WDTV live models?

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CutCutCut

381 posts

Ultimate Geek

Topic # 112110 26-Nov-2012 23:14
There seems to be 2 WDTV Live streaming media players http://www.noelleeming.co.nz/shop/tvs-dvds/media-players/western-digital-wdbgxt0000nbk-aesn-wd-tv-live-1080p-wireless-streaming-media-player/prod113634.html?ref=pricespy and http://www.noelleeming.co.nz/shop/tvs-dvds/media-players/western-digital-wdbaan0000nbk-wd-tv-live-hd-media-player/prod102222.html?ref=pricespy I can't work out what the difference is. IS one ust an older model on clearance?

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4275 posts

Uber Geek

Reply # 723316 26-Nov-2012 23:17
The cheaper one is an old model.

CutCutCut

381 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 723317 26-Nov-2012 23:20
Oh ok, anybody know if there's much difference?

old3eyes

4120 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

Reply # 723409 27-Nov-2012 09:09
CutCutCut: Oh ok, anybody know if there's much difference? I bought on of the $89 models from NL last weekend. I believe the newer more expensive models will allow streaming from your network . My son has one of the new ones and it has a way better interface . Wish I'd known about this before I bought it. But on the upside it seems to play every format I throw at it compared to my now retired Popcornhour A100 which was starting to get very picky about what it played.. Regards, Old3eyes

CutCutCut

381 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 723429 27-Nov-2012 09:26
old3eyes: CutCutCut: Oh ok, anybody know if there's much difference? I bought on of the $89 models from NL last weekend. I believe the newer more expensive models will allow streaming from your network . My son has one of the new ones and it has a way better interface . Wish I'd known about this before I bought it. But on the upside it seems to play every format I throw at it compared to my now retired Popcornhour A100 which was starting to get very picky about what it played.. Oh so you are unable to stream from your network with the cheaper one? I'm sure I saw it was network conencted via ethernet, or a wifi dongle.

rvangelder

350 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 723437 27-Nov-2012 09:34
I just purchased the latest model (WD TV Live) I think it's the 3rd generation or something. It hasn't complained about any file format thrown at it. Everything has played fine. When "off" it's on standby, so from pressing the button to being able to use it is really fast. The remote is good - I'm beginning to remember the positions of the buttons by touch. There's an android app (probably an ios app too) but it's a bit basic. I prefer the real remote. Lacking is a TV on/off button, and volume up/down buttons that I can program. Not a big deal, but means I'll either have to carry two remotes, or get a harmony - meh. The WDTV wants to be the center of your media experience. I'm already running Windows 7 Media Center, so I'm wanting WDTV to take a back seat role. As a result, many of the features are getting wasted. It can examine your media collection and advise on new additions, unwatched shows, etc. For the hacker in you, there's a website for adding custom firmware. It looks pretty easy to do (insert a usb stick and power on). I'm probably not going to go there for years, or until the codecs start being a problem. Network sharing works, or probably will work once I've got around this issue. It seems to forget how to connect to my windows network share. Forgets username and password - at least that's what it's reporting. It might be that it doesn't play nice with Windows 7 homegroups - I'm still troubleshooting so don't let that put you off. There are lots of options for streaming from the internet (youtube, comedy central, netflix, etc). They work, even if navigating them is slow. I've played gangnam style off youtube and it works. I'll probably never use this side of the player. Apparently you can plug in usb devices for added bonuses (live tv, wireless, keyboard, etc). A good little device that I purchased cause I wanted more codec support. We phone the store for "your best price" and they knocked more than $10 off. Think we got it for $69 or near that. Good value!

CutCutCut

381 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 723454 27-Nov-2012 09:51
rvangelder: I just purchased the latest model (WD TV Live) I think it's the 3rd generation or something. It hasn't complained about any file format thrown at it. Everything has played fine. When "off" it's on standby, so from pressing the button to being able to use it is really fast. The remote is good - I'm beginning to remember the positions of the buttons by touch. There's an android app (probably an ios app too) but it's a bit basic. I prefer the real remote. Lacking is a TV on/off button, and volume up/down buttons that I can program. Not a big deal, but means I'll either have to carry two remotes, or get a harmony - meh. The WDTV wants to be the center of your media experience. I'm already running Windows 7 Media Center, so I'm wanting WDTV to take a back seat role. As a result, many of the features are getting wasted. It can examine your media collection and advise on new additions, unwatched shows, etc. For the hacker in you, there's a website for adding custom firmware. It looks pretty easy to do (insert a usb stick and power on). I'm probably not going to go there for years, or until the codecs start being a problem. Network sharing works, or probably will work once I've got around this issue. It seems to forget how to connect to my windows network share. Forgets username and password - at least that's what it's reporting. It might be that it doesn't play nice with Windows 7 homegroups - I'm still troubleshooting so don't let that put you off. There are lots of options for streaming from the internet (youtube, comedy central, netflix, etc). They work, even if navigating them is slow. I've played gangnam style off youtube and it works. I'll probably never use this side of the player. Apparently you can plug in usb devices for added bonuses (live tv, wireless, keyboard, etc). A good little device that I purchased cause I wanted more codec support. We phone the store for "your best price" and they knocked more than $10 off. Think we got it for $69 or near that. Good value! $69? Was that the older one? I thought the newer one was the gen 3 model? Does it look like this?

