Kiss DP-600 review

With Sky's high-definition service finally up and running, more and more people are buying a high-definition television (HD TV).

If you're lucky enough to own one, though, you might have noticed that there aren't many opportunities to watch programmes that make the most of this new technology. Some sport, movies and drama are broadcast in high definition, but most look the same way as they have always done. However, this could change thanks to HD-ready video players such as KISS's DP-600. This plays standard DVDs, but can also play HD video files from a DVD disc or by streaming them from your computer.

The DP-600 looks like a posh DVD player and feels well made. Its back panel has every output you could hope for, including component video, SCART socket, surround-sound audio outputs and an HDMI port. If your TV has an HDMI input, this is the easiest way to connect the two. The DP-600 can play high-definition video encoded in DivX, XviD, Nero Digital and Windows Media 9 formats.

To play video files, you can burn them to a DVD data disc, put that in the player, and choose which file to play from a menu. It's easier still, though, to stream them from your computer. The DP-600 has a 10/100 Ethernet port and also supports 802.11g wireless networking. Server software for your PC is included, but it's easier still to use Microsoft's excellent Windows Media Connect server. Connecting the player and server is pleasantly simple.

The DP-600 played every HD video file we tried. The picture quality using our HD TV was excellent, and we were amazed to find we could stream a high-definition DivX video over our 802.11g wireless network without any problems. The player also supports standard-definition video files and can play audio files and display photos. The audio player can't play WMA-DRM music bought from a service such as Napster, however.

The main problem with the DP-600 is finding anything worth watching. At the moment, there's very little HD content available to download legally. Some services, such as www.lovefilm.com, are providing full-length films encrypted using WMV with DRM, but at the moment the DP-600 can't play these files. It has a standard DVD drive, so it won't be able to play Blu-ray or HD-DVD videos when they become available. If future updates allow the DP-600 to play movie downloads, it will be a very useful product to own, but right now it's just an impressive gadget.