WHATSINANAME
Member
Hi,
While there is a lot of info on WDTV Live, Xtreamer and even Playon HD on this forum, no one seems to have mentioned this new Iomega model. While there are some (mostly negative) views on the earlier Iomega Screenplay Pro, this one is not considered inspite of seeming to pack in a lot of features in a good price (10,750 approx on eBay). Some reviews on the net also suggest that this corrects a lot of the shortcomings of the Pro model (like lack of some .mkv and subtitle file support.)
So far, the only drawbacks seem to be:
1. a slightly slow start up;
2. Interface struggles with large media collections "particularly large music or movie collections though we're talking tens of thousands of titles might find the navigation through the folder structure a tedious process";
3. "UI could be better"
4. jitter on particularly large bit-rate files "this is only a 100/10Mbit interface, so if you happen to have any files with a greater than 12.5MB/s bit-rate (including audio, remember), you'll find playback just a bit jittery"
What I would like to know from the gurus is that is it worth going for keeping in mind the fact that I like the idea of an inbuilt hard disk to keep all my movie and audio files. Having another seperate HDD to clutter up my living room space does not really appeal. And buying a MP and an internal HDD seperately (the Playon HD, for e.g.) would work out to be a much more expensive option.
From product site:
Overview
Enjoy a complete media experience with the feature-rich Iomega ScreenPlay Director HD Media Player, USB 2.0/AV/Ethernet. With full 1080p high definition (24 fps) and up to 2TB of space to save your files. This high-definition multimedia player connects easily to your home network to store & access your videos, music and photo collections. Easily browse your network to select stored videos and view on your home theatre or access online content with the convenient remote. Compatible with the latest media formats such as H.264, MP3, AC3 (Dolby Digital Encoding), WAV, WMA, MPEG-1, MPEG-2 (AVI/VOB), MPEG-4 (AVI/XViD), DivX and JPEG. It supports the Iomega USB WIFI Adapter for wireless access (adapter sold separately). DivX Certified to play DivX video, including premium content. Includes Iomega Protection Suite software anti-virus and backup software solutions. The ScreenPlay Director is powered by an Energy Star qualified adapter for a better environment.
Key Benefits:
* Feature-Rich - Enjoy high definition movies on your home theatre; store and access media files on your home network
* Convenient - Browse your home network to select stored media files to enjoy on your HDTV with a touch of the remote; directly access online media sites; connect to your WIFI network (adapter required)
* Versatile - Supports many CODECs and file types including H.264 so you can enjoy your entire media collection; 3 USB ports for multiple connections to external storage, camera, or flash drives; Listen to music while you watch a photo slide show
* Large Capacity - Save up to 770 hours of video, 800,000 photos, or 500,000 songs (MP3s)
* Stylish - Compact enclosure to complement your home entertainment environment
* SHOUTcast Internet Radio - Listen to thousands of SHOUTcast Internet Radio stations on your home entertainment systems
* SHOUTcast Radio Toolbar - Download the SHOUTcast Radio Toolbar Free
Specifications:
* Interfaces - 10/100 Ethernet, USB 2.0, AV
* Wireless Ready - Supports Iomega USB WIFI adapter for wireless access up to 802.11b/g/n (adapter sold separately)
* Video: MPEG-1; MPEG-2 (AVI/VOB); MPEG-4 (AVI/XViD), DivX, H.264; WMV; ACVCHD
* Audio: MP3, AC3 (Dolby Digital Encoding), WAV, OGG, WMA, AAC
* Photos: JPEG, BMP, GIF, PNG, TIFF
* Resolution: full 1080p High-Definition (24fps)
* File types: .mkv, .avi, .asf, .iso, .vob, .mp4, .mov, .wmv, .flv
* Standards: NTSC/PAL
* AV connections: HDMI, composite video, audio R/L; component video: Y, Pb, Pr, optical audio
* Hard drive format: NTFS (default), FAT32
What You Get
* Iomega ScreenPlay Director Multimedia Player
* One remote control
* One power supply
* One HDMI cable
