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Noontec MovieHome V8 Media Player Review

We had a good two weeks with the Noontec Media Player MovieHome V8. It’s a totally new media player to me but having used and played with a lot of similar ones before, it was fairly easy to familiarize myself with the device. Check out our full review after the jump.

There are a number of models in the Noontec line-up and the MovieHome V8 NAS is the newest of the lot (launched back in June with a local distributor bringing the unit to the Philippines just this month).

The manufacturer (Noontec) is based in Shenzen, China and has been making a lot of media players for years including a recently launched Android Gingerbread-based Smart TV HD Player.

The player looks like a cross between one of those black and slim DVD players and the PS3 with its combination of glossy and sand-paper finish.

The Noontec V8 houses an internal storage using a 2.5″ or 3.5″ HDD with capacities of up to 3TB. You can transfer movies into the drive via a USB 3.0 cable or directly download files straight into the client. The drive bay can be easily opened from the front when you install a HDD (no need to unscrew any of the metal panels).

That somewhat justifies the larger than usual size of the player compared to the ones we used before.

You can also connect an external drive, NAS, or SD card on any of the ports built into the player. There’s a single HDMI port at the back to connect to your TV or, if you have an analog display, use the S-Video sockets.

The SD card reader is on the right side and can read media card with up to 8GB in capacity (not sure why it’s limited to that size but it could probably be fixed with a firmware update).

There’s a Gigabit LAN port as well to connect the player to the network although an optional WiFi dongle can be hooked to one of the USB 2.0 ports if you want wireless connection. The LED display up front also provides helpful info about the media you are currently playing.

The Noontec V8 reads just about any of the more common file for movies (including Bluray ISO), music and photos. And the HDD doesn’t need any special formatting as it supports FAT32 and NTFS.

Video decoding: MPEG 1/2/4, Xvid, H.264,VC-1, RM/RMVB
Video formats: AVI, MPG,TS/M2TS/TP/TRP, ISO, IFO, VOB, DAT, MP4, FLV, WMV, MKV, MOV, RM/RMVB
Audio formats: APE, MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC, OGG, FLAC, Dolby Digital, DTS Digital
Audio codec: MP3, WMA, WAV, OGG, AAC, LPCM, FLAC, AC3
Photo file format: JPG, JPEG, BMP, PNG, TIFF, GIF

One issue I had was that the manual that came with it is all in Chinese. Luckily, you can download a copy of the English Manual from their website.

The UI is very simple and easy to understand and use. It’s fast and responsive even when the list of titles on the catalog is quite long. It’s a minor feature but I really liked the idea of having a background wallpaper that you can customize on the screen.

Setting up the device to the network was pretty easy and straightforward via the LAN port. I haven’t tried the WiFi since it will need the optional, dedicated dongle to go with it. The Gigabit connection (1,000Mbps) is a huge plus factor when you’re transferring large files across your network. If not, you can still use the USB 3.0 port for really fast file transfers.

The Noontec V8 also comes with a Bittorent client so you can download movies straight into the internal HDD. The interface of the client needs a little bit more work though — it’s not that user-friendly (I keep coming back to the Chinese manual). In any case, it does the work as expected and as long as it can download torrents on its own, that’s fine by me.

Movie playback is fast and smooth with support for full HD 1080p videos. No lags or noticeable choking of video streams. Video output is great and the player renders them without any degradation (tried it on a 42-inch LCD TV and worked flawlessly).

The LED display in the front does help in providing media information of the file I am playing (as well as the elapsed time).

The remote control looks good, has a solid build and easy to use and operate. I wish they added backlit keys so one can use them even in the dark.

The Noontec Media Player MovieHome V8 has a suggested retail price of Php7,799 but they’re offering it for Php6,999 as an introductory price (HDD sold separately).

Not a bad price for a pretty capable device — biggest advantage is the USB 3.0, Gigabit LAN and Bittorent client.

Don’t know which stores carry these players but you can email [email protected] for inquiries (will update once I get them).

Wait, there’s more!

I asked the local distributor if I can give away this review unit and they gladly agreed. Let’s make this very easy and simple, just the way we do giveaways around here.

All you need to do is this — complete this sentence:

I’m excited to watch the < name of movie > on the Noontec MovieHome V8 Media Player. Want one? Grab one free from YugaTech — http://yugatech.ph/pKdxNy

Leave a comment below with a link to your entry and answer this question — what’s you all-time favorite movie and why?

Hit the comments with your answer. We’ll randomly pick a winner by October 24.

