Western Digital HDMI USB Media Player?? (WDAVN00BN)

[stiltman]

Here's what i found it wont play (not sure if its been listed before or not)
MOV files created on a Casio cameria (I'll check with dvdinfo to see what they are)
VOB files (both home moves and DVD rips)
AVI files with panasonic DV codec

It has played files with Xvid bitrates up to 5600kbs so far
I have pretty much standardized everything with Xvid H.263 with AC3 5/6.1 audio. In handbreak I set it to constant quality of 94 or 95
Yeah I know it's going overboard on the bitrate, but I stopped backing up my DVDs and just started cheeping digital copies. This will give me the best results if I need to reconvert back to DVD format

[Supreme2k]

Are you talking about your specific WD TV? Mine plays all of those. You may need to exchange yours for one that works. I have tested it with VOBs in SD and HD. I've never checked the exact codec on the Casio files either.

Did the link filter actually work with handbreak (rather than Handbrake)?

[stiltman]

That's the strange part. It will play a DVD iso all be it with out menus, but it wont play a standalone vob

My mistake, it's not a Casio, It's a Panasonic Elixim

A broken hand or a car's brakes....what's the difference

[Kryton]

It does play VOB files. I ripped most of my colection to merged VOBs and they all play without issue.

[festmaster]

You were right the first time, Exilim is Casio and mine plays fine, though the camera is 3 years old and is standard definition 4:3. The Panasonic DV camcorder uses standard miniDV, and it has been known from the beginning that miniDV is not supported by the WDTV.

[mysticgohan17]

this is how i get cover art for thumbnails
I search the movie or tv show on amazon.
do a right click + "copy image location" on the cover
paste it into a new tab
the url looks like this
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5186HA35JEL._SL160_AA115_.jpg

i change it to this (delete '_AA115' part)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5186HA35JEL._SL160.jpg

the '160' defines the height of the image. just change that to 180 and save it as the title of the movie in the same directory.

if the width ends up being larger than 120 you can crop it in photobucket or something.

i'm sure there's an automated way to do this but i like my way.

[hanugro]

Hi there I just bought WD TV and found out that it can't play WMA3/Pro that come with many of my WMV HD video. Is there any application that let me re encode the audio only to WMA2 that is easy to use and fast? Thanks!

[Baldrick]

hanugro: Please try NOT to cross post. Solution: https://forum.videohelp.com/topic373289.html

[hanugro]

Sorry, you can please lock my other thread. WMVMuxer seems to be the answer.

[Teutatis]

My question is about Blu-Ray playback. First, I have never ripped a BL disk. I understand that the WD TV does not have the capability of playing back HD Audio. So, If I rip a BL disk, I would have to convert the audio to DD or DTS. Is this correct? Or will the WD TV be able to play back DD True HD and DTS Master Audio, but downconvert it to DD?

Is there a simple program I can use in conjunction with AnyDVD to rip the BL disk and convert the audio at the same time?

The WD TV has no downconversion capability and no support for HD audio codecs. You must extract either the AC3 or DTS core from your BluRay source for playback with the WD TV. eac3to is one tool that can do this, but I don't know if there's an easier way. For best playback results you should put your BluRay rips in either m2ts or MKV containers.

I would like to follow up with one more question regarding the audio on BD (Yes, after 5 months!).

Do BD contain standard DD and DTS soundtracks alongside with their HD counterparts. For example, if a movie has DTS HD Master Audio, does it also contain the standard DTS track? I know that Blu-Ray players will output the standard DD and DTS tracks through the digital coaxial or the optical audio output, if the HDMI output is not used. Do they do this by simply selecting the existing DD or DTS track on the disk, or does the player convert the DTS HD to standard DTS? In which case, the standard DTS track does not exist on the disk.

So if the standard DD or DTS track is present on the disk, and if I rip the BD using AnyDVD to m2ts files, and keep both the HD and the standard version of the soundtrack, can the WD TV do the same thing as a Blu-Ray player and bitstream the DD or DTS track through the optical port to my receiver?

[IceBone]

Hey, I'm new here and also have a problem with HDMI on my WD TV. It works great via composite and when I change the output to HDMI, it just stays black for a few seconds, then turns back on with composite. I tried switching the input to the correct HDMI, when it's plugged in, but it just reports no signal. I took it to a friend, where it did exactly the same, the cable, though, worked with his player. Am I doing something wrong or is the HDMI port possibly kaput on my brand new player?

