Jobs & Education6 mins ago
Dane-Elec So-Smart
11 Answers
For some time I have been trying to work out the best way of hosting my wifes digital photo collection and giving us the ability to view them on our TV
The best idea I cam up with was a wireless media streamer (for viewing) and a network storage device (for storage).
Snag is, you're looking at �150-�200 EACH, which makes the project a tad expensive
Then I stumbled across the Dane-Elec "So-Smart" (http://www.danedigital.com/4-Disques-Durs-exte rnes/7-so-smart.html)
This is a combined media streamer and NAS device that seems to do everything I need, and best of all, is a little over �150 with a 500Gb drive installed.
In fact, it almost seems too good to be true, so I am wondering if they've cut any corners (certainly they seem to have "economised" on the person who created the user manual!)
Has anyone else come across one of these and would like to comment?
Many thanks
Phil G
The best idea I cam up with was a wireless media streamer (for viewing) and a network storage device (for storage).
Snag is, you're looking at �150-�200 EACH, which makes the project a tad expensive
Then I stumbled across the Dane-Elec "So-Smart" (http://www.danedigital.com/4-Disques-Durs-exte rnes/7-so-smart.html)
This is a combined media streamer and NAS device that seems to do everything I need, and best of all, is a little over �150 with a 500Gb drive installed.
In fact, it almost seems too good to be true, so I am wondering if they've cut any corners (certainly they seem to have "economised" on the person who created the user manual!)
Has anyone else come across one of these and would like to comment?
Many thanks
Phil G
Answers
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Storing your photos, and showing your photos are completely different things. To store them, they will be in a hi-resolution format and each individual photo will be 3 or 4Mb each.
Your TV cannot display this quality of image. So you can use a smaller file for screen viewing.
The simplest way of doing this is to sync your photos to an iPod and then run it in slideshow mode connected to a TV.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum =304679
Storing your photos, and showing your photos are completely different things. To store them, they will be in a hi-resolution format and each individual photo will be 3 or 4Mb each.
Your TV cannot display this quality of image. So you can use a smaller file for screen viewing.
The simplest way of doing this is to sync your photos to an iPod and then run it in slideshow mode connected to a TV.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum =304679
Gromit
Thanks for the suggestion, BUT
We want to try and make things as simple as possible so viewing from the storage location fits that bill (I think)
Also, unless we get a BIG iPod, then we won't be able to store all the pics there and will need to decide "which trip do we want to look at today" and go off and sync the iPod
Viewing direct from NAS, even though we don't get the full benefit of the resoltuion, is much simpler - just call up the relevant folder and GO.
Phil G
Thanks for the suggestion, BUT
We want to try and make things as simple as possible so viewing from the storage location fits that bill (I think)
Also, unless we get a BIG iPod, then we won't be able to store all the pics there and will need to decide "which trip do we want to look at today" and go off and sync the iPod
Viewing direct from NAS, even though we don't get the full benefit of the resoltuion, is much simpler - just call up the relevant folder and GO.
Phil G
Dane Elec are a company that have recently release the ZPen which is quite revolutionary and has had pretty decent reports.
Personally, unless you have to buy a bigger hard drive, why not just buy a media streamer. I have a Pinnacle Showcenter (purcahsed around 5 years ago) which allows me to view all my video / pictures / audio on my tv.
I use it a lot.
I bought this when they first came out - there are now loads of different types and manufacturers.
I would highly recommend this solution
Personally, unless you have to buy a bigger hard drive, why not just buy a media streamer. I have a Pinnacle Showcenter (purcahsed around 5 years ago) which allows me to view all my video / pictures / audio on my tv.
I use it a lot.
I bought this when they first came out - there are now loads of different types and manufacturers.
I would highly recommend this solution
Maybe you should be working in the Cloud rather than a physical storage device.
http://www.apple.com/uk/mobileme/features/gall ery.html
http://www.apple.com/uk/mobileme/features/gall ery.html