For a long time no one uses VCRs, and DVD players are gradually becoming a thing of the past. The best example of modern video and audio playback technology is the HD media player. With it, you can watch movies and clips in high definition. Moreover, such a digital device is compact. For its use, discs or cassettes are not needed. You can download videos directly to the built-in memory, then connect your media player to your TV and enjoy watching. The storage device is usually a hard drive or flash memory.
A special chipset or processor is responsible for processing audio and video information in such a technique. Its performance depends on the frequency range.
What to look for when choosing a media player
Before buying a media player, you need to decide on its most important characteristics. If you want to store a large amount of multimedia content in the player's memory, you should choose a model with a hard disk. Typically, these digital devices can be equipped with up to 6 terabytes of storage. Some models simply support the installation of a hard drive, but it is not included in the kit. Here you should build on your financial capabilities. It may be more profitable for someone to buy a hard drive later.
Most multimedia players support all known video and audio playback formats. Still, before purchasing, ask a consultant if this HD media player supports the format that you are used to using.
It is hard to argue with the fact that everyone would like to watch their favorite clips and movies in excellent quality. So, in the store you should pay attention to digital devices that allow you to play video in high resolution 1920x1080 or 1280x720 pixels. The quality of recording and playback in VGA format (640x480 pixels) is unlikely to suit anyone.
The presence of a special DVD-drive in the player does not hurt at all. Some people are accustomed to storing their home video on discs. In order not to waste extra time on video rewriting, it is better to immediately buy a media player with a drive.
And of course, pay attention to the connectors that the device boasts. It is desirable that the case has connectors for connecting to a TV and a computer, composite audio and video connectors, as well as a card reader for reading memory cards.
The image is displayed on the screen using various sources: antenna, computer, laptop, media player. There are a lot of options for the latter today, so it is very important to figure out which media player to choose for your TV so that viewing photos, modern video and music file formats brings a lot of pleasure.
The computer is considered the most versatile medium for playing any kind of content. If you have high-speed Internet at home, quickly finding any video file will not be difficult. Connecting a PC to a TV usually comes with some inconvenience. In addition, while browsing, the computer may make annoying noise, and self-playback is not always of high quality.
BlueRayDisk player is designed to play CDs. This device has the necessary number of connectors, is easy to set up and operate.
Connoisseurs of simplicity and ease of use are better off choosing a Full HD media player. Most of the models are connected to the network, thanks to a USB cable or Wi-Fi. These devices, using special connectors, can be easily connected to older TVs, home theaters and modern television sets. This technique copes well with the display of various films, other videos made in high and standard low resolution. With it, you can arrange a slide show while viewing photos.
The principle of operation, the advantages of the device
Thus, a media player for a TV is a signal playback source, in other words, it is a mini system unit designed to play various media files. The TV for this device acts as a regular monitor. This technique has replaced the old VCRs and outdated DVD players. It will easily turn an outdated TV into a modern entertainment center. Some models of LCD and plasma TVs have built-in media players, which, despite their lower functionality, are still suitable for watching movies.
The media player is equipped with an ethernet port for connecting the device to the Internet and USB slots that allow reading information from flash drives. More advanced devices are used to view various files without first downloading, that is, online. Some models boast the presence of Wi-Fi for TVs. In the absence of this function, a USB adapter is used to transmit the signal.
The main carriers of information are:
- hard drives located directly in the case;
- flash cards;
- external hard drives connected via USB;
- memory cards of phones, camcorders, cameras, other devices connected via a built-in or external card reader.
The main advantages of modern media players:
- compact dimensions;
- well support modern formats;
- the presence of a large number of applications;
- the ability to connect an external hard drive, various peripheral devices that allow you to enter and display information;
- secure file storage;
- minimum wires;
- clear interface;
- rarely freeze, unlike a computer;
- acceptable prices.
Choosing a good TV player
From year to year, the electronics market is becoming more diverse. Modern models are more multifunctional, compact, comfortable to operate. Although the performance of the technique for playing various files is largely similar to each other, there are significant differences in terms of functionality.
To choose a media player for a TV, it is important to be guided by the following criteria:
- omnivorousness or the ability to work with various formats (a good player boasts not only high-definition video transmission, but also excellent sound);
- memory, that is, the presence of a hard disk, allows you to store a certain amount of information;
- the presence of the necessary connectors;
- support for Internet services (provided by appropriate software);
- a cooling system that regulates the intensity of the player (it is better to give preference to the active option, inexpensive models are usually equipped with a passive system);
- comfort of management;
- ease of navigation through the menu;
- the presence of a Russian-language menu.
The best models of media players
It would seem that the appearance of television receivers that reproduce various kinds of information should have reduced the popularity of media players. However, due to certain reasons, this did not happen. Until advanced TV models appear in all homes, this technique will remain in demand.
PopcornHour Xtreamer is considered the leader among media player manufacturers. The products of these brands are distinguished by their multifunctionality, the highest build quality, and the latest software. The German company Loewe is a leader in the production of expensive luxury equipment.
Media players from Apple have a unique design, although they are somewhat inferior to competitors in terms of the number of functions. No less popular are the products of Acer, BBK, Phillips, LG, iconBIT, Rombica.
