Comparison of digital media players

A digital media player is a home entertainment consumer electronics device that can connect to a home network to stream digital media (such as music, pictures, or video).

Standalone streaming players

This list does not include discontinued or legacy media players.

Maker	Model (Debut year)	Current version (year)	Connectivity	Maximum video resolution	Video formats supported	Network	USB	Internal media storage	Card reader slot	Web browser	Remote control	Network File client	Screen mirroring	Audio output
Amazon	Fire TV (2014)	Fire TV, Fire TV Stick (2014)	HDMI (all models), optical audio (Fire TV box only)	1080p	H.263, H.264, MPEG4-SP, VC1	802.11a/b/g/n (all models), 10/100 Ethernet (Fire TV box only)	1× USB 2.0 (Fire TV box), 1× mini-USB 2.0 (Fire TV Stick)	8 GB for buffering	None	None	Bluetooth remote	Unspecified	Kindle Fire HDX^[1]	Optical Toslink
Apple	Apple TV (2007)	4th generation (2015)	HDMI, optical audio	1080p	H.264, MPEG-4, Motion JPEG	802.11a/b/g/n, 10/100 Ethernet	1× Micro-USB for maintenance	8 GB for buffering	None	None	Siri Remote, Remote iPhone App	iTunes, Airplay	iOS devices and Macintosh computers	Optical Toslink
Asus	Cube (2013)	N/A	HDMI, HDMI-in	1080p	MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, WMV9, VC-1, H.264, XVID^[2]	802.11a/b/g/n, 10/100 Ethernet	2× USB 2.0	None	None	Google Chrome	IR remote	DLNA	None
Google	Chromecast Nexus Player	Chromecast (2013), Nexus Player (2014)	HDMI	1080p	H.264 (High Profile Level 4.1), VP8 (Chromecast)	802.11b/g/n (Chromecast), 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (Nexus Player)	1× Micro-USB for power (Chromecast)	2 GB for buffering (Chromecast), 8 GB for buffering (Nexus Player)	None	Yes	None (Chromecast controllable by iOS/Android device or Chrome browser), 5-button remote (Nexus Player)	None	Android and iOS devices, Macintosh and Windows-based computers	None
Hisense	Pulse (2014)	N/A	HDMI, HDMI-in	1080p	Unspecified	Unspecified 802.11 and Ethernet	1× USB 2.0	None	None	Google Chrome	IR remote with QWERTY keyboard	DLNA	None
Little Smart Box^[3]	TR-42 (2013)	TR-42 V1, V2 (2013), TR-42 V3 (2014)	HDMI (all models) Composite video/audio	720p	MKV (H.264), MP4 (H.264), MOV (H.264), WMV	802.11a/b/g/n 10/100 Ethernet	2x USB 2.0 1x Micro-USB for OTG Connection	8GB	Micro SD	Yes (Play Store)	IR (all models), Wi-Fi remote with Android Tablets/Phones	DLNA, SMB	Select Android devices
Netgear	NeoTV (2010)	NeoTV 300, NeoTV Pro 300S, NeoTV Max 300SL, NeoTV Prime (2013)	HDMI (all models), HDMI-in (Prime only), Composite audio/video (Pro and Max only)	1080p	MP4, MKV, H.264 (Max), many (Prime)	802.11a/b/g/n, 10/100 Ethernet	1× USB 2.0 (Max and Prime only)	None	Micro SD card (Max only)	Yes (Prime only)	IR remote (all models), QWERTY keyboard remote (Max and Prime only)	DLNA	Intel WiDi
Nanotech	Nuvola NP-1 (2014)^[4]	N/A	HDMI	4K	MP4, MKV, AVI, MOV, OGG	802.11a/b/g/n, 10/100/1000 Ethernet	1× USB 2.0, 1× USB 3.0	16 GB flash storage	None	Google Chrome	RF remote	None	None
Roku	Roku Streaming Player (2008)	Roku 1, 2, 3, 4 (2015), Streaming Stick (2014)	HDMI (all models) Composite video/audio (select Roku 1 and 2 models)	4K	MKV (H.264), MP4 (H.264), MOV (H.264), WMV (VC-1)^[5]	802.11a/b/g/n (all models) 802.11ac (Roku 4) 10/100 Ethernet (select Roku models)	1× USB 2.0 (select set-top box Roku models) 1× Micro-USB for power (Streaming Stick Roku model)	None	Micro SD (select Roku models)	None	IR 12 buttons (all models), Wi-Fi direct remote with headphone jack (select Roku models)	via channels	Select Android, Windows PC, Windows Phone devices^[6]	Optical Toslink (Roku 4 Only)
Vizio	Co-Star (2012)	Co-Star LT, Co-Star (2013)	HDMI, HDMI-in	1080p	H.264, MKV, MP4	802.11a/b/g/n (all models), 10/100 Ethernet (full version)	1× USB 2.0	None	None	Google Chrome (full version)	IR remote (LT version), Bluetooth remote (full version)	None	None
Western Digital	WD TV (2008)	WDTV Live (2011), WDTV Play (2013), WDTV Media Player (2014)	HDMI, optical audio, RCA composite	1080p	AVI (Xvid, AVC, MPEG1/2/4), MPG/MPEG, VOB, MKV (h.264, x.264, AVC, MPEG1/2/4, VC-1), TS/TP/M2T (MPEG1/2/4, AVC, VC-1), MP4/MOV (MPEG4, h.264), M2TS, WMV9, FLV (h.264)	802.11a/b/g/n, 10/100/1000 Ethernet	USB 2.0 (two ports on WDTV Live, one port on WDTV Play, two ports on WDTV Media Player)	None	None	None	IR, 17 buttons	DLNA, SMB	None
Amlogic^[7]	M8 family Series Dual Core A9 [M801/M802/M805] (2013)^[8]	S8 family Series Quad Core A9 [S802/S812] (2014)]^[8]	HDMI, CVBS	1080p / 2160p / 4320p	H.264, MKV, MP4, MPEG2, MPEG4, WMV, H.265, VP8	802.11b/g/n (all models), 10/100 Ethernet	2× USB 2.0	8 GB ROM	SD, SDHC, MMC	Yes	IR remote	DLNA, Samba, NFS	Yes, Miracast/Airplay on Select Android devices

