Digital Media Player

UEBO Media Players Reviewed – M400 1080p, M100 Portable, and M50 Mobile

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For the past three weeks, the nice folks at UEBO sent me three test models of their latest media players to review. I was sent the UEBO M400 1080p Media Player, the UEBO M100 Portable 1080P Media Player, and the UEBO M50 Mobile 1080p Media Player. I have had a chance to really use all three and have some positives and negatives about these players.

 

UEBO M400 1080p Media Player

UEBO M400 Wireless 1080p Media Player

To start at the top and work my way down in no way diminishes the capabilities of the M100 and M50, but I have to start with the UEBO M400. Out of the box, this is one of the more gorgeous media players that I have seen. I didn’t just stop there, I hooked up the M400 to my main television in the living room to give it a test drive. The hookup was easy enough, HDMI to HDMI and a power cable. I switched on the television and fired up the M400 media player, and after a few minutes I was greeted by the user interface. I thought the menus were okay, not great, but okay. The basic function of the menu system was the same as some of the older media players, but they have advanced and look much nicer. The remote that came with the M400 has a huge wheel in the middle for selecting things, and in my opinion made things more difficult. I was not able to get the remote to function properly with the web browser that is included on the M400, and a USB keyboard will definitely make data entry much easier. Overall, setup was very easy. The M400 immediately found my wireless network, and it hooked up flawlessly with my DLNA server. Within minutes I was streaming content from my computer. I enjoyed using the M400 and was able to easily hook-up my online services like Facebook and check my e-mail on Yahoo! The only feature I wasn’t able to access was Pandora, but it is still in development, so not the M400′s fault. There is space to install your own hard drive, and it will support up to a 3 terabyte HDD. Wifi comes built in, so no adapters to buy. Also, you can utilize a service called PlayOn TV to access over 200 internet channels including NetFlix, CNN, ESPN, and Hulu. Enough rambling, here’s the good stuff:

■Video Outputs – HDMI 1.3 (up to 1080p), Component Video (YPbPr – up to 1080i), and Composite Video;

■Audio Outputs – HDMI 1.3, Stereo Analog Audio (R/L), S/PDIF Optical and Coaxial Digital Audio Outs;

■Video Files and Codecs – AVI MPG DAT VOB DIV MOV MKV PMPEG TS MTS M2TS RMVB WMV ISO IFO MP4 FLV TP TRP; Codecs – MPEG1 HD MPEG2 (up to MP@HL) HD MPEG4 SP/ASP (1080P) Xvid H.264 BP@L3 MP@L4.1 HP@L4.1 WMV9/VC-1 AP@L3 RM/RMVB8/9/10 (up to 720@30P) AVS HD (1920×1080) – both PAL and NTSC supported.

■Audio Files and Codecs – MP3, OGG, WMA, WAV, AAC, FLAC; Audio codecs – MP2/MP3, OGG Vorbis, WMA (DRM, and Advanced Profile not supported) – Dolby Digital True HD / DTS HD-MA / DDP (Pass-thru & Down-mixing)

■Connectivity – WIFI (802.11n), UPnP, USB 2.0 Host Ports (2), USB 3.0 Device Port (1); USB 2.0 Device Port (1); SD Memory Card Slot; Ethernet Port

■Web Stuff – PlayOn, Netflix, Hulu Plus, Blockbuster, Amazon VOD, Vudu, CinemaNow, Yahoo, Youtube, Pandora, and tons more (200+).

UEBO M400 Back

The link to the UEBO page for the M400 can be found here, UEBO M400

UEBO M100 1080p Portable Media Player

UEBO M100 Portable Media Player

When UEBO says “portable” they mean it! The M100 Media Player is only 5.63 inches long, 3.35 inches wide, and only 0.91 inches thick and only weighs 3.2 ounces. It truly was shocking taking this one out of the box. This has a slot for a built in 2.5 inch hard drive that can support up to 2 terabytes (FAT, FAT32, NTFS, EXT3). It is WIFI ready, but you have to get an optional adapter with the M100. In my opinion the wireless adapter (about $30 USD) for this M100 is necessary. The portability selling point in mind, if a person were to take this player on travels, most hotel rooms offer free wifi, or wired connection. I prefer to connect to wifi when possible, I really don’t like wires. The menu system on this player was the same as the M400, so no more to tell there. I like the size of this player, and without the wifi, was able to hook this one up pretty easily. Here are the specs:

■Video Outputs – HDMI 1.3 (1080p), Composite Video;

■Audio Outputs – HDMI 1.3, Stereo Output;

■Video Files and Codecs – AVI, MPG, DAT, VOB, DIV, MOV, MKV, MPEG, TS, MTS, M2TS,RMVB, WMV, ISO, IFO, MP4, FLV, TP, TRP; Codecs – MPEG1, HD MPEG2 (up to MP@HL), HD MPEG4 SP/ASP (1080p), Xvid, H.264, BP@L3,MP@L4.1, HP@L4.1, WMV9/VC-1 AP@L3, RM/RMVB8/9/10 (up to 720@30P), AVS HD (1920×1080) – both PAL and NTSC supported.