Let's start the rating of media players for TV with the Dune HD TV-102W media player - this is a modern compact, budget device that allows you to view network video in HD format. The laconic design of the player, containing nothing superfluous, is pleasing to the eye.
The model provides access to multiple Internet services with entertainment content. With a permanent connection to the Web, TV shows, movies, videos will be available to the user at any time of the day.
Main characteristics:
- 3D video playback technology.
- Built-in DVB-T 2 digital tuner.
- Dolby Digital Plus decoder.
- Reading media files from any digital devices.
- Play media files from your home network.
- The amount of built-in memory is 256 MB.
- Russified on-screen menu.
- The presence of the BD-Live function.
- Interfaces - USB 2.0 Type A.
The device receives digital IPTV channels. Management is carried out through the remote control. Through a special application, you can control the media player via a smartphone or tablet. Also, the function allows you to exchange data with devices based on iOS and Android.
The Russified menu is intuitive, all available plug-ins are collected on one screen. Among the plug-ins are available such as an Internet browser, virtual keyboard, radio. The advantage of the model is the regular firmware update, which can be downloaded from the official website of the developer company.
This inexpensive model has a compact size, concise and strict design. It will provide quick access to various information, including Internet content. The device will perfectly cope with the functions assigned to it, not only at home, but also in the country.
Some parts of the body are made of metal, some are made of plastic. The device is controlled by a remote control with a very convenient placement of buttons, batteries have an extended service life. The media player boasts a fast processor, maximum signal sensitivity, high-quality image processing, and high channel switching speed. The device supports Full HD resolution, which guarantees clarity and richness of the image. This technique, even with a minimum signal, will allow you to view digital programs using a conventional home antenna.
The rear panel has HDMI and composite outputs, there is also an S / PDIF connector (for connecting to a speaker system), and a USB port is located on the side of the case. Important: there is no built-in storage in this model. The menu consists of seven sections, channel setup is simple and easy, to work with a flash drive, you just need to insert the drive, select, then run the file of interest. In addition to the remote control, the kit also includes a cable and a power adapter.
The best media player for TV in 2018 is the IconBIT Movie HDS T2 mini media player, but its compact size and light weight do not detract from its many features. The multimedia device plays video in FullHD quality, and also supports a wide range of codecs, video files, graphics and audio files. The device reads subtitles in ASS format and receives digital signals through a home antenna.
The main characteristics of the model:
- The presence of a digital TV tuner (DVB-T, DVB-T2).
- Own proprietary OS.
- Interfaces - USB 2.0 Type A.
- Recording option available.
- System support DOLBY support.
The case of the device is made of black glossy plastic and looks very stylish. The player is controlled by the remote control. The built-in cooling system will protect the model from overheating. The device has an HDMI output, but the cable is not included, you need to buy it separately. However, for such a budget price, this is not at all a minus. The player does not load quickly - 30-40 seconds, but again, one should not expect anything more from such a cheap model.
Overall, the IconBIT Movie HDS T2 media player is a worthy economical choice, outperforming more expensive models only in minor configurations.
Movie buffs, fans of computer games, watching online content will certainly appreciate this media player model, which looks like a regular router. The device uses the Android 5.1 operating system in its work, you can easily perform the same actions on it as on a computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone. An additional plus is the ability to connect to outdated TV models.
The appearance of the media player is concise, compact and neat. The matte finish of the metal body does not collect fingerprints. Sturdy rubber feet lift the device off the ground, improving air circulation. There are three USB outputs on the left side of the case, with which you can connect various external devices. A set of necessary outputs and a connector for mounting the antenna are conveniently located on the back of the case. For those who expect to use this technique very actively, we recommend purchasing a wireless keyboard and mouse.
For those wishing to equip their TV with a smart TV function, we suggest choosing a media player for a 2018 TV that supports 4K video from Dune. The body of the device is made of durable black plastic. In order not to spoil the beautiful appearance, the necessary connectors are located on the main panel, with the exception of the USB port located in the front.
In addition to the media player, the package includes a power supply, a remote control, a cable, two antennas, an infrared remote sensor, an analog cable, as well as brackets used when mounting the device on the wall. The hard drive is located at the bottom of the case in a special compartment. The player has a quiet active cooling system. The video starts up pretty quickly. The main plus is a large selection of applications and support for 4K video.
| title | |||||
| HD support | 1080p (Full HD) | 1080p (Full HD) | 4K UHD | 1080p (Full HD) | 1080p (Full HD) |
| File formats | MKV, AVI, WMV, VOB, MOV, M2TS, MP4, FLV | MKV, AVI, WMV, VOB, MOV, ASF, M2TS, MP4 | MKV, AVI, WMV, ISO, VOB, MOV, ASF, TP, TS, M2TS, MP4 | MKV, AVI, WMV, ISO, VOB, MOV, ASF, TS, M2TS, MP4 | MKV, AVI, WMV, MOV |
| exits | audio stereo, audio coaxial, video composite, HDMI | audio stereo, audio optical, video composite, HDMI 1.4 | audio stereo, audio coaxial, video composite, HDMI 1.4 | audio stereo, video composite, HDMI | |
| Additionally | remote control, 2 AAA batteries, AV cable | 4 cores ARM Cortex-A53 2.0 GHz | support for SMB, NFS, SACD ISO; full support for BLU-RAY ISO, BLU-RAY 3D ISO, DVD ISO; built-in cataloger; quick start guide, IR remote, power supply, Ethernet cable, HDMI cable, IR port extension | Support for online services IVI.RU, MEGOGO.RU, TVIGLE, etc. | IR remote, antenna input |
| price | from 1800 rub. | from 8400 rub. | from 24990 rub. | from 6990 rub. | from 1450 rub. |
| where could I buy |
Each user of a computer or laptop is faced with which media player to choose best for watching movies and videos. At first glance, it may seem that there is nothing complicated here, but it is not. There are a lot of players at the moment, and each has a certain functionality. Also, do not forget about the ease of use, because the easier it is to control the player, the more you will like it. In today's review, we will look at some of the most popular media players and get acquainted with their capabilities.
