McTiVia, a new set-top box now on sale in Harvey Norman stores, is looking to take the world of computer screen sharing and VPN geo-location tricks and make them as casual as using any other standard set-top box. With drawcards like easy access to Hulu and Netflix and an easily portable form-factor, McTiVia is hard to ignore.
McTiVia is Mac and Windows friendly (starting life as a Mac product and then widening to include the world of Windows) and the box itself is all about the screensharing. Install the software on your PC and connect the McTiVia to your TV via HDMI. The McTiVia can run over Ethernet or Wi-Fi (.11n), and it can also run as a separate access point to give a clean, unshared wireless connection to ensure high-quality throughput.
While McTiVia is promoting its VPN credentials, the service is actually supplied by VPN-S as a free 30-day trial. Ongoing service is charged at $9.95 per month. The VPN service is installed and run on your PC like any other software.
And this is the interesting point with McTiVia. It’s actually not all that new in principle. It’s not anything that someone who knows what they’re doing hasn’t hacked together before. But in practical terms it cuts away a lot of the fuss and makes it fairly simple to get your computer screen onto your TV.
From there you get access to the full decoding power of your desktop. Silverlight playback? Check. Latest Flash? Check. Any video format? Check. Running 720p over wireless, the compression is visible. But if you’re looking for perfect performance you can go wired to up the quality.
The McTiVia runs in one of two modes. Video mode adds a three second buffer to smooth the video experience. Application mode delivers real-time interface for better control of the computer system.
There are also McTiVia apps for iPhone, Android, and Blackberry. iPhone and Android are limited right now, but Blackberry can apparently play back any content. There’s also a Cydia app available for streaming anything at all from your iPhone to your TV.
The biggest oversight is no controller at all will be included in the box. You can plug in any wired or wireless USB mouse and/or keyboard to control your computer through the McTiVia. Or you will soon be able to purchase a special controller that is a clever keyboard/mouse combo that looks like a standard IR remote. But nothing at all packed in? Seems like a hurdle for a device that is all about taking away the hurdles.
This is a fascinating product that will be interesting to watch in the market. It’s trying to take more technical home streaming concepts and make them mainstream. Will it work? The team selling McTiVia into Australia were the guys behind taking Topfield and making it the biggest DVR in the local market, so they know how to sell set-top boxes.
The McTiVia is selling for $299, putting it in the same territory as the Boxee Box and new Smart TV boxes like the LG ST600.
Mitchell
Friday, June 17, 2011 at 2:56 PMThe name makes me think it will come with my next happy meal…
JAKE
Friday, June 17, 2011 at 3:15 PMare you sure mcdonalds won’t be all over this with trademark claims?
Seamus Byrne
Friday, June 17, 2011 at 3:18 PMAs opposed to Mac, TiVo, Via, or MTV? ;-)
Steve
Friday, June 17, 2011 at 3:52 PMBegs the question why we don’t get Hulu and Netflix straight from the source. I’d love to pay a flat monthly fee to stream movies instead of having to torrent.
Oh and, throw in Pandora too.
Cameron
Friday, June 17, 2011 at 4:25 PMI’m surprised that they’re so openly selling something in such a legal grey area…….
Namarrgon
Friday, June 17, 2011 at 4:33 PMSo… for $299 you just get a box that streams your PC’s video output, like Intel’s WiDi? Still requires a Mac/PC to do the heavy lifting.
The streaming of Netflix etc over VPN sounds like an entirely separate issue, and not dependant on their hardware, though they may well be packaging it all together for simplicity.
Sounds like you could do pretty much the same thing with a long HDMI cable (which I do).
Seamus Byrne
Friday, June 17, 2011 at 5:10 PMYep, they’re really just trying to package it all up to make it as unscary as possible. Yep. Unscary. Real word.
Can you do it with a long cable? Yes. But not many people like running long cables from a computer room to a living room.
A.A.
Friday, June 17, 2011 at 4:37 PMWonder if TiVo will sue over a name that sound similar to theirs.
Jamie
Friday, June 17, 2011 at 4:49 PM30% cheaper on Amazon – US$189.
Maybe Jerry will put it on his offshore shop.
Phil
Friday, June 17, 2011 at 4:53 PMVPN can be too slow sometimes for streaming hulu / Netflix. Try http://www.unblock-us.com at $4.99 a month which works by changing your DNS only for the services it unblocks. It’s fast easy to setup and hasn’t missed a beat for me. It works for BBC,ITV and Pandora as well!!