[jagabo]

I have an WDTV Live (new version of the HDTV). I don't know if the process is the same but here's what happens on the Live. After selecting HDMI output you are presented with a confirmation dialog. I don't remember the exact wording but basically if asks if you want to accept the new setting or revert back to the previous setting. If you simply press Enter (or just wait a while) it will revert back to the original setting (composite in your case). You have to use the arrow keys to highlight the correct response and then hit Enter.

What I think is happening in your case is after selecting HDMI output the composite output is switched off (you see a black screen) and the HDMI output is enabled. The confirmation dialog is on the HDMI port now so you don't see it. Then you are hitting Enter, or just waiting, and the WDTV is reverting back to composite. When the screen goes black, switch your HDTV to the HDMI input right away. You should see the confirmation dialog.

[IceBone]

I have done so, however it I still get no signal. I'm away from home right now, when I come home, I'll try pressing the right arrow and confirming. Maybe then it'll send the right signal to my TV and complete the handshake.

EDIT: This is getting weirder. I've done what I planned and on some resolutions (720p, 576p, auto, and some others) it now DOESN'T default back to composite, but it doesn't show on HDMI either. :S

EDIT 2: I called tech support, they told me to bring it over, they'll check it out and give me a replacement if it's busted.

EDIT 3: Went to the place, they hooked it up to their tv with their cable, works like a charm. Used my cable, nothing. Bought 3 metre cable for 6 euro, tried it, works. Will be home in about 5 hours, will give final test then.

[edDV]

Black Friday alert:

Best Buy has the WDTV Media Player for $74.99

I'm still looking for a deal on the WDTV Live.

[jagabo]

Black Friday alert:

Best Buy has the WDTV Media Player for $74.99

Nice.

I'm still looking for a deal on the WDTV Live.

They were $99 at Amazon the other day. The price went back up to $119 after a few hours though. I'd keep an eye out there.

[cameraz]

It does play VOB files. I ripped most of my colection to merged VOBs and they all play without issue.

I was pleased to find out today (experimenting on my own) that the WDTV does indeed play VOB files. My question is, how do you create "merged VOBs?"

I ripped a DVD and ended up with 5 VOB files. If I put them in a folder, will the WDTV play them all one right after another automatically, or will I have to select each file manually to play them?

[jagabo]

If the VOB files are in a folder named VIDEO_TS and you press the Play button while on the folder (ie, don't navigate into the folder) it will seamlessly play the VOB files. I think the IFO file has to be there too.

I rip with DVD Decrypter in IFO mode with file splitting disabled. That gives the main movie as one big VOB file.

If you already have VOB files (and the IFO) you can use VOB2MPG to convert them into one big MPG file.

I find seeking (fast forward, reverse) doesn't work well with VOB files on the WDTV Live. At least, some VOB files.

[cameraz]

If the VOB files are in a folder named VIDEO_TS and you press the Play button while on the folder (ie, don't navigate into the folder) it will seamlessly play the VOB files. I think the IFO file has to be there too.

I rip with DVD Decrypter in IFO mode with file splitting disabled. That gives the main movie as one big VOB file.

If you already have VOB files (and the IFO) you can use VOB2MPG to convert them into one big MPG file.

I find seeking (fast forward, reverse) doesn't work well with VOB files on the WDTV Live. At least, some VOB files.

Thanks for your help!

PS: One more question: Does the folder need to be named VIDEO_TS? Or can it be named the name of the movie? The way you suggested would prevent me from having more than one movie on my USB drive (if all the movies had to be inside folders named VIDEO_TS).

[jagabo]

Does the folder need to be named VIDEO_TS?

To get seamless playback, yes. Otherwise, it will play the VOB files sequentially but there will be a pause between each. It enters a special DVD playing mode when the VOB files are in a VIDEO_TS folder, otherwise it just treats the VOBs as separate files.

The way you suggested would prevent me from having more than one movie on my USB drive (if all the movies had to be inside folders named VIDEO_TS).

No, you can have a VIDEO_TS file inside the the folder with the movie name:

X:\Movie Name\VIDEO_TS\...
X:\Different Movie Name\VIDEO_TS\...

Keep in mind -- I'm using the new WDTV Live, not the original WDTV. I don't know if the original is different regarding this issue. The WDTV Live received its first firmware update about a week ago. These issues weren't addressed.

