Ceton announced back at CES that this would be a big year for them. They plan to launch a new DVR, code named Q, and a custom Media Center Extender, code named Echo, this year. As if that weren’t enough they are also planning to launch a suite of companion apps to go along with them. While details have been sparse up to this point, the developers released a few more details this morning on the Ceton Extender and the companion apps.
Most believed that the apps would only work alongside Ceton’s Q DVR, but in today’s announcement they stated that they will work with any Windows 7 Media Center! They will also be releasing the companion apps into beta soon. The apps are being developed for Windows Phone 7, iOS, and Android. You can register for the beta today, and selection for the beta will happen on or before May 25th. When signing up for the app beta you’ll also have the ability to sign up to beta test the forthcoming Ceton Extender.
The beta process for the Ceton Extender will involve paying the MSRP for the box, which has yet to be announced. You’ll receive the box ahead of everyone else, and while it will be final hardware it will come pre-installed with beta software. At the end of the beta you’ll keep the extender and be updated to the final software. So while you’ll still be paying the same amount for the Ceton Extender that regular customers will, you’ll be getting your hands on it a lot earlier, and you’ll have a hand in improving it. The beta selection for the extender will be on or before July 15th. To clarify, when you sign up for the beta of the companion apps you’ll have the option of expressing interest in participating in the beta for the extender. You won’t be under any commitment to purchase one.
We’ll have the guys from Ceton on Entertainment 2.0 this week to discuss today’s announcement. You can listen in live at 8pm Eastern on our live show page. Feel free to leave your questions for Ceton in the comments on this post.
To signup for the beta head on over to http://beta.cetoncorp.com.
Ceton Companion App Features:
- Multiple platforms
- iPhone (iOS 4.1+)
- Android (2.2+)
- Windows Phone 7 (Mango)
- Works on any Windows 7 HTPC
- Browse all of your Media Center libraries
- Videos
- Music
- Photos
- Movies
- Start playback of content on multiple devices
- Manage and schedule recordings
- Rich meta data for movies and television
- Browse premieres of upcoming television shows
- Universally search movies, TV, guide, and more
- A whole lot more!
Signed up but Cant Wait for the Q to come out, I hope I can use my infinitv4 with it
I signed up as well , 12 tuners,xbox,windows phone all begging to beta this
The apps mentioned nothing about streaming Live TV from WMC – will it be possible?
Otherwise, the extender sounds promising!!!!!!
[…] Ceton Announces Extender and App Betas […]
Fantastic that Ceton are opening this up to all Windows 7 Media Centers. I’m eager to give these apps a try.
I’m wondering if they will be doing anything with the European market when it comes to hardware. I’m tempted by the extender, especially if it is more flexible with codecs. If they made the Q with with DVB-S2/T2 tuners instead that would be tempting too! 🙂