Gaming systems

Maker	Model (year)	Connectivity	Maximum video resolution	Video formats supported	Network	USB	Internal media storage	Card reader slot	Web browser	Remote control	Network File server	Network File client
Microsoft	Xbox One (2013)	HDMI, HDMI-in, optical audio	4K	Many	802.11a/b/g/n, 10/100/1000 Ethernet	3x USB 3.0	500GB hard drive	None	Yes	IR remote (sold separately)	Unspecified	DLNA
Microsoft	Xbox 360 (2005)	HDMI, Component a/v, composite a/v, optical audio	720p	Many	802.11a/b/g/n, 10/100/1000 Ethernet	3x USB 2.0	4GB, 500GB hard drive	None	Yes	IR remote (sold separately)	Unspecified	DLNA
Sony	PlayStation 3 (2006)	HDMI, Composite, Component	1080P	Many	802.11a/b/g/n, 10/100 Ethernet	2x USB 2.0	12GB+2.5" SATA drive bay	None	Yes	IR remote (built into Gamepad)	None	None
Nintendo	Wii U (2012)	HDMI, Component audio/video, Composite audio/video	1080p	H.264 via browser^[9]	802.11a/b/g/n, 10/100 Ethernet	4x USB 2.0	8 or 32 GB SSD	SD Card	Yes	IR remote (built into Gamepad)	None	None
Sony	PlayStation 4 (2013)	HDMI, optical audio	4K	Many (PS3 only)	802.11a/b/g/n, 10/100/1000 Ethernet	2x USB 3.0	500GB hard drive	None	Yes	IR remote (sold separately)	None	None

