Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Uebo introduces versatile M200 media streamer, we go hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/20/uebo-introduces-versatile-m200-media-streamer-we-go-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/20/uebo-introduces-versatile-m200-media-streamer-we-go-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/20/uebo-introduces-versatile-m200-media-streamer-we-go-hands-on/#comments Yes, the world needs another high-definition media streamer like it needs a shot in the foot, but never let it be said we passed up the chance to try a promising product simply because the competition was good. We're talking about the Uebo M200 --a never-before-seen box from storage company UIT -- whose claim to fame is a $130 price for everything-but-the-kitchen-sink media center functionality. Out of the box it's your standard streamer, playing loads of media formats from memory cards, attached storage and thumbdrives, plus ShoutCast internet radio, RSS feeds and UPnP shares from your PC, but also the usual suspects Hulu, Netflix, CBS and more via PlayOn media server. Pop in a 3.5-inch SATA disk, however, and things get more entertaining, as the box itself turns into an external hard drive, a network-attached storage device and even a Bittorrent client. It also doesn't hurt that the Uebo can hook up to most any entertainment system, with not only HDMI, component and composite connections but also every standard (HD, NTSC and PAL) video mode, there's a $30 optional wireless dongle, and the digital audio front includes both optical and coaxial jacks for output.

Sadly, in practice the above functionality isn't as streamlined as it sounds -- as is usually the case with these devices image quality can suffer slightly, and Uebo's GUI has a face only a mother could love. While the device admirably played the vast majority of one editor's anime music video collection (though it stumbled over XviD and Sorenson Video 3), sorting through nested menus to get to our content was a hell of a chore. PlayOn and Bittorrent seemed to work, though their roundabout implementation left much to be desired, with the former only accessible through a deep dive of the UPnP menu, and the latter requiring torrent trackers to be uploaded from a separate PC using a web client. We had a couple of crashes when testing the device, too, including a Bittorrent-related one where the Uebo completely stopped responding to input, but the majority of the time we enjoyed HD and SD content on the fairly capable little TV server. All in all, it's not the most polished product and shouldn't distract you from popcorn-eating elephants in the room, but if you're looking for a cheaper alternative it's hard to argue with Uebo. Take a brief tour with our gallery below, or hit up the more coverage link for a full datasheet.

Gallery: Uebo M200 media streamer unboxing and hands-on

Uebo introduces versatile M200 media streamer, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>exclusivehands-onHDhd media playerhd media streamerhd media streamingHdMediaPlayerHdMediaStreamerHdMediaStreamingM200media streamermedia streamersmedia streamingMediaStreamerMediaStreamersMediaStreamingPlayOnUeboUebo M200UeboM200UITUitstorTue, 20 Jul 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Brite-View launches CinemaGo BV-5005HD Mini CG HD media player]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/02/brite-view-launches-cinemago-bv-5005hd-mini-cg-hd-media-player/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/02/brite-view-launches-cinemago-bv-5005hd-mini-cg-hd-media-player/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/02/brite-view-launches-cinemago-bv-5005hd-mini-cg-hd-media-player/#comments Brite-View's CinemaTube may have sufficed just fine for your home entertainment needs last year, but there's nothing like a little "Special Edition" to really get the gears turning in 2010. Launched today, the CinemaGo BV-5005HD Mini CG is mostly a revamped version of the CinemaTube BV-5005HD, boasting an eSATA interface, USB 2.0 socket, inbuilt WiFi, a BitTorrent manager and access to MUZEE internet radio channels. As you'd expect, the box is built to handle 1080p output and a cornucopia of file formats including MOV, WMV, MKV, AVI, VOB, DIVX, FLV and RMVB, and content can be delivered via locally attached hard drives or a home network / web connection. Best of all, the $149.99 MSRP is being trumped by a $109.99 pre-order price if you get in now, so really, you should probably get in now. Unless you hate saving money.

