MacRecon > Hardware Review :: Popcorn Hour NMT A-100

Apple recently announced its plans to improve the Apple TV’s offerings, but there are still some serious limitations in there — most notably, the lack of support for other popular media files besides those associated with iTunes. Are there any real competitors that can handle this, but that also are Mac-compatible? At least there’s this one: Popcorn Hour’s Networked Media Tank, the A-100. And with many interesting features and expandability, it is true to the “tank” part of its name.

Design. Its volume is similar to the Apple TV’s, albeit in a more rectangular shape. When you first pick it up, it feels sturdy enough to stack in your home theather, yet very light-weight. Thanks to its easy-to-open case (a matter of removing some thumbscrews), the reason of its light-weight becomes apparent: the motherboard and components take up only a minor fraction of space inside the case — the rest is free for when you decide to add a hard drive as big as your heart’s content. The other essential component of the system, the remote control, didn’t skimp out on buttons thanks to its full size (unlike Apple’s), which allows for advanced functionality to be accessed from the sofa. Besides the usual control keys, the remote has others like Subtitle, Power, TV Mode, Source, and even Eject (granted the media you’re watching supports it). On the software side, the interface is simplistic and nothing special, but gets the job done. At the home screen, you’ll be able to choose sources, or go to more advanced functions, as well as preferences. Another thing that’s missing, regrettably, is Wi-Fi for today’s wireless world.

Functionality. The NMT has basic media center functionality, but excels at other features like the web media portal, media server functionality, and even has a built-in BitTorrent client. At the basic level, the media player is capable of playing almost any format (even high-def content) and outputting everything up to 1080p. Possible sources for the NMT to access the media include your computer, the internal HD, or any USB source (external HDs, USB drives, USB disc drives, etc…). On the web media portal, you have great access to various services like YouTube, Veoh, Yahoo! Weather and Stocks, Flickr, and more — all of which function as expected. The web video quality is consistent with that you’d expect when it’s outputted in high-def, like the Apple TV. For network streaming or BitTorrent downloads, you’ll definitely need to install an internal HD, and everything seems to work fine. The thing is, that most networked functionality will make casual users cower on the spot. These tasks include setting up UPnP, FTP, NAS access (and more!). Some may be quite challenging to set up on the Mac, and others I wasn’t even able to get to work with my current knowledge. But Mac compatibility is there, nonetheless.

Limitations. Besides the fact that it won’t play Apple’s DRM’d content, the biggest problem is definitely the set up. In my case, issues started to occur from the moment I turned the machine on. At first, using the included HDMI cable, I wasn’t able to get an image from the HDTV. Following the instructions, I wasn’t able to change the resolution using some button combinations. At the end, what I did was dig up an old S-video cable, and run the initial set up from there, manually changing the resolution to 1080p. Of course, the set up did not end there, as described in my experience with setting up the media server.

Final thoughts. If you want simplicity, stick with an Apple TV (which has a nice update coming soon); if you want advanced media features (or just aren’t an iTunes customer), Popcorn Hour’s NMT is a great option to consider. But I repeat: most functions are for the experienced user, unless you’re happy to stick with basic plug-and-play USB media functionality. But once you get it to work like you want, the experience is very rewarding — especially when you’re staring at a gorgeous high-def video that’s being outputted from the little device. The NMT’s price is $179, but remember that to appreciate it to the fullest you have to get an internal hard drive to install. For the full list of supported formats and all the tricks the NTM can perform, the information is available at Popcorn Hour’s website.