SP_Director_HiAngle

Hands-On: Iomega Screenplay Director HD

By on November 29, 2009 in Digital Media Receiver Reviews, Digital Media Receivers, Reviews

Online Media

Iomega include links to a range of web media resources, including video from ABC News, CNET and GameTrailers.com, web radio from SHOUTcast, a selection of podcasts and blogs from around the world as the ubiquitous link to YouTube for comedy clips of cats and other video.

IMG 1839 thumb Hands On: Iomega Screenplay Director HD IMG 1840 thumb Hands On: Iomega Screenplay Director HD IMG 1842 thumb Hands On: Iomega Screenplay Director HD IMG 1841 thumb Hands On: Iomega Screenplay Director HD

Iomega have also created an online portal which you can visit on your PC to select and create links to your favourite online content – these links are then made visible to your ScreenPlay Director HD. The idea is to allow you to add podcasts and other favourite content easily to a list for accessing on your ScreenPlay Director. It’s perhaps a little clunky, but works well – as you can see, I added the Home Server Show podcast to my online media portal via it’s RSS Feed and it appeared almost instantly as a link on the ScreenPlay Director.

hss thumb Hands On: Iomega Screenplay Director HD IMG 1843 thumb Hands On: Iomega Screenplay Director HD

Spend a little time putting your favourite podcasts and links to other online audio and video content on your portal, and before long, you’ll have a library of your favourite web content ready to play on your TV.

It may not have the polish of Apple TV’s online media section, but the ScreenPlay Director offers a decent selection of in-box content, and the media portal allows you to better customise the selection to your tastes.

Bittorrent

One extra trick the ScreenPlay Director has up its sleeve is the ability to download Bittorrent files – simply place a .torrent file in the ScreenPlay Director’s “My Torrents” folder and the file will be downloaded. Handy if you’re into that sort of thing.

Summary

Overall, the Iomega ScreenPlay Director promises much, but ultimately under-delivers. File format support is strong in all areas, and video in particular offers a decent experience, but like many other digital media receivers out there, the ScreenPlay suffers from an inconsistent, frustrating user interface. Navigating content stored on network devices can be hard work, and the music experience in particular needs a lot of polish, both in speed of navigation and ease of use.

Things improve when content is stored locally on the drive itself, but a good digital receiver should be a real pleasure to use with networked media. But on this showing, the ScreenPlay Director HD definitely needs a second take.

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About Terry Walsh

Terry Walsh is the founding editor and owner of We Got Served. Since February 2007, the site has provided detailed coverage and analysis of the emerging home server category, and has subsequently grown into a trusted outlet for digital home news and reviews.
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  • FLAPS 15

    Got one yesterday… I agree with the above.
    Had some troubles to keep NETWORK flowing without interruptions (was happening every 2~3 min…) using Wired.
    Went to the IOMEGA website and downloaded the latest Firmware, and indeed… resolved the problem.
    Some MKV files don't play the sound, not sure if it is because the sound is on some format (digital) or because I’m not using optical, only HDMI.
    I'm sure more firmware updates will appear soon.

    • Siddu

      Flaps..Need your help!
      As u said u updated the new firmware…I tried the same..But its not happening!
      Mine version is 1.4.0.38 ….the new one is 1.4.0.70
      as instructed online…..i did the same..but the player reads my pendrive but not the latest firmware . why?? can u help me how u did it!!!

      • Sandy

        Connect the USB pen drive containing the update to one of the ports behind. Start your player and go to Settings and then Version. It should say detected new version and should run the update software …
        Managed to update my player to 1.4.0.68 last week.

      • RizMemon

        I have the same problem and the answer provided below doesnt work. Anyone know why the player is not reading the update file from the USB drive and how can we make it do so? Thanks!

        • michael

          make sure that the file is not in the folder for the device to recognize it.

  • Ray

    I got two of these yesterday and I feel ripped off … the interface is appalling (i cannot stress that enough….brutal) and the startup time isn't much better either, I have the latest firmware.
    I am sorry I didn't get an Apple TV… the Apple TV doesn't have the capacity nor does it play as many formats but at least its useable.

  • John Mason

    Installed the last update v1.4.0.68 as per instructions,then checked to see if it had done so,it did.I played a few music videos ok.I later put it back on,it will boot up to normal screen then go off,tried a few times same thing,it also does'nt register as drive on my computer via the usb lead,it is now defunct.The other drawback for me when ir was working that video music files don't shuffle only mp3's etc,the older screenplay does.Not a got buy.

