High Definition Video, Picture & Music Jukebox

Which is Outside the Square

Dvico Re-invent its “First-to-Market” TVIX DVD Jukebox with the TVIX HD M-5000U

December 3st, 2005 - DVICO Inc. announces the launch of the TVIX HD 5000, a revolutionary, standalone, multimedia hard disk player that supports playback of high definition video (1980x1080i) and still images. The sleek cylindrical device, with built-in VFD display, allows the consumer to play digital video, digital music, digital still image & DVD files to a TV display and home entertainment system. It will also allow users to network the TVIX HD for convenient file transfer or streaming playback and features a comprehensive array of audio/visual outputs and connectivity ports for storage expansion. This product is targeted at consumers looking for an innovative method of enjoying digital content in their lounge room without burning content to disc and playing back on a DVD or CD player. It is also designed to appeal to camcorder users adopting the new HDV format.

High Definition Playback Support

The TVIX HD 5000 is uniquely positioned as the first true high definition video player for consumers, capable of supporting video resolutions of up to 1980x1080i. Consumers with pre-recorded HDTV from their digital TV set top boxes or HDV™ camcorder owners have the ability to playback their footage to a high definition display such as a plasma, LCD TV or home cinema projector. High resolution images taken from digital still cameras can also be displayed with better viewing quality as slideshows on a HD screen. The TVIX HD features a DVI connector, component, S-Video & composite video outputs to match any display an end user has, including plasma, LCD, projector, rear-projection or conventional CRT TV.

Home Cinema Experience - Features & Functions

The 5000 performs just like a DVD player, playing back backed up DVDs, with full support for AC3 5.1 surround sound, as well as MPEG, DVIX, XVID and AVI files transferred to the TVIX-HD or streamed across a home network. TVIX HD satisfies consumers without 5.1 audio systems by featuring DTS pass through and down mixing to analogue stereo outputs. It will also serve as a music jukebox, playing back MP3, WAV, AAC & Ogg music files, allowing the user to store up to 20,000 songs or 10 full DVDs on an 80GB hard disk*.  High resolution digital still photos can be played back as a slideshow at maximum resolution of 1980x1080 providing optimum viewing quality on a hi-resolution display with the option of background music.  The VFD screen displays track & chapter information, playback time and operating functions.

*5.25" IDE Hard Disk sold separately. The size has been tested to but NOT limited to 600GB so far.

Home networking & connectivity

The TVIX HD 5000 can also be networked and used as a home file server and network media adapter. Users can stream & transfer multimedia or data files via a built-in 10/100Mbps LAN port, a USB 2.0 port or via a wireless LAN 802.11b/g option. This means users have the ability to navigate to a file on another computer on the network and play that file from its original destination without copying to the TVIX HD first. With 2 USB2.0 host ports, the end user can attach additional external USB hard drives to further extend the storage capacity or transfer files from another USB device such as a thumb drive.

High Definition Digital TV tuner  option

Dvico will also launch a high definition digital TV tuner option in the form of a small breakout box designed to attach to its proprietary Multi I/O port. The HDTV digital tuner will give existing users the option of turning their TVIX HD into a HD set top box, capable of recording high definition digital TV. Audio & video connectors on the breakout box allow the add-on device to be permanently connected to the TV and audio system allowing the main unit to remain portable.

Availability

The Dvico TVIX HD 5000 will be available at the retail stores enlisted at the following site: http://www.tvix.co.kr/Eng/WhereToBuy.aspx The TViX HD will include a multimedia remote control and power and audio/visual cables. Hard disk drives are sold separately. 

DVICO TVIX-HD 5000 SPECIFICATIONS:

<A DVD jukebox that fits in your pocket>

Dvico blur the line between the portable entertainment & home AV market with the TVIX Mini.

