Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
75 of 79 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
A solid 20 hrs to get running, August 2, 2004
My expectations were fairly low after having read all the other reviews, but I really liked the option that you get from adding a home media drive from D-Link to this set-up (DSM 602H/4H). I've been waiting for a media server that doesn't require me to keep my PC running in my bedroom 24/7. The network drive from D-Link and this media server looked like an awesome combination.
In an effort not to repeat everything that's already been said ... here are the things I believe haven't been mentioned yet ... first and foremost, don't expect to spend any less than a solid weekend getting this up and running .. and even after you do I expect multiple hours will be spent updating firmware etc. over the next few months (at least I hope there are firmware updates coming)
The physical connection was easy and intuitive, but getting the player up and running and connected to my wireless network was a royal pain. I tried to use my media drive as it is advertised by D-link, but apparantly that's not possible without a firmware update. Of course, that firmware update is still in beta release ... do I need to say more. It actually royally p*sses me off that D-Link advertise the combination of the media home drive and the media server, before they can actually deliver that option. I wrote a glowing review of the home media drive, but that was before I updated the firmware to enable use with the media server ... after the firmware was updated, I can't access the management interface for the drive for more than one or two pages before the device has to be restarted (read pull power plug and re-insert) .. the drive doesn't seem to stream the media evenly, so every single song comes across with large gaps where nothing is playing ... pictures don't come across in the right format and shows up on the screen in some oddly twisted aspect ratio ... the media server software that's resident in the media drive firmware update apparantly doesn't read ID3 tags correctly either; it doesn't pick up genres, and artist and album data isn't alphabitized
On a slight possitive note, the media server software running off my PC works much better. It streams evenly, ID3 tags seem correct and pictures are correctly formatted. I still haven't been able to stream a single movie across the media server, but that's personally less of an issue for me personally.
Oh, and although I didn't want to repeat other reviewers .. I have to say this ... THE REMOTE CONTROL ABSOLUTELY STINKS ... worst piece of hardware I've ever held in my hand ... period ... and that includes all those awefull Sony-Ericson phones I've tried over the years ;-)
|
|
|
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good out of the box, better customized, November 26, 2005
Below I describe a few UPnP compliant software applications that enable you to make much better use of the DSM-320. Without these applications, I would describe the DSM-320 as a good product. With these applications, I would describe it as a great product. Sorry if this review is a little technical, but I want to get this information out there. It took me some time to figure it out.
The DSM-320 comes with software called a "media server" that runs on your PC and serves music, pictures, and video to the unit over your home network. Because the DSM-320 is UPnP compliant, it is compatible with any UPnP media server. Twonkyvision and TVersity make media servers that are superior to the media server that comes with the DSM-320. Twonkyvision ([...]) enables you to stream music from the Internet (you do this by adding Shoutcast or .m3u streams as playlists to the media server), and it also works with the Cidero media controller (see next paragraph). TVersity ([...]) allows you to stream music over the internet and watch internet TV, but at the time of writing does not work with the Cidero media controller. The Twonkyvision music server is a free download, and the full media server (for music, pictures, and video) is $10 - $20. The TVersity media server is a free download.
Another really cool UPnP compliant PC application that works with the DSM-320 is the Cidero media controller ([...]). This is a freeware Java program that allows you to control the DSM-320 from your PC. With it, for example, you can queue up any number of mp3 songs on your computer, or choose Shoutcast radio stations, and play, pause, stop, and shuffle them from your PC. I prefer controlling the DSM-320 this way as opposed to the television based GUI, because then I don't have to have the television on. [A few notes on using the Cidero media controller with the DSM-320. First, be careful with the volume control. Cidero will let you turn it up louder than it should go, and hence cause the DSM-320 to distort sound at high volume levels. I therefore always turn the DSM-320 volume to the max from the television GUI, and then never touch it from Cidero. Second, there are some quirks about controlling image playback from Cidero. The Cidero website describes a workaround, but if I'm going to watch images on the DSM-320, I already have the television on, and so I just use the regular television GUI).
In short, I have a DSM-320 that is connected to my A/V receiver, and I always leave the units on. I also run the Twonkyvision music server with the Cidero controller on my laptop, and I always leave the laptop on. This enables me to play Internet radio and my giant PC mp3 collection on my home stereo, any time I want, and control it all from my laptop. Pretty darn cool, and IMHO, definitely worth the price of the DSM-320.
|
|
|
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very cool with the right media server otherwise limited, May 20, 2005
This thing requires running a media server software on one's PC. The choice of this software is crucial since with most of them, including the software it ships with, it is a very limited device. However there is a media server that makes this box very versatile and much more useful, it can be found at http://www.tversity.com
The DLink Media Server software ships with this device and when used you end up not being able to play WMV, or ipod AAC files. Also high bitrate MP3 files won't play. The online content that comes with it is very limited and pretty much useless.
The TVersity Media Server adds support for WMV playback as well as ipod AAC, high bitrate mp3 and many many more formats. It also makes it possible to play virtually any online content and it comes with the ability to play all the movie trailers from ifilm on your TV as well as Radio and TV stations from around the world. Very cool stuff!
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|