A.C.Ryan is back with a High-Definition capable media player that includes an in-build hard drive and compatibility with every video and audio format you can shake a stick at. How good is the interface and how intuitive is it to use though?
media player 1080p reviews for
SpecificationsDimensions: 4.30in L x 5.91in W x 1.65in H (110mm x 150mm x 42mm)Weight: 0.67lb (0.30kg)Video file compatibility: AVI (Xvid, MPEG1/2/4, TS), MPG/MPEG, DVD (VOB, IFO) MP4/MOV (MPEG-4), H.264, VC-1 (WMV9), ISO, RM/RMVB, Motion JPEG, FLV, DivX HDAudio file compatibility: MP3, WAV/PCM/LPCM, WMA, WMA Pro, AAC, FLAC, MKA, OGG, APE, Dolby Digital (AC3), DTSVideo resolutions: NTSC 480i/480p, PAL 576i/576p, 720p, 1080i,1080pComputer system requirements: Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 operating system or Mac OS X 10.4.11 or 10.5.6 or later operating system ; available USB portVideo output: Composite video, component video or HDMIAudio output: Stereo, S/PDIF Optical Digital Audio or HDMI audioNetwork: Ethernet connectivity enables access of shared folders on computers and other devices connected to your network such as a GoFlex Net media sharing device, media server or a NASWireless: Optional Wi-Fi adapter (sold separately), Wireless-N supportedInternet Services: Netflix, YouTube, Paramount, vTuner, Mediafly, Picasa, Flickr, Video feeds (RSS), Text feeds (RSS), Finance widget, Weather widget
I have just bought the Goflex and Im very happy with it I havnt setup wireless yet as Im waiting for my wireless usb dongle to turn up. I did a lot of research on media players and found this to be the most practical for my needs and I was lucky I t was on sale which is even better. The only thing it dosnet have is sd card but you can buy adapters for them for nothing. It has played every thing I have thrown at it and even my wife knows how to play a movie. Its a worthwile investment.
Question as to video playback: When the video begins, does the player overlay over the video (play button, file name, etc.)?? Some players (WD) do this for the first :02 of playback. We are considering this model for playback of television programming, and having anything on screen besides video would be a deal killer. Thanks for the review!
You can actually plug in up to two USB storage devices at once and the content on those drives will show up in an onscreen menu system that's pretty easy to use. If there's a small knock against all these types of media players, it's that it takes a short while for the unit to initially recognize and load all the media files. It's not a huge delay, but you're not looking at the same kind of zippiness you've probably come to expect from connecting a drive to your PC or laptop and having the files show up in a few seconds (so long as everything is connected via USB 2.0). It's also worth noting that the stock thumbnail icons all look the same; there's no custom image for each thumbnail to differentiate the file icons. (You tell them apart by their titles.)
Western Digital assumes you obtained all your media files legally, but the WD TV Media Player appears to be rather inclusive in the types of files it plays. The device also ships with ArcSoft's MediaConverter 2.5, which converts photo, video, and music files into formats optimized for use on the WD TV HD Media Player. According to Western Digital, the player supports full HD video playback--up to 1080p--via HDMI, though 1080p files tend to be pretty large (5GB+). Our tests confirmed 1080p playback.
In terms of compatibility, the WD TV Media Player was able to play back all the video files we threw at it, including some 1080p film trailers that looked really good. However, we had some trouble with audio playback from a couple of those files. In one case, the audio ended up playing back through the stereo composite cables but not the HDMI connection. In the other instance, audio wasn't available through HDMI or the composite AV cable. For the record, this was much more the exception that the rule, but don't expect it to play back every file under the sun. We tested the unit with the 1.01 version of the firmware; Western Digital may add support for additional formats with future firmware upgrades as well (just download the new firmware and copy it to a USB drive to upgrade).
Owners of the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 should note that those consoles already do a good job of media playback (via USB or over the network), but the WD TV might have some key file format support that those do not. Likewise, dedicated media streamers such as the Popcorn Hour A-110 (which has built-in networking capabilities for streaming files directly from your computer to your TV, and even a dedicated BitTorrent client) or the Sling Media SlingCatcher (which supports file playback via USB) may be more full-featured, but they're far more expensive as well. They also include some degree of network configuration, while the WD TV is more of a plug and play device.
