A few Questions before buying

[EpcH]

Hi All,

I am a proud owner of Divx Connected device, but for the reasons I am posting here I will be moving on for getting an A-110 unit.

But before I put an order, I need to make sure for some of the issues that is forcing me to move on from DSM330, my beloved Divx Connected device.

Here they are:

1) Divx Connected offers a magnificent, fully customizable GUI.
Can we get a customizable GUI with A-110?

2) Divx Connected works with Metadata files for displaying Movie information, including the cover art, like in IMDB, can we do that with A-110?

3) Divx Connected cannot provide support for Subtitles and Language selections for .mkv files, which is the main reason I want to move on, can we switch on / off subtitles and change languages embedded to movie files in .mkv files ? and ofcource at the same time as I said enjoy 5.1, dts sound?

4) I already have a running dedicated server at my home, hosting all my movie files along with other things (for example logitech squeeze duet server for streaming my music files), Can 110A work with my dedicated server , instead of working with the internal HD ? My server has a gigabit dedicated network for streaming movie files which I want to keep.

Other than these, how is the company's support? how do they respond to changes in needs. One of the problems with divx is they even do not respond to changes like the DTS issue ( no support), or .mkv files without language and subtitle support : (

Please advice me,
I do not want to invest on an another equipment and face again very similar problems.

Thanks in advance.

[Mental]

(10-12-2009 06:29 PM)EpcH Wrote:  Hi All,

I am a proud owner of Divx Connected device, but for the reasons I am posting here I will be moving on for getting an A-110 unit.

But before I put an order, I need to make sure for some of the issues that is forcing me to move on from DSM330, my beloved Divx Connected device.

Here they are:

1) Divx Connected offers a magnificent, fully customizable GUI.
Can we get a customizable GUI with A-110?

Seriously, look at the forum and the Wiki and do a search on youtube.
In short: Yes.

Quote:2) Divx Connected works with Metadata files for displaying Movie information, including the cover art, like in IMDB, can we do that with A-110?

Same story (hint: YAMJ)

Quote:3) Divx Connected cannot provide support for Subtitles and Language selections for .mkv files, which is the main reason I want to move on, can we switch on / off subtitles and change languages embedded to movie files in .mkv files ? and ofcource at the same time as I said enjoy 5.1, dts sound?

Yes it can switch between subtitle and audio tracks.

Quote:4) I already have a running dedicated server at my home, hosting all my movie files along with other things (for example logitech squeeze duet server for streaming my music files), Can 110A work with my dedicated server , instead of working with the internal HD ? My server has a gigabit dedicated network for streaming movie files which I want to keep.

That's great, A110 is 100mbit but that shouldn't be any problem when connecting it to a gbit network; it'll work just fine (my HDX-1000 (same chipset) is doing the same thing here).

Quote:Other than these, how is the company's support? how do they respond to changes in needs. One of the problems with divx is they even do not respond to changes like the DTS issue ( no support), or .mkv files without language and subtitle support : (

How's support? Checkout these forums, a lot of volunteers helping people out and you can always check the release notes of the firmware to see what kind of issues have been fixed over the last 2 years.

Quote:Please advice me,
I do not want to invest on an another equipment and face again very similar problems.

Thanks in advance.

My advice... before investing money, i'd advise you to invest some time to checkout the forum and some reviews of the unit; best to find out yourself than hear it from someone else who's more than likely positively or negatively biased.

[cheaper_popcorn]

1) Yes. First of all, the default interface can be skinned. This only changes the look though. Second, there are lots of other options available, the most popular are the different jukebox apps that give you cover based browsing and fanart, and thirdly, there are alternative more "traditional" file managers as well.

2) Yes, the jukebox apps tend to have scrapers that get information from various online databases.

3) Yes on both. DTS 5.1 sound requires an output device that can play it properly though. Apart from DTS passthrough to external receiver. the A-110 also supports downmix of DTS to stereo, in order to get sound when connected to your TV.

4) Yes. The A-110 will not provide Gigabit speeds though.

[EpcH]

Thank you guys for your fast responses : )

Gigabit is not an issue, although I have gigabit network, Divx Connected is not supporting it, too. So there is no loss there provided that the system functions with 100mbit speed.

I already have a receiver that supports DTS HD sound, and this is really good news that I can enjoy DTS instead of downgrading the audio to stereo. I have my own collection of 1080p movies with DTS that I can't fully enjoy all the effects just because of there is no support for DTS with divx connected.

And hearing that I can switch on and off subtitles from my remote for the .mkv files and even change default languages, I wanna cry!

Now as you guys mentioned, I will be reading the forums, and checking out wiki to fully grasp the tools available for the device and hopefully I will be upgrading.

Thank you again!

[cc1091]

As an A-110 owner running GBPVR on a network connected computer, I would say that you would probably be happier by spending a little more to purchase an only slightly outdated computer with good quality video card and audio card and with a copy of Windows XP on it. Add a tuner card, and then install any apps that you want. Get a wireless keyboard and mouse. Make sure your tuner card comes with a remote too. You may spend a few hundred dollars more, but I think you'll be much happier. Better interface, more versatile audio players (especially Winamp or any other audio player that can cue songs instead of playing one directory individually or one song at a time or force you to compose a cue sheet elsewhere first). All movie files can be handled just as easily with a normal computer. The small footprint of the PCH is really the only advantage. If you want to do anything really useful with the PCH you really need to have a computer anyway (GBPVR, setting up torrents with a real keyboard, etc). Why pay extra for a device that doesn't live up to its potential?

[lordy]

Er. do you mean vobsub (image-based) subtitles or srt ones?

Last time I checked, vobsub isnt supported for anything but DVD ISOs?
Happy to be wrong on this though - but I've given up checking...

[EpcH]

@ cc1091 :

My server is a dedicated one (dual core, 512 ATI Radeon, 3 gig Ram, XP Prof, G Wireless - 108 mbits) , running in my home office, and it has its own switch based network ( does not run on my home router like the other equipment - Printers, laptops, etc.. so no packet collisions, no channel conflicts, confusions) , that the cable runs all the way from my office (aka temple) to my living room ( 70 ft cat5e) to my home entertaining investment. I do not need a wireless keyboard or such since the server is hooked up with remote desktop, displaying the server from my second monitor that lies in my desk is easy and fast enough.

The server also runs, as I mentioned before, Logitech's Squeeze box duet Server, which is absolutely the best audio streaming device I have ever had, so I do not have any expectations from A110 in terms of streaming audio, I already have the best doing it for me.

All I need is a device, in this case A110, that can stream video with DTS from my server and perform well.

After reading some, the only down side, trade off I see with A110 is the interface, although it is customizable, does not look like very fancy but it is not a beauty contest I guess. Another issue is it is not wife compatible, which in turn means I need to the everything while wife criticizes hehe.

I am still reading though, I want to understand fully the capability of the device and then invest my time on it, which means the money : )

@lordy:

I meant both, but I can live with .srt as long as it works with .mkv. Subtitles are very important for me since my collection has foreign movies that naturally sounds like Klingon when you do not have the subtitles.