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Amiga News and Community Announcements => Amiga News and Community Announcements => General Internet News => Topic started by: jonssonj on March 23, 2004, 03:22:40 PM
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A company in the USA has invented a new "PC/GAME" machine. You don't have to install the games. You just insert a CD in the machine and the game starts up. It works with all PC games.
Read more here http://www.discoverconsole.com/
"The DISCover® game consoles is the only game console designed to play PC games instead of video games. DISCover game consoles will be manufactured by companies such as Apex Digital, who will incorporate the patented DISCover "Drop and Play" technology into their consoles.
There are thousands of PC games, far more than video games in proprietary formats (i.e. PlayStation2 and Xbox).
Until now, serious gamers were required to install and run computer programs on a PC. With DISCover, PC game can now be played on a TV hassle-free.
To play any one of thousands of PC games on TV, you simply drop the game in the DISCover® and play."
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Yah right, just like the Phantom eh? ;-).
I'd bet this is gonna turn out to be vapour.
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Why do I get the feeling, that some companies are re-inventing the wheel. Mainboards are getting smaller with all kinds of integrated 'custom chips' and expansion capabilities. Hmmm, sounds like a CD32 clone to me :-D
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Hmmphhh!...
Dreamcast
Dead duck! :-x :-?
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So they've made a sort of Wine(X) and poured it into a flashROM? The website is very vague and gives zero technical details. (Perhaps there's something in the patent PDF).
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WoW!! Finally pc suckers get what amigans had 20 years ago. :lol:
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it's not vapour, it's also not so great...but its a pc, the first one will be released by apex digital, and the specs on that machine are:
DVD Features
Progressive Scan
Plays DVD-MP3-WMA-CD-CD/R-CD/RW
Kodak Picture CD Compatible
JPEG Compatible
Dolby Prologic/Dolby Digital/DTS/PCM Ready
S-Video Output
Composite Video (RCA) Outputs
5.1Channel Audio Out
Remote Control
Slow Motion Forward
Multiple Angle
Multiple Language Subtitles (Captions)
Parental Lock
Frame by Frame Advance
Zoom (2x, 4x)
Gaming Features
Ethernet Connection
56K v.92 Modem
4 Front / 1 Rear USB
40 GB Hard Drive
AMD Athlon XP 2000 Plus
256MB DDR RAM
later alienware will release one too.
thought I'd save ya'll some surfing time!
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I fail to understand who their target audience is.
Consoles are cheap because of the licensing of games for them, while the actual consoles are sold at a loss. This is not an attribute that the DISCover would likely share. Those that purchase consoles due to price, are unlikely to switch to the DISCover.
Consoles are somewhat upgrade proof (ie 3D cards, RAM, etc) to play the latest games during that generation's life cycle. It is highly unlikely that PC developers will hold back on new tech so they can target the DISCover as a lowest common denominator (bad idea anyway, eg was part of the death of the Amiga as a games machine), the DISCover is going to need to be upgraded or a new model purchased far more frequently than the current ~5 year cycle of each console generation. People who lack the know how or desire to upgrade their PC's to play the latest games aren't going to find much solace in the DISCover.
There is also the exclusive content for the various consoles... GTA 3 sold how many PS2's while it was exclusive to it?
Every reason people choose consoles over PC's, beyond the ease of use, is a feature the DISCover is likely to lack. (Speaking of ease of use, console controllers are far easier to use than many PC game interfaces.) Who do they think they're going to sell this to? Old people who want to play Solitaire/Mineclearer/etc and other $10 drugstore PD collections on their TV's?!?
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Kodak Picture CD Compatible
WOW! That's what I always wanted in a gamecomputer!
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One question though... The big advantage of PC games is that you can download patches and correct certain bugs, OR dowload extra levels and maps (many of which are unofficial). If you're a BF1942 fan you'll know that all servers are running the latest patches and maps/expansions, and if you're not running those same patches & upgrades you just can't play multi-player bf1942.
I think this is one of those "it seems too good to be true" things, that really is too good to be true.
- Mike
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Apex eh. I just got a cheapass Apex DVD player for my father. It's quite cruddy (but hey, it works :-).
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Yeah, I stay away from Apex.
I also noticed on the list of features posted above that it seems to lack component video output. That's pretty lame!!!
- Mike
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@Glaucus
People who would buy this thing probably aren't going to be concerned with component video output. And, probably don't even know what that is.
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It might not say that it has component output, but if it has progressive scan capabilities, it may well have component output as I'm not sure that s-video or composite inputs can process that.
This machine could well appeal to people who don't like the hassles of a windows computer (you know what I'm talking about). :pissed:
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Wow. A Windows PC, with TV output, and some sort of auto-install-play software. Whee.
I've got a home theater PC coming together, finaly got Linux to work OK on it a couple weeks ago, that I can put some flavor of WINE on, perhaps Transgaming is best for more games, though I'd have to go through the install process, and not all games work. Do I care? No. Getting MythTV to work is more important than that. I got a WinXP PC for games, it's not good for much else at the moment. ;) And until I get an HDTV, my 19" monitor is a much better picture to play PC games on than my old 21" TV.
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From FAQ
What is "Drop and Play" technology?
"Drop & Play" is a patented mechanism that allows a DISCover® console to emulate the behavior of a videogame console. DISCover® accomplishes this by recognizing a PC title and automatically installing and playing the game. No other home entertainment system can play all the games and interactive multimedia titles available for a PC while requiring no computer knowledge to operate.
It seems there's a beef-up 'autoplay' and games 'slipstream' install database...
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>Apex eh. I just got a cheapass Apex DVD player for
>my father. It's quite cruddy (but hey, it works .
I've had 3 Apex DVD players die on me over the last couple years. There ain't gonna be a 4th... I Currently use my Xbox for DVDs, and will switch to using my HTPC once I get a few more things sorted out and the right software running on it. I hope to soon be able to play my small colection of region 2 DVDs again too, that was the one good thing APEX was good for, and I havent' got around to hacking up my Xbox much yet, though I do have a modchip installed to let me install other software. (I haven't played a game on it for at least 6 months now)
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I think there's a market for this device, which I heard about quite a while ago. If you consider that the current Xbox is merely a PC and that this is practically the same hardware you have the potential to have games as good as an Xbox. I don't think the device is far fetched at all technologically speaking with its plug and play concept, however there is no differentiation in terms of it being a platform in its own right as its still a PC. Who knows, they may sell a few if its priced ok.
It strikes me that with concepts like this there is no sense of differentiation, no sense of fandom or allegiance. Its just another ho-hum PC clone. No one at all will miss it if it died. I think its a different case with the Amiga but I am biased.
O crap the price is ok.
US $299-$399 for p4 1ghz 256meg 40gigHD as entry level. That's quite good. If other PC companies start to do it then the set top box concept as it stands is in trouble for Amiga unless they can significantly differentiate and bank on the Amiga name for what it is worth.
Apextreme is a cool name though.
http://www.apextreme.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=91
I have to say that the box is a step in the right direction to where the Amiga needs to go. A little on the bland side but reasonable. The Amiga needs more pizazz to set itself astride the likes of Macs. It sounds ridiculous but an innovative concept in terms of case design could generate a lot of interest for a new Amiga box as an feasable and stylish alternative platform.
The other thing to mention is that building such a set top box, succeed or fail, is not a bad step for the Amiga community as we simply will have a different footprint for our favourite hardware. Its all good. Not even all the current Amiga community cares to upgrade to the fastest or most versatile thing available. An entry level set top box harms no-one and may just get some newbies back on board.
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Ok, it hides Windows from the user?? :-? ??
[color=FF0000]HURRAY!![/color]
:-D :-D :-D :-P :lol:
Seriously, tho' whats in the ROM? *shrug*
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I think it runs on WinCE and exposes the DirectX API to the games. Maybe I'm getting confused with the Phantom console. Although I heard someone on a newsgroup forum say that it doesn't have Windows running behind it so potentially the games would be faster than a similarly specced PC. Wait, I think its got Windows Xp, embedded edition.
I imagine the licensing is much, much cheaper for WinCE, or WinXP embedded than fully blown Windows. As far as MS is concerned its all good as they win any way you look at it. You know, I'm a little surprised that Apple haven't released a really easy peasy set top box yet that integrates with your IPod or a successor to iPod which'll stream movies.
Actually, come to think of it, one advantage KMOS now has with OS4 is that they have probably paid less for OS4 than for continuing to license from MS. A set top box seems the only likely reason KMOS bought OS4. We were already going to get it on a desktop, so why did they buy in otherwise unless its to gain them some sort of advantage in a different area? Garry Hare's background is streaming video and internet delivery mechanisms. The very technology that could revolutionise the industry and put Amiga back on the road, if not at the head of the pack, in this area.
