[WD TV]

I'm working on the possibility of bringing a new NMT unit to the market. I want to throw out some specs on a possible new NMT and get your feedback before I consider launching this product. Compared to the WD TV or Xtreamer ... what do you think?


Easy Connection

Play HD media files from USB drives(flash drives or Hard disk with USB HDD enclosure), digital

cameras,camcorders, any portable media players that can be recognized as mass storage devices;

1080P full HD video playback---up to 1920x1080P

Turn your home LCD-TV into a large digital photo frame

Read two USB drives simultaneously

HDMI and composite video connections

The High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) 1.3 port let users to connect the high-definition

1080P videos, and composite AV cable ensures compatibility with all television sets that even don't

support HDMI.

DVB-T delivering extra convenience to watch HDTV

PVR(personal video recorder) helps you record and save your favourite TV programs

Lan support makes your home network connected via NFS,UPNP,samba

Innovative and Compact Design


1. Hardware

CPU:SigmaDesign 8635 SoC

DRAM:256MB DDR

Flash:32MB Nor Flash

LAN:1x 10/100baseT Ethernet 10/100 Base-T，RJ45 with 2 LEDs

TV InputVB-T (IEC)

USB:2x USB2.0 Host interface One is at side, the other is at back

AV :

L/R stereo Audio:3.5mm phone Jack

Spdif output:Optical/Coaxial

HDMI 1.3 :HDMI 1.3a interface (support HD audio format)

Button:7 function buttons and 1 power switch button(4-way navigation+enter; Mode+Stop)

LED Indicator:1.Power Indicator 2.Status Indicator

2. A/V Decoding

---Video

MPEG-1

MPEG-2 up to 1920*1080P

MPEG-4 up to 1920*1080P

WMV9 up to 1920*1080P

VC-1 up to 1920*1080P

H.264、AVC up to 1920*1080P

---Audio

MPEG1 Layer2

MPEG1 Layer3 MP3

MPEG-2 LC-AAC

MPEG-4 LC-AAC

WMA

AC3

DTS

DTS-HDMA/DTS-HDHR 5.1 core ， 7.1 HDMI Pass through

TRUEHD 5.1 core ， 7.1 HDMI Pass through

Blu Ray LPCM upto 7.1 channel

---Picture

JPEG,GIF,BMP,PNG

---Text Subtitle

1.SRT,ASS,SSA

2.Color selectable, shadow mode supported

while-red-green-yellow-white/black-white/red-white/green-white/blue-green/white-blue/white

3.Position adjustable

4.Size adjustable TTF FONT

5.Timeshift

6.subtitle switchable



---Inner Subtitle

1.MKV Inner subtitle

2.M2TS blu-ray subtitleGS format

3.DVB subtitleVBSUB

4.DVB teletext close caption:Teletext/CC

---Video File format

MTS,M2TS,TS,TP,MKV,AVI,WMV,MPG, MOV,VOB,MP4,IFO,ISO;

3. Main function

1. DVB-T (OPTION) "Mannual search, auto search

one week EPG

PVR

2.PVR(OPTION) DTV record function

3.480P, 720P, 1080i, 1080P
4.HDMI/CVBS simultaneously output

5.brightness,contrast,saturation adjustable

6.Random play on photo and music
7.PLAY/PAUSE/FWD/RWD

8.SEEK drag bar mode

9.File info check in playback filesize,total time, elapse time, audio/video/subtitle format,etc.

