Roku XDS vs WD Live Plus

[whodatfever]

I am looking for a media player that has built in wi-fi and plays a variety of formats via usb hd. I am torn between these 2 as the information for both seems to be all over the place.

For example, the Roku website lists this player as only playing MP4 as a video format. Not avi (the most prevalent format). However, this link below quotes a user as saying " The USB feature works great as well for MPEG, MP3, JPEG, PNG, WAV, H264, AVI, DVD, etc. Video and audio are in the resolution they were recorded, even 1080p, Even Apple products aren't 1080p capable"

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,236...ab=Reviews


So which is it? Does it play divx files or not? I know the Live plays divx and mkv but it looks like I'll need to buy a wireless add-on or powerline adapters to get internet to the WD box. Roku has dual-band wireless (big plus).

Can anyone give it to me straight on these 2 boxes?


Many thanks!

[zero]

I have my WD Live plugged into a wireless bridge. But I also use the bridge to plug in my blu-ray player and xbox. I mainly use mkv files.

Roku doesn't look like it was designed for your own movie content. The high end model says it will have a software update for the USB port this month so that it will then work with your own content. From what I've read, I would avoid this if that is your main purpose for using it.

[betamaxman]

I have both the wdtv live (not the plus) and the patriot box office. The box office and wdtv play just about any file you through at it. I have a dlink 130 usb wirless unit plugged into the patriot box office. It streams 720p content just fine but many 1080p stuff is choppy so imo wireless is not the best way to stream hd video. You might be better off using network over ac than wireless, these units sell now for under $100.
On another note also look at the wdtv media hub, ships with a built in 1tb hard drive.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obkKVHb-KdE
http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/west...55309.aspx

Also the patriot box can be had for as little as $50 after $35 mail in rebate, can have a laptop hard drive added internally and is supported with a growing third party firmwares. More info.
http://forums.redflagdeals.com/patriot-b...ed-904509/

[White and Nerdy]

The roku XDS doesn't have inputs for playing your own content,
not that I'm aware of anyway. Its just used for streaming from sites
like netflix, facebook, amazon video, etc. The only way I know of to
even put home movies on it is by using facebook photos or over a flickr account,
you can't communicate with it and store anything on the device as far as I know,
unless there's a way to hack into it somehow, which I haven't tried looking up yet.

[pwherman]

This guy created a modded firmware package for WDTV that allows you to add a wireless USB network card to it as well as a ton of other features including Hulu, Mediafly and Netflix. It also recognizes various Media servers like Playon and Popcorn. The firmware will connect on windows shares and streams media connect beautifully. It is rock solid and easy to install. You can even revert to the WD default firmware very easily.
http://b-rad.cc/1295/wdlxtv-plus-for-wdt...#more-1295

[betamaxman]

The latest wdtv firmware has most of these features already, and usb wifi for a long time. But an interesting alternative.