Last year, Micca released a hard drive based portable media drive called the Slim HDD Digital Media Player (imaginative, I know). Based around a standard 2.5” notebook hard drive, the Slim DMP could handle a wide range of containers and formats and had a 720p HDMI output. At $59 sans drive (now down to $49), it represented a solid value and even without too many premium features, it was a very functional media player at its core. Now we’ve got Micca’s followup device, the Slim-HD Portable 1080p Full-HD Digital Media Player (for the rest of the review, I think I’ll stick to calling it the Slim-HD just for sanity’s sake).

The Slim-HD basically takes the Slim and adds 1080p playback capability, along with support for more video and audio codecs, notably FLAC and DTS. The price is now $79 without drive, and includes a remote, the composite A/V cable, USB cable, and AC adapter. Beyond playing videos, music, and pictures, the Slim-HD doesn’t do a whole lot - no fancy Netlfix playback or internet streaming here like on the WD TV Live Hub we looked at recently. It’s an honest to god media player in the simplest form - just plug it into your TV, navigate to the file you want, and away you go.



As with the original Slim, Micca is aiming for the entry to mid-level market, with a focus on the compact form factor, ease of use, and the ability to use it as a portable USB drive. They don’t intend it to be a high end product, but instead as a portable media drive that can play 1080p content. Does it live up to the goals set for it, or does it fall short of the more fully featured competition?

Micca Slim-HD - In and Around
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  • Freddo - Tuesday, November 23, 2010 - link

    I wasn't aware of this device, and I feel that with better support for file format (like ogm) and supper for all kinds of subtitles, it would suit me perfectly. So something I will keep my eyes on when they decide to release a new device next year or whenever it happens.

    I also like that the UI seem to be very basic, which suits me just fine.
  • GreenArrow2k4 - Tuesday, November 23, 2010 - link

    Can this device play the iso format?
  • therealnickdanger - Tuesday, November 23, 2010 - link

    I would say "RTFA", but that would be rude.

    No, it does not play ISOs.
  • Pino - Tuesday, November 23, 2010 - link

    Can someone comment about subtitles support?

    Wich formats are supported?

    How the subtitles looks on screen? Yellow? White?

    Thanks.
  • jack@micca - Tuesday, November 23, 2010 - link

    Hi,

    For subtitle, this player supports SUB, ASS, SRT, SSA, SMI. Of course it also supports embedded subtitles in MKV files.

    The subtitles are white .

    Here are some additional specs for this player:

    http://content.miccastore.com/micca-slim-hd

    Jack
  • Sufo - Tuesday, November 23, 2010 - link

    So, if it supports ass in mkv, does that mean it supports proper styling (colours, packed fonts, animations)? Or does it just render them in a default config, as your "The subtitles are white" statement would suggest?
  • jack@micca - Tuesday, November 23, 2010 - link

    Hi,

    The subtitles will be displayed, but will not be stylized. This is a limitation of the player for the moment.

    Jack
  • MrCromulent - Tuesday, November 23, 2010 - link

    Thanks for the thorough review.

    Are subtitles shown while fast forwarding at 2x and 4x speed (or even higher)?
  • MrCromulent - Tuesday, November 23, 2010 - link

    Since jack@micca didn't answer, I guess the answer is no :)
  • jack@micca - Tuesday, November 23, 2010 - link

    I needed to get my hands on one to check. And the result is that subtitles are not displayed when fast forwarding.

    Jack

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