looking for a streaming media player

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bigalow

566 posts

Ultimate Geek

#192371 8-Mar-2016 17:31

I'm looking for a streaming media player what do you recommend ?

i don't have a cell phone or tablet so cant cast

don't want to use a laptop or pc to stream

looking for something that will play netflix hulu bbc iplayer sbs tvnz

Ethernet connection would be a plus

something i can just plug in to hdmi port and easy setup

LazyDr

262 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1508334 8-Mar-2016 17:35

Pretty sure a Roku would tick (nearly) all of those boxes... I think the only one it misses out is the TVNZ requirement, but for the price and functionality, it'd be hard to beat. Otherwise you're probably looking at investing in something like a playstation, or a TV that can run all of the apps you've mentioned. Both of which would be much more expensive

Kiwifruta

1423 posts

Uber Geek

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#1508349 8-Mar-2016 18:12

I have a FireTV and can get Netflix, Hulu and BBC iplayer.

For local stuff, I use a Chromecast.

Perhaps, an Apple TV would do all you require.

davidcole

6034 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1508437 8-Mar-2016 20:23

For tvnz, tv3, Netflix a Samsung blue ray player is probably the best.
For BBC Iplayer you can get a roku (uk account), but then you're stuck for sbs

Possibly the closest is the Apple TV 4, which I'd hope you can run multiple Apple Stores like an iPad, so you'd be able to get Iplayer (uk store) subs, (oz store?) and tv3. Tvnz don't have an Apple TV app yet,

Sorry there's no one solution. All devices listed above do Netflix. Hulu on Apple TV and a roku....but only a roku set to us.

You could gamble on an android to box off amazon. I have one, Netflix works, but tvnz app installs but it says that output can't be pushed out via hdmi (worthless).

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Kiwifruta

1423 posts

Uber Geek

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#1508513 8-Mar-2016 22:10

Maybe an NUC running RemixOS (Android for PCs) with the apps for your various services. The issue, if it were to work, is that the apps would be for touch screen interfaces. You can get by with those air mice remotes and a keyboard.

The good thing about android devices is that they can run Kodi, which works very well on a TV screen. BBC iplayer and ITV work very well on Kodi. TVNZ and Hulu are not supported on Kodi. I've never looked for SBS on Kodi.

I have a feeling that it's likely you'll need two devices, unless you use a PC.

Kiwifruta

1423 posts

Uber Geek

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#1508521 8-Mar-2016 22:17

Just checked and Kodi supports SBS On Demand.

So that means a FireTV with Kodi will do all that you want apart from TVNZ.

bigalow

566 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1508540 8-Mar-2016 23:00

LazyDr:

Pretty sure a Roku would tick (nearly) all of those boxes... I think the only one it misses out is the TVNZ requirement, but for the price and functionality, it'd be hard to beat. Otherwise you're probably looking at investing in something like a playstation, or a TV that can run all of the apps you've mentioned. Both of which would be much more expensive

i was thinking about roku

do i get the usa version or uk version ?

or get the usa version and change the firmware to uk ??

and do i need to block google dns with a roku ?

also does the roku 3 power adapter work in nz ??

littleheaven

2130 posts

Uber Geek

#1510325 10-Mar-2016 09:43

An Apple TV 4 will do all of those except for TVNZ, and someone on the forums was told by TVNZ that they are working on an app, so that might be resolved soon.

I really like my Apple TV 4. I have it set to New Zealand region with an unblocking service DNS loaded into it (not the router) and I am logged into my US iTunes account so that I can use the full Siri functionality. I have set up US, UK and Australian iTunes accounts and used them to download the relevant apps. All those apps work side by side without having to switch regions, once they have been downloaded. I can go from Hulu to BBC with a couple of clicks of the remote. It's really easy to swap between iTunes accounts as the Apple TV remembers them all, displays them in a list, and you can just scroll up and down and select whichever account you want to log in as, which makes downloading new apps from different stores quick and easy. It requires very little fiddling around (outside of setting up the iTunes accounts). If they get apps on it for UK Channel 4, Fanpass and TVNZ On Demand, it'll cover all my streaming needs in one box. At the moment I can airplay Channel 4 and Fanpass but I prefer a native app.

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Kiwifruta

1423 posts

Uber Geek

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#1510429 10-Mar-2016 11:03

littleheaven:
An Apple TV 4 will do all of those except for TVNZ, and someone on the forums was told by TVNZ that they are working on an app, so that might be resolved soon.

