Brando's latest SATA HDD Multimedia Dock does HDMI, the ancestors proud

If you haven't been following this phenomenon in geek culture, you've truly been doing yourself a grave disservice. Not quite an Obama-level disservice, but we digress. Just a few months after refreshing its SATA HDD dock to bring along multicard support, the outfit has done the multimedia crowd one better by offering up an HDMI-equipped version. As expected, the device supports 2.5- and 3.5-inch SATA hard drives and can connect to one's PC via USB 2.0; from there, just hook up your component jacks or HDMI cable and enjoy crystal clear playback of whatever content you've got slammed in there. Too bad all this fun will set you back $79, but we suppose it's still a wee bit cheaper than an unadulterated media streamer.

[Miles @ Jun 12th 2009 9:34PM]

So it plays it without a computer?
That's cool I guess, but I have a vastly superior TV

[slivingston @ Jun 12th 2009 9:42PM]

Call me when your "vastly superior" Apple TV can play 1080p mkv files.

[Miles @ Jun 12th 2009 9:43PM]

How do I contact you then.
I'm sure it's only a matter of time.

[slivingston @ Jun 12th 2009 9:51PM]

Yes, it's only a matter of time before you'll have to buy a new device. Apple TV's processor does not have the horsepower required to handle 1080p video.

[Miles @ Jun 12th 2009 9:55PM]

I'm sure Apple will fix it somehow.

[LMM @ Jun 12th 2009 10:10PM]

Note to all who've replied to this comment: Miles is a known Apple fanboy. Click his name and read his other comments and you'll see. He's not allowed in grocery stores anymore due to getting a hard-on when he walks too close to the produce aisle.

As for a completely on-topic comment: This is a very sexy beast, even for Brando. Add Wi-Fi streaming and You-Tube playback and I'm sold. Too bad there aren't any pictures of it's GUI. The hardware has some nice features, but it's crap if it doesn't make a pretty picture.

[Ryan Trevisol @ Jun 12th 2009 10:10PM]

No Miles, no they won't. Unless by "fix it somehow" you mean they come out with a new product for you to buy.

Does this dock support 1080p mkv files (didn't see anything referencing that specifically on the site.

[DWells55 @ Jun 12th 2009 10:35PM]

He's not actually an Apple fanboy, he's one of those trolls that pretends to be an Apple fanboy to piss people off and make Mac users look bad. iEye anyone?

[Miles @ Jun 12th 2009 10:47PM]

@DWells55
Sorry but I'm not troll.
But I guess everyone thinks that I am.
Whatever, all I know is I still PREFER the TV over this.
That's MY OPINION.
I thought haters were bad in 2007.

[jon @ Jun 12th 2009 11:10PM]

@miles

I'd prefer getting punched in the face to getting kicked in the sack, but I'm not gonna pay for either.

[DWells55 @ Jun 13th 2009 12:04AM]

Miles, if you truly aren't a troll, please refrain from speaking or typing in the future. Levelheaded Mac users like myself don't need your kind making us look bad.

[Matthew C @ Jun 13th 2009 1:03AM]

1080p mkv device ftw - someone please make one!

and this is rather strange, but I think my computer is display what should be and apple sign as an FU in a box. gave me quite a laugh.

[Matthew C @ Jun 13th 2009 1:08AM]

Ooh... only support FAT 16 (does anyone still use this???) or 32. That couldnt even hold most of 720p divx files - those are mostly 4.5-6 gigs.

[Ed @ Jun 13th 2009 2:19AM]

@Matthew C

I suspect it's a conspiracy. NOBODY uses FAT16/32 anymore for user files. Nobody.

It's NTFS, Ext3, Ext4, etc.

The fact that I don't see .mkv support and the drives are limited with such file systems makes me believe that these manufacturers have been threatened.

What else could explain the fact that every standalone media player out there is seemingly crippled like this? Are they really that stupid? Or is the threat of a lawsuit from the copyright cosa nostra stopping them?

I suspect the worst, since it is readily apparent once you survey what kind of people's files are on their systems you seeee... yep .mkv files and 4+ gig file sizes.

[BladeSling @ Jun 13th 2009 4:08AM]

@DWells55 wow... yes.. tell him how he should behave because he owns a mac...

When did mac users start telling other mac users how to behave?

Hey guys! This mac user over here isn't following the guidelines! He is all making us look bad :(



ANNNNNNNNNY ways.. back to my point. This product looks like turd.

[acme @ Jun 13th 2009 6:08AM]

@Ed

you know i was thinking the same thing, lacie just released some similar BS with shitty codec support, something's going on here.

[Andrew Timson @ Jun 13th 2009 10:20AM]

@Ed It's easily explained by the fact that FAT32 is the only file system supported out-of-the-box by Windows, Mac, and Linux. And even if all they cared about was Windows, NTFS is patent-encumbered.

[Wwhat @ Jun 14th 2009 11:32AM]

MS actually released a new version of FAT called exFAT that supports large files, and that standard has been chosen as the one for the next gen superbig/fast SD cards.
They also have a free update for XP to add support.

Info:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa914353.aspx

Windows XP xFAT support update:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=1cbe3906-ddd1-4ca2-b727-c2dff5e30f61&displaylang=en

I don't think there's a vista/7 update but perhaps that supports this stuff already?
---

All that doesn't help if this thing only supports old FAT of course, that's just idiotic and needs fixing.

[GC @ Jun 12th 2009 9:58PM]

what does the user interface look like? for 20 bucks more you get a solid unit in the WDTV.

[Chip @ Jun 12th 2009 10:46PM]

The WDTV also gives you MKV and h.264 support, among other things.

