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HP Introduces Updated Cross-Platform MediaSmart Home Servers

Tuesday September 15, 2009 11:42 am PDT by Eric Slivka
HP today introduced the MediaSmart EX490 and EX495 home servers, offering upgraded features and greater Mac compatibility for the company's line of cross-platform home servers that received significant praise at Macworld Expo earlier this year.

HP today launched the HP MediaSmart EX490 and EX495 Home Servers, new models offering increased capacity, high-performance processors, more control, new user interface and additional Mac support - all at a lower price.

Based on the Microsoft Windows Home Server platform, the updated HP MediaSmart Servers have a refined user interface and a web-based home page that makes accessing and using the server easier than ever. Additionally, the new models offer a new video converter with custom settings and profiles that will automatically convert video libraries, including unprotected DVDs.

HP has addressed several shortcomings of the previous versions of the server line, adding server administration, media collection, and "bare metal" Time Machine data recovery for Macs. MediaSmart Home offers an overview of the new Mac-related features alongside a thorough overall review of the new servers, finding them a significant update to HP's already-solid MediaSmart home server line.

The new EX490 and EX495 also support the free HP MediaSmart Server iStream iPhone application introduced in April to allow iPhone and iPod touch users to stream media to their handheld devices.

Pre-orders for the new HP MediaSmart Server models are available beginning today with suggested retail pricing beginning at $549 for the EX490 with a Celeron processor and a single 1 TB hard drive and $699 for the EX495 with an upgraded dual-core 2.5 GHz Pentium processor and a single 1.5 TB hard drive. Additional hard drive capacity up to 7 TB (internal) or 17 TB (internal plus external) is supported.
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DipDog3
32 months ago
Well then when is Apple going to update Apple TV?

Apple is falling behind in the Media Server Category...
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MalibuMatt98
32 months ago
I'm waiting for Apple do deliver a similar solution like this other than the TC, or give TC advanced account setup options.
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McGiord
32 months ago
DipDog3: I concur.



Is there any alternative to be able to access your iTunes Library via the iPhone over the internet?
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MacU
32 months ago
I love the new itunes feature that allows you to stream your data between systems. I have a mac mini connected to my tv and a macbook that has the majority of my files. Expanding the concept of a single data storage that both can connect to and stream the data would be awesome not only within the homenetwork but also remotely.
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McGiord
32 months ago
Probably "they" still see it as an opportunity for people to share without buying...damn:confused:
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RoadKill
32 months ago
seeing as Apple refuse to replace my 18 month old TC, even though I have three machines (bought at separate occasions) under applecare, I know what I shall be buying as soon as available in UK
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arkmannj
32 months ago

Well then when is Apple going to update Apple TV?

Apple is falling behind in the Media Server Category...


falling behind ?
I don't think they've even entered the Media Server Category. I wish they would. We're entering a time when even many consumers need some server technologies and a central storage point that is easy to setup/manage. and considerations for Media we own and use at home is certainly at the top of that list.
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convergent
32 months ago
A home server seems like a natural place for Apple to make a difference... its surprising that they still have not put their foot down here. I can't imagine buying an HP server for use with Macs. I'm using a ReadyNAS NV+ currently, but I'd love something from Apple. One of the places they could really shine is in multi-user asset management. If they could allow multiple Macs to store their music, pictures, and videos on a central server, and then smartly access them from any Mac... that would be grand. I do professional photography and this is something that is sorely needed. I use Lightroom for photo work, and its very awkward to use it over multiple workstations... you have to literally copy the database around from workstation to workstation. Aperture has a similar model, and iPhoto is a whole other beast. The only thing that Lightroom and Aperture need to really work well is a multiuser database underlying the application... both are using a single user database.
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MalibuMatt98
32 months ago

I love the new itunes feature that allows you to stream your data between systems. I have a mac mini connected to my tv and a macbook that has the majority of my files. Expanding the concept of a single data storage that both can connect to and stream the data would be awesome not only within the homenetwork but also remotely.


With the release of iTunes 9, I was toying with the idea of using a mac mini as an iTunes server.
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hitekalex
32 months ago

I love the new itunes feature that allows you to stream your data between systems.


There is nothing new about this. You could always share and stream your iTunes libraries between multiple computers on the same LAN.

The only new thing since iTunes 9 is the ability to auto-sync purchases, and being able to drag/drop content across libraries.
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