BIOS: Technology Means Business

Fear not those faithful to the penguin. CyberLink has launched PowerCinema Linux, a software utility to convert your Linux PC into a feature-rich TV entertainment centre.

Pitched at PC vendors targeting the CE market (currently available for OEM customers), PowerCinema Linux supports both analogue and digital TV, radio, Teletext and electronic program guide browsing.

A launch sequence of about 10 seconds and quick shutdown provide CE-like behaviour (is that a good thing - Ed?) on a laptop or desktop PC. The stylish 3D interface and operation by remote control should ensure easy navigation of additional features, including DVD movies, music, pictures, and video modules.

‘Linux is not only a great PC and Server operating system it also runs on a wide range of CE devices and with PowerCinema Linux users can enjoy digital entertainment on their Linux PCs,’ said Alice H. Chang, CEO of CyberLink.

‘PowerCinema also provides CE device manufacturers with a Linux-based alternative for creating amazing Home Entertainment solutions that can scale down to CE devices with very limited resources. As such, CyberLink is allowing PC makers to move from the typical PC environment to the living room and by doing so to enter the Digital Home Entertainment market.’

CyberLink PowerCinema Linux highlights include a modular, thin software design ensures that PowerCinema Linux can be scaled to fit the requirements of CE devices. CyberLink Instant-On and Instant-Off technology ensure start-up sequences of 4 to 10 seconds (dependent on BIOS boot time) and quick shutdown times, and there’s support for common remote control standards including HID, USB, and serial, among others.

The TV module allows easy surfing and watching of TV programs, and support for both analogue and digital TV tuner cards mean you can watch both TV and radio (TV card support differs according to regional requirements). An Electronic Program Guide (EPG) facilitates browsing of program information categorised by channel, program type, and so on, and Teletext support features colour key, page numbers, and mouse over with TV shows.

The Movie Module plays DVDs, VCDs, and supports widescreen displays and multi-channel audio, advanced viewing options provide support for DVD movie playback at a variety of speeds, and auto-resume playback allows PowerCinema to continue to play a DVD title either from the last point it was stopped or from the start.

The Sony/Philips Digital Interface (S/PDIF) facilitates audio output by transferring Dolby Digital pass-through signals directly to external audio receivers, and TV-out support lets PowerCinema Linux output TV signals, enabling connection to a TV (depending on available hardware device).

Other modules include a Video module to quickly view your home videos, Pictures module turns photos into a slideshow featuring background music and transitions, the Music module plays MP3, WMA and WAV audio files stored on a hard drive, the Audio CD module plays music directly from a CD, and the Radio module provides access to radio stations.

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