Seamus Byrne
Friday, June 17, 2011 at 5:07 PMThese guys are partnering with VPN-S. An Aussie company focused on delivering on AV performance. We’ll catch up with them soon to talk about their business. Seems like an interesting way to build a business.
Aaron
Friday, June 17, 2011 at 11:40 PMthanks for the tip mate, working great!
iNothappy
Friday, June 17, 2011 at 6:20 PMMac sounds distinctly Apple – who are busy shooting themselves in their corporate foot with their increasingly draconian announcements. So. Sorry no takers here!
Rod
Friday, June 17, 2011 at 6:54 PMI don’t see it happening any time soon. I mean, Hulu’s been saying that they’re going to “go international” since the beginning but nothing’s come of it. There’s just too many contracts and restrictions to get past the US borders. Everyone’s trying to make a buck, understandably I mean, but still, that’s what it boils down to.
Dom T
Friday, June 17, 2011 at 8:43 PMVery keen to have a product like this for <$100. Only a matter of time.
Don
Friday, June 17, 2011 at 9:44 PMand all the stuff ups the Topfield crowd made with digital receiver boxes in the beginning too.
That brand never to be seen again accept in Vinnies recently for $10 rather than $800.
Anouk
Friday, June 17, 2011 at 11:46 PMAgreed Phil, unblock-us.com works great – worth the $4.99/month! Using that to stream Hulu Plus, Netflix and Amazon VOD with a Roku XDS box; works like a charm. Who says we can’t stream decently to Aus? :)
Chris McMahon
Saturday, June 18, 2011 at 4:59 AMHow do you get around the credit card US-address issues?
Anouk
Saturday, June 18, 2011 at 8:46 AMChris – see http://www.unblock-us.com mentioned earlier in this thread; it’s explained on there.
In short, you use a virtual credit card (prepaid service) with US origin.
RobertInspireTech
Saturday, June 18, 2011 at 8:30 AMJust thought I would jump head first into this thread… Some people will understand that the mctivia will bring content restricted by the networks. A tactic for them to make revenue. Australians have the right to see up to date content for free or very little investment. We all know freeview came in and flexed their muscles with very little reaction, and ultimately freeview were crippling Australians tv experience to benefit the networks only. The VPN will give you global content, which is available without the mctivia, however, the mctivia will get most people away from a 17″ screen and allow you to share ALL your pcs content on a big screen tv with family and friends.
Thanks for taking the time to comment on Seamus’s write up.
Robert
Anouk
Saturday, June 18, 2011 at 8:43 AMChris – http://www.usunlocked.com. If you visit the DNS provider’s website (www.unblock-us.com) mentioned earlier in this thread, they actually mention it on there too.
Ultimately, it’s a virtual credit card with US origin. Prepaid, so only top up every now & then.
For European-based services, see http://www.entropay.com (have to use their virtual credit card for Spotify since that is geolocked too).
Have phun.
Franz
Sunday, June 19, 2011 at 8:41 PMIf I’m getting global content I want the foreign adverts that BELONG with it, I don’t want to be butt raped by location sensing tech that gives me local ads, if this box does that then scrap the whole idea, local ads suck.
Anelly
Monday, June 20, 2011 at 9:26 PMI already use a VPN for only $4.95/month and i have access to Hulu with no problem.
http://www.ibvpn.com
Mochsa
Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at 5:22 AMhere is a list with best VPN services reviewed: http://www.starvpnreviews.com
brian
Sunday, June 26, 2011 at 1:02 PMwhere can i get the installion disk to start my mctivia
Kyle
Saturday, July 30, 2011 at 1:44 AMI tried HotSpot Shield but it’s so annoying because all the changes to your search engine and ads so I signed up http://www.unotelly.com
Seems pretty fast so far.
jeremy
Monday, September 12, 2011 at 11:23 AMjaycar sell a very similar device that works over ethernet : http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=XC4976&keywords=ethernet&form=KEYWORD . Add a “universal n wireless adaptor” like this http://www.netgear.com/landing/wnce2001.aspx and you are go for about $200. Most devices of this type are so called “displaylink” tech, I own several and they are pretty good, they even support multiple adaptors on the same network to a single PC. So even if this is “banned” you are gold :-)
jeremy
Monday, September 12, 2011 at 11:26 AMSeamus – url for vpn-s?
Alfred Simpson
Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at 10:51 AMPlease advise by emial the specifications of the ‘Universal Power Adaptor’ Plug used for the “mc Ti Via” Unit. I have lost the original Power Adaptor and need a replacement.
Thanking you,
A.Simpson.