One Streaming Device That Does It All ???

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mikee13

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#207453 26-Dec-2016 12:15

Is there one streaming device that does it all ?

I am looking for a single (non Smart TV) device that will allow me to stream Netflix, YouTube, NeonTV, Lightbox, TVNZ On Demand and TV3Now ... and media from my Plex Server.

It seems that this is not possible unless I am willing to fork out big bucks for a Smart TV

I currently use a Roku 3 but :
a) it does not have a volume control (which drives me batsh1t)
b) it does not stream NeonTV or any "Freeview Plus" stuff (I have to switch to Chromecast via my laptop).

Everything I have looked at seems to be limited one way or another.

Is there not one streaming device that does it all ... something that is "NZ aware" ??

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BDFL - Memuneh
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#1695089 26-Dec-2016 12:18

You probably will find the Google Chromecast will do this but have to check TV3 and TVNZ OnDemand.

mikee13

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#1695095 26-Dec-2016 12:30

freitasm:

You probably will find the Google Chromecast will do this but have to check TV3 and TVNZ OnDemand.

And I really do like the Chromecast (especially the new 2.0) but ideally "we" would prefer something that is more "wife friendly", i.e it has it's own remote and does not require her to be streaming from a smartphone, tablet or laptop

mikee13

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#1695097 26-Dec-2016 12:38

Regarding TVNZ On Demand on Chromecast, I found this on the TVNZ website ...

"Will TVNZ OnDemand be available on Chromecast?

At this stage TVNZ OnDemand is not available on Chromecast.

However, in the meantime, you can still enjoy all your favourite shows on the big screen with Chromecast by ‘Tab Casting’ on a computer.

Simply put, to do this all you have to do is Cast a Chrome browser tab from your computer to Chromecast, mirroring what’s on your screen onto the TV. You’ll need to have the latest version of Chrome, and to search for and install the Google Cast extension for your Chrome browser.

Once you’ve done that, you’ll see a little Cast icon available in your browser. Simply press that icon in the tab you want to Cast, choose the Chromecast device you want to Cast to, and the icon will turn blue."

freitasm

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#1695099 26-Dec-2016 12:39

Chromecast streams directly from the service. You control from the phone but once it started you only use the phone to pause/stop/rewind/foward - the stream is independent from the device.

shrub

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#1695108 26-Dec-2016 12:47

Chromecast is the way to go. I set my parents up with one yesterday and they are stoked. They picked it up really fast they were both using tablets to watch netflix and youtube....

AppleTV works but is getting on now and I have not used one in a while so i can not confirm what is available.

If you want to kill a few days u can go with a raspberrypi running kodi and a nice all in one keyboard/trackpad.

mikee13

50 posts

Geek

#1695113 26-Dec-2016 12:56

And I found this on the 3NOW (TV3) website :

Unfortunately Chromecast support isn’t available yet, but it’s definitely in the pipeline, watch this space!

Let's hope that they start supporting Chromecast pretty soon

Rikkitic

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#1695122 26-Dec-2016 13:11

Why not just a pc with HDMI out? This has the flexibility to do everything you want. You just have to find a place for the pc. I control mine from a Harmony One through an IR receiver with the help of AHK macros. I can do anything from the Harmony but I also sometimes use my notebook with AnyDesk to speed things up when I have to do a lot of mousing or typing.

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Kiwifruta

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#1695166 26-Dec-2016 15:40

mikee13:
freitasm:

You probably will find the Google Chromecast will do this but have to check TV3 and TVNZ OnDemand.

And I really do like the Chromecast (especially the new 2.0) but ideally "we" would prefer something that is more "wife friendly", i.e it has it's own remote and does not require her to be streaming from a smartphone, tablet or laptop

Perhaps the controlling of Chromecast could be sold to your wife as a 'touch screen remote' all the other standard type of remotes for fire TV, apple TV, smart TV, Roku etc require you to click the remote buttons to navigate one's way around a virtual keyboard on the telly screen, a real PITA in my opinion.

My Chromecast is our go to device, as long as you cast from the app (e.g. Netflix YouTube etc) and not use the inferior method of 'cast screen' option on the phone's OS.

It really couldn't be more simple., apart from voice search.

simon14

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#1695175 26-Dec-2016 16:24

I cut the cable and went 100% streaming for TV a few years ago.

I have no idea why TVNZ and MediaWorks don't support Chromecast though.

The good thing about MediaWorks (TV3, The Edge and Bravo) is that they are all streamed online, 24/7 ( http://www.tv3.co.nz/livestreams.aspx )

I found a really handy little app called Web Video Caster ( https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.instantbits.cast.webvideo&hl=en ). It's basically a browser app that let's you cast any video in your browser, to your Chromecast. So i can at least cast TV3, Bravo or The Edge to my Chromecast via that app.

Unfortunately i can't cast TVNZ on demand or 3now because whenever you go to their page on your phone, it tells you to download the app. And you can't cast the app!

If anyone can figure out a way to force the TVNZ on demand or 3Now webpages to load on your phone as they would on a PC (bypassing the splash page to download the app), then you could cast the content form your phone via the Web Video Converter app.

Kiwifruta

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#1695192 26-Dec-2016 17:08

simon14:

I cut the cable and went 100% streaming for TV a few years ago.

I have no idea why TVNZ and MediaWorks don't support Chromecast though.

The good thing about MediaWorks (TV3, The Edge and Bravo) is that they are all streamed online, 24/7 ( http://www.tv3.co.nz/livestreams.aspx )

I found a really handy little app called Web Video Caster ( https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.instantbits.cast.webvideo&hl=en ). It's basically a browser app that let's you cast any video in your browser, to your Chromecast. So i can at least cast TV3, Bravo or The Edge to my Chromecast via that app.

Unfortunately i can't cast TVNZ on demand or 3now because whenever you go to their page on your phone, it tells you to download the app. And you can't cast the app!

If anyone can figure out a way to force the TVNZ on demand or 3Now webpages to load on your phone as they would on a PC (bypassing the splash page to download the app), then you could cast the content form your phone via the Web Video Converter app.

On my $150 Vodafone Smart Prime 6 I downloaded the TV3 app, got it playing a video and then casted the screen to my telly via the Chromecast, worked fine for me. Didn't try the TVNZ app.

Sred

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#1695242 26-Dec-2016 18:24

Apple TV 4 just download each app to it or cast it (airplay) it from most devices, has its own remote to control it.
Plex available as is Netflix tvnz tv3 lightbox and many others as apps. There not cheap but work very well

davidcole

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#1695256 26-Dec-2016 19:45

There's no such device. You just need to choose the one with the most services you're likely to use and an interface you can deal with.

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PaulBags

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#1695288 26-Dec-2016 21:23

simon14:

I have no idea why TVNZ and MediaWorks don't support Chromecast though.

Don't they still use flash?

davidcole

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#1695295 26-Dec-2016 21:44

PaulBags:
simon14:

I have no idea why TVNZ and MediaWorks don't support Chromecast though.

Don't they still use flash?

Media works does have an Apple TV 4 app - so there's no reason as far as I know.

mikee13

50 posts

Geek

#1695336 27-Dec-2016 10:17

So it seems that the way to go is either Chromecast or Apple TV 4 (or ideally both, if you can afford it) ?

Does anyone know how to obtain a full list of all the Apple TV 4 apps that are regionally available here in NZ ?

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