HDD 2.5inch Media Player Divx Support

[Rimwar]

Does anyone have one of these.

A friend of mine has one and i am looking at getting one off ebay. They vary in price a bit but mostly $50 - $90 range Plus you have to add a Hard drive to them.

I am quite impressed with the capability of this unit supports a large range of media formats. But i have no idea what chipset they are using. This may not be the right area for discusion regarding this unit but it's the only area i have found a good discusion on Divx players regardless of weather or not they have a DVD interface.

here is a pic:
http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/zhaowei/hddplayer.jpg

http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/zhaowei/hddplayer01.jpg http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/zhaowei/hddplayer02.jpg

My friend works on a mine site so the ability to take his collection of movies and TV Episodes away with him in Divx format is great. I would love on just to take over to friends homes everynow and then to share the entertainment.
Any comment or does anyone have one / know of a full review of one.

There are tones on ebay just do a searchon = HDD media player. The unit is only slightly larger than the 2.5inch samsung HDD he has inside it.

[jokiin]

But i have no idea what chipset they are using.

ESS, maybe try sourcing it from wherever your friend got his from as the quality can vary a lot, I have 6 different models and they can vary from great to very poor, a lot of them all look the same which can things harder.

[andw]

Look like a fantastic thing particularly for someone on the move a bit.
Being ESS, I wonder if they still suffer from the problem of not displaying widescreen avi files on widescreen TVs properly.
Although if you don't run it on any w/s TVs I don't suppose that would be a problem.

[jokiin]

Look like a fantastic thing particularly for someone on the move a bit.


They are, good if you want to watch stuff at someone elses house and they don't have the playback gear, would you find a use for one yourself?

[andw]

They are, good if you want to watch stuff at someone elses house and they don't have the playback gear, would you find a use for one yourself?
Not really, I know some people that would find them useful, but I don't move around enough myself, and unplugging and plugging would drive me insane.
I can see though how someone that goes to mine sites, stays in hotels etc would get good use of them.
Also good if you got most of your files from friends etc I guess.

[jokiin]

Yes, handy when travelling for sure.

[linton]

Thanks for the heads up, I'll definitely look into getting one of these in the near future.
If it's as you said though jok11n, I might need to research a bit to find one to play everything I need it to. :)

How well do they go with heat?

[jokiin]

They generally come with some kind of case that the unit slides into, providing you don't try using them in the case heat has never been a problem. Depends on your usage as to which is most suitable, the cheaper ones are a bit limited, if you can justify spending a bit more the Mediagate MG25 is the best that I have found of all the 2.5 inch models, I have a good variety of them with every chipset that I know of that has been available in these types of players and none have worked as well as the MG25

[sjude]

I copied a DVD movie (complete directory) on the HDD. When I play i cannot select subtitles using the subtitle button on the remote. There is no way to go to Main Menu and select features like in DVD players. On the computer usign PowerDVD player software it is possible.

Is there a firmware upgrade to the HPA2SV or any other device which can DVD movies like a normal DVD player or should I convert the DVD movie into any other format ?

[bac]

I copied a DVD movie (complete directory) on the HDD. When I play i cannot select subtitles using the subtitle button on the remote. There is no way to go to Main Menu and select features like in DVD players. On the computer usign PowerDVD player software it is possible.

Is there a firmware upgrade to the HPA2SV or any other device which can DVD movies like a normal DVD player or should I convert the DVD movie into any other format ?

AFAIK, these type of players only support basic playback of the MPEG 2 video stream embedded in the VOB files. Things like DVD menu navigation, subtitles and (I suspect) multiple audio streams are not supported.

There is also the problem of not supporting widescreen mode playback - these players output a 4:3 video signal regardless of the TV type selected in the device setup menu.

Perhaps the more expensive MediaGate players that jokiin knows of may have overcome these issues.

