Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2009/08/17/wd_tv_2/

WD TV part two on its way

New series of Western Digital media boxes

By Chris Mellor

Posted in Channel, 17th August 2009 11:04 GMT

Western Digital appears to be working on a networked version of its WD TV streaming media package.

The first version is an adapter that depends upon a USB-attached external drive, onto which streaming media files are loaded. The idea is that customers will have backed up media files into an external hard drive already, so will use the adapter to stream them to an attached TV using an HDMI interface.

A poster on a tech website called the AVS Forum has posted pictures of a gen 2 version and listed some tech specs. There is an Ethernet port to "enable streaming from networked drives," or devices such as PCs. The location where the pictures were taken is not provided.

It says the new box adds DTS decoding - that's surround sound - with the current version having DTS pass-through. There is also component output for older SD displays. The box is said to support more media formats too.

By adding Ethernet support, WD is loosening the encouragement for buyers to twin the device with its own external hard drives.

There are currently no details available about price and availability. WD doesn't comment on unannounced products. ®