DVICO announced the launch of the TVIX Mini 2000U, a miniature version of the original TVIX hard disk multimedia player. The TVIX Mini C2000 utilizes a small 2.5” notebook PC hard disk to store and playback digital video, backed up DVD files, mp3 & JPG still image files to the TV and home entertainment system just like a DVD player. USB2.0 On-The-Go technology opens the possibility for users to connect & download files from other compatible devices, such as a digital camera without the aid of a PC. The small form factor allows consumers and business users to easily carry, operate and store it while travelling or transferring large amounts of data from one place to another.

DVD, Music & Photo Jukebox
The TVIX Mini is purpose built to playback backed up DVDs. Unlike other digital media players, the TVIX Mini keeps all the chapters, subtitles, menus and special features included on a DVD disc, allowing the end user to navigate and use the TVIX using a remote control or unit buttons just like a normal DVD player.

TVIX Mini also doubles as a music server, allowing users to play digital audio files such as MP3s, WAV, WMA and OGG to their home audio systems. Users have the option to create playlists by simply selecting the songs in order using the remote control. While playing, track information such as song title, album, track time, number and artist, is displayed on-screen with support for MP3 ID3 tags.

Digital photographers can free their audience from the PC screen by presenting their photos on TV with background music. The TVIX Mini acts as a photo viewer, allowing users to scroll through their library of digital photos. Users have the option of background music, zooming, panning, and correcting brightness, contrast and creating slideshows with transition effects using a remote control.

USB 2.0 OTG interface allows digital photographers shooting in hi-resolution to download their photos from a camera directly to the TVIX Mini without the aid of PC, via the USB port. As long as the camera features a USB transfer port digital photographers can free up valuable flash memory during an extended period away from a computer.

DVD, music & photo files are transferred to the TVIX Mini’s hard disk via high speed USB 2.0. Users can store up to 5 full DVD movies or 10,000 MP3 songs on a 2.5” 40GB hard disk.

Optional Component Video & Digital Audio Breakout Box
Discerning home audio and video enthusiasts can purchase the optional breakout cable which connects to the Multi I/O port to add component (Y, Pb, Pr) video and coaxial SPIF digital audio output to their home entertainment systems.

Availability
The Dvico TVIX Mini C-2000U will be available at the retail stores enlisted at the following site: http://www.tvix.co.kr/Eng/WhereToBuy.aspx The TViX Mini includes a multimedia remote control and power and audio/visual cables. The optional Component video and digital audio cable will be available from the resellers above. Hard disk drives are sold separately.

About DVICO
Established in 1998, Dvico is committed to innovative and cutting edge technology in the design and development of a wide range of Digital video products and multimedia storage products for PC and Mac users. Dvico specializes in digital video, HDTV tuner (software decoders), USB/Firewire storage and advanced storage. For more information on DVICO visit http://www.dvico.com

TViX Storage Jukeox

Imagine having all your music, movies and photographs stored in one compact box that connects to your TV and is easier to operate than a toaster. Well, that pretty much sums up this beautiful little box.

The TVIX DVD Jukebox is a 200 Gig multi-media storage playpen. It may be great keeping movies, pictures and music on your computer, but when you want to chill out to some tunes, show friends and family your pictures, or crash in front of a movie, your computer is hardly the best place to do it. You want to relax in front of the TV, and that's where the TVIX comes into its own. Simply plug it into your computer (USB) and it will appear like any external drive, then just transfer images, music and movies onto it. It automatically converts your movies to DivX format, taking an average 6 Gig movie down to around a mere 75 Megs, but maintaining excellent quality. Then you just plug it into your TV and it will play it all.

It's so blisteringly simple to operate you'll be amazed, even our 'and just how do I work the video again' technophobes managed to zip about the intuitive menu system, and were playing music and movies in no time. It has a slide-show feature for showing off your pictures, and you can even set your choice of picture to show on your TV screen while playing your music. It supports a host of file formats, such as MPEG , MPEG2 (AVI, VOB), MPEG4 (DivX, XviD) MP3, .JPEG, .WAV, .DVIX, MULTI CHANNEL DIGITAL AUDIO, OGG VORBIS and WMA. It comes with all the cables you need and a remote control unit, so you can order it around from the comfort of the sofa. Having a chunky 200 GB of disc space means it can hold a staggering 100,000 songs (in WMA format), or a mighty 300 movies, or 20,000 photos, or of course a combination of the three.

