Xtreamer SideWinder

The Xtreamer SideWinder is a bit like what the original Xtreamer should have been. The main differences between the two models are an upgraded decoder chip and an integrated passive cooling system. Let's see what improvements that brings to Xtreamer's media centre.

Hardware: could do better

The Xtreamer SideWinder basically looks like a relatively compact metal block. Heat is released through an aluminium vent on one side of the device, so you'll have to keep it placed vertically for optimal cooling. Extra care should be taken in hot weather too, as we found it wasn't uncommon to see the temperature of the 2.5-inch internal hard drive reach over 50°C. That's very hot for a hard drive!


The internal interface hasn't really changed since the Xtreamer 2.5. The homescreen graphics have been improved but the rest of the menus are still quite basic.


One very good new feature is the video jukebox tool (with firmware update 2.4, for all Xtreamer media centres). The tool has been well designed, and means you won't have to use a computer to create page-style entries for each of the films in your library. With this simple system, everything can be done via the internal interface! Each film's page features the movie poster, a background image, a plot summary and technical information such as the duration, date and codec of the file. It's even possible to display a page of movie poster thumbnails and scroll through them horizontally.


The only downside is that the pages and thumbnails take a while to be generated. If you have several dozen videos, you're better off launching an update overnight. Don't forget that an Internet connection is also obviously required. Plus, when we last tested this video jukebox system it only supported movies. You'll have to wait a little longer for the integration of TV series, audio albums and photos. Navigation isn't particularly fast, and flicking through your film collection can take a while. That said, the manufacturer is clearly moving in the right direction, so hats off to them for at least providing an integrated tool.


Other practical functions include displaying the photos in a folder as thumbnails and displaying album covers (by placing a JPG file in the folder).

Compatibility: still Realtek, still very good

Multimedia decoding is well handled with very good file compatibility. HD videos are well supported, as are the various audio formats. This upgraded version of the chip allows you to bitstream Dolby Digital TrueHD, not to mention DTS HD MA/HR, in spite of the restrictions usually imposed by DTS.
For those of you who use your TV speakers, a PCM mode is on hand for decoding audio signals and converting them to stereo. DVD and Blu-ray ripping is well managed and only the menus are lost in ripped Blu-rays.

Connections: the bare minimum

Connections are few and far between but you'll find all the basics, with an HDMI connection for HD TVs, a composite connection for SD TVs, and an optical output for audio amplifiers that don't have an HDMI port.

Networking is covered by a 100 Mbps Ethernet port. Wi-Fi is available in the form of an optional USB adapter. In both cases transfer speeds are low, at around 5.2 MBps for the wired connection or 3.0 MBps for Wi-Fi. This makes streaming 1080p videos housed in an MKV container a pretty painful process. The maximum transfer speed via the wired connection is 28 Mbps, or 15 Mbps for Wi-Fi. You'd therefore be better off sticking to 720p or SD videos for glitch-free viewing.

There are two USB ports at the rear of the device. Here, transfer speeds are acceptable (10.7 MBps) but playing 1080p/MKV videos is limited to those with a bitrate not exceeding 38 Mbps. Some videos therefore risk being prone to glitches.