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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? "

13 of 338 comments (clear)

  1. Insane in the Mainframe by Benwick · · Score: 5, Funny

    I can't wait to find out which kinds of porn my neighbors prefer...

    1. Re:Insane in the Mainframe by aborchers · · Score: 5, Funny
      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?


      Now think of how many of them can secure those routers, and imagine yourself with access to all your neighbors' movie collections!

      --
      Trouble making decisions? Just flip for it.
    2. Re:Insane in the Mainframe by elmegil · · Score: 5, Funny

      Look honey, Joe's watching the Paris Hilton video again!

      --
      7 November 2006: The day Americans realized corruption and incompetence weren't addressing 11 September 2001
  2. WEP by wally+mean+monkey · · Score: 5, Funny

    Do I get in trouble for watching pornography if the neighbor kid hijacks my wireless?

  3. New meme: War Viewing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    New meme: War Viewing

    You heard it here first kids.

    -Dave

  4. Useful... by ackthpt · · Score: 5, Funny
    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? "

    Pilot: There's that movie playing on the HUD again.

    Co Pilot: It's the *&%#$ Matrix: Revolutions, again.

    Pilot: Let's do a barrel roll and see if we can lose that geeks DVD player, buckle up.

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  5. At Last! by jobsagoodun · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now I can stream Ratchet and Clank from my PS2 through my Happauage BTTV card, grab it with Mplayer, out of my PC 'cross the network to my wireless access point and on to my TV!! Its the missing link I've been waiting for!

  6. 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
  7. Neat device, but... by skidoo2 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    There's a growing segment of the Joe Electronics Consumer population that's currently leapfrogging right over it. Most plasma TVs these days have an RGB input (standard VGA plug).

    My 42" Samsung knockoff can do 1024x768, no problems. Even text looks great from the couch. The PC is tucked incospicuously out of the way. Although I have a regular progressive scan Sony DVD Player hooked directly to the TV, the PC of course has a DVD player, in addition to an 802.11g connection, an ATI AIW TV tuner card, and a giant hard drive.

    Granted, the price point is a little higher, but the feature set is a LOT higher.

  8. 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.
  9. Or you could get a momitsu instead by Mike+Bridge · · Score: 5, Informative

    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.

  10. 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.

  11. Re:Gateway has something similiar by RedX · · Score: 5, Informative

    According to this note, with a firmware upgrade to the Gateway player, it will support a Linksys 802.11g card. No idea if other cards are supported. The link also includes a good review of the Gateway. I've been eyeing this device for a few weeks now, about to pull the trigger on a purchase, so this Linksys announcement is timely.