High definition media players are a great idea.  At minimum, they allow you to do the following with files that have traditionally lived on your PC:

• Watch any movie
• Listen to any song
• View any photo

Technical Challenges

Computing power is improving all the time, but there are many technical challenges that have only recently been addressed:

• The myriad of audio/video codecs, movie formats, file types and resolutions out there today.  I don’t see this being resolved any time soon.  Everytime we think a standard has developed, a new codec or compression technology appears that claims it can compress better, faster, cheaper, etc.

  OK, let me go off on a tangent and explain what a codec is: At some point, after creating content, it’s nearly always compressed from its original size to make it usable for the end consumer.  The act of compression pre-determines a compression-type or encoding algorithm, what we can effectively call a “codec”.  Normally, to view this content, you also need to use the identical or a suitably compatible codec as well.  There-in lies the problem: content creators could potentially use whichever codec the feel like using (and its usually cause they think it provides the best performance vs quality trade off). 

  If you want to get get your geek on with codecs, see the page at Wikipedia.

• DRM, or Digital rights management.  Some of these devices play protected content, some don’t.  The Apple TV for example is one of only a handful that play protected MP3’s downloaded from the Apple ITunes store.  According to popular opinion

  If you want to get your geek on with DRM, visit this page on Wikipedia.

• Processing demands.  Recent High definition televisions have proved that what looks good on your computer screen isn’t as high quality as you might expect.  1080p is the HD standard for now in the flat screen market… and before all you HD nerds get your DVI cable in a knot, I mention 1080p cause its my blog.  Thats a good enough reason for me.

  If you want to get your geek on with LCD resolutions, visit this page on Wikipedia.

• Storage. Its not really much of an issue at the moment with terabytes drives becoming “the new pink”.  Even at the highest resolution available in Blu-ray DVD rips today
• Making it look nice.  For as long as there have been PC’s there has always been a cottage industry devoted to making them look nice.  There are literally hundreds of computer case companies for home theatre enthusiasts out there.  Typically its the heat from on-board processors and sound from on-board hard drives which these companies try to address.  Making them look like part of your home entertainment system is an important consideration - your average gray or white PC box just doesnt cut it.  Just as an example, see this http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/multimedia/display/coolermaster-media260.html

Types of Devices

I have started shopping around for some ideas about how I could watch content from my PC on my TV.  Its an unbelievably daunting task as there are so many different types of products out there today.  What makes it worse is that there is no hard and fast rule about how to categorize all of these products.  Here is just a broad view of the types of functionality you can expect from the different devices out there:

• Streaming media players.  Access files from a PC over Wifi or Ethernet network, or attached USB/hard drive. Normally these require your PC to be turned on (which isn’t a problem for me) unless you are using attached storage.
• Hard-drive based media players. These devices have a built-in internal hard drive.  Nearly all of them allow updating from a remote PC over Wifi or Ethernet network.
• PVR (Personal video recorder). If you dream of recording cable or satellite TV shows or movies to watch later, you need to look for this functionality.  The better solutions all communicate with an Internet TV schedule of some kind and have on-board capture devices. Alternatively, some devices record from a remote capture card in your computer (the less preferred option, IMHO).
• Build your own. The possibilities are endless here and there is a small industry devoted to this dark art. Usually made up of hackers and ultra geeks.  Generally speaking, building your own will produce the best end results.  Predictably, its likely the most expensive route when compared with the dedicated devices coming out today.
• Hybrids.  As I said above, there are no distinct lines between the different devices in the market.  Some are a PVR and streaming player, some record from a TV-tuner card on your PC, some do all sorts of other wierd and wonderful things like watch Youtube clips or check Internet-based weather reports.

Key features to look for

Below is an extensive laundry list of features I have seen in the different products out there:

• Storage
  • Play media from USB or attached HDD.  Most off the shelf products today come with at minimum 100gb of storage.
  • Play media from a remote PC or NAS storage device. 
• Audio.  Make sure that whichever solution you use, it support digital audio output.  Nowadays, a digital audio system is
• Video Quality.   Generally speaking, the farther down you go on this list, the better the output.  This is true for both media devices as well as flat panel televisions. My recommendation is that you look for a device that produces native 1080p, and doesn’t upscale.

  

  OK, another tangent on upscaling: Most of the media devices mentioned here can upscale content that was intended for viewing on a higher resolution then is supported for that device.  For example, lets say a media device only supports up to an including 720p.  It can still play on an LCD that supports up to 1080p.  In reverse, the same is also true (a device that can play up to 1080p, can also play on screens that support up to 720p.  In either case, quality is generally comprimised.

  Watchout! Because 1080p is the gold standard (for now), some of the devices say they can do 1080p, but only really upscale content to it.  In these devices, content that is native 1080p also sometimes doesnt play either.  The best way to understand the different is visit your local electronics retailer and ask for a demonstration of HD vs Full HD.

• Peripherals
  • Input devices like keyboard and mice
  • Infrared remote controls
  • DVD readers and burners
• Internet
  • Some of the devices allow you to check your email,  get the latest RSS feeds, watch Youtube video and more

OK, My favorite devices and some notes

Even before getting into this discussion, I knew a thing or two about streaming media, codecs, video downloads (ahem!) and more, so I have a bit of background experience.  I have successfully converted Internet downloaded content and home-made videos into good quality DVD’s that can be played by any DVD player.  I can’t be bothered with the whole conversation process to make it worth my time.  I would much rather search, download, and watch.  Simple.

Here are my top 3 choices:

First Choice - Ezfetch

Manufacture site: http://ez4media.com/ezfetch.php?location=us&referral=1
Price: around $250
Type of device: media streamer

Core to the ezfetch is its ability to play high definition content up to 1080p.  It can also play a massive variety of  video files.  That’s terribly important given all the fragmentation in codecs out there today.  It doesn’t seem to support Matroska files though, so that’s definitely a soar point for me. 

I can also connect an external USB storage device so that’s a big bonus for me (eg: buy one for my parents and load an external hard drive with Indian movies, photos and more).

Links to Reviews and more info:

• http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/10/12/popcorn-hours-networked-media-tank-seen-early/

Second Choice - PopcornHour

Manufacturer site:http://popcornhour.com/
Price: around $180
Type of device: media streamer

Sometimes a product is so good it can penetrate even the worst brand names.  Popcorn Hour?  I mean seriously..WTF.  Their media device is called the Network storage tank.  OK, its a unique name buts its so damn cheesy!  The name alone scares me about the validity of this product.  Not sure if I want to drop $180 on this quite just yet.  Seems that

They officially don’t have a product out yet but according to their web site they have oversold or something.  Still a little skeptical about this device.  Its a strong competitor to ezfetch because its a bit cheaper but that’s its only big selling point.  It also seems to officially support Matroska files.  That’s important.

Links to Reviews and more info:

• http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/10/12/popcorn-hours-networked-media-tank-seen-early/

Third Choice - Tomacro

Manufacturer site:http://popcornhour.com/
Price: around $180
Type of device: media streamer

OK, this one came out of left field.  It has the worst web site by far (see their Music playback page..totally hilarious) but it has potential.  Is this vapourware?  Who knows.  It will take more than a cheesy web site to convince me though.