Data storage heavyweight Western Digital (WD) has this week introduced an impressively simple media player to enable its customers to enjoy playback of their stored digital content via a high-definition television (HDTV).
Western Digital Media Player offers simple HD TV transfer. Image: WD.
The aptly named WD TV Media Player works in conjunction with WD-branded My Passport portable devices (or other USB drives) and connects easily to a user’s TV or home theatre system for the transfer of digital movies, music and photos in Full-HD 1080p resolution.
According to WD, desktop and notebook computer owners have “struggled with clumsy solutions” when it comes to enjoying their stored digital libraries on their televisions.
Yet now, instead of copying content onto multiple CDs and DVDs or connecting their computers to their TVs via wires or complex home-based network solutions, the WD Media Player create an easy and elegant option for big-screen viewing.
In terms of operation, the WD TV Media Player remains connected to its host television and users then merely plug-in up to two My Passport USB drives or other USB mass storage devices loaded with high-definition content, which can then be viewed by navigating the Media Player’s on-screen menu.
Stored media can be swiftly chosen for playback through the player’s accompanying remote control, which enables users to select by filename or thumbnails of photos, album covers and movie cover art. Additionally, automatic media aggregation allows users to view their content by media type in a single menu, regardless of specific folders or drives.
“Our best-selling My Passport portable drives help customers carry their media library with them anywhere but until now, there has been no easy, affordable way to access and play all that content in their living rooms,” outlined Jim Welsh, senior vice president and general manager for WD’s Branded Products and Consumer Electronics Groups.
“The WD TV HD Media Player effectively unlocks all that content from the storage device and lets people enjoy it on their biggest screen and best sound system,” he added.
Other core features include compatibility with WD My Book family of drives and also most USB drives, digital cameras, camcorders and portable media players generally recognisable as being mass storage devices.
While photo lovers can enjoy the creation of custom slide shows and the ability to zoom and pan, movie and music fans have the ability to fast forward, rewind, pause, zoom, and pan, view subtitles and even search by most recently viewed and date added.
Equipped with two USB ports, the WD Media Player also comes with a HDMI port and additional RCA composite outputs for wider TV set compatibility, free ArcSoft MediaConverter 2.5 software, an ultra-compact design and a 1-year limited warranty.
Interested storage-dependent consumers can purchase a WD TV Media Player for a recommended price of $129.99 USD through the official WD online store and also select hardware retailers.
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