standalone DivX/DVD player

[Navellint]

Has anybody had any experience with a player like this (http://www.revoy.nl)?

It is supposed to play DivX 4 and 5, not 3 and costs €399,-

I would like to know what it does with different resolutions (black borders/stretch/squeeze/crop/zoom) and whether it can play mp3/ac3/ogg/dual audio. Furthermore, can it play different divx-files (in a directory or not) like separately encoded movies stored on a dvd±r? I saw it play a divx-file over a beamer and the quality looked ok.

[DJ Bobo]

Better build your own living room PC and connect it via TV-OUT with your TV: universal compatibility (DVD, (X)(S)VCD, all DivX versions no matter what options, XviD, real media, windows media, mp3, ogg, etc) & lower price (it doesn't have to be the latest athlon or P4, a 1GHz Celeron with an old ATI rage128 card is completely sufficient)

All those divx stand alone players havn't universal compatibility (files must have given limited specifications), they are just a pain in the ass and too expensive.

[seewen]

I don't know anything about this standalone. But I'me pretty sure that it's builde on Sigma 8500 EM (in fact when I look at the picture, it's exactly the Kiss DP-450, with an other name .. ;-) ).

But I own the Kiss DP-450 ( www.kiss-technology.com ).

And he is able to play :
DivX 4
DivX 5 (without GMC or/and Qpel )
XviD (without GMC or/and Qpel )
RMP4

Audio:
- WAV
- Ac3
- DIvX Audio
- Mp3-CBR
- Mp3-VBR (with firmware 2.5.1 or + . But it's not rally good. When you use the "jump" functione, Video/Audio are completely de-synch.)
- OGG (frimware 2.6.0 )

MPEG-1/2
DVD
CVD
SVCD (problem with firmware 2.6.0. But before it's ok)
VCD
KVCD (all resolution, even "non-standard" )
SKVCD
XVCD (I'm ok, it's the same as KVCD.. ;-) )

He can Read DVD -R/W .

But as the DVD player is in fact a Toshiba-Computer-DVD-player (DR - 1612/1712 ) you can replace it by another (users done this with Lite-on DVD player ).

But again, it's the first DVD/DivX Standalone. And he is really not perfect. But in 2 month Kiss already released 3 firmwares ! So I'm sure that it will become really cool in a few weeks/month.

[Kurd]

Why not using a Xbox vor Video-Playback, it can play nearly all codecs.

Put your avis on a DVD and your Box eat everything.

[seewen]

Originally posted by Kurd
Why not using a Xbox vor Video-Playback, it can play nearly all codecs.

Put your avis on a DVD and your Box eat everything.

Never seen the quality of the XboX.

Does a DVD looks as good on the XboX than on a Standalone ?
( I know.. "It depend of the Standalone" ;-) . But Kiss is a "good" quality standalone)

And I only make XviD and DIvX5.. So I really don't need something to read DivX3 ;-)

[hardwork12]

Just wanted to share this. Just an approach I am playing with and having fun :)

I have been pondering this Divx/DVD standalone player for a while ever since I realized that depending on my objective Divx/VCD/SVCD/CVD are all formats I wish to use and playback on my home theater system. I also had a desire to use the system as a PVR (scheduled TV recording) and also be able to use the standalone player at the same time.

There are a few issues I need to resolve yet but the concept does work well in a cost effective way:

Why did I go this way. First I have a Power PC that I already have set up with all of the hardware and software to do video capture, PVR capability with real time MPEG2 encoding and all of the encoding software for all formats. I wanted to take full advantage of this system while building a cost effective standalone player for the TV that could play all formats including DIVX and be up-gradable moving forward. Anything that can be done with a PC can be done with this system and display the video on the TV. I also did not want a keyboard or monitor by the standalone system.

Project:

Build a network linked standalone player to my power PC system. Since I understand win2k I used this OS for my first pass at this system (Linux would be better).

Player (obviously better parts can be used I just used what was taken out of my system when I upgraded to a XP 2100+ system for my power PC).

