WDTV totally misbehaved today. After not using it for few days, first it took it long time to load, then after connecting my external HDD, it zapped it. So as a result I've lost few things :mad:.... I think it was just icing on the cake... BTW... I've tried to reflash it with a firmware (btw I did changed the ver file), however it gets stuck at the new firmware found and if I press ok button, nothing happens.... Oh well... bye bye WDTV ...

So.... I don't want to spend gazillion, so I'm thinking about ordering Egreat EG-M34A or take a chance a 'mysterious' Xtreamer ...

eGreat has a reasonable high failure rate (hardware) and costs more than the xStreamer which isn't available yet. I would personally go for the xStreamer which is small and functional, affordable and likely to be well supported (we are behind the brand pushing them to make the necessary changes). For sure this unit is intended to make it big out there...

If you want an NMT, stick with PCH A110 or HDX1000. Those are the best supported ones and only ones that can handle DTS downmix (without receiver). Others promised to add it but so far none did due to licensing difficulties...

On the other hand, HDI price drops sure made them interesting too as new 2.0 versions of their products are coming up and they include blu-ray soon to be challenged by PoPCorn's new upcoming model that includes Blu-ray support as well.

Should I mention there's Intel CE 300 based units coming up too...
These players are going to change quite something on the market. Intel CE allows quite a bit power for more advanced and better intertfaces / user convenience... The first to come is the Yuixx (djukes) from Conceptronic... Do a little hbome work and then decide what's best to invest in for ya... :-)

hi-jack

egreat support dts downmix so please correct the sentence...ok?


high failure rate? you go to the networkmediatank and i can see the inverse....the problem of the network adapter in the a110.....was big....

yes the xtreamer is cheap but for now is only specs ....we need to see the bugs...i know that you dont like the nmt software....is ugly?? maybe but it works.....very well....and if you want you could put many skins...

So.... I don't want to spend gazillion, so I'm thinking about ordering Egreat EG-M34A or take a chance a 'mysterious' Xtreamer ...

Why don't you take a look at this first..;)

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1155820

Nah, I don't believe in Popcornhour. :eek:
Egreat looks like a nice little beastie but at the moment I am totally in love with Xtreamer. Just hoping that a. the reviews will be with us soon and b. the release won't disappoint.

is more expensive is big and isnt released :)

that version is more to ppl that want to buy a blueray player....

but im my oppinion is better a ps3 + a cheaper portable nmt that you could take to vacation...friends home etc....but is my humble oppinion

yes. egreat has just released the DTS licensed firmware last week and users has confirmed the working firmwares and are happy with it.

See the firmware details here:
1) http://egreatworld.com/en/Support31B34A.asp
2) http://egreathd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79&Itemid=63

See the egreat users' response on the firmwares as well as the sets themselves here:
http://www.networkedmediatank.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=18

Of course, egreat users in this forum will eventually let us know how reliable (or unreliable their sets are)

egfav I'm in the same situation as you, trying to pick a NMT.


I do want to point out if it helps you pick, the Xtreamer isn't really "cheap". The price tag of 99 is in Euro not USD, they also charge 20 Euro shipping.


It's about 170$ when converted which is about the same price as the Egreat EG-M34A. So don't look at the Xtreamer as the cheaper of the two, they are the same price.

egfav I'm in the same situation as you, trying to pick a NMT.

I do want to point out if it helps you pick, the Xtreamer isn't really "cheap". The price tag of 99 is in Euro not USD, they also charge 20 Euro shipping.

It's about 170$ when converted which is about the same price as the Egreat EG-M34A. So don't look at the Xtreamer as the cheaper of the two, they are the same price.

Hey guys. Me three. I'm a former WDTV user, jumping ship (and throwing the WDTV overboard). I started an Xtreamer thread in the forums because this is the one I'm going for. I hope it turns out as good as advertised. We'll know soon and I'll post a detailed review in the weeks ahead when I receive mine. (I should be in on the first shipment going out July 1st). Good luck with your research and decision!

Hey guys. Me three. I'm a former WDTV user, jumping ship (and throwing the WDTV overboard). I started an Xtreamer thread in the forums because this is the one I'm going for. I hope it turns out as good as advertised. We'll know soon and I'll post a detailed review in the weeks ahead when I receive mine. (I should be in on the first shipment going out July 1st). Good luck with your research and decision!