[cameraz]

Keep in mind -- I'm using the new WDTV Live, not the original WDTV. I don't know if the original is different regarding this issue. The WDTV Live received its first firmware update about a week ago. These issues weren't addressed.

Thanks a lot!

[edDV]

Heads up! Newegg WDTV Media Player for $49.99 after rebate. 24hr sale.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=22-136-416

[jagabo]

Heads up! Newegg WDTV Media Player for $49.99 after rebate. 24hr sale.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=22-136-416

Note that's the WD TV Mini. It does not play high def files.

http://westerndigital.com/en/products/index.asp?cat=30

[xxiangg]

Heads up! Newegg WDTV Media Player for $49.99 after rebate. 24hr sale.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=22-136-416

Note that's the WD TV Mini. It does not play high def files.

http://westerndigital.com/en/products/index.asp?cat=30

The deal is even better with a coupon code, check the following thread. Hope it is still working.
http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1716505

[yoda313]

Hey there,

Does anyone know if the wdtv media player plays drmd files from amazon's unbox service? It would be nice to offload them to a harddrive and pop them in the wdtv.

I'm doubting it but would be neat if it did......

Edit - never mind. I found a nicer alternative. Since I don't really have a good remote for pc I don't like watching on my pc on my hdtv directly. HOwever I did find out it will work with windows media center. I have it with vista premium and my xbox 360.

It will still mean i will need my pc on to access the files but its easier to navigate through the xbox 360 than the pc. FYI.

[Ogilvy]

I'm currently considering purchase of same, but before I do, can I jump in here with a quick question please?
I don't (yet) have a HD TV., it's an older tube version. How will the display look size-wise? I mean will I be stuck with a letter-box or a zoom-in type of effect? I'd really like to know before I purchase. Obliged for any help

[MJA]

Hey there,

Does anyone know if the wdtv media player plays drmd files from amazon's unbox service? It would be nice to offload them to a harddrive and pop them in the wdtv.

I'm doubting it but would be neat if it did......

Edit - never mind. I found a nicer alternative. Since I don't really have a good remote for pc I don't like watching on my pc on my hdtv directly. HOwever I did find out it will work with windows media center. I have it with vista premium and my xbox 360.

It will still mean i will need my pc on to access the files but its easier to navigate through the xbox 360 than the pc. FYI.

can you access you amazon account with WD LIVE TV using Playon?

[cal_tony]

I'm currently considering purchase of same, but before I do, can I jump in here with a quick question please?
I don't (yet) have a HD TV., it's an older tube version. How will the display look size-wise? I mean will I be stuck with a letter-box or a zoom-in type of effect? I'd really like to know before I purchase. Obliged for any help

You set the display type in the setup screen and it will size the picture accordingly. It also has zoom modes.

Tony

[Ogilvy]

I'm currently considering purchase of same, but before I do, can I jump in here with a quick question please?
I don't (yet) have a HD TV., it's an older tube version. How will the display look size-wise? I mean will I be stuck with a letter-box or a zoom-in type of effect? I'd really like to know before I purchase. Obliged for any help

You set the display type in the setup screen and it will size the picture accordingly. It also has zoom modes.

Tony

Great, thanks!

[Ogilvy]

With all the hype on media players and HD 1080ip/hp content this thing doesn't play what still remains as one of the most common forms of video content on the internet, .flv format. Well done WD!

[RdM642]

Hey there,

Does anyone know if the wdtv media player plays drmd files from amazon's unbox service? It would be nice to offload them to a harddrive and pop them in the wdtv.

I'm doubting it but would be neat if it did......

Edit - never mind. I found a nicer alternative. Since I don't really have a good remote for pc I don't like watching on my pc on my hdtv directly. HOwever I did find out it will work with windows media center. I have it with vista premium and my xbox 360.

It will still mean i will need my pc on to access the files but its easier to navigate through the xbox 360 than the pc. FYI.

can you access you amazon account with WD LIVE TV using Playon?

Yes amazon and netflix (and HULU) will show up in playon through media server through WD on the pc or server playon is installed on. there are disadvantages though compared to amazon or netflix directly, say as you would see on an xbox360. for example you won't get HD and you better be prepared to sit right through.

But I think this thread is the non networked WD Tv instead of the networked WD TV Live, so playon will not work on this particular model.