The proliferation of inexpensive consumer content creation devices (digital dSLRs and HD videocams) and wide broadband penetration have brought attention to this class of machines. While the previous generations were stuck with standard-definition output, they were not sufficient for today’s full-HD LCD TVs. The latest versions sport high-definition playback along with HDMI ports. Netherlands-based AC Ryan’s Playon! HD, instead of just being a content delivery system, surprises by coming in as a jack of all trades, yet remaining more than competent in its primary function. When it comes to display connectivity, the S$249 (US$177.10) Playon! HD stands with the best of them. AC Ryan has includes HDMI, component, composite and coaxial ports. There’s even an S/PDIF optical audio output for audiophiles. To top it off, you can install a 3.5-inch desktop harddisk and the Playon! HD will act as a NAS (network-attached storage) slong with a BitTorrent client.

NAS has begun to take hold in the consumer space, as most households now possess multiple PCs and a NAS allows digital content to be stored in a central location for retrieval. BitTorrent, a popular file-sharing application, can be set to download files off the Internet without having to connect a PC to the device. This not only saves power since the Playon! HD does not need a monitor,it also reduces wear-and-tear of your system since some downloads can take days or even weeks to complete.