Netgear Wireless Digital Media Player MP115

A new breed of wireless media player has arrived to stream high-definition content from your PC to your living room entertainment center. One of the first to the market is the Netgear Wireless Digital Media Player MP115, which supports 480p (progressive-scan) resolution, streams audio files over 802.11g and lets you view photo slideshows. The device supports a component-video connection that's noticeably superior to standard television. As a wireless media player, the MP115 is a step forward, but it does lack a few true HDTV features.

Compared to the first Netgear music-only wireless player, the Wireless Digital Music Player MP101, the MP115 is much more powerful. Not only can you stream music directly from Real Rhapsody without having to purchase music tracks, you can stream high-quality photo and video files.

From a design standpoint, the MP115 looks the same as its predecessor but does not provide an LCD, since Netgear assumes you will connect the device to a television. On the back of the device, you'll find ports for RCA audio and video, plus a component connection for high-definition televisions.

Both video ports are not active at the same time, and the default connection is RCA video. HDTV owners will need to press the "Disp Sel" button on the remote to activate the component connection. They'll also need to configure the device for widescreen mode and 480p progressive scan mode.

The MP115 is remarkably easy to use. In fact, it gets extra credit for a clean and intuitive interface. Using the remote, you can easily select a media category such as music, video, or photos, and then navigate quickly to the file you want.

On the downside, Netgear uses a slightly outdated approach for sharing media from the PC. You have to install the Netgear AV Media Server, then either select folders and search for media, or drag and drop files into the program window to share them. Newer players support Windows Connect for automatic media file discovery. The MP115 did find Real Networks' Rhapsody automatically on our network, however; the program has to be running and the PnP option enabled.

In tests, most media files streamed perfectly to the MP115 over 802.11g. Photos looked especially colorful and sharp, and we never had any problems with music files streaming over the network to a home stereo. In most cases, video files also streamed smoothly.

However, higher-bit-rate video files, such as XviD and DivX movies, suffered from noticeable stuttering. Netgear is working to fix the problem, but the company told us that the MP115 is not powerful enough to handle true HD content. Those files will require a faster wireless network and a faster processor in the player itself.

Interestingly, the Netgear MP115 does not support any digital audio connections. So movie files encoded with surround sound won't play on a home receiver that supports digital optical or coaxial connection. The device does support the subscription-based Radio@AOL (a free 30-day trial is included) and 50 free stations from vTuner.com for listening to Internet radio streamed over the network. Basic WEP security options, which might seem like overkill on a media streamer, prevent someone else from receiving the transmissions.

Overall, the Netgear MP115 Wireless Digital Media Player is one of the best media streamers available. Upcoming HD devices from D-Link, Buffalo Technology, and others, however, will likely make the MP115 seem much less impressive.