Continue reading Brite-View launches CinemaGo BV-5005HD Mini CG HD media player

Brite-View launches CinemaGo BV-5005HD Mini CG HD media player originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brite-ViewBV-5005HDBV-5005HD Mini CGBv-5005hdMiniCgCinemaGoCinemaTubehd media playerHdMediaPlayerinternet radioInternetRadiomediapcMini CGMiniCgradioset-top boxset-top-box-stbSet-topBoxwifi radioWifiRadioXpike InnovationXpikeInnovationFri, 02 Jul 2010 14:51:00 EST<![CDATA[ViewSonic streams Netflix, other stuff with NexTV VMP75 networked media player]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/16/viewsonic-streams-netflix-other-stuff-with-nextv-vmp75-networke/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/16/viewsonic-streams-netflix-other-stuff-with-nextv-vmp75-networke/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/16/viewsonic-streams-netflix-other-stuff-with-nextv-vmp75-networke/#comments The world needs another network media player like it needs another eight billion barrels of oil floating around in the Gulf of Mexico, but if you're somehow still struggling to decide on one of the many, many options available to you, ViewSonic has an alternative up for consideration. The new NexTV VMP75 is a rather compact set-top box, donning a glossy black finish and proud support for streaming Netflix Watch Instantly content. You'll also get local and network playback of whatever content you've got laying around on your nearby hard drives, and around back, you'll find an Ethernet socket (WiFi is optional), eSATA / USB combo port, a dedicated USB socket (for connecting thumb drives and external HDDs), a S/PDIF audio port, HDMI output and an AV aux plug. ViewSonic claims that you can also stream content from YouTube, SHOUTcast, Flickr and Live365.com, and there's even an inbuilt web browser if you take pleasure in (presumably) torturous experiences. All you? If so, it's up for pre-order right now at Amazon and Newegg for $129.99.

Continue reading ViewSonic streams Netflix, other stuff with NexTV VMP75 networked media player

ViewSonic streams Netflix, other stuff with NexTV VMP75 networked media player originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hd media playerHdMediaPlayermedia playerMediaPlayernetflixnetwork media playernetworked media playerNetworkedMediaPlayerNetworkMediaPlayerNexTVNexTV VMP75NextvVmp75set-top boxset-top-boxSet-topBoxSTBviewsonicVMP75watch instantlyWatchInstantlyWed, 16 Jun 2010 18:35:00 EST<![CDATA[LaCie plays media server, NAS cards with Network Space MAX]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/19/lacie-plays-media-server-nas-cards-with-network-space-max/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/19/lacie-plays-media-server-nas-cards-with-network-space-max/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/19/lacie-plays-media-server-nas-cards-with-network-space-max/#comments No monkeys here, but LaCie's latest is still worth toying around with -- particularly if you've been yearning for a way to better serve media around your home and / or backup those all-important Match.com email confirmations. The Network Space MAX (which can also be used as a USB 2.0 drive when away from the CAT5) is predictably designed by Neil Poulton, and while it'll likely attract an unhealthy amount of dust and fingerprints, the internals are what really matters. LaCie's shipping these with at least 2TB of space, but with two 3.5-inch SATA HDD slots, you can easily go the 4TB route with a couple of these. RAID 1 and RAID 0 setups are supported, giving the whimsical among us a pair of opportunities to get our lives backed up in case of disaster. Oh, and there's also inbuilt UPnP / DLNA support, which makes it easy for your PS3, Xbox 360 or Popcorn Hour box to tap into whatever media collection you happen to store here. Check it sooner than you can whisk yourself around and belt out a Lady Gaga lyric for $279.99 and up.

Gallery: LaCie Network Space MAX

Continue reading LaCie plays media server, NAS cards with Network Space MAX

LaCie plays media server, NAS cards with Network Space MAX originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 May 2010 18:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlnnahard driveHardDrivehd media playerhddHdMediaPlayerLaCiemedia playermedia serverMediaPlayerMediaServerNASNeil PoultonNeilPoultonNetwork Space MAXNetworkSpaceMaxRAIDupnpWed, 19 May 2010 18:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Seagate FreeAgent Theater+ HD media player gains Netflix streaming]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/19/seagate-freeagent-theater-hd-media-player-gains-netflix-streami/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/19/seagate-freeagent-theater-hd-media-player-gains-netflix-streami/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/19/seagate-freeagent-theater-hd-media-player-gains-netflix-streami/#comments Seagate's FreeAgent Theater+ HD media player has quite a few competitors surrounding it, and for the most part, it didn't really offer a huge competitive advantage when we peeked it back in September. 'Course, that's before support for Netflix's Watch Instantly came along, and today, the tables seem to have turned. The aforesaid storage outfit has announced that a gratis firmware update will enable this here player to stream Netflix as well as content from YouTube, vTuner and Mediafly. For those just now willing to give this unit a second look, it also doubles as a UPnP / DLNA streamer to play content stored on networked PCs and drives, and it can procured for right around $100 sans a FreeAgent HDD. So, Roku -- you just going to sit there and take this, or what?

