After being announced in
early June,
Anandtech recently put the Western Digital WD TV Live Plus through its paces and discovered the
Netflix enhancement works as advertised. Like many Netflix-enabled devices though, the TV Live comes up short compared to the full PC experience since access is limited to only the Instant Queue. Its presence also sacrifices firmware hackability -- a quality which previously made up for the
WD TV Live's lack of versatility as an HTPC. The ability to move, copy, and manage locally stored media files via the interface, on the other hand, was praised as a unique advantage over competing models -- exciting, we know. Sadly, video quality was docked as being "significantly less than the HTPC counterparts they've seen so far." However, it's possible this could be improved in the future via firmware updates, since its Sigma Designs processor features noise reduction and deinterlacing algorithms that strangely aren't currently enabled. File format-wise, DVD ISOs worked flawlessly, while Blu-ray ISO and some WMV video formats experienced issues that users may want to read up on before buying. Gripes aside though, Anandtech was still willing to place it "around the top of the list" for media player devices, thanks to its wide file compatibility and robust features. For more details, hit the review source link.
posted July 31st 2010 11:07AM
Yet another netflix capable device. my tv, blu-ray, and xbox already have the functionality... But then again, thy can't play iso files.
@Skeptic
And they cant play lots of ther file formats, for example mkv :)
@Relief2010
Agree, i only used my ps3 for the media, but got sick of watching avi files when i could be watching MKV...
Picked mine up yesterday from frys for $120...love it so far!!!
@failurbydesign wdtv live is still better than ps3 when it comes to media playback but ps3 can indeed play mkv if you stream mkv files from pc using the free ps3 media server.If your pc is too slow to handle the on the fly decoding process then use another free software called mkv2vob to first convert it into ps3 readable format and then stream it using ps3 server.It works flawlessly.Only downside to this arrangement is you need a wired connection from your pc to ps3 if you wanna steam 1080p files.720p and below works flawlessly on a wireless network though!
@Indefinite Implosion
This is the first I've heard of the PS3 Media Server. I checked Wikipedia and the PS3 Media Server site, but I'm not sure I get what it actually is. It allows you to stream video from a PC to your PS3, right?
So, if all my video files are on a NAS, I have to transfer them to a PC first, then stream them with PS3 Media Server? I want to make sure that's right before I install it.
@Relief2010 Samsung's Bluray devices has no problems with MKV, or virtually any other media format. And the FullHD up-scaling quality is second to none.
@Relief2010 My TV does avi, mp4 & mkv :)
@Indefinite Implosion No you can stream media stored on external drives connected to PC to ps3 using ps3 media server
@hell hound
Half the fun for me is just getting stuff to work, but what you describe above sounds like too much trouble even for me, especially if you want something that looks better than You Tube. Simply plugging in a hard drive is, indeed, the dream--and wouldn't you know, WD happens to make those, too. If they didn't, I don't think they'd be willing to go up against the entertainment industry, which surely doesn't want us storing ISOs or MKVs in bulk. Why else are there no other major players making them? Popcorn Hour by Syabas? Who the hell is that? Boxee is very clearly on their radar, with first Hulu and now Netflix blocked.
@hell hound
Awesome. I'll try that tonight!
This set up should tide me over till we can save up for a decent HTPC (or until the Mac Mini gets Blu-ray, whichever comes first). :)
@Indefinite Implosion
My ps3 is the first gen, no wifi, i was using the Belkin F5D7330 to provide wifi to the ps3, the media server just got to be a real pain, i have some videos on an external and the mkv on my pc, so with the wdtv all the movies on one drive..makes it easier for me..... : )
@Relief2010 Popcornhour (not PopBox) FTW!
@Skeptic i returned WD TV Live and got a CinemaTube instead. It plays MKV. ISO and RM files. For $15, i bought a Airlink101 802.11N dongle (300Mbps D/L), now it's an 11N media streamer. oh, it also has a built-in Torrent downloader and a better remote.
@Skeptic
Great Device - Great Value for Money!. Plays my ISOs smoothly (no IMG files though :-/ ).
Main drawback - their menu system is somewhat not intuitive - if you have a large collection (and nested folders...) it might take ages to find your media. I use the iPhone remote control application (I think by independent developers - http://www.wdtvremote.com). The app also allows playing Internet radio directly with TV screen off...
@Relief2010
mkv2mpg to the rescue
When my Xbox was getting repaired, I was thinking about getting this.
However, I realized that I had minimal streaming needs which my Xbox would fulfill upon its arrival.
:D
I want this.
@MoonWalkerCTE
The interface is sluggish, no as nice as a ps3 or xbox 360, give the Seagate Goflex TV a try....looks promising
Did Ben read the review at all... It got a horrible score for image quality and it's format support is average.
The real question is whether or not they will release NetFlix-compatible firmware for the previous WD HD Live box. Mine is less than a year old for God's sake!
@aarond12
People never learn, do they? No, they will not. They added some hardware to this model to allow them to do so. And before you start knocking WD for "not caring about consumers", realize that maybe Netflix originally told them "no" when they tried to get netflix support on the older WD device, then changed their mind, so WD released another one. You never know...
@dcnoren Way to be a douche about it. How do you know they changed the hardware? Do you work at Western Digital? Not likely.