It's a liberating moment when you can get away from your computer, and relax on the sofa with all your media playing on your TV instead. Heaven in a box.

European Customers - will require an electrical adaptor which can be purchased at your local store.

Features

Digital Movies, Music and Photos on your TV Photo album - stores up to 200,000 images Stores and plays up to 300 movies Stores and plays music files - 60,000 MP3s or 100,000 WMAs Wallpaper and slide-show functions Easy to use TV menu system Works as a portable hard drive USB2 computer interface Analogue and digital TV interface Multi channel digital sound Mac and PC compatible Firmware upgradeable Full-function remote control Compact design - the size of 4 DVDs stacked together Incredibly easy to use Contents: TVIX Main unit (Storage size:200 gigabytes) Remote control (2 AA batteries included) Instruction manual 2 power cables A/V cables USB2 cable Tech Spec: Video Playback - DivX 3.11, 4.x, 5.x, XviD, MPEG2(AVI, VOB), MPEG4, MPG, DAT Audio Playback - PCM, MP3, Ogg Vorbis, WMA, AC3, DTS, WAV, AVI Images - JPEG USB 2.0 Video Output - via A/V cables (Composite, S-Video) Audio Output - via A/V cables Stereo Analogue - via A/V cables Digital (Optical) - via Optical cable Remote control: Play, Pause, FF, FR Slow motion - 0.5X, 1X, 2X, 8X, 16X, 32X, 128X Seamless, continuous playback of multiple files Video Output: NTSC (resolution of 720 x 480), PAL (resolution of 720 x 576) Supports progressive scan Subtitle Support Aspect Ratio: 4:3 - Letter Box, Pan & Scan Multilingual OSD/subtitle support: English, French, German, Latin, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Korean (easily controllable with remote controller/base unit, subtitle background available) Multi Partition Support File System Support: NTFS, FAT32, HFS+ Unit size: 17 x 12 x 7cm Remote size: 18 x 5 x 1.5cm

TViX Multimedia Player



If you've ever spent a weekend wrestling with a recalcitrant media server, you'll be relieved to hear that there's a much simpler alternative.

Essentially a hard drive enclosure with video firmware, DViCO's TViX connects to your PC's USB 2.0 port and acts as a mass storage device. The capacity depends upon the hard drive in the unit itself--our review sample came with an 80GB drive, but you can buy the bare unit and easily add your own.

Copying your media files across is as simple as dragging and dropping them into the corresponding folder on the TViX. You can then carry it over to your TV, hook it up with the comprehensive AV ports at the rear and play them back.

Most of the major media file types and codecs are supported (including DivX and XviD), but Windows Media Video (WMV) isn't supported--a limitation of the Sigma EM8510 chipset. Nor can the TViX play ISO image files or .TS digital TV recordings like the Mvisto can. However, if you've created your own DVD movies, these can be copied across and played back, complete with menus. Upscaling of standard definition content for HD displays (1080i) is also supported.

The TViX's most important asset is its simplicity. It does what it does with the minimum of fuss, with no network expertise required. The TViX is an excellent product, although we'd like to see more extensive file support, as well as support for Ethernet, in future versions.

DVico TViX Multimedia PlayerExplain star rating

Short review of TViX stand-alone media player

After reading about various wireless media servers on features, pricing, and mostly bad reviews, I decided to put off purchase. Then I recently read about three new media players from Korea. It listed DViCO’s TVIX, AL Tech's MG-25, and DTS Infocom's MODIX HD-3510. All three are not wireless media servers. They are stand-alone, HD-capable (composite, 480p, 720p, 1080i) media players with either 2.5" or 3.5" internal IDE hard disk to store media files via USB 2.0 cable. One would still need the PC since USB connection is used to load media files from the PC. Because they are stand-alone players, user can take the device and play media files on any compatible TV and sound system (stereo, digital) without any PC or network. HD capability and portability piqued my interest.