[kevin @ Jun 13th 2009 12:26AM]

I've noticed it also tends to go on sale pretty often. I think i saw it for 80 or so a couple weeks ago. The WD team also seems to be invested in the community and are constantly working on updates, and there is also custom firmware that I have yet to try.

[Shariq @ Jun 12th 2009 9:39PM]

So what would I be looking at on my tv? how do i control what is being pulled off the drive?

[Wwhat @ Jun 14th 2009 11:36AM]

Excellent question, and also you wonder what format are actually supported, because if it's true it only supports the FAT filesystem that means the maker was too cheap to buy NTFS support and/or pay some coders to support some other filesystems, meaning that their video codec support might also be awful and only support indio encoded avi, or mpeg1.

[Wwhat @ Jun 14th 2009 11:39AM]

never mind, I clicked the link (doh) and found what it supports, and it's plenty.
Also it shows a remote, so you obviously get a nice filemenu and can select with the remote I would guess.

[dsteve303 @ Jun 12th 2009 9:42PM]

OMG that is like sooo ugly.

[GC @ Jun 12th 2009 9:58PM]

it definitely would be an eyesore on a home theater unit. Even Lacie makes a nice unit.

[GRAMMAR POLICE @ Jun 12th 2009 10:08PM]

That's the back you asswipes, this is the front.

http://usb.brando.com.hk/zoom.php?prod=SATA+HDD+Multimedia+Dock+II+(HDMI)&pic=UCABL009800_04_L.jpg

It's not that bad.

[yokel @ Jun 12th 2009 10:14PM]

Ewww. I liked the look of the back better.

[rcarm @ Jun 12th 2009 10:54PM]

That's what she said.

[kevin @ Jun 13th 2009 12:23AM]

pretty nice that it includes an sd reader for people who want to check out the pics from their cameras on their tv

[Matthew C @ Jun 13th 2009 1:09AM]

IR receiver is separate - so you can hide it in a cabinet or something and only the little receiver shows

[Agent .25i @ Jun 13th 2009 1:19AM]

Front is way worse. Looks like a VHS tape re-winder from 1992.

[Strap @ Jun 12th 2009 10:04PM]

When will someone release a NAS with a built-in bittorent client, software/media player that handles MKV, the ability to stream Netflix, and HDMI out?

[GRAMMAR POLICE @ Jun 12th 2009 10:09PM]

It's called a computer.

[yokel @ Jun 12th 2009 10:15PM]

HTPC

[robopony @ Jun 13th 2009 12:07AM]

The Popcorn Hour does all that and more my friend! Well, no Netflix... but everything else and more, my friend!

[Matthew C @ Jun 13th 2009 1:11AM]

Yeah - you could probably build an HTPC that could do that for under $500.

And BTW, 2 uses of My friend in a row? are you guys really that close?

[Strap @ Jun 13th 2009 2:49PM]

I don't want to build my own computer, what I want is something simple that has everything in my previous post. It doesn't seems like too much to ask to me.

[Leigh @ Jun 12th 2009 10:06PM]

At least this company is being innovative and proactive. The AppleTV sucks big time and I know because I have one.

[strider_mt2k @ Jun 12th 2009 10:05PM]

Don't let those blu-ray fetishists near that analog hole!

[doot @ Jun 12th 2009 10:07PM]

I wont even begin to go in to how RIDICULOUS this device is. Save your money people. Buy a WDTV (only if you are scared of networking, im always shocked by how many people cant figure out how to get a network connection into their living room, or complain about 'wires'), Asus O!Play, Popcorn hour, or 1-Up your peers, and build yourself an XBMC machine with enough horsepower to handle any video format out there.

Once more. SAVE YOUR MONEY. This product cannot live up to your expectations, and if it does............

[sim @ Jun 15th 2009 10:04AM]

XBMC doesn't support VC-1 WMV's with sound. You can see just not hear anything, which is great if you don't have speakers, are deaf or just want to appreciate each frame as a piece of artwork.

[Owen @ Jun 12th 2009 10:47PM]

So it wont play to your TV unless you use a USB stick or an SD card only?

"A powerful tool for data transfer, backup and cloning. It functions as a Media Player as well. You can play your media files via SD card or external USB storage "on TV" without using a computer."

[mission @ Jun 12th 2009 10:27PM]

I believe the idea is to connect it to your computer over USB 2.0 and stream through it if you don't want to use the SD or a SATA HDD.

[doot @ Jun 12th 2009 10:30PM]

duhhhhh just buy ANOTHER usb dock and hook it up to this one! looool.

also.. geeeeeeeee thanks brando for the free composite cables. it would have been nice of you to throw in a $2 HDMI cable, but hey its 'only' $79 right?

one more shoutout, directly to the guys behind the scenes. seriously. whoever wrote this, re-read your article and forgive your readers for the visible stains on your nose. is this an advertisement? enjoy crystal clear playback? is that a quote, or gross speculation? has anyone in your offices actually even USED one of these before?

[pika2000 @ Jun 12th 2009 10:23PM]

No H.264 support? Fail.
IMO the WDTV is a better solution, or whatever you can put XBMC on.

[sunstrom @ Jun 12th 2009 10:26PM]

如何才能改换我的头像

[fh @ Jun 12th 2009 10:30PM]

If $79 is too much for you, you can try this model for $69:
http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/01/brandos-latest-hdd-dock-adds-hdmi-into-the-mix/

[Dan @ Jun 12th 2009 11:26PM]

"enjoy crystal clear playback of whatever content you've got slammed in there." By that you mean mkv files? Let me know when Webster changes the definition of any.

[Tony Rayo @ Jun 13th 2009 12:26AM]

They said "whatever" not "any"... just saying =).