Filed under: Hardware, Multimedia, Peripherals, Software, Video, Odds and ends, iPhone, iPod touch, Music
HP makes nice with Apple users, intros two new MediaSmart Servers
While there are still some Snow Leopard users who are cursing HP and Apple for incompatible or nonexistent drivers for a variety of printers that worked well under Leopard, HP has made an announcement that shows that they really do love all things Apple.HP today announced two new MediaSmart servers, the US$549 HP MediaSmart Server EX490 (1 TB of storage) and the US$699 HP MediaSmart Server EX495 (1.5 TB of storage). Like their predecessors, the two new servers are based on Microsoft Windows Home Server.
HP obviously listened to the concerns of Mac users while designing the new servers, since a Windows PC is no longer required in order for administration. Instead, Mac owners can use Microsoft's new Remote Desktop Connection for Mac 2.0 to log in and make changes. The servers are also Time Machine friendly, and include a new HP utility that allows bare metal recovery of machines backed up onto the server.
Also new to the servers is the HP Media Collector, which automatically collects and organizes media files from Macs or PCs on a network, and then makes the data available for streaming over the Internet. There's also a new HP Video Converter utility for automatically converting unprotected DVDs into a format that can played at home or remotely.
For iPod touch or iPhone users, HP has made the free MediaSmart Server iStream app [iTunes link] available in the App Store. Using this app, Apple fans can view their pictures, watch their videos, and listen to music, all streamed from their HP MediaSmart server.
Intriguing? Take a look at more information on HP's Web site.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
NutMac said 1:52PM on 9-15-2009
Other than faster CPU, updated software, they seem to be largely the same as the EX48x models that they replace. Which isn't bad considering the news ones are a bit cheaper while offering larger hard disk. Anyway, I wish HP would offer diskless configuration (while putting the OS and software on a NAND).
Better yet, I hope Apple will enter the home server market next year (Time Capsule doesnt' cut it for me).
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mr kitty said 2:12PM on 9-15-2009
But will they pull those fricken Lauren commercials?
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Moose said 2:49PM on 9-15-2009
I want one of these.... bad. Backup, media aggregation and a UPnP server for streaming to my PS3... what's not to like?
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Eric said 4:59PM on 9-15-2009
I'm debating between this and a 2TB Time Capsule. This does seem like it offers a lot more overall. Will this allow you to back up over wifi like the Time Capsule does from your Mac?
Also, would this be better for streaming video to my XBox 360? I'm just not sure what video formats the 360 supports.
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Steve said 5:24PM on 9-15-2009
I have the EX487 and its read/write times to my networked Macs are much, much better than on my TimeCapsule. I have my iTunes library, three different Time Machine backups and two Windows PC backups on these servers and it really does works very well indeed. As to the comment above about Windows only setup, you only need to borrow a laptop for one time setup. The new software (which is reportedly coming to the older MSS models too) will allow full administration from a Mac.
Steve said 5:28PM on 9-15-2009
forgot to add that yes, it does indeed allow Time Machine backups over wifi,
Mr Lizard said 3:00PM on 9-15-2009
A quick heads up for those thinking of making a purchase -
Whilst a Windows PC isn't required for administration, it is unfortunately required for the first-time set up (see the instruction manual, page 6, available from HP support's website)
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Ben said 3:20PM on 9-15-2009
Nice find, this is one downside to blogging speed. I haven't seen one site discover this little addition of needing a windows machine for the first installation.
Everyone reports on the fact that Mac's can be used for subsequent administration.
Archion said 3:30PM on 9-15-2009
So, use BootCamp or a VM...
Mr Lizard said 3:38PM on 9-15-2009
Archion,
This is of course an option, and would need to be factored into the cost of purchase (at the very least a 'home' version of XP would be needed)
Just a heads up, that's all :-)
I still think this is a great purchase, but I do think a little more attention ought to be drawn to the Windows requirement in either the press release, or the product page (unfortunately, not everyone downloads the manuals before purchase)
Archion said 11:44AM on 9-16-2009
If you don't have access to a copy of windows, I'm sure you could find a friend with a windows lappy... you would only need it for about 20 minutes, I thinks that's all mine took to set up, and I built my server back during the beta test, so of course I don't get the fancy Mac plug ins from HP, maybe someone will develop one.
Whiteshaft said 4:55PM on 9-15-2009
I've been thinking about ripping all of my CDs onto some kind of server in my house. Was thinking about a Mini with iTunes always running with the new v9 feature that allows copying; would have to run third-party apps to get streaming and UPnP going though, plus a bigger hard drive. Think the HP is a better solution?
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Eric said 5:35PM on 9-15-2009
Also, so am I understanding this correctly. If I were to *hypothetically of course* RIP my DVD's to my computer (stripping the copy protection), would I be able to stream those VOB files to my XBox 360 thanks to its automatic DVD conversion?
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Tom Boucher said 11:25PM on 9-15-2009
so how about us poor saps that bought the 485 because it got Macworld Best of show only to find out the time capsule backup is only as big as your largest hard drive (as long as nothing wrote to it while you were setting it up)
15% restocking fee for something that didn't work, so I kept it. I just hit my limit of a 915GB backup since I only have 1TB HDs in it. I ran out of space on my 1GB time capsule and thought this was a good upgrade.
I'm hoping there's a software update because the hardware specs on this thing are less than 'amazing' and there's no way the 485/487 model couldn't run this.
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MikeWard1701 said 5:37AM on 9-16-2009
Are there any hardware/software requirements for a device to work with Time Machine?
I'm cnsidering the Acer H340 or building my own but neither come with TM support.
Is there a workaround to make them work?
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Archion said 1:56PM on 9-16-2009
HP is the only one offering Mac compatibility OOB at this time.