Since I can read Korean, I browsed their Korean websites to get more info on features and read user report/feedback. I chose TViX and ordered it from JetAudio in Irvine, CA for $199 + tax. I bought the diskless version and installed 3.5" 160G IDE HD myself. You can find more information on TViX at: http://www.tvix.co.kr/Eng/Products/TViX.aspx

The TViX came with the main unit, 20-page manual, composite video cable, stereo cable, two identical(?) power cables, USB cable, remote control, and two Duracell(!) batteries. The remote is O.K.: It's much better than Audiotron remote for sure. When I browsed the user reports at TViX website, Korean version seem to include black vinyl TViX carrying case but mine didn't come with it.

After installing the hard disk, I formatted it and created three separate partitions: one for music, another for photos, and another for movies. I don't think this was necessary but I thought it would be easier to organize and navigate. I installed TViX Manager software on my PC but the software didn't detect any of my media files. I think TViX Manager mainly checks for file format compatibility and is not required for TViX usage.

So I ignored this software for the moment and connected A/V cable (for initial set up) to Hitachi 65" rear projection HDTV and turned on the HDTV and TViX and there's no image on the HDTV. Browsing at TViX website, I found out that USB cable must be disconnected before TViX can be used. After unplugging the USB cable and turning the unit back on, I was able to see the start-up screen. I then went to the setup screen to configure the display to 1080i and had the audio to digital. Then I connected component video cable to HDTV and optical digital audio cable to my Denon DVR5700.

Next, I connected the USB cable to TViX and copied my media files into TViX from my PC: MP3 files at various bitrates (160, 192, 256, 320, high rate VBR), WMA at various rates, WMA VBR, WMA lossless, JPEG images from 3M and 5M pixel cameras, DVD Decrypter ripped (using file mode) Terminator II, Eagles Hell Freezes over, and Fugitive.

When I turned on the unit with all my files, TViX took about 15 seconds to boot up & show its start-up screen in 1080i HD. I first tried the photo display. Images came out quite clear but didn't seem as sharp as some HD programs I've seen on Discovery HD channel. I have not seen ROKU sourced images on HDTV so I don't know if what I saw was typical HD display of digital images. This weekend I plan to visit a high-end audio/video shop to get a comparison, if they let me. Skipping to next/previous picture took about 3 seconds. You can set up sequencing of all the photos with selectable delay between each picture. Zoom in/out speed was very responsive.

Next, I played music files. Everything played except WMA lossless. I don't know which Sigma Designs chip it uses but it's possible that the current chipset does not support WMA lossless. Sound playback of MP3 and WMA files was great and as previous AudioTron user, I have no complaint.

Then I played Eagles Hell Freezes Over DVD file by selecting the .IFO file. All menus are the same as when playing the DVD on the DVD player. As far as video quality, I have no complaints. I did not do comparison using my HTPC (TT2.0, Radeon 9600 DVI), but I was happy with the video quality. Denon5700 detected the DTS stream and Hotel California sounded as good as ever. Next, I watched the Terminator 2. Since THX was not automatically detected, I set the Denon to THX mode and watched. Again, no problemo. Then I tried the Fugitive. Again, all FF/REW at different speeds, skip next/previous, interrupt to menu to turn on subtitles, pause, all worked fine.

I expected to find at least several problems with set up and use with new type of device like TViX but so far my wife & I are enjoying the content I put in this device. It's not a fair comparison but I spent more time setting up the AudioTron than the TViX.

As far as usability, TViX is very easy to use and even my wife who has trouble operating TiVo, agrees.