■Audio Files and Codecs – MP3, OGG, WMA, WAV, AAC, FLAC; Codecs – MP2/3, OGG Vorbis, WMA (DRM, and Advanced Profile not supported) – Dolby Digital True HD / DTS HD-MA / DDP (Pass-thru & Down-mixing)

■Connectivity – 802.11b/g/n USB Wi-Fi Adapter, up to 300Mbps (USB Wi-Fi Adapter Optional); Memory Card Slot; Ethernet Port

■Web Stuff – PlayOn, Netflix, Hulu Plus, Blockbuster, Amazon VOD, Vudu, CinemaNow, Yahoo, Youtube, Pandora, and tons more (200+).

UEBO M100 Back

Here is the link to the UEBO M100 Page,UEBO M100

UEBO M50 Mobile 1080P Media Player

UEBO M50 Mobile

 

The idea behind this palm size media player is that you can take your movies and music with you wherever you go. The M50 has a USB port for an external hard drive, and an SD card slot. I wasn’t too keen on this player for practical reasons, but at the low price that UEBO is asking for it, I can see how it is attractive as an entry level Media Player. No built-in wifi on this player either so you will have to opt for the optional wireless adapter (about $30 USD) if you want to connect to wifi networks to utilize the internet functions of the player. Same exact connections and file formats supported as the M100 (see above).

UEBO M50 Back

The link to the UEBO M50 page can be found here, UEBO M50 Portable

Sony SMP-N100 Network Media Player with Wi-Fi

Filed Under Sony SMP-N100 Network Media Player with Wi-Fi | 9 Comments

With the technology ever expanding in the digital media player world, consumers are becoming more demanding every day.  The first players I reviewed on DMP Guide are still great players and the technology is still relevant today, but there are new bells and whistles that have been added to the more recent models that are hitting the market.  I’m no longer just satisfied with streaming my personal movie collection to my home theater, I want access to Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Crackle, and Pandora.  If you can squeeze Facebook in also, that would be nice.  I came across the Sony SMP-N100 Network Media Player with Wi-Fi and after a little research, realized that it is worth a mention here on the DMP Guide.  It is right in my price range and has all the features I am looking for.

Sony SMP-N100 Network Media Player with Wi-Fi

One of the first things that differentiates the Sony Digital Media Player is that, unlike the first players out on the market, it does not require you to go out and buy a separate wireless adapter.  It is still not uncommon for even the most recent players to ask you to spend an extra $30 on an adapter that will allow you to connect to your home wireless network.  The Sony SMP-N100 also has hard wire connectivity through the USB port or standard LAN cabling for those who don’t have the home wireless or just prefer to set it up with good old USB cables.

So just to jump in to the features, you will get all of the features that have become standard for digital media players.  The Sony Network Media Player allows you to enjoy your personal media in up to Full HD 1080p either through the USB connections, or wirelessly over your home network as it is DNLA compliant.  This allows for full access to your movies, music, and other media.  I’ll give the nuts and bolts feature and compatibility list down below, but also sound is beautifully output as it supports AAC, DTS, and Dolby Digital all through either the HDMI output (cable is sold separately) or the optical digital output.  One nice touch that the SMP-N100 has is that it offers compatibility for everyone.  Even if you don’t have HDMI, it provides Compenent Video which also provides output up to 1080p, and it also provides standard composite and stereo output (standard red, white, and yellow cables).  Obviously if you want the high end output features, you must have  a compatible television and cables.  Most reviews of the Sony SMP-N100 Network Media Player with Wi-Fi indicate that the picture is very good even when hooked up to a standard definition television.

Probably the features I am most excited about is the streaming compatibility of this digital media player.  Sony gives you access to Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Pandora, and Crackle.  So not only do you have access to your own media library, you will have acces to almost 100,000 instant movies that you can stream directly to your television.  All of those services require that you have an account, obvioulsy.  A huge plus, that has just recently been announced, is that Amazon Prime now inclues free access to 5,000 movies at no additional charge as an included service with their Amazon Prime accounts.  Amazon prime is currently $79 per year and members get unlimited free two day shipping as a part of their membership.  Now, in addition to the free two-day shipping, you will have access to 5,000 streaming movies at no additional cost.  Their library is growing every day, so this is a huge plus to this Sony Media Player.  Personally, I have Netflix, and now with Amazon Instant Video I have added about 5,000 movies with the push of a button.  An exclusive of the Sony SMP-N100 Network Media Player is that it also gives you access to Crackle, which lets you watch movies, TV shows, and original series from the Sony Pictures library.  If you would like all of these same features, and also like the functionality of  a Blu-ray player, Sony also makes the Sony BDP-S370 Blu-ray Disc Player which has all the features of the SMP-N100, but you can play your Blu-ray movies also.

