HD Station

The inclusion of HDMI ports with these new NAS servers virtually transforms them into fully capable multimedia players. However, you need the appropriate software to fully exploit their multimedia capabilities, and QNAP provides users with HD Station to do so. HD Station allows you to watch any multimedia stored on the NAS, or browse the net.

In general and according to QNAP, HD Station is a platform whereupon the famous XBMC application and Chrome, along with some other tools, can be installed, which would allow users to browse the web or playback all NAS multimedia content on their TV, through the HDMI interface. Home users will probably find this feature incredibly interesting since it makes multimedia players and HTPCs redundant. That said, HD Station can still be very useful in business environments since it makes locally accessing the NAS administration interface without a client possible.


Before you install HD Station, you should connect the NAS to a TV with an HDMI port. QNAP states there to be four different ways to control HD Station:

1. Through their official QNAP remote controller which costs $35 (note: the $35 RM-IR002 remote includes worldwide 4-day DHL air shipping. The MSRP from local re-sellers is $15).
2. Through an MCE remote controller
3. Through a USB keyboard and/or mouse
4. Through Qremote: A QNAP remote app exclusively designed for HD Station. This is probably the best option if you have an Android or iOS device.

Click on "Applications", "HD Station", and the "Get Started Now" button to install HD Station. Your NAS will now automatically install HD Station. You should also pick which applications you want to install as XBMC, Chrome, YouTube, CodexPack, and MyNAS are available. We installed all of them.

We should, before proceeding, go over several points QNAP mentions in their HD Station tutorial:

• Running XBMC, Chrome, or other applications continuously could affect hard-drive hibernation. Make sure to always exit the application and return to the HD Station portal.
• Press the power button on the remote control for 6 seconds at any time to exit an application.
• Press the one-touch-copy button on the NAS for 6 seconds to restart HD Station.
• For the best HD Station experience, QNAP recommends upgrading your Turbo NAS' memory total to 2 GB or more.
• To use the AirPlay function provided by XBMC, also upgrade your Turbo NAS' memory to 2 GB or more.
• List with all XBMC-supported formats

HD Station Portal

Before you pick Chrome or the MyNAS application, connect a USB mouse to the NAS or use the Qremote app. MyNAS allows you to enter the local NAS administration web page for a look at all NAS functions and settings.


This selection allows you to configure HD Station's settings. You can enable or disable applications, and the Display group of options allows you to change the screen's resolution and set the screen to turn itself off after a certain amount of time in idle. The options under Preferences also allow you to change the language or type of remote control used.


With the newest 4.1.1 firmware, QNAP swapped their relevant choice in their Applications menu, HD Station, out for HyrbidDesk Station. However, HD Station is still an available application, and QNAP also added Surveillance Station (Local Display) and Spotify.

BIOS

We noticed a normal BIOS message while we had the NAS hooked up to a TV through an HDMI cable and simply couldn't resist hitting F2, which took us into the BIOS. Below are the screenshots we took.


The NAS uses a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) BIOS named Aptio Setup Utility, which we have come across in our Shuttle barebone reviews. For those of you who already thought of ways to squeeze more performance out of the CPU, you obviously won't find any overclocking options here.


All the details regarding the CPU. The Intel Virtualization option is, as you can see, enabled.


The BIOS' other options.