Gallery: Seagate FreeAgent Theater+ HD media player gains Netflix streaming

Seagate FreeAgent Theater+ HD media player gains Netflix streaming originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 09:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contentdownloadfilmsfirmwarefreeagentfreeagent theaterfreeagent theater plusFreeagentTheaterFreeagentTheaterPlushd media playerhd media streamerHdMediaPlayerHdMediaStreamermedia playermedia streamerMediaflyMediaPlayerMediaStreamermoviesnetflixprogrammingSeagatestreamstreamerstreamingupdateupgradevTunerwatch instantlyWatchInstantlyyoutubeMon, 19 Apr 2010 09:19:00 EST<![CDATA[PrimeDTV further saturates HD media streamer segment with PHD-HM5]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/primedtv-further-saturates-hd-media-streamer-segment-with-phd-hm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/primedtv-further-saturates-hd-media-streamer-segment-with-phd-hm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/primedtv-further-saturates-hd-media-streamer-segment-with-phd-hm/#commentsLook, we're all for competition, but it's about time for some of these guys to stop copying and start innovating. As if your noggin' wasn't already spinning enough as you attempt to whittle down your laundry list of HD media streamers, in flies PrimeDTV with yet another hopeful. The PHD-HM5 looks to be fairly standard in terms of features, with HDMI / component outputs, a lengthy list of supported formats, an Ethernet socket and a pair of USB 2.0 ports. You won't find WiFi or any internal hard drive, and you'll have to live with the fact that this thing is akin to some lackluster AV component from the early 90s. Oh, and then there's the chore of actually finding one for sale (not to mention an MSRP), which should probably be just enough to push you towards Popcorn Hour.

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PrimeDTV further saturates HD media streamer segment with PHD-HM5 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hdhd media playerHdMediaPlayermedia streamerMediaStreamerPHD-HM5PrimeDTVstreamstreamerstreamingTue, 17 Nov 2009 10:01:00 EST<![CDATA[PrimeDTV further saturates HD media streamer segment with PHD-HM5]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/primedtv-further-saturates-hd-media-streamer-segment-with-phd-hm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/primedtv-further-saturates-hd-media-streamer-segment-with-phd-hm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/primedtv-further-saturates-hd-media-streamer-segment-with-phd-hm/#commentsLook, we're all for competition, but it's about time for some of these guys to stop copying and start innovating. As if your noggin' wasn't already spinning enough as you attempt to whittle down your laundry list of HD media streamers, in flies PrimeDTV with yet another hopeful. The PHD-HM5 looks to be fairly standard in terms of features, with HDMI / component outputs, a lengthy list of supported formats, an Ethernet socket and a pair of USB 2.0 ports. You won't find WiFi or any internal hard drive, and you'll have to live with the fact that this thing is akin to some lackluster AV component from the early 90s. Oh, and then there's the chore of actually finding one for sale (not to mention an MSRP), which should probably be just enough to push you towards Popcorn Hour.

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PrimeDTV further saturates HD media streamer segment with PHD-HM5 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hd media playerHdMediaPlayermedia streamerMediaStreamerPHD-HM5PrimeDTVstreamstreamerstreamingTue, 17 Nov 2009 10:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Patriot's $130 Box Office 1080p media player streams on the cheap]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/18/patriots-130-box-office-1080p-networked-media-player-streams-o/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/18/patriots-130-box-office-1080p-networked-media-player-streams-o/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/18/patriots-130-box-office-1080p-networked-media-player-streams-o/#comments
Eying a Popcorn Hour device, are you? We know Patriot isn't exactly the first name you think of when pondering your next media streamer, but the $129.99 price tag affixed to the black box shown above definitely piqued our interest. Like most of its rivals, this one features a 2.5-inch HDD slot (though you'll need to bring your own drive, obviously), a trio of USB sockets, 10/100 Ethernet for content streaming, UPnP support, a rather decent file support list and a bundled remote. There's also an optional USB WiFi adapter for those not keen on running 80 feet of Ethernet cabling through their den, and while the GUI won't revolutionize your life, it certainly ain't bad given the low barrier to entry. Too bad it's still stuck in that painful-to-watch "pre-order" stage, huh?