As far as direct competition, the Iomega ScreenPlay TV Link is less expensive ($80-100), but the WD TV Media player is the sleeker looking device and has a easier-to-use interface. However, the Iomega managed to play the audio without a hitch on those two files the Western Digital player had trouble with. Meanwhile, at the time of this writing, Seagate hadn't quite released its FreeAgent Theater HD media player, but the two products are very similar and carry identical price tags. We doubt that model will have any significant advantages over this one, so if you're in market for this type of device as a way to free your multimedia files from your computer, we have no problem recommending the WD TV Media Player. While it may not be without its kinks or offer networking capabilities, it does what it advertises--and does it pretty well.
Because it features Full HD video support you can watch ripped Blu-ray movies and AVCHD files in crystal clear definition (with the exception of the 1080p24 format, which is not supported). While it lacks the up-scaling abilities of pricey PVRs and Blu-ray devices, the standard-def content we viewed still looked adequate on our high-def TV.
Despite what a few audiophiles will tell you, vinyl at any meaningful level outside of kitsch is dead and CDs aren't far behind. Sure, there may be a resurgence in physical media sales here and there, but the vast majority of the population, the ones not altogether interested in such things as high-end audio/video, have made the jump to digital music files - quality be damned. The truth is movies aren't far behind, and while we may find ourselves at the precipice of a new consumer format in 4K, it's streaming and downloads that are gaining momentum. Why? For a lot of folks, it's the convenience that many of these streaming services and/or their lower-resolution files provide. They're easily indexed, stored, accessed and enjoyed on the go, attributes that physical formats largely lack. Ignoring the portability factor for the purposes of this discussion, one must take a good long look at the convenience that services like iTunes, Pandora, AmazonVOD, Netflix and CinemaNow provide; an endless library from which to choose and enjoy at the touch of a button. No longer do we necessarily have to acquire our media libraries. Now, it seems, we need only pay for a subscription.
The Dune HD Max retails direct for $599.95 and, at that price, it represents Dune's flagship effort. If the Dune HD Max is too rich or too much in terms of features for your needs, you can easily pick up one of Dune HD's lesser players like the Smart H1, which retails for $319.95. At first glance, the Dune HD Max looks like your run of the mill DVD or Blu-ray player, as it's roughly the same size and shape as most disc spinners and is clad in an all-black aluminum housing. But appearances can be deceiving for the Dune HD Max endeavors to be the centerpiece of your home entertainment system and digital lifestyle, but I'm getting ahead of myself.
Around back, you'll find a host of connection options, starting with the Dune HD Max's Ethernet input, followed by two more USB inputs. To the right of those inputs are the video outputs, which include HDMI (1.3), composite, S and component video outs. Next to them rest a pair of digital audio outputs, one coaxial, the other optical, both flanked by a pair of analog audio outs. Across what I'll refer to as the great divide (more on that in a moment), you'll find the Dune HD Max's 7.1 analog audio outputs, which means you can enjoy the latest surround sound codecs like Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, even if your current AV preamp or receiver doesn't support them. Another nice feature that compliments the Dune HD Max's analog audio outs is its digital volume control capability, which makes items like AV preamps superfluous in certain installations. Next to its 7.1 analog outs is the Dune HD Max's AC power receptacle and master power switch. This is an awful lot of physical connections and features for a player that measures just under 17 inches in width by nearly 12 inches deep and a scant two-and-a-half inches tall. Even its weight out of the box is manageable, at a touch over nine pounds.
What makes the Dune HD Max special, however, isn't what it possesses on the outside. Instead, the Dune HD Max is all about what's on the inside. At its core, the Dune HD Max gets its strength from its Sigma Designs SMP8642 processor which, when coupled with its Blu-ray drive, gives it the ability to play back virtually every video format known to man. Supported video codecs are MPEG2, MPEG4, XVID, WMV9, VC1, H.264 with file format support for MKV, MPEG-TS, MPEG-PS, M2TS, VOB, AVI, MOV, MP4, QT, ASF, WMV, Blu-ray ISO, BDMV, DVD-ISO and VIDEO_TS. The included optical drive supports CD, DVD and Blu-ray data discs, as well as MP3, JPEG and other image discs. Obviously, it also supports retail and consumer-created CD, DVD and Blu-ray discs. Regardless of which video format you choose, you'll have the flexibility to enjoy it either natively or upscaled to 1080p. The Dune HD Max even supports 3D video content. Additionally, the Dune HD Max will support the brand new THX Media Director Technology, which will make it the first media server and Blu-ray player in the world to support the technology. 2ff7e9595c
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