Some time ago we had the chance to test the PlayOnHD! media player by AC Ryan. Today we are presenting its small brother, the PlayOnHD! Mini! Now that's a challenge. How do you improve an already successful product with so many features and abilities? Or is it redesigned to target a different consumer group? Let's find out...

- Features

The most obvious change for the new product is its size.. To be honest, we couldn't believe in our eyes when we saw the PlayOnHD!.Compared to the AC Ryan PlayOnHD!, the new product look extremely small and compact. The second thing we soon noticed was that the Mini is totally silent, since it has no moving parts inside! In addition, it is passively cooled with a fanless system.

Apart from being small and silent, the mini offers all those features you would expected from a modern media player, allowing you to stream & play from your media storage, PC or your other Playon!HD. You can play MKV / RMVB / H.264, Plays TS / M2TS / BD Folders, and more. The sound features include DTS Downmix and an Optical Digital Audio Out (DTS / Dolby Digital) is available. It comes with a full-sized remote control and offers many internet services such as SHOUTcast radio, Network streaming and support for WiFi connection (via extra Wireless-N USB dongle). The two USB ports allow you to plug external HDD & USB storage devices and the included HDMI cable should be ideal for your high definition needs.

Here are the list of the full specs of the player:

• Supports Full HD-video playback up to 1080p
• Supports Dolby® Digital and DTS surround sound
• Supports video playback via UPnP network streaming
• Browse for shared videos, photos and music from networks and USB
  Flash Drives and USB external storage
• Supports file transfer between HDD, USB, Network PC and NAS
• Built in P2P file download management
• File formats supported
  Audio Decoding - WMA, MP3, Real Audio (RA)
  Image Decoding - JPEG, BMP, PNG
  Video Decoding - *[MPEG-1] MPG/MPEG/DAT
  *[MPEG-2] MPG/MPEG/VOB/ISO /IFO/TS/TP/M2TS
  *[MPEG-4] MP4/AVI/MOV
  *[H.264/AVC] MKV/TS/AVI/MOV/M2TS
  *[DviX 3/4/5/6, Xvid] AVI/MKV
  *[WMV9] WMV
  *[FLV] FLV
  *[Real Video 8/9/10] RM/RMVB support up to 720p
• Subtitle - SRT, MicroDVD SUB, SSA, SUB/IDX
• Store, Play, Stream
• Digital audio, video & images
• HDMI 1.3 | Full HD 1080P
• Plays Full HD video formats/codecs (incl. MKV, RM/RMVB, H.264 etc)
• Wired Network
• Wireless Network (optional)
• supports external USB Harddisk / external USB storage
• 2xUSB2.0
• Remote Control

HDMI digital video
High Definition Mulitmedia Interface
Newest high definition standard integrating digital audio & video
Single cable with user-friendly connector
Supports up to Full HD 1080p

Digital Audio/Video/Image Playback
Playback audio / video / images via audio/video output
via digital or analog connectors
- HDMI (Audio/Video)
- Component YPbPr (Video)
- Composite (Audio/Video)
- S/PDIF Coaxial (Audio)
- S/PDIF Optical TOSLink (Audio)
Audio pass-through: DTS/Dolby Digital/Dolby Digital Plus

Media file formats supports
Video Codecs:
- MPEG-1 / MPEG-2 / MPEG-4 SP/ASP/AVC (H.264) / XviD / DivX / WMV9 (VC-1) / RealVideo 8/9/10 (up to 720P)
Content Formats:
- AVI / MKV / TS / TP / TRP / M2TS / MPG / MP4 / MOV / M4V / VOB / ISO / IFO / DAT / WMV / ASF / RM / RMVB / FLV resolution up to 720p / 1080i / 1080p
Audio Codecs:
- MP2 / MP3 / OGG Vorbis / WMA Std / PCM / LPCM / MS-ADPCM / LC-AAC / HE-AAC / COOK / RA-Lossless
Image:
- HD JPEG / BMP / GIF / TIF / PNG

Video Playback features
Supports subtitles (SRT / SMI / SSA / ASS / IDX/SUB / SUB)
Playback functions : Single File, Repeat One, Repeat All
Play, Pause, Stop, Fast Forward
Resume playback from last location
Thumbnail view

Audio Playback features
MP3 / OGG / WMA / WAV / AAC / FLAC
MP3 ID3 tag display : Title, Artist, Bitrate etc
Playlist function
Can be used as independent music player for music playback without being connected to TV

Internet Radio
Enjoy easy access to a digital world of internet radio

Image View features
HD JPEG / BMP / GIF / TIF / PNG
Image Zoom-in & Rotate functions
Advanced slideshow with interval selection & browsing function
Set audio playback as background music during slideshow

Network - Wired & Wireless*
LAN Ethernet 10/100Mbps Auto-negotiation
supports Wireless WLAN* 802.11b/g/n
Supports WLAN* security WEP / WPA
Supports WLAN* Peer-to-Peer (connects wireless without router)
Built-in DHCP for Auto IP or Manual Fixed IP
* Wireless WLAN is supported via an extra option (not incl.) of USB WLAN adaptor

NAS Network Drive / Network Player
Great as Network Media Center
Functions as NAS Network Drive (accessible via network from all NAS capable devices eg. PC, XBOX, PS3 etc)
Browse network by navigation or direct IP address
Save Shortcuts to easily access network locations
Plays / streams audio/video/image media from any device in network
Use Playon! HD to play any media in network
Play media stored in Playon! HD from anywhere in network

Advanced File Management
File Management allows viewing of entire disk drive contents and instant playback of media files
Media Library Browser scans and display all Image / Audio / Video contents
File Copy, File Paste, File Delete, Add New Folder, Copy All, Delete All
Multi-Language on-screen menu : English / Spanish / French / German / Italiano / Dutch / Traditional Chinese

Connect to PC via USB2.0 / Network / Wireless
USB2.0 480mbps / compatible with USB1.1
Network RJ45 10/100 mbps
Wireless* Network 300mbps
* Wireless WLAN is supported via an extra option (not incl.) of USB WLAN adaptor

System
Firmware upgradable

Connectors
Audio/Video Out
- HDMI 1.3
- 3x Composite socket (Stereo Audio L/R & Video)
- 3x Component socket Y-Pb-Pr
- SP/DIF Optical (TOSLink)
Data
- 2x USB2.0 Male A (Host ports for connecting external storage)
- RJ45 Network

IR Remote Control
Full function remote control