Cheers,
BAC

[jokiin]

AFAIK, these type of players only support basic playback of the MPEG 2 video stream embedded in the VOB files. Things like DVD menu navigation, subtitles and (I suspect) multiple audio streams are not supported.

There is also the problem of not supporting widescreen mode playback - these players output a 4:3 video signal regardless of the TV type selected in the device setup menu.

Perhaps the more expensive MediaGate players that jokiin knows of may have overcome these issues.

Cheers,
BAC


I would have to check on the multiple audio streams etc (not something I use so have not checked) for the widescreen output though the Mediagate has no problem, I only use it on widescreen TV's, the ones that do seem to have issues with widescreen output that I have seen use the ESS chipset, ESS seem to have had issues with widescreen for quite a long time too

[sjude]

I have seen a media player from Argosy HV355u which comes with a 350GB HDD. I read the manual of this device. It supports DVD on HDD so, a directory from the DVD can be copied into the HDD and it works like a normal DVD player giving menus and even subtitles. It uses a 5.24" HDD. You cannot put it in a pocket like this one.

[dvdude]

Jok11n - do you still recommend the MG25 over the rest? Have been looking about a bit, and found these at Pccasegear

Vantec Avox (http://www.pccasegear.com.au/prod4929.htm)

DVico TVix C200U (http://www.pccasegear.com.au/prod3659.htm)

Mvisto Portable Media Centre (http://www.pccasegear.com.au/prod2266.htm)

I don't suppose you've tried/seen any of these? The Vantec one looks quite nice and is a fairly well-known brand, so I *assume* it's not complete junk :)

[jokiin]

Jok11n - do you still recommend the MG25 over the rest? Have been looking about a bit, and found these at Pccasegear

Vantec Avox (http://www.pccasegear.com.au/prod4929.htm)

DVico TVix C200U (http://www.pccasegear.com.au/prod3659.htm)

Mvisto Portable Media Centre (http://www.pccasegear.com.au/prod2266.htm)

I don't suppose you've tried/seen any of these? The Vantec one looks quite nice and is a fairly well-known brand, so I *assume* it's not complete junk :)

Haven't tried any of these, still hard to beat the MG25 though

[dvdude]

From the reviews on the Vantec, it looks to use the Sigma Designs chipset and has all the same internals as an MG-25...... not all that surprising I guess.

I've ordered a Vantec for $100, just got to go pickup a lappy drive and then give it a whirl.

[jokiin]

I've got a few that use the Sigma Designs chipset, the MG25 is the best sorted of the bunch though (so far anyway) be interested to know how you go with this one.

[dvdude]

Got my AVOX today - looks like it's the second revision of it, and now uses an ESS chipset...... slapping a spare hdd in it now to test out the playback.....

[jokiin]

Got my AVOX today - looks like it's the second revision of it, and now uses an ESS chipset...... slapping a spare hdd in it now to test out the playback.....

Ok, I know the new chipset, much better than the old one, still a bit behind the Sigma version though I think.

[dvdude]

Just had to offload my files and reformat as FAT32..... sheesh.
No coaxial digital out on this one either, but I dont really need that as when I travel the TVs are lucky to be stereo! :) Off to try the playback now.

The AVOX can also act as a USB Host Drive..... has the standard USB plug on it rather than the mini-USB connector. I must say one thing, Vantec really know how to pack the stuff in..... also have a handy carry case (dual pockets for cables AND the drive) plus an external battery case for when using the drive in Host mode (they call it OTG, On The Go). And what looks to be a USB passthrough cable for power when in TV or OTG mode...... the cable plugs into the USB, but then has another USB connector acting as a passthrough, with the cable going out the side ending in a power socket plug.
Will take some pics later if anyone's interested.

[dvdude]

Playback seems to be pretty good. Pause and FF working great. Quality appears on par with my old Highlander and XMS DIVX players. More than acceptable performance from a little 2.5" casing IMHO. Remote is a little small and fiddly, but compact is good for travelling. Haven't tried the OTG, external battery case or USB power cable yet.....