Streaming media from a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device is not a new concept. This feature has been found in Synology network attached servers for many years. However, those NAS servers can only stream to 720p at best.

With theDiskStation DS214play, Synology has designed a two bay NAS that has the ability to transcode full 1080p video on the fly. Synology’s goal is to position this NAS to function as a media center for the home. The “play” is a new class is the Synology lines starting with the 214 edition.