Which HD Multimedia Player

 
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When I was still looking for a player I asked some of the Mede8er guys regarding the header removal compression (Header stripping?) issues in in the thread below:
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthr...mWare-Update?p=4736505&viewfull=1#post4736505

asked them to test the files @ http://www.matroska.org/downloads/test_w1.html
sandmanm34 said:
2, 5, 7 and 8 play. 1, 3 and 6 audio only no visuals and 4 returns an invalid file message...

On the Mede8er with firmware V3.04...
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I have since bought WD TV HD Live, happy with the unit.
/if anyone is interested I can do the same test on the WD with the latest firmware.
 
Park@82 said:
I have since bought WD TV HD Live, happy with the unit.
/if anyone is interested I can do the same test on the WD with the latest firmware.
Click to expand...

Yeah, please do. So far the only two units I've really been interested in was the AC Ryan and WD TV. Because of their respective prices and because both have units without fans available.

However it is probable the issue has been solved with the new firmware. Those test files have been available for a long time now and after the compressed headers debacle I think RealTek have probably moved to fix all their problems (I hope).

Btw. For those interested RealTek have fixed this problem in the SDKs they release to their customers (eg. AC Ryan, Mede8er, WD, etc). So Mede8er need only implement the fix, the question really is if they will...

Also can anyone comment on this: Is the Mede8er a local product?
 
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ok so I got a reply on the thread on MEDE8ER forums...

thoughts??? :confused:


Transcoding is a part and parcel of owning a mediaplayer. They are basically diskless blurayplyers, yet people expect them to play any file found on the net. They can't! Net codecs change regularly and a PC will just download the latest versions in order to play files encoded the new way. The idiots producing MKV tools didn't recognise this when they changed the default setting for an option, thus releasing thousands of illegal rips with the wrong setting for hard ware players. The logic was simple. MKV compression had to be an "option" becuase files using it could only play in certain circumstances. The default position should be that which justifies it being an option, .i.e.off. If it where mandatory it wouldn't be an option! It isn't an important feature as it reduces file size only by a fraction.

So even if a fix for MKV is implmented there will always be the possibility that some other source of net media goes from being playable to unplayable over night.

Even when people fix the header in the mkv they then find the rip in it dosn't play becuase it's been transcoded into a non standard format which plays on a PC, but not on hardware player.

If your the kind of person who is put off by having to fix MKV compression then you shouldn't be buying a mediaplayer of any make!
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Does anyone know of HD media players which only does WIFI streaming?
I do not care about USB ports or internal hard drive support.
 
HTC_guy said:
ok so I got a reply on the thread on MEDE8ER forums...

thoughts??? :confused:
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They are blaming the problem on Matroska and therefore expect the user to fix it. I am at this point doubtful Mede8er will release a fix.

Unfortunately his analogies are incorrect. Specifically the part about the option and etc. Matroska has the option in the specification, furthermore it was recommended by the Matroska developers that all tools enable header compression. Soon all editing tools will have it enabled by default. Also his opinion on the file size reductions contradict those of the Matroska developers. Some files may experience smaller gains but that is beside the point IMHO. Header compression has been around for 6 years already, it's not something new and PC splitters have supported it for a long time now.

Lastly MKV header compression is now supported by many devices (WD TV Live, AC Ryan), therefore his rant about not buying any media player is unsubstantiated but I'm not sure what you expected from a Mede8er forum. The guy probably owns the player himself (or worse is one of the "developers"). Any opinion on that forum would be biased and they are looking for someone else to blame but the device itself.

EDIT: Btw. I forgot to mention. One of the reasons I considered the AC Ryan as a better alternative (apart from price) is because they release firmwares every month (sometimes more). Constantly updating the device (even the older ones). WD TV is similar but once they ship a new device the old is declared "end of line" and no longer supported. Then again I haven't used either so the user interface on the WD may be better but once again the AC Ryan UI has been updated before in firmwares from what I've read.

Definitely the better device to go for IMHO. Nothing worse than a product that isn't updated regularly.

Also worth mentioning I don't own any of these devices. My brother owns a WD TV and many of his coworkers own PopCorn hour, Mede8er and such. That is also how I knew Mede8er was affected by the bug because they all get their MKVs from the same source and everyone started experiencing problems playing certain HD MKVs.
 
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So you reckon this is the way to go?


ACR-PV73100 DVX AC RYAN Playon! Full HD Network Media Player Retail Box 1 year Limited Warranty

Damn this thing is cheaper than the MEDE8ER!!!!

only thing I prefer about the MEDE8ER is that the menu is HD... :erm:
 
HTC_guy said:
So you reckon this is the way to go?


ACR-PV73100 DVX AC RYAN Playon! Full HD Network Media Player Retail Box 1 year Limited Warranty

Damn this thing is cheaper than the MEDE8ER!!!!

only thing I prefer about the MEDE8ER is that the menu is HD... :erm:
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Look I don't own either so I can't make a case for it either way. But when I was looking a whole back I was going to get the AC Ryan from Esquire, my reasons being the MKV problem (I have more than 100 MKV movies that would need remuxing otherwise) and also the fact that I liked the constant firmware updates.

Although I was aiming to get the Mini one because I didn't really need the hard-drive (I have a NAS with all my content on already so no point for a hard-drive).

But with the fix being available for WD TV that looks like a good option also. Is there a reason you prefer the AC Ryan/Mede8er over the WD TV? If you really need a hard-drive you can always go for an external USB drive...

Also I'll mention that RealTek are in the process of releasing a new chipset for these devices (hardware based media players). Which is why I'm waiting for a bit (My Samsung TV plays everything already anyway, although seeking and such isn't great). The newer chipset has some features that I like (eg. gigabit LAN vs 100mbit). But I doubt players based on that chipset will be available before at least early next year (probably closer to middle of the year next year if you want to buy within SA and not import).
 
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im so confused now :confused:

I need a player that I can move around (ie. needs internal drive)

I was going to go for the mede8er but then I saw that the AC Ryan doesnt have the MKV issue, and also it does have regular updates.

I prefer the look of the mede8er and also the user interface.

does the ac ryan and the mede8er use the same chipset?? Surely mede8er will eventually fix the issue as well???
 
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HTC_guy said:
does the ac ryan and the mede8er use the same chipset??
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Yes. Both use RealTek 1073dd chipset. As do most other players (eg. WD TV Live also). Currently the RealTek chipset is the best around as far as I know. With RealTek soon releasing a newer more powerful chipset they'll probably have the best around for sure.

HTC_guy said:
Surely they will eventually fix the issue as well???
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The problem as I stated before is: RealTek releases updates in the form of SDKs (Software development kits) to their vendors/clients (IE. the developers of the products like Mede8er/AC Ryan/etc.). It is up to them to implement these (If you aren't a computer software developer/programmer then wikipedia might have more information on SDKs)

AC Ryan are constantly implementing the latest SDKs but the onus is on the developers. So you are in the hands of the Mede8er developers. If it is a local SA product I wouldn't be surprised if they just resell a branded product and didn't do any actual development themselves.
 
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well I just spoke to Mede8er south africa and spoke to one of the techical dudes...

He didnt even know there was a new update out, and he quite clearly stated that he had no clue when a new firmware would be out that would deal with the MKV issue. (after I had to explain to HIM what the issue was.... )

ok so thats mede8er out the window..... bye bye!! :rolleyes:

Guess now its down to between WD and AC Ryan. Can someone please link the WD one so I can read up on it?

oh no wait ... the WD doesnt have an internal HDD

Guess that leaves me with the AC Ryan....

:D
 
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