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? "

Comments

Re:Gateway has something similiar

[galaxy300]

Yeah, but the wireless Gateway model only supports 802.11b. I hear that streaming videos suck. The Linksys is exactly what I've been waiting for...if it's under $300 and will play DVD+RW, I'll get it the day it's released.

Now this I really like!

[soluzar22]

I'm well aware that I'm in the minority, but I believe that convergence in the form which the megacorps are currently attempting to foist upon us is a dead horse which they are attempting to flog.

This on the other hand is my idea of the future. A single, well thought-out component of a larger, modular system. Having a PC with a nice screen instead of a telly is one thing. Having all the media files that are on your PC availible across a wireless network through this handy little gizmo is quite another. Where can I get one? When can I get one? This could cut down on just so of the many (frankly worrying) chunks of wire spaghetti that currently run between PC and TC/HiFi.

Region free?

[AtariAmarok]

Will this thing do "region-free" with a few menu commands? That's a must for me. "Turn off macrovison" is nice, but less crucual.

Huh?

[tambo]

A progressive-scan player that takes input from your computer? Hmm... storing a lot of home-theatre-quality, progressive-scan video with 6.1 sound on a hard drive doesn't fit today's drive capacities or wireless speeds. Won't be feasible without drives hit the terabyte range and gigabit wireless.

What would be much more useful would be a DVD player that hooks up to your TV, but can DIVX encode video (from DVD or any other video source) and stream over 802.11g to another TV, or to your computer for archiving and storage. That way, your TV gets a perfect picture from your DVD player, and your computer can receive and save streams of lower-quality video for any purpose.

- David Stein

The TiVolution is here!!!

[Eberlin]

It seems a scary inevitability that entertainment and your home computer network are going to merge one way or another. I first noticed it with TiVo (really, a HD that records TV for you). Ever since then, people have created their own version, as well as other PC->entertainment hookups with features that include streaming music from PC's over to entertainment systems.

You can even hook up your PS2 to your DSL line via a router to trash talk online. This new device would be just another step in that seemingly inevitable integration process.

The best part about this is that there are many players in this game. Thankfully, it's not just an MS Media Center PC dominating the category.

Kiss Technology available now

[rebel]

I have a Kiss DP500 which does all this and more (except for built-in wireless) available in the US at $300. The DP500 is available worldwide and is well supported with on-going firmware updates providing new features. It is part of a line of products including some with internal HD.

The DP500 is open source based (uCLinux) and works well with Linux hosts (there are several projects supporting it on SourceForge).

...just a satisfied customer.

Re:WEP

[jhoffoss]

Even better, can we hijack someone else's stream and force them to watch what we pump to their box? Imagine forcing someone to watch barney all the time? Then when they get near death from barney, they'll throw the new toy away for some peace and quiet and then nab it from the curb. Voila, free wireless AP/PVR/streaming server!