I really like my Apple TV 4. I have it set to New Zealand region with an unblocking service DNS loaded into it (not the router) and I am logged into my US iTunes account so that I can use the full Siri functionality. I have set up US, UK and Australian iTunes accounts and used them to download the relevant apps. All those apps work side by side without having to switch regions, once they have been downloaded. I can go from Hulu to BBC with a couple of clicks of the remote. It's really easy to swap between iTunes accounts as the Apple TV remembers them all, displays them in a list, and you can just scroll up and down and select whichever account you want to log in as, which makes downloading new apps from different stores quick and easy. It requires very little fiddling around (outside of setting up the iTunes accounts). If they get apps on it for UK Channel 4, Fanpass and TVNZ On Demand, it'll cover all my streaming needs in one box. At the moment I can airplay Channel 4 and Fanpass but I prefer a native app.

Wow, what a great device. I read that Kodi is in the works for the Apple TV 4. http://www.idownloadblog.com/2015/12/24/how-install-kodi-new-apple-tv-4/

Because the Apple TV 4 is officially available in NZ, it will most likely get support for the many of the major local services too, unlike my FireTV.

trig42

5811 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1510432 10-Mar-2016 11:07

Yep, once TVNZ get an App for it, and Sky/Fanpass it truly will be a box to rule them all.

I'm holding off till the TVNZ app arrives (hurry up already). I'm not too fussed about overseas ondemand (BBC would be nice) but it is nice to know it isn't too hard to get on the ATV.

Kiwifruta

1423 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1510441 10-Mar-2016 11:26

trig42:
Yep, once TVNZ get an App for it, and Sky/Fanpass it truly will be a box to rule them all.

I'm holding off till the TVNZ app arrives (hurry up already). I'm not too fussed about overseas ondemand (BBC would be nice) but it is nice to know it isn't too hard to get on the ATV.

Sounds great, could make a good Christmas present. I'm not too fussed over missing out on the Amazon content.

Does the YouTube app allow one to play videos purchased in Google Play? (If it does, it'll have Purchases in the menu items)

littleheaven

2130 posts

Uber Geek

#1510591 10-Mar-2016 14:10

Kiwifruta:
littleheaven:

An Apple TV 4 will do all of those except for TVNZ, and someone on the forums was told by TVNZ that they are working on an app, so that might be resolved soon.

I really like my Apple TV 4. I have it set to New Zealand region with an unblocking service DNS loaded into it (not the router) and I am logged into my US iTunes account so that I can use the full Siri functionality. I have set up US, UK and Australian iTunes accounts and used them to download the relevant apps. All those apps work side by side without having to switch regions, once they have been downloaded. I can go from Hulu to BBC with a couple of clicks of the remote. It's really easy to swap between iTunes accounts as the Apple TV remembers them all, displays them in a list, and you can just scroll up and down and select whichever account you want to log in as, which makes downloading new apps from different stores quick and easy. It requires very little fiddling around (outside of setting up the iTunes accounts). If they get apps on it for UK Channel 4, Fanpass and TVNZ On Demand, it'll cover all my streaming needs in one box. At the moment I can airplay Channel 4 and Fanpass but I prefer a native app.

Wow, what a great device. I read that Kodi is in the works for the Apple TV 4. http://www.idownloadblog.com/2015/12/24/how-install-kodi-new-apple-tv-4/

Because the Apple TV 4 is officially available in NZ, it will most likely get support for the many of the major local services too, unlike my FireTV.

Yeah, the open app store means the possibilities are endless. I'm pretty sure TV3 already has an app for it (although it won't work for me because I have my unblocking set to Aussie Channel 10, which conflicts with TV3 in my unblocker's settings). It has a Plex client app, too, if you want to run a Plex server. I also have just downloaded an app called TV Streams, which is $5 from the NZ store, and in it you can load the urls for live streams (.m3u extension). I've got a bunch of Aussie Channel 7 streams in there and they work great. I just need to find some more links to add in to my list.

I did a quick Google and apparently if you put your Google Play purchases into a playlist you can then access the playlist from the YouTube app on the Apple TV. So sayeth someone on Reddit in December 2014.

Geek girl. Freelance copywriter and editor at Unmistakable.co.nz.

FreeTV

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1510600 10-Mar-2016 14:24

I find KODI the best.

I found out about it from someone at work and googled it. this is the only site in NZ that had a reasonable amount of info on it.

http://jayx.co.nz/JXblog/tech-talk-the-truth-about-kodi

It's actually quite brilliant I can stream UK TV, US TV, and most of the Australian channels which are reporting in (and look like) HD