Performance Color Black Interface USB 2.0 HDMI Composite A/V
Features Full HD 1080p video playback and navigation Dock-and-play convenience Collect without limits – no need to delete movies, just add more USB drives Supported USB Device file systems: FAT-32, NTFS, HFS+ (no journaling)
Support Media Formats Video:MPEG 1/2/4, WMV9, AVI (MPEG4. Xvid. AVC). H.264, MKV. MOV (MPEG4. H.264) Image:JPEG, GIF, TIF/TIFF, BMP, PNG Audio:MP3, WMA, OGG, WAV/PCM/LPCM, AAC, FLAC. Dolby Digital, AIF/AIFF, MKA
Good deal. If you're on the fence, go for it! I bought it for $99 at BB a few months back, and love it. To answer some quick questions.. yes, it does play DVD ISOs. no, it does NOT come with a hard drive, but it has 2 USB ports for connecting one. So you just get a 2.5" external drive, and hook it up, and Robert's your uncle.
Gambit3 said: Good deal. If you're on the fence, go for it! I bought it for $99 at BB a few months back, and love it. To answer some quick questions.. yes, it does play DVD ISOs. no, it does NOT come with a hard drive, but it has 2 USB ports for connecting one. So you just get a 2.5" external drive, and hook it up, and Robert's your uncle. Does it have an ethernet port? I have NAS would like stream video over network.
sardarji said: Does it have an ethernet port? I have NAS would like stream video over network.
Not out of the box, but with a USB/network dongle and hacked firmware you can have it stream off any network shares ... which makes this thing awesome.
cr*p...just bought one from the big A for $99. This is a nice device for those who do not have or want to set up streaming over network. Based on reading a number of reviews, someone tested attaching multiple drives via a powered USB hub.
This was definitely a cheaper option for me where I had the need to only have content available for viewing in one room, and no need to keep two machines powered up to watch videos. I played an iPod Touch-formatted video (Handbrake) on it connected via HDMI, and the upscaling is very acceptable (especially since it is primarily for the kids and their beat-up DVD collection).
I bought one a few months ago when they first became available. I love it. I recently installed the hacked firmware and am using a USB to Ethernet adapter to access my movies from a Windows share.
I hooked up this unit to my Sony HDTV and audio optical output to my Yamaha A/V Reciever and receiver connected to my Bose speakers. The surround sound 5.1 quality is awesome. If you have good surround system and you don't have this unit then YOU ARE MISSING THIS UNIT BADLY . The picture quality and sound is top notch.
The only draw back of this unit is it doesn't play .vob or DVD files/folders.
Also don't forget to get the latest filmware from their website.
breaux124 said: sardarji said: Does it have an ethernet port? I have NAS would like stream video over network.
Not out of the box, but with a USB/network dongle and hacked firmware you can have it stream off any network shares ... which makes this thing awesome.
Wow, if they ever get that functional, this would be a nice box. Although streaming HD is a headache, even with Wireless N.
I bought 2 DMA 2100s which I stream video from my central HTPC. I'm curious how this guy compares. It might actually make more sense to just plop a cheap USB HDD and use it over the DMAs.
Bought this for 100 from Newegg a few weeks ago.. mind you, I have a xbox360 and a PS3, but this thing is AWESOME.. and, the only device that can read FAT32 and NTFS drives, thumbsticks etc.. plus, unlike those powerful consoles... it can play HD rips.. ie: .mkv files! It will play AC-3 5.1 audio thru your tv or your amp, but if it has DTS audio, you will only hear sound thru your AMP. but this thing is great.
partymajor
Member
posted: Mar. 12, 2009 @ 9:45a
Thanks OP! Picked one up, couldn't hold out any longer!
