Latest about Mediagate MG-350HD

3658 Views 24 Replies 9 Participants Last post by Jo @ Anyware, Jun 29, 2006

mka

Discussion Starter · May 3, 2006

I noticed today on the airlinktek.com site that the "coming soon" sign has been removed from the mediagate MG-350HD. According to an Australian forum it will be distributed in Australia by anyware.com.au starting around July with wireless and NDAS capability.

I've been keeping my eye on this device because it will support HD (I currently have the MG-35 and am quite happy with it). Just thought some of you might be interested in this news.

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Musket

· #2 · May 3, 2006

I had been waiting for this, but gave up and bought the Freecom Media Player 35 (a rebadged MG35).

I added a Netgear wireless bridge which works fine and effectively adds wireless capability to it.

With the firmware upgrade, I should get NDAS too. Unfortunately I haven't got a key yet so havent tested this out.

Seems to me that this pretty much turns it in to an MG350HD

Does the MG350HD have any other new features?

jhue

· #3 · May 3, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musket
Seems to me that this pretty much turns it in to an MG350HD

Does the MG350HD have any other new features?

Oh, just a really minor feature: the ability to play back High Def MPEG-2 files and output a high def video signal.

What did you think the "HD" at the end of the model name meant?

gunrunnerjohn

· #4 · May 3, 2006

Given the short amount of time that they supported the MG-35 before abandoning it, I think my next media player will be a different brand.

I think a manufacturer that doesn't think of their product life in weeks will be my next pick.

LKupersmith

· #5 · May 4, 2006

Unfortunately, in this field, it often works that way. There's a long list of manufacturers that have released media boxes only to give up and stop supporting them by not offering firmware updates. Most have simply moved on to other unrelated products, not more powerful models, simply because the first attempt didn't bring in enough revenue to make it worthwhile.

However, in this case, I don't believe that AL Tech has abandoned the MG-35. While of course they are putting their energies into finishing the MG-350HD, they've responded extremely promptly to my emails and have indicated there will be future revisions of the MG-35 firmware.

Specifically I asked if they could add additional recognized extensions for the playable file types, i.e. .DIVX, so DIVX files don't have to be renamed to .AVI to be playable on the unit. They responded positively to this.

I also inquired if it were possible to eliminate the gap between tracks that is apparent when playing live concert MP3 files. To this, they were going to check with engineering to see if it is possible, or if might require additional memory for buffering which isn't available.

In any case, I for one, feel I've totally gotten my moneys worth from the MG-35 and wouldn't hesitate to buy another or recommend it without hesitation. It does everything it was advertised to do and does it well - what more can you ask for?

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geoffreyhan

· #6 · May 4, 2006

Musket said:
I added a Netgear wireless bridge which works fine and effectively adds wireless capability to it.

I've just got the MG35, and tried to get it connected wireless using a Linksys WAP54G wireless access point. I've set the AP in client mode but seems still has no success.

Musket, could you please give a bit more detailed setup procedure in your case and any issues that need to be cared about?

I use a Draytek wireless modem/router for internet connection. It connects with a PC through ethernet cable and wireless to other two laptops.

Musket

· #7 · May 4, 2006

geoffreyhan said:
Quote:

Originally Posted by Musket
I added a Netgear wireless bridge which works fine and effectively adds wireless capability to it.

I've just got the MG35, and tried to get it connected wireless using a Linksys WAP54G wireless access point. I've set the AP in client mode but seems still has no success.

Musket, could you please give a bit more detailed setup procedure in your case and any issues that need to be cared about?

I use a Draytek wireless modem/router for internet connection. It connects with a PC through ethernet cable and wireless to other two laptops.

Ok a couple of points to start with:

1- I tried using a plain old wireless router to wireless router and I couldnt get it to work. I believe only some routers can act as a bridge to another router (and it can be flaky from what I read). So I actually bought a wireless bridge to connect wirelessly to my Netgear wireless router downstairs (bridges are often called a gaming adapter or something like that as they are used to connect consoles without built-in wireless to a network).

2- I found that it was very picky connecting to my network until I updated the firmware. Once I did it just worked without any messing about.

What firmware are you on? I found that the firmware version that came with the unit was a b*tch for networking!

