whats the best network media player?

**iwacelect** · 20-07-11, 12:48 PM

And why, IYHO.

I'm just about to go full network system here and would luv ot hear some feedback off others that have already done this...

Oh, and i dont have an x-box

**z1gg33** · 20-07-11, 02:21 PM

has to be wdtv or one of the astone's? i'd be thinking....

**mandc** · 20-07-11, 02:53 PM

I have at the moment a popcorn a110, astone ap300 and wdtv and my favourite is the wdtv.
WD release regular software updates...unlike the astone and it plays the biggest range of files.
At the moment I have it networked to a d-link dwa-140 dongle which links to my netgear dual band wireless-n router on an xp machine.

So far it is working flawlessly..plays hi-def movies with no stutter and automatically connects when I turn the media player on. As it has 2 usb ports I also have it connected to a wd passport 1TB hdd which I used before I networked wirelessly.

The Astone has real problems with fast forward 2x..OK 4x.....sometimes OK 8x and higher it plays at 1x speed.
I have tried 3 different software updates and even used the later zinwell firmware but it is still crap.

**hoe** · 20-07-11, 03:21 PM

i have a popcorn hour c200 fitted with a bluray drive, works just fine....

**JasonC** · 20-07-11, 03:36 PM

I have the xtreamer which is ok although the firmware was buggy when first introduced
plays pretty much everything, never streamed wirelessly though so I wouldn't know how it goes with streaming 1080p files

quite cheap around $200

**iwacelect** · 22-07-11, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by z1gg33

has to be wdtv or one of the astone's? i'd be thinking....

thanks to zigg and others, i was leaning towards the WD, but just wanted to here from others who've driven the beasts

looks like it's gunna be a wdtv live by the looks, any concerns?

**Seymour Butts** · 22-07-11, 12:17 PM

I use a and am very happy with it

**z1gg33** · 22-07-11, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by iwacelect

looks like it's gunna be a wdtv live by the looks, any concerns?

make sure you get one with a network port

**mandc** · 22-07-11, 01:38 PM

Here is the user manual for the WDTV if you want to check it out

Has a network port but you need to get a wifi usb dongle to go wireless

**TVguy** · 22-07-11, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by Seymour Butts

I use a and am very happy with it

I was having a play with one of these last night at a mate's place and was quite impressed. He picked it up from WES for about $240 without the HDD.

**porkchops** · 22-07-11, 03:57 PM

Have an astone (unsure of model, as aware they have a couple variants on the market) which our household is happy with, as wife gets grumpy when I buy another sat box, let alone funds to buy in and test other competitors offerings!

I am impressed in what formats this plays (compared to the ancient mediagate MG-35 previously in this spot), as main gripe I have is it sometimes does not pick up audio on playing a new file from scratch. Stop, and play seems to rectify this. Find the rewind a PITA, although never really had a device that does this properly, but fast foward have no problems.

One thing I really like about this device is it automatically plays the next episode, if one exists - which is sort of neat! Although imagine this is nothing special, as wouldn't be suprised if the WD does this.

**mandc** · 22-07-11, 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by porkchops

One thing I really like about this device is it automatically plays the next episode, if one exists - which is sort of neat! Although imagine this is nothing special, as wouldn't be suprised if the WD does this.

With the WD I have found if you hit play on the highlighted file, it plays the next one automatically but if you press OK on the highlighted file, it plays only that file.

**johnwinger** · 23-07-11, 08:45 AM

I have a WDTV connected to my NAS and it takes a little while to connect to the NAS and only shows half of the files until you go back to the root menu and back in again. It's very easy to use and simple. Software is updated often (makes me think why? bugs?) It has played every file I have thrown at it so far.

About a month ago I was given a Apple TV 2 as a present and have since replaced the WDTV with the ATV. It looks sleak and fits right in, remote is simple and only has around 6 buttons. Doesnt have a delay in loading from my NAS or playing files. But in order to use this I had to jailbreak it and then install XBMC.

Whichever way you go make it sure it will play all the files you want, reads off USB HDD and network (NAS etc).

**hoe** · 23-07-11, 11:20 AM

the popcorn hour c200 has no problems connecting to a network share on a W7 pc, usb hd, nas etc. regular online firmware updates via remote (mainly codec updates) and you can fit either an internal hd or 5.25 inch drive. I have a cheap blu ray drive fitted, cost $80 and works flawlessly, region free too.......

plays pretty much any format....

**Woodstock** · 23-07-11, 01:11 PM

WDTV live ! - only issue is Network Shares accessing Win 7 pc's .. they there sometimes .... so i use PS3 Media Server as backup to access the pc that is missing ...

**ol' boy** · 23-07-11, 01:20 PM

I have Mediagate, Astones and WDTV LIVE and WDTV HUB

I think the best is any Samgsung TV series 5 and above, as you don't need a media player!!!!

But my pick for a Media player now would be the WDTV Live
The WDTV HUB is good, but i hate the GUI
The Astones are rubbish, they do the job, if you like looking at a Commodore 64 graphics output.

There is also a community and third party software for the WDTV products if you like to tinker (can add movie library with cover art etc)

**cazfredjack** · 24-07-11, 01:44 PM

wd tv live all the way i have three of them connected to a server with 15t of storage can stream 3 1080p files with no dramas at all those people that say network shares does not work just have not set it up properly. there is also an iphone/pod app and i can control all 3 from phone but the app is very simple and does have its faults. if you use a program called tvixie you can get cover art for your movies but you can also just rename the picture folder and it will appear as cover art.only time you need to go back to root is when you have added a file. and at 130 bucks and for what it plays you cant go wrong

**mandc** · 24-07-11, 03:12 PM

Originally Posted by cazfredjack

wd tv live....... at 130 bucks and for what it plays you cant go wrong

Not even that these days..$109 at officeworks

**bunyipbilly** · 24-09-11, 11:51 AM

Has anyone tested the Sony SMP N-100 media player. I have a problem getting it to stream to my tv.
Everything else works fine, especially the HD, and it plays all types of files, even the ones recorded on my Occy.

**loanrangiel** · 26-09-11, 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by johnwinger

I have a WDTV connected to my NAS and it takes a little while to connect to the NAS and only shows half of the files until you go back to the root menu and back in again. It's very easy to use and simple. Software is updated often (makes me think why? bugs?) It has played every file I have thrown at it so far.

About a month ago I was given a Apple TV 2 as a present and have since replaced the WDTV with the ATV. It looks sleak and fits right in, remote is simple and only has around 6 buttons. Doesnt have a delay in loading from my NAS or playing files. But in order to use this I had to jailbreak it and then install XBMC.

Whichever way you go make it sure it will play all the files you want, reads off USB HDD and network (NAS etc).

How do you find xbmc on the atv ? , i love xbmc but loath apple products.