External usb dvd drive?

[diegocaxudo]

this idea has been on my haed for a couple of weeks now and I don't know if it's even possible but, Is there any way for me to connect an external dvd player (via USB)?, If this is possible I could play my DVDs with the x7. I just think that android PCs are pefect for big screen entertainment so why not?

I don't own an external dvd drive but if I knew for sure this was possible I would buy one.

Thanks in advance.

[Jbardi]

External usb dvd drive?

Personally I think this is going backwards, like wanting to attach a floppy drive. Admittedly not exactly the same tech generation device, but still. What with Netflix, Hulu, Amazon and even on-demand programming from satellite and cable tv providers, the idea of having a DVD drive hooked up to an android set top box is more than a bit unorthodox. I'm still surprised how many people buy DVDs these days as opposed to those that have ripped them into digital format on an attached hard drive or rely solely on streaming media. You may find one or two like minded individuals but I hardly expect this to be supported in any capacity as it is a move in the wrong direction.

[diegocaxudo]

Personally I think this is going backwards, like wanting to attach a floppy drive. Admittedly not exactly the same tech generation device, but still. What with Netflix, Hulu, Amazon and even on-demand programming from satellite and cable tv providers, the idea of having a DVD drive hooked up to an android set top box is more than a bit unorthodox. I'm still surprised how many people buy DVDs these days as opposed to those that have ripped them into digital format on an attached hard drive or rely solely on streaming media. You may find one or two like minded individuals but I hardly expect this to be supported in any capacity as it is a move in the wrong direction.

my wifi connection is not that good to stream a netflix movie with no issues, plus I have a lot of blu-rays and dvds (I didn't necessarilly meant DVD player)

[Jbardi]

External usb dvd drive?

my wifi connection is not that good to stream a netflix movie with no issues, plus I have a lot of blu-rays

I understand that, but now you're talking about Blu-rays and not just DVDs. That makes it even harder. There would have to be a Blu-ray and/or DVD decryption library compiled for android, which is not out of the frame of possibility, as android is a *nix based system, as well as drivers for the drives themselves, but even then, media player app developers would have to program those features into their apps in the first place, which I don't see happening, as the number of people that would want this feature are few and far between.

[diegocaxudo]

I understand that, but now you're talking about Blu-rays and not just DVDs. That makes it even harder. There would have to be a Blu-ray and/or DVD decryption library compiled for android, which is not out of the frame of possibility, as android is a *nix based system, as well as drivers for the drives themselves, but even then, media player app developers would have to program those features into their apps in the first place, which I don't see happening, as the number of people that would want this feature are few and far between.

Is just that I read that some guy managed to connect an external dvd drive via OTG to his tablet and used a file explorer to play the dvd video file (I don't really remember where I read it, I'll post a link If I find it)

[EDIT]here's the link:Amazon.com: Samsung Ultra Portable Slim DVD+/-RW USB External Drive, Black SE-218BB/RSBS: Computers & Accessories (the first reviews)

[Jbardi]

External usb dvd drive?

I'm sure he got it to mount and be accessible, but I doubt he watched a DVD on it. He more than likely had a DVD rewritable that he burned some movie files to, like avi, mov, etc, but using a file explorer to manual browse to the split VOB files on an actual DVD format disk is less likely. I mean the VOB files are basically mpeg video, but still, I'm assuming he used it as a storage media to read video files from and not in the way you mean it as to watch DVD movies and blu-rays. Completely different medium and requirements.

UPDATE: As XBMC in general supports DVD playback, I would assume the programming still extends to the android version as they tend to keep them consistent with the basics from the same or slightly altered source code, but that may not be enough, as I believe there will need to be more support in the OS than just having the feature inherent in XBMC source code.

[bluesmanuk]

Samsung did launch one that connected to Android devices.

http://phandroid.com/2012/04/26/samsung-introduces-tablet-ready-dvd-drive-with-android-compatibility/

I'm amazed that something like this has not come earlier as there are many DVD collections out there and not everybody wants to pay for a service for something that they already have.

