Media Device that just 'works' ?

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Media Device that just "works" ?

DoggNZ

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#22607 2-Jun-2008 17:40

I'm over stuffing around with my old Xbox as a Media Centre! I want something purpose built that just does what it's supposed to do. Can anyone recommend something? A quick search of this site seems to suggest the DSM-320 isn't great. Any better alternatives?

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#135001 2-Jun-2008 17:55

Popcorn hour... ?

Media centre PC - Case Silverstone LC16M with 2 X 80mm AcoustiFan DustPROOF, MOBO Gigabyte MA785GT-UD3H, CPU AMD X2 240 under volted, RAM 4 Gig DDR3 1033, HDD 120Gig System/512Gig data, Tuners 2 X Hauppauge HVR-3000, 1 X HVR-2200, Video Palit GT 220, Sound Realtek 886A HD (onboard), Optical LiteOn DH-401S Blue-ray using TotalMedia Theatre Power Corsair VX Series, 450W ATX PSU OS Windows 7 x64

sbiddle

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#135007 2-Jun-2008 18:41

What do you want to do?

Ghoop

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#135308 3-Jun-2008 20:54

DoggNZ, we have spent more than 5 years developing such a device. Details can be found at www.neodigital.net.nz.

steve98

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#135435 4-Jun-2008 13:13

DoggNZ: I'm over stuffing around with my old Xbox as a Media Centre! I want something purpose built that just does what it's supposed to do. Can anyone recommend something? A quick search of this site seems to suggest the DSM-320 isn't great. Any better alternatives?

I'd recommend a PS3. It has official divx support and streams beautifully across wireless or wired networks. Plus its a Blu-Ray player. I bought one specifically for this purpose and I haven't been let down - fantastic machine.

DoggNZ

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#135486 4-Jun-2008 16:52

sbiddle: What do you want to do?

Play everything my old Xbox did (running XBMC) before I got pissed off and jumped up and down on it.

DoggNZ

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#135490 4-Jun-2008 16:59

Ghoop:
DoggNZ,
We have spent more than 5 years developing such a device. Details can be found at www.neodigital.net.nz.

or to put it another way..your site is being overhauled and details CAN'T be found at www.neodigital.net.nz. Something solid state and QUIET is what I'm after. Working in the IT industry has destroyed my enthusiasm for rolling up my sleeves and building stuff

Dyson

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timbosan

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#135493 4-Jun-2008 17:15

Having reviewed several media players for Tone magazine, I would say if you want something to do just music, get a Squeezebox and you will never look back; beautiful interface, great sound and just does what it should.

If you want to start streaming video you have many more issues to deal with, such as bandwidth (do you have a wired connection or are you going wireless), format support (this is the biggest problem I have found; there are jsut so many formats around and unless you convert and control very single one you want to play, you will have problems), and the user interface, which can be the final straw. Being easily able to navigate multiple source devices (USB drivers, other PC's etc) as well as possible local storage is hard to pull off. Often you need to spend $$$ to get a good interface and worthy hardware, something like a Escent Fireball would do the job nicely!

Otherwise the PS3 or a HTPC would be good choices; Windows Media Center is a very nice interface and can (be made to) play back many video formats, even ripped DVD's with plugins.

If you only want to spend small $$$, the popcornhour sounds good, the DSM-320 is suppose to be good on latter firmware updates.

Also you should consider HD, most older devices like the DSM-320 weren't built to cope with HD streams, and a wireless connection struggles with the required bandwidth.

Hope this helps

grayskull

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#135503 4-Jun-2008 17:50

Ghoop:
DoggNZ,
We have spent more than 5 years developing such a device. Details can be found at www.neodigital.net.nz.

Seeing as there is very little in the way of info on your website, would you care to elaborate here?

I have been looking at mypvr - http://www.mypvr.co.nz - anyone with one care to comment?

DoggNZ

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#135505 4-Jun-2008 17:59

timbosan: Having reviewed several media players for Tone magazine....

Thanks timbosan, very helpful.

Ghoop

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#135594 5-Jun-2008 08:20

Grayskull,

The NEO is intended to be defined as an “appliance” so the functionality is what matters I believe. However in the interests of the Geekzone community the following describes the bits and pieces we use to build it.