Since the case looks identical to the new version, I think an exchange is in order....... if you know what I mean.
@aarond12 I understood the new wd live plus plus extra extra +2 HD box has a hardware security module rather than a software, which netflix requires in order to grant suppliers a license to use their software and streaming. The WD Liv e did not have this; whether it was WD who didn't put it on, Netflix who didn't allow it - we'll probably never know.
For me, I have the original WD TV, the WD TV Live. I've since changed over to XBMC on a Revo and never looked back. Having just moved house, the WD Live will serve a purpose on the downstairs TV to steam from the PC upstairs.
Its a decent little device. The drilling down of menus started to annoy me, but its functional at least.
Any suggestions on other (DVD-)ISO playing devices similar to this one? I got a lot of unencrypted discs here...
High WAF appreciated.
@wismann
I got the asus o! Play it works great
@wismann A nettop + Windows 7 Media Center. WMC plays DVD ISO's just fine, and there are utilities and plugins that will grab the metadata, covers, and etc.
@wunch
Go for XBMC if you main thing is your own stored media files. Nothing else can touch XBMC for this. Not MCE, not MythTV, not Front Row.
A Popcorn Hour wannabe.
@Gary J
Had PH A-100, dumped it due to the specs never being met (poor MKV) the horrid UI, and the unstable updates. SIts in closet with the other old toys.
@kcmurphy88
The A-100 was the two-generations-ago first attempt. BTW with the current firmware it works quite well.
A-100 user here. UI can be fixed with one of the jukebox options from their forum. MKV support is almost flawless IMO. What issues did you have?
@pjs
Cannot rewind or fast-forward many MKV files. Invalid operation. Makes watching things annoying at best. If they fixed it just recently, it's a surprise, and way too late.
@kcmurphy88 You can use the 30 second forward/back skips for mkv on the popcornhour a100. Not ideal but still very usable.
Engadget, you make me sad - we reviewed this 6 weeks ago. ;) Video quality was fine with our mkv Blu-ray rips, but there were some other quirks and bugs that need to be addressed by WD. I praise Anandtech for such a thorough examination though, no way we have the energy (or time) for that.
http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2010-06/hands-on-with-the-wd-live-tv-plus-netflix/
@davezatz: Oh, yeah? Well your site doesn't have colorful review cards.
How do you think WD TV Live Plus will compare to Boxee's up coming release. I'm really looking forward to the Boxee HTPC but really need something to hold me over till then.
@TehAndroid
Can you wait until Nov. (fingers crossed) for a device with no Netflix support? Not to mention no Hulu? (Is it just me, or are some powerful forces trying to prevent it from ever seeing the light of day?)
I have owned two WDTV Live's for about 8-10 months now. Replacing my ancient original Xbox running XBMC as the default dashboard. Its ok, not the best media player but basic media player functionality is there.
One WDTV Live is running homebrew firmware, which I really dont see much of a difference. I dont use Linux, so most of these features are completely invisible to me. I'm told theres a ton of stuff you can do from a in SSH, but i'm the type of person who likes to use a remote control and not command line interface to run launch apps, control video, etc.
Yeah these players will have issues with older windows media files. Newer HD wmv files appear to work fine. Both players stream directly off a 6 TB server, through CAT5. So when I navigate through the network SMB, it takes a while to query a list of files when it hits that PC/Server. I am told you can mount drives, so that it doesn't do this, but I gave up on that a few months after I got it because there were too many 'how to' guides. Either they were outdated, contained WAY too much information. I just want to mount a few network shares, not receive a lesson on the history of raid or linux. I had no problems editing XML files to mount shares on the original Xbox, the latest version eliminates this, as its all done through the mouse.
I have the older HD Live version, which is an excellent MKV player. It supports both DLNA and Windows shares, even on Win7-64 which breaks a lot of players. Only problem is having to pound through a lot of files/folders if you have a lot on a given tree level. Page up/down works oddly.
Replaced my Popcorn Hour A-100 and never looked back. Really good UI, too. IF I didn't already have the Roku box with its Netflix Search function (and Amazon access), I'd upgrade to the "Plus" and finally hack the older one.
Now articles like this are what I would expect to find on a so-called "gadget blog." Now, if only there was an exclude b.s. link.
Can someone just make a box that plays all formats , wireless, and does 1080p, and supports youtube, hulu, netflix and so on?
I guess that would be boxee?
@Hydra
You would guess wrong, sadly.
@m66
what are you taking about, no he's not.
But XBMC's better overall IMO.
IMHO, Your a lot better off spending the extra money and getting the Aspire Revo 3610 - Win7 atom/ION box.
i would take brite-view's cinemago over WD TV live plus, any day!!! WD is so lazy about updates. :(
I have had this unit for about two months and right now the netflix is experiencing issues. When you start netflix up it gives an error saying it cannot connect. The only way to fix it is to reset the unit to factory defaults and reactivate the unit via the netflix site. Just a warning for those getting this unit.
I'll wait for the boxee box
@Awall1987
will it ever show up?
@Awall1987
Oh yeah, ill get one use it downstairs and the wdtv plus can go i n my room...win win!!
I looked at an external ATSC box - the SA290 - a few weeks back and I couldnt help thinking what an excellent addition (or option) a tuner would be to the WDTV. That would make it complete IMO.