Recomendations for a wired media streaming device that outputs HD?

[dan1979]

Originally Posted by Emanef

Bugger! How come? I assumed it was just one of the newer video codecs that would be widely adopted.

I don't know, they definitely will come and ages ago there was talk of a capable chip but no manufacturer has brought anything out.

The problem is that more and more stuff is using it, doesn't bother me too much as I have a huge backlog of stuff to watch that will run fine on my snazio.

[Emanef]

It's a pain that the 360 is restricted, and won't play video files from a normal XP PC or NAS drive, as I could use that. Looks like a cheap short term one may be an option, though I need it to be as small as possible. I haven't really got room for a full width one in my TV cabinet.

[leef1234]

Originally Posted by Emanef

It's a pain that the 360 is restricted, and won't play video files from a normal XP PC or NAS drive, as I could use that. Looks like a cheap short term one may be an option, though I need it to be as small as possible. I haven't really got room for a full width one in my TV cabinet.

What restrictions are there with the XBOX?
Im using mine at the moment and not had any problems so far.

[pointyone]

Originally Posted by Emanef

It's a pain that the 360 is restricted, and won't play video files from a normal XP PC or NAS drive, as I could use that. Looks like a cheap short term one may be an option, though I need it to be as small as possible. I haven't really got room for a full width one in my TV cabinet.

show center is tiny

Dimensions & Weight
Depth
23 cm

Height
4 cm

Weight
2.4 kg

Width
30 cm

http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx...1&v=2#infoarea

ideal as a short term fix until the x264/h264 stuff comes out

[Emanef]

Originally Posted by leef1234

What restrictions are there with the XBOX?
Im using mine at the moment and not had any problems so far.

Really? I've not got a NAS drive yet but can't get mine to read video from my PC (with XP Pro), only audio. Have they upgraded to software to access video files too? I've not tried recently. If so, will it play divx and xvid files, or just mpeg and WMV? I read that you have to have a MCE PC to access video files through a 360.

Originally Posted by pointyone

show center is tiny

ideal as a short term fix until the x264/h264 stuff comes out

Does the Showcenter have a HD output, and upscale standard video to HD? Over component presumably? That's one thing that is essential for me (after having an upscaling DVD player and seeing the difference it makes)

[simonb68]

I have a snazio and whilst playback seems OK I find the slow and clunky UI very annoying. The file list doesn't line up on my TV properly and it doesn't sort digital music files by track number, I haven't found a way round that yet and Snazio have not yet replied to my enquiry.

I've been looking at one of these

http://www.tvix.co.kr/eng/Products/HDM5000U.aspx

as it seems to do all that I need, especially full ISO/IFO support. I am not that familiar with all the various video formats but it seems to support the popular ones. My only gripe is the design of the thing, not very rack friendly.

I have not yet found though where to buy a barebones unit without HDD, although a small capacity one might actually be useful.

[Stephen Neal]

Originally Posted by Emanef

It's a pain that the 360 is restricted, and won't play video files from a normal XP PC or NAS drive, as I could use that. Looks like a cheap short term one may be an option, though I need it to be as small as possible. I haven't really got room for a full width one in my TV cabinet.

Apparently the recent 360 update that introduced 1080/60p VGA output as an option, and added support for the external HD-DVD drive, also improved the video playback options.

It is now possible to stream WMV files from non-Windows Media Center PCs - and just use standard XP machines running Windows Media Connect (which would previously only stream music and photos to 360s). Apparently the 360 will now also play WMV stuff from USB attached devices - such as Flash drives - though I'm not sure if it will play stuff from external USB hard drives or optical discs.

Of course none of this adds Divx streaming - and I don't know if Media Connect will support MPEG2 streaming (as Media Center does) However I suspect that the usual "live transcode" tricks will be possible?

[Emanef]

Originally Posted by simonb68

I've been looking at one of these

http://www.tvix.co.kr/eng/Products/HDM5000U.aspx

as it seems to do all that I need, especially full ISO/IFO support. I am not that familiar with all the various video formats but it seems to support the popular ones. My only gripe is the design of the thing, not very rack friendly.

I have not yet found though where to buy a barebones unit without HDD, although a small capacity one might actually be useful.

That looks interesting. So does the http://www.tvix.co.kr/Eng/products/M4000P.aspx by the same manaufacturer. Much nicer looking unit than the M-5000A.

Thanks for the info on the 360 Stephen. Shame it's not been enabled to play back more. It could turn out quite an opportunity missed by MS if they don't do it soon, what with all the media players that are and will be trying for a piece of the market over the mext year or so, and selling the 360 as a media player as well would be another selling point.

[simonb68]

Originally Posted by Emanef

That looks interesting. So does the http://www.tvix.co.kr/Eng/products/M4000P.aspx by the same manaufacturer. Much nicer looking unit than the M-5000A

Don't think the 4000 does DivX though.

[Stephen Neal]

Originally Posted by Emanef

That looks interesting. So does the http://www.tvix.co.kr/Eng/products/M4000P.aspx by the same manaufacturer. Much nicer looking unit than the M-5000A.

Thanks for the info on the 360 Stephen. Shame it's not been enabled to play back more. It could turn out quite an opportunity missed by MS if they don't do it soon, what with all the media players that are and will be trying for a piece of the market over the mext year or so, and selling the 360 as a media player as well would be another selling point.

Think that the launch of Microsofts SD and HD download store is a good reason for them NOT to want to support Divx.

I suspect that in the eyes of Microsoft Divx content is highly unlikely to have been purchased commercially, and is more likely to be peer-to-peer downloaded content (which equals illegal in their eyes) - such as recorded TV shows, ripped DVDs etc. - which will deliver them no revenue...

[pointyone]

Originally Posted by Emanef

Really? I've not got a NAS drive yet but can't get mine to read video from my PC (with XP Pro), only audio. Have they upgraded to software to access video files too? I've not tried recently. If so, will it play divx and xvid files, or just mpeg and WMV? I read that you have to have a MCE PC to access video files through a 360.



Does the Showcenter have a HD output, and upscale standard video to HD? Over component presumably? That's one thing that is essential for me (after having an upscaling DVD player and seeing the difference it makes)

show center outputs high def at 720p and 1080i at 50hz and 60hz and upscales standard def all via component connection

[dan1979]

Originally Posted by simonb68

I have a snazio and whilst playback seems OK

sounds like you're still using the crappy snazio software.

Download a program called wizd and use that instead, far better file support and a nicer interface

[Emanef]

Originally Posted by Stephen Neal

Think that the launch of Microsofts SD and HD download store is a good reason for them NOT to want to support Divx.

I suspect that in the eyes of Microsoft Divx content is highly unlikely to have been purchased commercially, and is more likely to be peer-to-peer downloaded content (which equals illegal in their eyes) - such as recorded TV shows, ripped DVDs etc. - which will deliver them no revenue...

That's a good point, and all the stuff I'd be watching will be TV programs downloaded!

Originally Posted by pointyone

show center outputs high def at 720p and 1080i at 50hz and 60hz and upscales standard def all via component connection

Ok, thanks! I'm off on holiday this week so I'll have a look at all the options then.