Western Digital is preparing to update its popular sneakernet WDTV media player.
Details are sparse, but spokeswoman Juliet Ohuaregbe told HCC at the Digital Summer product event in London last night that the new model would probably not feature a hard drive, but could add Ethernet and DNLA compliancy.
‘There's a lot of interest in streaming media directly from a PC. We're looking at adding wi-fi, but that may ramp up costs. Ethernet could be the best networking solution for WDTV.’
Other functionality is likely to stay the same. Any new model would allow users to playback most every file format directly into their TV (including hi-def mkvs), either via memory card or via an attached USB hard drive.
Unlike Seagate's Freeagent HD media player, the WDTV connects via HDMI and can upconvert to 1080p. Version 2 is expected to be announced in the autumn.
NAS with style
Western Digital also launched a range of new My Book NAS devices at the show. Its new DNLA-compliant World Edition units (pictured right) come with either one or two terabytes of storage and sport a built-in media server. They also offer automatic back-up for all computers on a network.
They will sell for 179 and 399 euros respectively.
To read our review of the latest firmware upgrade to the WDTV, click here.
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In the latest Home Cinema Choice:
"Western Digital is
mediavantage - 16 July 2009 - 11:05pm"Western Digital is preparing to update its popular sneakernet WDTV media player.
Details are sparse, but spokeswoman Juliet Ohuaregbe told HCC at the Digital Summer product event in London last night that the new model would probably not feature a hard drive, but could add Ethernet and DNLA compliancy."
I was supposed to purchase a new media player. But seeing that WDTV media player does not have internal HDD and Ethernet non-compliant, I was surprised. So, I decided to keep my Mvix Ultio.. It can support up to 1.5-TB internal HDD. My Mvix Ultio also features network media streaming from my server over Ethernet (RJ45) connection and wireless-N network.
I also considered WDTV at
just_got_lucky (not verified) - 18 July 2009 - 2:42pmI also considered WDTV at first but knowing that it cannot support RM / RMVB (Real media video formats)and external hard drive does not power down when device is off hindered me to purchase one.
..........
Instead I chose Mvix Ultio for it can play all codec I have, even ISO, MKV etc. It's internal HDD makes it easy to store all my media files in ONE location. With it's networking features - UPnP and SAMBA i enjoy watching CNN, ESPN, You tube, etc.
Where did you get the Mvix
Alan Smithee (not verified) - 17 August 2009 - 4:27pmWhere did you get the Mvix Ultio from?
Wow - talk about shameless
Alan Smithee (not verified) - 27 August 2009 - 7:45pmWow - talk about shameless mvix utilo advertising.
fuck off, shit for brains.
Update: The WDTV does
Alan Smithee (not verified) - 23 September 2009 - 9:36amUpdate:
The WDTV does power-down attached usb devices when it is powered down as long as you have the latest firmware (April 2009)
it doesn't really power down
Alan Smithee (not verified) - 6 October 2009 - 4:00amit doesn't really power down usb devices. my My Book that's attached to it still shines blue when the wd tv is off. and yes, i'm using the newest firmware.
Shameless spreading of mis-information.
Alan Smithee (not verified) - 9 October 2009 - 6:50pmPerhaps its your Ultio which doesnt power down USB devices as that's what you decided to buy.
On the other hand, i bought the WD TV which powers down my hard drives just fine. This was a problem fixed a long time ago by WD.