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Today only. Sears has the Roku 2 XS 1080p Streaming Media Player for $85 - 5% off with coupon code LUVDAD [Exp 6/16] = $81 with free in-store pickup. Shipping option is $6. The XS model includes enhanced remote with motion control for games, full edition of Angry Birds, ethernet port and USB port. [Amazon Reviews]
$81
Does anyone know what formats this will play off USB or Network drive?
I cant find a list of formats anywhere.
Spent about 20 minutes google'ing and reading.
From what I read most just use it for the apps installed on it like Netflix and Hulu.
I have a media collection in XVID HD and have no idea if it will play on this device.
Sucks that the media players these days focus on apps and not format compatibility.
I could care less about Netflix or Hulu.
hey Forbidden, sounds like you should checkout the WDTV, it'll play almost anything. Also checkout this chart https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?authkey=CMWSqM8P&key=0AtGqo68N5yYCdGpZMW9qNldWTVJmZGdqcER5UGJCU2c&hl=en&authkey=CMWSqM8P#gid=0
Very few for video...I think MP4 is about it. If you want a box that will play every file format you can throw at it, try the AIOS HD Media Center, Full HD 1080p, Gigabit Network, USB 3.0 data, Flash Reader, 3.5" SATA 2. Sells on Amazon for $90, but you don't get the Neflix/Hulu functionality....but it sounds like that's not a big deal for you. The files the AIOS plays:
File Types:
- AVI/ MKV/ TS/ TP/ TRP/ M2TS/ MPG/ MP4/ MOV/ M4V/ VOB/ ISO/ IFO/ DAT/ WMV/ ASF/ RM/ RMVB/ FLV/ SVID/ DIVX 3,4,5
- MP3/ OGG/ WMA/ WAV/ AAC/ FLAC
- HD JPEG/ BMP/ GIF/ TIF/ PNG
MW, what are you talking about? The WDTV live+ will play just about all of those formats (not sure about a few of the more obscure ones) plus some others you didn't list.
WD TV Live is the best sub $100 streaming/network/video player out there period.
Wrong...the AIOS has it beat on all fronts. Check the reviews. I've had both, once I got the AIOS I put the WD on eBay. Three choices of firmware, internal HDD (not included) up to 3TB with 3.0 connection (you can also load it over the network), incredible GUI (off the unofficial firmware, the best choice IMO), and bitstreams HD audio. While it's not (yet) perfect, it beats the WD and the PBO hands down.
Thanks for the ideas peeps!
I forgot to mention that I have a WDTV Live with BRAD custom firmware.
Lately I am running into problems playing some mkv files because I think its a newer profile the groups are using when encoding the files.
I guess I will stick with it but will take a look at the AIOS (thanks MWplus3)
I guess ROKU is garbage unless your using their apps in terms of format support.
EDIT:Wow the AIOS does look pretty good compared to my WDTV. A big thing with the WDTV is that the firmwares are actuallyl getting worse. It will play more formats but every release something else gets jacked up. Like network streaming is horrible with latest WDTV releases connecting to a NAS. If I stay at a lower version like 1.02.21_WDLXTV.COM_WDLXTV_LIVE-28 it works great but some files just wont play unless I load a later firmware that jacks up my network streaming.....ugh
Thing is junk. Only upside, are the private, porn channels so you can get hot tube and sh it.
It does not play much off the network (your data). I took it back and then just upgraded my DVD to one that will do netflix/amazon/et al.
Get the Roku and PLEX and you should have no problems.
Forbidden, if you want to find out everything there is to know about the AIOS and then some, check out this forum:
http://forums.redflagdeals.com/aios-hd-media-player-owners-n-baconthread-75-after-20-mir-1087164/
Great moderator aasoror)....very responsive and very knowledgable.
Question: what is the end goal of all these media players? Basically it is to be able to use a TV as a monitor so you can watch, surf, etc all on your big flatscreen?
Do none of you have a ps3/xbox? PS3 media server is a free software that lets you stream from your computer to your tv.
Or do what I do: just hook up your tv to your computer via hdmi and buy a multimedia remote for your pc. I don't understand why more people don't do this? No need to learn new interfaces, no need to question if a specific format will run. If it works on your computer, then it'll work on your TV!
^
1) Cheaper than buying another computer for the living room.
2) Smaller and uses less power than (almost any) PC.
3) Some people don't own a PS3 nor want one.
4) Uses less power than a PS3
5) PS3 or any system more complex than a media player is more likely to break, have a shorter lifespan.
Love the Avatar, dave_c