Received my new WDTV Play unit yesterday and it looks great. I found, however, it is difficult to work with my Windows 7 Pro 32-bit system. While WDTVPlay does appear in my network list as a media player, I’ve been unable to map the storage drive I’ve attached to it. On the other hand, both the external HDD attached directly to the the Play unit and my DNS323 network media server drive are listed under Storage, my shared drives in the Windows 7 system are not. If I cannot transfer newly acquired media files to the Play associated drive directly, the system would become very awkward to use. The Windows 7 drives are all shared and visible to computers elsewhere on my network. What am I missing? Thanks
CatCity wrote:
…my shared drives in the Windows 7 system are not. If I cannot transfer newly acquired media files to the Play associated drive directly, the system would become very awkward to use. The Windows 7 drives are all shared and visible to computers elsewhere on my network. What am I missing? Thanks
The WDTV Play does *not* support shared drives. It supports DLNA ONLY.
I see. I clearly made the wrong purchase decision based on the fact that the WDTV Live unit I previously used had no difficulty streaming from network drives or transferring files to or from them.
I was not aware that the technology had devolved to such an extent. I was aware that I was losing the second USB input, and the Component Video output in this ‘stripped down’ unit but had at least expected I would have the same inter-operability as did my old unit.
Thank you for the information.
Gotta read the specifications… Assumptions are often wrong.
TonyPH12345 >>> The WDTV Play does *not* support shared drives. It supports DLNA ONLY.
And, why I commented earilier that this is not a “true” media player – it is too stripped down for a buyer serious about getting a media player. Better off with Live Streaming or Hub units.
This passage from the Play product’s “Features” link is misleading . . .
(WDTV Play unit)
Enjoy media from any source.
Stream videos, music, and photos from your USB drive and any DLNA/UPnP™ device on your home network.
. . . . because one can’t stream from “any source” Note lack of mentioning accessing shared network devices.
Whereas:
(from WDTV Live Streaming unit “Features”)
Enjoy media from any source.
Stream videos, music, and photos from your USB drive, network drive, and any PC or Mac® computer in your home. Our media library collects the content from all the drives, so finding the perfect video, song, or photo to view is easier.
Lack of this feature disqualifies the Play for complete media streaming.
In some ways, the Play appears to be an “updated throwback”:, because, if I am not mistaken, the very first WDTV units also did not connect to network devices; only to attached drives. Correct me if I am wrong.
To buyer above who is not pleased with his decision to buy the Play:
If not too late, suggest you get an exchange from the Play to one of the other two WDTV models, ASAP.
You’ve already alluded to it (at least I think it was you…) the Play is somewhat similar to the Rokus.
And the Rokus lack that feature as well, yet are wildly popular.
So these boxes fall short of expectations for someone wanting a “Serious” media streamer, but they will likely fit the bill, at very low cost comparitively, to a lot of folks who don’t need network share support.
Heck, in fact, judging by the posts we see all the time in the SMP and HUB forums, there’s plenty of folks that own those boxes but have never used network shares and likely never will. :)
The Play is more based around ‘services’ than your own media.
tony >>> Heck, in fact, judging by the posts we see all the time in the SMP and HUB forums, there’s plenty of folks that own those boxes but have never used network shares and likely never will.
Yep, for sure. The guy I bought a pristine used Live Plus from told me he “only used it for Netflix”. So ,when he dropped the Netflix service, he had no use for the media player anymore! So, there you go!
Yep, it was me who compared the Play to the Roku. Thinking more about the comparison of the two, the “advantage” the Play has over Roku, is a drive can be attached. What the Roku has for itself, is it accepts a flash drive containing most common media files that can be plugged into top-end unit, and with the Roku “channel” app called Roku USB Media Player, it can play these files. I have tested it with a flash drive, but never a HD. Kinda afraid too; the Roku might barf and blow up! 
An “advantage” Roku has over the Play is the over abundance of Roku channels (apps) that can be accessed/streamed etc.
As an example, I bought my adult daughter an original Roku a few years ago. So, when I “upgraded” her this Xmas, she got the current top-end Roku and not a WD media player. I don’t want to be her “support person” for a WD player! Roku = no-brainer.
Just for the record, there are others of us out there who were mislead by the literature, and didn’t realize the WDTVPlay wouldn’t recognize network shared drives. I just installed mine a couple days ago, and am now going to return it. Doubt if I purchase Western Digital any more. Very displeased with the aggravation this has given me.
ziffle wrote:
Just for the record, there are others of us out there who were mislead by the literature, and didn’t realize the WDTVPlay wouldn’t recognize network shared drives.
Er, didn’t you mean to type “misunderstood” instead of “mislead”?
Don’t blame WD for your lack of not doing your homework more thoroughly. Additionally, why would someone expect the less-expensive model to do same tricks as more expensive model of any given product line?
I will say tho, that Roku makes it easier to distinguish between their different models, and they display a checklist of features so comparison is easier.
I just installed mine a couple days ago, and am now going to return it. Doubt if I purchase Western Digital any more. Very displeased with the aggravation this has given me.
This sounds like a twist on “shoot the messenger” to me. Jeeze, it is NOT WD’s fault you bought the wrong model for your needs. Anyway, so get your refund and buy the SMP. Any other brand of player will likely be more expensive AND with less features.
