Western Digital WD TV Live (WDTV 2)

Pinkeyes · 12 Oct 2009 at 11:03

http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/new-western-digital-wd-tv-live-media-player-hits-best-buy/

Available to buy pre-order in a few UK online places for £99.99 (Estimated arrival date: November 13 2009 - December 01 2009)

It's a WDTV with ethernet (streaming as well as file copy to local USB drives), DTS decoding built in, Youtube, Flickr and Pandora support and I'll be upgrading my WDTV with one soon.

DragonWoLf · 12 Oct 2009 at 11:08

Ah just read about this on Eng, sounds tempting

Columbo · 12 Oct 2009 at 12:07

Sounds good and makes the Popcorn Hour look very expensive.

Love my WDTV to bits but I do hope they make the remote more responsive.

Pinkeyes · 12 Oct 2009 at 16:14

ManCuBuS said:
Sounds good and makes the Popcorn Hour look very expensive.

Love my WDTV to bits but I do hope they make the remote more responsive.

Yes, I hope so to, especially as this one has an on screen keyboard, with search facility for files and youtube etc.
I wouldn't fancy typing on the current one!

I will also be selling my HTPC too, which I havent switched on since buying my WDTV, and if this will connect directly to my server, I doubt I will need it for anything.

wonko · 13 Oct 2009 at 20:29

ManCuBuS said:
Love my WDTV to bits but I do hope they make the remote more responsive.

Just skimmed a quick review on The Register http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/10/13/review_media_player_wd_tv_live/ and there is a comment about the remote not being too responsive, so not promising. Can't see myself replacing my networked WDTV with the new one TBH.

valve90210 · 14 Oct 2009 at 11:20

I'm trying to decide between one of these and the Asus OPlay....and am struggling to make a choice....

TheDean · 14 Oct 2009 at 11:20

Just bought a C-200...I suggest all consider that before diving in with this

valve90210 · 14 Oct 2009 at 11:55

How much is the C-200? I'm looking for a budget player really as I don't want to spend too much...as I don't really have the money having spent out on a new tv...lol

TheDean · 14 Oct 2009 at 12:03

valve90210 said:
How much is the C-200? I'm looking for a budget player really as I don't want to spend too much...as I don't really have the money having spent out on a new tv...lol

Have a google...I got mine direct, but resellers in the Uk have it now. It certainly wouldn't be classed as a budget option though.

valve90210 · 14 Oct 2009 at 12:15

Just had a quick look, it certainly does seem to be a very good unit but it's way more expensive than I'm looking at sadly, especially when the WD unit does much the same stuff for about a third of the price and I have both a spare external drive and network drives already just sitting there begging to be streamed from...

photoshop · 14 Oct 2009 at 12:40

How do these work?

Do they connect to network via ethernet and then stream?
How do they connect to AV amp?

Nathan · 14 Oct 2009 at 12:51

I would wait until xtreamer release their 2.0 firmware then decide. It will send TrueHD sound through HDMI apparently

Pinkeyes · 14 Oct 2009 at 13:14

photoshop said:
How do these work?

Do they connect to network via ethernet and then stream?
How do they connect to AV amp?

Yes, they have RJ45 on them, and stream, or copy to local USB disk. (In fact local usb disk to this unit, at like a NAS and you can copy back from it)

They have HDMI out and Optical out.

Hope this helps

valve90210 · 14 Oct 2009 at 13:29

Nathan said:
I would wait until xtreamer release their 2.0 firmware then decide. It will send TrueHD sound through HDMI apparently

Oh you swine, that's another option I have to decide from now... lol

Actually I'm not bothered about HD audio at the moment as I have no plans to upgrade my aging surround amp, so I might strike this off the list...might...

Nathan · 14 Oct 2009 at 13:34

valve90210 said:
Oh you swine, that's another option I have to decide from now... lol

Actually I'm not bothered about HD audio at the moment as I have no plans to upgrade my aging surround amp, so I might strike this off the list...might...

Did I mention it will also play blu ray ISO's

valve90210 · 14 Oct 2009 at 13:49

So does the WDTV Live I believe.... ;op

Guest2 · 14 Oct 2009 at 14:04

I thought the WDTV normal plays blu ray ISOs? At least i think mine has

Sootie · 15 Oct 2009 at 09:43

Looks a nice piece of kit - but plenty of competition in that £100 segment. UI might swing it - having used the Popcorn for the best part of 2 years, even with all the add-ons, its still feels more hobbyist than mainstream.

photoshop · 16 Oct 2009 at 12:55

I think i'll keep my HTPC instead of buying one of these although they are very good and tempting, but the HTPC has teh ability to run just like a normal pc where i can surf and do work. But these are good. XStream looks very good.

photoshop · 16 Oct 2009 at 12:55

Pinkeyes said:
Yes, they have RJ45 on them, and stream, or copy to local USB disk. (In fact local usb disk to this unit, at like a NAS and you can copy back from it)

They have HDMI out and Optical out.

Hope this helps

Cheers.