If you have a decent TV, there’s no reason
to replace it with a smarter model for the sake of getting internet TV
services. The Philips HMP2000 is a set-top box that will allow services such as
Netflix to be streamed to your existing telly.
Like the similar Apple TV set-top box, the
Philips won't take up much space in your living room at 90 mm wide and 100 mm
deep. This black box is taller at the back to give a sloping top surface.
Its credit-card style remote control is
also very small, but that becomes less of a benefit the first time you lose it
between the sofa cushions. Its clunky buttons that demand you click with your
nails are another source of irritation.
The unit itself is very easy to install:
just plug the external power plug and HDMI cable into the TV, then log into
your wireless network; you’ll be up and running in a few minutes. There’s no
Ethernet option, nor a separate sound output beside audio over HDMI.
The picture quality on Netflix is very
good, provided that you have a strong internet connection. The Netflix service
itself, which offers a catalogue of TV programmes for $9.35 per month, would
seem to be the main justification for buying the HMP2000. It has a limited
selection of films, though.
Besides Netflix, the box offers Facebook
and YouTube services. If you’re used to using these sites on your computer, be
prepared for some gnashing of the teeth as you attempt to enter text with the
aforementioned remote.
Finally, the HMP2000 allows you to play
media files from a USB memory stick or hard drive. A bonus here is its wide
format compatibility - it will play a good variety of media, including DVD rips
and MKV files. The only common file type the Philips refused to play is Apple
Lossless, which is a shame now that the popular Alac format is open source and
available to all.
For such a modest sum, this device could be
recommended for its Netflix access alone. But anyone who has a media library on
their home network would be better served by a DLNA-compatible unit.
Verdict
If all you want is to access Netflix on
your existing TV, the Philips HMP2000 can be recommended - but other devices
costing only around E40 more offer better functionality. BBC iPlayer and DLNA
compatibility are glaring omissions.
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Information
Price: $78
Contact: play.google.com
Read more: tinyurl.com/cgba439
Specification
Set-top box for internet services; Netf I
ix/YouTu be/ Facebook; 24bit/192kHz audio DAC; 12bit/108MHz video DAC; 1* USB
2.0; HDMI; remote control; separate 5VDC power plug; 90 x 100 x 50 mm
PC Advisor Gold
Build: 6/10
Features: 6/10
Performance: 8/10
Value: 6/10
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