[Via thegadgetsite]

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Patriot's $130 Box Office 1080p media player streams on the cheap originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 07:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1080pamazonbox officeBoxOfficehdhd media playerhd media streamerhd streamerHdMediaPlayerHdMediaStreamerHdStreamermedia playermedia streamermedia streamingMediaPlayerMediaStreamerMediaStreamingnow shippingNowShippingon saleOnSaleotherspatriotshipshippingshipsstreamstreamingSun, 18 Oct 2009 07:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Patriot's $130 Box Office 1080p media player streams on the cheap]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/18/patriots-130-box-office-1080p-networked-media-player-streams-o/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/18/patriots-130-box-office-1080p-networked-media-player-streams-o/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/18/patriots-130-box-office-1080p-networked-media-player-streams-o/#comments
Eying a Popcorn Hour device, are you? We know Patriot isn't exactly the first name you think of when pondering your next media streamer, but the $129.99 price tag affixed to the black box shown above definitely piqued our interest. Like most of its rivals, this one features a 2.5-inch HDD slot (though you'll need to bring your own drive, obviously), a trio of USB sockets, 10/100 Ethernet for content streaming, UPnP support, a rather decent file support list and a bundled remote. There's also an optional USB WiFi adapter for those not keen on running 80 feet of Ethernet cabling through their den, and while the GUI won't revolutionize your life, it certainly ain't bad given the low barrier to entry. Too bad it's still stuck in that painful-to-watch "pre-order" stage, huh?

[Via thegadgetsite]

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Patriot's $130 Box Office 1080p media player streams on the cheap originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 07:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1080pamazonbox officeBoxOfficehd media playerhd media streamerhd streamerHdMediaPlayerHdMediaStreamerHdStreamermedia playermedia streamermedia streamingMediaPlayerMediaStreamerMediaStreamingnow shippingNowShippingon saleOnSalepatriotshipshippingshipsstreamstreamingSun, 18 Oct 2009 07:02:00 EST<![CDATA[QNAP ships NMP-1000 Network Multimedia Player ]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/29/qnap-ships-nmp-1000-network-multimedia-player/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/29/qnap-ships-nmp-1000-network-multimedia-player/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/29/qnap-ships-nmp-1000-network-multimedia-player/#comments
It sure took 'em long enough, but QNAP has finally come around and delivered its NMP-1000 Network Multimedia Player here in the States. If you'll recall, we actually toyed around with one way back at CeBIT, and while those camped out in Osaka have been enjoying the spoils for months now, the Yanks in attendance have been forced to wait. According to QNAP, the DLNA-compliant media streamer is now shipping in America, though a quick look around our favorite web stores has turned up nothing. We're sure that'll be remedied in short order, though.

[Via HotHardware]

Gallery: QNAP ships NMP-1000 Network Multimedia Player

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QNAP ships NMP-1000 Network Multimedia Player originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hdhd media playerhd media serverhd media streamerHdMediaPlayerHdMediaServerHdMediaStreamerHdStreamingmedia playermedia servermedia streamerMediaPlayerMediaServerMediaStrMediaStreamerNMP-1000NMP1000now shippingNowShippingothersqnapshipshippingshipsstreamTue, 29 Sep 2009 22:58:00 EST<![CDATA[QNAP ships NMP-1000 Network Multimedia Player ]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/29/qnap-ships-nmp-1000-network-multimedia-player/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/29/qnap-ships-nmp-1000-network-multimedia-player/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/29/qnap-ships-nmp-1000-network-multimedia-player/#comments
It sure took 'em long enough, but QNAP has finally come around and delivered its NMP-1000 Network Multimedia Player here in the States. If you'll recall, we actually toyed around with one way back at CeBIT, and while those camped out in Osaka have been enjoying the spoils for months now, the Yanks in attendance have been forced to wait. According to QNAP, the DLNA-compliant media streamer is now shipping in America, though a quick look around our favorite web stores has turned up nothing. We're sure that'll be remedied in short order, though.

[Via HotHardware]

