Got this interesting piece of equipment from Filmographia, a local developer and distributor of the Krave Multimedia Soundbar. It looks just like a typical soundbar that works like a 2.1 speaker and subwoofer set but there’s actually more to it.
The Krave Multimedia Soundbar attempts to be the centerpiece of your living room or entertainment room. It’s a full HD multimedia player — can play all of the popular formats at 1080p full HD resolution. Just plug in a storage device (flash, HDD, NAS, etc) to one of its USB ports and a native Linux-based player will do the rest and project it to your HDTV via HDMI.
The Krave can also connect to your local network and the internet via a GigaBit LAN or a WiFi dongle (sold separately) so you can stream videos to the TV set connected to it as well as download podcasts and access P2P services. Once connected to the net, the Krave can download movies and files straight to an attached storage via P2P networks.
The Krave also has the ability to record videos that are being played on your TV — whether it’s local or cable channel or from a DVD or Bluray disc. The Scheduler also helps you set the time when you want the recording (ala-TiVo) to start even if you’re away or asleep.
But first and foremost, this is a Krave Soundbar so you have a docking station for your iPod or iPhone. The set can play audio from your iDevices and even project the videos straight to the attached TV.
The Krave Soundbar has two (2) USB 3.0 ports at the back, an SD card reader, DVB-T support, HDMI v1.3 port, S/PDIF Optical & coaxial jack, 10/100/1000Mbps LAN port, up to 300Mbps via WiFi dongle (optional), and comes with a free 1 TB external/portable HDD.
Saw this same set-up over at @victorbasa last week as well (we’re hosting/running the @geekynights podcast every Wednesday at his place, go follow us on Twitter).
Filmographia also offers a subscription-based service if you get a Krave system from them. The service allows you to rent or borrow from their 7,000+ titles (Bluray & HD quality) for a monthly fee of Php600 to Php1,200. You send them a checklist from their database and their tech guy will deliver it to your home on a new 1TB HDD and replace your old one for free (you basically get a new replacement HDD every time).
I still have to do a burn-in of the Krave Soundbar but based on the demo over at Vic’s place, the system performs pretty well and the speakers sounds pretty good. The Krave Soundbar costs about Php29,999 and they’ll deliver and install it to your place for free. You can check them out here.
I think it is better off not mentioning their Rental business, as it probably have copyright implications…
I bet copyright wouldn’t be much of a problem. They could have found a way to secure those movies etc that they want to be rented. WELL at least for now it’s safe. :)
If it’s secure, EVENTUALLY there would be someone who will try to break through it. :)
That’s one of the advantages of living here in our country. Nobody really gives much of a damn about copyrights. Ask me if I favor copyrights, I’m indifferent. As long as I get to see what I want. Whether I watch it in cinemas, buy the real DVD, or stream it, or thru the bootleg copies in Quiapo.
At 29,999PHP, It might be expensive at first glance. But it’s really competitive if you’re going to compare it to the likes of Bose and JBL.
you can play iDevices on that thing? How about you try an iPad? LOL haha jk
well it looks really decent and nice as always. Just curious, will the upgrade from the usual USB 2.0 port to USB 3.0 port will actually make a difference in the performance? ‘Cause in my case, I’m pretty happy and satisfied with the performance of my HD multimedia player (which actually only has a USB 2.0 port).
Well I know definitely that it would, because the transfer rate is much much faster like 10x. I really wonder if it will/would make a difference. Because obviously that upgrade will stack up pile to the price tag.
As usual, maganda siya, mahal nga lang.