Networked Media Players - Play External HDD Content on TV

[Fillmore]

Started this thread for more info on HD media players.

Would like to know if Popcorn Hour A110 media player is available anywhere in India?
Also appreciate any first hand feedback from those who have tried it out.

The next closest choice that is available here is
WD TV HD Media Player. But this one does not quite have the features that Popcorn A-110 has.

If anyone else has come across any other 1080p HD media players please feel free to suggest.

From what I have seen
1. Popcorn Hour A-110 with WN-100
Welcome To Popcorn Hour

Pro's
- 802.11n Wireless n/w
- Its web enabled, you can download directly from Torrents / Play from Youtube etc..
- Stream music/videos from your laptop wireless
- Wide range of video and audio formats
- Digital Audio Optical out/pass through
- HDMI / Component / Composite Video out
- 2 USB ports for external HDD's
- Supports Internal HDD as well.

2. WD TV HD Media Player
WD TV HD Media Player ( WDAVN00 )

Pro's
- Supports 1080p video streaming
- USB connect to external HDD storing the content
- Wide range of supported video formats.
MPEG1/2/4, WMV9, AVI (MPEG4, Xvid, AVC), H.264, MKV, MOV (MPEG4, H.264) Not quite as good as Popcorn though
- Optical SPDIF out
- Excellent video playback ( from what some reviews suggest )

Con's
- No Wireless support

[phantom76]

Couple more:
Elektron: Network media player
All features same as PCH. They ship to India and claim they will gladly mark it as a gift so that you can avoid customs duty.

TVX: Several models. Also available in India through some dealer called jaymm.
TVIX HD M-6500A. TVX has a nice display when compared to PCH and Elektron. I think all of them use the same Sigma chipset found in many BD players.

[SX4_2007]

I'm also looking for similar N/W media player in India ...
I found one with ittiam with HQ in Bangalore, pls. check with them and update your feedback in this thread.

Ittiam | Products | Network Media Player

Ittiam Systems (P) Ltd
The Consulate, 1 Richmond Road,
Bangalore 560025, India
Phone: +91-80-66601000
Fax: +91-80-66601063
Email: info@ittiam.com

[MontyKING]

Friends,

I am looking for an ideal method for viewing external HDD content (movies, music, pictures) on TV, without a PC. There are apparently some gadgets in the market to do just that. But I do not know if they are available in India. Also it is not known if they are compatible with Indian TVs.

Pls see the links below:

Sling Media - SlingCatcher
Multimedia Adaptor: Connect your External Hard Drive to your TV
WD TV HD Media Player ( WDAVN00 )

Cheers
MK

[ashthedivx]

WD TV HD Media Player is very well capable of running you media files on India TVs and play them very well. I suppose they can run mkv files as well.

[saildrive]

great post montyKING

Just wanted to know what if there is a laptop or PC interface in between - how can one run the same?

Is there any software can be downloaded ?

cheers

[appuchan]

There are three ways I can think of.

1. If the files are in avi/divx format, copy them onto a usb flash drive and play through your dvd player, assuming your dvd player has a usb port and it supports divx files. (HD content may not work this way)
2. Get a pc/laptop with HDMI/TV out port and play the content off the pc/laptop. (for HD content, you will need the graphics card to support HD resolutions)
3. Get specialized devices as mentioned above

[sj_koova]

How about a Sony PS3?
Can it do what Monty is looking for?

[kaushik_s]

Recently seen one similar player, it's an iOmega Screenplay 500GB, it plays many formats according to the salesperson. And this thing comes with HDMI, component and composite output. Seen the demo.. Not that much impressed as the avi files he had was not of high resolution. So didn't buy it but now thinking that may be I should've gone for it as it would've been convinient.

[hrishig]

Originally Posted by kaushik_s

Recently seen one similar player, it's an iOmega Screenplay 500GB, it plays many formats according to the salesperson. And this thing comes with HDMI, component and composite output. Seen the demo.. Not that much impressed as the avi files he had was not of high resolution. So didn't buy it but now thinking that may be I should've gone for it as it would've been convinient.

I think this is available at staples in pune for some 16k amount.

[SumitB]

The WD TV can be made available by a person who goes by the handle katmandude on http://www.techenclave.com/forum

Apparently, the WD TV is a very capable and recommended device.

[heavy_foot]

Divx movies on USB can be played from Playstation 2's also, if you have a mod chip and some applications. Google for more info.

PS3 plays them too.

[appuchan]

Originally Posted by SumitB

The WD TV can be made available by a person who goes by the handle katmandude on http://www.techenclave.com/forum

Apparently, the WD TV is a very capable and recommended device.

Looks interesting. The review is pretty good here. Pricing at USD110/GBP70 looks great.

[pranavt]

Popcorn Hour is simply amazing - Welcome To Popcorn Hour

Get someone to ship it to India.

[manveet]

My LCD has a USB port which supposedly plays divx. I once inserted a flash drive, but it went undetected !

If your TV has this feature and it works, its probably the easiest way IMO.