10.multiple audio switching

11.4:3/16:9 Aspect Ratio Adjustment

12.Repeat mode

13.Multiple subtitle format SRT、ASS、SSA、SUB

14.TTF font for text subtitle

15.Network share mode NFS,UPNP,samba

16.FILE operation(copy,delete)

17.DTS-HD/ TRUEHD/LPCM 7.1

DTS-HDMA 7.1 audio passthrough by HDMI1.3

DTS-HDMA 5.1 CORE passthrough by HDMI or SPDIF

DTS-HDMA 2.0 downmix output (HDMI,COAX)

TRUEHD 7.1 audio passthrough by HDMI1.3

TRUEHD 5.1 CORE passthrough by HDMI or SPDIF

TRUEHD 2.0 downmix output (HDMI,COAX)

LPCM 7.1 audio passthrough by HDMI1.3;

LPCM 7.1 downmix to 2.0 to TV SET

File system:FAT,NTFS

Firmware upgradeable;

 

[dbone1026]

Just to confirm:


- No room for internal hdd, only USB attached?

- Also, any reason you are going with the Sigma 8635 and not the latest (I think the Sigma 8643)?

- Is this meant to be WDTV2, or no relation to WDTV?

- I assume this is meant to be in the same price range as the Xtreamer/WDTV?

- Would you expect handling of HD Audio/DTS downmix to be available from day one? I have seeen some companies list specs on products yet some of those specs aren't even available at launch..


The specs do look solid.

 

[WD TV]



Quote:
Originally Posted by dbone1026 /forum/post/16833941


Just to confirm:


- No room for internal hdd, only USB attached? Correct

- Also, any reason you are going with the Sigma 8635 and not the latest (I think the Sigma 8643)? The 8635 does what we need and we want to be price competitive.

- Is this meant to be WDTV2, or no relation to WDTV? No Relation at all.

- I assume this is meant to be in the same price range as the Xtreamer/WDTV? YES

- Would you expect handling of HD Audio/DTS downmix to be available from day one? YES or I wouldn't even consider launching the product. I have seeen some companies list specs on products yet some of those specs aren't even available at launch..


The specs do look solid.

More feedback welcome !

 

[dbone1026]

I should mention (I can't speak for others but for myself) a functional/stable UI is just as important as the specs, it is what can set apart one NMT from the rest. I am a little spoiled since I primarily use HTPCs but am looking to add an nmt type player to replace my busted PCH A110. I love the fact that the A-110 plays almost everything you throw at it but absolutely hate the stock UI and that I have to go through additional steps to get a more functional UI working like YAMJ.

 

[WD TV]



Quote:
Originally Posted by dbone1026 /forum/post/16834048


I should mention (I can't speak for others but for myself) a functional/stable UI is just as important as the specs, it is what can set apart one NMT from the rest. AGREED I am a little spoiled since I primarily use HTPCs but am looking to add an nmt type player to replace my busted PCH A110. I love the fact that the A-110 plays almost everything you throw at it but absolutely hate the stock UI and that I have to go through additional steps to get a more functional UI working like YAMJ.

So what can the PCH 110 play that this proposed unit cannot?

 

[abrown101]

Hey "WD TV", what company do you work for? WD? I don't believe it.

If you are, then get off your lazy butt and just look on the WDTV bugs thread and fix all of them and you will have a perfect player.

 

[ghislain]

Whatever you plan to bring to the market:


1. Make sure it is fast (whatever that takes: up to date processor, additional memory....)

2. Open platform

3. User friendly UI (have a look around)

4. YAMJ style interface out of the box

5. Native video out mode (source direct) so that people with external video processors can use those in the best circumstances

6. Black color device and go easy on the front logos (as small as possible) and leds (blue)

7. Flat design and standard AV equipment dimensions (see Eva9150 - providing flexibility for internal HD extention)

8. Proper heat management (preferably without a fan or a silent one if required)

9. Gigabit ethernet support

10. ...

 

[lmaolmao]

ghislain beat me to it, but one feature that NONE have yet is a "native" mode.


i.e a 720p file will cause the player to switch to 1280*720.

a 1080p file will cause the player to use 1920*1080.


as well as choosing the right refresh rate.


support for the non-standard 1280*720 @ 24Hz would be awesome too.


i would also suggest your 24p is rock solid before launching with no "40 second bug".


by doing this you will probably appeal to people who are "into" AV stuff. you need to provide a list of resolutions with tick boxes next to them. this will bypass EDID problems.

