The PowerCinema is basically a component for your PC that allows it to become a satellite descrambler. Using your smart card, you can watch and capture standard or HD content on your PC. Then you can use it for your own enjoyment, since, you know, sharing it would be illegal.
This marks the first product allowing a PC to access subscription TV content directly. It's too early to say if more will follow, and it's not for everyone, but for you MediaCenter nerds who live in the sticks, it's a not a bad bet.
CyberLink and Hauppauge Partner to Enable Playback of Satellite TV Services on the PC [Home Upgrade]
Hauppauge, Technotrend and various other companies have had DVBs cards (ie PC cards with digital satellite receivers) out for many years already.
They generally come with software allowing you to record TV on your PC.
Since last year, these two brands at least have provided software that allows them to work with Windows XP MCE.
Also many of the cards come with CI (common interface) allowing the use of a CAM (common access module, I think – its basically a sort of PCMCIA card with a slot for a smart card – different satellite broadcasters use different encryption technologies that require different CAMs) to insert your smart card. If not, you can buy these on separate PCI cards or even in units that fit in a floppy bay.
In short, wheres the news here? This stuff has been around for years
Beacause this one will do HD moron.