entranceOmnivorous media player for TV. Media player for TV
Modern TV models are significantly superior in functionality to their predecessors. They can play video and audio from external media, access the Internet, record programs. All this thanks to the media center. It can be either factory installed or purchased separately. Moreover, a self-purchased device can turn even the simplest TV into an entertainment center.
More recently, everyone has used VCRs first and then DVD players. But technical progress does not stand still and multimedia centers have replaced outdated set-top boxes. They still play and record files just like their predecessors. However, they have a lot more functions. These include:
- The ability to play video and audio files in almost all existing formats.
- Reading images of any format.
- Reproduction of information from various media: USB, external hard drives, smartphones and tablets and other devices.
- The ability to access the Internet, which provides access to all available information and various entertainment portals... This feature is carried out using the built-in browser.
- Supports various functions: 3D, Wi-fi, game services.
- The ability to save available information.
REFERENCE! Each model of a multimedia set-top box has its own set of features, which is described in detail in the attached instructions.
Outwardly, they look like a small box, some models may be equipped with an LCD display. You can connect to a set-top box in three ways: using a wireless Wi-fi network, via an HDMI cable or via a component output.
REFERENCE! Some media player models fit older CRT TVs. However, due to design limitations of the TV receiver itself, not all functions will be available. For example, you will not be able to view Full HD or 3D video files.
Should you buy a media player
It would seem that if you have a computer or laptop, a multimedia set-top box becomes an unnecessary waste of money. After all, they have the same file transfer functions. However, not all computers or laptops are capable of transmitting video and sound. High Quality... And connecting a laptop or computer is not always convenient, and sometimes there are various problems with the synchronization of devices, which requires additional configuration and takes a lot of time. Also, the multimedia set-top box has a number of undeniable advantages. These include:
- Virtually silent operation. Cooling of a personal computer and laptop is provided by coolers that cannot work completely silently.
- The attachment takes up very little space.
- It loads much faster than a computer or laptop.
- A small amount of wires required to connect to a TV.
- They are very convenient and easy to use, which allows retirees or children to use them without any problems. And watching movies and other content is much more familiar and comfortable on a large TV screen, sitting in an armchair.
- All control is carried out from one remote control.
- Freezes at a multimedia set-top box are extremely rare.
Due to the existing advantages, the answer to the purchase question is “Yes”.
There are several types of media players:
- The simplest and most inexpensive options without and without wireless connectivity hard disk.
- No internet connection, but with built-in hard drive.
- Media players connected by local network to a computer or laptop. This allows you to play the files on your computer using home network.
- The most expensive models with a built-in hard drive, LAN connection and Internet access. These are modern models with the largest set functions compared to simpler players.
ATTENTION! Some users think that multimedia devices and satellite receivers are the same thing. However, a significant difference between media set-top boxes and receivers is that the players allow you to view the necessary files, IPTV and access the Internet. Whereas receivers broadcast satellite TV channels and record.
What to look for when choosing a media player
For several more years, the range of media consoles was not very wide, since they were not very popular. However, very little time has passed and the set-top boxes have become in demand, which means that the choice has become much larger. In order not to get confused when buying the desired model of a multimedia set-top box, you need to pay attention to the following parameters:
- Interface. When buying, you need to study which set-top boxes have outputs for connecting to a TV. The most popular option is HDMI cable as it is capable of transmitting high definition signals.
- Supported formats. Modern models can reproduce almost all currently existing video and audio signal standards. However, before buying it is still worth researching specifications specific model.
- Control. The player should have a convenient menu in Russian.
- Service support. It is necessary to pay attention to which media the player can read information from, as well as whether it has access to the Internet.
Modern models have all the available functions, a user-friendly interface, a user-friendly menu, updated by the operating system. This allows them to significantly complement and expand the capabilities of the TV.
Studying various media techniques, we rarely return to practically the same device. But rare circumstances, such as the long and confident popularity of the product and its development, force us to do this. This is exactly the case in this review: we have already reviewed the Rombica Cinema 4K media player, but major updates that have appeared, backed up by the reputation and long-term recognition of the product, oblige us to resume the study of the player. However, given the absence of fundamental changes in the design of the set-top box (there is nothing to improve here), we will focus our attention on software changes, as well as conduct new tests, using, accordingly, new tools. What if the results show something that we didn't even know about before?
Completeness, design
For those who do not want to open a second tab in their browser, we will briefly list the main design features of the player.
The device comes in a rather bulky box with information about its technical characteristics, interfaces, functions and pre-installed services printed on it.
The completeness remains the same, all the basic necessary accessories are included in it. Pity not here free hard disk. However, the current cost of these media can significantly exceed the price of even an expensive player.
- power adapter
- infrared remote control
- HDMI cable
- composite audio / video cable
- USB 3.0 cable
- detailed user manual in Russian
There is a window on the front panel, behind which is an infrared sensor that picks up signals from the remote control, a little to the side is a button for turning on the device with a two-color LED indicator. Pressing the button turns the device on or off with full cycles of loading or shutting down the system.
But what should be abandoned when the next version of the device is released is the glossy case cover. Dust, fingerprints, easily formed scratches - this is the list of the closest visitors to the player, unless, of course, it is hidden in some protective niche.
