Western Digital WD TV HD Media Player

**JohnnyBlaze** · **03-13-09, 09:40 PM**

*Update*

Just like to continue to share what is in the unofficial works with WD >>
Read

Code:

http://root.unknown.sk/wdtv/wiki/doku.php?id=wdtv_faq

I knew it wouldn't be long before guyz would tap into the WD to get LAN to work along with addressing a number of other issues, but remember this is in the early stages so there are plenty of mixed results. As you will read WD has the source code of their binaries

; We can only add features to the the linux system that it was not suppose to have like: internet to stream videos via a pc, etc.,etc. ....Not until someone has the source code of what controls the hdmi port, composite port, etc.

Would be nice if WD would add these features to the firmware but I seriously doubt it because of marketing reasons such as, the sale of their own hard drives or even a newer model WD.
So for now.......kudos to the tech_

's (no disrespect intended), who continue to provide the rest of us with the best value to our well spent dollars

**Harpmaker** · **03-16-09, 09:54 PM**

Amazing stuff JBlaze! Thanks

**BlueZero** · **03-17-09, 05:52 PM**

Okay you guys twisted my arm! I picked one up on the way home tonight.

**ergegd** · **04-28-09, 03:49 AM**

I got the confusion too!

But I think EHP-606 is more suitable!

**JohnnyBlaze** · **05-10-09, 10:40 PM**

I'm Back! It's been awhile

**New uPdate**

Version 1.02.07 Now Available!

What's New?
Release 1.02.07 (4/27/2009)
(includes all previously released updates)

* Enhanced cover art, album art, and thumbnail support for media files and folders
* Additional subtitle languages and decoding support
* Improved media playback and navigation
* More audio formats for MKV container
* Fixed bugs reported by the WD TV user community

Code:

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/wdtv/index.asp?wdc_lang=en

-------------------------------------------------------
Glad to see that the people @ WD are really taking their consumers serious and are really listening to our feedback!
eNjOy!

**wbassett** · **05-27-09, 01:13 AM**

I just spent a week playing with one of these puppies up close and personal.

Yes there are alternatives out there, but nothing even close price wise.

Probably the biggest complaint is that the WDTV doesn't have network support. Well it does and doesn't. Let me explain- It doesn't officially have the capability, but the source code is out there and people have been rewriting it. With the custom code update it now supports networking via a USB ethernet adapter.

I can also state that even though Western Digital states it does not work with USB hubs, up to FW version x.07 it does. I had multiple drives plugged into a hub that was attached to one of the WDTV's USB ports. They don't come up as seperate drives like when you have a drive plugged into each USB port. Instead you see a Video folder icon, and when you select that you then see the icons for the drives on the hub. Your mileage may vary though... .8 seems to have disabled hubs from working. I don't think that was done intentionally though. Also I'd use a powered hub for the best results.

We set up a couple of drives. One with all of the Man from U.N.C.L.E, Mission Impossible, and other spy genre TV series and big screen movies. I setup thumbnails for each episode, and each folder has it's own custom icon too. All in all it was very easy to setup.

It also plays anything we threw at it. For those that want to wait for an official company supported network feature, WD is introducing a second unit this fall that has networking. I don't know what the price will be though, but if they are smart they will keep it lower than the PCH.

In the end each device of this type has its pros and cons. There is nothing out there right now that is a total solution for everything, but the WDTV's price makes this very attractive. I have a PS3 and because I have it (and spent so much money on it!) I use it as my media hub because I want to keep gear and remotes to a minumum as well as see what all the PS3 can do. That said... I am seriously thinking about picking up a WDTV myself! This is one slick unit that won't break the bank and Western Digital seems to be very serious about supporting it and providing quick updates. They also seem to listen to user feedback and try to implement requests in new FW updates.

**epereira** · **06-22-09, 10:53 PM**

I have been using a WD TV HD Media Player now for bout 2 months and am pleased with it. I have it hooked up to an external 1TB USB hard drive which holds all my video and movies. My only complaint is that the UI and remote are pretty lame and now that I have my Harmony ONE programmed, I am smiling again

**JohnnyBlaze** · **06-24-09, 11:01 AM**

Hey "epereira" you mentioned the the Harmony One programed, I'm curious to know more, as to how well does it work with the WD TV HD? I presently own the Harmony 550 and it seemed to be limited in operating all of the functions of the WD vs. the remote.

**epereira** · **06-24-09, 04:09 PM**

Hi Johnny:

The Harmony ONE works really well with the WD Media Player - I was a little skeptical at first but once I figured out the options/buttons, it is great! I like it a lot better than the WD remote

The Logitech software (latest version) allowed my to select the WD player - I believe it was under stereaming media or something similar. I don't know if the software options are remote-specific but would imagine that would be similar with the 550. How the buttons are mapped to your remote might be an issue though - the Harmony ONE has large touch-screen buttons and is easy to navigate to other options.

**JohnnyBlaze** · **06-24-09, 06:26 PM**

Thank........ I'll check it out.

**el_stifler** · **10-18-09, 08:06 AM**

You'll need to format the drive as NTFS to allow more than 4gb file sizes. You can do this by right clicking My Computer, choose Manage, then Disk Management > Right Click your drive and choose Format and select NTFS as the type of format. (This is on a Windows machine)

For viewing images of your movies, just drop a jpg into the same folder on the hard drive that your movie resides in.

I have my drive set as F:\ then each movie has its own folder. In each folder I have an ISO of the film and a jpg. The jpg will come up as the movie pic rather than a blank folder.

Hope this helps.

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