WD TV HD media player

Sleme,
Thanks for recommending the WD TV during the gathering. Being itchy, I bought it the next day for RM399 @ Digital Mall. Plays all my Best Motoring videos very well!

Further info for all of us: http://www.westerndigital.com/en/products/products.asp?DriveID=572

There's also a firmware update issued for it: http://www.westerndigital.com/en/products/wdtv/

My neighbour has recommended the WD HDTV since last year after his brother bought one. To fully exploit high-definition formats, the display must be also capable of 1080p resolution such as LCD or plasma screens. I am still hesitating to get one since my projector is 720p and doesn't come with HDMI. To upconvert from 480/720 to 1080p I reckon HDMI connection is the only way to go about this. Not sure if it would work with DVI-HDMI or component-HDMI interfaces.

Does anybody know whether the unit would upconvert from 480/720 to 1080p or downcovert from 1080p to 720p using component connections with a HDMI-component adapter(if there is one that exists) at the WD interface?

Temptation temptation. This is just like having a HTPC right beside our display panel. Best part is it cost RM399!

To all user, this was quoted from WD website "- An audio receiver is required for surround sound output. AAC/Dolby Digital decodes in 2 channel output only"

Does it means that it can't sends DD or DTS in 5.1 channel to the receiver? As I have been downloading dvd5 from internet, this will be useful as I won't need to burn them on dvdr anymore.

Dear admin,

No problems mate. Bargains are to be shared!! It brilliant having access to one's catalogue of videos at the fingertips and the fact that it has a resume function is an added boon.

alex, from my experience, if the source is a HD source i.e. *.mkv files, the amplifier generally registers the audio signal through the HDMI cable to be either DTS or Dolby Digital (depending on the way it is ripped). For the normal video source i.e. the avi files, it will be the normal 2 channel stereo which requires the av amp to decode to ProLogic II etc.

I set the video output to the 1080p. My LG plasma states that the input signal is 1080p without problem. I believe that there is some form of upscaling by the box?

The WD TV can also output @ 720p if the display is not Full HD-capable.

Hi Admin,
I;m itchy as well, can audio output be selectable from HDMI to Optical?

sleme's the man to answer this.

Good day fellas,

To: chieng90, regarding your question of switching the Audio from HDMI to Optical, the answer would b YES. =) In the options menu there is an option to select audio output to optical hence having ur HDMI send the video data and the Audio via Optical.

Hope that helps.

thanks sioesaguya,
i bought 1 yesterday, let me figure out will work well with old dd/dts av amp, i.e. without HDMI.

I saw in Low Yat at IT Hypermarket they selling WDTV for RM369 and Logitech Harmony universal remote for RM399.
Anybody using that remote?
Comment please?

jemmi wrote:I saw in Low Yat at IT Hypermarket they selling WDTV for RM369 and Logitech Harmony universal remote for RM399.
Anybody using that remote?
Comment please?

I think the Logitech Harmony Remote @ RM399 you are referring to is the Harmony 885. Yes, I have one too, but not really using it right now. It's @ Hi-Way Laser for the time being, enjoying the air-con there.

I did have a 525 earlier but upgraded to the 885 just for fun.

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/remotes/universal_remotes/&cl=gb,en

I have recently bought one unit after my friend told me that the upscaler is very good. I have to agree. 700mb+ movies looks sharper via WDTV than DVD5 on my DVD player! Maybe it's because the DVD output is only at 480p but I'm really impressed that 700mb highly compressed files can beat 4gb movies on DVD.

Before getting the WDTV, I used my notebook to watch those downloaded movies but they look soft and pixelated. I then bought one of those China made RMVB player. Same result. What I didn't like was the overly stretched display.

Now, those HD series looks like HD on my TV! No more stretched faces or truncated pictures. 16:9 as it was encoded!

Oh, and watching digital photos on a large LCD TV is so much better than on the PC! Play some music first, then go over to the photo viewer and watch the slide show with music playing in the background. I wish WD implemented the really cool unzoom and pan viewing method of the Apple TV but as it is, I'm happy with it.

BTW, to all privileged WDTV users, kindly don't forget to update your unit's firmware to 1.01 if you haven't already done so ok? The new firmware packs alot of new cool features ie.

Ability to play embeded subtitles in mkv files,
More stable 1080p playback
Option to change subtitle sizes.

So google for the firmware and do what's best for ur WDTV! *lol*
Have fun!

Oh, and for those with 720p and 1080p mkvs, maybe we ought to meet up oneday and share the files around. =)

Hi sioesaguya,
That's good idea sharing (excange) our movies in HDD collections. I have more than 20 titles already, why not we email each other mention our title collections first.
My email jemmi1001@yahoo.com.my

hi guys,
have anyboby try .ts file on v.1.01?
i play 'king kong' few minutes screen goes green, WD HD not functioning,need resume power.

OK, the new firmware v1.01.01 fixed the problem I was having. It's now running smoothly without any issues!

Latest firmware is v1.01.02.

Goodies Good. This will be my next buying. I kena poison already...

This is one of the best media players. I had for abt 3 months before upgrading to Dvico TViX6500 due to the HD audio. Apart from this, wdtv plays mkv flawlessly.

this should whoop the AppleTV's ass.

Hold on to your moolah if you can wait.... the replacement model is on its way

http://electric-echoes.blogspot.com/2009/08/wd-tv-2.html

You can solve the DTS encoding problem by converting it to AC3 using Popcorn Audio Converter. It takes about 15mins to convert a 4.7GB mkv DTS to AC3.

I got my WDTV even before they launch in Msia. Got it for RM499.00 (Ripped off).

Here's the link to Popcorn Audio Converter:
http://www.videohelp.com/tools/PopCorn_MKV_AudioConverter

Obviously it will affect the SQ?