Let us all know what you think!!

If people like yourself start turning in really positive feedback I'm going to be getting one as well. :)

Going to wait for brave souls such as yourself to take the plunge first. ;)


(Personally I'm going to get a Egreat EG-M34A, which is about 170$. When we start getting feedback about the Xtreamer and the new C-200 popcorn hour. I'll make my decision between buying one of those as a 2nd unit. Move the Egreat into the bed room, and put the PCH or Xtreamer in the theater room.) :D

thanks everyone for your feedback. ;)

After taking everything into consideration I'm going HTPC where IMHO sky is the limit. I'll try to scavenge few parts from friends and I'll buy E5200 and a mobo with a video onboard or el cheapo ATI card, 2GB of RAM. I should built this for around $250CDN. Xtreamer shipped to Canada with UPS's redicoulouos brokerage fees + duty taxes would cost me around $220... Same goes for Egreat.... At least with good cheap HTPC I won't have to worry about reframes, DTS downmix and other crapola ..... :rolleyes:

thanks everyone for your feedback. ;)
At least with good cheap HTPC I won't have to worry about reframes, DTS downmix and other crapola ..... :rolleyes:

I wouldn't count your chickens until they are hatched... HTPCs are not problem free either. Many long time HTPC diehards (including myself) are actively following the progression of the various media extenders because we are tired of the hassles involved with HTPCs.

Grass isn't always greener and all that.

-Suntan

hi-jack

egreat support dts downmix so please correct the sentence...ok?


high failure rate? you go to the networkmediatank and i can see the inverse....the problem of the network adapter in the a110.....was big....

yes the xtreamer is cheap but for now is only specs ....we need to see the bugs...i know that you dont like the nmt software....is ugly?? maybe but it works.....very well....and if you want you could put many skins...

We work with over 200 resellers who report returning goods to us in EU and eGreat beats everyone by a margin of 3... I missed the license since last week (never seen an announcement from eGreat, so good. As you like to refer to hardware issues on initial production, did you know over 5.000 eGreat's have had a failing power button?

I like the NMT's very much despite the HTML interface (you don't know me or read a lot about what I like clearly), never the less for now the cheper solutions like xStreamer sure make a good option to bridge the next 6 months to have Intel, Atom and new 8642 / 8654 players mature a bit when available...

NMT's will be old in less than one month and newer models will cost almost the same (€299 in EU and $299 in US).

We work with over 200 resellers who report returning goods to us in EU and eGreat beats everyone by a margin of 3... I missed the license since last week (never seen an announcement from eGreat, so good. As you like to refer to hardware issues on initial production, did you know over 5.000 eGreat's have had a failing power button?

All players have a failure rate, more or less, what's your point?
If the E-great 34A had more problems than others, forums would be full of people with hardware problems, and this is obviously NOT the case...

I like the NMT's very much despite the HTML interface (you don't know me or read a lot about what I like clearly), never the less for now the cheper solutions like xStreamer sure make a good option to bridge the next 6 months to have Intel, Atom and new 8642 / 8654 players mature a bit when available...


8642 is just a facelift to 8635, and everything with Intel in it has a not so great starting price. Right now the E-great 34A is a nice player at a reasonable price. When we have feedback on the new players we will able to compare them. Specs are not the only thing that matters, firmware matters too...

hey clark, you should seriously consider AC Ryan's Playon!HD. http://www.playonhd.com.

I just picked it up today from their showroom in Rotterdam and am totally loving it. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1152967

I dont know what you think about having a built-in 3.5" hdd, for me it was a must. that held me back from wdtv all this while.

as for HTPC, I've had one for years. It's great in its flexibility of installing all kinds of stuff but I'm tired of installing this and that or clicking here and there when I all I want to do is sit back, put my feet up and enjoy some good videos. I've decided that the HTPC is my "computer hobby" and shall stay as that. just my 2 cents.

you need to show me one place selling the new c200 at 299€ will be like 350€ or more

299$ more 14% customs taxes more shipping (3.7kg) and vat..use a calculator

you like what "your" sponsors sell, divxplayer dont sell egreat you after that dont like anymore egreat...

show me posts with broken egreats.....if you go to the networkmediatak.com i have allot of ppl wiith problems in hdx.....but hdx rulez....