Gallery: QNAP ships NMP-1000 Network Multimedia Player

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QNAP ships NMP-1000 Network Multimedia Player originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hd media playerhd media serverhd media streamerHdMediaPlayerHdMediaServerHdMediaStreamerHdStreamingmedia playermedia servermedia streamerMediaPlayerMediaServerMediaStrMediaStreamerNMP-1000NMP1000now shippingNowShippingqnapshipshippingshipsstreamTue, 29 Sep 2009 22:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Seagate launches FreeAgent Theater+ HD media player, we go hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/seagate-launches-freeagent-theater-hd-media-player-we-go-hands/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/seagate-launches-freeagent-theater-hd-media-player-we-go-hands/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/seagate-launches-freeagent-theater-hd-media-player-we-go-hands/#comments
Remember when Seagate introduced its Betamax-esque FreeAgent Theater HD way back at CES this year? Of course not -- you were locked onto the Palm Pre keynote. At any rate, the next generation of that very device somehow made it through the product development stage and now sits in our very hands, and we have to say, it's no more modern in person than it is in press shots. Equipped with the usual assortment of ports (HDMI, component, composite, Toslink, Ethernet and two USB) ports, the FreeAgent Theater+ HD media player gets all of its content from a FreeAgent Go USB 2.0 hard drive (sold separately or in a bundle) or whatever you shove into those USB sockets. You can count on 1080p output and a pretty standard UI, and while it's wired-or-die right now, Seagate's hoping to pop out a USB WiFi adapter ($69.99) for it next month.

We've yet to really put this player through its paces, but we can say for sure that it's not made for abuse. The mostly-plastic box is staggeringly light, and one drop from atop your AV rack could lead to utter disaster. Furthermore, this is really only useful for those wound tightly around Seagate's finger; the bulk of its functionality relies on having a FreeAgent USB drive at your disposal, and if you've selected any other portable HDD, you'll have to deal with connecting it the old fashion way and ditching the "clean look." At $149.99 sans an HDD, it's one of the cheaper options on the market, but it still can't beat Popcorn Hour's heralded lineup when it comes to value and format support. Those looking for an all-in-one deal can opt for the $289.99 bundle, which throws in a 500GB FreeAgent Go drive. Have a look at retro exemplified in the gallery below.

Gallery: Seagate launches FreeAgent Theater+ HD media player, we go hands-on

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Seagate launches FreeAgent Theater+ HD media player, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuresfreeagentFreeAgent Theater FreeAgent Theater plusFreeagentTheater FreeagentTheaterPlushands-onhdhd media playerhd media serverhd streamingHdMediaPlayerHdMediaServerHdStreamingmedia playermedia serverMediaPlayerMediaServerotherspicspicturesseagatestreamingTue, 15 Sep 2009 09:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Seagate launches FreeAgent Theater+ HD media player, we go hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/seagate-launches-freeagent-theater-hd-media-player-we-go-hands/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/seagate-launches-freeagent-theater-hd-media-player-we-go-hands/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/seagate-launches-freeagent-theater-hd-media-player-we-go-hands/#comments
Remember when Seagate introduced its Betamax-esque FreeAgent Theater HD way back at CES this year? Of course not -- you were locked onto the Palm Pre keynote. At any rate, the next generation of that very device somehow made it through the product development stage and now sits in our very hands, and we have to say, it's no more modern in person than it is in press shots. Equipped with the usual assortment of ports (HDMI, component, composite, Toslink, Ethernet and two USB) ports, the FreeAgent Theater+ HD media player gets all of its content from a FreeAgent Go USB 2.0 hard drive (sold separately or in a bundle) or whatever you shove into those USB sockets. You can count on 1080p output and a pretty standard UI, and while it's wired-or-die right now, Seagate's hoping to pop out a USB WiFi adapter ($69.99) for it next month.

We've yet to really put this player through its paces, but we can say for sure that it's not made for abuse. The mostly-plastic box is staggeringly light, and one drop from atop your AV rack could lead to utter disaster. Furthermore, this is really only useful for those wound tightly around Seagate's finger; the bulk of its functionality relies on having a FreeAgent USB drive at your disposal, and if you've selected any other portable HDD, you'll have to deal with connecting it the old fashion way and ditching the "clean look." At $149.99 sans an HDD, it's one of the cheaper options on the market, but it still can't beat Popcorn Hour's heralded lineup when it comes to value and format support. Those looking for an all-in-one deal can opt for the $289.99 bundle, which throws in a 500GB FreeAgent Go drive. Have a look at retro exemplified in the gallery below.

