Synology has announced the release of its first media-centric device, the DS214play. It is the first DiskStation to launch with dedicated hardware acceleration specifically for video transcoding. The DS214play can stream multiple 1080p video codecs at the same time, while still being able to handle additional processor-heavy tasks.
Synology has announced the release of its first media-centric device, the DS214play. It is the first DiskStation to launch with dedicated hardware acceleration specifically for video transcoding. The DS214play can stream multiple 1080p video codecs at the same time, while still being able to handle additional processor-heavy tasks.
The DS214play comes equipped with a 1.6 GHz dual-core CPU and uses integrated floating-point unit. With this new chipset, as well as 1GB of RAM, the DS214play’s multimedia functions seamlessly, boasting read/write speeds above 100MB/s. Additionally, it has two hot-swappable drive bays, which uses Synology's new tool-less caddies.
The DS214play’s software core is based around DiskStation Manager 4.3, making it useful in working environments as well as the home. With DSM 4.3, users have access a variety of utilities, applications, and multimedia packages. Some of DS214play’s features include:
- Video Station: Users can create, customize, and play video libraries.
- Photo Station 6: Allows users to organize, share, and display photos
- Audio Station: Gives users the ability to store and play music at home or on the go
- Media Server: Seamlessly streams content to any DLNA-compliant devices
With its 256-bit AES encryption on shared folders, the DS214play can also be used as a tool for securely storing and sharing data. This allows users to keep their data private for their intended recipients. Additionally, File Station's folder link-sharing enables users to easily share their content without setting up user permissions, while Cloud Station with selective sync lets users keep files, file-types, and folders in sync on all devices.
Pricing and Availability
The Synology DS214play is now shipping globally and will be available in the United States within the next few weeks at an MSRP of $369.99.
UPDATE 3/27/2014 – Synology DS214play Review Posted
