Netgear's
Digital Entertainer media streamers have always been
well-admired as capable and flexible home theater units, and it sounds like the new Digital Entertainer Live will keep that trend alive while bringing prices down -- the $150 box will play back just about any format you throw at it from just about any source, while offering YouTube, pay-per-view CinemaNow movies and VuNow and PlayOn support in the bargain. Seems like a pretty decent piece of kit, no outrageous claims here -- oh, except for this line about the Live's new video search tool that can "locate videos on the entire worldwide web" by searching "more than hundred thousand websites." That sounds... ominous. Way to go, guys -- first you add MKV support, then you try to blackmail the entire world. We always knew this would happen.
Update: We just spoke with Netgear and learned a couple interesting tidbits. First, although remote bears a resemblance to the one used with the Western Digital WD TV HD, that's all -- the actual box itself is completely different hardware, and the remote has a totally different layout. Second, PlayOn will be offered at a 25 percent discount to DE Live buyers, making the whole thing seem like even more of a bargain.
posted September 8th 2009 5:05PM
No FLAC??? Maybe a typo...I don't want to convert my FLAC files!
Turns out most people don't care about lossless files?
Look again at the specs.
No pass-through of HD audio formats.
Simply..a useless product without being able to do that..
Why useless? I'll admit I may not have a complete understanding, but why does it matter which computer you own (the one in your receiver or the one in this box) decodes the video signal? It still is just being converted from one compressed digital format to a mathematically equivalent digital format before getting converted again into an analog signal and amplified? Isn't it? What am I missing here? As long as there are no errors in the conversion, why would it matter?
Seems handy enough... Be interesting to see how it holds up under HD streams though.
"Easy Connection to the Internet and Home Network" doesn't sound so easy. Need to purchase the NETGEAR Digital Entertainer Live Wireless USB Adapter (EVAW111) to connect wirelessly??!!
No digital audio output ports other than HDMI? That sux for playing back hd content with DD/DTS unless you have a newer hdmi receiver.
This looks to be a reboxed Western Digital HD Media Player with the updated network jack. Look at the remote in the photo on Netgear's site. It is exactly the same as the WD unit.
exactly what I was thinking. down to the last little stubby button. Not an outright "bad" remote, but not a good one either.
Did everyone else see how it says HULU on the netgear website? http://www.netgear.com/Products/Entertainment/DigitalMediaPlayers/EVA2000.aspx
I'm sure it means through play-on (which I didn't entirely like through the 360, about the same price on ebay sans the red ring). Why do they tease me so?!
No ISO support? No deal!
This was meant to come out last year.
Currently all the fuss is around the C200 i just got mine (costs a fair bit) and love it..
http://www.digitalera.co.uk/products/Popcorn_Hour_C_200_Pre_Order-1246-119.html but seems stock in the UK at least is very limited
also try scan etc..
Oh and dont forget wdtv 2 and the xtreamer (check scan.co.uk) ..the future is looking good!
seems to only support 720p. WDTV is a better buy, and WDTV2 probably even more so.
I picked up a CinemaCube and I love it... It supports like every format ever and was low priced. I got the 720P version + wifi for under 100 bucks shipped.
They just came out with a CinemaTube which does 1080P and adds more web video support. Both units have HDMI, Component, Composite, SPDIF audio out, and ethernet/wifi support. I picked one up for my Mom for her Bday, and while the Wifi dongle got mangled in shipping, their support was top notch, they even remembered I bought it for a Bday gift and apologized for my troubles.
Definitely a fan, and for less money, and having Wireless N support... dunno if I'll even consider this thing.
http://www.brite-view.com/cinemacube.php 720P
http://www.brite-view.com/cinematube.php 1080P
The CinemaCube looks interesting, but only a mother could love that butt ugly user interface. Why so many clicks to get to the media? Why can't they simply consolidate all video/photos/music at the highest level?
wow, netgear CALLED back and UPDATED that its remote's got DIFFERENT layout. Big fu**ing deal. there are too many better options out there than this over priced WDTV-wann-be...
and NO ISO? ntgr marketing fails.
By "Digital Entertainer" I was hoping for a hologram pole dancer.
*sigh*
They've pinched the shell from a DGN2000.
I am pretty sure this is the repackaged Verismo VuNow product announced as ITV2000 and CES 2009.
Like the Verismo VuNow, WiFi is enabled via USB dongle and only supports up to 720p.
http://www.ehomeupgrade.com/2009/01/13/netgear-taps-verismo-networks-vunow-technology-for-its-itv2000-internet-tv-player/
http://www.tvover.net/2008/11/25/verismo+and+netgear+partner+to+enhance+the+digital+living+room.aspx
http://www.netgear.com/About/PressReleases/en-US/2009/20090302a.aspx
Does it support SMB shares?
It's another Realtek player same as Asus O!Play, Xtreamer, AC Ryan Playon!HD, WDTV Mini and all the other forgettable units.
Netgear may actually ship theirs with fewer bugs than any of the above, they all share the same linux SDK so bugs affect anything using the realtek chip though the fact it isn't available to buy suggest Netgear knows the software is still immature and is waiting.
WIFI sold separately? No gig ethernet?!
fail.
I'm assuming the PlayOn capability still needs a PC to stream the feed?
Since the EVA2000 doesn't play either HDDVD or BluRay, I don't think the passthrough of HD audio formats is really an issue. Also since the EVA2000 only supports up to 720P, I'm pretty sure a gigabit port would just be an overkill. It's something nice to say it has, but wouldn't make it any faster.
And yes, the PlayOn software still requires a PC to be hosting it.
Also someone mentioned the WD, I tried that out and the lack of network access made it too much of a pain to work with. Having to copy everything to USB just wasn't worth, so having network access (wired or wireless) is a big plus.
I am using this product and it is "ok" but no direct HD.....all is DLNA served or USB attached...no SMB and I have a problem streaming "HD" from Tversity...it is still transcoded I think and it stutters on playback unless you pause it for awhile...guess it is buffering. It does what it does pretty well but I think I will return it and look at other options. I am close to just going mac mini but PLEX and BOXEE have their own problems. Wishing APPLETV really was a serious product.