Lifemedia, the high-end digital home media server

Digital home entertainment servers seem to be heading high-end as Exceptional Innovation announces the release of its new Lifemedia server. Ready to integrate with home networks and EI's Lifeware home automation software, the Lifemedia units feature multi-core Intel processors, up to 4.5 Terabytes of storage, and high-end optical audio with Dolby Master Studio decoding. Most importantly, they look extremely sexy in an AV rack system.

Using benchmark internal components and the look and feel of a high-end A/V receiver, Lifemedia provides from 500GB to 4.5 Terabytes of storage for digital music, movies, pictures, and recorded TV as well as instant access to Lifeware’s complete home control via the user’s home network. The servers come in configurations that include Digital CableCARD, NTSC or ATSC tuners, and a DVD RW Drive -HD-DVD & BluRay versions are forthcoming.

“Our Lifemedia Server line brings together the very best technology for high definition entertainment with the most advanced automation solution available. This is the Media Center that empowers a high definition lifestyle,” said Mike Seamons, vice president of marketing for Lifeware. “No one has lived with and done more testing of Media Centers over the past four years than we have, and we have addressed the shortcomings of previous systems along with every other lesson we have learned into the design of these servers.”

The Lifemedia Server line includes five models, ranging from a set-top to a four-rack unit ultra high performance edition. All models run Microsoft® Windows® Vista® Ultimate Operating System, and offer a range of Intel® chipsets and processors. Lifemedia strives for the perfect balance between an elegant AV style back panel and the open flexibility of using standard PC industry components. This patent pending MediaPlate™ design makes Lifemedia the most upgradable entertainment console on the market.

Lifemedia Servers include an Intel® motherboard with 965 chipset and Intel® 2.13GHz Core 2 Duo® Processor, 2GB DDRAM, DVD-RW drive, and a built-in 28-in-1 Flash Reader. Performance specifications increase for each model, culminating with the flagship LMS-700, which features the Intel® D975XBX2 chip set, Intel® 2.4 GHz Quad Core Processor, 4 GB DDRAM and 4.5 TB hard drive in RAID 5 Array.

“We have always recognized that enjoying your digital entertainment and controlling your home’s environment are wonderfully complementary experiences with Lifeware and Media Center,” said Seamons.

Easy to mount in a standard AV Rack but quiet enough to be installed in a room, Lifemedia can be connected to the customer’s network, peripherals, and serial home automation devices in minutes. Its Windows® Vista™ operating system is up and running quickly, and it is preinstalled with Lifeware home control software.

Lifemedia’s port design simplifies installation with the inclusion of two front mounted USB (2.0, 1.1), front mounted firewire jack, front composite A/V and S-video, rear A/V Out for 7.1 Channel analog and optical S/PDIF audio, rear HDMI, DVI-I, S-Video, Component and composite video, two RS-232 Ports (9-pin), rear IR control input/output, and two unique ports for 12V trigger relays and contact closure devices (for screens, shades, contacts, relays, etc.)

Lifemedia Servers will start at US$4,500 and be available from Q3 this year.