AZImmortal
Happy Member
posted: Mar. 12, 2009 @ 9:47a
Can anyone comment on this device's ability to play h.264/mkv and VC-1/WMV-HD files? I have an Xbox with XBMC that I currently use for standard definition playback, but I'd love to get this device for HD playback if it does it well. I was previously looking at the Popcorn Hour but I might have to get this instead.
jmr2198
Senior Member
posted: Mar. 12, 2009 @ 9:56a
AZImmortal said: Can anyone comment on this device's ability to play h.264/mkv and VC-1/WMV-HD files? I have an Xbox with XBMC that I currently use for standard definition playback, but I'd love to get this device for HD playback if it does it well. I was previously looking at the Popcorn Hour but I might have to get this instead.
it play x264 .mkvs, perfectly, and supports subtitles too.. even off a USB stick. Don't know about the VC-1/WMV-HD files though.. I actually wound up getting a blu-ray reader and making my own rips for this thing. it is great. especially for the money.
Scooby Doo (Twin 4 year old grands) is taking up to much space on my Dish DVR. Can I use this to transfer simply all Scooby's to an external HD for easy playback to the TV?
I haven't looked back since buying this. The only time it has shown any hiccups is when I try to play some WMV encoded content. That's been hit or miss otherwise everything else plays perfect. I'm sure in the next firmware updates most of those problems will go away too.
Great product at a very reasonable price. It's very small physically too.
AZImmortal said: Can anyone comment on this device's ability to play h.264/mkv and VC-1/WMV-HD files? I have an Xbox with XBMC that I currently use for standard definition playback, but I'd love to get this device for HD playback if it does it well. I was previously looking at the Popcorn Hour but I might have to get this instead.
As of today it will play h.264 in mkv containers, and it will play VC-1 in wmv or .m2ts container. It will not play VC-1 in .mkv container, but that should be a simple firmware upgrade for WD to add in the future.
ScottOH said: breaux124 said: sardarji said: Does it have an ethernet port? I have NAS would like stream video over network.
Not out of the box, but with a USB/network dongle and hacked firmware you can have it stream off any network shares ... which makes this thing awesome.
Wow, if they ever get that functional, this would be a nice box. Although streaming HD is a headache, even with Wireless N.
I bought 2 DMA 2100s which I stream video from my central HTPC. I'm curious how this guy compares. It might actually make more sense to just plop a cheap USB HDD and use it over the DMAs.
I'm not sure what you mean "if they ever get that functional". Currently you can easily stream 720p and 1080p content via the network using a wired connection. I've got blu-ray 1080p samples streaming over my network.
x0pher
New Member
posted: Mar. 12, 2009 @ 10:27a
Thanks! In for one.
pukkadmaal
Addicted Member
posted: Mar. 12, 2009 @ 10:34a
CIRAJOHNTHOMAS said: Scooby Doo (Twin 4 year old grands) is taking up to much space on my Dish DVR. Can I use this to transfer simply all Scooby's to an external HD for easy playback to the TV?
Transfering from Dish DVR to an external HD is not possible for following reasons (based on assumption that you have video on Dish DVR).
1. Dish will not let you transfer any video from DVR to an external HD. Either you can store on DVD or ext HD. Not only that it formats ext HD the minute you connect to DVR and you can't connect to another Dish DVRs. 2. If you have an Archos player, you can transfer files from Dish DVR to a computer and then computer to Archos. This is where there is a possibility. You may able to transfer Archos video file to wave or .264 then transfer to WDTV.
I have not explored but lot of work involved in it. I have tried myself.
Good luck!
ajny
Thrifty Member
posted: Mar. 12, 2009 @ 10:36a
CIRAJOHNTHOMAS said: Scooby Doo (Twin 4 year old grands) is taking up to much space on my Dish DVR. Can I use this to transfer simply all Scooby's to an external HD for easy playback to the TV?
I dont know abt Dish DVR but I was able to copy a Disney HD Movie from my TiVo HD and was able to play it on this device with very little work...
datalife
Senior Member
posted: Mar. 12, 2009 @ 10:39a
It is similar, but I don't think it plays rmvb file.
all168 said: Does anyone know is there any machine simila to this one will able to play .rm or .rmvb files?
