The WD TV Live is a compatible media hub with full 1080p HD. With the ability to decode DTS audio and a 10/100 Ethernet port, it adds to the existing WD TV device. It is mainly designed to connect directly to the TV, WD TV eschews Wi-Fi instead of plumping for the wired Ethernet. It is similar in scope and is priced to the £109 Netgear EVA2000. As expected, the device will enable us to stream content from your PC and also talk to network attached storage (NAS) boxes. The device can be connected to an HD TV via standard composite video or HDMI 1.3 and an audio RCA connector. WD TV Live is pitched primarily as a unit, just as with the precursor WD TV into which we had plug a device such as the USB stick or an external hard drive to play back content in which w have stored there. This is not as easy as accessing that content wirelessly and so the price reflects this. A premium for this functionality can be paid while different wireless media streaming devices are available- Netgear and Buffalo.

WD TV Live has an interesting feature, that is its ability to play contents stored on the devices like cameras, camcorders and mobile phones. With this ability to store and playback much more media on our mobiles, the phone is obviously becoming an ideal station to keep our media and the WD Live is placed ideally to take advantage of this new trend. There are two USB ports on the machine to support to two devices at once. We can also transfer files between these two devices, for example, from a camera to a USB hard drive. Another important function of media-streaming devices is Web media access. While the WD TV Live only has Flickr and YouTube at present.

Our main contention with the device is that its old-fashioned attachment to wired Ethernet. The disadvantage of Ethernet is mainly the difference between the position of the TV and the position of the router. It’s sad that we won’t be able to access any internet content if our router is too far away. But a wireless bridge can always be plugged into the Ethernet port. Western Digital needs to add to its range with an 802.11n version of the kit . It is shipping with the provision that inorder to transfer HD video, any active and strong purchaser would need 802.11n router. The WD TV Live is a typical of the new breed of the media playback devices. It supports many file formats, including DivX video and MKV plus all the other usual standards . But the device doesn’t support any protected content from places like the iTunes Store. Media streaming is definitely becoming a more competitive marketplace. Cheap media streamers are available these days. Many streamers have slow interfaces but this does not affect the WD TV Live. And to conclude, this is the best time to buy as prices are falling and reliability is improving.