However, this particular player may well be hidden. Usually, it is not recommended to install media equipment in close proximity to a wall or shelf. Moreover, it is not recommended to cover the case with anything. Simply put, the access of air must be free so that critical overheating does not occur. However, our player is unlikely to be afraid of high temperatures. Thanks to a well-thought-out ventilation system, the device can also operate in a confined space that is not well ventilated. So, after five hours of continuous playback of "heavy" 4K-content, some parts of the player heats up to only 32 ° C. The following thermal images were taken at room temperature around 25 ° C.
| View from above | Bottom view | Back view |
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It should be noted that the playback was carried out from a one terabyte hard disk installed in the player, old and high-speed (7200 rpm). If the player is equipped with a cooler and quieter disc, then, most likely, the temperatures will be even lower than in our pictures.
Speaking of disks. The new version of the device's firmware made it possible to support almost all existing file systems, including even disks with HFS + (fans of Apple products will surely appreciate this). By the way, the card reader available in the player supports SD memory cards of absolutely all existing varieties of this format, including SDXC Class10 U3 with a capacity of 256 GB, we specially checked this using.
Right side the case contains the mentioned slot for a memory card format MMC, SD / SDHC / SDXC, two USB 2.0 ports for connection external storage or periphery, including the control one, as well as one USB port 3.0 for connecting high-speed USB drives.
On the rear panel of the player, the service connectors are located in the following order:
- S / PDIF digital audio output (optical)
- USB 3.0 port for connecting to a PC as an external USB storage
- LAN port
- HDMI input
- analog composite audio / video output (4-pin 3.5 mm jack)
- HDMI out
- power adapter connector
- blowing fan
- swivel Wi-Fi antenna
On the left side of the case there is a removable cover that is fixed with a latch. Hidden under this cover is a 3.5 ″ SATA hard drive slot. There is a push-out spring inside the socket, and the disc is inserted without much force and is secured by an internal latch.
No additional mounts for the disk are provided, and they are useless - the HDD is held inside the case rather rigidly. The absence of additional metal parts of the case, which could touch each other, eliminates vibration and bounce during work hard disk.
In addition to the Realtek RTD1195 processor covered with a heatsink, the following electronic components can be seen on the main board:
- Genesys Logic GL850G USB controller
- two 4GB DDR3 Nanya NT5CB256M16CP memory chips
- Wi-Fi / Bluetooth-module Realtek RTL8723BS
The supplied remote control is lightweight and miniaturized, with rubber buttons for a crisp yet quiet response when pressed. At the top of the remote control there is a block of learnable buttons on which you can "hang" commands of absolutely any household appliance that receives infrared commands, from a TV and an audio receiver to an air humidifier or air conditioner. A few more buttons are programmed to quickly launch YouTube, Kodi, UltraHD player, music player, SourceIn, and settings menus. An additional button switches the remote control to mouse mode, while a cursor appears on the screen, which can be moved using the joystick-shaped block of arrow buttons on the remote control.
| CPU | Realtek RTD1195 |
| RAM | 1 GB |
| ROM memory | 8 GB |
| Operating system | Android 4.4.4 |
| Interfaces | |
| Video inputs |
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| Video outputs |
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| Audio outputs |
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| Net |
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| Other |
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| Data sources |
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| Other characteristics | |
| User interface |
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| Built-in internet services | Nemo TV, Ivi, Megogo, TVZavr, Youtube, etc. |
| Support |
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| Display | no, only operating mode indicator |
| Cooling | active, built-in fan |
| Power Supply | external |
| Price | |
| average price | T-12824250 |
| Retail offers | L-12824250-10 |
Settings, performance, operation
The information about the composition and characteristics of the player remains the same, despite the updated firmware. Even the display size is the same, uncorrected. Claiming that the screen resolution of this unit is 1280 × 720.
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But the player does not have any display! More precisely, there is no constant, and there cannot be. Whatever you connect to the video output - this is the resolution you will have. It is precisely in order to prevent collisions that the developers go for the trick, forcibly introducing information about a certain virtual display into the device's firmware. This information, which often does not correspond to reality, does not affect the performance of the device in any way. Perhaps, only in one case the figures indicated by the developer somehow manifest themselves: when testing with the help of test applications. Which launch a particular task, based on system information. For example, a 3D accelerator test package activates the test with a resolution of exactly 1280 × 720, and not with the one that has a TV connected to the player. Otherwise, these technical details will not be related to the operation of the player.
Checking the speed of network connections did not bring any new results - only the previous ones obtained during the study of the same player, albeit with more early version firmware. This means that the firmware does not play a role in the work. network adapters, from which, most likely, all the available potential has been squeezed out. It also means (to the great joy of the author) that no negative changes have occurred in his local network since then. It remains only to give the values of the speeds that are obtained when copying from the HDD player to the NAS and vice versa.
And in the same way as before, the player easily reproduces from network storage devices 100-megabit videos shot by 4K camcorders and cameras, including those with the HEVC codec.
Now we will touch on the issue of playback more closely, but this time we will dwell on the formats in more detail. There is a well-known test suite Antutu known as a universal test application for Android devices. For some time now, a fork from this package has appeared - a program designed to test support for video formats. Wisely, that's right, it's high time! Of course, this program was immediately installed on our player and a video playback test was launched, which is simply called: Video Test.
Based on the test results, the program delivered the following verdict:
It follows from it that the player fully supports 24 formats, partially coped with four formats and two formats were too tough for the player.
Here you need to digress a little in order to broaden your horizons. So, when we use the word "format", we mean a set of several parameters of a video file: container + video codec + audio codec. Anyone with an imagination can easily guess how many "formats" can be obtained by mixing these three main factors in their various variations. More precisely, like this: he will guess that it is impossible to calculate the exact number of combinations. After all, there are dozens and dozens of containers and codecs alone. The Antutu developers thought about the same, limiting themselves to a set of 22 variants of the most, as they believe, common codecs and containers.
