A digital media receiver is a home entertainment device used to connect a home theatre system to a computer network in order to retrieve media files (music, pictures, video). They are capable of browsing file trees and using metadata to organize media files. They can connect wirelessly (802.11b, g) or through an Ethernet connection. It allows people to play media such as movies or music through their home entertainment system, which is more ideal for entertaining purposes. Different media hubs are designed to handle different tasks. Some media hubs only handle music; some handle music and pictures; some handle music, pictures, and video; while others go further to allow internet browsing. Some DMRs have integrated displays and speakers. Others must be connected to an external output device, such as a television (also known as a media extender), powered speakers, or a stereo system. Often, the connection to a computer network is realized by implementing a UPnP-stack on the device. Early examples of such UPnP-enabled devices where the Philips Streamium-range of products.
Other Names
DMR manufacturers use a variety of names to describe their devices. Alternative names include:
- Connected DVD
- Digital audio receiver (DAR)
- Digital media hub
- Digital media player
- Digital media streamer
- Digital video receiver
- Network media player
- Networked DVD
- Networked entertainment gateway
- Wireless Media Adapters
- Media Extender
