External HD to TV

[SS_Video_Newb]

I have a question and maybe someone can help or lead me to the right place.

I have used a USB Hard Drive to make backup copies of my DVD's incase they get damaged. I don't have many but I was wondering if there are ways to actually hook my USB Hard Drive to something and watch the movies from my HD instead of my DVD's. Instead of connecting my TV to my Computer's video card.

I have't looked but maybe they are making DVD Players now with USB connections? I will have to look into this now that I am thinking of this.

[jagabo]

Many Divx/DVD players have USB ports that allow you to play Divx/Xvid AVI, MPG, and sometimes WMV files from an external thumb drive or hard drive. The Philips 5990 and 5992 for example. The drive usually must be formatted FAT32, not NTFS.

The other option is to use an external case with a built in media player. Devices like the Tvix allow you to hook up to your computer with a USB cable (as an external drive) or play via the video outputs to a TV. These are usually also limited to Divx/Xvid AVI, MPG, and WMV.

Higher up the food chain are devices like the Popcorn Hour which can play off an internal drive, external drive, or network. The Popcorn Hour can play Divx/Xvid AVI, DVD ISO images, HD h.264 video, etc.

[SS_Video_Newb]

Cool. I will look into the Popcornhour, it sounds like what I want.

one question about popcorn, does it have to be in an DVD ISO Image or can it be a full backup copy of the DVD with all the IFO and VOB files in a directory?

[jagabo]

Cool. I will look into the Popcornhour, it sounds like what I want.

one question about popcorn, does it have to be in an DVD ISO Image or can it be a full backup copy of the DVD with all the IFO and VOB files in a directory?

I believe it can play both ISO images and Vides_TS folders. You should verify this yourself though -- I don't have one, I use an HTPC.

[mizetreestump]

Question regarding DVD players with USB drives, if anyone knows: I am looking if there is a ratings page where I could see which model DVD players that have USB ports will play what kinds of files from the USB drive. I know that the owners manuals may state for example "plays MP3, WMA, and JPG files from your USB device". This directly from a low end LG DN798 player for example. But the manuals don't state whether the DVD player can play MPG1 or MPG2 files from your USB device. I would think YES, because DVD is MPG2 format, but I would not buy a player without knowing this. For example, I would expect that there would be limits to the DVD players ability to play MPG1 videos that vary in pixel size as well as video and audio bit rates. Also I know there are many variations in audio parameters for MPG. Here is really want I am getting at and looking for: If I backup my DVD to files, there will be VOB, IFO, and BUP files. Nero Showtime for example PC file player allows you to open any IFO file from the group and it will play the DVD starting as if you inserted the DVD with full menus, and plays all files from one click. This as opposed to, even if the DVD player could browse to VOB files on your USB hard drive, having to click one VOB file at a time, so when watching your DVD movie you would have to click a new VOB file every 15 minutes. Since DVD players do this from discs, I would assume they should be able to do this from the USB folders, but I hate assuming. Does anyone know if in general the DVD players with USB can play MPG1, MPG2, and IFO backed up DVDs to folders from the USB device along with the advertised JPG, DIVX, and MP3 formats?

[jagabo]

I am looking if there is a ratings page where I could see which model DVD players that have USB ports will play what kinds of files from the USB drive...

About the closest you'll find is the DVD Players list here.

https://www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers

Features like Divx/Xvid, JPG, MPEGISO are reported for CD/DVD but most players with USB ports will play the same files off USB. You'll have to verify the USB support by other means for a definitive answer though.

For Divx compatability you can check the Divx test site:

http://divxtest.surdvd.com/sommaire.php3?lang=en

But again, those tests are usually from CD/DVD.