Network media players

[Niva]

after some feedback on these, got the usual 10 billion backups on various HDD's and want to stream them to different tv's in the house.

whats good, whats shit? how well do the wireless ones work?

[cplagz]

WDTV Live or build a HTPC.

[Niva]

was gonna chuck a htpc together out of old bits but i want it to be able to move from room to room

looking at wdtv now cheers, have been looking at sony smp n100 but the wireless seems to be dodge from the get go?

[cplagz]

Wireless will struggle to stream 1080p. I have ~15m between PS3 and router and PC is hard cabled and it wont stream 1080. 720 is fine though.

[Niva]

theater room takes care of all the high def stuff, this is just for watching movies in bed, screens are HD 42" in both living rooms and bedroom but most of the movies are only dvd rips so not to worried about having to stream 1080

[cplagz]

Should be relatively ok. If you have a laptop handy I'd just try streaming a movie with that from the PC that will be serving just to make sure the wireless will cope.

[SimonR32]

WDTV live are great :)

I still have not connected mine by wired network because I'm lazy, but I have also heard that 1080p does not stream wirelessly the best

[-Luke-]

+1 for WDTV Streams great (not 1080 as stated) but otherwise super easy to use and setup. Mines networked too my PC then wireless to both laptops, also feeds a vid switch so can watch streamed/Downloaded material on all TV's

[_S9_]

PopcornHour

google, research, purchase, never look back.

[Madhav]

Apple tv jail broken running plex or xbmc.

$120 = Cheap as chips and handles every file type you can throw at it and then streams it effortlessly to your tv.

Also streams your iTunes library, and any movie, photos etc off your iPhone and off YouTube direct from your iPhone to the apple tv.

[jnr]

PopcornHour

google, research, purchase, never look back.

x2

[LarryDavid]

http://www.acryan.com/web/

[Evman]

Anyone had their WDTV Live decide to not play .mkv formats all of a sudden? Mine insists that the format is not supported, even though when I first got it, it played fine. A mate's did the same thing however his started working again after unplugging the power and trying again. Mine's just all failcake. Now I just plug my laptop into the TV, wired into the modem and the PC can wirelessly stream anything up to 1080p through that without issue. It's just annoying having the WDTV Live there knowing it's not working (it hasn't been used for a good year now thanks to the issue).

[-Luke-]

when was the last firmware update? I've found WD onlive support too be excellent flick them an email?

[Evman]

Have updated on a regular basis without success. I've done a fair bit of research and found it's not an uncommon problem, with no WD fix yet. Having said that, using the laptop through a Homegroup network is so much easier. Even if the WDTV Live started working again I probably wouldn't use it.

[zeroyon]

I use ps3 server + ps3.

Sure more exxy but you get a games console and a blueray player.

Plays most everything as the ps3 server converts on the fly. Also record all my tv to folder and share to ps3. As well as record tv locally on ps3 play tv. Needs to be network cable but to play 1080p, wireless g = fail.

[Miami]

Apple tv jail broken running plex or xbmc.

$120 = Cheap as chips and handles every file type you can throw at it and then streams it effortlessly to your tv.

Also streams your iTunes library, and any movie, photos etc off your iPhone and off YouTube direct from your iPhone to the apple tv.

This.

Or else, if not 1080p rips, wireless-N will stream without issues - so just need a wifi-N laptop + HDMI cable. This is the setup I use, simply because I already have the laptop handy - if I didnt, I'd go the ATV +XBMC option in a heartbeat.

[Niva]

yeah i am currently using the 360 into one of the living rooms, but it gets a bit funny with certain stuff, top gear rips for example only use 2/3 of the screen, from the left.. annoying as fuck

[protecon]

This.

Or else, if not 1080p rips, wireless-N will stream without issues - so just need a wifi-N laptop + HDMI cable. This is the setup I use, simply because I already have the laptop handy - if I didnt, I'd go the ATV +XBMC option in a heartbeat.

Apple TV only outputs at 720p...

I still have a WDTV Live unopened floating around if you decide to go that way.
Probably back from work tomorrow.

[Miami]

Apple TV only outputs at 720p...


theater room takes care of all the high def stuff, this is just for watching movies in bed, screens are HD 42" in both living rooms and bedroom but most of the movies are only dvd rips so not to worried about having to stream 1080

Personally, I'd just run XBMC on a lappy, plays everything you throw at it, easily adjusts any audio sync issues, resizes videos well, etc.

[Niva]

by xbmc you mean xbox media center?

edit: computer says no

[McLOVIN]

I use ps3 server + ps3.

Sure more exxy but you get a games console and a blueray player.

Plays most everything as the ps3 server converts on the fly. Also record all my tv to folder and share to ps3. As well as record tv locally on ps3 play tv. Needs to be network cable but to play 1080p, wireless g = fail.

I've been doing this for years and find that there are a fair few files that show as corrupt or incompatible, but for the most part it's the goods.

Problem starting to appear now is this Cinavia shit. It's like Macrovision all over again but there's currently no work around for it. And when one pops up Sony will no doubt just patch it. Good thing is it only affects bluray players (including ps3) and DVD players with recent firmware so other media players and PCs won't have any issues.

[s1mon]

Problem starting to appear now is this Cinavia shit.

Saw this for the first time the other night, needless to say I was pretty pissed. So I went and purchased This (http://ple.com.au/ViewItem.aspx?InventoryItemID=606453&CategoryID=352)

I like it so far, supports all the HD formats i have downloaded etc, card reader, optical audio, plus with the tuners I can watch one channel and record to the internal HD (separate purchase). You can copy and paste over the network etc.

Tidy little bit of kit, and no propriety bullshit like Cinavia

[Madhav]

i have a ps3 also, found the apple tv 2 to be miles ahead in terms of almost everything, the plex media centre layout is awesome as it mirrors everything on your mac or pc library, any changes instantly show up, it accepts all files, streaming capabilities are great, plus jail breaking it wont put you in jail like on the ps3.

The price is unbeatable, $120.

Also the apple tv will most likely in the near future be linking up to the app store, i runs the same os as ipod, iphone, ipad etc.

[NVIOUS]

i also use the WDTV Live, though i run it wired for 1080p to our projector, tried using both my 360 & PS3 and found the WDTV alot easier to use no mucking round with file formats it just plays everything and easy enough for the g/f to use. Has great online support too, always updates/new features etc

[Dagon]

by xbmc you mean xbox media center? edit: computer says no+ 8 for XBMC.
Installed it on an old laptop with a busted screen and connected it to the TV, it streams from my main b0x in my office, and I control it with my phone. Android and iPhone have a few apps to control it. It's bitchin'.

[Kilma]

Anyone heard anything about the Acer Aspire Revo 100?? Seen them around for about the $1k mark, so a bit more than a regular media centre, but a LOT more potential as well (and don't need to worry about codecs/formats etc. not playing when you can just install VLC/alternative). Supports full 3D too.
http://www.trustedreviews.com/Acer-Aspire-Revo-100_Desktop-PC_review_specifications-and-connectivity_Page-2

I'm almost sold on one, but would like some "real world" advice/experience if anyone has any. I will be using it ONLY for a Home Theatre PC & PVR.

[mehow2g]

WDLIVE Cant fault it streams 1080p movies fine.

[Adam]

mac mini (with plex/xbmc) + nas

[EVL]

built a couple of htpc's for myself and mates, had awesome results so far. With SSD's and quiet fans these days you can make something fairly "future friendly" for not too much outlay that integrates well with your home theatre setup. Have even setup bunky $100 old ibm's that play just about everything up to 720p with xbmc live - boot up in 10-15secs!