AC Ryan's Playon!HD use what chipset? is so good that isnt advertized ;) i think for the price that is a realtek?

you need to show me one place selling the new c200 at 299€ will be like 350€ or more

299$ more 14% customs taxes more shipping (3.7kg) and vat..use a calculator

you like what "your" sponsors sell, divxplayer dont sell egreat you after that dont like anymore egreat...

show me posts with broken egreats.....if you go to the networkmediatak.com i have allot of ppl wiith problems in hdx.....but hdx rulez....


AC Ryan's Playon!HD use what chipset? is so good that isnt advertized ;) i think for the price that is a realtek?

Yes! Playon!HD uses the realtek. is so good its doing well even BEFORE being advertised ;)

apparently the Playon!HD sold out in Singapore only 2 days into their exhibition launch there. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16634286#post16634286

here in NL, when I went to pick up the player, there were enough people picking it up. I could see they were busy and still were very friendly and patiently answered all my questions - I always appreciate that (I've been a counter guy before).

btw, hardware.info (it's a big site in NL) does have the Playon!HD in their hands and wrote a quick preview, saying a full review is coming up - http://www.hardware.info/nl-NL/news/ymiclpqXwpyabJY/AC_Ryans_nieuwe_Full_HD_mediaspeler/

Of all the new announcements I looked at, they all seem to be announcements of not ready products. well Playon!HD is real. kudos to the AC Ryan ppl for keeping it real.

Why does it not support 24Hz playback?

hey clark, you should seriously consider AC Ryan's Playon!HD. http://www.playonhd.com.

I just picked it up today from their showroom in Rotterdam and am totally loving it. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1152967

I dont know what you think about having a built-in 3.5" hdd, for me it was a must. that held me back from wdtv all this while.

as for HTPC, I've had one for years. It's great in its flexibility of installing all kinds of stuff but I'm tired of installing this and that or clicking here and there when I all I want to do is sit back, put my feet up and enjoy some good videos. I've decided that the HTPC is my "computer hobby" and shall stay as that. just my 2 cents.

Thanks for the reply, however every hardware is as good as software support for it. I'm not so sure about putting my feet up to enjoy some movies, i.e for WDTV there were flicks that you have to remux, if you want GUI front you had to spend time with GUI Movie Maker to create covers... if you want it pretty you have to spend time, no matter what. At least with HTPC as long as you have hardware support behind, you are in control. (codecs, front end GUI, XMBC/MediaPortal/WIndows Media Center...), possibilities are endless... I just ordered 5050e with Asus 8200 nvidia mobo (supporting VP3, offering a complete hardware-decoding for all 3 video codecs of the Bluray-Disc format: MPEG-2, VC-1, and H264), along with 2GB of RAM, I'll stick this in used Sonata II case with 450W PSU. The wireless mouse/keyaboard I got for free from a good friend. At the end the system will cost me $250CDN.. Yes it is a little bulky, but in my case this will end up in the basement's closet as it will feed my 720P PJ. I should report once I have everything up and running. Today I was playing with Windows 7 Media Center with a new Media Browser and let me tell you it is awesome !!!, within couple of minutes I had movie art, synopsis etc, picture slide show is superb, no DTS downmix support issues, full network support.....etc...

check this out... maybe it is not XMBC, but IMHO is very good....

http://blog.manghera.com/2009/06/media-browser-beta-2100.html

(supporting VP3, offering a complete hardware-decoding for all 3 video codecs of the Bluray-Disc format: MPEG-2, VC-1, and H264), a

NO HTPC will decode as 12 reframes h.264 in hardware, just like no NMT or media player can! You need a fairly powerful dual porocressor with software decoders that can use dual core...

you just try on of those mammoth encodes with 1080p (not 800p) at 12 reframes...

and you have the same problem of all of the htpcs

if the movie isnt dxva the cpu do all the work....
so you need to have also a good cpu

hmm.... below file 1080P 11 reframes plays very nice on my "mighty o/c" E2160 @ 3Ghz with 8800GT (Pure Video2 support). Perhaps because I'm using CoreAVC software codecs to help.... I hope AMD 5050e will hold its ground and 8200 will help out....

