Netgear’s Digital Entertainer HD EVA8000 has been around for quite some time already, and has been up for sale approximately a month back. What makes this device an essential addition to anyone who loves tinkering around with home entertainment systems? For starters, this well designed box can be hooked up to your home’s network via Ethernet or WiFi, and it will automatically get to work, searching through your computer for all multimedia files available, be they audio or video formats. These meida files can then be played back on your TV in high definition via the HDMI connection. This means you ought to have a HD-ready TV in your living room if you are to take full advantage of the EVA8000.

The EVA8000 is an extremely versatile machine, and this trait is emphasized with its ability to play back YouTube videos on your TV, being compatible with iTunes FairPlay for you to stream music which was purchased online, and even being compatible with the new look (and legal) BitTorrent. If your computer has a TV tuner card installed, you can also use the EVA8000 to schedule recordings as well as pause and rewind live TV, all from the comfort of your living room.

There is potential for the EVA8000 to challenge Apple TV on the home entertainment front, but ultimately whether that is achieved or not, it all depends on the consumers. You will be able to pick up the Digital Entertainer HD EVA8000 from Netgear for approximately $350, depending on the retailer you go to.

Product Page