Media Storage: USB or Network?

Run out of space for my videos

The bad thing about ripping DVDs is that sooner or later your PC’s harddisk got so full that you have no space for other stuff. Although you can convert some to Xvid, you still might end up with media files taking 80% of your harddrive.

Luckily harddisk price have falled so much that it cost less than $1 for 1GB.
Quote some online price: 3.5" Harddisk, the normal PC ones.
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 16MB 750GB 7200rpm $469 5Yrs : 1GB=SGD$0.62=US$0.40
If this is too big,
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 16MB 500GB 7200rpm $255 5Yrs 1GB=SGD$0.51=US$0.33
And you if you insist on carrying your harddisk around then you need to buy a portable harddisk 2.5" ones. These are more expensive.
Quote:
Hitachi 5K160 - 160 8MB 160GB 5400rpm $199 3Yrs
It’s still 1GB=$1.24=US$0.81
Then just buy a case to put the harddisk in. You have the option to use a USB casing or one with network capability.
I bought portable 2.5" USB one for $6.90 and 3.5" one for $20. You can also choose a more expensive with multiple drive storage (you can put 2-3drive in it), but for me I don’t think I want to go that far.

Network Attached Storage with that also act as Media Server
Interesting enough some of the network storage devices support UPnP and BitTorrent directly without the need of a PC. Take a look at the storage from Synology for example. Their DS-106e/j has this functions:

+Share More Than just Data – Network storage
+Program Your Own Web - WebServer
+Let the Music/Video Play – Stream the video directly to any UPnP media player like the SLM5500.
+Total Backup Solutions
+Share Photos with Right Persons – Account control
+Continuous Download without PC – BitTorrent
If you have deeper pocket, then go for this. Cost: SGD$369 (w/o Harddisk)

Streaming video from Synology using SLM5500

And this is how it looks like on SLM5500

My video collections on Synology.

Direct movie playback !! No PC !

Update: I found this good review here http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/synologyds106/3.htm

Singapore IT Show 2007

Streaming related device on show

I went down to the IT Show last Friday to get a Dlink 5 port switch at SGD$23, they're out of stock so I bought the 8 port 10/100 one at SGD$30. That's really cheap :)
Interestingly, Snazio, a local maker of Digital Media Adapter, show off their latest H.264 DMA. When I ask the price the salesman ask me lots of question, in the end I still don't know how much. I check their brochure, there's no information as well. But what's interesting is that this lastest Media Receiver Snazzio SZ1322, has a build-in DVB Tuner and is able to playback H.264 media. I guess this is either the same or similar to their Snavio series. http://www.snavio.com/SnaVio_DVBT.asp

Other interesting stuff includes a Planex MIMO XR Wireless router that supports USB harddisk, UPnP and BitTorrent. Meaning that now, all I need to do is plug a Harddisk to the router... Instantly I have got a Network Storage, I can then stream content from this device using my slm5500. It will also download multimedia content from the internet via BitTorrent, All this for SGD$169. exclude Harddisk. Beside using a MIMO means I should have better WiFi performance!

Media Converter Part 2_b: VOB vs XVID

VOB and XVID at 2 times and 4 times size

Well, well.. I used the mediacoder alright. There are more options and hence more confusing.. rr or is it because I got use to Super?

Anyway it took a really long time to convert a DVD to xvid. The end result was a bigger file from 4.36GB DVD to 1.47GB xvids. It took me a very long time, 3hrs and 18minutes. I'm going to try again with a different setting today.

Been wondering whelther there's really lost in the video. So I take a look at the old jpeg snapshots again. Turns out that if I blew up the picture by 200% I can tell the differences slightly.

Hint: look at the shadow.

If you still don't quite see it. Here's the 400% blown up version.

Hint: Look at the shadow and the ear.

The right picture is the original DVD and the left the xvid. The DVD has smoother curves and less "squares". So unless you have a very good eyesight on a full HD 42" TV, chances are you won't be able to notice.

Media Converter Part 3: Other free converter

Another free video converter


Interesting enough I come across someone's video converter when I was looking at Metacafe video. http://www.metacafe.com/watch/377244/free_converter_any_media_to_any_format_inc_flash/

This was very similar to the erightsoft's Super that I was talking about in my earlier blog. It's like a skin above mencoder. Here's a quick screenshot. I'm giving it a go and find out if it's good.



Here's the official website http://mediacoder.sourceforge.net/.