SACM "MvixPVR Best on Test"

GROUP TEST
MvixPVR
RRP: R3,699 (excluding hard drive) | Distributor: Sanji Electronics (011) 266-7500 | Internet: www.mvix.co.za
An iPod can be docked here, and most
of its functions can be accessed via the
remote control
This multi-directional button allows control
of some functions should you wish to get up
close and personal with this unit
BASIC OVERVIEW
Periodically, new models of the MvixPVR
have been released, progressively enhancing
features – and occasionally removing others
that may no longer be relevant. For example,
this latest model no longer offers an S-video
output, as this format is gradually fading
(though this omission may be an issue for
some users). Despite this fact, this unit
offers one of the most comprehensive
feature sets. Short of making you coffee
to enjoy while you watch, it can do just
about anything. Besides handling all the
usual media types, it also offers recording
capabilities and true PVR functions such
as time shifting. It connects to your local
area network, wired or wireless, and can
stream media that is shared on networked
computers, as well as delivering content
from the Internet. During playback, an OSD
shows any adjustments you may be making.
A hard drive can be fitted for internal
storage - the PVR functions depend on
38 | 06.2009 | www.sacm.co.za
its presence. Two USB ports are present
to allow for the use of additional external
drives or flash drives. The unit has a very
comprehensive, feature-rich remote control
that can be a bit intimidating at first, but
is quite intuitively laid out. Sometimes
commands are a bit lagged, however. AV
inputs mean that content can be acquired
from a DStv decoder or DVD player, and
recorded onto the hard drive.
UNIQUE TO THIS MODEL
A small, technical detail that caught our
attention is the fact that this device’s
internal cooling fan’s speed can be adjusted,
allowing for quieter running, or greater
cooling (in hot weather, for example). There
is an iPod dock at the top, which allows
playback of content from a variety of iPods.
In addition to being able to play media
from network locations, the process can
be reversed, with content being playable
from other locations – including over the
Internet from a computer with appropriate
access rights. (Of course, in this country of
restrictive bandwidth caps, this feature is
currently of limited use, but could become
quite significant in the future.) SACM
Best on
Test
FEATURES AND CONNECTIVITY
INPUTS: Ethernet, Wi-Fi, USB (x
2), AV RCA (composite)
OUTPUTS: Component video (RCA),
AV RCA, coaxial audio (RCA), optical
digital audio, HDMI
FEATURES: Ethernet, Wi-Fi,
Internet capability, internal
storage, remote control, supports
up to 1080p HD, PVR functionality,
can serve media over LAN or
Internet
SUPPORTED MEDIA: Movies,
photos, music
GROUP TEST
Apple TV
RRP: R4,500 (40GB) | R5,999 (160GB) | Distributor: Core Group 087 940 3080 | Internet: www.zastore.co.za
The unit is flat and sturdy enough to support
an object (though it’s probably best not to
stand a large TV atop it!)
BASIC OVERVIEW
Apple products are renowned for their
unique styling, emphasis on the user
experience – and for being (in most cases)
white! The Apple TV is no exception. It
features a very non-intrusive form factor,
simple and clean lines, and a low profile
– and it’s white! It also has a satisfyingly
solid feel to it. Its name is something of a
misnomer: it has no built-in TV-decoding
functionality, nor can it even accept any
standard form of video input. What it does,
however, is to pull content from networked
computers and from iTunes streams over
the Internet. To use this product fully, one
really needs to use the iTunes Store. It
can also get content from services such
as YouTube, Flickr, and MobileMe. In terms
of consolidating networked content, this
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This remote control is
highly reminiscent of iPods
unit supports Ethernet (wired) and Wi-Fi
(wireless) networks. The Wi-Fi antenna is
internal, thus not marring the clean lines of
the unit. Models are available with 40GB and
160GB internal hard drives. All the ports
and connectors are at the rear, and are
neatly arranged, and include an HDMI (highdefinition) output.
UNIQUE TO THIS MODEL
The Apple TV features one of the slickest,
most aesthetically-pleasing user interfaces
we have ever seen: pleasing colours,
customisability, and smooth transitions and
animations. However, there is something
of a learning curve involved: it takes a while
to get used to the quirks of this interface,
and until then, it can be tricky to find some
items. Thereafter, however, it is quick and
simple. The remote control is styled much
like a basic iPod. An interesting feature is the
ability to configure an iPhone or an iPod touch
to act as a remote control for this device.
FEATURES AND CONNECTIVITY
INPUTS: Ethernet, Wi-Fi, USB
OUTPUTS: Component AV (RCA),
coaxial audio (RCA), optical digital
audio, HDMI
FEATURES: Ethernet, Wi-Fi,
Internet capability, internal
storage, remote control, supports
up to 1080p HD
SUPPORTED MEDIA: Movies,
photos, music
LaCie LaCinema Classic
RRP: R2,350 (500GB) | R2,966 (1TB) | Distributor: DDS 0860 337 000 | Internet: www.directservices.co.za
Its aesthetically pleasing design
will be perfectly suited to any home
theatre environment
The USB port up front allows easy
access for expansion devices
BASIC OVERVIEW
LaCie is well established in the portable
drive market, particularly in terms of
media playback-capable portable drives.
While models such as the LaCinema
Rugged emphasise portability, this one
is intended to be more of a permanent
fixture, though it can be lugged around
(though its finish might take a bit of
strain). This device is intended more
as a portable drive capable of playing
back to a TV than anything else – it
can’t stream content from network
locations or anything like that. It can
connect to a PC via USB, thus acting as
an external drive. The user interface is
clean and simple, with clear white text
and icons on a black background. During
use, adjustments are reflected via the
OSD (on-screen display), indicating,
for example, volume changes and the
like. The remote control is simple and
quite good-looking. Unfortunately, the
interface is a bit sluggish, so you may
find yourself angrily pushing down on a
button a second time to get the desired
result. The model we reviewed has a
500GB internal hard drive, which is quite
significant, even for storing HD content.
UNIQUE TO THIS MODEL
This device features beautiful styling: it is
a simple box with crisp edges, and has a
high-gloss finish. It looks simply stunning as
it sits there, especially as the power light (in
an appealing and vibrant electric blue) sits
underneath the front edge, so you never
see it directly, but rather see an oblong of
blue radiance on the surface just before it.
The only features on the front are a USB
port (for connecting a flash drive or another
external hard drive), and a virtually invisible
power button. The glossy finish, however,
is quite susceptible to scratching, so
appropriate care should be taken.
FEATURES AND CONNECTIVITY
INPUTS: USB in, USB-to-PC
OUTPUTS: AV out (RCA), coaxial
audio (RCA), HDMI
FEATURES: Internal storage,
remote control, supports up to
1080p HD
SUPPORTED MEDIA: Movies,
photos, music
www.sacm.co.za | 06.2009 | 35
Iomega ScreenPlay Pro HD 500GB
RRP: R2,799 | Distributor: Iomega | Internet: www.iomega.co.za
The vertical form factor is
‘economical’ on space
These comprehensive control buttons
are an unusual design choice
BASIC OVERVIEW
Iomega has a history of making highcapacity external hard drives, and
here delivers a media playback-capable
variant. As well as connecting to a
computer via a USB cable, it can be used
as a network drive, allowing its content
to be accessed via a wired Ethernet
connection. It has quite a ’busy’ remote
control, covered in buttons, providing
powerful PVR-like options. The on-screen
interface is quite neat and functional,
with a black background, and featuring a
miniature preview of currently-selected
media. This device is able to record
an incoming composite video signal. It
offers expandability via a USB port.
The external styling is attractive in a
’techy’, chunky way – the unit stands
vertically (meaning that it occupies as
little surface area as possible), and has
an unusual number of controls on its
front panel.
UNIQUE TO THIS MODEL
While this device has no built-in WiFi support, a Wi-Fi adapter is sold
separately, which connects to the
ScreenPlay Pro via USB. It should be
borne in mind, however, that this way
of connecting to the home network
(specifically Wi-Fi over USB) might not
always be fast enough to cope with
HD content. In other regards, this
particular model is quite typical of
mid-range PVRs, and features a 500GB
internal hard drive, sufficient to store
considerable amounts of content.
FEATURES AND CONNECTIVITY
INPUTS: Ethernet, USB,
AV RCA (Composite)
OUTPUTS: Component video
(RCA ), AV RCA, coaxial audio
(RCA ), optical digital audio, HDMI
FEATURES: Ethernet, internal
storage, remote control,
suppor ts up to 1080p HD, PVR
functionality
SUPPORTED MEDIA: Movies,
photos, music
www.sacm.co.za | 06.2009 | 37
GROUP TEST
Corex Portable 2.5” HDD Multimedia Player
RRP: R1,119 (excluding hard drive), R399 (optional docking bay)| Distributor: Corex | Internet: www.corex.co.za
The docking bay allows the
drive to be seamlessly slotted
into a media centre PC
BASIC OVERVIEW
This portable drive and multimedia player
system is aimed at people who are
somewhat ‘tech-savvy’, and not afraid of
a little DIY assembling. The reason for this
is that the unit comes by default without
a hard drive, which must be purchased
separately and formatted. Computer
retailers might bundle this device with a
drive, but be sure to check with your store
first. The device consists of two main parts:
the media-playback base station, and the
mobile disk enclosure. The former connects
to a TV or projector. The latter slots into
the base station, or can be connected to a
PC via a mini-USB cable to be loaded with
content. The docking station itself doesn’t
connect to a PC – for that the drive must
be ejected. A small, slim remote control is
36 | 06.2009 | www.sacm.co.za
The hard drive easily fits
in most pockets, and is
very light
included for controlling playback. This system
doesn’t support full HD (1080).
UNIQUE TO THIS MODEL
For starters, while some of the functions
of other players are absent in this device, it
boasts the greatest degree of portability.
The 2.5-inch hard drive it employs is of the
same type as those used in notebooks
computers (must be SATA, by the way),
and are very light and compact. There is
an additional, optional product that can be
purchased, the EZ Swap EX. This is a slot
that can be installed in an optical drive bay of
a PC, and allows the mobile disk to be slotted
in for loading, instead of connecting it via the
mini-USB cable. While some will consider the
benefit too minor for the expense and trouble
of purchasing and installing this additional
device, it lends itself perfectly to a media
centre PC (generally set up in lounges or TV
rooms), where one usually wishes to minimise
the eyesore of superfluous wires.
FEATURES AND CONNECTIVITY
INPUTS: USB-to-PC
OUTPUTS: AV out (RCA),
component video out
FEATURES: Internal storage,
remote control, supports up to
720p HD
SUPPORTED MEDIA: Movies,
photos, music