Case

Depends on application and mobo type. For Intel mobo could be Mcubed HFX if silence a requirement or Silverstone LC10 if living in a closet out of “ear shot”. Other options exist for VIA mini ITX mobos. (Fanned or fanless)

Internals (Keeps changing due to PC evolution)

Mobo either Intel of VIA mini ITX depending on size and features required.

CPU whatever is on offer in the mid range.

Memory 512Mb

GFX card is Nvidia normally low end model.

Hard drives depend on customer requirement, we prefer to build RAID systems but if a customer wants a single Hdd we will do this.

Optical drive is Gigabyte or Benq DVD R/W

Sound card is Creative sound blaster live.

Analog tuner(s) are Hauppauge PVR150 or 500. Numbers dependant on customer requirement. (Number of sky tuners, surveillance cameras etc.)

Satellite tuner is Hauppauge WIN Nova for Freeview and EPG capture.

Externals

Standard user control offered via Firefly RF remote.

IR blasting provided by Irtrans.

Preferred keyboard control by Logitech DiNovo though have used BTC URF in past.

Touch screen control is included in the NEO software but needs either Touch screen PC, Ipod Touch or Nokia N800 to use.

Software

Linux base with considerable use of opensource components. Front end GUI is locally designed/built using primarily Java.

Features

NEO started life as a movie jukebox but has now been extended to include PVR functionality, Asterisk PBX, C-bus interface, 10 foot interface, web server user interface, media server. Main menu provides…

Sky

Freeview

Radio

Surveillance

Music

DVD

Downloads

Movie store

Movie information

Photos

Home Control

Internet

Options

Most of the commonly available functions are available. CD and DVD ripping, EPG, playlists, DVD burning, USB archiving, IMDB integration, Hot button macros, and so on.

If you have any specific questions, I would be happy to answer them.

freitasm

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#135595 5-Jun-2008 08:26

Well, now that Apple has announced the movie service in France, Canada and the UK, I am just waiting for it to be released in Australia and New Zealand to use an Apple TV. It makes much more sense and it just works.

Microsoft is again losing the consumer minds...

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sbiddle

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#135599 5-Jun-2008 08:52

Do you have support for Freeview|HD yet Glynn or are you working on this at all?

grayskull

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#135607 5-Jun-2008 09:02

@Ghoop

Many thanks for the specs.

-Do you also supply FreeviewHD compatiable tuner cards (DTT is it?), and have HDMI output (or DVI?)
-what is the RRP circa for the base system?
-how does it deal with multi room/zone? Most systems play multi zone music ok, can you deal with video as well?

I have emailed Citytech in Auckland, one of your resellers I believe, to get more information. I only emailed him yesterday, so hope to hear from him today sometime.

Ghoop

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#135631 5-Jun-2008 10:30

Grayskull,
The NEO does have DVI output capability for those with DVI or HDMI input devices.
We do not suppoprt HD terrestial yet. When we get a customer that wants it we'll investigate availability of linux drivers etc.
Multi zone AV. NEO supports clients (we call them clones) to provide multi room capability. Clones require good network to operate, wireless not good enough, nor is ethernet over power.
If you simply want to replicate the NEO primary in a second area, this can be done with VGA or DVI splitter and associated audio/video cables.
NEO does support second zone audio from the server.
Pricing....hard to be precise because it depends on the configuration AND the amount of support you require from the reseller.

If you are reasonably au fait with techbnology and able to install and configure the system yourself, then I can provide the following package.

Case Syrius (reasonably quiet, not silent)
NEO package including
500Gb RAID1
VGA/DVI Gfx
DVD R/W
Analog Tuner (for Sky)
Satellite tuner (for Freeview)
Creative SB Live
IRTrans IR blaster (and learning remeote)
Firefly RF remote
NEO software configured and ready to go. (providing you specify your infrastructure)

Special DIY Geekzone price $3,250.00 (cash and carry, warranted for 2 years)

openmedia

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#135648 5-Jun-2008 12:07

grayskull:
Ghoop:
DoggNZ,
We have spent more than 5 years developing such a device. Details can be found at www.neodigital.net.nz.

Seeing as there is very little in the way of info on your website, would you care to elaborate here?

I have been looking at mypvr - http://www.mypvr.co.nz - anyone with one care to comment?

Appears my first attempt to reply to this got lost.

Happy to answer any myPVR related questions. At the moment we can't support freeview|HD as there are some linux driver issues we are waiting for the wider community to resolve. Otherwise we can do analogue/Sky/freeview plus Music etc.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

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