Standalone Hardware Media Player

[essexboyracer]

Hi All,

A question not strictly related to ubuntu or linux but more of a general hardware query. I have recently seen the Freecom Mediaplayer;

http://www.freecom.com/ecProduct_detail.asp?OID=12138&ID=3406&catID=&sCatID=&ssCatID=

Which looks like an exciting, purpose built product. My queries are;

1. Has any one had any experience of the above product?
2. Has anyone ever used anything similar by a.n.other manufacturer (such as Linksys, BOSE et al)?
3. I know its possible to build something myself, and the challenge would be intersting, but would it save me any time/space/money/cables across living room in transforming an old PC into such a device?

It would be fun if there were a complete upto date set of instructions for creating such a modern DIY device; buy this, plug it in there, load this o/s software, there you go. A bit like the late 1940s where people could build a radio from scratch

[dgray_from_dc]

The Playstation 3 has this capability. I use MediaTomb on my Linux Box to stream to it and it works out of the box, no hacks to the PS3 or anything.

There's also LinuxMCE (Kubuntu-based) and the pre-built Fiire equipment to go with it.

http://www.linuxmce.com/

http://fiire.com/

[tbroderick]

There's the Neuros OSD. Runs Linux and seems to have a nice community building around it. Haven't tried it, but it's on my list of things to buy.

http://www.neurostechnology.com/

[essexboyracer]

thanks for the reply dgray.

Cant afford a playstation3. The fiire kit looks awesome, though a little over budget at £400. I am still swayed by the freecom unit

[mech7]

yeah i want the same thing.. though the reviews where kinda bad about it so im hesitating.. i also found some other intersting ones...

http://www.tvix.co.kr/Eng/products/5100sh.aspx
http://www.storex.eu/storex/htm/scripts/produit.asp?categorie_produit=Disque%20dur%20multi m%FDdia&nom_produit=AivX-380HDRW&num_cat=11

I wish there was something like XBMC in this kind of thing.. cause now its all closed firmware and have to wait for support of manufacturer for codecs.. and i dont understand why they only use the firmware and not use hdd to store bigger app on it, like xbmc.

[essexboyracer]

the neuros looks great and small! is there a hardrive in there?

[mech7]

the neuros looks great and small! is there a hardrive in there?

Does not look like it.. it says you need to hookup as memory card or hdd...

I wonder how the codec support is and if it has HDMI. Full HD Support.

[essexboyracer]

The TVIX units look pretty tasty, although in my head the Freecom still ticks all the boxes

[mech7]

The TVIX units look pretty tasty, although in my head the Freecom still ticks all the boxes

did you get it? and are you happy with it? i heard loading times where very high (epcially boot) .. and could not play all files ok.. And that the remote is ********. You need to point it exactly at the machine, and you need to press the buttons hard.

[essexboyracer]

No mech i didnt get it yet, waiting for a job to pay off before i take the plunge. I have experienced crappy remote controls before, all the freeview boxes (except out £35 phillips model) have had naff remotes. The best remote I have owned is for my current Sony DVD player; you can point it anywhere in the room and it still sends the signal (or receives the signal).

I digress, I have also looked at this from the other side of the fence, from a traditional 'HI-FI' sense;

http://www.richersounds.com/showproduct.php?cda=showproduct&pid=SONO-ZP100UK

There is another Cambridge unit on there as well but couldnt find it and phillips do something similar to a soundbridge. Hi-Fi seperates with manufacturer mods that allow internal storage for digital media looks like a great idea. no-one is doing ti to great success/quality/price point