A relatively detailed decoding of the formats the player was tested for the ability to reproduce is given in separate tables:
| Full support | Partial support | Lack of support |
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For convenience and clarity, let us list these problematic formats, for which the player received average and unsatisfactory ratings. Partially supported formats that are reproduced with some deviations from the norm (no picture or non-smooth playback) are the following:
One could agree with all this if one is used to blindly trusting what has an official look. However, trust - but verify. Let's check it out.
First of all, the same test files were found with which the application makes its measurements - they are stored in the working folder of the program, in the player's memory. These videos are short segments from a cartoon, which, in our opinion, are not very suitable for determining the "smoothness" of playback. Based on the parameters of these files, we have made our own test files, in which the required combinations of containers and codecs are repeated. It remains only to start the reproduction of the resulting set and try to fix the flaws with our own eyes.
Well, it turned out! It turned out that the last two formats, which the player could not cope with at all, turned out to be inedible for him as well. He simply could not open them, which was briefly reported on the screen. But with the first four formats, which were supposedly poorly reproduced - a big question. We saw no flaws. Moreover, when playing a TS file, the picture was quite present, as well as the sound.
Well, leave the final results on the conscience of the inspection program. In any case, the player in question scored enough conditional points to get close to the top ten leaders - as many as 737 "parrots"!
What else, besides playing an existing video, might you need a media player? Why was it called universal? Yes, if only because the hard drive that is installed in the device can - and should - be used not only for storing a media library. But also for its replenishment. No matter how outraged the holders of countless copyrights, the very possibility of quickly obtaining the necessary content cannot be prohibited. We are talking, of course, about the notorious torrents. The torrent application built into the firmware is not much different from a regular PC client. Here, in the same way, it is allowed to manage downloads remotely, and the exchange rate did not just surprise - it amazed. In fact, at the limit of the channel provided by the provider.
The resulting content is automatically indexed and subsequently displayed in the built-in file browser. Which, it should be noted, constantly, but imperceptibly, scans the available drives for the presence of media content, after which the selected content opens in the built-in player or graphical viewer.
Of course, there remains one more way to brighten up your leisure time and keep the player busy. These are streaming internet media resources. Probably, first of all, Internet TV should be attributed to those. Such television is broadcast different ways, some TV channels even release their own applications that allow you to watch live broadcast. A large part of TV applications are paid or shareware. The most preferable option for watching TV seems to be a method based on the same technologies as the torrent client. Here, in the Peers.TV application pre-installed on the player, the user will find an almost unlimited list of TV channels for every taste.
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But torrents and watching videos / TV are commonplace. But, for example, such a task, for the solution of which usually requires expensive specialized equipment - video surveillance. Those who are "in the subject" probably know the secret of how regular smartphone can be turned into a DVR with a camera. However, a smartphone is not a very reliable device, you cannot entrust it with round-the-clock work with recording and even more so with continuous broadcasting of a video stream. Unlike a smartphone, an Android-based media player can do this much better. Moreover, in the presence of a capacious - up to 8 TB - hard drive and without the risk of overheating. You just need to connect any webcam to the player and install one of the many applications that help to realize the task of video surveillance. True, not every program / service is free and reliable or skillful enough. Unlike simple-looking, but powerful in functionality, free software domestic developer IP Webcam.
| General settings with camera selection | Recording settings | Active operating mode |
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Perhaps the most important function of this application is the ability to work in the background, almost invisible to the user.
Finally, a hardware-implemented feature such as the creation of a constantly working Wi-Fi access point in the presence of a wired network, will create a second Wi-Fi network in the place where the player is installed. A great chance to expand the Wi-Fi coverage in a multi-room apartment.
However, a significant part of users can go much further in their fantasies. What is noteworthy - the implementation of their freaks can only interfere with their own laziness. Well, as a last resort, no need for a particular technology or function. For example, if there is no more than one TV in a house or apartment, then a DLNA server is not needed at all. If there is a second or more Smart TVs available, on which you also sometimes need to view local content, then it is not at all necessary to buy an additional player for each TV. It is enough to install a simple application on an existing Android set-top box that implements a technology that allows you to transmit and receive various media content over the local network, displaying it in real time.
One of the simplest such applications can be considered My DLNA server... There are no settings in it as a class - this is not to be scared. And three huge buttons - so as not to miss, respectively.
As soon as you press the main Start button, the application will start indexing any media content that is within local reach ( inner memory, connected disk and other media), and Smart TV, when selecting a source, will see our player under the modest name Local Media. By selecting this source, the user will see the contents of the player on the TV screen and will be able to view any supported content.
Of course, there are more advanced applications for such tasks, where it is allowed not only to set a different name for the DLNA server, but also to select folders for indexing or specify precise network settings.
In the same way, it is possible to set up a SAMBA server for "sharing" all the contents of the player and the media connected to it over the local network, as a result of which the player becomes a regular network storage accessible from any computer. If you want to carry out remote access to the files and folders of the player - at the user's disposal an FTP-server, which will work no less successfully than the network add-ons listed above.
Finally, the considered universal player can perform one more function, which is usually implemented by special gadgets, USB dongles, which are connected directly to the HDMI input of the TV. We are talking about a technology (in our case, EzCast), which is based on direct Wi-Fi connection of two devices, for example, a player and a smartphone. Obviously, an intermediate link in the form of a router with its Wi-Fi point is superfluous here, since communication is carried out directly between devices. This connection allows you to transfer any multimedia signal in real time from one device to another. To implement this function, you need to install the EzCast application of the same name on your smartphone, and then launch the EzCast Screen application installed on the player. Connecting two devices is extremely easy - just one touch on your smartphone.
