A.C. Ryan's Playon!HD Mini player is tiny, still pushes 1080p worth of pixels

Looking for an... alternative after being given a 1080p-streaming brick by Western Digital earlier this month? A.C. Ryan has a new option, the Playon!HD Mini. It's a smaller version of the bigger Playon!HD that seems to lose only its internal drive bay, card reader, and €50, meaning this one retails for €99 -- about $144. Yes, a good bit more than the WD TV, but it hits all the right marks, including 1080p output over HDMI or component, support for streaming media or USB mass storage, and even the ability to tune into Shoutcast and other undisclosed "internet feeds." The company also promises "very active new firmware releases" which, without a little restraint, could be a recipe to repeat WD's disaster.

A.C. Ryan Playon!HD Mini

[Thanks, Gavie]

[AaronJAnderson Posted Dec 15th 2009 8:01AM]

I am in love with these type devices. I have the original WDTV and currently use an HDX1080 (www.hdx1080.com) which is like a popcorn hour, but better.

When is one of these devices going to become a Netflix device? I want a Roku, but I don't want to monkey with two set top media players if I don't have to. What do you guys think?

[YpoCaramel Posted Dec 15th 2009 8:47AM]

@AaronJAnderson That's why they're so vulnerable to consoles I think. Yes, a PS3 is 3x as much (the $144 conversion is probably inflated, UK electronics are more expensive) but the PS3 has a HDD, can stream with the right programs, does Netflix (disc only for now), has an online video store and does Blu-Ray... and games, of course. Right now the streamers do have mkv support advantage, and take up less money, space and power, but they're not as versatile... They need to be cheap foremost.

[satoru Posted Dec 15th 2009 8:53AM]

@YpoCaramel I used the PS3 as a media center for awhile but to be honest it was a gigantic pain in the ass, especially in comparison to my old Xbox XBMC. The PS3 doesn't support many formats natively so you have to rely on software like Tversity or PlayOn in order to get Xvid or MKV containers to play. This severely degrades the viewing experience as it's difficult to change subtitles or even do basic stuff like fast forward through a file.

I have a PlayonHD and am pretty satisfied with it. Though I wish they'd improve the UI, otherwise it's hard to recommend it vs the cheaper Asus Oplay or the WDTV2. I'd be a bit more inclined to suggest the Xtreamer which is the same price but comes with WiFi and the UI is much better. Though the fan problems really need to get sorted out.

[AaronJAnderson Posted Dec 15th 2009 9:04AM]

@YpoCaramel PS3 doesn't do a very good job of playing MKV, well, it's very very picky about the formats. Most all of my personal library is MKV x264, so that kind of ousts the PS3 as an option. Oh well.

[YpoCaramel Posted Dec 15th 2009 10:06AM]

@AaronJAnderson No, don't misunderstand, I did say the streamers are better at what they do, especially mkv. My files are in mkv too unfortunately... I think streamers have great current use, with regards to mkv and what not, but they are "threatened" by consoles which have great potential...

[OriginalJosh Posted Dec 15th 2009 1:28PM]

@AaronJAnderson
why don't you just get a demuxer/muxer for the mkvs - there are free ones for pc/mac that do a great job and take about a min per video

[AaronJAnderson Posted Dec 15th 2009 1:33PM]

@OriginalJosh I am interested in things becoming MORE streamlined. (Having netflix on my media player) not LESS streamlined. (getting a player that does both, but does one very poorly so I have to intervene manually for everything I want to watch) Why would I spend 300 dollars on a playstation to watch netflix, which I can do for 99 dollars with a Roku. I want an upgrade, I will happily replace my current media player if it does MORE for me. not more things, at a lower quality.

[Noli Posted Dec 15th 2009 3:19PM]

@satoru

The fan problems on the xtreamer have been sorted, depending on what you want. New firmware allows more control and lower settings for fan speed. And they have designed and sell a completely passive heatsink which suffices so that you can completely disable the fan in the settings. And attaching it does *not* even invalidate the warranty. Or you can now buy it with the heatsink installed, like I did. So a company that not only listens to user feature requests but also designs and sells hardware mods for its own kit, in response to user requests - awesome!

[neonpolaris Posted Dec 15th 2009 8:16AM]

Give me all the specs of the non-mini, and the ability to play Hulu. I would buy that without hesitation.

When I read 'PlayOn' I thought Hulu, but it seems no.

[satoru Posted Dec 15th 2009 8:48AM]

@neonpolaris Not many set-top players support Hulu natively. Most of them rely on Tversity or PlayOn in order to send this kind of content.

