I fired off an email to Verismo this morning with a few tech Qs and just got this response:
1. The Engadget article said the player can scan an entire network for compatible media and play it back. Is this true? => Half truth. With a UPNP server yes. 2. Can you restrict access to a specific folder or network share? What network protocols does it support (Windows SMB/Apple AFS/Linux NFS)? => Currently none of this. We support playback from a USB disk. Except for high-tech guys this are difficult to set up for common people. We had it but had to disable it. 3. Does the player support network filesharing protocols like UPnP or DAAP (iTunes share)? For instance, can the VuNow connect to a UPnP server or an iTunes share? =>UPNP for now 4. Is there a PC-client required to host media shares or does it just work over network by listing compatible filetypes? For instance, could I point the player to access a network share like a server or NAS device that containts movies and music, and get an index for playback? => From any UPNP server such as WMP. 5. Will the optional flash storage be used to record to (save web content) or just read from (host videos & music)? => Record is possible only for content provider who authorizes us. We can play back 6. Are there any more detailed walkthroughs of the media center interface? I've seen the video interview on YouTube that takes you through the web content areas of the player, just not the local media center functionality => Will post a video of interface 7. What differences are there between the standard and premium versions of the device? Is the hardware identical and the upgrade is simply done via firmware? => We have 2 hardware version SD/HD. Both of them have a basic/premium on this 2 HW versions. 8. Will customers purchase the unit directly from your website or via third-party retailers? Is there a final estimate for availability? => Both. Our website on 15th Dec – 3rd party depends on our partners. 9. Is the player upgradeable via online firmware downloads? =>Yes 10. Will the player be able to playback iTunes or NetFlix movie rentals? => Not today. But will happen in next release 11. Will there be an open API for developing plugins? There could be a huge market for add-ons such as a Flickr photo interface, weather, RSS readers, etc... => Yes. Sometime mid next year. 12. Are there plans for regular software and feature updates to add functionality that is not included at this time? => Absolutely 13. Aside from the partnerships with YouTube, VTAP and BitTorrent, what online video content can users expect to find? Is there a published list of web content available? Will sites like Hulu.com (legal, official video service) be usable? => We will look into support from hulu. This seems to be hot now. 14. Is there a web browser, or plans to include one? This would make sense and would allow users to access media sites (Hulu, etc) that may not be in your channels list. => Yes
Following the commercial success (and technical disappointment) of the original Wildfire -- which featured a miserly 528MHz CPU and QVGA display -- HTC has returned with the Wildfire S.
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I fired off an email to Verismo this morning with a few tech Qs and just got this response:
1. The Engadget article said the player can scan an entire network for compatible media and play it back. Is this true?
=> Half truth. With a UPNP server yes.
2. Can you restrict access to a specific folder or network share? What network protocols does it support (Windows SMB/Apple AFS/Linux NFS)?
=> Currently none of this. We support playback from a USB disk. Except for high-tech guys this are difficult to set up for common people. We had it but had to disable it.
3. Does the player support network filesharing protocols like UPnP or DAAP (iTunes share)? For instance, can the VuNow connect to a UPnP server or an iTunes share?
=>UPNP for now
4. Is there a PC-client required to host media shares or does it just work over network by listing compatible filetypes? For instance, could I point the player to access a network share like a server or NAS device that containts movies and music, and get an index for playback?
=> From any UPNP server such as WMP.
5. Will the optional flash storage be used to record to (save web content) or just read from (host videos & music)?
=> Record is possible only for content provider who authorizes us. We can play back
6. Are there any more detailed walkthroughs of the media center interface? I've seen the video interview on YouTube that takes you through the web content areas of the player, just not the local media center functionality
=> Will post a video of interface
7. What differences are there between the standard and premium versions of the device? Is the hardware identical and the upgrade is simply done via firmware?
=> We have 2 hardware version SD/HD. Both of them have a basic/premium on this 2 HW versions.
8. Will customers purchase the unit directly from your website or via third-party retailers? Is there a final estimate for availability?
=> Both. Our website on 15th Dec – 3rd party depends on our partners.
9. Is the player upgradeable via online firmware downloads?
=>Yes
10. Will the player be able to playback iTunes or NetFlix movie rentals?
=> Not today. But will happen in next release
11. Will there be an open API for developing plugins? There could be a huge market for add-ons such as a Flickr photo interface, weather, RSS readers, etc...
=> Yes. Sometime mid next year.
12. Are there plans for regular software and feature updates to add functionality that is not included at this time?
=> Absolutely
13. Aside from the partnerships with YouTube, VTAP and BitTorrent, what online video content can users expect to find? Is there a published list of web content available? Will sites like Hulu.com (legal, official video service) be usable?
=> We will look into support from hulu. This seems to be hot now.
14. Is there a web browser, or plans to include one? This would make sense and would allow users to access media sites (Hulu, etc) that may not be in your channels list.
=> Yes
Hope this helps answer some common questions!