After an instant connection of devices, the TV to which the player is connected will duplicate the smartphone display, displaying everything that is displayed on it. Thus, being in the company of friends, you can show content stored in your smartphone on the big screen - photos, videos, etc. without tedious pre-copying or wired connection. If you think about it, this wireless video transmission can be used for more specific purposes, even for work. For example, for displaying presentation slides, diagrams, drawings and graphs on a large TV screen. And this technology looks absolutely invaluable if the mobile device does not have a video output, but there is a vital need to transmit to big screen or into a live video capture card from a smartphone display. For example, from a thermal imager connected to a smartphone.
To view at a larger size, click the Original Size button
Perhaps a dozen more examples of the use of a universal stationary Android set-top box could be cited, but the imagination of millions of users will certainly turn out to be richer.
conclusions
The only drawback of the design is the obsessive nagging about the glossy finish of the lid. Alas, there is nothing more to find fault with. All other features, with all the desire, cannot be called disadvantages - these are obvious advantages:
- hardware decoding of all common formats, including Ultra HD 4K HEVC (H.265)
- 3D video support in Side-by-side, Top-to-bottom, MVC (BD 3D ISO) formats
- automatic switching of frame rate when playing various video content
- multi-channel audio output Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby True HD, DTS HD
- gigabit Ethernet
- USB 3.0 ports with support for storage devices and various peripherals
- Support for hard drives up to 8 TB with any file system
- programmable remote control
- good cooling system
The cost of the device is not negligible, but it is strictly proportional to its functionality, and you will hardly find a cheaper offer among devices of a similar class. The considered media player has been popular for a long time, deservedly so, because it was developed with a serious functional reserve. Thanks to this stock, the player is destined to constantly evolve along with the Android application market. And only the probable, but very long-term obsolescence of the version can stop this development. operating system the set-top box is running on.
Recently, the TV has turned from a simple "box" for watching analogue TV programs into a high-tech device, which, in terms of its functionality, may well be compared to a computer. Modern models can be incorporated into a home LAN. Some people use them to surf the net, chat with friends on Skype, and play games. Of course, the "hardware" of the TV will not be able to handle powerful 3D-shooters, but you are leaving Angry Birds for sure.
But here's the catch: only SmartTVs have all of the above functionality, the price of which often exceeds the cost of an ordinary TV and a powerful computer combined. Of course, many consumers have very serious doubts about the need for such a purchase. It is correct, since a media player for a TV will turn an old LCD model into a good analogue of a “smart”, and for all the pleasures you are unlikely to pay more than five to six thousand rubles.
What it is?
It would be foolish to continue talking about such devices without making a digression and not describing the concept itself in a little more detail. So what is a TV media player?
If you are a user of gadgets on the Android mobile OS, then you can imagine a kind of mini-computer under its control. Ever heard of the Raspberry Pi? So, the media player is the same "Blackberry" based on an ARM processor. Unlike the aforementioned mini-computers, it already has a proprietary shell from the manufacturer, usually based on "Android" with the addition of some specific services and programs.
Roughly speaking, this is such a miniature for which your TV acts as a monitor.
Advantages
Basically, oh positive aspects you can guess this kind of technique yourself. Having bought a media player for your TV for only four to five thousand rubles, you will even make a modern entertainment center out of outdated technology.
Considering the speed of development of "Android", you do not have to worry about the absence of any applications: players for video and audio files, browsers, programs for We have already said that there is even Skype! Of course, in this case, you will need to purchase an additional webcam, but it is also not very expensive.
In addition, portable devices can be connected to such devices with the ability to run torrent clients, which makes any media player for TV a real treasure for connoisseurs of watching movies.
Easy setup and security
If you somehow follow the news of IT technologies, then you have probably heard about the scandal that erupted around LG's SmartTV. Recall that then users caught an overly clever technique in espionage. Not only was it very difficult to refuse targeted advertising in the settings (the option was hidden far away), but also after the corresponding check-box was removed, user information continued to be sent to the company's servers.
Of course, the Android OS is far from perfect in this regard. Currently, there are hundreds of thousands of malicious programs for it that can pose a threat to your personal data. But there are also important differences.
Firstly, there are many effective anti-virus programs for Android. Secondly, if you have not so deep knowledge of the topic, stationary media players can install not only another firmware, but even a new operating system! In any case, the network contains instructions for installing special ARM-assemblies of Debian and Ubunu without any problems.
As you can understand, not a single such fundamental feature is provided in SmartTV. Moreover, even with updating its firmware, problems may arise, since not everyone has a normal wired Internet, and such a technique is simply not able to recognize a USB modem.
Where can the content be played from?
Unlike Smart TV or any other, it will easily "pick up" a movie or a musical composition from a home local network, from an external hard drive or NAS server, the popularity of which is insanely high at the present time. Some of them have a built-in hard drive to which you can upload music and videos, and nobody canceled playback from a flash drive.
Keep in mind that a portable media player with a stock of movies will fit into your pocket, becoming a faithful and indispensable companion on a business trip or travel.
LAN settings
Unlike the aforementioned “smart TVs”, you are unlikely to encounter problems. Most commonly used Wi-Fi network... As a rule, the device immediately "clings" to the home wireless network, requiring only the password to enter.
If you need to connect a gadget via a wired connection, there can be more difficulties. So, you will probably need to enter the IP address of the set-top box itself, and other attributes. When setting up a digital media player, you will have to contact the manufacturer and study the procedure for setting up connected devices on its website.