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Avatar for Abe Olandres

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

313 Responses

  1. Avatar for mae mae says:

    https://www.facebook.com/runamitchie/posts/3035388*****802

    Well my favorite movie would be the Harry Potter Series! It could be boring to anyone but trust me, its better when you have read the books!

  2. Avatar for Randz Randz says:

    My all-time favorite movie is Hang On (True Lies) and Assassins.

    http://twitter.com/#!/sheijin/status/126244961753645057

  3. Avatar for Jason Anthony Canete Jason Anthony Canete says:

    https://www.facebook.com/#!/jucanete/posts/261090773*****7

    Toy Story Trilogy is my all time favorite movie, because it reminds me the thinks i do when i was a kid and it makes me feel like a kid again. :)

  4. Avatar for michael dg michael dg says:

    I’m excited to watch the Kung fu panda 1 and 2 on the Noontec MovieHome V8 Media Player. Want one? Grab one free from YugaTech — http://yugatech.ph/pKdxNy

    https://plus.google.com/u/0/11368019362*****68843
    Kung fu panda is just one of my favorite animation/sci fi/comedy movie. I just can’t stop laughing in this movie.

  5. Avatar for Jose Jurado Jose Jurado says:

    http://www.facebook.com/jurado28/posts/225795194146770

    Tropic Thunder is my all time favorite movie, because it’s really a one bad-ass movie yet very hilarious from start to finish. A must movie to watch to lighten up my day. I almost watched it 10 times and very much excited to watch it again with Noontec MovieHome V8 Media Player.

  6. Avatar for chris mallanao chris mallanao says:

    https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1030790927

    I’m excited to watch the Transformers movies on the Noontec MovieHome V8 Media Player. Want one? Grab one free from YugaTech — http://yugatech.ph/pKdxNy

    what’s my all-time favorite movie and why?

    My all-time favorite movie is “Taken”. I like the story and proved to be a great action movie. The way how Liam Neeson fights and overcomes problems draws me into the movie and makes this movie so great to watch. I love to watch it over and over again from beginning to end.

  7. Avatar for jeeyog jeeyog says:

    http://twitter.com/#!/jeeyog/status/126191534776397824

    Avatar is my favorite movie, because i was amazed with the 3d effects. I can still remember that I have watched this movie 3times on 3d cinema. And now I’m looking forward to watch this on Noontec MovieHome v8 Media Player.

  8. Avatar for heckiboi heckiboi says:

    https://twitter.com/#!/heckiboi/status/126192350711119873

    I’m excited to watch Transformers 3 on the Noontec MovieHome V8 Media Player. Want one? Grab one free from YugaTech — http://yugatech.ph/pKdxNy

  9. Avatar for techie_kuno techie_kuno says:

    I’m excited to watch the Avatar on the Noontec MovieHome V8 Media Player. Want one? Grab one free from YugaTech — http://yugatech.ph/pKdxNy

    http://twitter.com/#!/leojdhoy/status/126143496775147520

    I am a big fan of Spielberg and this one fascinates me how he created such good movie. I want to watch over and over again with this Noontec MovieHome V8 Media Player.

  10. Avatar for karlmerc karlmerc says:

    https://twitter.com/#!/karlmerc/status/126175046438*****4

    My favorite movie of all time is Harry Potter because I grew up with it and it’s an enormous part of my adolescence. :D

  11. Avatar for Joey Bautista Joey Bautista says:

    I’m excited to watch the Hangover on the Noontec MovieHome V8 Media Player. Want one? Grab one free from YugaTech — http://yugatech.ph/pKdxNy

    http://twitter.com/#!/aristocrato/status/126166255588741122

    The Hangover is may all time fav movie. because i can relate to the movie, i know how it felt to have a hangover and the feelings is superb. lol

  12. Avatar for Joseph Darwin Co Joseph Darwin Co says:

    http://www.facebook.com/josephdarwinco/posts/295467167130581
    http://twitter.com/#!/makzngalas24/status/126142172964716545

    My all-time favorite movie is Untraceable. Because the authorities are having a very hard time to trace the serial killer who posts live videos of his victims on the Internet.

  13. Avatar for Lorz Lorz says:

    https://plus.google.com/u/0/1027799*****948828602/posts/ZmqjSDZoPgz?hl=en

    My all time favorite movie is Transformers because of the special effects.

  14. Avatar for Mhay Mhay says:

    I’m excited to watch Captain America on the Noontec MovieHome V8 Media Player. Want one? Grab one free from YugaTech — http://yugatech.ph/pKdxNy

    link: http://www.facebook.com/mhayalcaraz/posts/295155957165671

    My all time favorite movie is Titanic and you know why :) I am so happy to have seen it again recently in HD. It would be very nice to see all these love stories I want to win this thing!

