WD TV HD Media Player

[GregiBoy]

I suspect it can act as a NAS (Support SAMBA server & client). maybe a good RTFM is in order.

This means you should be able to see it on your network and drop files to & from it.

My current favourite the E8HD from measy.com.cn and allows this and it just makes things a hell of a lot easier as I do not have to unplug it and connect via USB to drop new titles on it.

[maineman]

I do not believe that it will act as a Nas. Here is the website for your review of the equipment:
http://www.argosy.tw/product-detial.php?prod_id=154

It should work fine with networked pcs and NAS.
So far I've just used it with a 1 TB hdd installed and on occasion I'll hook up a another hdd in a external enclosure connected via usb.
I hope to be in my new "retirement" home soon and I'll kick the tires and run it around the block some

I almost bought a WDMP awhile back, but spotted this and just took a chance. Boy, am I glad I did.
What a little gem of a player, plays anything I throw at it.

Nice move picking this one up

[rithmetic]

So Far I really love Argosy. I haven't got it hooked up to my network yet, but plan to do so this weekend with cat 6 wiring. I don't want to use the wireless since I would have to buy a USB Dongle for the wireless internet. I was very disappointed in the WD TV HD media player and spent many hours trying to get the MKV files to play on it, with maybe a 50% success rate. The Argosy Media player has been able to play all my files including the BD ISO's with no problems. After I get it wired up to my network, I will update with a review of this Argosy Media Player.

[maineman]

I haven't got it hooked up to my network yet, but plan to do so this weekend with cat 6 wiring. I don't want to use the wireless since I would have to buy a USB Dongle for the wireless internet.

Another smart move. I'd steer clear of the wireless streaming.
My new home has cat 6 throughout as well...only way to fly if it's feasible.
If not, the ethernet-over-power devices (eg. netgear) mentioned by GregiBoy seem like a decent alternative.

[GregiBoy]

as I have said previously and this seems to bear me out...

I am not enamoured with the WD TV range of products and feel there are far better options in the marketplace.

If you have a read of the WDTV forumes, you will see that users are quitting these players in droves because of incompatibilities and lack of development/support.

[Doug in Toronto]

Hey guys, thanks for all the information you've posted here. This has been a hard issue for me to get my head around and you've been a big help. That first "back to basics" post by ipopov50 was an eye opener.

Several posts back, "starlighterone" asked about playing rips generated by DVDFab using DVD to DVD copy. That system creates not one, but a series of .VOB files, just as on the original DVD. Can you help me by telling me if those are considered a container, that might be played on the Argosy? Or to play, do you have to go to a BlueRay version of DVD Fab and reduce them to a single file like mkv

I know the Argosy website indicates that it accepts DVD, but ipopov50 mentioned that the files have to be containerized - I thought that implies a single file, whether mkv or divx or whatever. So I'm confused.

Thanks - and apologies for drawing your discussion down to a more rudimentary level.

@rithmetic - I'm sure looking forward to your streaming review!

[Doug in Toronto]

I'm going to reply to my own question, in case anyone else has the same....

Previously I was unable to download the Argosy user manual from the taiwan url that rithmetic quoted. However, I found their american site, and the manual here:

http://www.argosyusa.com/download.shtml?DefaultTab=0

So the answer: According to my understanding of the manual, loading on a complete dvd folder, finding it through the menu and playing seems perfectly viable.

[wapitikev]

Looked at a lot of reviews and talked to a local DVDFab devotee in my home city who has a WD & a FreeAgent Theatre HD + and decided to go with the FreeAgent.

It loves the HD audio in my BluDisc-MKV conversions...never had a single one with audio lag (yet).

FreeAgent just put out the GoFlex TV HD Media Player (for $120CAD) which has the identical guts and connections that the FreeAgent Theatre HD + has (the Theatre HD + was about $50 more).

I love it.

-Wapitikev

[wapitikev]

I'm going to reply to my own question, in case anyone else has the same....

Previously I was unable to download the Argosy user manual from the taiwan url that rithmetic quoted. However, I found their american site, and the manual here:

http://www.argosyusa.com/download.shtml?DefaultTab=0

So the answer: According to my understanding of the manual, loading on a complete dvd folder, finding it through the menu and playing seems perfectly viable.

The FreeAgent Theatre HD + will play the DVD ripped straight to a hard disk just like a player plays the real disc (just tried it on The Matrix). Navigate to the folder with the IFO files and start the first IFO...the main DVD menu then comes up and you can navigate (and play the movie or special features) just like the DVD.

Now off to try a BluDisc HD rip.

-Wapitikev

[wapitikev]

The FreeAgent Theatre HD + will play the DVD ripped straight to a hard disk just like a player plays the real disc (just tried it on The Matrix). Navigate to the folder with the IFO files and start the first IFO...the main DVD menu then comes up and you can navigate (and play the movie or special features) just like the DVD.

Now off to try a BluDisc HD rip.

-Wapitikev

Turns out I don't have any Blu-disc rips languishing on any hard disks...it'll take a while to make one (my Blu-disc rig is busy encoding Paranormal Activity at the moment).

I'll report back when I've tried it.

-Wapitikev

[GregiBoy]

As I have said innumerable times over the last eight years:-

Once you go the Media Player route, you never look back. No burning anything and the ability to access your entertainment library at the touch of a button is outstanding.

I know !!! I'm preaching to the converted !!!

[wapitikev]

Turns out I don't have any Blu-disc rips languishing on any hard disks...it'll take a while to make one (my Blu-disc rig is busy encoding Paranormal Activity at the moment).

I'll report back when I've tried it.

-Wapitikev

Unfortunately, it appears that the Free Agent Theatre HD + (FAT+) will not play Blu-disc menus directly off a hard drive (but either does the WDLive)...perhaps a future firmware update. BUT the FAT+ does play the Blu-disc .m2ts files (sound and subtitles are there). However, if the disc does not happen to have the entire feature in one .m2ts file then finding the next file after the first one finishes can be frustrating.

Although I've never tried it (hmmmn...something to do tomorrow), I believe that encoding to a container (like MKV) using passthrough should solve the latter problem.

-Wapitikev

[GregiBoy]

There was a post awhile ago on the WD forums that BR Menus would never be available because the WDTV did not and will not support Java.

You may be in the same situation.

MKV is the way..... Still no menus though.

[wapitikev]

There was a post awhile ago on the WD forums that BR Menus would never be available because the WDTV did not and will not support Java.

You may be in the same situation.

MKV is the way..... Still no menus though.

True...I also read somewhere that even if you use Blu- to ISO there are still no menus.

-Wapitikev

[GregiBoy]

Yes, that is what I have read also. Basically, BluRay, no menus EVER !!!