MediaGate MG-35?

[findog]

Just spotted this thing (http://www.mediagate.co.kr/english/prod_mg350.htm), available in Aus for about $250.

Seems to be along the lines of the upcoming Z500, minus the optical drive.

Has anyone used one or found some good reviews on it? For the listed features it seems like it could be a brilliant device...

[jokiin]

Haven't tried the 35, have got a 25 and it's ok, but not what I would consider fully sorted. If you are after this type of device you might want to look at the TVIX also, it seems to get good reviews.

[MrCyberdude]

I have one of these. MediaGate MG-35. i mostly use it for its RJ45 10/100 network connection to view straight from my download directory. I have also installed a 120mb ide harddrive in it and it does not get screw mounted rather just pressed into possition by a piece of foam, good idea coz no vibration noise.
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It's a God send coz i no longer have to burn DVD's of downloaded mpegs to watch on my tv.
It has a few small annoyances but nothing that would make me trade it at the moment. Doesn't play MOV files at all and quite a few downloaded AVI's that do play with Windows movie player 9 or 10 (cant remember which).
I just upgraded the firmware with MG35_1.3.2.upgrade file with no trouble after i opened it as a movie file.
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Two annoying things since firmware update are;
1. when i fast forward a video it no longer stops fast forwarding with the Play/pause button on remote but does with the enter direction pad.
2. it no longer plays MPEG4 movies that were recorded with a Sanyo Digital Media Camera VPC-C4 which is damn annoying as i believe it is just an mpeg4 file nothing fancy. AND it did play before with 1.3.1 firmware.
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IF THEY DO MORE FIRMWARE UPDATES THEN IT WOULD BE GREAT.
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MrCyberdude

[chuna]

Cyberdude, how much did you pay for it? And did that cost include the 802.11g card as well?

Also how does the hi def WMV9's play?

[MrCyberdude]

I payed from memory about $245 without a harddrive in it from www.cpl.net.au who had the MG-25 and MG-35 in stock but they new nothing about its features at all, they have a pdf priclist but i dont think its on their single page but in their online catalog.
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I do not have the wireless feature with mine as i got it off the shelf, im not even sure that you can get it?.
As for it now not playing the Mpeg4 files that it used to, i haven't tried renaming the extensions,its on the growing todo list.
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I have played probably 1000 mpg files on it and if the file looks good on mediaplayer winXP it always looks good on my 55inch Widescreen Philips TV.
If you send me a link of a hi def WMV9 then i will give a review.
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.Back2u

[chuna]

Ok thats good to know. Speaking of which there will be a unit coming out later in the year which will be similar to the Z500 but without the DVD unit.

[fiendish1]

I have just purchased one of these (MG-35) and so far so good.

I will hook it up to my network (just waiting for some dry and not windy weather) to do some DIY house cabling.

Is it possible to copy files to the MG-35 over the network from a PC?

It would seem like a logical feature and one that would make dumping files onto the unit a lot easier but the manual makes no reference to such a feature.

Has anyone found a changelist for any of the firmware updates? Having read this thread I am loathe to upgrade (unless the new features appeal).

Fiendish1

[MrCyberdude]

i would not update the firmware to 1.3.2 as it seems worse that the 1.3.1 version, which by the way i cannot find,if anyone has this let me know please.
i have also tried the 1.3.2-e version and have noticed no differences

[tillzor]

I just picked on up too. So far it's great. Thanks for the tip on not doing the Firmware Update. Does anyone know if you can get "skins" for the interface? I find the current one to be rather dull and lacking in the eye candy department.

[MrCyberdude]

Hmmm anyone tried this firmware,
i'm number 27 to download it so i do not really except to get a response?
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I'll go in balls and all and try it sometime later 2night maybe.
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[leyton01]

How did you go with the firmware upgrade? ANy noticable differences? I wish they would post a changelog...

[leyton01]

I upgraded - only thing I have noticed so far is the alphabetical listing is (more) fixed. It would have some random listing that was semi-alphabetical, they have now fixed this EXCEPT capitals are rated higher than lower case (ZZZ comes before aaa). Couldn't see much else.

[MrCyberdude]

I have not noticed a difference either, but then i haven't really been looking hard.
it still does not play the files that it did when i firrst got the unit.
ie MP4 Sanyo camera files.
If there is anything specific that someone wants tested then leave a link
to a video file or share with shareaza and leave a hash id and name and
i will download it and test for you.
Try to keep the size under 10mb if possible