saleBlack Friday see store specials

Popcorn Hour A-110

Popcorn Hour's A-110 media streamer is an updated version of the company's A-100 model media streamer. It features added support for 2.5"/3-5-inch SATA HDD and USB Slave functions and improves the previous model's connectivity and transfer rates with HDMI updated to 1.3a spec (for wider HD Audio pass-through support), S/PDIF to replace co-axial S/PDIF and a reconfigured USB port and hardware reset button. The A-110 hosts a Media Service Portal for streaming or playback access from various sources (PC, digital camera, Flash drives, hard drivers, internet, etc.) and can function as a NAS and BitTorrent P2P downloader. The media streamer supports a wide-range of high bitrate video formats for 1080p HD video playback and holds upgradeable firmware.

Where to Buy

Popcorn Hour A-110
MSRP $215.00
Release date September, 2008
love it
want it
have it
tag it
Pros & Cons20
Reviews11
Details
Buy It
Competitors12
Comments
twitter

Pros & Cons

ProSCORE
11 reviews
61
negative
mixed
positive
7 positive
1 mixed
3 negative

[i] How is the ProSCORE calculated?

show me!

Pros:
Do you agree?
•
Modular hard drive design means you can upgrade to whatever size you like
+7agreedisagree

•
Excellent I/O connectivity (Component, HDMI, RCA, S-Video, S/PDIF, Ethernet, USB)
+5agreedisagree

•
HDMI 1.3 means it can theoretically pass bitstream HD Audio in a firmware upgrade
+4agreedisagree

•
Powerful enough to stream 1080p HD content
+4agreedisagree

•
Can act as a USB hard drive for transferring files
+3agreedisagree

•
Now HDMI 1.3a which means audio is supported
+3agreedisagree

•
has upgradable firmware to keep up to date with bug fixes
+3agreedisagree

•
Internally downmixes surround sound to stereo eliminating the need for a separate receiver
+2agreedisagree

•
theoretically has a lot of excellent features (if they work properly)
+2agreedisagree

•
technical support respond very quickly and are very good
+1agreedisagree

Cons:
Do you agree?
•
Not a true SATA interface, just a bridge, so don't get the speed boost
+5agreedisagree

•
No real cooling solutions provided
+3agreedisagree

•
Cannot use it without the remote control, apart formaUSB HDD, don't foget to take it with you!
+3agreedisagree

•
it hangs frequently
+2agreedisagree

•
Requires software on host PC to access ext2/3 formatted hdd, verry annoying for a portable dvice.
+2agreedisagree

•
IR remote has spotty performance
+1agreedisagree

•
extremely slow to boot
+1agreedisagree

•
very very buggy. If using internal hdd, be prepared to perform regular scans/reinstalls due to disk corruption - do a google search to see all the problems
+1agreedisagree

•
you need to be a technologically advanced to use this device
0agreedisagree

•
No hard drive included
-1agreedisagree


12 people added to this review by submitting or voting on pros and cons. Add your say!
See individual votes »

Details

Features

  • 2.5/3.5-inch SATA HDD and USB Slave functionality
  • HDMI: 1.3 a spec
  • Updated S/PDIF, USB and hardware reset
  • Media Service Portal
  • NAS and BitTorrent P2P downloader
  • High bitrate video format support for 1080p video
  • Upgradeable firmware

Submit a link

This report was started August 11, 2008 at 7:21 am by Reid
with the last edit occurring October 12, 2009 at 3:35 am by Muhammad Imran
This page has been viewed 9401 times, with 110 edits by 15 contributors.
See the full report history »

Buy It

Popcorn Hour A-110

• Popcorn Hour A-110 HD Networked Media Tank (EU)

UPC: 892002002010

EAN: 0892002002010

MPN: A-110 HD

Competitors

Popcorn Hour A-110 is ranked 1st among it's competitors.  See the top picks in Media Streamers »
Apple TV

Apple TV

MSRP  $229.00    Released  March, 2006
Pros
  • Integrated wireless
  • Plays high-definition content
  • Small footprint and sleek styling
Cons
  • Limited to iTunes
  • 24 hour movie rental time window
  • Xbox with XBMC is cheaper and is more flexible
ProSCORE
26 reviews
52
Vote! (2 votes)
vote Popcorn Hour A-110 50% vs. vote Apple TV 50%
ZIOVA Clearstream CS510

ZIOVA Clearstream CS510

MSRP  $200.00    Released  May, 2007
Pros
  • Support DivX and XVid streaming
  • Built-In WIFI
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Slow to boot
  • Fast forward does not seem to work on XVid and DivX
  • Built for geeks, not user friendly enough for mainstream users
ProSCORE
5 reviews
68
Vote! (1 vote)
vote Popcorn Hour A-110 100% vs. vote ZIOVA Clearstream CS510 0%
Vudu Box

Vudu Box

MSRP  $295.00    Released  September, 2007
Pros
  • Internet streaming of movies on your TV
  • Supports 1080p/24 fps with HDMI output
  • Innovate remote with scroll wheel
Cons
  • No PC streaming support
  • Doesn't work with universal infrared remotes
  • No built-in WiFi
ProSCORE
8 reviews
52
Vote! (1 vote)
vote Popcorn Hour A-110 100% vs. vote Vudu Box 0%
Archos TV+

