WD release NEW **WDTV LIVE PLAYER**

GSXRMovistar said:
Do these players pick up existing meta data saved with the media (I.e. mymovies.xml, folder.jpg)?
Click to expand...

Reading some of the posts on av forums yes they do,

There are some custom xml files being uploaded in places too.


Just ordered one of these for the parents as an early xmas present :)
 
Baplad said:
Why not just steam to it?

Or if you wanted to put data on an external drive why not just connect it to your pc?
Click to expand...

I myself bought the version shown earlier in the thread simply because it means I don't have to have the pc running to stream and that means anyone else in the house can come in, sit down and watch a movie with just a few clicks, as for data I guess they mean that in the context of movie / music / tv show etc. :)
 
Quick Review

So my WDTV Live arrived today from OcUK (fast delivery as usual :D)

Whats in the box?

  • WDTV Live Player
  • Remote (Batteries included!)
  • Power adapter
  • AV Out cable (rgb)
*Note* No HDMI cable is included


The Remote

The remote is comfortable to use, well laid out and the buttons are easy to read (for anyone buying for parents like I am, they can be fussy about their remotes!)


Initial Setup

When you first turn on your WDTV Live you are greeted with a Welcome screen asking you to select your language.

Once you have chosen your desired language you move on to the next step which is Connecting to the Internet, at which point it will perform a quick scan for Wireless networks/access points.

If you have conntect via ethernet it may skip this process (untested)

I did have some issues with it saying that it failed to connect to my network, so when I hit ok it took me to the home menu.

I checked my router and it was connected fine so I went into the settings and tested the connection on the WDTV Live and it was fine.

May just be my router playing up!


Updating Firmware

First thing I did when I got connect to the wireless was I checked for a Firmware update, it found the latest version and asked if I wanted to update to the latest Firmware.

I hit ok and within about a minute it had downloaded the FW, installed and rebooted. Painless task!


Services (Currently Available)

  • AccuWeather
  • Dailymotion
  • Deezer
  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Flingo
  • Live365
  • MediaFly
  • Picasa Web Albums
  • Shoutcast Radio
  • Spotify
  • Tunein Radio
  • Youtube Videos
  • Youtube


Games

Provided through funspot

  • Ball Mania
  • Black Jack Royale
  • Chess
  • Cosmox (pathfinding game)
  • Kaboom (minesweeper)
  • Memory (card game)
  • Rockswap Adventures (bejeweled)
  • Sudoku
  • Texas Hold'em
  • Truck Wars


Playback

Plays anything I throw at it, 720p and 1080p play flawlessly

Music playback is the same, listened to a few albums I had ripped in flac.


Final thoughts

If you are thinking of buying one of these, do it!

For the price, its a great piece of kit and will only get better when more services are added/custom firmwares are released.

Highly recommended for family members too, my Mum is currently browsing through her facebook and watching things on youtube with ease whilst listening to some god awful music!

Highly recommended and at £79.99 on OcUK its a bargain!
 
Last edited:
I am really concidering getting one of these. If someone has one perhaps then could answer some questions for me.

Does it support DTS audio? I have a older version of the WDTV not the live version and so I have to downsample the audio all the time would be nice if I didnt have to. Also if I connect a external drive to it can I then copy stuff to the drive via it being connected to the network? ATM I am copying to a 16gig usb stick to watch films I want to watch but it can take ages to copy a 12gig file to the WDTV.
 
Mines a bit odd. Setup and connected via wifi. It said it didnt - but apparently it did ?

I then tried to play an AVI and it died, restarted it and it worked second time around.

Wifi signal shows as 1 out of 5 which is odd as the PS3 under it shows 4/5 and its literally 5 meteres away from the router.

Will try and get the mofo to firmware update and see if that helps.
 
I'm interested in one of these BUT....

I live in a standard 3 bed semi and the router is upstairs at the front of the house, the player would be downstairs at the back of the house.

I assume i'm going to have problems playing content over wifi, especially in HD?
 
bastic said:
what size are your bluray rip files?
do you stream them via network on direct via usb ?

am thinking about getting one and connecting to NAS via homeplugs...
would it work to play movies etc on the TV ?
Click to expand...

Steamed a bluray rip of Avatar at 20GB over wireless N

Played perfectly, although I would recommend you do not try and fast forward or rewind as you may be sitting there a while!

Pause/Play worked perfectly though.


Not to sure how it would perform through the homeplug
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom