PMP Tests (P. 10/13)

"Slim Devices Squeezebox"

Published on: 6/2007

On test: Slim Devices Squeezebox

The Slim Devices Squeezebox is a great networked digital music player that plays music stored on a PC (or even an Infrant ReadyNAS network-attached storage device) and plays the music to a connected stereo system. The Slim Devices Squeezebox includes an ethernet cable for direct connection to a home LAN, and some versions include Wi-Fi connectivity, which is great for stereo systems that might not be near an available ethernet port. → More

"D-Link DSM-520 Wireless HD Media Player"

Published on: 6/2007

On test: D-Link DSM-520

Not only can the D-Link DSM-520 stream protected .wma files purchased from subscription services such as Napster (using Windows Media Player 11), but it can transmit audio from sources such as AOL Live, Live365, Napster, Rhapsody, and vTuner. → More

"Netgear Digital Entertainer HD EVA8000"

Published on: 6/2007

On test: NetGear Digital Entertainer HD EVA8000

The Netgear Digital Entertainer HD EVA8000 is a feature-packed digital multimedia receiver and player, but setting it up entails visiting too many menus. → More

"Linksys KiSS 1600"

Issue: 7/2007

On test: Linksys KiSS 1600

In contrst to the starkly minimalist Apple TV, the Linksys 1600 is going for a more-is-more approach. It caters for for a far wider spectrum of files, including DivX/Xvid, and even crams in a DVD player. → More

"Vosonic VP8360"

Published on: 5/2007

On test: Vosonic Multimedia Viewer VP8360

The Vosonic VP8360 -- or Wolverine ESP as it's known Stateside -- is a portable media player, PVR, backup drive, 7-in-1 card reader and photo viewer. It's a belter of a portable media device and at around £250 for the 80GB model it won't break the bank either. We reviewed the 80GB version, but 60GB, 100GB and 120GB options are also available. → More

"Philips Streamium WACS7000"

Published on: 5/2007

On test: Philips WACS 7000

Multi-room music systems were once mocked among hi-fi aficionados as expensive toys for those with more money than sense. But today, they are no longer the preserve of the mansion-owning, off-shore-banking elite. While it's fair to say you probably won't be listening to your favourite tunes while sweating it out in the sauna or sunning yourself by the pool, the affordability of modern wireless networking kit means you can set up a system for listening in two or three rooms if you have just a few hundred quid to spare. And with the market maturing all the time, there is an increasing number of companies getting in on the act. → More

"Netgear Digital Entertainer HD EVA8000"

Published on: 5/2007

On test: NetGear Digital Entertainer HD EVA8000

High definition has become the technological buzz-phrase of 2007. Here at TrustedReviews we've been banging on about it for ages, but this is the year it has gone global. You can tell because everyone's using it, from high street flat screen salesmen to journalists on daily papers. Even my dad knows about high def'. But it's not just talk. The equipment to play back high def is here and is becoming more affordable by the day. Large television sets taking full advantage of HD's maximum 1080p resolution can now be had for under a grand, HD-DVD players have come down in price to around the £200 mark and you can pick up a Blu-ray player – in the shape of the Playstation 3 – for around £400. Now, Netgear has thrown its hat into the ring with its wireless Digital Entertainer HD EVA8000, a device – amazingly – that can stream HD video from your computer's hard disk or NAS box straight to your shiny new high resolution telly. → More

"Apple TV"

Issue: 9/2007

On test: Apple Apple TV

The aim of the Apple TV is to unite your computer and its digital content with your widescreen TV using your home network. Forget any ideas of recording TV or any other kind of video content on an Apple TV: with no TV tuner or video inputs, the Apple TV needs its content to be on your Mac for Apple TV to transmit it. → More

"Apple TV"

Issue: 6/2007

On test: Apple Apple TV

Intended as the home entertainment hub tht will wirelessly bring together your computer's digital content and your TV set, the Apple TV suffers from a couple of rather big problems: it's very hard to get television and film content for it, and it's difficult to connect it to a non high-definition TV. → More

"SoundBridge"

Issue: 6/2007

On test: Pinnacle Systems SoundBridge HomeMusic

The original SoundBridge proved popular with many people, and this new version chops £50 off the price, making it an even better option for playing your music collection in any room in your home. → More

"AppleTV media streamer"

Published on: 4/2007

On test: Apple Apple TV

Apple boss Steve Jobs has described the AppleTV as being like a ‘DVD player for the 21st Century’. → More

"Apple TV"

Published on: 4/2007

On test: Apple Apple TV

Apple revolutionised the MP3 player market with its iPod, now it's hoping to do the same to video streamers with Apple TV. Apple TV is designed to stream the music, photos, podcasts and videos stored in your iTunes library on your computer to your television. All your media can be brought to your lounge with minimal fuss via a slick and familiar interface. But has Apple done enough with its first entry into this space? → More

"Buffalo LinkTheater Wireless - A&G"

