HD media player

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HD Media player is a generic term used for a category of consumer product that combines a hard drive enclosure with hardware and software for playing audio,video and photos through a home entertainment system. It can be used either as a conventional external hard drive, or to play computer-based media files through external media devices without the need for a separate computer.

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[edit] Market niche

The popularity of MP3 players means that many people have large collections of .MP3 files that cannot be played on a conventional hifi, while the popularity of digital cameras means that many people also have large collections of photographs in .JPG format. Many computer users also download media files from the internet.

HD media players allow a user to transfer and/or duplicate their media files onto the unit, which can then be used at another location.

Most media players will play back MP3 audio, JPEG images, MPEG-2 video and a variety of other formats.

[edit] Facilities

HD media players are usually designed for compactness and affordability, and tend to have small or non-existent hardware displays. File navigation is usually performed with an infrared remote control, with visual feedback supplied through a connected television set.

The devices are not usually able to play CDs or DVDs directly, and require a user to convert these media into playable files using a separate computer and software. They are also not usually capable of recording audio or video.

Units are sometimes sold as "empty shells" to allow the user to fit their own choice of hard drive, and the same model is sometimes available with or without a hard drive fitted.

Computer connectivity is usually via USB 2.0 or FireWire, but some models also have ethernet and/or wireless networking.

[edit] Manufacturers and models

3.5" drive:

  • Mvix MX780HD
  • Mvix MV6000R
  • ATMT HV355
  • ATMT HV855
  • Helios X5000
  • IAMM NTD36HD
  • QBoxx HD-H264
  • QBoxx HD Mini
  • Sumvision Aqua
  • TVIX M3100U
  • TVIX M4000P
  • Mediagate MG-35
  • Mediagate MG-350HD
  • Mediagate MG-45
  • Mediagate MG-450HD
  • Mediagate T1
  • Mediasonic HM3-SU2TV
  • PopcornHour A-100

2.5" drive:

  • Mvix 2500u
  • TVIX Mini C-2000U Lite
  • Mediagate MG-25 / MG-25P
  • Mediasonic HM2-U2TV
  • Mediasonic HM2-SU2TV

[edit] See also