GOM Player
It is worth starting a review of media players, perhaps, with one of the most popular today - this is GOM Player. The program has been released for a long time. The popularity of the player came at a time when additional codecs were required to play certain video formats. Everything that was needed was already built into the GOM, due to which it could play absolutely any video.
At the moment, there are 2 versions of the media player - free and paid with the GOM Plus prefix. The main differences of the paid version are a modified graphical shell, no ads and better optimization for most computers. Also, Plus owners are offered ongoing technical assistance and various promotions in the future. GOM Plus costs 1400 rubles. ($ 25), but at a discount it can be bought for 840 rubles. ($15). To be honest, the free version is enough for everyday use, so you don’t have to pay money at all.
Opportunities
Now it's worth getting a little acquainted with the capabilities of the player. As already mentioned, GOM Player has all the necessary codecs to play any video. You will also be prompted to download additional codecs during the installation of the program. As for ease of use, everything is in order here. You can rewind the video using the left and right arrows on your keyboard. The up and down arrows are responsible for increasing and decreasing the volume. In addition, you can adjust the sound and the wheel on the mouse. Pause and playback are traditionally answered by the spacebar.
There is support for subtitles. Interestingly, when playing any movie, GOM Player offers to download subtitles and automatically recognizes the name of the movie. Another interesting feature worth noting is the support for remote control. A smartphone will be used as a remote control. Everything is set up quickly and easily. Finally, it is worth noting the ability to adjust the sound using the equalizer, carry out color correction, adjust the size and position of subtitles, and also take screenshots by pressing a special button.
Windows Media Player
The next media player on the list is a classic application that is on any computer - Windows Media Player or WMP for short. In fact, not everyone prefers and loves this player, primarily due to the fact that its functionality is somewhat curtailed and it can not play all types of videos. Some formats require separate codecs.
Player functionality
So, the main disadvantage of WMP is that it is inconvenient to use. The media player has very poorly implemented controls. For example, if you start a video and press the spacebar, nothing will happen. In others, it would immediately stop for a pause, but not here. In order to be able to stop and start playback using the spacebar, you must first click on the corresponding button with the mouse. The same applies to rewind - first you need to click on the time slider and only after that you can use the arrows on the keyboard. The situation is similar with volume control. As a result, it turns out that it is easier to use the mouse than the keyboard.
Next, as for the additional settings. Just want to say - there are few of them. If you right-click anywhere in the video, a small context menu will appear with just these settings. Of interest here is only the item "Additional features". Most of the parameters in it do not work, you can only use the "Video Options", where you are asked to adjust the color scheme.
If we talk about which media player to choose - WMP or GOM, then preference should still be given to the second. It is more convenient to use and much more functional than Windows Media.
Media Player Classic (MPC)
Another equally popular media player on today's list is Media Player Classic (MPC). Unlike Windows Media Player, MPC has much more functionality and features. The player is distributed free of charge, so anyone can download it on the official website. You don't have to worry about codecs - the player already has everything you need.
Functionality
Using the MPC is very convenient, although its operation is slightly different from other players. For example, the up and down arrows are responsible for the volume level, left and right allow you to frame-by-frame rewind. In order to rewind a few seconds of the video, you need to press the key combination "Ctrl + left / right arrow". At first glance, it is not very convenient, but in any case it is better than WMP. By the way, you can also adjust the sound using the wheel on the mouse.
Also, by clicking the left mouse button, you can stop playing the video, and by clicking it again, you can resume it. On the keyboard, the same manipulations can be carried out using the "space". In addition, MPC allows you to increase and decrease the speed of video playback by pressing special buttons. They are located at the bottom left next to the rest of the controls.
Media Player Classic also allows you to load the subtitle file manually or automatically. To do this, you need the subtitle file to be in the same folder as the video. As for the settings, there are a lot of them, and it will take time to deal with them all. But you can not do this, because on standard parameters everything works very well.
As for which media player to choose for your computer from the so far presented, GOM and MPC would be the best option. Windows Media is inferior to both in almost everything. Well, let's move on to the next program.
PotPlayer
If we are already talking about which media player to choose for a PC or laptop so that it is easy to manage and at the same time functional, then it is definitely worth looking towards PotPlayer. Previously, the same program was called Daum PotPlayer, but over time, the developers removed the first part and left only the second. This player is distributed free of charge, it does not have additional types of licenses, which means that the functionality will be the same for everyone. PotPlayer already has all the necessary codecs, so you don’t need to look for anything else on the Internet to download and install on your computer.
