MWC: Huawei vs Apple TV

At Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week, Huawei showcased a set-top box that is almost identical to Apple TV, serving notice that it had invaded yet another consumer technology category.

Chinese manufacturer Huawei, already making a name for itself with cheap Android smartphones that compete with high-end devices, has invaded the set-top box streaming space dominated by Apple TV.

The Huawei MediaQ M310, announced in January but showcased at the 2013 Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona this week, is described as a “media cube”” that connects content from smartphones, tablets and TVs, “”bringing the living room into a smarter era””.

Smaller than Apple TV, measuring only 14mm thick, it nevertheless bears a startling resemblance. However, it has pre-installed gaming content and other features not yet available on Apple TV. Huawei says the MediaQ M310 has hefty hardware capabilities encompassing multi-screen interactions, media management, video calls and gaming. Powered by a quad core ARM9 processor, the MediaQ enables wireless projection through an HDMI in-connection, and together with a TV screen and an external camera, provides exceptional video call quality for connecting with people around the world. Its existing 32 GB memory can be further supplemented with Micro SD cards.

“”In this era of digital evolution for the home, the Huawei MediaQ provides an enriched, integrated entertainment experience without the expense of overhauling the technology you already own and love,”” said Yang Zhirong, President, Huawei Home Devices. “”With unsurpassed versatility, the MediaQ acts as a set-top-box, a smart TV and a portal that enables all content to be accessed on any device.””

The Huawei MediaQ’s powerful consolidation function automatically sorts and organizes files from PCs, mobile hard disk drives and other storage devices. The Huawei MediaQ is pre-installed with games including Ducati Bike and Breaker’s Revenge II that can be played using tablets or game consoles. Additional accessories include a universal learning remote that controls the MediaQ, Set Top Box (STB), TV, and other digital devices, software converting smartphones into the MediaQ mouse and keyboard controllers, and a type-Y power cord to connect jump drives and mobile hard disk drives.

MediaQ M310 was first displayed at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in January. Price and availability will be announced soon.

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