General
Complete name : G:\movies\hdtv\Shrek\Shrek.(2001).1080p.HD-Re.AC3.x264.mkv
Format : Matroska
File size : 4.16 GiB
Duration : 1h 30mn
Overall bit rate : 6 616 Kbps
Encoded date : UTC 2007-11-29 10:34:39
Writing application : mkvmerge v2.0.2 ('You're My Flame') built on Feb 21 2007 23:40:55
Writing library : libebml v0.7.7 + libmatroska v0.8.1

Video
ID : 2
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L5.1
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 11 frames
Muxing mode : Container profile=Unknown@5.1
Codec ID : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration : 1h 29mn
Bit rate : 6 036 Kbps
Nominal bit rate : 6 189 Kbps
Width : 1 920 pixels
Height : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16/9
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Resolution : 24 bits
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.121
Stream size : 3.79 GiB (91%)
Title : H.264
Writing library : x264 core 54 svn-614M
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=8 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=hex / subme=6 / brdo=1 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / chroma_qp_offset=0 / threads=2 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / mbaff=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=1 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=1 / wpredb=1 / bime=1 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=25 / scenecut=40(pre) / rc=2pass / bitrate=6189 / ratetol=1.0 / rceq='blurCplx^(1-qComp)' / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=10 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / ip_ratio=1.40 / pb_ratio=1.30
Language : English

Audio
ID : 1
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Codec ID : A_AC3
Duration : 1h 30mn
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 448 Kbps
Channel(s) : 6 channels
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Surround: L R, LFE
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 289 MiB (7%)

hmm.... below file 1080P 11 reframes plays very nice on my "mighty o/c" E2160 @ 3Ghz with 8800GT (Pure Video2 support). Perhaps because I'm using CoreAVC software codecs to help.... I hope AMD 5050e will hold its ground and 8200 will help out....


Well, that's exactly what we're talking about: CoreAVC is doing ALL the work and NOT HELPING NVidia in any way except de-interlacing and overlay...it is true that NVidia MAY BE a (just a bit) more tolerant to non-DXVA files but the file you mention is so way beyond DXVA compatibility (it's 5.1 with 11 reframes)...install the latest media player classic home cinema which uses DXVA and you will see that DXVA will be disabled for that file because it's non-conformant..video may stutter or break up since media player classic will do the decoding and it's not as efficient as CoreAVC...hope the scene he will understand that encoding beyond the specs brings no advantages, especially in the world of USB mass media and diminishing DVD-R...

at the end I can watch this file on my HTPC without breaking sweat ;), where on my ex-WDTV it was pixelating due to its 11 reframes. Anyways I'm not trying to start a war in here :), I guess everybody is entitled to use whatever they like. Myself after playing with WDTV for a little bit, I much prefer (maybe not 100% perfect) HTPC solution.

Cheers :D

Well, that's exactly what we're talking about: CoreAVC is doing ALL the work and NOT HELPING NVidia in any way except de-interlacing and overlay...it is true that NVidia MAY BE a (just a bit) more tolerant to non-DXVA files but the file you mention is so way beyond DXVA compatibility (it's 5.1 with 11 reframes)...install the latest media player classic home cinema which uses DXVA and you will see that DXVA will be disabled for that file because it's non-conformant..video may stutter or break up since media player classic will do the decoding and it's not as efficient as CoreAVC...hope the scene he will understand that encoding beyond the specs brings no advantages, especially in the world of USB mass media and diminishing DVD-R...

I tried a Tvix 6500a, WDTV, PCH A110, BD Prime and they all suck. In the end I sold them all except for the Tvix and built a cheap HTPC with a TV tuner card and BR drive with W7 Mediacenter that just works for everything. No more waiting for some halfass firmware release that break more features than they fix and no more switching between TV and mediaplayer. Mediaplayers have a long way to go and they're overpriced.

I tried a Tvix 6500a, WDTV, PCH A110, BD Prime and they all suck. In the end I sold them all except for the Tvix and built a cheap HTPC with a TV tuner card and BR drive with W7 Mediacenter that just works for everything. No more waiting for some halfass firmware release that break more features than they fix and no more switching between TV and mediaplayer. Mediaplayers have a long way to go and they're overpriced.

