Clearance at OW Clarence St. Pretty good if you have a non smart tv. had about 5 left, picture here
Kaiser Baas HD Media Hub $34.30 @ Officeworks (in Store)
150
mehow on 06/02/2015 - 15:31 officeworks.com.au (984 clicks)
Last edited 06/02/2015 - 16:00 by 1 other user
Last edited 06/02/2015 - 16:00 by 1 other user
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so it only runs stuff via USB? doesn't connect to Wifi? ….most HD TV's at least have a USB port surely? am i missing something?
Pretty good if you have a non smart tv
HOW? Seems to convert a non-USB TV into a USB TV, not a SMART TV :-(
kaiserbaas have "Smart Media Player" for that task.
Key Features:
USB input
HDMI port
SD card readerExternal Control Devices:
Remote ControlFunctionality
Digital audio playback
Digital photo playback
Digital video playbackAdds USB media hub & outputs via HDMI.
I'm underwhelmed! Few TVs would be sold without USB input, a remote, & basic media player this provides.
So pretty useless.
So it's completely impossible that anyone owns a tv without usb input?
Well if you were paying to upgrade to a SMART TV with this device - it is pretty useless - it won't.
Many non-smart TV's have USB inputs already. Of course video formats may not be suitable to play all movies.
I have a 24" monitor used for tv viewing in a bedroom that lacks USB input, but added a cheap HD STBox with media player & PVR functions to solve that for about $10 more, with tv tuner & recorder as a bonus. There are other cheap solutions with more features.
If you don't have USB on your non-smart TV, maybe buy a SMART TV device or more featured media player that includes USB input.
There is not even any details on the manufacturer's site. (Download the manual to check video formats.)
Those are better possibilities.
Said nothing about impossibilities ;-)
And I was talking about TV's being sold now.It's just an older solution, lacking features many would like, or possibly already available on their TV.
No one ever said this will turn it into a smart TV. Also, many TVs with usb input have a terrible interface, this looks like it might be a cheap step up, with thumbnails of the movies etc.
In the deal description " Pretty good if you have a non smart tv. "
Most people would assume by this sentence that it will turn it into a smart TV.
@Benjamin7711:
Yes, misleading for many.After all, this will work with any TV or computer monitor with HDMI input.
"USB input, a remote, & basic media player"
Comparing this units 3 second boot and menuing with the less than basic options most TVs provide is comparing chalk and cheese. .
But we had no information like that to go on when this deal posted. The manufacturers site only had a photo. OW site lacks almost any useful details, which I posted. Having the product in front of you certainly helps ;-)
If you look at the start of this discussion, it was networking features being discussed, not the media player.
The media player function was not being discussed, as it was assumed it should work reasonably & would be discussed by others. I was interested in networking, not particularly the media player.
When the discussion started, I supplied some extra information now in this deal. OP provided only that it was a media hub, price, 5 available at an OW store, suited to non-smart TV's, and a photo taken of box & price in that store. That was not much to go on to understand this unit.
This discussion led from OP's claim "Pretty good if you have a non smart tv". OP was asked by several people what was meant by that. There was no response, so we tried to find out for ourselves.
As that claim was never explained
by OP, it was initially expected this unit would add other features than just a media player. Smart tv's are defined as having internet connection & networking. That's why it's only connection being a USB (& memory card) input started this discussion of what this unit added to a non-smart TV.That's why I referred to this unit as a "basic media player" in a discussion of possible networking & smart tv features, as there are no networking, WiFi, internet connections, just a USB & card reader for input.
Also the use of the term 'hub' could imply more than a USB & memory card input.
As this media player can be plugged into any display with HDMI, it is not limited to just non-SMART TV's.
It was a little confusing suggesting "Pretty good if you have a non smart tv".
If that claim had been left out of the deal description, we would be looking at a simple discussion of a cheap media player.
Now we know much more, but there was little to go on when this deal was posted. It's easy being critical afterwards.
Sounds like you like it ;-)
For the networking side, yep, it is about as useful as a pair of chocolate skis:-0. I was replying to the "what use is it side". I agree the O.P could have been a bit clearer - It doesn't "smart" your TV, but in my case, added to a Philips smart[ish] box, a strong tuner and a Chrome-cast, it fills a hole none of them really do well - taking pretty much any media file I have and putting it on the screen.
It does have on big achilles heel tho - you can choose to repeat one, all, or random. Spot the choice that's missing - and no, you can only pick a sleep time from a set menu…
Our Panasonic and Sharp TVs dont have USB, nor does my parents Panasonic or Sony, my sisters Panasonic or Fujitsu TVs.
I use a WD verison of this, a dumb player you plug a HDD full of TV shows on on the TV in our bedroom. Works great. (no idea about this brand though)Yep - I just grabbed one. Boots up in 3 seconds. The settings go from PAL or ASCII up to 1080p. The one feature I didn't know or consider was a nice surprise - putting it to PAL on the Acer TV [via component [RWY] out] let me play a HD file as PAL…
The file I tried was a H264 with a weird 1280 x 404 setting I grabbed while wearing an eye patch and parrot, that I always had to adjust on the monitor - played it back in PAL on a HD Tv with the aspect just a little wide, but bearable.
It won't, however, see a cd in a USB attached blu-ray drive, but then again, twirling silvered plastic is going the same way as spinning rust.
So, high point for me, not only does it play most things, it will downgrade if you have an older spare SD TV with no usb or HDMI but video in.
Marion still showing $49 on the shelf, but scans at the right price. About 4 left.