rvangelder

350 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 723457 27-Nov-2012 09:54
CutCutCut: $69? Was that the older one? I thought the newer one was the gen 3 model? Does it look like this? Oops $169 hehehe

Oblivian

756 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 723483 27-Nov-2012 10:24
Like 5 models of the damn thing since conception now! WDTV (2 gens), WDTV Live, WDTV HD (2 gens now..) Some of the milestone changes were BD ISO reading, 7.1/HD audio decode vs bitstreaming etc. And MKV handling FYI site I keep an eye on and is updated fairly regularly listst worldwide players and their features for comparison etc http://www.iboum.com/net-media-players.php In saying that the latest WDTVs not added yet.

CutCutCut

381 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 723526 27-Nov-2012 11:25
So the cheaper one, the WDTV Live HD (I think), is the interface pretty rubbish or is it ok to use?

Poll

186 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 723536 27-Nov-2012 11:34
I've got the newer one, it also has wifi which the earlier gen doesn't without a compatible dongle. They are fairly consistent with firmware updates for bugs and performance improvements while not making them mandatory either.

old3eyes

4120 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

Reply # 723591 27-Nov-2012 12:55
CutCutCut: So the cheaper one, the WDTV Live HD (I think), is the interface pretty rubbish or is it ok to use? The interface is OK marginally better than my old PCH but nothing to rave about. Also the cellfone remote control apps don't seem to work on these older models. Regards, Old3eyes

old3eyes

4120 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

Reply # 723592 27-Nov-2012 12:56
CutCutCut: old3eyes: CutCutCut: Oh ok, anybody know if there's much difference? I bought on of the $89 models from NL last weekend. I believe the newer more expensive models will allow streaming from your network . My son has one of the new ones and it has a way better interface . Wish I'd known about this before I bought it. But on the upside it seems to play every format I throw at it compared to my now retired Popcornhour A100 which was starting to get very picky about what it played.. Oh so you are unable to stream from your network with the cheaper one? I'm sure I saw it was network conencted via ethernet, or a wifi dongle. haven't seen any way to look back to my network on it. Have just download the 170 page user manual so will have look thru that.. Regards, Old3eyes

JimmyH

760 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 724371 28-Nov-2012 20:35
CutCutCut: old3eyes: CutCutCut: Oh ok, anybody know if there's much difference? I bought on of the $89 models from NL last weekend. I believe the newer more expensive models will allow streaming from your network . My son has one of the new ones and it has a way better interface . Wish I'd known about this before I bought it. But on the upside it seems to play every format I throw at it compared to my now retired Popcornhour A100 which was starting to get very picky about what it played.. Oh so you are unable to stream from your network with the cheaper one? I'm sure I saw it was network conencted via ethernet, or a wifi dongle. - They both have an ethernet port and allow streaming over a network. - They both support wireless streaming. The newer one has built in WiFi, the older/cheaper model needs you to also purchase a compatible USB WiFi dongle - The newer one has a better remote and prettier interface - They both do up to 1080p

old3eyes

4120 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

Reply # 724489 29-Nov-2012 08:31
CutCutCut: old3eyes: CutCutCut: Oh ok, anybody know if there's much difference? I bought on of the $89 models from NL last weekend. I believe the newer more expensive models will allow streaming from your network . My son has one of the new ones and it has a way better interface . Wish I'd known about this before I bought it. But on the upside it seems to play every format I throw at it compared to my now retired Popcornhour A100 which was starting to get very picky about what it played.. Oh so you are unable to stream from your network with the cheaper one? I'm sure I saw it was network conencted via ethernet, or a wifi dongle. Downloaded the manual and yes have been able to stream from my Win 7 PC. Not the most user friendly method compared to the old PCH. Looks like Mediafly doesn't work and anyone know how to force Youtube to play the best codec available?? I know the latest version has this ability Regards, Old3eyes

trig42

1251 posts

Uber Geek

Reply # 724517 29-Nov-2012 09:13
JimmyH: CutCutCut: old3eyes: CutCutCut: Oh ok, anybody know if there's much difference? I bought on of the $89 models from NL last weekend. I believe the newer more expensive models will allow streaming from your network . My son has one of the new ones and it has a way better interface . Wish I'd known about this before I bought it. But on the upside it seems to play every format I throw at it compared to my now retired Popcornhour A100 which was starting to get very picky about what it played.. Oh so you are unable to stream from your network with the cheaper one? I'm sure I saw it was network conencted via ethernet, or a wifi dongle. - They both have an ethernet port and allow streaming over a network. - They both support wireless streaming. The newer one has built in WiFi, the older/cheaper model needs you to also purchase a compatible USB WiFi dongle - The newer one has a better remote and prettier interface - They both do up to 1080p I think the newer one does metadata scraping too doesn't it?

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