Re: Re: Network Media Tank

[Nigel Champion <nigel_champion@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Gareth,
I see can me piecing together this "mini review" from mini
postings :)

I am currently running them both in parallel via component out and coax
dig=
ital. .
XMBC vs Popcorn hour:
First up, the interface is no where near as slick as XMBC, the although it
=
is functional!
Setting up network shares is all done via the GUI...nor ftp-ing in :(
Altho=
ugh it can act as an FTP, NFS or SMB server if you stick a hard disk into
(=
which I haven't tried yet)..but only for transferring media.
Scrolling through large folders of videos is a bit tiring as it only shows
=
about 10 videos per screen and takes about 2 seconds to get the next
screen=
!

Media support seems pretty good so far, seems to play all of the ISO,
vobs/=
DVD directories , avi's, MKVs and Blu Ray rips I have thrown at it.
A feature I really miss from XBMC is the "in film" audio control
panel, is =
the variable audio delay slider...as some videos seem not sync properly.
Po=
pcorn has no such advanced features...yet :)
Also the skip feature is another one I really miss, they only just (last
we=
ek) released firmware to give a you the option to jump to a specific time
i=
ndex....has a few bugs, like turning on the subtitles to Blu Ray rips :)
bu=
t still not as nice as XMBC
HiDef is mostly good...providing you don't skip around the file. They do
re=
commend NFS (which I am using) for streaming of HighDef material from a
NAS=
. I guess to do limited CPU of the Popcorn, as NFS isn't normally
encrypted=
.=20

It does have a few plugins like XMBC such as aYouTube player, which
doesn't=
want to pump out any sound for me :(

I guess given that fact that XMBC has been around for a long while now and
=
a lot of the bugs have been ironed out, only time will tell if Popcorn
will=
ever be a true replacement.
Not going to retire the Xbox just yet :)

Nigel

----- Original Message ----
From: Gareth Cook <g@xxxxxxx>
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, 5 February, 2008 5:19:55 PM
Subject: Fw: [ukha_d] Re: Network Media Tank









=20=20


=20=20=20=20
Nigel



You able to share your thoughts of it - versus XBMC ? You say it can do=20

ISO images ?



Tempting replacement. ..your feedback could be very helpful



Regards



G.



Gareth Cook

IT Architect / Project Manager, SWG Sales Europe

Office: +44 (0)1784 445166 - Mobile: +44 (0)7980 445166

email: g@xxxxxxx



----- Forwarded by Gareth Cook/UK/IBM on 05/02/2008 17:18 -----



Discussion

Main Topic



ukha_d@yahoogroups. com

Yesterday 20:04



.

Subject:

.

Re: [ukha_d] Re: Network Media Tank

.

Category:



I ordered it direct from Popcorn Hour.....took a few weeks to get here but=
=20

with P&P cost about =C2=A3115



----- Original Message ----

From: rb_ziggy <rb.lists@ntlworld. com>

To: ukha_d@yahoogroups. com

Sent: Monday, 4 February, 2008 7:49:32 PM

Subject: [ukha_d] Re: Network Media Tank



This looks very interesting.=20



I've currently got a mac mini doing duty as a media server in the



lounge and streaming dvds, photos and some home made movies from our



NAS.  (Don't need it for audio as I hate having to turm the tv on to



listen to music - so use I a squeezebox here)



It does it very well but it feels rather overkill.  For $179 (sub



=C2=A3100) this looks ideal for the same job.  And there is a SDK too which



makes me wonder if a HA (xAP...) interface could be written (I wonder



if you can overlay text on the screen (messages etc)...



Can I ask where you got yours from.  Seems to be only a Swedish outlet



in Europe.



--- In ukha_d@yahoogroups. com, "Marcus Warrington"



<marcus.warrington@ ...> wrote:



>



> How quite is it.. silent ?



>=20



>=20



>=20



> How big is it , it looks to be the size of an external usb hard disk



> caddy, it can't be that small can it !!



>=20



>=20



>=20



> Marcus



>=20



> ____________ _________ _________ __



>=20



> From: ukha_d@yahoogroups. com [mailto:ukha_ d@yahoogroups. com] On Behalf



> Of Nigel Champion



> Sent: 04 February 2008 11:51



> To: ukha_d@yahoogroups. com



> Subject: Re: [ukha_d] Network Media Tank



>=20



>=20



>=20



> I think on balance I would recommend it.....its not perfect but if you



> are after a cheap device to play up to 1080p material this is the one



> for you :)



>=20



> No, codec support is via the manufacturer, but in saying that it is



> pretty good so far mkv, ISO, vob , H.264 to name a few..



>=20



> Nigel=20



>=20



> ----- Original Message ----



> From: Paul Gale <groups2@...



> <mailto:groups2%
40siliconpixel. com> >



> To: ukha_d@yahoogroups. com <mailto:ukha_ d%40yahoogroups. com>=20



> Sent: Monday, 4 February, 2008 10:38:13 AM



> Subject: RE: [ukha_d] Network Media Tank



>=20



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