Program features
PotPlayer is a bit similar to GOM in terms of its appearance, layout of some elements and buttons. The player has a very convenient control using the keys on the keyboard. The arrows are responsible for rewinding and control the volume level, and the "space" - for the start of playback and pause. As for the mouse, you can also use the wheel to adjust the volume, and double-clicking the left button mimics the function of the spacebar.
The menu that appears when you click on the corresponding button in the upper left corner is a bit like a classic media player, only there are much fewer items here. However, everything you need is there: control, playback, subtitle settings, video, audio, etc. The same menu can be opened by pressing the right mouse button.
Of the interesting features, it is worth noting the extensive possibilities of the "Frame Recording" and "Video Recording" menus. The first allows you to take screenshots from a video, storyboard, save each frame as a separate image, merge several screenshots into one, and much, much more. The second menu allows you to record video, that is, you can record and save some interesting moment in the movie.
Well, and, of course, one cannot fail to mention the button in the form of a gear, which is located at the bottom right. When you click on it, a small control panel appears, which is very similar to the one in GOM Player. The set of functions here is about the same, only the video and subtitle settings are somewhat more extensive.
PotPlayer is a great option that will suit absolutely everyone. Simple and cute design, good functionality, ease of use - what else do you need?
Light Alloy
If for some reason none of the above players satisfied you and the search for an answer to the question “which media player to choose” continues, then perhaps you should pay attention to Light Alloy. This player is very well known to computer users on the Windows XP operating system. Since in those days there was not much choice in the players, LA saved very well. It allowed you to play any of the videos that existed then, and without delays and brakes. Perhaps this was due to its own video engine and a package of codecs that were installed with the player.
At the moment, the latest version of the media player for Windows 7, 8 and 10 has been created. Support for XP and Vista is not provided. You can download the player from the official website for free.
Functionality
Since Light Alloy was developed by a Russian developer, the media player interface is in Russian. The controls here are very similar to what Media Player Classic has. You can pause playback by pressing the space bar and clicking the left mouse button. The arrows, as always, play the role of adjusting the sound and rewind. This player has an interesting feature - if you right-click on the window in which the video is playing, then all controls, the frame and even the time line will disappear. Only one image remains.
The player's settings can be accessed using the gear-shaped button or by right-clicking on the control panel. Actually, the second method is more convenient and faster. There are no interesting settings for video in LA, everything is the same as in the previous versions - adjusting brightness, contrast and saturation.
There is a separate button for downloading subtitles. Clicking the left mouse button turns subtitles on and off, and clicking the right mouse button allows you to select the desired file. There is also a separate button for screenshots. It allows you to take either single shots or complete a storyboard.
All in all, Light Alloy is a very pleasant player that is easy and enjoyable to use. If we talk about which media player for Windows 7, 8 and 10 to choose from those already presented, then you should pay attention to MPC, PotPlayer and, probably, Light Alloy. Everything is clear with WMP - the player is very inconvenient in all respects, but as for GOM, this player is good, but the built-in advertising in the free version spoils the impression a little.
Finally
It's time to sum up today's review and answer the most important question: which media player is better? It is impossible to say for sure, because each of the presented has its pros and cons. Some may like the look and feel of PotPlayer, while others may prefer Light Alloy or MPC. For someone, it will be important to have a lot of settings, while someone, on the contrary, will choose the necessary minimum. Everyone has different requirements, so everyone should choose the best player on their own.
Of course, a personal computer or laptop is the most versatile tool for working with media content. The ability to install any codecs and use any players attracts many users. However, from the point of view of convenience, in addition to the sole viewing, there are certain complaints about this decision. First, you need to ensure that the device is connected to a widescreen TV and / or receiver, which can be difficult if they are located remotely. Secondly, you need a remote control and setting up a program or multimedia shell for it. Thirdly, you need to pay attention to the system configuration and software selection. Of course, many users successfully cope with these tasks, but all this takes time and experience.
An alternative to this approach are ready-made network media players. After their minimal setup, the user gets the opportunity to comfortably work with video, music, photos, online services and broadcasts on the big screen over the network - using the media library on a PC or NAS. At the same time, the cost of the solution can be significantly lower than that of the simplest computer.
Another couple of options that are worth mentioning are watching videos through modern game consoles and players built into TVs - but today we will not talk about them in detail.
We list in the table the comparative advantages of modern media players and computers for solving the problem.
Currently, there are many models of media players on the market that differ both in capabilities and in cost. In general, the minimum list of functions looks like this: work over a network and from USB drives, HDMI output for connecting to a TV or receiver, video support up to Full HD inclusive, built-in tools for working with online resources. Additionally, the following may be available: built-in drives, an optical drive for BD and DVD discs, a built-in wireless controller, network storage services, as well as downloading files from p2p networks, the ability to install additional software. Detailed reviews of interesting models can be found in the "Multimedia" section of our website.
Today, for our consideration, we have chosen the C-200 player of the well-known brand Popcorn Hour as an example. A year and a half ago, this model already participated in testing on our website, but since then some changes have been implemented in it, so let's talk a little about the device.