Gallery: Seagate launches FreeAgent Theater+ HD media player, we go hands-on

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Seagate launches FreeAgent Theater+ HD media player, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuresfreeagentFreeAgent Theater FreeAgent Theater plusFreeagentTheater FreeagentTheaterPlushands-onhd media playerhd media serverhd streamingHdMediaPlayerHdMediaServerHdStreamingmedia playermedia serverMediaPlayerMediaServerpicspicturesseagatestreamingTue, 15 Sep 2009 09:39:00 EST<![CDATA[WD TV-2 spruces up Western Digital's already attractive media player offering]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/16/wd-tv-2-spruces-up-western-digitals-already-attractive-media-pl/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/16/wd-tv-2-spruces-up-western-digitals-already-attractive-media-pl/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/16/wd-tv-2-spruces-up-western-digitals-already-attractive-media-pl/#comments Western Digital really hit a sweet spot last year with its $130 WD TV HD Media Player. The thing pumped out 1080p over HDMI at an attractive price, and that's all most people really needed. The newly leaked WD TV-2 revisits the formula, but adds in network playback over the new Ethernet jack, DTS audio decoding, and a component video plug for folks caught in the technological no man's land between composite and HDMI. Outside of that there's a just plain silly amount of codec support, which is hard not to love. No word on price or a release date, but the leaked photos and detailed specs seem to imply this thing is ready for prime time.

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WD TV-2 spruces up Western Digital's already attractive media player offering originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 16 Aug 2009 02:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hdhd media playerHdMediaPlayerhdmileakmedia playerMediaPlayerwd tvwd tv 2wd tv 2 media playerwd tv-2WdTvWdTv-2WdTv2MediaPlayerwestern digitalWesternDigitalSun, 16 Aug 2009 02:30:00 EST<![CDATA[WD TV-2 spruces up Western Digital's already attractive media player offering]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/16/wd-tv-2-spruces-up-western-digitals-already-attractive-media-pl/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/16/wd-tv-2-spruces-up-western-digitals-already-attractive-media-pl/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/16/wd-tv-2-spruces-up-western-digitals-already-attractive-media-pl/#comments Western Digital really hit a sweet spot last year with its $130 WD TV HD Media Player. The thing pumped out 1080p over HDMI at an attractive price, and that's all most people really needed. The newly leaked WD TV-2 revisits the formula, but adds in network playback over the new Ethernet jack, DTS audio decoding, and a component video plug for folks caught in the technological no man's land between composite and HDMI. Outside of that there's a just plain silly amount of codec support, which is hard not to love. No word on price or a release date, but the leaked photos and detailed specs seem to imply this thing is ready for prime time.

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WD TV-2 spruces up Western Digital's already attractive media player offering originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 16 Aug 2009 02:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While swinging by QNAP's CeBIT booth to check out its array of recently launched NAS devices, we happened upon a demonstration that was showcasing a brand new device: the NMP1000. Short for Network Multimedia Player, this set-top-box is pretty much like every other HD media streamer already out there, as it connects to networked storage and pipes out audio and video content to one's TV via a customized user interface. What we saw looked pretty slick, even though it was inexplicably connected to the LG display via S-Video. As for specs, it's boasting a Sigma Designs SMP8635 processor, 256MB of DDR RAM, room for one 3.5-inch SATA drive, a single gigabit Ethernet jack, dual USB 2.0 sockets, one eSATA port, HDMI 1.3 / component / composite / S-Video outs and a bundled remote. It supports just about any format on the map, and the on-hand representative told us it should be out next month for "somewhere under $10,000." Have a look at some in-action shots below.

Gallery: QNAP intros NMP1000 network media player, we go hands-on

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QNAP intros NMP1000 network media player, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cebitcebit 2009Cebit2009featureshands-onhd media playerhd media serverhd media streamerhd streamingHdMediaPlayerHdMediaServerHdMediaStreamerHdStreaminghdtvmedia playermedia servermedia streamerMediaPlayerMediaServerMediaStreamerNMP1000picspicturesQNAPstreamWed, 04 Mar 2009 10:40:00 EST<![CDATA[QNAP intros NMP1000 network media player, we go hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/04/qnap-intros-nmp1000-network-media-player-we-go-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/04/qnap-intros-nmp1000-network-media-player-we-go-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/04/qnap-intros-nmp1000-network-media-player-we-go-hands-on/#comments
While swinging by QNAP's CeBIT booth to check out its array of recently launched NAS devices, we happened upon a demonstration that was showcasing a brand new device: the NMP1000. Short for Network Multimedia Player, this set-top-box is pretty much like every other HD media streamer already out there, as it connects to networked storage and pipes out audio and video content to one's TV via a customized user interface. What we saw looked pretty slick, even though it was inexplicably connected to the LG display via S-Video. As for specs, it's boasting a Sigma Designs SMP8635 processor, 256MB of DDR RAM, room for one 3.5-inch SATA drive, a single gigabit Ethernet jack, dual USB 2.0 sockets, one eSATA port, HDMI 1.3 / component / composite / S-Video outs and a bundled remote. It supports just about any format on the map, and the on-hand representative told us it should be out next month for "somewhere under $10,000." Have a look at some in-action shots below.

