Hi, I would appreciate any advise the forum users here can offer!

I am looking for a nas type hard-drive that can do the following:

play back content in HD
offer as many of the various codecs as possible
ethernet connectivity
composite out
stereo audio out
vga or dvi out
support autoplay function so that files downloaded onto the drive start playing automatically
supports remote playlist editing and triggering (i.e. via a web-interface or through a config file)

it would be nice if it had a wireless option

any thoughts on the best device that does all this?

does anyone know about autoplay/playlist features of the various nas device?

thanks!

You are confusing storage (back-end) with playback (front-end).

A NAS doesn't care about codecs, operating systems, or anything else software related - it streams data agnostically.

It also doesn't offer video outputs - it cares about things like ethernet (10, 100, GigE). It also doesn't need to be wireless as you would almost definitely hardwire it to your router/switch and let that device stream wirelessly.


Bill

well i'm looking for a networked hard-drive based media player.......

so it's a nas w. media playing capabilities...

seems like there's a lot of them out there...it's just a question of which one

If the storage you will be using to play movies is in the same box that delivers the content to the viewing device, it is not a NAS. A NAS is defined as a box that *only* serves data.

Try this thread first: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=585212

The spreadsheet contained should help you narrow down your search to a reasonably small number of devices.


Bill

adzling, we all want a box like you described. Depending on what kind of 'hd' you want it to play back (MPEG2 transport streams will be about the only kind for most existing streamers) there isn't one ultimate player that can play the h.264 high-bitrate 9gb movies that are floating around the Internet.

Also I don't think there's anything with an 'autoplay' function. Generally the front and back ends function pretty separately from one another.

This is my 1,000th post :)

Hey congrats on your 1000th post ;-)

I do NOT need the device to stream content from a remote PC to the local drive.

I just want to be able to upload content to the device and have it play automatically based on some kind of file numbering system, playlist or what have you.

Content does not have to 1080i, 720p would be fine.

any ideas?

thanks

Adam

Hmm my MG-35 supports playlists, haven't bothered as I don't use it for music. I'm pretty archiac for music in my living room - iPod via stereo cable. Click wheel isn't the worst front-end in the world :)

Hi, I would appreciate any advise the forum users here can offer!

I am looking for a nas type hard-drive that can do the following:

play back content in HD
offer as many of the various codecs as possible
ethernet connectivity
composite out
stereo audio out
vga or dvi out
support autoplay function so that files downloaded onto the drive start playing automatically
supports remote playlist editing and triggering (i.e. via a web-interface or through a config file)

it would be nice if it had a wireless option

any thoughts on the best device that does all this?

does anyone know about autoplay/playlist features of the various nas device?

thanks!

Let me just say that unless you've been keeping tabs on this streamer/media player section of the market, you are going to be very disappointed in how slow it has progressed and some of the major limitations and issues that exist in various units. 3 years ago I was convinced this area was going to quickly get up to speed. While everything else has developed at light speed, this area has crawled and been all but ignored by major name CE or computer manufacturers. Most people are "barely making the best" of what's available as opposed to finding the perfect unit that does everything they want or even comes close. For instance, you might as well toss out your list above and just take a look at what other people are using and see which one, if any, will get you by with the least hassle.

Let me just say that unless you've been keeping tabs on this streamer/media player section of the market, you are going to be very disappointed in how slow it has progressed and some of the major limitations and issues that exist in various units. 3 years ago I was convinced this area was going to quickly get up to speed. While everything else has developed at light speed, this area has crawled and been all but ignored by major name CE or computer manufacturers. Most people are "barely making the best" of what's available as opposed to finding the perfect unit that does everything they want or even comes close. For instance, you might as well toss out your list above and just take a look at what other people are using and see which one, if any, will get you by with the least hassle.

Well said!