After a couple of months looking for a good NMT (Network Media Tank), I finally settled on the Xtreamer SideWinder which I got from Complink Parksquare for 5,400 pesos and already bundled with an HDMI cable. For those of you who don’t know what an NMT is, it’s a digital media player that also acts as Network Access Storage or NAS.
I got the SideWinder version because it has a heat sink as compared to the original version which has overheating problems.
This media player seems to be the best buy if you’re on a budget considering these three basic features you need from a digital media player.
One, it can play up to 1080p Full High Definition videos.
Two, it has a streaming function that makes it easier to sync your PC to the player provided they’re on the same network. The Xtreamer has WiFi support but you need to buy the WiFi antenna separately for around Php1k. If you have a LAN cable and you can connect this to your router with it, do that instead for a smoother streaming playback.
And Three, you can put a 2.5″ SATA hard drive inside the player for extra storage.
The Xtreamer SideWinder can also use your home network’s internet connection so you could go online for additional features such as Youtube, Yahoo Video, CNN News, BBC Podcast and more.
The Jukebox feature is a great addition as it gives a better interface for your movies/series description but you need to be connected on the internet to make this work.
Connections
At the back is an HDMI port, Composite Video, USB ports, Stereo Analog Audio and S/PDIF Optical Audio (for 5.1 dts). No component port (RGB) here so it’s either HDMI or Composite.
Video Playback
This baby supports almost every video format I tried, specifically the ones we have downloaded like a 1GB 720p MKV, 720p/1080p XVID AVI and x264 formats. ISO formats are also supported.
Pros:
- Low Price for a complete NMT ( HD player + Streaming + Internal Storage )
- Supports a wide variety of video formats
- Easy to use menu interface
- Small and compact
Cons:
- Hangs often when STREAMING 1080p videos on mkv format
- No power button and other controls on the player itself
- 2.5″ HDD capacity is still limited compared to 3.5″ HDD
- Difficulty on setting up streaming from your pc
Tip on setting up streaming from your PC:
Go To Tools > Folder Options > View Tab then uncheck Use Simple Sharing.
When sharing your selected directory, go to Permissions, click Add, then type guest so that it allows the xtreamer to stream your files from the pc. Also add exception to your antivirus or turn it off when streaming.
Verdict:
The Xtreamer SideWinder is a great digital player at an affordable price for users who simply just want to watch Fringe (I suggest you test your player with this one) or their other favorite shows or movies in high definition on a home network. Enjoy digital playback without having worry about compatibility and codec issues.
Your family will love being able to watch videos off the Xtreamer at the comfort of their own room on their PCs or laptops. With its compact size, you can bring the Xtreamer with you on long business trips to catch up on your TV shows during down time.
Xtreamer SideWinder Specs:
- Ralink RT3070 Single Chip chipset
- 128MB DDR2 SDRAM, 256MB Flash
- HDMI v1.3a (up to 1080p), Composite Video, Stereo Analog Audio, S/PDIF Optical Digital Audio
- 1x USB 2.0 slave, 2x USB 2.0 host, Internal SATA for 2.5″ HDD
- Ethernet 10/100
- Width 111mm x Depth 46mm x Height 167mm
- 2.2 lbs (1Kg)
- Php5,300
Editor’s note: This post is contributed by Ronn Franco with some slight revisions by the editor. Ronn is a multimedia artist currently working at a local gaming company. He’s a fan of torrents and downloads every TV episodes he can get his hands on. He hopes to meet Jack Bauer himself someday.