Only minor complaint I have is the small noisy fan. I don't notice the noise when music or movie is playing but it's enough to notice when sound is on mute. In Korea, they had fan replacement program earlier (Before September 15th) to replace 10000 rpm fan to 7000 rpm fan. This seems to imply that DVICO no longer uses 10000 rpm fan. I don't know how to tell which one I have but it's not bothering me enough for me to want to replace the fan.

I tried to see what happens if I take the TViX to my relative's or friend's house with regular 4:3 aspect ratio TV when my TViX setting is at 1080i by connecting to regular A/V input (composite video & stereo audio) of my TV. When both TV and TViX is turned on, all I needed to do was to press 'TV OUT' button on the TViX remote control. Then I went to the set-up screen by pressing the 'SETUP' button on the remote. Then I changed the aspect ratio to 4:3 and changed the audio to analog. I played movies without any problems.

DViCO seem to have decent support for TViX in Korea in that they have Korean user forum to get user feedback. Although updating firmware with regularity may imply a buggy product, following Korean users' reports (in Korean but with pictures) of using firmware version 1.4 (released in August) seem pretty good:

Posted September 6th: http://www.tvix.co.kr/kor/boards/Af...=RD&id=228&pg=1
Posted September 6th: http://www.tvix.co.kr/kor/boards/Af...=RD&id=231&pg=1
Posted September 3rd: http://www.tvix.co.kr/kor/boards/Af...=RD&id=199&pg=1

DViCO released version 1.6 in October to add autorun, passwording a directory, 4x FF/REW, and WAVE file play among others. I updated the firmware to version 1.6 by following the instructions in the manual without any problems.

DISCLAIMER: I have not used any DViCO products before and I am not affiliated with DViCO or its distribution companies.
________________
Ken

Last edited by KenC : 11-12-04 at 10:59 PM.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=469236

TViX - A Novel Digital Media Player

The "world's first DVD jukebox", the attractive TViX joins the rapidly growing number of digital media players designed for the home.

Rather than a streaming audio device, the TViX connects to a PC via USB 2. Once attached, you can transfer digital video, images and audio. It comes in 160Gb and 250Gb models, and supports most media file formats.

With a software upgrade it will even support Ogg Vorbis. This ability to upgrade the firmware in the TViX is a major advantage as it allows you to keep up with the latest formats.

Once information is stored on the TViX, you can attach it to a TV or stereo via S-Video and audio connections. There's 5.1 support for surround-sound systems.

The top of the unit houses the playback and menu buttons. These are duplicated on the remote control, along with features such as image scaling. You also get password protection for directories and a thumbnail browsing library for your images.

The quality largely depends on the source file but we found it to be pretty good in both audio and video.

-Channel Dynamics 0870 607 0540

Portable Media Device

Several new portable media devices are expected to hit the market this year, all powered by the Sigma Media Processors, these devices create a new category of portable entertainment products. They differ from current portable media players on the market since they have no screen. These are designed for people that would like to bring entire multimedia collections with them anywhere.

The Sigma Media Processors will allow for small hard drive enclosure sized devices to become your ultimate portable media system, from playing MPEG and DiVX movies to MP3 and WMA audio files.

Once you load the files onto your portable media player via USB 2.0 from your computer system, you can then connect it to any type of composite, S-video and component video output or any stereo and SPDIF for high-quality audio output. Control will be on-screen via a linux style file system manager, a remote control will allow you to control all playback options and configuration settings on your portable players.

The TViX from Dvico

New on the market is the TViX from Dvico, which features an integral 3.5" hard disc drive with up to 250 GB capacity. The TViX is based on Sigma's EM8510 digital media processor and supports video decoding for DivX 3.11, 4.x, 5.x, XVID, AVI, MPG, DAT, and VOB and audio decoding for PCM, MP3, Ogg Vorbis, WMA, AC3, and DTS. The TViX supports Video Out in both standard 4:3 and widescreen 16:9 high definition resolution. Dolby 5.1 channel surround sound, and offers an optional car-pack system.