  • Finn

    if MKV audio is DTS it does not process the audio. you will have to convert to Dolby Digital.
    i use popcorn software, its free and takes about 10 min.

  • Pedro

    Don't agree that it supports a wide variety of video formats. More than half of my mkv's don't play well on this and there's lots of films where for some reason or another it can't read the subtitles. Big mistake buying this one, should have bought a second eGreat instead.
    When it does read the subtitles they are miserably small and I haven't found any way of changing their size. DTS files have no sound (the eGreat just downmixes them to stereo) and there's no way to move a specific point on a file.

    • BoB

      DTS files do have sound, it just sends it out through the digital audio out instead of thru the hdmi or rca outs

      • Ipradon

        Hi Bob! I hav conected the digital audio from the screenplay director to a Creative 5.1 speaker that do support Dolby Digital. Still there is no audio. Any idea?

  • Christian

    the worst thing i have ever bought, no support for most videos, and there's always something wrong with playback, i thought you can have a dvd menu that you can use.

    • Carlos Silva

      If you need to use the drive with DVD format files (VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS) you can convert those files to an ISO. The player plays ISO files beautifully as per DVD menu.
      If you don’t want to do so, just click on the VIDEO_TS.IFO and the DVD manu will appear.

      Cheers

  • HAKAN

    HELP PLEASE

    iomega screenplay director HD mediaplayer subtitle problem.

    konuşmaların altyazısı 2 defa yazıyor ekrana , bu problemi nasıl çözebiliriz.

    yardımlarınızı rica ederim.
    teşekkürler

  • smartypants

    i need codec to play itunes movies is there any out there

  • Carlos Silva

    Did upgrade to version 1.4.0.68 and resolved issues with Network (Wired) and some MKV files. Tried to install newer version 1.4.0.70 and have the same problem as reported: Systems does not read automatically the file. Chated with technician on line and he could not help me, promissed to check what the problem is… probably we will have, soon, a new update.
    Regarding the Sound… if it is DTS it does not process the sound via HDMI. I'm using my optical connection to my YAMAHA amplifier and sound great. Let's hope this new update brings new stuff for this drive.

  • nasir

    just got one for myself thinking of putting the torrents to work directly by online. But cant understand how to get it done.
    Did any one tried? please let me know
    Nasir

  • rex

    My new iomega screenplay Director is not recognised by pc, using windows vista.
    Please I need help with instalation

  • realinstintc

    my is also not supporting sound of mkv files. what can i do

    • Anna

      Should be a DTS audio , Mine works when sound output connected on a Optical Audio/

  • Leslie

    To do with the optical cable i guess, will get a cable tomorrow to test…

  • Leslie

    I got the cable today and the sound is working with the optical audio on the .mkv files with dts audio, I connected it straight to my amp and it seems to be good.

  • guest

    I just got one of these, can't play flv files. Couldn't get PC to see the drive over USB to only via network. Turns out you have to just have USB connection to start with, then PC will recognise as hard drive. Plug in USB before powering drive on as well. I have taken some home DVD's to ISO format (using Roxio creator DE on my DELL) and got them to playback from internal hard drive, but it's really slow. Also can;t get YouTube to play anything and torrents…. will try firewall settings on my router to see if it's blocking the Iomega.

    • Anupam Dhanuka

      Hi

      I am having the same problems with YouTube and Torrents. YouTube does not work and Torrents never seem to start downloading anything.

      Really frustrated with this! The biggest reason I bought this device is defeated. PLEASE SOMEONE HELP!

      • Francois

        I have exactly the same problem , and pretty much the same reason I bought the device as well!!

        Is there someone out there that can help??

  • michael

    can somebody help me, I can access the device via RCA but I cannot use it using my HDMI cable. I tried 3 cables already. My TV is 42" Full HD Phillips

    • juan

      I had the same problem, i upgrade the firmware to latest version and then rebooted the Iomega. It did recognize the HDMI cabke after that

  • Alex

    I have the same problem – I can access the device via RCA but I cannot use it using my HDMI cable. Any solutions? Thank you

    • Anna

      Try clicking on the PAL / NTSC button after connecting the HDMi.

  • Ulhas

    My pc can't recognize it. Works fine with TV.

    • Anna

      Power on the device after connecting the USB. Dont use Remote when connected to Computer

    • Bren

      The same problem. Computer cam't recognize the Screenplay Director HD. How to resolve it???