Formats and other "goodies"
As for the number of supported photos and videos, then in this case these devices are beyond any competition. In addition, the media player will be indispensable for those who have an HD camcorder at home. Why? Judge for yourself:
- Burn to disc? Expensive, boring, and yourself optical drives are already gradually becoming a thing of the past.
- It is simply inconvenient to watch from the small display of the camera itself.
- Of course, you can use a computer monitor for the same purposes, but professional videos will look much more colorful on a widescreen TV.
- Eventually, you can connect system unit or a laptop to the TV, but not everyone can handle the settings.
Media players are different ...
In order to choose the best media player, it is highly advisable to follow some of the guidelines below. Firstly, appearance and the size of the device should be in harmony with the appearance of all your equipment. It may sound absurd, but if the gadget stands out from the background of your plasma panel, it will be conspicuous even when watching a movie.
However, the technical characteristics of the player are much more important, which must include the following parameters:
- The more formats supported, the better. MKV codec is required in their list. The ideal for imitation is the "classic" software media player.
- It is highly desirable to use only the highest performing chips (like Sigma Designs 8634/8642).
- It would be nice if the player supports playing Blu-ray disc images.
- If you're a beginner, you should be interested in the option to automatically scan your home network for public folders.
- Is it possible to watch IPTV? It is perfectly!
- For those newbies, it will be much better if the technician adjusts the display mode on the TV screen himself.
- In the case when the buyer considers himself to be a connoisseur of music, it is highly desirable to have HD-audio (DD TrueHD / Master Audio) decoders.
Some disadvantages
Of course, nothing is perfect in the world. Media players are no exception. What are the disadvantages of the technology we are considering? How serious are they and how much they interfere with watching movies and listening to music?
To begin with, the Android platform is of little use without a stable and fast Internet. Of course, you can try to watch the movie on the device you just bought, but no one can guarantee that there will be the necessary codec or a sufficiently "omnivorous" player.
Everything needs to be uploaded from the network, so proud owners of a GPRS / EDGE channel cannot be envied in this situation. In their case, nevertheless, the best solution would be to connect a laptop or computer to a TV, since they will probably be able to cope with setting up the image output, but they are unlikely to do without a normal Internet. In a word, a network media player that is completely dependent on the availability of an Internet connection is definitely not suitable for us.
The convenience of use
If possible, be sure to turn on the device while still in the store, try to cope with its control. There are often times when the media player itself is quite good, but its menu and navigation are so terrible that it is impossible to use the device normally.
To the same point is the size and ergonomics of the remote control. Today, on the shelves, you can find a lot of such devices, in which the remotes are more like a horseshoe for a flea in size. It is not known what the designers are guided by, but in the dark you definitely do not get to the right button.
Avoid remotes that have only a couple of buttons: they look nice, but it's much more convenient to launch many functions with a single press, rather than spinning through several menus. If possible, it is worth purchasing a universal control device, which includes the functions of a mouse and keyboard.
Please note that the keyboard, mouse and webcam will have to be purchased separately in most cases. The cost of specialized devices (a special camera for the player) is often much higher than that of their conventional counterparts.
Don't forget about the platform as well. ARM processors are not very powerful devices, so movies in maximum resolution can slow down noticeably. However, this statement is not true for all devices: almost any Sony media player is almost certainly devoid of this drawback.
In the early 21st century, watching quality films on TV required a DVD player. Then the developers of plasma models began to equip their creations with USB connectors, allowing you to view your favorite movie masterpieces from flash drives. But even after that, the development multimedia technologies continued. The result of this development was the emergence of special media players, thanks to which the TV can be turned into almost a full-fledged one. Personal Computer... What models of such devices are the best to buy? This review of the TOP 3 best media players in 2017 will help you find the answer to this question.
Rombica Cinema 4K media player
This model is considered one of the best representatives of its class of technology. It has a wide range of functions, easy operation, convenient size and reasonable price. Let's explore its characteristics in more detail.
- Delivery set, external version. This device sold inside a black cardboard box. In addition to the media player itself, the package includes an AV cable, a USB 3.0 cable, a power supply, and a remote control (albeit without batteries). The model is made of black plastic with a glossy surface. This decision of engineers has its pros and cons. On the one hand, the player's appearance is attractive and modern, but on the other hand, the glossy finish quickly becomes covered with scratches and touch marks. The top of the device is completely clean (no inscriptions, no design highlights). As for the front part, it contains an inscription, thanks to which the name of the manufacturer becomes clear. Also, the front panel is equipped with an on / off button and an IR sensor that picks up a signal from remote control... The bottom of the Rombica Cinema 4K is equipped with four rubberized feet and special holes through which the air is ventilated. The left side has a compartment designed to install an additional hard drive with a capacity of up to 3 TB. The right side of the model is dotted with special connectors, the purpose of which we will talk about a little later. There are also several functional jacks on the back panel.
- Ports and connectors. As mentioned above, all functional ports are located on the right and rear side of the device. So, on the right, there are 3 USB inputs at once, and one slot is for version 3.0. The first two inputs can be used to connect a keyboard and mouse (this makes controlling the media player even easier). Port 3.0 will allow you to connect a flash drive containing your favorite movies, music or family photos. Back panel equipped with an audio output, one more socket for USB 3.0, an input for wired Internet, an HDMI output, a socket for a power supply. In addition, Rombica Cinema 4K is equipped with a Wi-Fi antenna for wireless network connectivity.
- This element contains all the important buttons that will allow you to operate the device quickly and without problems. The remote control will provide switching channels, launching the necessary applications, exiting them, setting custom settings... In addition, this control module can be used like a mouse, although the presence of this function is difficult to explain. The cursor will move around the screen, as if fiddling with a mouse, but at this time the user will simply click on the arrow buttons.