Features Breakdown:

Format Support

AAC: Yes (USB) — m4a

AVC-HD: Yes (USB)

DivX: Yes (USB ) — jpg, jpeg

DivX HD: Yes (USB and DLNA) — XviD

JPEG: Yes (USB and DLNA) — jpg, jpeg

LPCM: Yes (USB and DLNA) — wav

MP3: Yes (USB and DLNA) — mp3

MPEG-1: Yes (USB) — vob, vro, mpg, mpeg, m2ts, mts

MPEG: Yes (USB and DLNA) — vob, vro, mpg, mpeg, m2ts, mts

Simple MPEG: Yes, MPEG 4 AVC (USB) — mkv, mp4, m4v, m2ts, mts

WMA: Yes (USB and DLNA) — wma (DLNA:Basic profile only no 32kpbs or lower)

WMV: Yes, WMV9 (USB) — wmv, asf

Inputs and Outputs

Analog Audio 2ch Output(s) (L,R): 1

Component Video (Y/Pb/Pr) Output(s): 1

Composite Video Output(s): 1

Ethernet Port(s): 1

HDMI Output(s): 1

Optical Audio Digital Output(s): 1

USB Port(s): 1- front

Weights and Measurements

Dimensions: 7.4 x 1.6 x 7.4 inches

Weight: 1 pound, 8 ounces

 

Back View:

 

Brite-View BV-5005HD “CinemaTube” 3-in-1 1080p Full HD Multimedia Player/Streamer/Torrent Downloader

Filed Under Brite-View BV-5005HD Cinematube | 5 Comments

The brite-view cinema tube is one of the most versatile media streamers in the digital media player genre and truly one of the most fun USB toys out today.  It comes from the manufacturer with the ability to play any files you can throw at it .  It has all of the features to keep even the pickiest video snob happy, like streaming 1080p video playback and support for digital sound with DTS and Dolby Digital Playback through the optical output.  Utilizing Upnp technology will allow you to instantly start streaming services like CNN and Hulu right out of the box.  It is also a compatible torrent download that can support three downloads at the same time.  This could free up your computer to actually be used as a computer, and not just a media player.  Similar to the Xtreamer this media player also has the capability to be an MKV streamer.

Update 11/17/2010: Brite-view has released a new “Mini” version of the BV-5005HD called the CinemaGo. Right now it comes standard with the wireless dongle and an HDMI cable included from Amazon! Find out more at this link, New Arrival! brite-View BV-5005HD Mini . 

The Briteview Cinematube 1080p Full HD Media Player

Features, features, and more features, and did I mention that  this media streamer is wireless capable also?  The wireless adapter (WL-6200C) is sold separately, of course, but nonetheless you are able to connect the Briteview Cinematube to your network via wireless adapter and instantly it becomes a wireless media player.  Amazon sells the Brite-View media player and the wireless adapter as a complete kit, or for about $30 less, you can just buy the brite-view player by iteself.  If you are interested in the media player without the wireless adapter it is available here at, Brite-View BV-5005HD .  Now, for some die hard media player fans who prefer their media player to be hard wired, you can also connect the Brite-view usb video player directly to your network via Ethernet cable.  I couldn’t find any evidence that there is an internal expansion slot for installing your own internal hard drive to store your media on the device.  The Brite-View 1080p media player will only play files located on a USB device that is connected to the unit.  You can connect the Brite View 5005hd to your network via Ethernet cable and access your network also.  This media player will  play your pc content like movies, and music directly from your computer network, but you will have to install 3rd party applications such as PlayOn and TVersity on your computer to be able to achieve this feature.  It will, however, stream digital media like CNN, ESPN, CBS, and HULU through the Ethernet cable or the wireless adapter.  Now I normally will start off by touting the greatness of a player, and I started out with a few things that this player is lacking, and it may seem like I am bashing this player, but truth be told I really like the Brite-view BV-5005HD Cinematube multimedia player.  One feature of this player that is considered, “Hush, Hush”, due to certain implications is its compatibility as a torrent downloader.  It can support up to three simultaneous torrent downloads directly to the USB device you have connected to your Cinematube as a usb video player.  This device only supports playback from USB hard drives with the NTFS or EXT-3 formats.  The Brite-view Cinematube also has video playback at up to 1080p supported and Dolby Digital and DTS sound output through the digital optical out, or through the HDMI cable.  The Brite-View comes with a free Ethernet cable also.  Here is a look at some of the other great features:

Also, having the ability to stream any movie you want to your HD television means your are probably going to have some late nights, or some very early mornings depending on your perspective.  Either way, if you love coffee, then I found a great site that you can visit by following this link, coffee press guide.

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