Hi all,
I need to get such a thing. Here is a bit of information:
How we use:
We rent and stream lots of movies on the net from the browser, most popular site requires a service on a PC (//www.voddler.com)
We have a router with a sort of NAS-setup where we have ripped our CDs and DVDs - we watch these movies via laptop connected to TV
We both use Android phones daily
We want:
A solution that is cheap and EASY - gf has to be able to use a remote or the alike and just power the stuff on and browse to a song, movie etc.
We really don't want bells and whistles, we presently use a a CRT (!) telly and will move to a decent, cheap LCD when we get the box
We only use the sound from the telly, we are happy with stereo of some kind
I want some kind of SMB-support or other simple setups
The goal is cheap, simple and low/medium spec, which is relatively generic and common in setup
GF wants to be able to listen to music (grooveshark.com, spotify, mp3s)
We expect to use HDMI output
My ideas so far:
A regular windows-based media PC - will support voddler.com, which is a requirement (voddler app doesnt offer same flicks as the browser-approach)
A regular media PC box with that linux media stuff on it - easy to use when set up, dont know if it will fully support windows media etc.
Android-based stuff like Veolo - great match with our phones, apps, etc, but pricey and often low spec (froyo)
Small boxes from the harddrive producers - doesnt support flash-based browsers, and windows media, for renting movies etc. properly
Any ideas? I have spent ages thinking up a proper setup...
I personally use my primary TV extended onto my TV. It's DLNA enabled and I have a NAS which can pump stuff to it, but the LG firmware is not very well written and doesn't support essentials like play/pause or fastforward/rewind so it's essentially useless (they only work when connected locally eg external harddrive).
I've used any number of remote controls for PCs since an old graphics card came bundled with a TV tuner an RF remote. It was good, but despite trying everything I could find to use it (and 5 other IR ones) over the years (the best were the Hauppage and the WMC ones because so many programs support them) I haven't found anything I'd even consider browsing the web on. A remote control in place of a keyboard is my idea of hell. You can use your mobile or a wireless keyboard for entry.
VLC has a lovely android app that is easy to setup and gives you full control of VLC(including easy filebrowsing) which I'd recommend.
I approached this from a TV turner media centre not a streamed content but my findings were WMC was easy enough to navigate, wasn't bad to setup and easy enough to use. MythTV was the only linux offering I could be bothered to get working, others had either poor TV turning quality or other problems, but none of them worked smoothly out of the box.
I've no experience with out of the box players.
Personally I would skip all these options and wait for this to be released: http://www.raspberrypi.org/
I've had my eye on it a while and although it's slightly delayed they have a finished product and it should be launched VERY soon at a sweet price, streams right out to HDMI, 10/100 ethernet (model B) is enough for streaming content, but it will support wireless dongles if your signal is enough to beat those speeds. It runs a full version of linux (Not Ubuntu). Should be able to plug in a USB IR remote and use VLC remote liek a full PC.
There have been demos of it pumping out 1080p not problems. And best of all, no fan noise.
Small, easy, lots of features and at a price that will be low enough to have a play with.
i currently use this setup
Asrock ION 330 (http://www.asrock.com/nettop/spec/ion%20330.asp) with Windows 7 + XBMC (handles all my stuff on TV, HD rips, music, DVD's and so on, TV is handled by a HD homerun Dual (http://www.silicondust.com/products/models/hdhr3-dt/))
Nas storage for all the stuff is a Synology DS411 (http://www.synology.com/products/product.php?product_name=DS411&lang=dan)
Both me and the missus has android phones, which is used as remotes for the HTPC
The HTPC handles anything i throw at it perfectly, by using the ION gpu to decode everything possible (thank you CUDA)
But its getting replaced by THIS! (http://shop.lenovo.com/us/desktops/ideacentre/q-series/q180)
Cheers guys.
Quote from: kregoron;341227[...]But its getting replaced by THIS! (http://shop.lenovo.com/us/desktops/ideacentre/q-series/q180)
That looks like a complete solution for us. It is also cheap. Question tho: what will the DK pricing be, say for the remote-version, do you think? From that link all versions are quite cheap.
I just use my old PC or my modded PS3 downstairs, however I have one of these (http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?rlz=1C1CHFX_en-GBGB448GB448&q=wd+live&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=7659880933106781598&sa=X&ei=I54DT8nzNsTL8QPq7ey-AQ&ved=0CHEQ8wIwBA) upstairs which the Mrs uses with the LCD in the bedroom. Seems to handle every codec I have ever chucked at in full 1080p and it is a nice little box. Stream from my Synology 410J all day long.
Quote from: delanvital;341276Cheers guys.
That looks like a complete solution for us. It is also cheap. Question tho: what will the DK pricing be, say for the remote-version, do you think? From that link all versions are quite cheap.
Well, just added the BD version with remote for 440$, then import tax, it ends around 3000DKR, but then again, shops are gonna rob you, so between, 3300dkr - 3700dkr, but probably wrong..
tho i still think the remote looks like a pingpong bat, so id prefer a version with BD and no remote and then use my dinovo edge or dinovo mini
Quote from: DrunkenZombiee;341300I just use my old PC or my modded PS3 downstairs, however I have one of these (http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?rlz=1C1CHFX_en-GBGB448GB448&q=wd+live&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=7659880933106781598&sa=X&ei=I54DT8nzNsTL8QPq7ey-AQ&ved=0CHEQ8wIwBA) upstairs which the Mrs uses with the LCD in the bedroom. Seems to handle every codec I have ever chucked at in full 1080p and it is a nice little box. Stream from my Synology 410J all day long.
I have one of those in the bedroom, tho struggles with Full HD mkv vids + subs over ethernet..
Yay, useful thread!
I was pondering this as well.
My wish is to play AVI / MPEG / FLV movies and iPlayer etc from the PC on the TV.
Again, it needs to be simple so the kids and wifelet can use it. Currently I copy whatever movie I want to watch to the iPad which connects to the TV via HDMI - it works well but it's not a long-term solution.
Being able to stream wirelessly to the TV for things like BBC iPlayer would be great without having to have a PC in the lounge.
I use a Playstation 3.
All my media (Xvid, h264 etc etc) is stored on a PC I have hooked up to my network with ' (http://code.google.com/p/ps3mediaserver/)PS3 Media Server (http://ps3mediaserver.blogspot.com/)' (http://code.google.com/p/ps3mediaserver/) installed. The PS3 automatically see's the media server and lets me browse through the folders I've shared using the PS3 remote or a gamepad. Simple and cost effective, and it'll stream a 1080p h264 file across 100meg ethernet without any problems.
Plus, you get all the functionality of a PS3 on top of that. Blu-ray playback, games, iPlayer/4OD/ITV Player. web browsing, movie rental (via Love Film) all built right into the main menu.
It's a terrific bit of kit, I can heartily recommend it.
Quote from: kregoron;341358I have one of those in the bedroom, tho struggles with Full HD mkv vids + subs over ethernet..
Mine is fine with 1080p MKV content, not had any issues.
Quote from: Tutonic;341373I use a Playstation 3.
All my media (Xvid, h264 etc etc) is stored on a PC I have hooked up to my network with ' (http://code.google.com/p/ps3mediaserver/)PS3 Media Server (http://ps3mediaserver.blogspot.com/)' (http://code.google.com/p/ps3mediaserver/) installed. The PS3 automatically see's the media server and lets me browse through the folders I've shared using the PS3 remote or a gamepad. Simple and cost effective, and it'll stream a 1080p h264 file across 100meg ethernet without any problems.
Plus, you get all the functionality of a PS3 on top of that. Blu-ray playback, games, iPlayer/4OD/ITV Player. web browsing, movie rental (via Love Film) all built right into the main menu.
It's a terrific bit of kit, I can heartily recommend it.
I had a play with PS3 media server 3 years back and I was not that impressed. The main problems are with subtitles, CPU utilisation for on the fly mpeg2 conversion removing wrappers etc and the fact you need a PC on all the time. If you augment your PS3 with custom firmware there are some really nice media playing options as Linux packages have been ported over.