Mvix's MX-780HD is the latest competitor to be thrust into the Wireless Media Center arena, ready to do battle and provide an illustrious alternative to Apple TV (finally).

Unlike the AppleTV system, Mvix's offering also gives you playback options for DivX® (3/4/5), WMV9, DivX® 6, AVI, Xvid, BivX®, and a handful of other codecs, on top of the commonplace affair of H264. It even plays VOB files!

The MX-780HD may in fact be the most comprehensive HTPC currently on the market. Integrated into the device is support for audio too, providing Internet Radio, MP3, WAV, OGG, WMA, AAC, and even AC3 playback. You do have to provide your own Hard Drive, but the upshot of this is the ability to truly customize the unit. Only got 320GB? No problem. Have a terabyte of movies and mp3s? The MX-780HD can handle that too.

On the back, there's just about every output socket you could ever need (Composite, S-Video, Component, and HDMI1.2, Stereo RCA, 5.1 channel RCA, Coaxial, Optical), and the front features a blue LCD interface, enabling quick access to the drive. All this, enclosed in a stealthy black metal (non-descript, possibly aluminum) casing.

Bonus: The MX-780HD also has a slideshow function, so you can show off those embarrassing party photos (BMP, JPEG/JPG, PNG) at the touch of a button. It also come with USB-Host ports, so you can attach your friends' external drive for added media!

The very, very exciting MX-780HD is available now, and retails at $300 - I may just buy one myself.

More Resources
- MVix Press Release @mvixusa.com
- 780HD Manual (pdf) @mvixusa.com
- Buy it @thinkgeek.com