Motherboard Epox 8KTA2
CPU 900mHz Duron
256 meg PC133 memory
4 gig hard drive
cd-rom 32X ( right now I plan to still use my standalone DVD player )
Creative Labs soundblaster live sound card.
Old case with 300W supply (ugly for now )
Leadtek Winfast GTS Geforce 2 video card.
Cheap 100 baset network card
75 foot network cable ($19 had to buy this part)
Wireless mouse (replace with IR remote in the near future)

Operation:

1)Wireless mouse lets me navigate and control (future is to use an IRMAN type IR remote system)
2) Play any CD format from the CD-ROM
3) Stream the TV video over the network to the player (works great but ties up my power PC too much). Bigger hard drive will solve this.
4)If I need to configure the operating system I link to the standalone over the network using TightVNC software this allow full remote manipulation over the network from my Power PC so no need for a monitor or keyboard by the standalone.

Problems / future:

First approach uses a wireless mouse as my remote, not great, but the onscreen navigation on my TV is readable enough especially when I use accessibility “large character” display.

The picture size is not perfect. I need to either find a way (hardware or software) to better centering the picture and enlarge the picture slightly to overscan so there is no small black border around the picture. This is a common issue to any PC based TV player so I am sure I can find a way to deal with this.

Add in a DVD-ROM in place of the CD-ROM and get a video out card with component video. I am using s-video right now.

Would like to be able to play my recorded TV without streaming the video over the network. Solution is a bigger hard drive so I can copy the files to the standalone player. The file size is about 30meg/min. So two hours of TV high quality is 3.6 gig so no problem to copy over a 100 base t network

Cost with new parts (quick estimate- USA not sure what things go for elsewhere)

Motherboard $57
CPU 900mHz Duron $30
256 meg PC133 memory $ 60
hard drive $60
DVD-ROM $43
Creative Labs soundblaster live sound card. $34
Case with 300W supply $50
Video card (would love a Matrox g400 with TV out) $50.
Cheap 100 baset network card $10
75 foot network cable ($19 had to buy this part)

Total: $413 ( I am sure it can be done cheaper but the above prices are definitely attainable). Maybe not as cost effective as I would like but definitely a flexible system and fun to work on. Just offering this as a possibility

EDIT Son home from college for a while so now he will try the linux version..Gives us a joint project. Linux will work fine with 128 meg ram so that will save some money here. he also tells me that Mplayer for linux will outperform any of the windows playres for all formats. We will see. Also IRMAN is a snap to interface with mplayer according to him.

[Navellint]

Originally posted by seewen
[B]I don't know anything about this standalone. But I'me pretty sure that it's builde on Sigma 8500 EM (in fact when I look at the picture, it's exactly the Kiss DP-450, with an other name .. ;-) ).

But I own the Kiss DP-450 ( www.kiss-technology.com ).
Hi,
I just found this (http://biz.yahoo.com/iw/021022/047810.html) article ... to answer my/your question and add to this thread.

seewen: Thanks for the comprehensive info. I think i'll wait some more before buying this gear.

hardwork12: Have been playing with linux (redhat80) for some weeks now and I'm beginning to realise we have the same goal! To have a cheap allround controllable multimedia center (and a beer)! I'd indeed rather pay $413 than that €399 (=$413 ATM BTW). Only problem is that my realtek ethernet has resetting problems when switching from linux->winXP or the other way around :((

[hardwork12]

Navellint

For the remote take a look here. My Son has built three of these and they work great (same circuit as used in the IRMAN think its $49 USD).

http://www.geocities.com/uirr/index.htm

Also: What specifically do younmean about the network "reset" problem. I asked my son about it and maybe he can help with a better description. He has been using LINUX for years now.

I got the entire system running with win2k using GIRDER software for the remote control functionality and ZOOM PLAYER for the software player this interfaced very nicely with Gider. Both are shareware. Will have a LINUX version soon will see what the advantages are.

[Navellint]

The realtek card actually has a problem with windows, not with linux I think. But this is neither part of this thread, nor this forum. I'll send a PM.

[Navellint]

Here (http://www.revoy3200dx.nl/revoy3200/tools.php#)'s a story about custom connectivity using the Revoy player and progressive scan. If someone needs some translation, let me know.

edit: TomsHardware.com testing KISS/revoy player (www6.tomshardware.com/consumer/20030124/index.html) !!

[hardwork12]

The link below is agreat remote to get this is a link I purchased one from at Ebay but it describes it in full. Works with Girder in windows and took my Son 10 minutes to get it working perfectly in LINUX (he is using Damien but that should not matter).

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=15388&item=2087848520

Just in case anyone is looking for a remote. Great Dael and had very long range plenty sensitive.