November 1, 2011 at 13:24Overview of XtreamerDVD
If you have not yet mastered watching movies downloaded from the Internet, but want to switch to them from a DVD, then you have a transition device: XtreamerDVD.
Interestingly, the company is trying to create different 2-in-1 devices; I recently wrote about iXtreamer. As in Ixtremera, Ixtreme has a DVD with Sidewinder (a full-featured media player with support for all formats ) and a drive to read discs.
The first thing worth noting is the impressive size compared to other xtreme devices. This is most likely due to the size of the drive itself and the boards, which I counted exactly 3: (the motherboard, it is, in fact, the canonical Ixtrimer; power supply and card reader).
The device itself is made in accordance with the requirements of the license. Three buttons: play, stop, open / close the tray. And it looks like a regular DVD-player, which means that it fits well into the interior of the TV stand.
Since I already talked a lot about Ixtremera itself , and the DVD in the device just works as it should, this time I want to talk about the heart of the device, namely the 1073DD chip .
Here is what the manufacturer writes about him:
Features:
Possible applications:
That is, in fact, the chip can be used anywhere, when it comes to working with media over the network. In addition, it is designed on the principle of "maximum capacity for minimum cost." Here, for example, is a comparison with a direct competitor to Sigma:
As you can see, all realtecs operate at a frequency of 400 megahertz, which is more than enough to operate with HD sound and video, while broadcasting it from the network. Due to the low clock frequency, the Ixtrimers can work normally with passive cooling. For example, my fans on all devices are turned off, and there were no problems in the 30-degree heat.
Another good feature of the chip is that it supports a bunch of various functions in hardware. This allows the manufacturer to constantly add new features to the firmware, without forcing the consumer to buy new versions of devices. And since Ixtrimer almost all devices are built on this line of chips, the firmware for them is updated synchronously. Again, an example: I bought my first one almost five years ago and now I have the latest firmware, which is also on the latest models.
Returning to the subject of the review, I would like to finally note a few drawbacks.
- The DVD mode is turned on automatically if there is a disc in the player, moreover, it constantly spins it, creating an unpleasant background sound. This behavior can be disabled in the settings, then the DVD will not start and play automatically when it is turned on. Without a disk, the device runs silently.
- Very strange and inconvenient location of USB and SD-reader on the right panel. If you put the device in a special television cabinet, then using these holes is difficult.
- There is no way to put an internal hard drive. USB only. That is, if you plan to use Xtreaming (Ixtremere's Internet services), then you will have to insert a USB flash drive, external drive or SD card into the device and never pull it out of there.
In general, the impression of the device is positive. Ixtrimer works like everyone else perfectly - it connects to everything, it shows everything. A DVD behaves like a familiar DVD.
In conclusion, I repeat. If you want to give up DVD in favor of digital copies, then this device will help you make a smooth transition. Or if you are actively using both of them (for example, you have slow internet and it’s not always convenient to download, it’s cheaper to get to the stall), then Ixtrimer DVD is also for you.
Interestingly, the company is trying to create different 2-in-1 devices; I recently wrote about iXtreamer. As in Ixtremera, Ixtreme has a DVD with Sidewinder (a full-featured media player with support for all formats ) and a drive to read discs.
The first thing worth noting is the impressive size compared to other xtreme devices. This is most likely due to the size of the drive itself and the boards, which I counted exactly 3: (the motherboard, it is, in fact, the canonical Ixtrimer; power supply and card reader).
The device itself is made in accordance with the requirements of the license. Three buttons: play, stop, open / close the tray. And it looks like a regular DVD-player, which means that it fits well into the interior of the TV stand.
Since I already talked a lot about Ixtremera itself , and the DVD in the device just works as it should, this time I want to talk about the heart of the device, namely the 1073DD chip .
Here is what the manufacturer writes about him:
Features:
- HD MPEG1 / 2/4 & HD JPEG Decoder
- MPEG2 / 4 encoder
- Audio and video streaming over the network (wired and wireless)
- CVBS / S-video / YPbPr / SCART TV Encoder
- Support I / O I2S, SPDIF
- HDMI 1.3 support
- USB 2.0 support
- SATA support
- Network Support
Possible applications:
- DVD & HDD Players
- Media players
- Embedded Media Devices
That is, in fact, the chip can be used anywhere, when it comes to working with media over the network. In addition, it is designed on the principle of "maximum capacity for minimum cost." Here, for example, is a comparison with a direct competitor to Sigma:
| Manufacturer | Chip family | Production start | Model | MHZ frequency |
| Sigma designs | 863x | 2008-01 | 8635 | 300 |
| Realtek | 107x / 128x | 2009-06 | 1073DA | 400 |
| Realtek | 107x / 128x | 2009-06 | 1283 | 400 |
| Realtek | 107x / 128x | 2009-06 | 1073DD + | 400 |
| Realtek | 107x / 128x | 2009-06 | 1283DD + | 400 |
| Sigma designs | 864x | 2009-09 | 8642 | 667 |
| Sigma designs | 864x | 2009-09 | 8643 | 667 |
| Sigma designs | 865x | 2009-10 | 8655 | 500 |
| Sigma designs | 865x | 2009-10 | 8654 | 500 |
| Sigma designs | 865x | 2009-10 | 8653 | 500 |
| Sigma designs | 865x | 2009-10 | 8652 | 500 |
As you can see, all realtecs operate at a frequency of 400 megahertz, which is more than enough to operate with HD sound and video, while broadcasting it from the network. Due to the low clock frequency, the Ixtrimers can work normally with passive cooling. For example, my fans on all devices are turned off, and there were no problems in the 30-degree heat.
Another good feature of the chip is that it supports a bunch of various functions in hardware. This allows the manufacturer to constantly add new features to the firmware, without forcing the consumer to buy new versions of devices. And since Ixtrimer almost all devices are built on this line of chips, the firmware for them is updated synchronously. Again, an example: I bought my first one almost five years ago and now I have the latest firmware, which is also on the latest models.
Returning to the subject of the review, I would like to finally note a few drawbacks.
- The DVD mode is turned on automatically if there is a disc in the player, moreover, it constantly spins it, creating an unpleasant background sound. This behavior can be disabled in the settings, then the DVD will not start and play automatically when it is turned on. Without a disk, the device runs silently.
- Very strange and inconvenient location of USB and SD-reader on the right panel. If you put the device in a special television cabinet, then using these holes is difficult.
- There is no way to put an internal hard drive. USB only. That is, if you plan to use Xtreaming (Ixtremere's Internet services), then you will have to insert a USB flash drive, external drive or SD card into the device and never pull it out of there.
In general, the impression of the device is positive. Ixtrimer works like everyone else perfectly - it connects to everything, it shows everything. A DVD behaves like a familiar DVD.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I repeat. If you want to give up DVD in favor of digital copies, then this device will help you make a smooth transition. Or if you are actively using both of them (for example, you have slow internet and it’s not always convenient to download, it’s cheaper to get to the stall), then Ixtrimer DVD is also for you.