[Loser]

i have a couple usb DVD-roms if you want me to try them out. they won't play BD, though as mentioned above that would be difficult anyway.

[diegocaxudo]

i have a couple usb DVD-roms if you want me to try them out. they won't play BD, though as mentioned above that would be difficult anyway.

It seems like it can't be done with any usb dvd drive, you'd need the one I mentioned before, or another one that's compatible with andorid (I don't know any dvd drive compatible with android other than the one I already mentioned)

[Loser]

oh ok i see the issues now. well you could always just rip all your DVDs i guess.

[Jerryo100]

I'm also very interested in playing store bought or rented dvd's with an external usb dvd drive without having to rip then first. When we're camping on a rainy day it would be nice to be able to get a Redbox movie and play it on my tablet or if I want to escape to my shed with my tv stick and a dvd.
I tried an LG from Walmart and once you put it in av mode it works but only with ripped dvd's. Tried MX video player and a few others that will play the the vob files one at a time. Tried Wondershare player and it plays the dvd's with access to all the menus and special features.
I saw a few posts about the Samsung SE-218BB/RSBS working so I returned the LG and ordered the newer Samsung SE-218CB/RSBS from Amazon for $34 ($20 cheaper than the LG). I have a feeling the Samsung will only play ripped dvd's with the apps I've tried so far, but I'm crossing my fingers. It should be in the mail today. If the apps I've tried still don't work, I'll try others like XBMC, PowerDVD mobile, Realplayer, etc.

[ulises1954]

Jerryo100,


I'm also very interested in the newer Samsung SE-218CB/RSBS from Amazon for $34.00, for my CX-919 with android 4.2.2...

Please let us know if it works, so I can get the same one.

[Jerryo100]

Jerryo100,


I'm also very interested in the newer Samsung SE-218CB/RSBS from Amazon for $34.00, for my CX-919 with android 4.2.2...

Please let us know if it works, so I can get the same one.

I've been playing with this drive for a couple hours now and can't get it to mount with a store bought dvd in it. All I get is "preparing to mount" followed by "safe to remove" without it ever actually mounting. It does mount with a ripped dvd in it without problems. With this drive I don't see any way of playing original dvd's even if an app exists that can play them. The LG drive I returned could be mounted with an original dvd and accessed with ES File explorer but the videos would not play with the apps I had tried. I may pick up another LG drive and try more apps with it, or try the SE-218BB/RSBS if someone chimes in stating that it's at least mountable with an original dvd. I've backed up all the dvd's I own that the grand-kids are allowed to watch but had no intention of backing up the rest. Now I may have to if I can't find a way of playing original dvd's with android.

[pawnslinger]

oh ok i see the issues now. well you could always just rip all your DVDs i guess.

Yes. This is what I've done. I own a large DVD collection, and up until a few years ago, I used to play them a lot. Then I got a PS3, and noticed that it supported upnp/dlna, and I started ripping everything and building my server. Now, I play no disc, everything is ripped to mp4 and streamed locally. I had to upgrade my lan, but that was not too hard. I use an ASUS N66U router with DAP-1522 bridges all over the joint. I can now play any of my movies on any of my devices, phone, tablet, etc. And XBMC is the best thing since sliced bread!!

[Jerryo100]

I picked up another LG drive and tried every video app I could find and no luck so I returned it. I stumbled across a review of the Samsung Optical Smart Hub SE-208BW working with android so I ordered one from Amazon UK for $46 US (Amazon US didn't have any in stock). I received it in only 10 days, fastest overseas shipment I've ever received. The power adapter only came with 2 euro plugs, so I soldered and heat shrunk a short US cord to one of the euro plugs. After I updated the firmware and installed the Samsung Mobile Smart Hub App on my tablet I can now watch all my DVD's, backups and originals with no cords attached. The instructions that came with the Smart Hub are pretty useless except that it tells you where the user name and password are located to get into the Smart Hub's router settings.