf V, 2007)

  2008/08/01 17:14:42

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  Buzz! Quiz TV

  2008/08/01 16:19:32

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More videos »

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  HD Olympics: A look behind the scenes

  We take a tour through the International Broadcast Centre at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, plus see some of the technology employed at the Olympic venues.

• 

  Inside Apple's new Chatswood store

  Apple selected a shopping centre in suburban Sydney as the location for its second retail outlet in the Asia Pacific. Our photo gallery takes you to its grand opening.

More galleries »