- Interface and software. The developers have equipped the considered model of the media player with two interface options at once. The first option is called Nova Launcher. In fact, it is an adapted copy of the Android operating system. The design of the menu is quite comfortable and colorful. There will be no difficulties in choosing the required option. However, Android itself is already pretty boring, as it is used in almost all mobile devices. Therefore, most likely, the future owner will be more interested in the second version of the interface - the proprietary Rombica menu. This type of design is also quite colorful, but most importantly, it contains all the applications with which you can launch the main functions of the media player. By the way, the number of preinstalled programs is small, but this is more a plus than a minus. The memory of the device is not clogged with "garbage" programs that a person will never use anyway. There are definitely applications for playing music and video files. If the owner wants to expand the program list, the Play Market will be available to his services. The only flaw in the software is a startup error YouTube apps... However, there is hope that this bug will be fixed when a software update is released (yes, there are updates too).
- Technical stuffing and functionality. The “brain” of the device is a processor called Cortex-A. It is equipped with two cores, each of which operates at a frequency of 1100 MHz. Graphic functions will be provided by the Mali-400MP video card. To make the device work without "brakes", it was equipped with 1 GB of RAM. Data storage will be provided by the built-in 8 GB drive. Of course, this is too little for storing movies, but we must not forget that Rombica Cinema 4K contains a niche in which you can fit an additional 3 TB hard drive. From the name of the model, it is clear that its main function is to play video in Ultra HD (or 4K) format. Initially, the media player has preinstalled programs that allow you to open files of this type. What's more, Rombica Cinema 4K will open up other varieties of video, from regular AVI to Blu-Ray.
Dune HD Solo 4K Media Player
This is another high-quality type of multimedia TV box that can make watching your favorite movies a real pleasure. It contains a solid "hardware" and an impressive set of functions, which gives the owner a lot of possibilities.
- Delivery set and appearance. The device is sold in a white cardboard box. Inside the package, the user will find the media player itself, a remote control, an HDMI cable, a power supply and several attachments for it (so that the owner can connect the set-top box to the network through any outlet), two antennas for Wi-Fi, a separate IR sensor, an analog video / audio cord , special brackets that allow you to mount the player on the wall. In addition, the standard kit includes an instruction manual. The exact dimensions of this technical product are unknown, but it looks like a stack of 3-4 computer disks. The body is made of black plastic. The top of the model in question has a matte surface. Also, the upper part is decorated with the brand logo of the manufacturer. The sides of the media player are glossy, which makes them look quite elegant. Functional connectors are present only at the front and rear. Rear part the device is equipped with protrusions necessary for attaching antennas from Wi-Fi. At the bottom there are 4 rubberized legs that protect the device from slipping. There is also a cover, opening which, the user will find a niche for installing an additional drive.
- Ports and connectors. The front panel is equipped with an output for USB 2.0. At the back there is a DVB-T / T2 antenna jack, an HDMI type 1.4b output, a port for an IR sensor, a gigabit connector for the Internet, a USB 2.0 jack, an input for a power cord. Above the last port is the on / off button for the device.
- Remote control. This part of the kit has a compact design, so it can be used with one hand. The control module does not slip out of your hands and lies in them extremely securely. Almost all buttons are painted black. Also, there is one key each in red, green, yellow and blue. The button travel is very good. The signal that the key is properly pressed is the corresponding clacking. Buttons with similar functionality are located side by side.
- Technical content. The speed of the device is provided by a 2-core processor called ARM Cortex A9. The operating frequency of its cores is 1.2 GHz. Video functions are provided by the Mali-400 MP4 board. The amount of RAM is 1 GB. Memory for physical data storage is represented by only 4 gigabytes (however, this drawback is corrected by installing an additional hard disk). There is also an active cooling system inside the case. There are no significant flaws in this system; it performs its main tasks perfectly and at the same time works almost silently.
- Menu. The interface of the media player model under consideration is represented by a horizontal ribbon, which includes 10 main points. One of several design themes is provided, among which the highlight is a theme called Silver (this is one of the cosmetic innovations added by the developers). Scrolling through the menu, the owner will be able to find applications that launch TV, radio, music player. Also, the menu contains icons, by clicking on which, a person knows the weather, opens social networks, will enter the search engine, go to the settings to optimize the player. Naturally, the Dune HD Solo 4K has players that open all kinds of video file formats. But judging by the name of the model, the most important format for which this device should be bought is 4K Ultra HD.
- Assessment of work. In principle, the device reproduces 4K films quite well. However, the frame rate is far from high. This model will play a video file at a maximum of 30 fps. Of course, more is not needed yet, but after all, over time Ultra resolution HD will become more popular, and movies will appear that need to be played at up to 60 frames per second. When that happens, Dune HD Solo 4K will go out of style. As for other formats of cinema, there are no complaints here. The device reproduces both standard AVI and high-quality MKV equally well.
Media player Rombica Ultimate v02
This model will definitely appeal to all fans of high-quality video content. It has a nice design, compact dimensions, good technical components.
- Delivery set, appearance. The device is sold in a cardboard box, which briefly describes the characteristics of the product. Inside the box, the user will find the media player itself, a power supply from it, a remote control, batteries for the remote control, an RCA cord, an operating manual, a warranty receipt. We can say that the package is almost complete. The only drawback is that there is no HDMI cable (you will have to spend on it separately). Almost the entire body (except for the front side) is made of black matte plastic. The front panel is also plastic, but its surface is already glossy. Under the "gloss" is an IR sensor that responds to commands from the remote control. Functional connectors are located on two sides: on the right and on the back.