Gallery: QNAP intros NMP1000 network media player, we go hands-on

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QNAP intros NMP1000 network media player, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 09:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cebitcebit 2009Cebit2009featureshands-onhdhd media playerhd media serverhd media streamerhd streamingHdMediaPlayerHdMediaServerHdMediaStreamerHdStreamingmedia playermedia servermedia streamerMediaPlayerMediaServerMediaStreamerNMP1000otherspicspicturesQNAPstreamWed, 04 Mar 2009 09:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Western Digital HD Media Player gets a longer-term review]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/08/western-digital-hd-media-player-gets-a-longer-term-review/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/08/western-digital-hd-media-player-gets-a-longer-term-review/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/08/western-digital-hd-media-player-gets-a-longer-term-review/#commentsWestern Digital HD Media Player
The promise of Western Digital HD Media Player certainly intrigued on first blush, but an updated and longer-term review at GearBits after a firmware update didn't fare as well. The firmware update certainly boosted the capabilities of the little box, but like so many devices we've seen, the UI hurts the overall usability. It's certainly not easy to accommodate the myriad of media functions into a consistent and enjoyable UI that stays responsive under use. Add in the sneakernet limitations, and you've got a box that certainly can fill a niche, but we'd recommend you make sure it's a good fit for your use pattern before jumping in.

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Western Digital HD Media Player gets a longer-term review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Western Digital's WD TV HD Media Player is an interesting contraption. Rather than being a self-sufficient media server, it simply acts as a bridge between your hard drive / USB key and your television. PopPhoto was able to corral a unit for review, and overall, they appreciated the media liaison's abilities. The actual connection was "pretty much plug 'n play," though the omission of an HDMI cable in the box was a bit of a bummer. The unit did a satisfactory job of parsing the information on the HDD and finding photos, songs and video clips, and the on-screen result was fantastic. Not everything was peachy, though -- for instance, large files introduced lag when rotating / changing, and DRM-laced material wouldn't play back at all. Furthermore, it chose to truncate iPod song names, which could obviously be annoying to some. All in all, the WD TV showed some promise but feel short in a few key areas, so you'd better give it some serious thought before plunking down $130.

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Western Digital's WD TV HD Media Player reviewed: pretty good, but has its quirks originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Western Digital's WD TV HD Media Player kept a low profile before hitting shelves this month, but with only $99 separating MaddHat.com from a thorough teardown, the inevitable next step was taken. Besides snapshots inside and out -- and the ubiquitous iPhone size comparison photo -- a quick runthrough with a variety of MKV-packed videos revealed delightfully nerdy results. The 1080p h.264 decoding was smooth, although some odd sharpening on 720p files while in 1080p output mode, and less than optimal results with 1080i-encoded files were noted. 1080p24 support didn't make it into the box, same for .ISO direct support -- no worries though, as it wasn't enough to stop the .m2ts files in the Blu-ray backups from playing directly. Good for the price, but with stiff competition -- Popcorn Hour anyone? -- being "good enough" in this sector is getting harder, pics and details are beyond the read link.

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WD TV HD Media Player smacked up, flipped, rubbed down originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Western Digital's WD TV HD Media Player kept a low profile before hitting shelves this month, but with only $99 separating MaddHat.com from a thorough teardown, the inevitable next step was taken. Besides snapshots inside and out -- and the ubiquitous iPhone size comparison photo -- a quick runthrough with a variety of MKV-packed videos revealed delightfully nerdy results. The 1080p h.264 decoding was smooth, although some odd sharpening on 720p files while in 1080p output mode, and less than optimal results with 1080i-encoded files were noted. 1080p24 support didn't make it into the box, same for .ISO direct support -- no worries though, as it wasn't enough to stop the .m2ts files in the Blu-ray backups from playing directly. Good for the price, but with stiff competition -- Popcorn Hour anyone? -- being "good enough" in this sector is getting harder, pics and details are beyond the read link.

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WD TV HD Media Player smacked up, flipped, rubbed down originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Well, what do we have here? With no fanfare whatsoever, Western Digital has apparently strayed from its platter-based roots and delved into the wide, murky world of HD media streaming. The WD TV HD Media Player purports to "turn your USB drive into an HD media player, allowing you to watch your favorite HD movies on your TV." For those still befuddled, look at it like this: it enables you to plug in your USB key or USB hard drive and play back multimedia clips up to 1080p on your HDTV via the HDMI / composite outputs. The 1.6- x 4.9- x 3.9-inch box ought not bog you down too much when looking to take it on a journey, and the $129.99 price tag isn't too painful either.

