WD TV Live Media Player

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › WD TV Live Media Player - replacement?

geekIT

2417 posts

Uber Geek

#213800 13-Apr-2017 08:07

For the last 10 or so years I've been using a Western Digital media player to play MKV, AVI, MP4 etc movies on my old Bravia TV.

I don't stream the files from my PC to the media player - I have a laptop hard drive connected to it via USB.

I've just discovered that WD have apparently stopped making media players.

What can I use as a replacement?

Thanks for reading :-)

'Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.' Voltaire

'A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.' Edward Abbey

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6029 posts

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#1763563 13-Apr-2017 08:33

I think a lot of companies have moved to streaming as a model. Ie apple, amazon fire, roku, chromecast. Or smart tvs seems to take a USB feed, which means a standalone media player with its own harddrive, or usb connected harddrive are harder to come by.

There's probably some android tv boxes that may fit the bill, or some of the networking companies/nas companies that seem to be loading up their devices with media functions.

As a last resort you could look at putting plex/emby on a machine ( or nas) and giving in to the streaming way of life.

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Loismustdye

927 posts

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#1763640 13-Apr-2017 10:37

If it still works do you need to replace it?
What about a second hand one off trademe?

We've got the media live and outside of a pc it is the best device for media (non-streaming) IMHO.
We've got the same TV for streaming options but use the WD live due to the bulk of our media stored on a HD (ease of use and to take with use on holidays for the kids).

sparky1685

82 posts

Master Geek

#1763662 13-Apr-2017 11:02

Raspberry Pi 3 running OSMC (a free OS based around the Kodi media player) is working well for us - you could probably be up and running for under $100. I also like the fact it can be controlled with the TV remote (one less remote lying around the place is a good thing...)

garvani

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#1763682 13-Apr-2017 11:23

Theres a whole heap of options! However i would recommend looking into a Mi box . It comes with android tv, which has support for 4k netflix, 4k youtube etc. More importantly for yourself it comes with a usb port so you can plug in your usb hard drive. You can easily install kodi, VLC, MX player from the playstore to play any content, the box also has a vastly superior decoder allowing you to play the newer hevc/x265 files at 4k res (obviously having an older tv this isnt needed yet, but you may as well futureproof yourself as much as possible).
All in all its a fantastic device and will cost you ~100 from banggood/geekbuying, and there will be no complex installs required, literally plug and play, enter your google account info and install from the playstore.

JayTaicho

294 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1763734 13-Apr-2017 12:17

A lot of TV sales going on this weekend. Was a WDTV user too, till I got my LG Smart TV. Plex, Netflix and Youtube apps on all the main Smart TV brands now.

LittleDude

164 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#1763747 13-Apr-2017 12:32

I would also suggest the Mi Box. I paid just over $100(including shipping) for mine.

old3eyes

9119 posts

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#1763783 13-Apr-2017 13:14

LittleDude:

I would also suggest the Mi Box. I paid just over $100(including shipping) for mine.

It plays most file types via a USB external drive??

Regards,

Old3eyes

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garvani

1873 posts

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#1763878 13-Apr-2017 15:16

old3eyes:

LittleDude:

I would also suggest the Mi Box. I paid just over $100(including shipping) for mine.

It plays most file types via a USB external drive??

It has played everything i have thrown at it including 4k bluray titles

old3eyes

9119 posts

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Subscriber

#1763879 13-Apr-2017 15:18

garvani:

old3eyes:

LittleDude:

I would also suggest the Mi Box. I paid just over $100(including shipping) for mine.

It plays most file types via a USB external drive??

It has played everything i have thrown at it including 4k bluray titles

Thanx. I've book marked this thread for when my WDTV dies or gets obsolete like my Popcornhour did...

Regards,

Old3eyes

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#1763985 13-Apr-2017 17:56

I loved my WD boxes (1x Live, 1x Live Hub) but there is more and more they won't do. I have reluctantly decommissioned them (well, one is still connected in the spare room for the moment).

I finally bit the bullet and replaced them with a Raspberry Pi (model 3). Cost $170 all up, uncluding a mini wireless keyboard etc. I'm as happy as a sandboy with it, it works really well.

Either install OSMC/Kodi as @sparky1685 suggests; or do what I did and put your files on a PC/NAS running Plex and install Rasplex on the Pi. Either option should run well.

Shindig

1585 posts

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#1764006 13-Apr-2017 18:39

When my WDTV Live media gives up the ghost, and I like to add its been a fantastic media player.

I will get one of these - http://www.futeko.com/products/MP068.php

Then again Kodi on a Sony x930d Android TV is a winner.

The little things make the biggest difference.

davidcole

6029 posts

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#1764038 13-Apr-2017 20:14

old3eyes:
garvani:

old3eyes:

LittleDude:

I would also suggest the Mi Box. I paid just over $100(including shipping) for mine.

It plays most file types via a USB external drive??

It has played everything i have thrown at it including 4k bluray titles

Thanx. I've book marked this thread for when my WDTV dies or gets obsolete like my Popcornhour did...

I've still got an old a100. Great for going on holiday with its internal drive

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#1764043 13-Apr-2017 20:41

davidcole:

I've still got an old a100. Great for going on holiday with its internal drive

Yep. That's essentially the reason I have retained my old WD Live. USB hard drive, selection of viewing, and I'm good for any motel/hotel etc that I wind up in.

geekIT

2417 posts

Uber Geek

#1764757 15-Apr-2017 16:42

Thanks for the great suggestions, folks. I'm gonna have to digest all these ideas before I do anything else.

Regarding a couple of questions that people asked, No, I'm not dumping my WDTV Live - it's still working fine. (Except for the odd glitch when it refuses to play file 'X'. And usually needs resetting before it'll play anything else).

LOL, I'm just doing a Boy Scout 'Be Prepared' thing, so that I'm not left dangling IF the player dies on me.

By the way, a guy at Harvey Norman told me (if I understood him correctly) that some modern TVs would play my various MKV, AVI and MP4 files without the need for a 'go-between' media player. Via SD card or USB-connected HDD.

Is that correct? If so, it would seem to indicate that the TV would have to be a 'smart' one and also that it must have some sort of 'media-playing' software onboard. Yes?

'Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.' Voltaire

'A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.' Edward Abbey

Loismustdye

927 posts

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#1764772 15-Apr-2017 17:44

I've got a smart Sony from 2 years ago that plays most files off USB, however and a big one. Despite it being connected to the network in order to put new files on the drive connected to it, I have to disconnect the hard drive and plug it into the computer.
This bugged me no end so I went back to the wd live.

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