Western Digital WD TV Live Streaming Media Player Review

Product Specifications
Content Services
Positive Aspects
Negative Aspects
Should You Buy?

The latest generation of the Western Digital WD TV Live Streaming Media Player is equipped with a variety of new features. Wi-Fi connectivity and the popularity of media streaming services will draw more and more new customers to Western Digital's media streamers. However, the more advanced users or power users will be more keen to know if it can support a wide range of media files available these days. Is the WD TV Live worth buying? Continue reading to find out more.

Product Specifications Of The Western Digital WD TV Live Streaming Media Player

Average Price: $99.99
Size: 4.9 by 3.9 by 1.2
Connection: HDMI, Composite Video
Resolution: Up to 1080p
SD Card Slot: None
USB Ports: 2
Storage Space: None
Internet: Wi-Fi, Ethernet
Web Browser: None

Content Services

Netflix: Yes
Hulu: Yes
Amazon Video: No
YouTube: Yes

Positive Aspects Of The Western Digital WD TV Live Streaming Media Player

Cheap
As far as price goes, you can't beat the $100 price tag for the WD TV Live. This puts it on a par with rivals like the Roku 2 XS and Apple TV. And you get a huge range of content on this device, too, not to mention the ability to play so many of your own media files (see below).

Wi-Fi
It's worth noting that the WD TV Live now comes with the ability to connect up to Wi-Fi networks. This was something noticeably lacking from older models. It's really easy to get set up - just follow the instructions on the screen and enter your Wi-Fi password. This is one feature of the WD TV Live that the WD TV Live hub doesn't have. Note, however, that they both allow for a wired Ethernet connection.

Selection Of Content
Western Digital have gone out of their way to improve content selection since previous versions of this device. There's an excellent range of streaming services available: Netflix, Hulu Plus, YouTube, Blockbuster, Daily Motion and CinemaNow. For music lovers you have Spotify, Pandora and a variety of internet radio stations. You can also access Facebook from the device.

This selection is a lot better than many of its rivals are offering, including Apple TV, though one thing users may miss is Amazon Video. Note that, just with any internet streaming box, you will need to subscribe to access a lot of this content.

Format Support
Although many of the features on the WD TV Live are comparable to its main competitors, one thing that makes it stand out against all the rest is the range of supported file formats. This can play pretty much anything you want, which is fantastic for those who already have a lot of content downloaded that they want to transfer to the device. Some of the supported file formats include AAC, FLAC, MKV and DivX.

This makes the WD TV Live to go-to device if you have a large library of digital files already. Devices like Apple TV and the Roku just aren't suitable for this kind of usage.

DNLA
DLNA certification means that it's easy to connect your WD TV Live box up with other DLNA certified devices, such as smartphones, tablets and speakers. This makes it easy to share content between different devices without wires: there's practically no setup involved.

Network Sharing
Of course, not all of our networked devices may have DLNA certification, but that's no problem because WD TV Live can also share content across devices connected to your home network. Again, this is important for users who have a lot of media on their computer that they'd like to be able to watch on the big screen TV.

User Interface
The WD TV Live is easy to use and sorts through large media collections very well. It also comes with a number of themes should you want to customize the way your menus look.

Negative Aspects Of The Western Digital WD TV Live Streaming Media Player

Remote
Although the remote that comes with the WD TV Live looks good, it has a few problems. Because the buttons are so chunky, it can be difficult to press them quickly, and it isn't always easy to use the onscreen keyboard. For greater functionality, an external USB keyboard is recommended.

No Built In Hard Drive
Unfortunately, the WD TV Live doesn't include a built in hard drive. It's hardly surprising given the price point, which is on a par with Apple TV and Roku who also don't include hard drives. That said, it would have been useful given the fact that this device can play so much media. For now you'll simply need to connect storage space through the included USB port, or pay extra for the WD TV Live Hub.

Should You Buy The Western Digital WD TV Live Streaming Media Player?

The latest version of the WD TV Live Streaming Media Player is Western Digital's best yet. Although this is a media streaming player, just like Roku and Apple TV, that enables you to watch internet content on your television set, it is also so much more. The fact that it can support a wide range of media file formats and lets you transfer data over your network or using DLNA, makes this the ideal choice for anyone who wants a all-in-one media center attached to their home TV set. The price tag makes the Western Digital WD TV Live Streaming Media Player an even more irresistible choice. Get yours today from Amazon.com at a special price!

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