Popcorn Hour C-200 media player
This model belongs to the top class of modern media players. It is made in the format of standard rack-mount equipment and supports all current sources of media content. The basis of the device is the Sigma Designs SMP8643 chip, which is capable of playing video of all formats, with the exception of stereo Blu-ray. To connect to audio / video equipment, the player has a wide range of appropriate outputs - from composite video and stereo audio to HDMI 1.3a. An interesting feature of the device is a remote control that works via a radio channel. This allows you to freely choose the installation location of the device. The manufacturer also provided the ability to control the player via Wi-Fi from mobile devices through special programs for Android and iOS.
In some cases, a fairly large monochrome matrix screen may come in handy. With it, you can, for example, turn on the playback of audio compositions without turning to the TV.
Storage devices connected via USB ports, SMB / NFS / DLNA network resources, as well as hard drives and optical drives installed inside the device can act as media. The mount for the latter in the modification under consideration allows you to simultaneously use a standard 3.5″ hard drive with quick replacement through a special compartment and a “thin” BD or DVD optical drive. They are connected to two SATA ports of the main processor.
Popcorn Hour C-200 supports a wide range of online services, has the ability to change the appearance of the interface and implement advanced network functions.
There is a built-in FastEthernet port for working with a local network. Additionally, you can purchase a proprietary 802.11n wireless controller, which is also installed inside the player. The WMP-ND02 model we used is based on the Ralink RT2880 + RT2850 chipset and allows you to work at speeds up to 450 MHz in the 2.4 or 5 GHz bands. Its three antennas are installed through the provided holes in the body of the device. Support for the not yet very busy 5 GHz band allows even high-definition video, including BD images, to be viewed wirelessly with this controller. But, of course, the user will also need an appropriate router. Alternatively, compatible USB dongles or Wi-Fi-Ethernet bridges can be used.
Assembly and connection of the player
First you need to deal with the hardware options of the device, in particular, the configuration of the drives installed inside the player. The most versatile option would be a BD optical drive and a hard drive. To install the first, you will have to be smart and attentive. A hard drive can be added at any time via the front panel quick-swap bay. The disc may already contain files and they will be immediately available through the player's menu.
In addition, you need to pay attention to the possibility of installing a USB drive inside the device. It can be useful for realizing the full operation of the BD menu, as well as the operation of additional NMT applications. You can use any model of 2-4 GB. The advantage of this option is that the drive will not occupy external ports and will be constantly available to the player. You can also connect a hard drive to this connector if you want to increase the size of your media library and / or have a permanently connected mass storage device.
If an original wireless module was purchased, then it must also be installed inside the device.
The last thing you need to pay attention to is providing a comfortable temperature regime in the Popcorn Hour C-200 case. The manufacturer says about installing the fan in the place provided for it in the case only if there are problems in the operation of the player or disk. We would recommend doing this while constantly using the internal 3.5″ hard drive. In testing, when watching HD video for a long time or downloading torrents, the temperature of the used 1 TB Seagate drive reached 48 degrees.
After these operations, the body of the player can be closed and installed on the workplace. Many other player models also allow you to install a hard drive inside the device for storing files and implementing additional functions. Very compact devices usually work only with external drives with USB or eSATA interfaces.
In addition to the power cable, at least you need to connect a TV or projector. The most convenient and high-quality option is through the HDMI port. If it is necessary to have multi-channel sound through the receiver, it is connected between the player and the TV, and if the receiver does not have an HDMI port, you can use the player's digital audio outputs.
Basic player settings
In most cases, after turning on the player and TV, you will see the Popcorn Hour C-200 interface on the latter. If this does not happen, you need to check the settings of the display device and / or change the type of video output of the player through special combinations of buttons on the remote control.
The main settings of the player consist in choosing the interface language, audio/video output parameters and setting the network connection parameters. For video, the best option is to use the digital output and enable the option to automatically select the frame rate depending on the parameters of the file being played, if supported by the TV. Audio settings include specifying for the audio track formats the option for processing them - output to the receiver in its original form or decoding inside the player and mixing in stereo (“downmix”). The second one may come in handy when installing the player only with a TV without a receiver.
For media players, we recommend using a wired network connection. Only it can guarantee the playback of all variants of high-definition video from network resources. This is due to performance - the maximum video bitrate today is about 40 Mbps. A cable connection is capable of operating at this speed in any case. But the quality of wireless communication significantly depends on the state of the air - obstacles, interference and networks of neighbors. And not all of these parameters can be controlled by the user. The 802.11g standard, with its real speed under ideal conditions of about 25 Mbps, can only be used on video files up to 15 GB per movie (very rough estimate). With 802.11n the situation is much better. With good hardware, it delivers speeds of 100Mbps or more, and the ability to operate in the 5GHz band further improves the chances of video playback without lag.
In this regard, the player model under consideration looks very good - its built-in controller is capable of operating at high speed and has support for the 5 GHz band.
A joint test of the Popcorn Hour C-200 and the WMP-ND02 card with one of the fastest routers - ASUS RT-N66U - showed that at 2.4 GHz, in the presence of a large number of other wireless networks on the air, the player is able to display files up to BD , however, during their viewing, friezes and scattering of the picture are possible. If you switch the adapter to the 5 GHz band, then there will be no problems - you can view files specially prepared for the test with a bit rate of 50 Mbps and higher.
Note that for the convenience of entering passwords for wireless networks and other text fields, you can connect a regular USB keyboard to the player.