[Fanfoot Posted Dec 15th 2009 2:16PM]

@neonpolaris Totally agree. If there were a STB that supported Hulu (and TV.com and Comedy Central and ABC.com and ...) and was committed to doing so, regardless of what Hulu thought about that, I would buy it. I already have various ways of getting stuff on my PC's hard drive to my TV. What I need is streaming video. As far as I'm concerned that's what EVERYBODY needs. Where is it?

[neonpolaris Posted Dec 16th 2009 9:08AM]

@satoru: Yes, I stream Hulu to my 360 via my pc now. But I'd rather have one box to handle it all instead of two.

It seems like I should just build a pc for the television, it will be the only way to get all of what I want in one box. But full-fledged pcs are never small, pretty, AND not-underpowered. Usually two of the three. Maybe the Boxee box will tie this together for me?

[k1n0n3 Posted Dec 15th 2009 8:41AM]

I use an Xtremer myself (http://www.xtreamer.net), its smaller than the "tiny" A.C. Ryan, yet houses a 2.5" hdd (not included), retails for $150 with an included 11N wifi antenna for the time being. Very nice little device with good support/forums. It would be nice to see an article about it here.

[Fanfoot Posted Dec 15th 2009 3:37PM]

@k1n0n3 Appears to be European with little likelihood of Hulu support I suppose as a result. You know different? The reviews are otherwise quite good...

[YpoCaramel Posted Dec 15th 2009 8:41AM]

Wi-Fi adapter still sold separately huh? I understand 802.11n on the 5Ghz band should be able to handle 1080p streaming.... I guess it's back to mass storage then unless you wired your house with cables then eh?

[Mr Death Posted Dec 15th 2009 8:42AM]

I don't think it handles matroska though. :\
One big strength WD has over most media players.

[satoru Posted Dec 15th 2009 8:45AM]

@Mr Death: The new players based on the Realtek chipset can play pretty much every file under the sun. Including MKV files and odd things like Real Media formats. The Asus Oplay, the new WD TV, Xtreamer and a few others all use this chipset and have pretty much the same UI if you compare them. Only the Xtreamer has a significantly improved UI from the base Realtek one.

[perpetual98 Posted Dec 15th 2009 9:19AM]

Could the A.C. Ryan on the front be more obnoxious? Perhaps they could illuminate it? :)

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 15th 2009 10:29AM]

I love my Playon!HD. You can't compare the Playon to the WDTV. the WDTV is a toy when put up against POHD. http://www.mediastreamiingstore.com

[wossy Posted Dec 15th 2009 10:44AM]

The bigger brother is a fine player -
currently i have an:
xtreamer
mede8er
playonhd

love them all will probably jump in for this for the kids room - the wdtv is more for my mum and not people that enjoy media playback ;)

[MiroACRyan Posted Dec 15th 2009 11:17AM]

I can confidently say that the PlayOn!HD Mini will support all the formats and containers that the PlayOn!HD supports.
What will be new with the Mini is that it will have a specially tailored GUI.

[MiroACRyan Posted Dec 15th 2009 11:18AM]

And yes, if you're wondering, I am AC Ryan Staff.

[SilverBlade Posted Dec 15th 2009 12:01PM]

No HD audio formats? sorry, try again.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 15th 2009 12:43PM]

@(Unverified) quote"No HD audio formats? sorry, try again. "

please, i'm will to bet the majority people could tell the difference.

Citrixguy
http://www.mediastreamingstore.com

[wryker Posted Dec 15th 2009 2:30PM]

I love my PCH A110 w/9TB's of space and my recent WD Live TV for the living room w/1TB of storage. Don't care about MKVs since I rip everything to .ts w/the best audio and view through HDMI...sweeet.

[Wwhat Posted Dec 15th 2009 2:43PM]

Is A.C.Ryan a good brand? I heard about them but don't know their reputation really, are they a pro player in the market?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 15th 2009 3:08PM]

@Wwhat

They are, at lease in my humble opinion the best bang for the buck when it comes to network media players / streamers.

Citrixguy

http://www.mediastreamingstore.com

[mrphirke Posted Dec 16th 2009 2:01AM]

I dont get the point of these devices. There are DVD players with USB stick input and they have all sorts of outuputs to connect to TV.

[MiroACRyan Posted Feb 2nd 2010 7:27AM]

The Playon!HD now supports YAMJ. A very interesting feature, and nice for the kids :)