Samsung launches new living room media streaming box

In another bid to prove that whatever Apple can do, it can do too, Samsung has launched the HomeSync media streamer. A set-top box that, like Apple's Apple TV can push digital content from a digital device to a TV set, HomeSync supports full 1080p high-definition video and, unlike the Apple TV, offers 1TB of internal storage.

HomeSync-Media-Streaming-box-Photo-AFP

Samsung's HomeSync combines content streaming to a connected TV with up to 1TB of storage.

In another bid to prove that whatever Apple can do, it can do too, Samsung has launched the HomeSync media streamer. A set-top box that, like Apple's Apple TV can push digital content from a digital device to a TV set, HomeSync supports full 1080p high-definition video and, unlike the Apple TV, offers 1TB of internal storage.

Apple's surprisingly popular streaming device simply allows users to take content stored on a Mac, iPad, iPhone or external hard drive and launch it on the TV.

Samsung's device also serves as a hard drive and is compatible with its Galaxy smartphones and Galaxy Note tablets.

Running an Android operating system, the HomeSync can also be set up to support up to eight separate users, each of whom can set up their own password-protected libraries of music, films and even apps. Samsung, which announced the device at the launch of the Mobile World Congress on Monday is yet to demonstrate its user interface but it's very likely that -- as it runs a version of Android and connects to Google Play -- it will mirror the look and feel of Google TV.

The other area where there appears to be uncertainly is price. Samsung is yet to reveal any details, other than to confirm that it will be available in select territories from April and will slowly roll out to other countries over the course of the year.

Streaming devices and set-top boxes are proving to be very popular this year. At the Consumer Electronics Show in January The Hopper with Sling caused a stir with its ability to record TV shows and automatically edit out commercials, while the SeaGate Wireless Plus won the award for best network and storage device for its ability to wirelessly stream up to 1TB of digital content to as many as eight mobile devices simultaneously.