Group test: Media streamers

So you've got your hi-def TV and finally made a decision on which HD player to buy. Think your home cinema set-up is complete? Think again. Devices that offer media streaming; the ability to send encoded audio, video and photos from your computer to a television, are getting better, and growing in popularity. With the number of (legal) websites that offer downloadable content increasing, and this includes high-definition video, it's not hard to see why. Imagine having all of your video and music instantly accessible from a single hard drive linked to your TV. This could well be the future of home entertainment, and since there are a number of devices available to let you do this now, we thought it about time we had a look. Overview Price: £199/£269 More info: Apple Size: 197x197x28mm Internal storage: 40GB/160GB Connectivity: HDMI, component, optical audio Format support: M4V, MP4, MOV (H.264 and MPEG-4) Max resolution: up to 720p Apple TV Apple didn't exactly leap head-first onto the media streaming bandwagon, rather belatedly deciding to get involved by introducing the Apple TV. In traditional fashion you won't find any pokey-out aerials or unsightly protrusions on this sleek flat box, which follows a typically Apple minimalist design. It's very quick to start up and very nice to use though. In addition to photo, video and music playback you'll also find you can access YouTube content and Podcasts. Almost inevitably, considering the source, there are certain restrictions in place here as you'll only be able to access content stored in your iTunes library. This might mean re-encoding a lot of video files and ensuring you keep iTunes up to date. This won't be a problem for those consumers who run their life using Apple's industry-dominating software, but anyone looking for a more generic solution may find it frustrating. We also noticed that the AppleTV isn't nearly as easy to set up on a wireless network as other similar devices. Although we had no problems with a wired connection it seems as though some routers' management of wireless conflicts somewhat with the AppleTV. Apple recommends using its Airport Express (no surprise there) which is thoroughly tested, so it seems much of the product's core functionality is oriented towards Mac users or those who regularly maintain iTunes on a PC. Something we really shouldn't be too surprised about given the company's history. It's a very usable device overall but unless you're running a Mac with a well maintained iTunes database you may either have problems or become frustrated at the lack of generic support. Verdict Plus points Looks nice, easy to use (when up and running), HDMI output Minus points Only supports file formats supported by iTunes, only runs through iTunes, some users may have router issues

Overview Price: £139(4GB) to £299(160GB), plus £60 for DV-station plus £15 approx per plug-in More info: Archos Size: 122x82x15mm Internal storage: 4-160GB Connectivity (DV station): Composite, S-video, Component Video format support: MPEG-4, WMV (cinema plug-in for MPEG-2) Max resolution: 800x480 (480p) Archos 605 with DV station Archos all but redefined the portable media market with its powerful range of media players, and the 605 is the most feature packed yet. It differs from the other devices on test here in that it's a handheld media player with its own 4.3in screen, but is still capable of playing content on your television if you pick up a DV-station adaptor. In its simplest form you'll find you can copy across and play compatible audio, video and photos, but you can upgrade the cheap base unit with a number of add-ons that include a cinema plug-in to improve format support and add surround sound and a web browser to allow you to surf the net using a built-in wireless connection. Of course you'll also find it can stream content from any computer on a local network in the same way as other streamers on test here. The range of features and adaptability of the 605 is staggering. It's also great looking and easy to use, although you'll find you can't play video that's encoded to a higher resolution than the 800x480 pixel screen on the 605 itself, so HD content is out. For this reason it's not as dedicated or as capable a pure streaming solution as the others here, but the additional features could easily be enough to compensate. If Archos solve the HD issue however, this would be the most adaptable and best performing all-round media solution on the market.

Verdict Plus points Excellent display, impressive all-round performance, range of plug-ins, more adaptable than most Minus points Doesn't support HD encoded content

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