Content agreements

Internet video services

Model	Amazon Video	CinemaNow	Crackle	Flixster	Google Play	Hulu Plus	iTunes	Netflix	Vevo	Vimeo	VUDU	WWE Network	YouTube
Amazon Fire TV	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Apple TV	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	with software version 7.2 and later
Asus Cube	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes
Google Chromecast/Nexus Player	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Hisense Pulse	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes
Little Smart Box	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Microsoft Xbox	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
NanoTech Nuvola	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes
Nintendo Wii	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes
Roku Streaming Players	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes^[10]	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Sony PlayStation	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Vizio Co-Star	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	LT only	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes
Western Digital WD TV	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Live and Play versions	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes

US television services

Model	Time Warner Cable	Verizon FiOS	Xfinity	Watch ABC	PBS	Fox Now	A&E	Bloomberg	Disney Channel	FX Now	History Channel	Lifetime	MTV	SyFy	Watch ESPN	Encore Play	EPIX	HBO GO	Showtime Anytime	Starz Play
Amazon Fire TV	No	No	No	Upcoming^[11]	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes^[12]	Yes	No
Apple TV	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
Google Chromecast	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Microsoft Xbox	Yes	Yes	Yes	Xbox 360 only	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Xbox 360 only	Xbox One only, Xbox 360 upcoming^[13]	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Roku Streaming Players	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Sony PlayStation	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No

NOTE: These tables are not comprehensive or all inclusive; some pay-TV services may not have contracts with certain networks or refuse to serve networks on certain platforms.

References

Home theater PC software, devices, and related articles

Windows	Beyond TV DVBViewer GB-PVR JRiver Media Center MediaPortal ShowShifter Windows Media Center

OS X	CenterStage Front Row iTheater

Linux	Element OS GeeXboX LinuxMCE MythDora MythTV Mythbuntu OpenELEC Ubuntu TV Video Disk Recorder

Cross-platform	Plex SageTV Serviio Kodi

Set-top boxes, Digital media receivers	Amazon Fire TV Apple TV Boxee Box Chromecast DBox2 Dreambox Ericsson Mediaroom Google TV OpenTV 5 Hauppauge MediaMVP HP MediaSmart Connect Inview Technology Netgear Digital Entertainer Nexus Player PlayStation 3 PlayStation 4 ReplayTV Roku TiVo Vu+ WD TV Windows Media Center Extender Xbox 360 Xbox One

Related hardware	ATI Theater Cards Elgato EyeTV devices Hauppauge Computer Works WinTV PVR Cards HDHomeRun Mac Mini Nvidia TV-Tuner Cards Quiet PC Touchscreen VBox Home TV Gateway

Related articles	10-foot user interface Comparison of audio player software Comparison of video player software Digital Living Network Alliance Digital media receiver HD media player Home cinema Home theater PC Hybrid IPTV Internet television Media server Portable media player Set-top box Smart TV Video player

Media player software

Free software

Windows	Media Player Classic QuuxPlayer

Linux	Baudline Beep Media Player cmus Gnome Music Player Client Helix JuK Kaffeine LinuxMCE Muine Music Player Daemon Music on Console Noise Ogle DVD Player Rhythmbox Totem Xine XMMS XMMS2

Cross-platform	Amarok Audacious Banshee Clementine Exaile ffplay Kodi Miro Mpg123 MPlayer mpv Nightingale qmmp Quod Libet SMPlayer Songbird VLC media player Zinf

Freeware

Windows	Adobe Media Player AIMP BS.Player CrystalPlayer Dell MediaDirect foobar2000 GOM Player jetAudio KMPlayer MadCat Media Browser Media Go MediaMonkey Mod4Win Mpxplay MusicBee MusikCube InterActual Player PotPlayer QuickTime Quintessential Player Style Jukebox Winamp

Cross-platform	Boxee DivX Player iTunes Plex QuickTime RealPlayer

Commercial (proprietary)

Windows	Connect Player Iriver plus 3 JRiver Media Center PowerDVD TotalMedia Theatre SonicStage WinDVD Windows Media Center Windows Media Player Yahoo! Music Jukebox

Linux	Fluendo DVD Player

OS X	Centerstage DVD Player Front Row Peel

Mobile	CoreAVC CorePlayer Core Pocket Media Player doubleTwist RealPlayer TuneWiki Winamp

Lists

Video players Audio players Free software audio players Portable media players Personal video recorders

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Thursday, January 07, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.