New ebay DIVX/MP3 Player!

Eternalodyssey · 08-21-2006, 06:45 PM

So I had a few bucks to burn and saw the following on ebay and decided I would give it a whirl:

http://cgi.ebay.com/PORTABLE-HDD-PLA...4077036QQihZ00
5QQcategoryZ94930QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohos ting

10 days later when it arrived, I popped in a 40 Gb laptop HD that I had sitting around and after a few minutes of initialization, I was transferring MP3s and Divx (Mpeg-4) movies. First off, the unit is not self-powering which is not a big deal considering that this unit runs its own mini operating system. It does accept both 110 volts and 220 volts which makes it very convenient for me to take with me when I got TDY in the US military. The directions were in Korean so I pretty much winged it and looked at pictures until I got the gist of transferring files. You drag and drop files into their respective locations once the HD has been connected and initialized. The file folders are just as you would expect them to appear on an external HD.

Now for playback! The connectors for audio and video were all included in a little carry bag. Setup was much like connecting a camera to a television and watching your pictures playback. I was surprised to find AV as well as VGA out connection available. The video is very clear while navigating through the files. Navigation is surprisingly convenient utilizing the buttons located on the unit as well as the remote. I will add that the remote, like many IR remotes must be pointed directly at the unit in order for it to receive your input. This wasn't annoying but I also noticed the range for the remote was rather limited as well but I am not trying to control this thing from across the apartment so no big deal in my opinion.

Playback of audio is about on par with what I would expect from an MP3 player. The unit says that it supports 5.1 channel surround sound but I did not test that. Video looks exactly like it would look if I hooked my laptop up to my television and played videos through there. Divx files look beautiful if encoded to around 700 Mb per movie. I must honestly say the picture is near DVD quality. I will say "near" because there are small slight imperfections which of course you would expect from Divx playback on a computer.

All in all I was a bit skeptical about purchasing this little gadget but hey, its less then $50. Its shipped from Hong Kong where surprisingly, many of my truckputer items came from. I would defenitely reccommend this unit to ANYONE. The only suggestions that I would make for future models would be a 12V DC adapter included with the unit and possible self-powering off a USB cable when attached. Other then that, check this thing out!! Defenitely a welcome little addition to my truckputer once I figure out how I can power it off my M2-ATX. Perhaps Radio Shaft has a cigarette adapeter waiting to be discovered. I'm out!!

narandomsortofw · 08-30-2006, 10:47 PM

Are you able to hook up anything you want up to the USB port, such as a DVD player or the usb for a touchscreen?

Eternalodyssey · 08-31-2006, 12:42 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by narandomsortofw

Are you able to hook up anything you want up to the USB port, such as a DVD player or the usb for a touchscreen?

No, the USB cable is strictly for transferring files. It would be awesome if I could hook the drive up to a touchscreen.

DJiK · 08-31-2006, 12:49 AM

From the eBay listing I gather that this unit runs off 5V and requires 800mA.
This means to make it work in the car, one would need a 5V voltage regulater that's 1A (or more).
These are available at Radio Shack for under $2.
Just slap a heat sink on it and you're good to go.

narandomsortofw · 08-31-2006, 07:37 AM

I wonder if there could be a way to modify it? I don't know anything about this sort of thing, but it would make a great little carputer for only like $50 if it would work. Hell, you get it to work and then sell it and put a new case on it.

Yeah Whord!

Eternalodyssey · 08-31-2006, 10:24 AM

In my non-expert opinion, it pretty much serves the simple multimedia functions of our carputers. It was a good investment in my opinion because using the A/V functions, this unit can be taken out of the truck, which my carputer can't quite as easily.

BettaJetta · 09-10-2006, 05:54 AM

This looks like a cool option to installing an complete car pc.

Dylan98R/T · 11-05-2006, 09:08 AM

I just got mine and the back is a little different. First it has the mini usb connector (like on the razr phone, some cameras) and two phono outlets. One is marked AV the other isn't marked.

I'm having troubles getting it to initialize and format. It will go through the format but right at the end it says windows cannot complete formatting this drive. Did you have any problems like this? I can't even see the drive in my computer like the book says. I have to go in through Windows Disk Management to initialize. Just can't get it to format Fat32 either regular way or quick.

If you don't needs gps, phone, etc... Skip the full puter and grab this with a decent VGA screen!

parksgm · 11-06-2006, 03:53 PM

Hey...interesting thread here. This does seem like a good alternative to a full fledged car PC. Two quick questions for those of you with the unit:

1) Could you post a pic or two of the on-screen interface used for browsing MP3s, etc.? I'd like to be able to use this in my car, but I could only do so if the interface were readable on a 5" LCD screen (PSOne screen with RCA input)

2) Is the remote the ONLY way to control the unit? It looks like there are some buttons on the top of the unit itself from the eBay pic, but I couldn't tell from the ad.

Thanks guys...this looks like a *really* GOOD value for those of us who already have 2.5" drives...

Dylan98R/T · 11-06-2006, 04:14 PM

It does have control buttons on the top. Not as many as the remote but you could rewire to steering wheel swtiches.

I've only messed with mine as a USB drive so far as I accidently "bought now" on an auction that came with an UK power supply. Got to splice a 5v plug in the next couple days. Then I should be able to post pics of it on a PSONE screen (RCA).

parksgm · 11-06-2006, 04:28 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Dylan98R/T

It does have control buttons on the top. Not as many as the remote but you could rewire to steering wheel swtiches.

I've only messed with mine as a USB drive so far as I accidently "bought now" on an auction that came with an UK power supply. Got to splice a 5v plug in the next couple days. Then I should be able to post pics of it on a PSONE screen (RCA).

Very cool. Thanks...I'll look forward to the pics.

vxcarpc · 11-07-2006, 06:12 AM

Find me a way to hookup my GPS reciever and run it and i'll buy one of these tommorow. It's a good idea though. I mean all I use my car pc for is GPS, mp3s and Ogg's and the occasional video or divx.. Does it have a lithium battery inside the case? I have a similar storage tub that uses a 2.5" laptop hard drive and runs off a small lithium battery for 30 mins or so. I guess the power drain with one of these wouldn't be that huge considering it uses a hard drive whch is in a laptop. If you can post some pics of it in your car running i'd like to see it. I saw these a few weeks ago and thought well there's a alternative to the ipod picture or whatever and I coudl easily score a 120gig laptop hard drive to put in one. I would also say if your going to get one of these for the home wait. They will soon come out with a video input so you can hook it up to your tv and record in mpeg4 or whatever on the fly.

Dylan98R/T · 11-07-2006, 08:26 AM

http://www.alibaba.com/countrysearch...mp_Player.html

http://www.alibaba.com/catalog/11033..._PMP_GPRS.html

http://kingsharptech.en.alibaba.com/..._with_PMP.html

http://www.alibaba.com/catalog/11043..._With_GPS.html

wallaceacura · 11-08-2006, 05:57 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Dylan98R/T

I've only messed with mine as a USB drive so far as I accidently "bought now" on an auction that came with an UK power supply.

I love when I accidentally buy things on eBay. You get the Oh Crap feeling followed by elation and anticipation.

parksgm · 11-10-2006, 07:25 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Dylan98R/T

I've only messed with mine as a USB drive so far as I accidently "bought now" on an auction that came with an UK power supply. Got to splice a 5v plug in the next couple days. Then I should be able to post pics of it on a PSONE screen (RCA).

Any luck with the power supply yet?

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