As for configuring IP addresses, in most cases you can use the automatic receipt of them via DHCP from the router. However, if you plan to work with the device's own network services, it is better to set up a fixed address assignment in the router based on the player's MAC address.
Working with network resources
To view files from USB-drives, you just need to select the desired document in the player's browser. But working with network resources will require the creation and configuration of the latter. However, this is easy to do.
Most player models support SMB/CIFS, NFS and DLNA protocols. The first is the standard option for Windows-based networks. The description of the network resource in this case consists of the name (or IP address) of the server, the name of the shared folder on it, and the name/password of the user who has access to it.
We have already configured such resources on the NAS. For convenience, you can program a special user in the drive for access from the player, giving him read (or full) rights to the necessary network folders. A similar setting is carried out on a computer - select a folder and share it, not forgetting the list of users.
Next, you need to specify these parameters in the player in the "Network resources" section. Here you will also be able to enter your own resource name for the player. After programming all links, they will be available from the main menu of the device in the "network" section.
Using the NFS protocol can be useful for those users on whose computers Linux is installed. In addition, it is usually supported in modern network drives. For the player model under consideration, NFS does not have significant advantages, however, for less productive devices, it can potentially provide higher speeds (smoothly played video bitrate).
Let's take a look at the setup using the Synology NAS as an example. After enabling the NFS server in the properties of the share, you must allow access to it from the required IP addresses. As a result, the parameters for data access will consist of the name or IP address of the server and the path to the shared resource (it will be shown in the settings window on the NAS). Usernames and passwords are not used in this case. Please note that in some cases it is necessary to use the "NFS TCP" protocol variant, which is also supported by the player.
To simplify the settings, you can use the built-in web browser - then you only have to enter the resource name and user data.
The third protocol by which the player can receive data from the local network is DLNA (formerly known as UPnP AV). It was conceived as an easy way to link multiple home networked devices including PCs, players, game consoles, cell phones to share videos, photos and music. Unfortunately, even today and with certificates, you can meet with partial incompatibility of devices or lack of support for some functions.
To implement a DLNA server on a PC, you must use special software (for example) or a standard Windows Media Player that can also perform this function. Server settings are usually minimal - you only need to select the folders in which the media content is located and allow access to a specific player. Unlike the standard network protocols described above, sorting and searching for files on the DLNA server does not take place according to directories (although this option is usually also provided), but according to specially created indexes. For example, for music files, this can be information from tags - artist name, album name, release year. To compile them, the server must spend some time, which must be taken into account when using it. The indexing process, depending on the server and its settings, occurs at the request of the user, according to a schedule, or when new documents appear.
Setting up a server on the NAS consists only of selecting folders for scanning.
The advantage of DLNA, which may be of interest to some models of players with weak processors, is the use of the HTTP protocol for transferring content, which is more "light" and allows you to slightly increase the maximum video bitrate available over the network.
DLNA resources in the player are connected automatically. They do not need to be pre-programmed anywhere.
Internet Services
Popcorn Hour C-200, like most others, has built-in clients for viewing content from such Internet resources as YouTube, SHOUTcast, flickr and dozens of others. No special settings are required to work with them. You just need to provide the player with access to the Internet.
Additional features
In our opinion, the most correct option for organizing media viewing on a home network is a network drive with a library and the required number of simple network players with access to it. This allows you to have a single place for storage and processing, simplifies the setup of the players, and they themselves can be compact and quiet, with a connection only to the network.
But this scenario is not always possible. For example, if there is no network drive, you want to have local media in the player for watching high-bitrate videos or the ability to use it offline or at a party.
In this case, the ability to implement additional functions by the player itself will come in handy.
So, on devices of the family, you can install a special set of applications that will allow you to use it in new scenarios. To store the program code, you need to allocate a special partition on one of the local drives. You can use the internal USB port for this by connecting a USB flash drive with a capacity of 2 GB or more. This will allow you to easily change the hard drive installed in the front bay without worrying about the performance of applications. On the other hand, installing on a hard drive will make it easier to use the data on the hard drive for built-in services.
Direct installation of programs is carried out from the menu "Maintenance" → "NMT Setup Wizard". If the player is connected to the Internet, then it can download all the data necessary for installation on its own.
During installation on a blank drive, new partitions are created - allocated for applications and for user files for the remaining space. Please note that the default file system of the data partition is EXT3, which is not accessible from Windows without special drivers, but files can be written to the disk over the network.
The standard set of applications for this family of NMT players consists of UPnP AV, myiHome, FTP, SMB, NFS servers and clients for downloading torrents and files from Usenet networks.
The first two servers can be useful if the player uses a capacious hard disk with a media library and there are other players in the local network. Through these protocols, other players will be able to access files on this device. You can also use SMB and NFS for this.
FTP and SMB will be useful for reading/writing data to the player's disk from a computer. Unfortunately, the system does not provide any access control to directories - there is a single user account (name - nmt, default password - "1234", but you can change it), which has access to all resources for reading and writing. Note that when NMT applications are installed, you can change the network name of the device and the name of the workgroup.
The built-in torrent client allows you to download files directly to the player without a PC. In this model, two programs are installed at once. Perhaps it is more convenient to use the second - the well-known transmission utility. Its web interface is available at http://pch-c200:8077 and is password protected. If necessary, you can provide control over the Internet - just configure the translation of port 8077 on the router to the IP address of the player. If the capabilities of the web interface are not enough, the Transmission Remote GUI or transmission-remote-dotnet programs will come to the rescue, which can be found on the supplied CD. For efficient download and distribution, you also need to open the port of the service itself (51413 by default).
