AVI player box

[redeemer]

I have tried searching on google and here on the doom9 forums but I can't find an answer to my question so here it goes:

Is there such a thing as an AVI player box. A box you can transfer AVI files to via an USB/RJ-45 cable and then connect it to your TV like a normal DVD player and play your DivX/Xvid/"other codec" files on your TV. If necessary you can just update the codecs on the player so it will be able to play new formats.

Does such a player exist? Or are there any technicalities preventing this sort of thing from being built?

Thanks in advance,

-Redeemer

[Doom9]

I guess you're looking for something like the Pinnacle Showcenter box. Obviously hardware boxes are hardware limited and there's no chipset yet that does everything up to HDTV resolution AVC.

[redeemer]

If that Pinnacle Showcenter had a built-in hard drive it would be perfect. My PC and television are in the same room so it wouldn't make much sense using the PC to stream to my TV, I would like them to work independently.

But thanks for your input!

[Doom9]

If you want a HD, there's plenty of DVD players with both a HD and an Ethernet port. Or you could build your own HTPC. I recall seeing one small box with a HD that you could load with movies but I don't recall the name anymore.. the company had a bull in their logo though I think.

[SeeMoreDigital]

I started a thread about these sorts of devices some time ago.... It probably requires updating though ;)

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=87751


Cheers

[redeemer]

SeeMoreDigital:

Those devices would be exactly what I'm looking for if they had a built-in hard drive. Since my computer and my TV is in the same room, I would like the device to work independently of my computer. Ie, I use the device's built-in wireless network to transfer files to it which I can then choose to play when I wish and with my computer off. Have you stumbled over such a device?

Regards

[SeeMoreDigital]

Hi redeemer,

At the time of writing, the I-O DATA LinkPlayer, Buffalo LinkTheater and ShowCenter 200 all offer an USB2.0 input, so it's possible to connect them to an external hard-drive... But although these devices are quite pricey, they do have the benefit of playing back high-def files!

By-the-way, when I took apart my ADS Media-Link, I noticed an IDE connector. I would be kinda cool if this could be utilised in some positive way...


CHEERS

[bloodrush]

Check out this thread
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=95999

Here are a few boxes.

http://www.airlinktek.com/english/prod_mg35.htm
http://www.tvixusa.com/
http://www.macpower.com.tw/products/hdd2/mvisto
http://www.macpower.com.tw/products/hdd3/tvisto
http://www.rimax.net/products.asp?id=107


also, do a search on ebay for "divx portable" you will find some there.

--bloodrush

[SeeMoreDigital]

Hi bloodrush,

Some of these devices do indeed look very smart but in my opinion they are far too expensive for what they offer... which is essentially a hard-drive, or the capability of installing a hard-drive!


Cheers