* One USB cable
* One composite video cable
* One Quick Start Guide and Solution CD
o FAT32 format utility
o ScreenPlay Discovery Tool
* Iomega Protection Suite Software
o Iomega Quik Protect
o Retrospect Express HD (PC)
o Retrospect Express for Mac
o MozyHome Online Backup 2GB Free (PC/Mac)
o Trend Micro Internet Security - 1 year Free (PC) (via download)
* Three year limited warranty with product registration
Tech Specs
Media Formats
* Audio Formats - MP3, AC3 (Dolby Digital Encoding), WAV, OGG, WMA, AAC
* Video Formats - MPEG-1, MPEG-2 (AVI/VOB), MPEG-4 (AVI/XViD), DivX, H.264, WMV, AVCHD
* Photo Formats - JPEG, BMP, GIF, PNG and TIFF
* File Types - .mkv, .avi, .asf, .iso, .vob, .mp4, .mov, .wmv, .flv
* PAL/NTSC - Full 1080p high definition (24 fps)
* AV Connections - HDMI, Composite video and audio R/L; Component video: Y, Pb, Pr, optical audio
* Hard drive format: NTFS (default), FAT32
Interfaces
* USB 2.0 (USB 1.1 backwards compatible); 3X USB Host ports for external storage
* 10/100 Ethernet
* Wireless Ready - supports Iomega USB WIFI adapter for wireless access up to 802.11 b/g/n (adapter sold separately)
* AV Connections:
o Composite video and audio R/L
o Component video: Y, Pb, Pr (480i/480p)
o Optical S/PDIF output
o HDMI
External USB Drive Format
* NTFS (default)
* FAT32
* Mac OS Extended (HFS+)**
* Ext2 or Ext3
* Three year limited warranty with product registration warranty
Video review from Geekanoids
Should I take a chance on this or stick with the tried and tested (at least in India) WDTV Live/Xtreamer/Playon HD?
Thanx to everybody in advance.
P.S.: Google as I might, I did not manage to find what chipset this unit uses! Could anyone enlighten me on that?
While there is a lot of info on WDTV Live, Xtreamer and even Playon HD on this forum, no one seems to have mentioned this new Iomega model. While there are some (mostly negative) views on the earlier Iomega Screenplay Pro, this one is not considered inspite of seeming to pack in a lot of features in a good price (10,750 approx on eBay). Some reviews on the net also suggest that this corrects a lot of the shortcomings of the Pro model (like lack of some .mkv and subtitle file support.)
So far, the only drawbacks seem to be:
1. a slightly slow start up;
2. Interface struggles with large media collections "particularly large music or movie collections though we're talking tens of thousands of titles might find the navigation through the folder structure a tedious process";
3. "UI could be better"
4. jitter on particularly large bit-rate files "this is only a 100/10Mbit interface, so if you happen to have any files with a greater than 12.5MB/s bit-rate (including audio, remember), you'll find playback just a bit jittery"
What I would like to know from the gurus is that is it worth going for keeping in mind the fact that I like the idea of an inbuilt hard disk to keep all my movie and audio files. Having another seperate HDD to clutter up my living room space does not really appeal. And buying a MP and an internal HDD seperately (the Playon HD, for e.g.) would work out to be a much more expensive option.
From product site:
Overview
Enjoy a complete media experience with the feature-rich Iomega ScreenPlay Director HD Media Player, USB 2.0/AV/Ethernet. With full 1080p high definition (24 fps) and up to 2TB of space to save your files. This high-definition multimedia player connects easily to your home network to store & access your videos, music and photo collections. Easily browse your network to select stored videos and view on your home theatre or access online content with the convenient remote. Compatible with the latest media formats such as H.264, MP3, AC3 (Dolby Digital Encoding), WAV, WMA, MPEG-1, MPEG-2 (AVI/VOB), MPEG-4 (AVI/XViD), DivX and JPEG. It supports the Iomega USB WIFI Adapter for wireless access (adapter sold separately). DivX Certified to play DivX video, including premium content. Includes Iomega Protection Suite software anti-virus and backup software solutions. The ScreenPlay Director is powered by an Energy Star qualified adapter for a better environment.