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Here is the link to the forums for the company really responsibe for these machines:
http://www.discoverconsole.com/forum/
It WILL NOT support homebrew, thus no UAE, but I am sure there is an easy way around that. With UAE (Amithalon rest in peace) on one of these, it would be like a classic Amige somewhat (on TV and all) and would prolly run better than UAE in a full blown version of XP.
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Try dropping something like LOMAC or Poop of Radiance in this thing and I could nearly guarantee the game will not work.
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It will only play games that have:
A: Had a script written for it, in order that it may self install.
B: 100% Winblows XP compatability.
They plan to have scripts written for 2000 games by the time Apex launches its unit. More scripts will come out down the road. It's an iteresting idea, nothing for most Tech junkies, but definatly for people who are computer virgins, console lovers, and hobbists if not mere Apex fanatics. :)
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Afaik, WinCE isn't compatible with 9x/NT at all, so that wouldn't make much sense.
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DISCover® accomplishes this by recognizing a PC title and automatically installing and playing the game
Yes, insert a game and wait 15 minutes that it is installed ! The A500 was faster to load a floppy-game ! :-)
At least I hope they don't use 5400 RPM IDE disks :-)
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Afaik, WinCE isn't compatible with 9x/NT at all, so that wouldn't make much sense.
It is NOT WinCE! It is Windows XP Embedded!
Loki
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Kodak Picture CD Compatible
Okay, I'm sure that the CDTV had that!
. . hides Windows from the user
Does it hide the BSOD feature, also?
Is it immune from Virus, Trojans, and Worms?
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"Dreamcast"
I don't see what this has to do with the Dreamcast in any way. Sure, the Dreamcast had built-in WinCE, but even that's not a similarity as this thing runs XP behind the scenes. Besides, the DC was/is a great machine. The WinCE games were absolutely unplayable, though. They were slow and buggy. Native games were awesome for the time. Some actually still hold up well. That's why I keep the DC hooked up right next to my PS2 and GameCube. :)
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Dreamcast died an earley death thats all.
I think this is also a dead duck.
Great technology doesnt always sucseed
:-P
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I have no idea if this is something different, or if these guys are the software half of Via's initiative, but... as that sentence suggests, Via just announced something similar in the past few months.
Basically a Phantom that works, or a '3DO'ish alternative to the XBox. (Wherein Via still gets a cut, MS still gets a cut, but users get a choice of vendors and developers can just write once to Win/x86.)
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I know this board is using Via Chipset, and at one time a Via CPU was in the specs, but fortunatly they dropped that.
And yes this is using an XP kernal as opposed to CE (where did you get CE from anyhow!?!?).
I would have to assume that they are using fast drives, for if you were to download any of the videos of this machine being demonstrated on TV, you'll see that it is amazingly fast! Also, head over to pricewatch.com and do and search for some name brand parts to put together your own machine within the $400 price tag, and you'll see that it will come out to a little over $400. So you figure (and this is hopeing) that Apex is getting even a cheaper price than we get at Pricewatch, so they can easily afford to build a system with good specs for well under $400, and still make a profit.
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US $299-$399 for p4 1ghz 256meg 40gigHD as entry level.
Note that Intel doesn't sell Pentium IV at 1.0Ghz at this time.
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@BigBenAussie
The current Windows CE 4.x(X86 Edition) doesn’t have the necessary infrastructure to run NT5.x titles. (Recalling)Windows CE 4.x (X86 Edition) virtual machine is included with MS Studio .NET 2003.
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Does it hide the BSOD feature, also?
Probably not; unless it has "auto reboot after a BSOD" featured turned off.
Is it immune from Virus, Trojans, and Worms?
Major OSes are not immune against such things.
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Target audience is people who require a media station for the living room and can't be bothered with the hassle of building one themselves. The quick installation of games is going to appeal to families who don't want to spend an hour installing games for their kids. If it hits the UK for under £300 I would think it would be quite appealling to many people. DVD/Media/Games Player which will play their existing catalog of windows games.
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We does everyone have to be so negative to new products i think this is a good thing for all those pc gamers out there that wish they had better consoles and all the pc games on console.
adonay:-D