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Linksys DVD player w/ WiFi and ethernet
An anonymous reader writes "Linksys has announced a progressive scan DVD player with 802.11g and ethernet. Users can stream MPEG2, MPEG4, DivX, MP3, WMA, and other formats from their PC to the TV. Sure I can do this cobbling together other tools, but this is a self contained box even newbies can use. Think how many people could install and config a router and an AP, versus the number of people that can plug in one of the self-contained wireless routers? "
here ya go. my boss has been eyeing one
and epson just came out with a whoopass hdtv. something like 72", built in photo printer, etc. $4k
vodka, straight up, thank you!
No HDCD playing, and no SACD playing. Blarg!
...you should know that Linksys has no respect for the GPL, and only agreed to release its source code for $10 after threats of litigation.
This is not a company that you should support.
Sincerely,
Seth Finklestein
Open Source Company Watchdog
I'm not Seth Finkelstein. I still speak the truth.
By my reading, this thing won't stream your DVDs out. It will only take incoming media and output it to your TV/Stereo.
Bleh. Too bad.
sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.
you could get the new unit from momitsu (the v880n) which does all that, and has DVI output for your HD set (so you can actually appreciate the progressive scan), and supports ogg.
If you have a laptop with TV-out already, just buy the 802.11g stuff, and buy this that hacks most current PC DVD software to be region-free, macrovision-free, yadda yadda yadda, and there you go... If you have a modern laptop already, it's 1) probably cheaper than buying a separate DVD player, and 2) just as small and quiet.
There's actually software mods now that do this after booting from a CD by using one of the 2 exploits (Audio CD and font files). Plus there's 3 games that have another exploit if you use a special corrupted save game with the executable code. Ta-da, no more need to open up the xbox/solder/pogo-pins.
Plus the xbox can play games and run a variety of other applications (web server etc..) Can this DVD player do that? Nope. (oh not to mention it supports every single possible video format out there that exists on Linux/mplayer/windows, including QT/RA/Ogg)
Because PEOPLE ACTUALLY USE WMA.
no one uses vorbis except nerds. Literally.
as for AAC my guess is licensing issues
So, I can pop a DVD into the drive on my laptop, and stream the encrypted data directly out via the network to the player, which will then decrypt it and send it to the TV.
I wonder if the firmware on this thing can be flashed to play other formats...
A republic cannot succeed till it contains a certain body of men imbued with the principles of justice and honour.
I've been using Qcast on my PS2 todo this for years.
Plus Qcast will let me use a whole bunch of different formats this can't.
Yes Francis, the world has gone crazy.
PS2: the BroadQ system requires the Network Adapter and installation of software on the PC. Allows streaming of music and DivX. Supposedly licensed to one of the myriad of PS2 third-party suppliers to also try to sell.
XBox: The Xbox Music Mixer (or the new "Media" thing mentioned above, requires software to be installed on the PC, but runs under WinXP only. Doesn't stream movies... yet. But the ability to do so is there, obviously.
TiVo: Home Media Option. Doesn't stream movies... yet, but handles music and slideshows. On the plus side, they say their streaming software works on Macs. Downside: currently limited to about 400 songs in the queue and you can't play the slideshow while listening to music - it's either one or the other. Hell, TiVo has enough problems convincing non-technical people that it's more than just a "glorified VCR", let alone explaining to non-believers the whole "streaming music" thing. (small disclaimer: I'd be lost without my TiVo.)
It's not like the idea is a bad one. I'm all for simplifying the Computer-to-HomeTheater process. How many of us have wanted to take our computer music libraries and play 'em through the stereo? For the most part, the easiest way to do so has been to get an MP3-capable DVD player and load a CD with hundreds of files, letting the player randomly take 'em. With the added bonus of being able to take the same CDs to the MP3-capable car stereo, it's a one-stop shop. Or we use an audio cable already setup to plug the iPod or Nomad Jukebox into the stereo and play that way.
Streaming music over the 'net implies that most homes are wired already, with network outlets near their TVs and/or stereos... or have gone wireless. I don't think the general buying audience is ready for this level of technology yet.
It's taken years for folks to get comfortable with digital cameras, and yet they still don't understand that you need to crop or resize that 2MB photo of little Sally before emailing it to the entire office.
Neither the official DVD player (provided you've purchased the remote) or the stock DVDX2 (the foremost DVD player for the XBox for the uninitiated) support progressive scan playback of DVDs. There are hacked versions of DVDX2 floating around which do, but unless you've specifically found one of these chances are DVDX2 is using 480i for playback, if you're even using component output.
Also keep in mind that any XBEs you are using which are built with pirated versions of Microsoft's XDK are infringing on their copyright and are technically illegal.