Samsung has launched an Android-based 1TB media PC based on Jelly Bean – is this the end of the road for Google TV?
HomeSync can host accounts for up to eight different users and allows Samsung Galaxy tablet and phone users to stream direct to any TV.
Unlike rivals LG and Sony, Samsung have chosen Android 4.2 Jelly Bean with a homebrewed TV-sized interface, rather than signing up to the dedicated Google TV operating system.
Read more about Android TV devices and Personal Data StorageThat’s par for the course with Samsung, as any Galaxy phone or Tab user who’s experienced Samsung’s social, music and games hubs will tell you, but we’ll hold judgment until we can get our hands on one.
All we know is that HomeSync is controlled from your phone or tablet, and individual users’ data is encrypted and password-protected, and being Android-based each user can download apps to make it their own experience.
Simon Stanford of Samsung Electronics UK & Ireland said: “ As the number of smart devices that a person owns continues to grow, sharing and streaming content will become even more popular, creating demand for somewhere that all this content can be stored safely and readily accessed.
“HomeSync was borne from our experience across multiple markets, including mobile, digital imaging and TV, enabling us to create a single connected media environment, where people’s content is accessible at any time through whichever screen they choose.”
The technical line-up includes a 1TB hard disc, 1.7GHz dual-core Gaia chipset with 1GB RAM, 8GB of internal Flash storage, and an HDMI 1.4 connection for your TV at up to 1080p.
HomeSync connects to your home network via Gigabit Ethernet, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n in 2.4GHz and 5GHz with 2×2 MIMO antennas, and to peripherals through Bluetooth 4 and two USB 3.0 ports. There’s also a Micro USB for connecting to your PC and optical digital audio out.
Video format support covers H.264, H.263, MPEG4, VC-1, Sorenson Spark, WMV7/8, MP43, VP8, and DivX, while audio files and streams can be in MP3, AAC LC/AAC+/eAAC+, WMA 9std/10pro/Lossless, FLAC, Vorbis, AMR-NB/WB, Wav, Mid, or AC-3.
Update: The official spec sheet above gives us some idea of how the Samsung HomeSync will perform. But for a more real-life idea of how it’ll work in the home have a look at out hands-on video, shot at Mobile World Congress 2013.
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