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Adapter plays back HD on TV from a hard disk, no computer required
Check out how Hong Kong gimmickmeister Brando scores a rare hit with this SATA HDD Multi-Media Player Adapter. In a minimalistic tour de force, this minuscule adapter lets you plug in any SATA hard disk, SDHC card, or external USB drive, and play back its media with no computer anywhere in sight.
The only hitch we're wondering about is the interface presented to you when you plug it into your TV via HDMI, component, or composite inputs. Still, how bad can it be? And the result is, you'll be able to view a plethora of audio and video formats on your TV, including MPEG-4, DivX, and AVI, without the burden, heat, noise and price of a PC attached.
A couple of slight downsides: you swarthy swashbucklers can't play back Matroska (.mkv) files using this gizmo, and its playback resolution is limited to 1080i. That said, for $69 and the price of a bare hard disk, USB drive or SD card, you can enjoy the equivalent of a competent set-top box in this understated form factor. Might be worth a try.
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Via Brando
By Old Man Dotes at 4:16 PM ON 06/01/09
I have and prefer this one: http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=HV358T&cat=CSE
No card slots, but it handles my terabyte drive just fine.
By Don V at 8:19 PM ON 06/01/09
Interesting device, but I'd sacrifice a slightly larger footprint for 1080p and .mkv. As has been stated. there are already similar devices (albeit not totally computer free) for less.
Curious - what's the "Fan" port / button? Is it possible to add a small fan to cool the drive?
By BDUAres at 3:03 PM ON 06/02/09
That Argosy media player is the same device marketed in the UK under the brand name ATMT and sold by the major electronic chain stores. Bought one myself about 5 years ago in London for £80 or so with a 320gb drive in it. Still running fine.
By colin g at 3:52 PM ON 06/02/09
Man, if this preferably had ethernet port with NAS that could write files to the drive, or at least supported writing to the drive over SATA or USB, I'd be all over it. Could use another computer that turns on to write new media to this device, then turns off. If it can't do this, I don't see it being much of a STB.
By Lindus at 11:21 AM ON 07/09/09
There seem to be a mini-USB on it so the question is if this is for an external device/drive or to control the item with in some other way.
All in all I think this is the coolest piece of minimalist hardware I have seen in a very long time.
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Lindus:
There seem to be a mini-USB on it so the question is if this is for an external device/drive or to control the item...More »