Musket

· #8 · May 4, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhue
Oh, just a really minor feature: the ability to play back High Def MPEG-2 files and output a high def video signal.

What did you think the "HD" at the end of the model name meant?

Ok fair enough. I haven't looked at the specs closely. Mine outputs 720p and 1080i (ok its not brilliant but it does!). What does this 350HD do - 1080P? My LCD Bravia cant handle that anyway.

jofa

· #9 · May 4, 2006

As far as I understand it is not the output. It's the "input".

I.e. if I understand correct the 350HD can decode a 720p/1080i TS stream or possibly a wmvhd stream, but the MG-25 can not.

/J

gunrunnerjohn

· #10 · May 4, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by jofa
As far as I understand it is not the output. It's the "input".

I.e. if I understand correct the 350HD can decode a 720p/1080i TS stream or possibly a wmvhd stream, but the MG-25 can not.

/J

What about the MG-35?

LKupersmith

· #11 · May 5, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musket
Ok fair enough. I haven't looked at the specs closely. Mine outputs 720p and 1080i (ok its not brilliant but it does!). What does this 350HD do - 1080P? My LCD Bravia cant handle that anyway.

Like jhue stated earlier, the 350HD will output high def. The 35 does not. The MG-35 simply plays SD (480P) streams upconverted to either 720P or 1080i. Even if you don't have any true HD files (get some if you don't), what about photo slide shows? With the MG-35, hi-res images are first downsampled to 720 x 480 and then upsampled to whatever output you have your box set to. Wait until you see your images in your display's native HD format (I play photo shows through my Roku HD1000 and for this one function only, it blows away the MG-35)

If you're not interested in HD, that's just fine. The MG-35 is a great box, but why are you posting in a thread that's about the MG-350HD? Lets try to get back on track here. There's another very useful thread in this forum dedicated to the MG-35.

BTW, last news I had from AirLink Tech... "We will release MG-350HD end of April and release overseas right after that." But, no surprise, that didn't happen. Maybe this month? Next?

If anyone has more info on the MG-350HD, please post it here.

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jofa

· #12 · May 5, 2006

Yeah, no surprise that it wans't released.

This must be one of the longest advertised but not released products ever.

The 2nd of May 2005, Jeff Choi at AL Tech wrote this in a mail to me:

"It will be ready in May or June and you can find one around in August."

He did NOT mention that he meant next year...

Ok, anyone who remembers if the MG-350HD is EM8620 based?

Or could one be so lucky it's EM8622 based?

/Jofa

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gunrunnerjohn

· #13 · May 5, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by LKupersmith
If you're not interested in HD, that's just fine. The MG-35 is a great box, but why are you posting in a thread that's about the MG-350HD? Lets try to get back on track here. There's another very useful thread in this forum dedicated to the MG-35.

I'm not sure why you're being obnoxious here, I am interested in HD, or I wouldn't be asking the question.

I see all the stuff about HD formats in the MG-35, and I wanted to know what was different in the MG-350HD. Fell free to simply pass the posts by if you don't feel they warrant your valuable time.

LKupersmith

· #14 · May 6, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunrunnerjohn
I'm not sure why you're being obnoxious here, I am interested in HD, or I wouldn't be asking the question.

I see all the stuff about HD formats in the MG-35, and I wanted to know what was different in the MG-350HD. Fell free to simply pass the posts by if you don't feel they warrant your valuable time.

If you bothered to read my reply, you may have noticed that it was in reply to Musket. I wan't answering your question so chill out. If Musket was offended by anything, sorry.

Musket was posting that he was happy with his MG-35 and didn't know why he'd want the MG-350HD. First I tried to explain the difference in the output resolution to him, hopefully that cleared it up for him and others who might not have understood the difference before. Valuable contribution to the forum or not, I'm not looking to be judged by you.

I then suggested to keep messages regarding the MG-35, of which there was a stream going back and forth between Musket and others regarding wireless networking on the MG-35, in the MG-35 thread - not this one. If you have a problem with that, it doesn't bother me.

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gunrunnerjohn

· #15 · May 6, 2006

Perhaps your reply wasn't worth the bother, I promise I won't read any more of them.