[Lucky day - the AV out is the same wiring as the old Nokia - so I can play my N97 files, though I think back then they were silent and in black and white]
Interesting, but I think the features reflect the age of this unit. Nothing wrong with that, given the price. Just something to be aware of.
Surprised an HD media player would provide AV OUT, given the low quality.
So this unit can even be used with old CRT TV's with AV IN (RCA leads). You could even copy video to VHS tapes on a VCR ;-)
Shh. :-) It seem to do fairly well at presenting SD uprated as well. For me, that's the thing, It does one thing, plays files, and does it quickly and well.
@terrys:
I'm too cheap to buy this deal just to play movies ;-) I was looking for a bit more - like networking, but a good deal at the price.I still use the non-smart TV's USB for movies - it works with 2TB HDD. TV is a 3 year old 50" FHD plasma bought from JB for $650. Shows thumbnails of movies & photos. (Otherwise I use a $169 1TB PVR via HDMI, which accepts 2 external 3TB HDD - that's the largest I've tried.)
I torrent movies with free WiFi at a Regus Business Lounge (4 year free membership from OzBargain deals) to a cheap Android phone, then insert the $9 32GB micro-SD into a 99c USB adapter (all 3 were OzBargain deals). Works every time, although TV video formats are limited, and video controls basic - but good enough for my purposes.
@brucefromaustralia:
TV model: LG 50PA6500-TF
Read the manual first time in years… You can't choose to repeat, but you can set up a play list, view by list or thumbnails.
Put store in title please.
Store is in description.
Clearance should be in title as there will be little stock, but may be available elsewhere.
Stock in that store is not enough to make a deal, but probably will be in other stores.
And OP should say why this is good if you don't have a SMART TV.
Rather misleading - sounding like it upgrades TV to SMART TV.Will work with any TV or monitor with HDMI input.
it wasn't before.
Check revisions.
OP description: Clearance at OW Clarence St., same as current revision (which added in store to title).
4 on the shelf at Marion - and for those who wonder who would want it, even for a USB enabled TV this will play [probably] more formats than the TV player may, will have a better menu, performs the processing on Full HD video almost certainly better than the pea-brain in sets from even just a couple of years back, and can address 2 Tearabyte of storage where the TV USB may be limited.
Certainly has better range of video formats than most TV.
shows up at most stores around perth in good ole WA.
Thanks OP
Op shouldn't have to explain why its good if you don't have a SMART TV.
In Forrest Gump voice. "Jenny, this device will let us play movies on our dumb TV"
Positive 2012 review on Whirlpool forum
Plays every format, MKV being my main one I wanted.
Powers off your portable HD upon powering down device, WD for some reason leaves your Portable device on…..
This unit does not have ethernet or wireless, but after all the issues connecting the WD live TV to network and it disconnecting it randomly and asking for passwords, well needless to say I dumped the network, and went with a 2 TB WD elements portable HD, and plug that into the Kaiser Baas, better than leaving my PC on to play movies, much better power management using a portable HD than over a network and computers imo. No disconnect issues from network using portable HD!!!
After a few months with this device, I am over the moon in how good it works, it's performance is easily better than the WD Live TV rubbish, WD seriously should take that off the market and fix it.
The downloadable manual lists video formats.
Sounds OK for the price, but how can they call it a "hub" without any network connectivity?
I expect most people have USB either on their TV or DVD/bluray player, but often it has limited codec/container support and a poor interface.
they call it a "hub"
Lest's not go there, it could make the "cap" debate look civilised. :-p
Might grab one of these next time I go out if my local office works still have some in stock.
My Panasonic Viera does not have USB (before the time of Smart TV's) and I don't need any network capabilities. Just want something to plug my hard drive into and play MKV files.
Can someone confirm from experience that this Hub reads FAT32 formatted drives with no issues?The manual says reads FAT32 formatted drives.
FAT/FAT32/NTFs/exFATThanks, I've glanced at the manual but I was hoping someone could tell me from experience.
For experiences, check the whirlpool link I posted.
I've got a few older (5yr) LG plasmas with USB inputs used to play movies from HDD.
@brucefromaustralia: No one mentioned successfully using FAT32 unfortunately.
The link was helpful however, I will definitely be grabbing one to try.@SaffireBlack:
OW are usually good for return if format is an issue. Worth trying as a media player. Hope it works well.My experience reviewing many PVRs using external HDD, FAT32 has been accepted & operated well on more units than NTFS.
Yep.
Noticed OW stocks the Kaiser Baas Smart Android Media Player, adding the SMART TV functions lacking in this unit, but it's $98.
With full Internet connectivity, this media player allows you to browse the Internet and download apps right on your TV.
I have purchased a couple of these for family (mum, etc) and they are atleast as good as the 1st gen WDTV's (that didn't have network). They play everything I throw at them, have fast boot times and an easy to navigate interface (many smart tv's can't tick any of these boxes!)
Got one at Newcastle West. Now I know why my instinct told me not to get one for $49 in December. At least 10 left.
I considered it then but wanted net connectivity. Now I have one, by the time I have booted the net device, reminded it about the password, waited for its menu, gone to YouTube, picked the track and waited for it to start I could have gone there on my computer, downloaded the track, put it on a USB stick, drive or SD card and had it up and running through this :-)
Got 1, couple left in Albany WA.
Picked up one today, I got the last one at OW Campbelltown.
Very easy setup, just plug in and go.
Doesn't come with a HDMI cable, but I already had a couple lying around.
So far I'm very happy with this =)Lots of them at East vic park WA, at the front row.
Saw them for $34.30 still at officeworks Garden City (QLD) under the laptops. about 20-30 units
Same price at OW online, but won't let me order. Assume out of stock. What a pity ;-)