D-Link DSM-330 review

D-Link's new streaming media player is the first to use DivX Connected, which means you can access content directly from DivX's Stage6 website.

More interestingly, it has been designed so that open-source plug-ins can be used to add new capabilities.

The plug-ins have to be installed on the PC you're using as a server. The DSM-330 uses the same rendering engine as the popular Firefox web browser and so should be easy for developers and enthusiasts to get to grips with. Some early examples accompanied our review unit, with the best one giving us access to Google Maps. Having this on your living room TV is initially impressive, but it's not very practical, as there's no search function for postcodes and you can't print your results. It's a good sign of things to come, but it's not a reason to buy the DSM-330 now.

The player is small and very light, but looks rather cheap. There's a USB port on the front for accessing files from portable storage devices. The remote is well designed, but the interface was slow to react to our button presses. DivX video playback looked good, and you can fast-forward and rewind through recordings at a variety of speeds.

There are plenty of audio and video connectors. An HDMI port is ideal for connecting to HD TVs and supports all the usual HD resolutions including 1080p. There's also HD support through component, which is routed out of the SCART connector using a supplied lead. There are S-video and composite outputs, too, with stereo phono and both coaxial and optical S/PDIFs for audio.

Setting up the DSM-330 is straightforward. It comes with its own server software that you install on the PC hosting your media files. We couldn't get the device to function with any other UPnP software, including Windows Media Connect or TwonkyVision, which was disappointing. The DivX software works well enough, though, and found all the compatible files in the folders we indicated.

The main problem with the DSM-330 is the limited number of video file formats it supports. It's primarily aimed at users who are dedicated to DivX, but the lack of H.264 support is particularly disappointing. It also refused to play MPEG2 files shot using DVD and hard disk camcorders. It's possible that support for these formats will be added later through a plug-in, but until this happens we'd think carefully before buying.

The DSM-330 has a lot of potential thanks to its open-source capabilities, and we'll be keeping a close eye on developments. Unfortunately, its sluggish interface and lack of H.264 support means that Linksys's Kiss 1600 is currently a better choice.

Author: Seth Barton