IPTV is everywhere at CES 2006, whether as a replacement for traditional broadcasting or as a way to get your video media around the home--or around the world. In 2005, one of our favorite devices in this category was the Slingbox. But as cool as the Slingbox is, it's a very bachelor-oriented device: it can stream to only one PC client at a time. That's where Monsoon Multimedia's HAVA device may have an edge. It offers a similar model to the Slingbox, encoding your TV signals and digitally streaming them to a PC or a mobile device. But instead of being limited to just one PC (as the Slingbox is), the HAVA is designed as a "multicast" device for viewing on multiple clients throughout the home. (Sending video to Internet-connected PCs and devices elsewhere on the Net is still restricted to one client, however.) Monsoon is claiming that its device bests Slingbox in other ways, such as its built-in 802.11a/b/g wireless and the ability to record streams on PCs for later DVD burning. The HAVA is intended as an OEM device, so it should appear under multiple third-party brands when it becomes available later in 2006. The target price tag is $250 to $300.
Be respectful, keep it clean and stay on topic. We delete comments that violate our policy, which we encourage you to read. Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion.