DLNA Media Sharing

One of the other bullet points the X touts over the HTC Incredible is DLNA compatible media sharing. The X will prompt you when a connection is available whenever you’re joined to a WiFi network with a DLNA device, unless you uncheck a configuration box.

DLNA Media Sharing

I enabled sharing on my X with all of the file stores on the device. The result was moderate success. My PS3 saw the X immediately, and upon connection handshake the X asked if the PS3 should be allowed to connect.

PS3 - DLNA

If you shared Photos, Video, and Music, all three will show up. Playing back photos worked on the PS3, but loading the images themselves took a while and brought CPU use on the X to its highest 1 GHz clock state each time and network throughput to a solid 5 megabits/s. I wouldn’t expect the phone to last long under that kind of load.

Photos immediately worked fine, videos were a different story. The problem is that the 3gp/3g2 video format isn’t part of the DLNA spec - the result was that I couldn’t play any of the videos on the PS3. Similarly with music, even though Android plays back and likes ogg vorbis music (which I’ve encoded a bit of my library to for Android), it won’t work over DLNA.

That’s nobody’s fault but the DLNA spec - it’s just a drawback.

As for the Xbox 360, although I would get a prompt on the X that the device wanted to connect (which I approved), the X never showed up in the list of sources for content playback. It just wouldn’t do anything.
 

The Software: Swype Keyboard The X as Media Hub: HDMI Out and Gallery
Comments Locked

89 Comments

View All Comments

  • numberoneoppa - Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - link

    Can't wait, I look forward on your impressions on Samsung's touchwizz overlay, from what I can tell, it rather hurts the GUI performance. :(
  • Zebo - Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - link

    Would be nice if these smart phones reviews had a large table for quick access to pro's and con's of each phone.

    Each box/catagory in the table could be based on 1-10 with a little narrative or to as simple as just check mark for superiority.

    Hey it's a perfect review so i had to make something up to nag about:)

    Droid X seems to be top dog android...- Evo is unsuitable you actually USE the phone's unlimited plan with it's poor batt life but just as nice too. Hard to pick.
  • radium69 - Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - link

    Thank you Brian & Anand, for this in depth review.
    I find your articles to be very interesting, and well written!
    Keep up the good work!
  • mvmorr01 - Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - link

    Thanks, cool app!
  • LoneWolf15 - Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - link

    (quote)"The Droid X is the spiritual successor to last year’s Droid."(/quote)

    Actually, I'd say the upcoming Droid II is the sequel, as it has a fully tactile keyboard, as opposed to the touchscreen Droid X. I'd say the Droid X is a new product rather than a successor.

    I'm waiting to see what the Droid II can do --I won't buy a smartphone that doesn't have a physical keyboard.
  • tbuck79 - Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - link

    I have a Droid X, the WiFi is terrible on my Netgear Router but at work on a Linksys router it's fine (both are single band N), however, using any WiFi the distance is really bad with the X, compared to an iPhone 4 in my other hand, the iPhone can get MUCH farther away from the AP than the X, could you guys see if there is an actual problem with range on the X?
  • WaltFrench - Saturday, July 24, 2010 - link

    you must be holding the X the wrong way.
  • Ratman6161 - Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - link

    The Droid and the Doid X are both Android 2.1 and both are soon to be upgraded to 2.2 (mine already is). The run the same apps and do the same things (weather or not you like Motoblur and find it an advantage is up to you). The Droid will basically do everything the Droid X does - just not quite as fast. So "obsolete" is a matter of perspective. That's what Verizon and Motorola would like us to think. They just love people like your friend who ditched his Droid for an Incredible and now wants to ditch the incredible for a Droid X.

    Lets face it - it's evolution not revolution. If you are always trying to have the latest cool gadget, you are always going to end up disappointed and with a much thinner wallet.

    Good review though. If I were buying today I'd probably go with the X. But with another year to go before the next upgrade, something else will come along long before I'm ready to buy.
  • digipro55 - Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - link

    Incredibly well written and through review. I can admit I didn't understand all the jargon in the performance tests but it certainly is a wealth of knowledge concerning the best Android phone on the market. Thanks again for a very informative review
  • Aikouka - Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - link

    Hey Brian, just to let you know, the mini-HDMI to HDMI cables are available at Monoprice, but of course it sounds like you were looking for one ASAP from a B&M store :). So I guess if you know you'll need one, you can order one, but it also looks like they're not terribly commonplace as you mentioned as they're kind of expensive on Monoprice compared to standard HDMI cables.

Log in

Don't have an account? Sign up now