[mythtv-users] Media Player - MediaGate MG-35 ???

[Kingsley Turner]

Brian Wood wrote:
> Has anyone seen or heard of one of these:
>
> http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=MG-35&cm_mmc=geekmail-_-daily_html-_-29jan09_MGKIT-_-MGKITmain
>
> Looks like it has potential, at least it claims Linux support.
>
> Last time I checked the NDAS drivers were not available for 64-bit, but that 
> was a couple of years ago. I wish it would just do NFS.
>
> The only way it could play HD would be via the component output, but if it can 
> play MPEG4 (wish they said h264 specifically) itmight be worth the relatively 
> low price. It does seem to have digital audio output.
I've got one, had it for years.  Still use it most nights.

It will play DVD ISOs, divx, mpeg1/2; etc.

But it can be very picky about what it plays.  For example h264 (IIRC) 
is out, and even divx with Qpel optimisation (and one other thing too, i 
forget) wont play either.   Because it uses a hardware decoder chip, new 
codecs are not an option.  Firmware updates are only for the UI.

That said, it's a pretty nifty unit, but I'd look at the 350HD model, 
which has digital-out and built-in wifi.

The whole NDAS thing is a complete pigs-ear - Originally you had to by a 
licence key for an extra US$20.   And then there was only an NDAS client 
for win32.   The rest of the box (for it's time) was fantastic, but this 
aspect of it is/was complete crap.

There's a modified firwmware for them that includes a little FTP 
server.  Maybe I should give this a go.

cheers,
-kt