Eggroller
New Member
posted: Mar. 12, 2009 @ 10:48a
1000GB said: I hooked up this unit to my Sony HDTV and audio optical output to my Yamaha A/V Reciever and receiver connected to my Bose speakers. The surround sound 5.1 quality is awesome. If you have good surround system and you don't have this unit then YOU ARE MISSING THIS UNIT BADLY . The picture quality and sound is top notch.
The only draw back of this unit is it doesn't play .vob or DVD files/folders.
Also don't forget to get the latest filmware from their website. Too bad no VOB playback, I am looking for one that does. Any suggestions?
justsometallguy
New Member
posted: Mar. 12, 2009 @ 10:54a
Any thoughts on this vs Popcorn Hour (besides price difference)? I'm trying to decide between the two.
Dangit, while thinking about it the price went back up to $99.
EDIT: Oops, forgot to enter the code! My bad.
z28
Senior Member
posted: Mar. 12, 2009 @ 11:44a
Thanks, OP. Just ordered from the Egg.
I placed an order with Amazon on 3/10 for $99. Status shows not shipping until 3/16, but I can't cancel the order (WTF?). Looks like I'll try my luck with refusing the Amazon shipment.
justsometallguy said: Any thoughts on this vs Popcorn Hour (besides price difference)? I'm trying to decide between the two.
Well it depends on how much you want to tinker. Popcorn Hour is pretty much ready to go onto your network out of the box, with the WD box you need to buy a USB-to-Ethernet adapter and install hacked firmware to make it work. Now if you really don't care about being able to play media over a network, then the WD box might be a better option (assuming you don't need DTS audio which the WD box will not do.)
shingletingle
Senior Member - 1K
posted: Mar. 12, 2009 @ 11:47a
1000GB said: I hooked up this unit to my Sony HDTV and audio optical output to my Yamaha A/V Reciever and receiver connected to my Bose speakers. The surround sound 5.1 quality is awesome. If you have good surround system and you don't have this unit then YOU ARE MISSING THIS UNIT BADLY . The picture quality and sound is top notch.
The only draw back of this unit is it doesn't play .vob or DVD files/folders.
Also don't forget to get the latest filmware from their website.
Huh? Why do I need this for 5.1 sound and good picture and audio quality? I'm enjoying 5.1 surround sound and great picture quality just fine with my Samsun BD-P2550 player among other things. Why am I missing this unit badly?
shingletingle said: Huh? Why do I need this for 5.1 sound and good picture and audio quality? I'm enjoying 5.1 surround sound and great picture quality just fine with my Samsun BD-P2550 player among other things. Why am I missing this unit badly?
If you don't need a media player, then you are missing nothing. If you need a network media player, then given what you have, you are still missing the network media player
Haven't tested myself, but in my Interwebs travel, I have seen several postings that say it does play VOB (but, in those they mention it doesn't recognize chapters).
kimgkimg said: justsometallguy said: Any thoughts on this vs Popcorn Hour (besides price difference)? I'm trying to decide between the two.
Well it depends on how much you want to tinker. Popcorn Hour is pretty much ready to go onto your network out of the box, with the WD box you need to buy a USB-to-Ethernet adapter and install hacked firmware to make it work. Now if you really don't care about being able to play media over a network, then the WD box might be a better option (assuming you don't need DTS audio which the WD box will not do.)
It does send the DTS signal to your receiver if you have one correct? My receiver can decode it...
BoboTheBear
Member
posted: Mar. 12, 2009 @ 12:43p
Whoever said this doesn't play VOB files or folders is completely wrong. I have about 200 SD DVDs ripped onto a 1.5TB Seagate just for this purpose. It works perfectly.
I have other drives filled with 1080p and 720p mkv files. I have yet to find a file that doesn't play correctly on this. It's played everything I've thrown at it.
This was probably the best purchase I've made for my home theater setup in a long time. And it cost me $99 when I bought it a month ago.
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