WDTV Box HD ~ any good? alternatives? WDTV Box HD Live?

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › WDTV Box HD ~ any good? alternatives? WDTV Box HD Live?

sxz

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#43137 18-Oct-2009 10:45

Hey there,

http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/4ada394701fd8e6a2741c0a87f3b06ed/Product/View/XH9817

I have been thinking for a while about the above Western Digital TV Box.

You plug in your hard drive, (+ room for a second) and the way I see it - it's like VLC it will play everything.

I see they have just released the new one too (not in NZ yet) that adds network support.

So - my question is has anyone tried it? or something similar?
How well do they work? what does the network support do and how easy is that to use?

are they practical? any advice?

cheers guys

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#264769 18-Oct-2009 10:55

the new one is avaliable in nz:
http://www.ascent.co.nz/productspecification.aspx?ItemID=382843

I have the original model and it works quite well, plays all the files I have tried with it. Lack of network connection is a pain, transferring files requires connecting the HDD up to your computer, so get the new one with the network connection.

sleepy

337 posts

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#264785 18-Oct-2009 11:46

Have the old one , now i really want the new one but not worth the change. My only complaint is when searching it does not use pretty icons but beleive they are working on that.
It is so small and simple.

robjg63

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#264841 18-Oct-2009 15:42

WiFi would make it perfect.

Someone pointed out this in another thread:
http://www.xtreamer.net/ or http://www.xtreamer.com.au/
Seems to be sold as close as Aussie, but not here (yet), though someone has grabbed the xtreamer.co.nz website for a tvix device.

Xtreamer sounds good - there was some talk about the cooling fan noise on some batches - sound like they are working on it though.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

ilovemusic

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#264845 18-Oct-2009 15:58

sxz: Hey there,

You plug in your hard drive, (+ room for a second) and the way I see it - it's like VLC it will play everything.

cheers guys

Not quite everything.

I looked at the WD and unlike VLC there is no flv support.

I'm waiting for this to be released locally.

http://www.mediaplayersandmore.com.au/asus-hdpr1-oplay-media-player-p-408.html

sxz

761 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#264874 18-Oct-2009 18:18

FLV - isn't that the format where you can save youtube (and other flash) videos?

Wonder if there is going to be a box that comes with an iphone/ipod touch remote control app. I'm sure I have seen that some set top boxes have that functionality?

ilovemusic

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#264877 18-Oct-2009 18:31

Yes it is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_Video

Saving them is relatively easy.

Finding a media player that played HD and flv was tricky.

Dell

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old3eyes

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#264879 18-Oct-2009 18:35

Hmm. I was looking at upgrading my old Popcornhour A100 to the C200 but looking at the above the choices are getting better. Does the WD work with 2.5" USB powered drives??

Regards,

Old3eyes

sxz

761 posts

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#264892 18-Oct-2009 20:13

Old3eyes - yeah it does (well all the pictures I have seen have shown 2.5" hard drives).

robjg63

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#264916 18-Oct-2009 21:37

sxz: FLV - isn't that the format where you can save youtube (and other flash) videos?

Wonder if there is going to be a box that comes with an iphone/ipod touch remote control app. I'm sure I have seen that some set top boxes have that functionality?

Funny you should mention the iphone remote:

http://forum.xtreamer.net/index.php

BTW, the xtreamer does FLV (and pretty much anything else you can think of!) - I note on their Aussie distributor site they say shipping to NZ coming soon. I want one!

Their model seems to be web sales only to keep the pricing low. Their forum gives an interesting glimpse of what they are working on http://forum.xtreamer.net/viewforum.php?f=5 They look to be in heavy development.

Enough from me - May have to be nice to Santa....

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

sxz

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#264922 18-Oct-2009 21:59

Woah - that thing is seriously cool! plus an internal 2.5"?

Could update my laptop hard drive at the same time and put the old one in it...

its only 100euros plus 20euros shipping to NZ (NZ$240). And robjg63 - that iphone thing looks choice.

Think this trumps the WD live one from ascent ($280 plus shipping with no wifi)

robjg63

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#264954 19-Oct-2009 07:00

Probably safer to get the Aussie sourced one - at least the power plug should suit here.

I'd just google around a bit and make sure they have the cooling fan issue sorted - sounds like its still quite early in the units development and some of the issue is controlling the speed - but it is an impressive unit already.

Try searching youtube for xtreamer as well - some tempting clips there as well.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

HP

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onionpeel

1 post

Wannabe Geek

#265203 20-Oct-2009 07:28

You may be surprised to find out how competitive the market is for media streamers.
Check out this site, it will give you visibility over almost all media streamers in the market, as well as a comparative specification table :)

www.iboum.com

I've spent days researching media streamers and had shortlisted 3 until the release of the WDTV Live. While it's not a NAS, it has a lot of horsepower. I will most likely be buying one in the next few days.

garvani

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#265211 20-Oct-2009 08:46

Im thinking about the WD HD, the network features arnt really an issue for me as this is going to the gf's place. Im sick of the constant burning of dvds, i swear my burner is about to tell me to sod off :).
The xstreamer is a nice device though, and depending on landed price in NZ, im keen.. If we could get a group buy together we may get a better price? you could put me down for one if i can get it for a similar price to a wdtv hd

garvani

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#265363 20-Oct-2009 16:45

I emailed the xstreamer guys about NZ post.. they came back with this:

"Hi Jason.

Shipping to NZ is already available for $25aud and the shopping cart will automatically deduct you GST charges.

Regards"

Upon entering new zealand as an option, it told me it was going to be $206 including the $25 international postage, which works out to be $253nz. As stated it deducts gst, im guessing they assume it will be charged when it enters the country.

PANiCnz

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#265400 20-Oct-2009 18:13

Since the firmware is based on Linux there are now a couple of open source custom firmwares that allow a USB ethernet adapter to be plugged into the USB port. From what I've read the LevelOne adapter on Ascent performs fairly well.

I'm hearing murmors that XBMC could eventually be ported to the WDTV.

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