Musket

· #16 · May 6, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by LKupersmith
If you bothered to read my reply, you may have noticed that it was in reply to Musket. I wan't answering your question so chill out. If Musket was offended by anything, sorry.

Musket was posting that he was happy with his MG-35 and didn't know why he'd want the MG-350HD. First I tried to explain the difference in the output resolution to him, hopefully that cleared it up for him and others who might not have understood the difference before. Valuable contribution to the forum or not, I'm not looking to be judged by you.

I then suggested to keep messages regarding the MG-35, of which there was a stream going back and forth between Musket and others regarding wireless networking on the MG-35, in the MG-35 thread - not this one. If you have a problem with that, it doesn't bother me.

Certainly no offense taken by me. Anyhow back on topic, perhaps when Hi-Def content becomes a bit more commonplace (only a few HD broadcasts in Australia right now

) the benefits of something that plays it would be more obvious. Of course by the time that happens the MG350HD will be old news. Until then upscaling will fit the bill nicely.

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LKupersmith

· #17 · May 6, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musket
Certainly no offense taken by me. Anyhow back on topic, perhaps when Hi-Def content becomes a bit more commonplace (only a few HD broadcasts in Australia right now

) the benefits of something that plays it would be more obvious. Of course by the time that happens the MG350HD will be old news. Until then upscaling will fit the bill nicely.

Not sure if it is 100% legal (I'm not a lawyer so don't take my advice) but if there aren't many HD broadcasts by you yet, why not try downloading some HD content from torrents?

There are many HD torrents of TV series available, usually the day after they've aired. One place to look is isohunt.com. Generally they've been converted to divx files, but at the full res. I know for now you can only view it as if it were extended def (480P), but if you get a chance to borrow a true HD box, you'll be amazed at the difference.

I don't recommend downloading movies this way - that is definitely scorned upon (and illegal).

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Musket

· #18 · May 6, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by LKupersmith
Not sure if it is 100% legal (I'm not a lawyer so don't take my advice) but if there aren't many HD broadcasts by you yet, why not try downloading some HD content from torrents?

There are many HD torrents of TV series available, usually the day after they've aired. One place to look is isohunt.com. Generally they've been converted to divx files, but at the full res. I know for now you can only view it as if it were extended def (480P), but if you get a chance to borrow a true HD box, you'll be amazed at the difference.

I don't recommend downloading movies this way - that is definitely scorned upon (and illegal).

Ok these are from an HD source but they are coverted to divx to make the file sizes smaller. So an episode of Lost is like 350mb. The MG35 plays these divx files without any problems and they look quite good. But these divx's aren't true HD and I doubt playing them on a different player like the MG350HD would make them look any better - or am I missing something?

Something actually shot in HD and broadcast in say 1080i looks awesome. I'd hate to imagine how big it would be to download it in that format though

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geoffreyhan

· #19 · May 6, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musket
Ok these are from an HD source but they are coverted to divx to make the file sizes smaller. So an episode of Lost is like 350mb. The MG35 plays these divx files without any problems and they look quite good. But these divx's aren't true HD and I doubt playing them on a different player like the MG350HD would make them look any better - or am I missing something?

Something actually shot in HD and broadcast in say 1080i looks awesome. I'd hate to imagine how big it would be to download it in that format though

I think Musket is right, those TV series on Torrents are not actual HD resolution, but jut converted from there. The real HD video file is usually end up with .tp or ts., and the file is very big over 1GB.

LKupersmith

· #20 · May 6, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by geoffreyhan
I think Musket is right, those TV series on Torrents are not actual HD resolution, but jut converted from there. The real HD video file is usually end up with .tp or ts., and the file is very big over 1GB.

DIVX files, like other MPEG4 varients, can actually be true HD resolution and are very efficient. However, depending on the parameters chosen by whoever encoded it, they may not have decided to keep the full resolution, or the image may be noticeably jumpy if they encoded at full res but didn't allow a high enough bit rate to handle it. Check out divx.com for the complete specs and abilities of the encoder.

I do play HD divx files on both my MG-35 and my Roku HD1000 (the Roku needs a trancoding UPnP server) and they look much sharper through the Roku. However, even at 480P through the MG-35, they look very nice.

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