Continuing with the Sharp news, here's their new network media player: the CE-MR01. Shaped sort of like a slimline DVD drive stood o­n its side, the CE-MR01 in fact doesn't even have a disc drive. It contains an Ethernet port, and is also compatible with 802.11a/b/g wireless LAN standards.

This would be great for someone like myself, who doesn't necessarily want/need another disc drive in their home theater setup. But it does seem to be dragged down by a few setbacks, such as lack of support for more popular MPEG-4 formats.

Sharp Corporation will release the "CE-MR01," a network media player that can output video, audio, and still image files saved o­n a PC to a TV and such using an Ethernet connection, in early February 2005. Its price is Open Price, but estimated around 40,000 yen. The supported OS is Windows XP.

This is a network media player with a 10BASE-T/100BASE-TX supporting ethernet port and integrated IEEE 802.11a/b/g wireless LAN functionality. It can playback video, audio, and still image files o­n a PC with the included "SHARP Media Library Server" software using a LAN connection.

Furthermore, this product is compliant with the "Digital Living Network Alliance" (DLNA) network connectivity standard, advocated by Sony, Matsushita (Panasonic), and Intel, and can reportedly playback any video/images from other DLNA supporting recorders (or other AV components) using a LAN connection.

Supported video formats are MPEG-1, MPEG-2 (MPatML), and WMV, but fast forward and rewind are not supported o­n WMV file playback. The supported resolution maximum is 720 x 576 dots, and though the unit has a D4 port, it cannot playback video at D3 (1080i) and D4 (720p) resolutions. Furthermore, the unit can also playback video files with Dolby Digital Audio, and not just those with MPEG audio or Linear PCM.

BMP, JPEG, and PNG still images can be displayed. However, images exceeding 1280 x 800 dots are reduced, transmitted, then displayed, by the server software.

Supported audio files include MP3, Linear PCM, WAV, and WMA. The maximum sampling rate is 48kHz, with a maximum MP3 bitrate of 320kbps, and WMA bitrate of 192kbps. Furthermore, because it has a function to convert WMA into Linear PCM, fast forward and rewind of WMA files is also supported. However, it does not support WMA9's Lossless, Professional, or Voice.

On the wireless LAN device security front, the unit supports the "AOSS (AirStation o­ne-Touch Secure System" developed by Buffalo. When combined with a router supporting AOSS, by simply pushing a button, the connection settings and security settings can be automatically taken care of.

Also, the unit contains a function to act as a wireless bridge between a wired LAN and wireless access point. This would allow a wired-LAN connected AV component to be wirelessly connected to an access point.

The casing supports both horizontal and vertical placements. It uses a "smart while stylish design." In addition to an Ethernet port, it has a D4 port, S-Video port, and Composite port for video output, as well as a analog stereo (RCA) and optical digital port for audio output.

The external dimensions are 125.7 x 148.1 x 221.6mm (W x D x H). Its weight, including the stand, is 660g. A remote controller that can control all functions o­n the connected TV's screen is included.



Inspired by:
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20041224/sharp.htm

Press Release:
http://www.sharp.co.jp/corporate/news/041224-a.html