Archos TV+

MSRP  $249.00    Released  --
Pros
  • Both WiFi and Ethernet connectivity
  • Fully functional Opera Web browser
  • DVR functionality
Cons
  • Doesn't support HD video
  • Can't pause or rewind live TV
  • Limited content from Archos portal and CinemaNow
ProSCORE
6 reviews
39
Vote! (1 vote)
vote Popcorn Hour A-110 100% vs. vote Archos TV+ 0%
Iomega ScreenPlay Pro

Iomega ScreenPlay Pro

MSRP  $250.00    Released  September, 2008
Pros
  • good format support
  • HDMI output
  • large 1TB internal storage capacity
Cons
  • unattractive user interface
  • slow network connection
  • remote requires direct line of sight
ProSCORE
2 reviews
68
Vote! (1 vote)
vote Popcorn Hour A-110 100% vs. vote Iomega ScreenPlay Pro 0%
Mvix MX-780HD

Mvix MX-780HD

MSRP  $340.00    Released  January, 2008
Cons
  • no mkv support
  • HDMI 1.1 ?
ProSCORE
1 review
0
Vote! (1 vote)
vote Popcorn Hour A-110 100% vs. vote Mvix MX-780HD 0%
Netgear Digital Entertainer HD EVA8000

Netgear Digital Entertainer HD EVA8000

MSRP  $299.00    Released  --

Access and enjoy your digital entertainment easily on your TV and HDTV Streams HD videos, music, Internet radio and digital photos from your home PCs and storage devices to your HDTV Automatically finds all the digital media files on your home network and organizes them into an easily accessible library Play YouTube™ Videos...

ProSCORE
0 reviews
N/A
Vote! (1 vote)
vote Popcorn Hour A-110 100% vs. vote Netgear Digital Entertainer HD EVA8000 0%
HP MediaSmart Connect

HP MediaSmart Connect

MSRP  $349.00    Released  July, 2008
Pros
  • Connects to some Internet services
  • Streams in high-definition
  • DivX support
  • Sleek and simple design
Cons
  • Internet services are limited to HP's choice
  • Expensive
ProSCORE
1 review
67
Vote! (1 vote)
vote Popcorn Hour A-110 100% vs. vote HP MediaSmart Connect 0%
Samsung MediaLive

Samsung MediaLive

MSRP  $200.00    Released  August, 2008
Pros
  • 1080p Output over HDMI
  • Internet streaming
Cons
  • No MP3 support
  • Limited to certain Samsung HDTVs
  • Limited file formats
ProSCORE
2 reviews
33
Vote! (1 vote)
vote Popcorn Hour A-110 100% vs. vote Samsung MediaLive 0%
D-Link DSM-520 Wireless HD Media Player

D-Link DSM-520 Wireless HD Media Player

MSRP  $249.00    Released  --

For compatible television systems, the DSM-520 features a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) connection. HDMI offers a pure digital connection for both audio and video. Other video connectors include component, S-video, and composite output, ensuring compatibility with virtually all televisions. The DSM-520 also supports coax and optical digital audio output for delivering high fidelity digital...

ProSCORE
0 reviews
N/A
Vote! (1 vote)
vote Popcorn Hour A-110 100% vs. vote D-Link DSM-520 Wireless HD Media Player 0%
Buffalo LinkTheater PC-P4LWAG

Buffalo LinkTheater PC-P4LWAG

MSRP  $249.00    Released  --
Pros
  • Streams well over WLAN and fits together with Buffalo LinkStation NAS and a Buffalo Airstation router.
Cons
  • It does not support subtitles!!
  • The scart connection is a joke. It disturbs other scarts, can't "play together" with them and does not recognize (switch) the ration 16:9 . 4:3 as all other scart connected devices.
  • The units respond to ~1 in 10 remote button pushes, so that to navigate down through 10 files and then play a file frequently takes hundreds of key presses. The units frequently loose network connection while idle, and this requires navigating all the way back to the main menu, frequently hundreds of button pushes on the remote. If a new file is added to the terastation or other media server the units lock up when a "refresh" is done to the server; any file that is playing halts. There are several buttons on the remote that if pushed lock the unit up to the point that a factory reset must be done to recover.
ProSCORE
2 reviews
17
Vote! (1 vote)
vote Popcorn Hour A-110 100% vs. vote Buffalo LinkTheater PC-P4LWAG 0%
D-Link DSM 330

D-Link DSM 330

MSRP  $100.00    Released  August, 2008
Pros
  • HD Output
  • Easy to connect
  • Internet and Network Streaming
  • Plug-In Support
Cons
  • Limited formats
  • No Wireless-N or Gigabit Ethernet
ProSCORE
2 reviews
67
Vote! (1 vote)
vote Popcorn Hour A-110 100% vs. vote D-Link DSM 330 0%

Suggest a new competitor to add to the list of competing products.
If the product hasn't yet been added to ProductWiki, submitting it here will also start the product report.

Comments

Some HTML is allowed. Your comments remain editable after you post..

Reviews

Sort by: Most helpful  •  Newest  •  Most positive

k_p_ani

avatar
December 19, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
0
negative
mixed
positive
0 pros
1 con
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Pros

Did not agree with any pros

Cons

  • Not a true SATA interface, just a bridge, so don't get the speed boost

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No
«Prev 1 2 Next»

Twitter

tweet this product!
- join or start the conversation
Search twitter: search

... Loading for latest tweets from search.twitter.com..

tweetie

sponsored by:
Price comparison information by:

This product is also known as:

A, 110, A110