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Best solution for streaming media to my TV?

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Dwayne

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I've been looking around at the options but i'm not sure what's the best one for me. As it stands, my PC is plugged into the TV (as a second display) and receiver with some mighty long cables. We use it to watch videos, and play music. It's an OK solution, but not so easy for my wife to use when i'm not home, and if i'm doing something on the computer she can't easily watch videos/play music.
Also we're about to move and in the new house, the computer won't be hooked up to the TV (as it'll go in another room).

Here's what i'm looking for:
  • Media stored on the network / not on my PC
  • All video types playable on the TV (not a Smart TV)
  • Good TV based interface for playing MP3/ALAC/AAC
  • Solution costs around ~$100 (excluding HDD)

On a side note, we have a PS3, but I've never really had a good experience using DLNA from my PC (tends to lag out, very slow to fast forward/rewind, etc). Also, our new wireless access point has USB ports for plugging in drives.

Any recommendations :)?
 
I read that Roku doesn't play all file formats, and Apple TV is no good unless you're getting your content via Apples channels? We live outside the US so Hulu/Netflix etc are not accessible. Apple TV would be good for the music side i'm sure but what about video formats?
Will it play from a drive plugged into my router?
 
WDTV Live plays pretty much everything
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005KOZNBW/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Just hook it up to your network and either set up a media server or windows share. It works great for me (I have the older version).
http://wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=330
File Formats Supported
Video - AVI (Xvid, AVC, MPEG1/2/4), MPG/MPEG, VOB, MKV (h.264, x.264, AVC, MPEG1/2/4, VC-1), TS/TP/M2T (MPEG1/2/4, AVC, VC-1), MP4/MOV (MPEG4, h.264), M2TS, WMV9, FLV (h.264)
Photo - JPEG, GIF, TIF/TIFF, BMP, PNG
Audio - MP3, WAV/PCM/LPCM, WMA, AAC, FLAC, MKA, AIF/AIFF, OGG, Dolby Digital, DTS
Playlist - PLS, M3U, WPL
Subtitle - SRT, ASS, SSA, SUB, SMI
Click to expand...

anyone know why the old version is so expensive?
 
I use the PS3 currently w/ PS3 Media Server. It works 95% of the time without issues.

It's not a fan of all file formats, and sometimes can't handle certain .mkvs, but aside from that it works pretty well.

I've been meaning to build a "Steambox"/Media Center PC for the living room, but I keep putting it off because my current setup works well enough.
 
WDTV has crap UI

Boxee Box is ok but expensive

I use xbmc exclusively and have done so for almost a decade now and recommend it to everyone I know

I have a few xbmc boxes and they all steam the media from my central unRaid server (basically a NAS)

Perfect setup and everyone should be doing it!
 
ShyGuy said:
WDTV has crap UI

Boxee Box is ok but expensive

I use xbmc exclusively and have done so for almost a decade now and recommend it to everyone I know

I have a few xbmc boxes and they all steam the media from my central unRaid server (basically a NAS)

Perfect setup and everyone should be doing it!
Click to expand...
xbmc running on what? xbox? XBMC is amazing on it, but largely useless for HD files.
 
Apple TV plus iCloud (via photostream).

Should cover the uses you've listed. Can stream whatever (movies, tv, games, pictures) you want from either pc or phone/tablet.
 
offtopic said:
Apple TV plus iCloud (via photostream).

Should cover the uses you've listed. Can stream whatever (movies, tv, games, pictures) you want from either pc or phone/tablet.
Click to expand...

Can it play from a drive hooked into the router though? I don't want my PC involved at all.
 
alr1ght said:
xbmc running on what? xbox? XBMC is amazing on it, but largely useless for HD files.
Click to expand...
My three are:

Raspberry Pi
Apple TV 2
And my main one is an Atom/Nvidia ion nettop

Perfect for my requirements and I believe would suit OP very well (ie any capable box that does xbmc)
 
BrokenEchelon said:
I use the PS3 currently w/ PS3 Media Server. It works 95% of the time without issues.