[Thanks, Anonymous]

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Western Digital quietly intros WD TV HD Media Player originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 01 Nov 2008 18:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Well, what do we have here? With no fanfare whatsoever, Western Digital has apparently strayed from its platter-based roots and delved into the wide, murky world of HD media streaming. The WD TV HD Media Player purports to "turn your USB drive into an HD media player, allowing you to watch your favorite HD movies on your TV." For those still befuddled, look at it like this: it enables you to plug in your USB key or USB hard drive and play back multimedia clips up to 1080p on your HDTV via the HDMI / composite outputs. The 1.6- x 4.9- x 3.9-inch box ought not bog you down too much when looking to take it on a journey, and the $129.99 price tag isn't too painful either.

[Thanks, Anonymous]

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Western Digital quietly intros WD TV HD Media Player originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 01 Nov 2008 18:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hd media playerhd media streamerhd streamingHdMediaPlayerHdMediaStreamerHdStreamingstreamstreamingWDWD TVWDAVN00BNWdTvwestern digitalWesternDigitalSat, 01 Nov 2008 18:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Movie Cowboy stores your HD media, outputs on-the-go]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/15/movie-cowboy-stores-your-hd-media-outputs-on-the-go/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/15/movie-cowboy-stores-your-hd-media-outputs-on-the-go/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/15/movie-cowboy-stores-your-hd-media-outputs-on-the-go/#comments
Move over Mvix, there's a new vaquero in town, and it goes by Movie Cowboy. Comically titled as such by manufacturer Digital Cowboy, this portable HD multimedia hard drive comes ready to accept whatever 2.5-inch SATA drive you want to toss within, and after you've loaded it up with material via the USB port, you can slam it down in the bundled cradle for big screen enjoyment. Said dock boasts stereo / coaxial digital / Toslink audio outputs along with component / composite / HDMI video outs. The media player itself supports a respectable quantity of file formats, including WMV, DivX HD, MPEG1/2/4, XviD, ISO, IFO, VOB, AAC, WMA, MP3 and OGG. Not that we really see this thing heading Stateside anytime soon, but those in Japan can pick one up in the coming weeks for ¥24,800 ($237). Shot of the rear is waiting after the jump.

[Via AkihabaraNews]

Continue reading Movie Cowboy stores your HD media, outputs on-the-go

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Movie Cowboy stores your HD media, outputs on-the-go originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 May 2008 08:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>digital cowboyDigitalCowboyhdhd media playerHdMediaPlayermedia hard drivemedia playerMediaHardDriveMediaPlayermovie cowboyMovieCowboymultimedia hard driveMultimediaHardDriveother hardwareotherhardwareothersThu, 15 May 2008 08:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Movie Cowboy stores your HD media, outputs on-the-go]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/15/movie-cowboy-stores-your-hd-media-outputs-on-the-go/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/15/movie-cowboy-stores-your-hd-media-outputs-on-the-go/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/15/movie-cowboy-stores-your-hd-media-outputs-on-the-go/#comments
Move over Mvix, there's a new vaquero in town, and it goes by Movie Cowboy. Comically titled as such by manufacturer Digital Cowboy, this portable HD multimedia hard drive comes ready to accept whatever 2.5-inch SATA drive you want to toss within, and after you've loaded it up with material via the USB port, you can slam it down in the bundled cradle for big screen enjoyment. Said dock boasts stereo / coaxial digital / Toslink audio outputs along with component / composite / HDMI video outs. The media player itself supports a respectable quantity of file formats, including WMV, DivX HD, MPEG1/2/4, XviD, ISO, IFO, VOB, AAC, WMA, MP3 and OGG. Not that we really see this thing heading Stateside anytime soon, but those in Japan can pick one up in the coming weeks for ¥24,800 ($237). Shot of the rear is waiting after the jump.

[Via AkihabaraNews]

Continue reading Movie Cowboy stores your HD media, outputs on-the-go

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Movie Cowboy stores your HD media, outputs on-the-go originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 May 2008 08:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>digital cowboyDigitalCowboyhd media playerHdMediaPlayerhdtvmedia hard drivemedia playerMediaHardDriveMediaPlayermovie cowboyMovieCowboymultimedia hard driveMultimediaHardDriveportable audioportable videoportableaudioportablevideoThu, 15 May 2008 08:25:00 EST