Toshiba HD-A2 Hardware Ports

[Drthodor]

Now that BestBuy is offering me 39.99 trade-in value on the $400.00 Toshiba HD-A2 unit I purchase 1.5 years ago - well, everyone should be buying it now and looking for cracks. It's got a Ethernet port and it can make DHCP connections; however, this is only for viewing content over the internet if directed to do so via instructions from a DVD inserted into the tray.
Does anyone know if the Ethernet port can be used to output video content?
And, I would like to know if the 2 USB extention ports on the front are compatible with a PC's USB ports?
Since this unit has excellent chips and since it's price should be down to $50.00 soon, it seems that this unit would be the perfect choice for hackers who may be able to rewrite the software and make the player a network device!

[jman98]

Since this unit has excellent chips and since it's price should be down to $50.00 soon, it seems that this unit would be the perfect choice for hackers who may be able to rewrite the software and make the player a network device!

$50? Try $399!!! That's what Amazon.com is selling them for.

The HD-A2 and HD-XA2 have hacked firmware that turns them into region free DVD players. That has made these models very valuable. I have no idea if such firmware will ever exist for my HD-A30.

One guy posted here in a thread claiming that DVD Jon was working on a way to turn these players into media streamers, but that post seems to have been a joke. A search on DVD Jon's blog by me failed to turn up any info supporting this. I suppose it might be theoretically possible to do something with the USB and ethernet ports on these units, but I'm not sure anyone cares enough to work on it.

[Scooter_NJ]

Can they be hacked to side step the prohibition on HD upconversion of store bought DVD's via component as well?

[Drthodor]

https://www.bestbuytradein.com/bb/ or try bestbuy.com/hddvd

Go to the link, choose HD/DVD Player, Toshiba, HD-A2, then indicate excellent condition with/rm control, manual, power cord, NO HD movies.... and the estimated trade in value is $39.60. By the way, BestBuy is sending out a $50.00 gift card to anyone who has purchased a HD-DVD player from them. This info is at BestBuy.com/hddvd

Offer me 250.00 and I'll mail my HD-A2 to you, postage paid!

[Krispy Kritter]

It's used for viewing bonus materials from the movies and for firmware updates. I've never seen anything referring to it's ability for streaming media...I doubt it can do it.

[jman98]

Toshiba's HD DVD players are capable of much more than Toshiba let them do. I have a DVD I created myself that contains only MPEG-1 video and my HD-A30 plays it fine, so we know from that the player could be made to support VCD if the firmware would allow it. I have no idea if the hacked firmware allows upconversion over component. I only know that it removes DVD region checking.

[Scooter_NJ]

It will upconvert backed up discs very nicely via component. Just won't alow it for store bought, original discs.

I was hoping someone would hack that with HD-DVD or BluRay.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Ethernet port only allows updating firmware and web enabled features at the moment,there's no reason it couldn't be used for streaming media if only someone would write a firmware mod.
The USB ports have power to them but otherwise serve no purpose,Toshiba never told the public what they were going to be used for.Again a firmware mod could activate them but only Toshiba engineers know what they are connected to.
BTW:I own a A20 and a XA2.