SnaZio components stream HD content
By Evan Blass 
posted Sep 21st 2005 5:00PM
posted Sep 21st 2005 5:00PM
SnaZio, makers of the Porta-Cinema line of PC-less
digital media playback devices, has now introduced a lineup of
components that suck content (wired
or wirelessly) from your computer for viewing on any TV (unlike some other media adapters, however, they can also
stream 720p/1080i). These Digital Home Cinema HD products, as they are being called, consist of the Net Cinema HD, Net
DVD Cinema, and Net DVD Cinema HD. All of the units can stream MPEG-1/2/4, DivX, Xvid, MOV, MP3, WMA, AAC, and PCM
encoded content, and those with the HD label can also handle WMV9 HD, MPEG-2 HD, and DivXHD. And not that it really
needs to be said, but the units with DVD in their titles will also play, you guessed it, DVDs.
[Thanks, blackdir]
The big question is, will they play .dvr-ms files? In other words, will these act as a Media Center extender?
(For those that don't know, all .dvr-ms files are are mpeg-2 files with a wrapper around them... anything that can play mpeg-2 *should* be able to play .dvr-ms, but not everything recognizes them.)
If it specifically says it plays WMV9 files, then they're obviously courting MS with this... which would seem to tip the balance towards me believing it would recognize .dvr-ms. But then again, it might not.
Jeff, I've had my heart broken over that very issue on a lot of really promising gadgets and media devices. It's a lot like the problem with .tivo files: it should be so simple for devices to recognize them, but nobody bothers to include those file types.
goodbye HD-DVD/BluRay...
I would add that even if the device is on sales only since august there are already forums (http://www.mpeg-playcenter.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewforum&f=80) with all possible hacks: i.e. the possibility to turn it to region free or the possibility to read weather forecast from the Internet, etc.
From what I read the device is also uPnP compatible (and support also Swisscenter streaming server).
I'm just waiting for Kiss DP-600 to appear on the market sothat I can make a comparison and decide which one to buy
" Posted Sep 21, 2005, 5:17 PM ET by bacon
goodbye HD-DVD/BluRay..."
uh. what? let's say i want a newly released movie... how does this particular device make it so i do not have to go and get the physical media?
what about .vob files loacted on my non-media center xp desktop
Well, it seems quite complete: they say it supports OGG vorbis as well! Anyone ever tested such a sweet device?
Speaking as an owner of the SZ1350, I can tell you that my feelings about the device are mixed. There are some significant bugs and some really odd design elements in the interface.
When it works (like watching a trailer for Madagascar or Gears of War in wmv-hd, for example) it's awesome. When it doesn't (like the occasional stuttering when playing DVDs) it's really irritating.
Oh, and as for the idea of 'goodbye HD-DVD/BluRay'? Not likely.
Upscaling the content is nice, but there's a big difference between upscaling 480 content and watching native 1080i content. The upscaling is still working with less visual information...it's not substitute for a true HD picture.
Well, it is IP based, so that accounts for the QoS issue. Also, it is not true HD networking as it does not send/receive to/from multiple locations simultaneously.
Agreed on the upscaling of 480 - not a solution, it is only a patch.
I have the IO data avelink player2 with 300 uhdl.Panasonic 30'' widescreen.These devices are really nice for display of divx.For windows media I prefer to re-encode with Stoik video converter/uncompressed and then convert to divx.Most internet content will need to be recoded to set preferable viewing size anyways so its only 1 more step.It takes a while to get setup but I get more enjoyment out of these type devices than I would with a new car.IO data has a new one with JVC. http://www.iodata.com/news/events.php?ts=20&tsc=22&newsID=24V
Does any one know if it plays ISO format (DVD Copy file)? Thank oyu