When working with additional services, do not forget that although the processor used in media players does an excellent job of decoding video, if we talk about the functions of a network drive, an offline file download system or other non-core functions, then by modern standards it is relatively weak. Speed characteristics are not needed: given that a 100 Mbps network controller is used, the speed of writing over the network (SMB protocol) is about 6 MB / s, and reading - more than 7 MB / s.
As you can see, setting up a network player on a home network is very simple and accessible to everyone. Using this type of equipment will allow you not to waste time on setting up a computer and software, but to use it for comfortable viewing of your favorite series on a widescreen TV in a large company.
03.12.2014 / 927
Watching movies is one of the most popular leisure activities. How pleasant it is for the whole family to relax in front of the TV screen while watching TV shows, feature films, news. All the latest films are shown on one or another TV channel, you just need to carefully study the program guide.
But there is one small, but minus. In today's dynamic life, it is quite difficult to adapt to the television broadcast. The film of interest may be shown when not everyone has gathered at home yet or it is too late when it is necessary to rest. For this reason, VCRs were popular in the old days, later DVD players, and now more and more movies are downloaded from the Internet and watched on a computer.
In an effort to improve leisure time, computers began to install a special connector for connecting to a TV, after all, its diagonal, as a rule, is much larger than that of a computer monitor, and it usually costs more conveniently for collective viewing.
What is a media player?
A media player is a device designed to view movies in digital format on a TV screen without using a personal computer. It is enough to copy the desired movie to a USB drive, which is connected to a special connector on the media player.
Technically, the media player looks almost like a DVD player, only much smaller. The front panel has connectors for connecting USB drives and/or memory cards. On the back of the case, as a rule, there are connectors for connecting a media player to a TV.
Now more. USB drives are different - flash drives of various sizes, as well as external hard drives. Modern models of players support almost any type of storage device, regardless of volume. Although it wasn't always like that. If you meet a production model of 2010-2012, then it may easily lack support, for example, for external hard drives or flash drives with a capacity of 32-64 MB.
The fact is that bulky drives require a sufficiently powerful power source, and the power supply of the media player itself may simply not be designed for such a load. And it will be normal that the hard drive, when connected to the player, freezes, is not detected, or even starts clicking loudly, even preventing the player from starting up. These are clear signs of incompatibility between these devices. In modern models of media players, such troubles practically do not occur.
Now about the connectors for connecting to the TV. Since the advent of media players on the Russian market and to this day, no common standard exists, although attempts are still being made to simplify the life of the consumer.
In general, the following connectors are common:
RCA ("tulips") - the easiest way to connect, because. such a connector is on any, even old, even new TV. All three wires: video and stereo sound. As a rule, it is present in all models of media players.
SCART is a relatively rarely used connector, mainly due to its relatively large size, although it is available on almost all modern TV models.
HDMI is the preferred connection type. All new TVs have such a connector, it allows you to transmit both sound and video over a single wire directly in digital form (unlike previous options). On models less than 3-4 years old, such a connector is required. It is this connection method that allows you to achieve maximum image quality from the media player.
In management, any media player is no different from DVD players. The menu in them is almost the same: a list of files on the drive is displayed on the TV screen and when you press the play button on the remote control, the movie starts to watch. Nothing complicated, maximum simplicity and efficiency.
Features of modern media players
But, despite all the statements about the simplicity of media players, in various catalogs there are at least two to three dozen different models that differ greatly from each other in price by more than two times. What's the matter?
The whole secret lies in the presence of additional functions in them that make this simple device a universal leisure center. For example, the most common related features are
Support to connect to Ethernet LAN or even Wi-Fi. Due to this function, the media player can easily connect to a home network or the Internet and play movies directly from a computer or online resources. Some models are able to independently download files from the Internet via torrents;
the ability to connect an internal drive, where you can store your entire home movie library. Some models are immediately sold with a 500-1000 GB hard drive connected, this volume is enough to satisfy most buyers. If the media player also supports a local network connection, then it can be used as a shared storage for any type of files.
There are still differences in the software stuffing of media players. There are dozens of formats in which movie files are stored on the Internet and on a computer. For each, if they are played on a computer, some kind of program is used, although, of course, there are also universal tools. This is the kind of universal media player that was supposed to be, but not everything is so simple.
On a computer, many programs are regularly updated, including support for new formats, errors in old modules are fixed, which makes it possible to play any video "transparently" when the user does not even think about such details as the file format, but simply watching a movie.
The media player does not have the possibility of such a regular update, so everyone can only use what is. And even a thorough analysis of the supported formats does not always give a result, there are so many of them that not every experienced computer scientist will figure out whether everything is listed or something important is missing. There are, of course, models that are quite versatile, but they also have rare cases of incompatibility.
Pros and cons compared to a personal computer
There are fans of computer viewing today who assert quite authoritatively that the computer will forever remain the best means for watching movies, that it has a lot of obvious advantages, and so on. But is it all right?