- Ports and slots. The right side of the device contains a pair of USB sockets. In addition, this part of the player has a slot for a microSD flash drive. The back side of the described model is equipped with an input for a power supply, an AV output, an HDMI connector, a network port, an optical audio output of the SPDIF type.
- Technical content. A 4-core chip called Cortex A53 is responsible for the speed of the device. The clock frequency of its cores is quite solid - 2000 MHz. Graphics operations will be provided by the Mali 450 board. The integrated processor supports two types of hardware decoding: Н.264 and 265. The amount of RAM is 1 GB. 8 GB of space will be allocated for storing files. You can increase the player's memory using an additional card.
- Software and practical possibilities. The interface of Rombica Ultimate v02 can be of two types: standard - launcher, and also proprietary - Rombica. The 2nd type is considered more convenient. Already upon purchase, the player model will contain all the necessary applications for watching videos and listening to audio recordings. The number of applications can be increased by using Google play... Rombica Ultimate v02 is capable of playing movies of any quality, but its main highlight is the ability to play Ultra HD format. The playback process itself is quite smooth. A characteristic feature of this media player is that it can deliver all 60 fps in 4K resolution.
Our review of the TOP 3 best media players of 2017 is over. We hope that the information provided will help you choose the right TV box model for you, which will give you hundreds of hours of exciting movie shows.
What are media players? Why are they needed at all? What they can do, how to use them and what makes them MORE CONVENIENT and BETTER than anything else (BluRay, DVD, CD). - read about it further. Media Player is a video, music and photo album (photo) player.
The media player plays files that contain videos, music, or photos. The better the player, the more different file formats it supports. Taking advantage of the best models you can completely forget about the word “format”: just select and start movies, music, photo albums using standard buttons on the remote control - just like on the old familiar BluRay, DVD, and CD players.
Why do you need a media player?
Because it is much MUCHER than anything else that came before it - CD players, DVD players and BluRay players.
What exactly is more convenient? Here's what:
1) It is much easier, faster and cheaper to replenish your media collection - a library of films, music and digital photos.
2) Cataloging and searching for works of the media collection is becoming much more convenient. One or two HDDs with files are much more compact than racks and shelves. Finding and running the required file is much easier and faster than going through a disk archive for a long time. In addition, you can organize information according to any principle that is convenient for you.
3) Storing information in the form of files is more reliable than on discs (BluRay / DVD / CD).
4) Compared to similarly launching files on a computer, using the media player is much more comfortable! You use it like a traditional turntable - sitting on the couch in front of a large TV. Agree, SO movies are simply MORE HABITABLE AND MORE CONVENIENT to watch than at a desk in front of a small monitor, holding a mouse, or than watching from a computer on a large TV, each time coming up to a keyboard with a mouse to control.
In addition, the player compared to the computer:
- quiet,
- more compact,
- has fewer wires,
- turns on faster,
- easily controlled by only one push-button remote control,
- hangs less often,
- has a friendly interface like a familiar player, and not like a computer - both a small child and an elderly person who grew up in the pre-computer era can easily learn to use it.
How to use the media player
It depends on the class (capabilities) of the media player you are using. Of all the multitude that is now on the market, we can conditionally distinguish four classes of media players.
1) Players with a USB port, no hard disk drive (HDD), no LAN connection (no network port).
This is the class of the simplest and most inexpensive models. At the same time, they can work perfectly at the level for which they are intended.
Usage
The player is connected to the TV, media files are written to a USB flash drive (or USB disk), which is then inserted into the USB port on the player. We take the player's remote control, find it on the flash drive required files, run. We look, listen - that's actually all! Simple and convenient. This category of models includes the Jacktop Mini player.
2) Players with the ability to embed a hard disk (HDD), without connecting to a local network (without a network port).
These models are slightly more expensive than previous diskless models. They are convenient in that files can be recorded and stored on the built-in HDD. If the capacity of the HDD allows, you can copy your entire old DVD collection, all music / movies / photos from your computer to it and use only the player. A DVD player with disc racks can be sent straight to the country house: where there is a media player, you will no longer need all this!
Usage
To record movies / music / photo albums on the HDD player, just connect the player to the computer as usual external USB drive and overwrite the files you want. Then the player can be connected to TV - watch movies, listen to music, flip through photo albums.
In addition, these players, like the previous class of players, are equipped with an external USB port for connecting external USB to them. hard drives and flash drives from which players can play files. Many models have a background music function, that is, when viewing photos can be accompanied by music. The most advanced models of this class can perform operations with folders and files as on a computer - copy, move, delete, rename, create new folders - and all this is easy with the help of one remote control.
Note
These players (described in points 1 and 2) can play both SD video (cheap models) and SD and HD video (more expensive models). However, almost all new SD models are equipped with an HDMI output, and are capable of providing HD signal via component and HDMI outputs, upscaling the SD picture to HD.
All media players of the following two classes (points 3 and 4) - support real (720p, 1080i / p) HD video.
3) Players with the ability to connect to a local network (network port), but without Internet access - both disk and diskless models.
The advantage of these players is that in addition to everything that the models of the two previous classes can, they can connect to a local network and play files from all available network sources - computers, network disk drives (NAS, Network Access Storage), other network players ( which has a built-in HDD).