Key Benefits:
* Feature-Rich - Enjoy high definition movies on your home theatre; store and access media files on your home network
* Convenient - Browse your home network to select stored media files to enjoy on your HDTV with a touch of the remote; directly access online media sites; connect to your WIFI network (adapter required)
* Versatile - Supports many CODECs and file types including H.264 so you can enjoy your entire media collection; 3 USB ports for multiple connections to external storage, camera, or flash drives; Listen to music while you watch a photo slide show
* Large Capacity - Save up to 770 hours of video, 800,000 photos, or 500,000 songs (MP3s)
* Stylish - Compact enclosure to complement your home entertainment environment
* SHOUTcast Internet Radio - Listen to thousands of SHOUTcast Internet Radio stations on your home entertainment systems
* SHOUTcast Radio Toolbar - Download the SHOUTcast Radio Toolbar Free
Specifications:
* Interfaces - 10/100 Ethernet, USB 2.0, AV
* Wireless Ready - Supports Iomega USB WIFI adapter for wireless access up to 802.11b/g/n (adapter sold separately)
* Video: MPEG-1; MPEG-2 (AVI/VOB); MPEG-4 (AVI/XViD), DivX, H.264; WMV; ACVCHD
* Audio: MP3, AC3 (Dolby Digital Encoding), WAV, OGG, WMA, AAC
* Photos: JPEG, BMP, GIF, PNG, TIFF
* Resolution: full 1080p High-Definition (24fps)
* File types: .mkv, .avi, .asf, .iso, .vob, .mp4, .mov, .wmv, .flv
* Standards: NTSC/PAL
* AV connections: HDMI, composite video, audio R/L; component video: Y, Pb, Pr, optical audio
* Hard drive format: NTFS (default), FAT32
What You Get
* Iomega ScreenPlay Director Multimedia Player
* One remote control
* One power supply
* One HDMI cable
* One USB cable
* One composite video cable
* One Quick Start Guide and Solution CD
o FAT32 format utility
o ScreenPlay Discovery Tool
* Iomega Protection Suite Software
o Iomega Quik Protect
o Retrospect Express HD (PC)
o Retrospect Express for Mac
o MozyHome Online Backup 2GB Free (PC/Mac)
o Trend Micro Internet Security - 1 year Free (PC) (via download)
* Three year limited warranty with product registration
Tech Specs
Media Formats
* Audio Formats - MP3, AC3 (Dolby Digital Encoding), WAV, OGG, WMA, AAC
* Video Formats - MPEG-1, MPEG-2 (AVI/VOB), MPEG-4 (AVI/XViD), DivX, H.264, WMV, AVCHD
* Photo Formats - JPEG, BMP, GIF, PNG and TIFF
* File Types - .mkv, .avi, .asf, .iso, .vob, .mp4, .mov, .wmv, .flv
* PAL/NTSC - Full 1080p high definition (24 fps)
* AV Connections - HDMI, Composite video and audio R/L; Component video: Y, Pb, Pr, optical audio
* Hard drive format: NTFS (default), FAT32
Interfaces
* USB 2.0 (USB 1.1 backwards compatible); 3X USB Host ports for external storage
* 10/100 Ethernet
* Wireless Ready - supports Iomega USB WIFI adapter for wireless access up to 802.11 b/g/n (adapter sold separately)
* AV Connections:
o Composite video and audio R/L
o Component video: Y, Pb, Pr (480i/480p)
o Optical S/PDIF output
o HDMI
External USB Drive Format
* NTFS (default)
* FAT32
* Mac OS Extended (HFS+)**
* Ext2 or Ext3
* Three year limited warranty with product registration warranty
Video review from Geekanoids
Should I take a chance on this or stick with the tried and tested (at least in India) WDTV Live/Xtreamer/Playon HD?
Thanx to everybody in advance.
P.S.: Google as I might, I did not manage to find what chipset this unit uses! Could anyone enlighten me on that?
Last edited:
