While the recently leaked WD TV-2 isn’t available in stores yet, Western Digital has decided to trim down their highly popular WD TV, via the introduction of the WD TV Mini HD media player.

The WD TV Mini loses some features, particularly 1080p video output and HDMI connectivity but gains component video output in addition to composite. It uses the same USB 2.0 interface as its older brother.

The WD TV Mini HD media player is smaller than its older brother by an amazing 66% (based on volume). The device plays pretty much everything you can throw at it, including Real Media (RMVB) format.

Turn your USB drive into a media player.
WD TV™ Mini media player is an easy, affordable way to watch DVD-quality digital media on your big screen TV. Simply plug in WD’s My Passport portable hard drive, or similar USB drive, and play movies, music, and photos in a wide variety of file formats, including Real Media (RMVB) format.

Retail package includes the following items: WD TV Mini HD media player, compact remote with batteries, composite AV cable, component AV cable, AC adapter and quick install guide.

The WD TV Mini HD media player is now available at select retailers with a MSRP of $99.99. Although not in stock yet on Amazon, they’re taking pre-orders of this diminutive yet classy looking HD media player for just $79.99.

Update (August 19, 2009): I’ve contacted Western Digital’s press relations manager to confirm whether MKV playback was supported by the WD TV Mini and here is her reply:

Here’s a link to the file formats supported by the WD TV Mini. And no, it does not support .MKV file format. It does however support RealVideo format.

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/Products.asp?DriveID=681

I initially thought that there was just a typo of not including MKV among the file types supported but it appears to be the real deal with the WD TV Mini. I’d rather have the added bulk of the regular WD TV since it has that feature.