Usage
The player is connected with a network cable to a router (network router), video-audio outputs - to a TV. Next, you need to go to the player's setup (setup) in the network settings section and set the parameters corresponding to your local network. In most cases, the factory settings allow the player to automatically enter the network immediately upon turning on. Further, those disks / folders on computers and network storage devices (NAS), where the media files we need are located, need to be assigned a shared network access so that they are "visible" from any other network device, for example, from a media player. After that, the media player will "see" all network drives / folders and will be able to play the files recorded in them, and not only files from its local HDD or USB-drives. The clear advantages of such a connection are that, firstly, the player has access to many more places where files are located, and, secondly, it is not necessary to copy files to the player (or connect external USB devices to it) - the entire media collection can be stored distributed on several network devices(or on one large network server). For example, if there are several rooms in an apartment or cottage, each of which is equipped with a TV and an audio system, it is enough to have only ONE network media server, where all films, TV programs (recorded by the TV receiver), music and a collection of photos will be stored. In each room, you can use your own network media player and watch something of your own - from the server over the network, without the need to first copy files.
4) Players with the ability to connect to a local network (network port), Internet access and the ability remote control(from a remote computer) - both disk and diskless.
This is the most advanced category of media players. They have many options for use, depending on the wishes of the user, the technology available to him and (often) the degree of familiarity with the topics "media players / computers / computer networks/ Internet ", because a number of initial settings still presuppose some immersion in computer topics. But after the settings are made, the player can be used by anyone, regardless of the amount of knowledge and age. Media players Dr.HD MX80, XF100, XS50 belong to this class of devices. What such players can (in the most general terms):
- play files of almost any format (naturally heavy HD video files of tens of gigabytes);
- play files - from the internal HDD (if any), from external USB sources (disks, flash drives), from external eSATA drives (some models), network drives (within the same local network), from remote Web servers (via the Internet );
- download files (movies, music, photos) from the Internet (via the BitTorrent protocol);
- play TV channels IPTV and Internet TV;
- play the contents of popular Web-media resources (YouTube, Flickr, Picasa, Yahoo Weather, etc. up to viewing e-mail boxes);
- perform operations with files (copy, move, delete, etc.);
- have the ability to remotely control (over the network and via the Internet): control settings, play files (select a file, remotely start, stop playback), turn on / off, download new files from the Internet, etc.;
- make it possible to install new software, including alternative, significantly expanding the range of player capabilities.
If there are several rooms (not necessarily located nearby), each of which is equipped with a TV with a media player and Internet access, then you can both autonomously run the media player in each room, and manage the entire system of media players from one computer. This computer can be either in the same local network with the players, or remotely and connect to each player via the Internet (see the figure below). Even a pocket communicator, such as an iPhone, is suitable as a computer. The players themselves can be either in the same local network or outside of a separate network.
From a remote computer, you can run files on each player, stop playback, change settings, turn on / off the player, etc. For example, you have a player at home (it is turned on and connected to the Internet), you are a guest, and your friends also there is a similar player (also with Internet access). You want to watch a movie or photo album, or listen to music recorded in your home. What is needed for this? Just connect to your home player and run files from it as from a remote Web resource. In this way, you can easily exchange files with other owners of players, while not overwriting files - just keep the players online (and know their IP addresses, of course).
How can you add content to your home media library? Here are some of the fastest, easiest, and most common methods.
1) Many ISPs have one or more FTP servers where thousands of video and music files are recorded. It is enough to download everything the computer needs and dump it onto the player's disk (if the player has a built-in disk), or network folder computer, or to a separate network storage. Such downloading is free, traffic within the provider's network is usually not charged.
2) Go to any of the Torrent trackers and just download what you are interested in. And it's completely free! Torrent tracker- Web-portal, which contains an extensive catalog of films / music / photos / software / games / etc., from where special<* .torren t> files, which, in turn, when they are opened by the program torrent client, allow you to easily and quickly download the necessary media files - movies / music / photos / games / software / etc. Popular torrent trackers contain a truly huge database - you can find and download almost any movie (from Hollywood novelties to classics and "art Hausa ") or music. The most popular torrent trackers are thepiratebay.org, torrents.ru, tfile.ru, nnm-club.me, rutor.org, etc.
The most advanced players (the category described in point 4) usually have a built-in torrent client. You can run<*.torrent>file directly on the player, and the player will start downloading on its own, without the help of a computer (of course, the player must be connected to a working router, and the router to the Internet).
3) Go to any movie or music Web-resource offering a download service (free or paid); files on such resources are often stored on the well-known rapidshare.com file storage (or similar ones) - from there you download them from the links indicated on the resource pages. If the download is paid, you are offered to pay via SMS. The amounts are usually funny.
The colossal convenience of media players, their capabilities and flexibility of settings are worthy of several separate articles. Short use of such a device is enough to understand that DVD and BluRay players are already far from yesterday, if not the day before yesterday, and by and large they are not needed. What you REALLY NEED to have at home is the following:
- HD TV (display, projector) + separate audio system (stereo or 5.1);
- local network connected by a router with Internet access;
- at least one computer connected to the local network (for recording new media files);
- network disk drive (NAS) for storing the entire collection of media files (the role of a NAS can be played by the same computer or another computer);
- media player (disk or diskless); if it has the function of connecting to a local network, then there are much more possibilities;
- if you watch TV, then you will also need a PVR receiver (satellite, cable or terrestrial, depending on which channels you want to watch), preferably connected to a local network.
On the media player you watch movies and photos, listen to music, watch IPTV and Internet TV channels, YouTube videos, etc. collection of files.
And this is, in principle, a complete (well, or almost complete) list of what is needed for complete happiness. If you feel sorry for throwing away BluRay and DVD players, you can connect them to the additional inputs of your TV and audio system and sometimes watch / listen to discs in the old fashioned way.