New Western Digital WD TV Live media player hits Best Buy
By Nilay Patel 
posted October 12th 2009 12:03AM
posted October 12th 2009 12:03AM
[Thanks, Keith D.]
posted October 12th 2009 12:03AM
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Not one? Not true dude... for about 130 USD... you can pop a 2.5" hdd into the xstreamer.
http://shop.xtreamer.net/
Ok fine and dandy, but we're all wondering how much it will cost for the Geek Squad to install this for us.
Xtreamer has a loud-ass fan I hear.
Found the manual online so I throw it up on my server.
http://www.billiehall.com/wdtvlive/USERGUIDE.pdf
Please put Netflix on it.
*Very* nice price, but this device will only work for me if it does the following:
- Support DVD rips hosted on my network (preferably via NFS)...and provide menu and chapter support. I prefer support for both ISO and VOB...and I see above comments about not supporting ISO in this fashion
- Support NetFlix...OR, at the very least, support PlayOn.
Otherwise, I'll just buy more PCH A100s and A110s. Yeah, they are more expensive ($150 - $220), but they support everything (without DRM) in the universe...and do fairly well with PlayOn for the other stuff.
Above $200, and you just start seriously thinking about Ion-based nettops. Man, I cannot wait to see those in stock at $350.
It has ethernet for DLNA streaming. So playon should work fine. I know I'm thinking about picking it up just for playon.
Those still can't play Hulu in HD thought right?
Does support wireless. Page 56 of the manual. Just add a USB wireless adapter.
Can you send that to me (manual)? It isnt even on WD.com yet.
Anyone test HD audio, bitstream or decode to LPCM?
http://www.billiehall.com/wdtvlive/USERGUIDE.pdf
They just updated the firmware on the old version (after many complaints the last one had issues). So lets hope we see some of the requested features in at least one of these devices, such as full ISO chapter support.
From the manual it definitely has a different GUI and several features that people have been requesting for the WDTV1, like using the next button to skip to the next chapter. The WDTV1 requires you to navigate the option menu, at least five button presses, to do the same. The latest prerelease firmware finally fixes audio sync issues with MKV files (after being broken for ~8 releases), but it looks like generally they used the WDTV1 to beta test their next product, leaving us behind. Sucks to be an early adopter.
I have never had any sync issues with my wdtv and mkv files. I have a crap video 720p tv and every now and then I have turn off the tv and then turn it back on again to fix and audio issue where everything is static. I believe a lot of audio probs that I read about are actually HDMI handshake problems. Whether that is a shortcoming of the wdtv or the tv's I don't know.
I will be buying this as soon as newegg has it. Can I have USB powered 2tb hd's please?
video should be vizio
I don't understand why "digital surround sound is only available when using the Toslink S/PDIF interface" I have a DD, DTS, 7.1 receiver with 4 hdmi inputs. This would require me to put the hdmi cable into the tv, and an optical cable into some other input on the receiver. Why not pass digital audio over hdmi and let my receiver do the work?
just bought one of these. streaming from my mac using eyeconnect it doesn't recognize any of my .mkv files. it only recognizes .mkv's that are on the connected usb drive. western digital doesn't even list this product on their web site and there is currently no support knowledge base for WD TV Live.
Playon works pretty well. WD Live add's Component cable support as well. Wired isn't a problem for me as I used wired for my roku anyway... If this gets TRUE netflix/amazon support, then goodbye roku.
I wish it had a bowser.
Who wouldn't want the king of the Koopas in their media player?
how does this compare to
Seagate - FreeAgent Theater+ HD Media Player
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9539494&st=Seagate+FreeAgent+Theater&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1218121172541#tabbed-customerreviews
same price
Pretty sure the Seagate restricts you to using their drives with some proprietory connector.
Do any of these Media Players support streaming HULU and such? I can use Boxee on the AppleTV, but if there is something better I would be interested.
What the hell, what if I don't have vista. Is this a joke? I'm sure it is.
Just bought one. I run a linux desktop. I hooked up a wd 1tb my book to it. I can use samba to connect to it to transfer files to it. It can stream youtube hd but it does not cache for crap so to watch the video smoothly you have to pause the video right at the beginning and wait for it to dl. I have not got my mediatomb working so it is seen on the net. So lets say I can not give a fair streaming report. I have a dsmg600 that the machine can see. But the dsmg600 has all sorts of issues on its own and does not play nicely.
My PS3 does not see the network share. My laptop with windowsxp home is restricted from seeing things on the home network. It comes with a cd that should fix that issue... but I have a netbook no cdrom. Otherwise playing video from the usb drive connected... works great. I am thinking of getting playon so I can get netflix on it. Otherwise it plays my downloaded anime just fine. The menu sucks. I wish it would give you a list view instead of Icon view. Otherwise I am happy.
BTW I have had so many issues with wireless, I wired my house just so I could have my ps3 hooked up mainlining. If only PS3 did not have the drm up their.... Well lets say the PS3 could be the most awesome streaming box but they utterly fail. Maybe I should get an xbox360 so I can get netflix. Ooooh but that would be supporting Micro$oft.