The Netgear Digital Entertainer HD EVA8000 is a sophisticated set-top digital media receiver that enhances entertainment choices by offering an intuitive user interface and powerful search capability for high-definition televisions to display media files and Internet content streamed (via Wi-Fi) from PCs, Macs, network storage devices, and USB media devices.

 

The Digital Entertainer HD automatically discovers HD movies, TV shows, music files, and personal photos on a home network across multiple computers, and organizes these into a single media library displayed on a TV without the need for media-server software running on the computer.

 

Using the included remote, users can search their entire media libraries by title, actor, date, genre, or thumbnail images (from photos, album art, or DVD covers). A HDMI port displays video resolution up to 1080p on big-screen TVs, and optical digital audio output transmits full digital surround sound to a digital audio receiver.

 

The digital media receiver is compatible with many leading audio formats (MP3, WAV, WMA, FLAC, M4A, AAC, AC3), purchased music from iTunes on Windows (M4P), video formats (MPEG-1/2/4, WMV, XviD, H.264), and image formats (JPEG, BMP, PNG, TIFF).

 

The Digital Entertainer HD includes an onscreen TV wizard and installation software for simple setup. With the included Windows PC software, the Digital Entertainer HD enables users to listen to music from iTunes, view YouTube videos, and access their PC desktop from their living room. When the PC has an optional TV tuner installed, the EVA8000 acts as a DVR, allowing users to schedule recordings and pause or rewind live broadcasts.

 

Multiple Digital Entertainer HD receivers can work in concert throughout a house. Using "Follow Me," users can pause video in one room and resume it in another. While in "Party Mode," they can synchronize music playback for whole-home listening. They can also plug in USB flash drives, MP3 players, or other USB storage devices directly into a Digital Entertainer HD to instantly access and play high-resolution digital media.

 

The Digital Entertainer HD EVA8000 is expected to be available in the first quarter of 2007 for $349.

Update: Read our full review of the Netgear Digital Entertainer HD EVA8000.