It's not a fan of all file formats, and sometimes can't handle certain .mkvs, but aside from that it works pretty well.

I've been meaning to build a "Steambox"/Media Center PC for the living room, but I keep putting it off because my current setup works well enough.
Click to expand...

Same here. There are times when it doesn't work so great and stutters pretty badly before finally giving up. I'd like to build a "Steambox" too.
 
Dwayne said:
Can it play from a drive hooked into the router though? I don't want my PC involved at all.
Click to expand...
You would have to jailbreak to play "every file type" though and btw the current one (ATV3 1080p) still hasn't been jailbroken

You can't just load up a random mkv file if that's what you're hoping for...

But your other question, yes it can play media over the network via the router
 
I know that's not what you're looking for but the best option is buy a powerful ultra-little laptop with HDMI output + Wireless HDMI like AIR TV.
If you have kind of well configured LAN (with all your HDD's network connected, even better if this is something like Mybook Live) is all you need.
Other than that option you will always get some media issue, with video, program, or so, you won't be able to play.
 
ShyGuy said:
You would have to jailbreak to play "every file type" though and btw the current one (ATV3 1080p) still hasn't been jailbroken

You can't just load up a random mkv file if that's what you're hoping for...

But your other question, yes it can play media over the network via the router
Click to expand...

Interesting, wonder if the ATV3 jailbreak that's supposed to come out this month is legit.
 
BrokenEchelon said:
I use the PS3 currently w/ PS3 Media Server. It works 95% of the time without issues.

It's not a fan of all file formats, and sometimes can't handle certain .mkvs, but aside from that it works pretty well.
Click to expand...

Since you have a PS3, give this a shot before you spend any money. If you have a compatible TV it also works without a PS3 (if you have noise concerns). The interface is much smoother and more responsive than any TV built in streaming (DLNA) I've used. I've never really encountered any stuttering or freezing, but that might be because I've got a powerful PC as well as using a wired connection for it most of the time. 1080p over wireless is pretty unlikely.
 
I'd go for one of three options.

1) Try to find an AppleTV2 and jailbreak it
2) Wait for hopefully the AppleTV3 to be jailbroken
3) Up your budget a little and get an Atom/Nvidia ION based PC and use XBMC on it.

None of the solutions being offered are good. They're all mediocre to shitty. You want something with XBMC on it.
 
ShyGuy said:
You would have to jailbreak to play "every file type" though and btw the current one (ATV3 1080p) still hasn't been jailbroken

You can't just load up a random mkv file if that's what you're hoping for...

But your other question, yes it can play media over the network via the router
Click to expand...

Can you guide me or link to a How-To on using NAS with AppleTV without iTunes??? PLEASE!!!!

Jakeh111 said:
PS3 with Playon
http://www.playon.tv/playon

It can play any media file and I like the ability to watch other stuff from the web thru it.
Click to expand...

WHOA... tell me more about this. There is no monthly service cost? Just a one time fee?
 
Marty Chinn said:
I'd go for one of three options.

1) Try to find an AppleTV2 and jailbreak it
2) Wait for hopefully the AppleTV3 to be jailbroken
3) Up your budget a little and get an Atom/Nvidia ION based PC and use XBMC on it.

None of the solutions being offered are good. They're all mediocre to shitty. You want something with XBMC on it.
Click to expand...
LOL you must not have read my posts then because I already suggested XBMC! ;)
 
Thanks for your suggestions everyone. I'm torn between ATV2 and an ITX setup now, SickBeard and CoachPotato are certainly attractive features :) Will wait and see how funds go this month...
 
I used to use the PS3 with PS3 Media Server for my media streaming needs, but it had trouble with some bigger files like skipping etc.

My current setup of ATV3 with Air Video app plays everything smoothly even with my 4 year old laptop. Have had no problems.
 
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