New Plextor External CD/DVD Drive Connects To TVs, Too
New Plextor External CD/DVD Drive Connects To TVs, Too
Posted 01/13/2012 at 12:13pm
| by Brad Chacos
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Modern HDTVs can read all kinds of technology; DLNA streamed files, external hard drives, flash drives and heck, even SD cards. One thing they can’t read is data from USB optical drives. Or rather, make optical drives one thing HDTVs couldn’t read: Plextor’s new PX-612U External Slim DVD/CD Writer connects via USB and can play information stored on discs, thanks to some technical trickery that convinces TVs that the device is actually an external hard drive.
"It seems counter-intuitive that a USB-supported DVD Drive wouldn't work with a TV, but it has to do with the code that the devices use to communicate," Product Marketing Manager Kathy Huynh says in the press release. "PlexTV uses a code translator to make the PX-612U appear as a hard drive to the television, making the two devices compatible."
The nifty drives work with media streamers and other USB-enabled devices, too, and yes, you can plug it into your PC. It’ll be available in the first quarter, but no word yet on pricing details. The tech is definitely nifty, but does it fill an actual need for anybody out there?
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SummitTechnology
April 05, 2012 at 1:58am
The information is far better than others and I totally agree with it. Surely it will make the people to easily take into account. Thanks for sharing valuable information.
http://www.summittechnology.com.au
brentrad
January 13, 2012 at 4:19pm
This fills a MAJOR need of mine. I have literally thousands of DVDs and CDs filled with XviD and Mkv, as well as regular DVD-Video discs. I'd like to be able to just plug a USB DVD drive into my Asus Transformer tablet's USB ports in the keyboard dock - instead of having to copy the data off a disc I want to take on a trip, then copy it to my USB hard drive. Currently Android can't access DVD or CD drives through USB, although you can access hard drives, mice, keyboards, and gamepads.
I wonder about playing DVD-Video discs in this way, that would make this a must-purchase for me.
Yes, I should just rip all my DVD-Video discs to XviD, but I have a lot and that would be a pain. I'd like the ability to just throw a disc in and play it - would give my tablet one of the very few advantages that a PC laptop still has over it.
Brad Chacos
January 13, 2012 at 7:10pm
Apparently kicking your ex to the curb is good for your health!
Silencer
January 13, 2012 at 12:45pm
Well, I'd imagine at a minimum, it'd serve as a DVD player. (And, be more 'disc-compatible'.)
A BR model, would be even more useful.
Ashton2091
January 13, 2012 at 1:02pm
I agree, with so much flash media available, this device is a little late. Though, as you stated, a BluRay model would indeed make more sense.
pk44
January 13, 2012 at 2:07pm
I can see the novelty of this appealing to some people and the cross-funtionality would be nice. When your'e not using it for your TV you could use it for your PC. I think ultimately it will depend on how they promote it and what kind of price they ask. I also agree that it would be more appealing with BluRay but that might also make the cost higher then the market they hope to reach. As for this being too late I disagree. It hasn't really been that long that most TVs sold have USB funtionality.
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