Of course, each solution has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, a computer has the following advantages:
almost absolute versatility, and when new video file formats appear, it is enough to install the program you need to play or update the already installed software.
the ability to watch movies online immediately, without waiting for them to be downloaded to your computer hard drive, you just need to connect the cable to the TV and open the video in full screen to make it more convenient to watch.
no USB drives are needed, especially since popular flash drives have a very small volume (4-16 GB) for movies in good quality (for HD quality, you still have to buy an external hard drive, because video files take from 5 to 50 GB and even more).
In defense of media players, for each item, quite strong arguments and facts can be cited, for example:
Current Internet speeds allow you to quickly download a new file encoded in a different format if the media player does not understand the format of the old, already downloaded movie. New formats are becoming less and less common, and they are not particularly readily used, because. for sites with films it is necessary that the movie was watched without any problems.
Movies online are often played in disgusting quality, which more or less still looks on a small monitor, but on a large diagonal will look unsuitable for viewing. And when watching a movie on a computer, it will not be possible to do other things.
external hard drives are quite common today, their price is slightly higher than that of internal drives and it is often more profitable to buy it than a flash drive with a large capacity (32-64 GB, for example).
Of the obvious advantages of media players, one can note their complete noiselessness, which is impossible to achieve for a computer, even a laptop. Each media player comes with a remote control, which makes it convenient to use. It is easy to entrust it even to a child, because nothing can be spoiled in it, unlike a computer.
In general, the media player is more suitable for family leisure, when some family members do not want to, for example, watch a movie or watch, but communicate in social networks at the same time. There are many situations that can be cited, and all of them speak for buying a media player at home.
Overview of popular media player models
All models of media players sold on the Russian market can be divided into a number of conditional categories, the simplest of which is the price range. The most popular models are always those that have a low price (budget models) or a relatively average cost with good performance.
IconBit Movie HD T2
A compact model that does not even require a separate place on the TV shelf. There is nothing superfluous in it, only playback of files from a USB drive.
connectors for connecting to TV - HDMI, RCA ("tulips"), component;
support for all video formats, up to HD, except for rarely used ones like Ultra HD, as well as 3D files;
there is a built-in DVB-T2 TV receiver;
price - $ 28.58
Due to the presence of a receiver of the modern digital television standard, the model becomes, in fact, a universal "combine". The single USB connector on the front panel suggests that the drive reading function is somewhat secondary.
A great option for those who prefer to use inexpensive, but functional enough devices.
Asus O!Play Mini
Another compact representative of the family of budget media players. Weighing only 175 grams, it can completely replace a full-featured computer.
The main characteristics of the player:
connectors for connecting to a TV - HDMI, composite (RCA is absent, which slightly reduces its compatibility with older TVs);
support for all video formats, up to HD, except for rarely used ones like Ultra HD, also does not play flash animation;
price - $ 56.77
In addition to the standard USB connector on the front panel, there is a slot for SD / MMC / MS / xD memory cards, which allows you to quickly view video captured on a photo or video camera.
A great option for those who prefer to view footage on the camera without a PC, immediately on the big screen of the TV.
IconBit Toucan Smart 3D
A budget model that has received maximum features at a low price. And all this thanks to the support of the Android operating system with all its advantages.
The main characteristics of the player:
connectors for connecting to TV - HDMI, D-Sub, composite (RCA is missing, but it is possible to connect a computer monitor);
the price is $64.88.
The built-in Android system allows you to adapt the media player to almost any of the possible situations. It is enough to download the desired program on the Internet and run it on this device. For example, you can watch movies in 3D quality on it, despite their rather large file size.
The model is perfect for those who need an inexpensive device with network support.
Western Digital WD TV Live Streaming Wi-Fi
An interesting media combine with sufficiently developed network capabilities, for example, Internet services that are designed to watch movies online via the network.
The main characteristics of the player:
support for most formats, except for less common ones such as FLV, flash-animation, Ultra HD, etc.;
support for wired LAN and Wi-Fi;
price - $ 70.96
This model has as many as two USB connectors, which allows, for example, to turn on an external hard drive on a permanent basis and use the connector on the back of the player for this. And use the front connector for flash drives.
The model for its low price is a good option for organizing a network drive (though due to a connected external hard drive and with some limitations).
Asus O!Play Mini Plus
An omnivorous model that supports not only a gigabit wired network and Wi-Fi, but also external drives with an eSATA interface.
The main characteristics of the player:
connectors for connecting to TV - HDMI, composite;
support for most formats, except for flash-animation, Ultra HD and other rarely used ones;
support for wired LAN and Wi-Fi;
price - $ 77.04
On the front panel there are traditional USB connectors for Asus players and a card reader. In terms of functionality, this model comes close to more expensive counterparts, which makes it interesting for those who like a large number of options for little money.
IconBit Toucan Stick G4
Quite a powerful multimedia computer based on a 4-core processor and Android system. It is possible to install third-party applications, including full-fledged games.
The main characteristics of the player:
connectors for connecting to TV - HDMI (apparently, the model is designed only for modern TVs);
support for all formats, even infrequent ones, because installation of third-party players with improved compatibility is allowed;
WiFi support;
price - $ 87.18
This model is a great option for fans of the exotic, because, despite its miniature size, it shows performance above many gaming tablets. True, for such a functional device, two USB connectors may turn out to be small, but if necessary, you can use a hub.
