While there are a lot of HD media players out there, I think there’s still room for more. So when I got a review unit of the BriteView-CinemaTube HD Media Player, I thought WD TV has some pretty nifty competition up ahead.
The CinemaTube does not have an internal storage so you need to hook it up with an external HDD. While this is a cheaper configuration, you still need to buy your own HDD with an enclosure (configured and sold separately). That means you’ll also need two power cables to hook both the player and the external drive (not a big issue).
The media player’s enclosure is made of up of plastic. Nothing really wrong with since it feels very light but it also gives an impression of a cheap construction (the painted logo of BriteView-CinemaTube is a little off).
It’s compatible with all hard disk format windows(NTFS), Linux (EXT2/3), and MAC (HFS). The player supports a large number of video formats — MPEG1/2/4 (M1V, M2V, M4V), MPEG1/2 PS (M2P, MPG), AVI, ASF, WMV, MKV, H.264.
CinemaTube supports multiple audio output formats, including MPEG I Layer 1,2,3(2-CH), MPEG II Layer 1,2 (Multi-Channel), LPCM, ADPCM, FLAC, AAC, WAV, WMA and OGG, RA, Dolby Digital AC3 and DTS. DTS (downmix) is supported by CinemaTube so you do not need additional DTS receivers to enjoy HD videos with DTS tracks.
Unlike the DW TV, the CinemaTube is also a torrent downloader (the built-in torrent engine does all the downloading without the need of a PC). The LAN port at the back is the primary connection to hook it up to the internet but I think you can also use a WiFi dongle on one of the USB ports to get it on wireless. The only approved and dedicated WiFi adapter is the WL-6200C which you need to get separately.
At the back panel, you get a conservative number of ports — 1 HDMI, 2 SUB 2.0, Ethernet, AV and SPDIF. The UI and navigation of the CinemaTube is pretty simple, straightforward and easy to understand.
Most useful is the preview panel/screen that allows you to view a short clip of video you are browsing before playing them (no need to guess what the video file is). The UI is simple and self-explanatory and the device plays videos pretty quickly.
Although I have not tried it, the device can also do UPnP Streaming so you can watch CNN, ESPN, CBS and Hulu via 3rd-party applications like PlayOn and TVersity.
The CinemaTube will retail for Php6,350 when it comes out in November. It’s one of the most affordable HD media player out in the local market. You can check out www.digilivingph.com for more info abut the product.
Yung nasa yugadeal po ba na cinematube mini eh kasama na yung wifi dongle??
Yung nasa yugadeal po ba na cinematube mini eh kasama na yung wifi dongle?
ask ko lang, im little bit confuse if which media player will I buy, WDTv or BV cinematube? alin b mas ok?
WDTV lIve rocks… still……
Is this link from Amazon the same as this?
http://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Set-CinemaTube-BV-5005HD-downloader/dp/B002WK4HSW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1270787685&sr=1-2
coz its hard to watch high def movies on a laptop:)
why not consider a laptop instead of this?
Listening Room at 3rd flr Bldg B of SM Megamall retails this for P5,800
I saw it in accent micro and some pc live stores in sm cyberzone.
I heard from a friend that the cinema tube will be available in the market next week. PC express will be selling the cinema tube.
available na ba sa market? san kaya puede bumili nito???
Ayos ito, dahil magaan dalhin pag nag join sa barko at walang huling huli. di tulad sa mga pirated dvd’s may huli sa mga airports.sue bibili ako.sana pag uwi ko baba pa price.
mga tech people,paano magamit dito yung usb internet kit para sa torrent download and web video playing?
@justine – check the link at the end of m review.
@tontonj – speedster is correct, it can still support mobile HDD (2.5″) thru USB power but the biggest HDDs (3.5″) will need a separate power cable.
@tontonj – I think it can.. like for ordinary external HD (up to 640gb). but for external HD with high capacity (1 terabyte), you would need a power cable for that. I dont think they produce any external 1tb HD that can function using power from USB
Just wanted to ask what you meant by “That means you’ll also need two power cables to hook both the player and the external drive.” Can’t it handle an HDD which uses power coming from the Cinematube?
nice gadget.. :P
Oh yea, it was given a five star rating sa techie.com where can I reserve?
I love my CinemaTube =) bought it sa Taiwan around 6k..so the SRP here is not bad at all. I prefer it than the pricy Popcorn hour, because I just really need it to watch movies and minimal surfing. I bring it to sleepovers and my friends think it’s super cool. For the price I think it’s worth it, I don’t get the hassle na of buying DVDs plus HD pa =)
I have right now a WD TV Media player and I must say this player is great but the WD TV Live is very promising, the upgrade of WD TV plus internet connection.
Will look into this CinemaTube Media player if features are good.
6350?nice price. WDTV still sells outside mga 6500 but konti lang files na play and walang torrent download. wala din DTS downmix. Time to change my WDTV na
what the difference from the other cinematube?
j rosauro, i would stay away from the screenplay. panget mga reviews.
actually, this cinematube is cheap for its capabilities. pero i’d rather get the wdtv live instead of this. better support.
Yucky. Sobrang cheap looking pero ang mahal. The answer is No.
Ang cool naman nito. Pag iipunan ko ‘toh. Hehe!
as compared with iOmega Screenplay, which is better?
yugs meron ba syang remote?
problem here is the limited number of files you can view in a single page. from your UI shot parang 6 titles lang kaya mong makita at 1 time. if you are browsing through a huge list medyo maraming scroll down. baka masira yung up-down button hehe.