Divx=Despair
hi - I've had my box for 2 months now and I would say the death of stage6 really just knocks the functionality and purpose of it on the head. Each day I check the forums here and connunity to see what is coming or proposed to replace what was in fact the only reason I bought it for - online content! Just looked on connunity and the best anyone can come up with is a new theme!!! The expletive theme is the least of the dsm330's recent problems I would say! What about making the box into a device that can actually stream content from the internet - as promised on the promotion and packaging!!!!
At the moment all it does is stream video and music from my computer and it can't even get that right (album tracks listed alphabetically - pathetic!) Come on Divx get your act together - at £130 a box it really should be able to do more than move downloaded files from pc to tv. And I don't have a degree in computer programming in order to get a plugin to actually work. Ever get the feeling you've been had. We bought the boxes and now they're virtually useless. It's time divx started taking responsibility for the poor quality of this product or offered us our money back.
Anyone worked out how to turn theirs into an attractive vase to put tulips in yet? Vase themes anyone?
duped
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Hey Duped,
Hey Duped,
The 5 points I listed do not refer to the DSM but to media streamers in general. The weighting you allocate to these will effectively determine what solution is best for you.
I agree with you that the 1st 3 points are not the 330's greatest strengths. Some people need H264/MKV playback above all else whereas others like yourself have a big demand for online content. I'm sure DivX in time will sort out the online content access. However, if you want better file support and USB etc.. the DSM 330 is probably not for you.
Personally, my big requirement is playback of my own video collection. Online content and plug-ins are nice but for me still represent a novelty. For music playback, I have a Sonos system. Granted I'd like better file support but over 90% of the average users video's are likely to be Divx and Xvid. Furthermore, I want to be able to navigate these with a superb user interface which the 330 certainly has.
The Stage6 announcement was
The Stage6 announcement was made on the day that my box was delivered.
At the time I didn't even know what Stage6 was. I bought the DSM-330 as a wireless media streamer because as far as I was concerned that was its sole purpose.
I accept that the software/firmware is in its infancy but I am quite happy with the basic functionality. I am more than happy with the response/help from the developers via this forum.
My biggest problem with DSm
My biggest problem with DSm 330 is that nobody told me that you have to have a freaking fast computer. The minimum specs are complete rubbish. My specs are twice the minimum and still I can't stream a decent HD file from my PC. Eventhough they work like a breeze locally on the PC.
I know about encoding to divx but there is nodecnet encoder out there...even Dr Divx give me grievance! Crappy choppy vids!
Have you been able to provide us the sample clip yet?
The issue you previously describe with your HD video playback did not seem typical. We are happy to look into it if you send us a sample clip or points us to a URL of a video that shoes the problem.
I have many HD WMV sample clips that play fine from my laptop, even though it does not meet the minimum specs.
The 1.2 server release will address some of your issues.
Plug-ins and themes will be a snap to install.
Music Albums will sort by track when viewed via the meta data views.
It is in QA now and will be available for beta download in a few days.
In the future we will add some intelligence to determine if folders should be listed alphabetically or by track, as well as providing a user selection for it.
We definitely understand
We definitely understand your frustration and can appreciate your viewpoint. Stage6 was near and dear to us as well, both as employees and as members of the community there. Not to mention how it integrated with our Connected devices.
We are working very hard to provide great online alternatives to what Stage6 offered, first with Veoh, Vuze and Jaman, but also many more that we have not announced yet. We are also working on making what has always been the central promise of the Connected platform, its flexibility and extensibility more of a reality through enabling more format/codec support. Ultimately, DivX Connected users will be able to access far more online content than just what Stage6 had. But it will take a bit of time.
For the meantime, we just ask for your patience and understanding that the Connected platform is still very new and, despite some real growing pains, is going to live up to its promise.
In the meantime? buy a dsm 520?
Thanks for your replies but as I and others have noted there is definitely an increasing frustration being voiced that things are moving in the wrong direction with the dsm330 at the moment. The most anoying fact is that Connected knew there was the probability of stage6 going down and did not warn potential buyers including myself of this. I certainly would not have bought mine had I realised that 3 months later all I'd have left is a glorified svideo cable from my pc to tv.
What of the future then? I've looked at the alternatives and the d-link dsm 520 is what I wish I'd bought instead. Is there any way of developing a firmware upgrade to make the medialounge server function with the 330 (via that useless usb port on the front?) They have the content and it actually works! (unlike stage6 did for the first 6 weeks of my 330 - eventually a vista fix then the plug is pulled - complete waste of time, (my) money and effort) It's time to move things on connected - you haven't got that alleged drain on your resources (stage6) anymore. It's customer satisfaction that wins you more customers not prevarication and vague distant promises. Real development and improvements now are whats needed not mere tweeking and tinkering and until this happens the voices of discontent will get louder.
I have not yet seen a user comparison of 520 vs 330
If you do end up getting one and trying it, please let us know what you think of it compared to the 330 after you actually use it for a while. You could also try the 510 if the 520 is no longer available.
The 330 uses a completely different approach that has many strengths that the other devices do not have. If you have not actually experienced setting up and using those products, it may be helpful to do so.
I can not speak for the future of other devices, but past experience is that once you buy them, they are what they are.
DivX is continuing to improve the DivX Connected server software and the device firmware, and 3rd party developers and users are also joining in, so the future of the DSM-330 is wide open and continually improving.
It all depends on what
It all depends on what you're looking for...eg:
1. File Support
2. USB connectivity and playback
3. Online Content playback
4. User Interface and ease of setup
5. Community plug-ins
The other DSM products wouldn't be regarded as the best in their class by any means. If non-divx/xvid playback is critical, the nearest alternative is likely Popcorn or Istar in terms of cost vs features. A lot of their users though seem somewhat technical - the DSM-330 is a breeze to setup and once you start to use its user interface, it's very hard to go back to the rest.
I also have to say that the DivX team have been very good in their responses to many suggestions and technical queries on the boards here.
2 out of 5?
Don't get me wrong the 330 was a good product when it did connect to online content but my point is it's now redundant - a lovely coloured stage6 button with nowhere to go! How many other streaming sites are there that are now compatible with this box? I've found zero and even if I could get a plugin to work they only stream the 1st 20 videos from a site anyway. Unless you've got and are prepared to spend countless hours with sdk kits doing it yourself there is nothing the 330 can now do that a few av cables from your computer to your hifi and tv setup can't. For the average user this product is an ex-parrot! It is deceased and gone to join the choir invisible until divx actually add partners instead of just making announcements. On the subject I just read that there is an offer on that table of 11m to buy stage6 but divx are continuing to ignore it. That's how much divx value their customers/users.
I agree with points 4 and 5 but you'll have to enlighten me as to how the first 3 apply to the dsm330?