Published on: 4/2007

On test: Buffalo LinkTheatre Wireless PC-P4LWAG

To the fully geekified, the idea of a device for playing video and music files on your living room TV is as familiar as a beer launching fridge. However, for a lot of people it’s as foreign as having an Aga in the bedroom. So, I'll just briefly explain. What these devices allow you to do is sit back and relax in your favourite armchair or sofa and watch on the TV all those videos and photos stored on your home computers, while also listening to your mp3 collection on your TV or hi-fi. The practice started with people running Linux on homemade PCs which were built into custom cases. Then Microsoft released Windows XP Media Center Edition, giving non Linux users a chance to get in on the action. Now we have dedicated devices that can do it all and, with the help of AppleTV to spread the word, these little boxes are likely to start appearing on TV cabinets all around the world. So, today I’m looking at Buffalo’s take on the network media player, the LinkTheater Wireless A&G. → More

"Apple TV"

Published on: 4/2007

On test: Apple Apple TV

Up to now the story of the media-streaming device hasn’t exactly made pleasant reading for its participants. Most previous versions of these devices (which take music, video and photos from your PC and play them on your TV and stereo), have been unreliable, hard to use and generally shunned by the buying public. The Apple TV, though, follows the typical Apple mantra – keep it simple and make it pretty – and could potentially be the first to triumph in this market. → More

"Sling Media SlingPlayer Mobile"

Published on: 4/2007

On test: Sling Media SlingPlayer Mobile

When we first reviewed Sling Media's Slingbox the technology seemed groundbreaking. It's a ‘place-shift' enabling set-top box that lets you access anything playing in your living room over a broadband. But the emergence in the past year of large numbers of IPTV deals mean there are now far more ways of viewing television content. However, that hasn't stopped Sling Media from increasing the uses for its technology, and you can now use the box to enjoy TV on a mobile phone. → More

"Buffalo Linktheater media streamer"

Published on: 4/2007

On test: Buffalo LinkTheatre Wireless PC-P4LWAG

Buffalo’s Linktheater offers the promise of streaming music, video and photos around your home from your PCs to your TV, all packaged in a diminutive silver box. → More

"Anycom Bluetooth General Audio Gateway"

Issue: 60/2007

On test: Anycom Bluetooth General Audio Gateway

If you are going down the wireless road with your digital music - either through the likes of the Anycom Speaker System or some Bluetooth headphones - you will, of course, need a Bluetooth enabled music player. Many PDAs can do this. iPods can't and most PCs can't. Only they now can, through the uninspiringly named General Audio Gateway. → More

"Archos 404 Camcorder"

Issue: 5/2007

On test: Archos 404 Camcorder (30 GB)

Portable Media Players (PMPs) have built-in hard disks and LCD screens, which enable them to play video as well as audio files. Archos's 404 Camcorder takes this a step further with its integrated video camera. → More

"Archos 404 Camcorder"

Issue: 5/2007

On test: Archos 404 Camcorder (30 GB)

After the Archos 604 WiFi, comes the 404 Camcorder, sharing its predecessor's styling and operating system. But the 404 Camcorder is around £50 cheaper and, in spite of having just a small 3.5in TFT (compared to the 604 WiFi's 4.3in screen), some of its features make it a unique addition to the portable market. → More

"Epson P-5000"

Issue: 4/2007

On test: Epson PhotoViewer P5000

The last generation of Epson portable viewers, the P-2000 and P-4000, are among the PP team's most used accessories and have proved themselves time and time again in most conditions. So we're quite eager to get our hands on the second generation, the P-3000 and P-5000 (40GB and 80GB respectively), to see if they match, or hopefully better, their predecessors. → More

"Micro machines"

Issue: 4/2007

On test: Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 9000, Arcam Solo Movie 5.1, Pure DMX-60, Onkyo CS-515

A second system for a bedroom or kitchen needn't be a compromise: some of our top all-in-ones are even good enough for your main room. → More

"D-Link Medialounge DSM-520 media streaming device"

Published on: 3/2007

On test: D-Link DSM-520

D-Link’s previous media streaming devices have been less than inspiring. Various wireless stability problems made them more frustrating to use than anything else. However, the new Medialounge DSM-520 is a far more steady effort, offering a range of connectivity for today's entertainment market. → More

"UK exclusive: Apple TV"

Published on: 3/2007

On test: Apple Apple TV

To say that Apple TV is the world's best media-streaming device could be considered faint praise, the tech equivalent of calling someone the world's tallest midget. After all, most previous versions of these devices, which take music, video and photos from your PC and play them on your TV and stereo, have been unreliable, hard to use and generally shunned by the buying public. → More

"Archos 404 Camcorder (30GB)"

Published on: 3/2007

On test: Archos 404 Camcorder (30 GB)

With its sleek and sexy design, ample screen and plethora of features, it's hard to believe that the Archos 404 camcorder lists for just £20 more than an iPod with the same capacity. → More

"Slim Devices Squeezebox 3"

Published on: 2/2007

On test: Slim Devices Squeezebox3 Wireless

A veteran in the digital audio receiver category, Slim Devices launched its third-generation Squeezebox a while ago, but it's recently undergone a series of upgrades (downloadable for free via Slim's Web site) that have made a great product even better. → More