LaCie Announces LaCinema Classic Bridge, Create Your Own Media Player

[btarunr]

LaCie announced an economic way to add media player functionality to existing storage devices. LaCinema Classic Bridge enables users to leverage the investments already made on internal and external storage solutions, and turn them into dynamic multimedia devices. Simply connect the Classic Bridge to a desired TV, add a storage device, and play libraries of movies, music, and photos in flawless 1080p HD resolution.

The attractive and compact LaCinema Classic Bridge fits seamlessly into entertainment centers, and enables two options for adding storage. Option one allows users to connect an external USB drive to the front of the device for easy access to their multimedia content. Option two allows users to easily insert an internal hard disk directly into the device for a clean, fully integrated set-up, just like the LaCinema Classic. Users may also choose to implement both options for expanded capacity.



“There is no question the need for digital storage has become essential in the home. However, most storage solutions do not offer users an easy way to interface with their valued content,” said Patrick Salin, Multimedia Business Unit Manager, LaCie. “Now, with the LaCinema Classic Bridge, users can take their storage solutions and transform them into fully-functional multimedia players, allowing them to conveniently browse and play content from within their entertainment set-up, without thinking twice.”

With the help of an easy-to-use remote control and intuitive navigation menu, users can easily browse a centralized media library to select and play their favorite media. Content can be viewed by file category through a simple graphic selection, or users may view all multimedia by clicking the folder icon.

Built with the same features and functionality as the LaCinema Classic, the LaCinema Bridge works with numerous video, music, and photo formats, including MPEG4, MP3 and JPEG as well as HD-JPEG for superior viewing of images over HDMI output. An HDMI cable is included.

LaCinema Classic Bridge is DivX-certified so customers can watch DivX transcoded videos with high quality and resolution. For users seeking optimal performance, LaCie has posted a complete listing of recommended HDDs, www.lacie.com.

Availability
LaCinema Classic Bridge is available now and retails for $99. LaCie products are available through the LaCie Online Store or LaCie Resellers. For more information, visit www.lacie.com.

Source: LaCie

[Mussels]

from the Au website, specs of the classic model:

Supported Formats : Video: MPEG-4 AVI, XviD, DivX (3.11, 4.x, 5.x)
Audio: MP3, WMA
Photo: JPEG (includes HD-JPEG mode for improved quality)
Subtitles: SRT, SSA, ASS, SUB, SMI

gah. its useless if it cant support modern codecs. no FLAC, no MKV, no x264/H264, no OGG, no WMA.

I mean seriously, whats the use of a 1080P capable device, if it cant play any codecs USED for 1080P media files?

[h3llb3nd4]

Nice styling, but it needs to have more supported codecs

[Easy Rhino]

i believe it uses the twonky server to handle media.

[Wile E]

Originally Posted by Mussels

from the Au website, specs of the classic model:

Supported Formats : Video: MPEG-4 AVI, XviD, DivX (3.11, 4.x, 5.x)
Audio: MP3, WMA
Photo: JPEG (includes HD-JPEG mode for improved quality)
Subtitles: SRT, SSA, ASS, SUB, SMI

gah. its useless if it cant support modern codecs. no FLAC, no MKV, no x264/H264, no OGG, no WMA.

I mean seriously, whats the use of a 1080P capable device, if it cant play any codecs USED for 1080P media files?

MPEG-4 high profiles are H.264, soperhaps it does play H.264 content. Now, it needs to be able to play mkv and FLAC for me to consider it, however.

Another HUGE minus is that it only recognizes FAT32. How many 1080p movies do you know that only take up 4GB of space?

Now, their LaCinema PLAY looks promising, if they would only make it more affordable. http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?pid=11259

[Easy Rhino]

Originally Posted by Wile E

MPEG-4 high profiles are H.264, soperhaps it does play H.264 content. Now, it needs to be able to play mkv and FLAC for me to consider it, however.

Another HUGE minus is that it only recognizes FAT32. How many 1080p movies do you know that only take up 4GB of space?

Now, their LaCinema PLAY looks promising, if they would only make it more affordable. http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?pid=11259

i honestly think this gizmo is a product of the marketing department rather than the reality department.

[thunder_2008]

Originally Posted by Mussels

from the Au website, specs of the classic model:

Supported Formats : Video: MPEG-4 AVI, XviD, DivX (3.11, 4.x, 5.x)
Audio: MP3, WMA
Photo: JPEG (includes HD-JPEG mode for improved quality)
Subtitles: SRT, SSA, ASS, SUB, SMI

gah. its useless if it cant support modern codecs. no FLAC, no MKV, no x264/H264, no OGG, no WMA.

I mean seriously, whats the use of a 1080P capable device, if it cant play any codecs USED for 1080P media files?

Lacie generally has stylishly affordable yet cutting edge technology products. I bought a LACIE 301315U 1TB Black External Hard Drive in April that work's fine mechanically but.....~!

The software is flawed has a glitch which has rendered all of 105gb data locked as the Lacie genie backup assistant will not un-encrypt the data.

Lacie 'california' has simply ignored any responsibility for their product or it's software.

If your planning on buying this item be prepared for the possibility that your data also will lock-up even though its there on the drive.

And, Lacie will tell you to spend $500-$1000 to go to some data or encryption service.

This is likely one more product that Lacie makes that 'may' have similar software issues that as yet are not resolved.

In short Lacie's products are full of flaws' and glitches', the only reason I did not accept Newegg.com's offer to replace this item with any other value of a different manufacturer; is so that I can keep the drive for future legal proceedings against ' Lacie '...if they do not provide for an un-encryption service of their choosing I have no choice but to take them to court.

Buyers I am not saying don't buy just know that Lacie is not living up to their advertising, or providing what they should be in terms of " SOFTWARE RESPONSIBILITY ".

[TheLaughingMan]

Codecs can be fixed with software updates. That should not be too much of an issue. I would image that they will provide an update later on.

What I want is WiFi connectivity via Wireless N-Draft. Add that and I am on board. Other wise, I will build my own.

[Wile E]

Originally Posted by TheLaughingMan

Codecs can be fixed with software updates. That should not be too much of an issue. I would image that they will provide an update later on.

What I want is WiFi connectivity via Wireless N-Draft. Add that and I am on board. Other wise, I will build my own.

The one I linked does have that. But at the price it's listed at, you're better off building a cheap HTPC.

[Mussels]

Originally Posted by Wile E

MPEG-4 high profiles are H.264, soperhaps it does play H.264 content. Now, it needs to be able to play mkv and FLAC for me to consider it, however.

Another HUGE minus is that it only recognizes FAT32. How many 1080p movies do you know that only take up 4GB of space?

Now, their LaCinema PLAY looks promising, if they would only make it more affordable. http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?pid=11259

it says MPEG4 in avi only.

fat32 is a big fail, yes.

[nemesis.ie]

The LaCinema max looks even nicer (looking at the comparison page) but I don't see a product page for it.

The price is probably even more silly though. :-(

[morphy]

I'm interested in this: http://www.playonhd.com/
Supports mkv,flac and wireless-N! The full spec sheet looks impressive.

[Easy Rhino]

i dont know why people pay all this money to stream media to their tv. just buy a PS3 and be done with it. you can use PS3 media Server and stream your stuff flawlessly.

[morphy]

some ppl like not to have the PC tied up instead...which is the case when using PS3 media server.

[Mussels]

or they could do what i did, get their old PC and use a HDMI adaptor.

[h3llb3nd4]

Originally Posted by Mussels

or they could do what i did, get their old PC and use a HDMI adaptor.

+10