Here is a “prediction” of what a new WDTV might be:
It could be a box with the Raspberry Pi inside. I suggest this, because WD has already aligned itself with the product and has designed a HD specifically for it. Today, (Pi Day,3.14), they announced a new updated drive for the newest Pi 3 model, so it’s a good sign WD is still interested in the Pi product.
My opinion was based on inside info from a now ‘former employee’ who just laid off. I’ve since heard they may continue with hard drives, but most other products are finished.
Thanks for the update, sorry for your friend’s (and others) outcome.
If this layoff was a big one, it must be in a press release or the news, so will check.
I’m sorry that your friend was laid off, but these things happen when the markets expand and contract. Nobody likes it, nobody wishes it. However, your statement about other products being finished is not quite true. We’ve recently released a couple of new products - the EX2 Ultra and the new Pidrive. Like mike27oct says, we’re getting a bit more involved in the raspberry pi market.
WD is constantly investigating new products to bring to market, and I’m sure you’ll see more of them as time goes on. Moreover, we haven’t dropped the My Cloud line of products. On the contrary, we are working to improve them more and more as we go along.
WD may very well be designing new products, but my experience with the Live box has been abysmal. I can’t, in any way, support a company that basically dumps a product, than fails to offer any valid support (other than shipping other faulty boxes). WD decided to use old (outdated) hardware, and offer it as a new product…than only follow through with less than six months of software updates.
Bill, I appreciate the follow up and info. But considering how little “official” info or help I’ve seen on the forums regarding Live issues, it comes across as rather bland marketing…but than I could just be bitter, as I deal Live box issues daily (slow UI, “out of memory” messages and pink screens), and spent three months dealing with support, whose only response was to send another faulty box and state “things should be fixed when we release the next model”
I am a user of WD products like you, I have two Live Plus WDTVs in use and have zero problems with them; especially once I completely figured out how they will work best. So, I don’t feel a “need” for a new version of the WDTV.
