WMV-HD Players that do not require a PC

[HDRJason]

V Inc. Bravo D3 - not shipping until supposedly August 2005

IOdata - AVeL LinkPlayer 2 $250
http://www.iodata.com/products/products ... s=2&tsc=15
Shipping already, just ordered one for myself. Component out, no
DVI/HDCP/HDMI. Next gen will have those outputs, but will not output SD
content out digital, so you'll have to connect both analog and digital.

Buffalo Tech - PC-P3LWG/DVD $350
http://www.buffalotech.com/products/pro ... egoryid=18
their product supports wired and wireless G Ethernet. They have
component out only as well, BUT they upconvert progressive DVD to
720p/1080i!
I'll have a demo unit to play around with in the next week or two.

[HDRJason]

I've done testing and out of all the WMV-HD movies on the market, ONE plays on these two units - it's the German movie Gone. The problem is that neither of them support 'WMV-HD DVD' but rather only WMV HD computer files you download.

The good news is that they are working on it. They are telling me that within weeks they will have new firmware to play Microsoft DRM files. It remains to be seen whether both online and offline DRM will be supported.

For now, I recommend sticking with an HTPC and holding off on any standalone box purchase. I'll continue to update as more data comes in.

[gshick]

Does these play if you copy the wmv file to a computer and stream to the avelink?

[HDRJason]

Does these play if you copy the wmv file to a computer and stream to the avelink?

no, they do the same thing, with green squares all over the screen.

IOData has said they have new firmware to address this, but I don't have a unit anymore.

[rockhard]

This baby plays it all including WMV-HD and DIVX HD -

http://pro.jvc.com/prof/Attributes/pres ... ture_id=08

[HDRJason]

...as of today, it does not. They say it does, but the version of firmware that would support it has not been released yet. I have beta code for it and it doesn't work. I'm still working on it, and haven't given up yet, but what you are seeing is what they claim will work.

I would love to be proved wrong!

[rockhard]

i'm still working on it, and haven't given up yet, but what you are seeing is what they claim will work.

That is a shame and I will bring it up at CEDIA with the JVC / I/O factory boys in September . I will impart any relevant info on firmware release dates.

I would be very interested if and when you solve the issue with an upgrade .