  • Julian

    My PC (two of them) wouldn´t recognize it, bought a usb hub (better one with it´s own power supply) connect to pc through that and it worked. It only needed to be turned on and off after connecting to hub to be recognized.

  • http://www.techjunoon.com/ Greeshma

    Looks like a cool gadget. Will be an asset to the electronic junk inside my room. B)

  • Micheal

    I was told to fomart all the partitions of my screenplay director by one of the support team staff wen my player was showing a no signal video black screen after connecting it to the TV.That was after it was working b4 and it stopped.After formating and connected it to the TV screen, it still showed the black screen. I tried to download and update the fireware as instructed but it gets had c'se it hardly shows the Iomega screen menu anymore for me to update it. it only displayers the black screen. Does anyone have any idea abt this.

    • CatMan

      I have the same problem, but only on the HDMI connection.
      I spoke with the support @ Iomega and they told me that:"It looks like a hardware problem" so they offered to exchange it for free.
      I will send it, but after New Years.
      P.S. I was hopping they will come out with a new firmware.
      Ciao

  • http://www.free-seo-directory.org Paula Phelps

    Nice. Have you considered throwing adsense on here in more places? I think you'd probably benefit from it like I have on my X-Mini Speaker website

  • Arnoldo Labarre

    You don’t need a satellite dish, cable box, or receiver to watch television with Satellite Direct. In fact, all you need to run our state of the art software is your home computer or laptop. That’s right- for less than half of what you’re probably paying for one month of your current subscription service, you can enjoy unlimited 24/7 access to thousands of television channels, right from your PC. And with no hardware to install, you can forget about waiting around for a technician to set up your service. Our easy, one time software download will take less than a minute. Read more…

  • Adrian

    Doesn't update automatically… Download the file and paste it directly into the update folder on the drive!

    Anyone know why the sound is sometimes out of synch?!? Even if the file plays perfectly on my laptop?!?

    P.s. Damn Iomega dongle and connecting to my home wireless network doesnt work at all! Instructions are awful!

  • Rohitf

    I agree with many of the comments here…piece of crap.

  • http://www.robot-multifonction.com robot electromenager

    Unhappy for the large analyse, but I'm adoring the new Zune, and hope this, as easily as the superior reviews other group fuck backhand, module supply you terminate if it's the justness choice for you.

  • AndyB

    I've had one of these for a few months and definitely would not recommend. Haven't experienced too many issues with sound or playback. The software interface is just sooooo intolerably slow. Takes an eternity to start up. Once up and running, browsing the files stored on it is no better. One of my reasons for buying it was to store and play an extensive music collection. By the time this thing starts and browse to the required directory I've lost the will to live. God help you if you want a directory starting with a letter towards the end of the alphabet.

  • bernie

    all of the comments are right this screenplay director is a piece of craft..they said its 1080p but when you look at the resolution settings its only 1080i, and you cannot play youtube either..i would not recommend this piece of shit…its been 5 months since i got mine there's no update for the firmware until now…

    • anil

      I Agree with Bernie. I does not support Youtube. It always says content not available

      • Balbir

        After the firmware update to 1.4.0.92 it worked fine but No idea what happened a month ago it is not able to buffer it at all.

  • rook1e

    setting up the network is a pain, i cannot get it to connect directly to my laptop either wired or wireless but i finally got it to work wirelessly through my bt hub
    1gb of video takes 20 mins to send this way
    torrents seem to be limited to their recomended ones only,

  • ozranger

    This is one piece of junk.., don't BUY! I regret wasting my money for the very first time on something!
    Horrible interface and no firmware upgrades!!!

  • Harvey

    I bought a ScreenPlay TV Link DX HD Media Player
    When I play Pandora on it i get no Sound???
    Please Help
    Thanks

  • Stan

    Does the iomega ScreenPlay TV Link DX play youporn video?

  • Guest

    Iomega will never release a new firmware the fixes the youtube problem, so for you out there thinking that the issue will be fixed I can say , it will not, the update team have stopped (after order from Iomega) programming the firmware to screenplay pro and director models.

  • Shaz

    This thing is really, really awful.
    - Does not play many MKV's. Some it plays but only sound
    - Can't read the subtitles at times. On one ocassion they came but disappeared after a while!
    - Plays some images and does not even read some.
    - Has several codec problems. Very inconsistent.

  • MMc2K11

    Piece of shit, avoid at all costs!

  • Bobby

    Don't buy this shit !!! Really losted money !!!