 

[BobSalita]

A reasonable person may think you speak for WD. A poster has already made that mistake. You should at least put a disclaimer in your sig. Why not change your user name?

 

[BobSalita]

1. Support USB hubs.

2. Optionally offer 5.1 or 7.1 analog out for those who don't want to buy an advanced receiver. I believe some NMTs offer 5.1 analog out.(?)

3. Differentiate by GPLing absolutely all your sources so users can extend.

4. Allow users to cook their own firmware and offer the usual firmware restore (debricker).

 

[ghislain]



Quote:
Originally Posted by WD TV /forum/post/16834020


Originally Posted by dbone1026

Just to confirm:

- Also, any reason you are going with the Sigma 8635 and not the latest (I think the Sigma 8643)? The 8635 does what we need and we want to be price competitive.

Hmm, I'd rather see a device that does what we need

Also, by the time your device gets to the market it risks to be outdated so please (re)consider the choice of SoC.

 

[BobSalita]

By the end of the year, the following direct and indirect competitors may appear:

1. Next generation of WD TV.

2. Next generation of Popcorn (C200).

3. Intel CE 3100 based units (Yuixx et al). My guess is they will be overly compromised to be competitive to NMT although the hardware is fabulous.

4. Slysoft's SlyPlayer (purportedly provides uncompromised Blu-Ray audio, Blu-Ray video with ISO and folder support).

5. Mini-ITX HTPCs (full Blu-Ray audio and video) running Windows 7 and SlyPlayer.

6. Netbooks HTPCs (with ION or equivalents) running Windows 7 and SlyPlayer.

 

[WD TV]



Quote:
Originally Posted by abrown101 /forum/post/16834237


Hey "WD TV", what company do you work for? WD? I don't believe it.

If you are, then get off your lazy butt and just look on the WDTV bugs thread and fix all of them and you will have a perfect player.

I like the WD TV hence the nick name I have chosen ... but in no way whatsoever am I an employee or have any relationship with WD. So .. sorry I can't help you speed up the WD TV team.

 

[WD TV]



Quote:
Originally Posted by ghislain /forum/post/16834851


Hmm, I'd rather see a device that does what we need

Also, by the time your device gets to the market it risks to be outdated so please (re)consider the choice of SoC.

Anything can be made if you want to pay the price This device is ready. See picture link in first post.

 

[WD TV]



Quote:
Originally Posted by ghislain /forum/post/16834851


Hmm, I'd rather see a device that does what we need

Also, by the time your device gets to the market it risks to be outdated so please (re)consider the choice of SoC.

I would like to think I am offering something different in the features of PVR and DVB-T and keeping it affordable.

 

[whiteboy714]

Yes I think if your trying to make your own product you really need to change that nick.

 

[bisha]

For the price range of the WD TV (in US that is) and with a slick interface this would be a very interesting device.

 

[jakmal]

A PVR able to record 1080p??!!


Remember that broadcasts are usually at 60 or 50 fps depending on region. Which format / codec are you planning to use for the recording?


How are you planning to record these HD streams? AFAIK, Sigma 8635 doesn't offer HD stream recording capabilities... Of course, I will be more than happy to get corrected if I am in the wrong..

 

[Heli Pilot]

I'd like to see one of these players handle iso by mounting them in a virtual drive, and then playing it as if it were a DVD/BD/HD DVD. Any of them do that? Can this one?

 

[ghislain]



Quote:
Originally Posted by WD TV /forum/post/16835272

Anything can be made if you want to pay the price This device is ready. See picture link in first post.

If its all ready, why bother asking what we want?

All you could still do is play around with software functionalities?

BTW, I am more than ready to pay the price but unfortunately none of the existing devices tick my (limited) requirements (see wish list).