Dvico updates coming soon, plus Tvix 3600 media centre with USB 3.0

There's not much going on in the world of media centres at the moment. Maybe manufacturers are all waiting for the Computex technology show to make their new product announcements. In the meantime, we thought we'd contact Dvico to try to find out what's in the pipeline.

Dvico assured us that it's hard at work developing updates for its current media centres, the Tvix 6600 and Tvix N1. Apart from correcting bugs, the new firmware will be able to automatically detect a video's frame rate (24p, 23.976 etc.) and will bring advanced functions for remote operation.


In other words, you'll be able to use your mobile phone to control your media centre. This function has, in fact, been present since version 1.9.9 and it's based on a web-page interface rather than an application. The result is already fairly interesting, but it'll be further improved with these new updates. We hope to see the arrival of applications compatible with Android, iPhone etc.

New Tvix 3600 with USB 3.0 port

We already mentioned the upcoming Tvix 3600 in our interview with Dvico. The release of this product is currently delayed and not all of its tech specs are known, or even decided yet. However, we do know that it'll be built around a Realtek 1283 chip, probably the 'Plus' version that's compatible with HD audio. We also know that the manufacturer plans on integrating USB 3.0 and eSATA connections. The first test models should be released to journalists sometime this June.

Two other new Dvico media centres are scheduled for release before the end of the year. Although it's still too early to have any word on their spec, we do already know that one will use the new Realtek RTD1085 chip (not due before October) and the other will use the Sigma Designs SMP8656 (due in September).


> Product Survey: Multimedia Hard Drives and Media Centres

> Buyer's Guides: Our Pick of The Best Products