As we mentioned when we first introduced the MatrixStream to you, the catch to obtaining this remarkable streaming H.264 video using MatrixStream's MX-1 set-top box (pictured above) is that you must have a 6Mbps (megabit-per-second) broadband connection. That's what it'll take to watch 1080p videos on the system, and not a megabit less. For 720p HD, you'll need 3Mb, and for regular old 480p DVD-looking stuff, that'll need 1.5Mb per second.

Well, and then there's that other catch, enticing content creators to allow their movies to be moved over the thing. We're not holding our collective breath waiting for that to happen. But it gives you a good look at what might be pretty commonplace two or three years from now.

Reminds us of Vudu, doing almost exactly the same thing with standard def, with HD (albeit 1080i) downloading available now and instant HD reportedly on the way. Even though the $400 Vudu set-top box also has content issues, still, the future looks bright for this kind of tech. [MatrixStream]

For now, you can try out the beta version of the MyTVPal IMX player by filling in a bit of mildly intrusive registration information, downloading and installing it. We snagged the IMX player and took it for a spin, and grabbed a screen shot for you. What did we think of this new service?

Looking over the company's site, its video quality and the meager content is a bit like gazing at a genius newborn baby squalling and crying in its crib and pooping all over himself. The 720p clips are gloriously sharp and rich-looking even when scaled up full-screen on our 1920x1200 PC display, but are plagued by frustrating stoppage every 10 to 15 seconds, with the word "transmitting" superimposed on top (see graphic below).

It just couldn't keep up, and that was using our 7Mb premium broadband service here at the Midwest Test Facility. It's a tease to see high-quality video for a few seconds and have it suddenly taken away over and over. Aside from being a demo of great potential, it was unusable.

Then there's the paucity of offerings, the best of which are short clips, demos, trailers and musty old Beverly Hillbillies episodes. It's hardly an auspicious beginning as far as content is concerned. Matrixstream officials told us a few months ago they hope individuals and production entities will be signing up to distribute their content on this channel, but from what we can see, that hasn't happened yet.

Even with its halting playback and lack of content, this is still an impressive feat to see this H.264 video streaming onto a PC, serving up HDTV at better quality than we've ever seen over an Internet connection. It's a quick glance at the clarity of HDTV that will be coming down the pipes of the future. With a good fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) connection and that upcoming setup box, this will be some disruptive technology. Meanwhile, you might want to try downloading the player and taking a look at this quality for yourself. – Charlie White

Download MyTVPal: Free High Definition TV Over the Internet [Matrixstream]

Here's the Matrixstream MX1020HD set-top box, currently in the testing phase, which is said to be able to deliver 1080p video over an everyday "best effort" broadband connection. According to the company, the system accomplishes this feat by using H.264 compression and proprietary XMS streaming technology built into its head-end units it'll offer to service providers, and then decodes those signals with this set-top box which could be coming soon to a home theater near you.

The best part of this equation is that by the end of this year, IPTV might give you choices beyond just cable or satellite TV. Small, hotly competitive service providers are currently gearing up to offer the same services you get on cable and satellite, at even higher resolution. Sounds pleasingly disruptive. – Charlie White

Product Page [Matrixstream]