Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Linksys DVD player w/ WiFi and ethernet

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the thats-a-lot-of-toys dept.

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? "

4 of 338 comments (clear)

  1. Now this I really like! by soluzar22 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    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.

    --
    Sign the FSF's Anti-DMCA petit
  2. Region free? by AtariAmarok · · Score: 4, Interesting

    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.

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
  3. Huh? by tambo · · Score: 5, Interesting
    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

    --
    Computer over. Virus = very yes.
  4. Kiss Technology available now by rebel · · Score: 5, Interesting
    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.