I took the opposite approach - I built me an HTPC initially but was struggling with:

1)DTS having sync problems and making video stutter (AC3Filter solved this)
2) having to switch between overlay and VRM9 for subtitles while experiencing picture tearing due to this
3) remote keyboard and mouse were actually frustrating to use
4) frustrating aspect ratio handling
4) more tiny frustrations

so decided to use a HTPC as, well, a PC and replaced it with WDTV...the experience is now so much more home theater-like

I took the opposite approach - I built me an HTPC initially but was struggling with:

1)DTS having sync problems and making video stutter (AC3Filter solved this)
2) having to switch between overlay and VRM9 for subtitles while experiencing picture tearing due to this
3) remote keyboard and mouse were actually frustrating to use
4) frustrating aspect ratio handling
4) more tiny frustrations

so decided to use a HTPC as, well, a PC and replaced it with WDTV...the experience is now so much more home theater-like

Like I said HTPC is not perfect, but it gives you much, much more... I've never had any issues with DD/DTS. I've never seen any CC issues. If you don't like keyboard/mouse you can always buy a nice remote controler that will work with Windows Media Center. (that's what I will probably do) Aspect ratio is very good you get 4 or 5 zoom options in WMC7 (you get none on your WDTV).

Check this out.... one of the best skins ever made for XMBC... :)

http://www.aeonproject.com/

Like I said HTPC is not perfect, but it gives you much, much more... I've never had any issues with DD/DTS. I've never seen any CC issues. If you don't like keyboard/mouse you can always buy a nice remote controler that will work with Windows Media Center. (that's what I will probably do) Aspect ratio is very good you get 4 or 5 zoom options in WMC7 (you get none on your WDTV).

Check this out.... one of the best skins ever made for XMBC... :)

http://www.aeonproject.com/

I don't care about aspect ratio since I don't want aspect ratio changed from what was intended by the director...on HTPS I had to adjust for differenbt source ARs and could never get it right te first time (options like touch window from outside, touch it from inside, grab its ass...LOL)

remotes are added cost, keyboard and mouse HAD to be bought anyway, wirless or not...

WDTV is $99, and a HTPC is hard to use for other of my purposes when it sits under TV, displayed on a plasma, operated from a couch :D

Can someone that knows please let us/me know what the differences are between the eGreat EG-M34A and the Xtreamer??

Price difference in the US market is non-existent once you make the conversion to USD so what other advantages does Xtreamer have over the EG-M34A??

Thanks.

Can someone that knows please let us/me know what the differences are between the eGreat EG-M34A and the Xtreamer??

Price difference in the US market is non-existent once you make the conversion to USD so what other advantages does Xtreamer have over the EG-M34A??

Thanks.

With it's release only two weeks away I'd suggest waiting to see how people review the Xtreamer.


Some differences are:

1: Xtreamer promises to be open source. So it has the possibility to have a lot of user made Apps.

2: CPU wise: Xtreamer uses the Realtek 128X (Special Edition) while the 34A uses the SIGMA DESIGNS SMP8635. (The Xtreamer claims the Realtek 128X is a better, faster CPU. But has let to release any spec info on the chip. So it's kinda an unknown)

3: Xtreamer offers, Internal SATA, I beleave 2.5" a max of 500 gig internally. The 34A also lets you connect a internal 3.5" Sata HDD externally with an adapter wire. See Picture: http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/1447/egm34a4.jpg

4: Xtreamer offers, FLV - Flash Video container support while the 34A doesn't.

(I'm 100% sure I'm missing lots of other differences. I'm sure others would be more than willing to point out.)



The Xtreamer looks better on paper, but it's really unknown if it will out preform the Egreat. Also, no one really knows what the customer support, community, or firmware quality to the Xtreamer will be.


While the Egreat M34A is a tested product with real world testing.
Currently no one has seen an Xtreamer, no reviewers, or private owners. So it's had to say, it's amazing or not hehe. There are a lot of question marks, in the case of the Xtreamer.


I'd say wait and see basically. :)