  15. Avatar for Alexander Castillo Alexander Castillo says:

    I’m excited to watch “The Devil Wears Prada” on the Noontec MovieHome V8 Media Player. Want one? Grab one free (cont) http://tl.gd/dmcrcr

    https://twitter.com/#!/ALEXccastillo/status/12611069229*****28

    The Devil Wears Prada, a very hilarious movie that I can really say “just like my old boss!” :-)

  16. Avatar for Marl Ching Marl Ching says:

    I’m excited to watch the “Lord of the Rings Trilogy BluRay Editions” on the Noontec MovieHome V8 Media Player. Want one? Grab one free from YugaTech — http://yugatech.ph/pKdxNy

    “The best fantasy is written in the language of dreams. It is alive as dreams are alive, more real than real … for a moment at least … that long magic moment before we wake.

    Fantasy is silver and scarlet, indigo and azure, obsidian veined with gold and lapis lazuli. Reality is plywood and plastic, done up in mud brown and olive drab. Fantasy tastes of habaneros and honey, cinnamon and cloves, rare red meat and wines as sweet as summer. Reality is beans and tofu, and ashes at the end. Reality is the strip malls of Burbank, the smokestacks of Cleveland, a parking garage in Newark. Fantasy is the towers of Minas Tirith, the ancient stones of Gormenghast, the halls of Camelot. Fantasy flies on the wings of Icarus, reality on Southwest Airlines. Why do our dreams become so much smaller when they finally come true?

    We read fantasy to find the colors again, I think. To taste strong spices and hear the songs the sirens sang. There is something old and true in fantasy that speaks to something deep within us, to the child who dreamt that one day he would hunt the forests of the night, and feast beneath the hollow hills, and find a love to last forever somewhere south of Oz and north of Shangri-La.

    They can keep their heaven. When I die, I’d sooner go to middle Earth.”
    ― George R.R. Martin

  17. Avatar for Fritz Richard Fritz Richard says:

    My entries:
    http://www.facebook.com/sprig9an/posts/23059559*****13

    https://twitter.com/#!/sprig9an/status/1261025345*****416

    I always enjoy movies that are fun to watch with great sounds. I have a lot of favorite movies but I can say that my all-time favorite movie is Kung Fu Panda because I can watch it all over again and still enjoy and laugh. :)

  18. Avatar for Nonoy Nonoy says:

    https://www.facebook.com/nonoynet/posts/236271556430467

    My all-time favorite movie? You’ve Got Mail! I just love Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. :)

    • Avatar for Marl Ching Marl Ching says:

      I’m excited to watch the “Lord of the Rings Trilogy BluRay Editions” on the Noontec MovieHome V8 Media Player. Want one? Grab one free from YugaTech — http://yugatech.ph/pKdxNy

      “The best fantasy is written in the language of dreams. It is alive as dreams are alive, more real than real … for a moment at least … that long magic moment before we wake.

      Fantasy is silver and scarlet, indigo and azure, obsidian veined with gold and lapis lazuli. Reality is plywood and plastic, done up in mud brown and olive drab. Fantasy tastes of habaneros and honey, cinnamon and cloves, rare red meat and wines as sweet as summer. Reality is beans and tofu, and ashes at the end. Reality is the strip malls of Burbank, the smokestacks of Cleveland, a parking garage in Newark. Fantasy is the towers of Minas Tirith, the ancient stones of Gormenghast, the halls of Camelot. Fantasy flies on the wings of Icarus, reality on Southwest Airlines. Why do our dreams become so much smaller when they finally come true?

      We read fantasy to find the colors again, I think. To taste strong spices and hear the songs the sirens sang. There is something old and true in fantasy that speaks to something deep within us, to the child who dreamt that one day he would hunt the forests of the night, and feast beneath the hollow hills, and find a love to last forever somewhere south of Oz and north of Shangri-La.

      They can keep their heaven. When I die, I’d sooner go to middle Earth.”
      ― George R.R. Martin

  19. Avatar for Nforcr Nforcr says:

    What’s your all-time favorite movie and why?

    Up in the Air, it portrays a lot of stuff that happens in real life.

    http://twitter.com/#!/Nforcr/status/1261008042*****224

  20. Avatar for Reinnier Bergonia Reinnier Bergonia says:

    https://twitter.com/#!/RenRenDeSarapen/status/126097332*****2656

    My all-time favorite movie is A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT. It has fun mystery, a compelling love story and moving war drama all thrown into one. The movie has a good screenplay, great acting and very impressive visuals. This movie is like AMELIE meets SAVING PRIVATE RYAN.

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