Western Digital WD TV Media Player [Review]

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Western Digital WD TV Media Player [Review]

Frazier Barretto, Mar 02, 2009 1400 hrs IST

Allows you to bring HD content onto your screen without spending much

Small and compact, HDMI output, good up scaling

Price, playback speed (both fast and slow, no AV sync issues); you'll need to move your burnt backup media to your HDD again

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Build and Design

The WD TV has a simple design. It reveals the finish of some Western Digital HDD products like the MyBook - glossy on the broader sides and featuring a grill like that of a car's front grill.

Its is fairly small in size because it doesn't read any kind of optical media, nor does it have its own inbuilt memory. The player is just a black box with input and output ports.

You have two USB ports, one on the left and the other at the rear; you can insert either a thumb-drive, a portable drive, or an external HDD into both and the player will read off it. These comprise the input ports.

Output ports include composite (RGB), SPDIF, and an HDMI. It's minimalistic and can play any format; upscale it and you'll have a surround home theatre system with digital audio signals.

For display purposes, the WD TV has just two indicators. One being power ON/OFF LED and the other a USB connected LED.

Remote

The WD TV comes with a fully functional remote. It isn't very big, but is quite up to the job. There are navigation buttons along with playback, next/previous, and search and eject (safely remove drive) buttons as well.

The remote though small is easy to handle and works well within a range (open). The buttons of the remote are made of a hard rubber-like material and at times you need to hit a button twice.

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Tag keywords

Western Digital WD TV DVD DivX players MOV files HD Media Reader Blu-Ray

Discussion Board

(23) Comments

Angad

,Los Angeles, on Mar 03, 2009 01:40 AM

I really don't need to say this anymore but what the heck. That was SUCh an amateur review, Techtree. A twelve-year old could do better. Grow a brain.

Kuwait

,Kuwait, on Sep 06, 2009 02:27 PM

it is about 5 K IRS now in kuwait. Any updates on the product.

Prashant

,Goa, on May 04, 2011 10:49 PM

What is its Hard disc Capacity? Does it have Internet connectivity?

ravi

,Bangalore, on Oct 22, 2009 07:27 PM

great. But where do i get this in Bangalore.Any idea

Sudheer

,Bangalore, on Nov 11, 2009 01:34 PM

Available at Binary World, Malleswaram and also at Indiranagar,

K Balagopal

,Bangalore, on Nov 29, 2010 04:47 PM

Try Computer Shop Curson Court Brigade Road bangalore

bangalore

,city of angels, on Aug 10, 2009 05:03 PM

useless review.... i've could have done it better

Prashant

,Mumbai, on Mar 03, 2009 12:33 PM

I doubt you guys even purchased the real product. All the photos are from official site and scattered information from other reviews on internet. Didn't expect this from a reputed tech site. Shame on you.

george menon

,margao, goa, on May 30, 2009 07:31 PM

I think so too....espicially the pics. Tch, tch, techtree, you've been exposed!

dilligaf

,bombay, on Mar 04, 2009 09:42 AM

They have forgot to mention that it is without HDD. YOU WILL HAVE TO BUY SEPERATE HDD. My DVD player (LG DV 388) recognises HDD connected via USB n plays optical media too. It has got upscalling n HDMI port. it retails at Rs 4000 only.

george menon

,margao, goa, on May 30, 2009 07:23 PM

Yes, but can your LG read whats on the hd? Just recognising is not enough, it has to be able to read various file types including mkv, mva etc. We're not talking about just song pl;ayback, but hiDef movies as well.

timerticks

,Chennai, on Mar 20, 2009 03:11 PM

Folks - pls tell me where the same is available in Chennai.....They all tell it's cool etc and I know its got to be but I have no clue where this is avilable in Chennai(India). As per WD press release this product was released in India 2 months back. ...something tells no body really bought this product in India

Karan

,Delhi, on Mar 02, 2009 11:32 PM

6500... tell me where i can get it for that price.... No where is it available at this price... get your sources straight

Anonymous

,Bangalore, on Mar 03, 2009 04:45 PM

Its available for 99$ in the U.S. When Tech Tree covered the launch of this product, the price mentioned was Rs. 6000 in India. Wonder how the additional 500 Rs. has come about.

anamika

,durban, on Mar 03, 2009 05:21 PM

Techtree mentioned 6,500 in their news before. open ur eyes or get them checked

Mehboob

,Mumbai, on Mar 04, 2009 07:49 PM

I agree with Karan. The unit isn't available for Rs. 6500. It retail for Rs 8000+ even at Croma.

j sagar

,mumbai, on Mar 03, 2009 12:22 AM

have been using this for a while now (got it from singapore) awesome supports most codecs also ffwrd is too good with the new firmware plays back almost everything u throw at it.

Sameer

,Mumbai, on Mar 04, 2009 02:24 PM

from where do you get 1080p content ?? I have this but I am using this for normal content from DVD, i couldnt get anything to see of 1080p

Arijit

,Pune, on Mar 04, 2009 10:16 AM

your review gives the impression that this is an average product. In fact, this is a great product, especially as we source most of our media content off the internet. Its format support is also superb. The current market price is between 8-8.5 k. This review was NOT upto the mark. These things should never be written in a hurry.

Somesh

,Manchester, UK, on Mar 03, 2009 07:44 PM

I have to agree with the rest of the comments. This review was below standard for TechTree. This is available for £100 here in the UK. Any idea about reailers in Delhi?

Nishant

,Hyderabad, on Mar 03, 2009 05:31 PM

Until someone really tells me that this is available in India, I will have to continue converting MKVs to WMVs and play them on my XBOX 360. Lengthy yes, but works.

Tony

,brisvegas, on Mar 03, 2009 08:42 AM

u can use a external DVD or blueray player if u wanna play home burned media as well as original stuff

kingsofke

,Cheverly, MD, on Mar 03, 2009 06:34 AM

try searching web for popcorn hour and read about that. beats the shit out of this device.

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