Media Streamer?

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ADKM

841 posts

Ultimate Geek

#141408 11-Mar-2014 21:18

Hi,

Several times in discussions here about DLNA and problem with it the suggestion was made that a media streamer would be a better option.

What exactly are these, cost, and what do they do etc ?

I'm going to search around on Google but any recommendations or info here would be very welcome.

Thanks, ADKM.

Cheers - Kirk

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overkill

222 posts

Master Geek

#1003034 11-Mar-2014 21:32

Apple TV, $150 odd from the likes of Harvey Normans.

"Setting the Standard in Quality and Commitment"

ADKM

841 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1003068 11-Mar-2014 22:33

What's it actually do and how? From reading on google they mention streaming from Netflix, Hulu and various things that I'm not even sure we can get.

I want to watch media content that's on the PC via the LAN to the Panasonic TV. With better results than DLNA which seems to lose its fast wind every so often and/or refuses to play certain things. And to retire Twonky which I believe has gone under... or closed their website.

Coil

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#1003071 11-Mar-2014 22:35

ADKM: What's it actually do and how? From reading on google they mention streaming from Netflix, Hulu and various things that I'm not even sure we can get.

I want to watch media content that's on the PC via the LAN to the Panasonic TV. With better results than DLNA which seems to lose its fast wind every so often and/or refuses to play certain things. And to retire Twonky which I believe has gone under... or closed their website.

(Apple TV will not work with Netflix in NZ by default, You need to set it up right)

I have never seen DLNA work in the sense it has been portrayed to me. I am forever mapping network drives and using Plex or alike. I wish there was an easy logical way that it just plays from your pc without all this pre setup.

ADKM

841 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1003073 11-Mar-2014 22:47

I've just read a review about Apple TV and I don't think it's the right thing. I haven got any other Apple products and would rather steer clear of iTunes! It also will only use certain formats (I presume limited codecs) so may give even less compatibility than Twonky? Also don't want intend to use the internet or cloud, just what is already on the PC. So no internal HD either.

It may be such a thing doesn't exist - I was just curious to explore some earlier suggestions here now the budget permits !

overkill

222 posts

Master Geek

#1003075 11-Mar-2014 22:57

Most streaming units will have a draw back in one way or the other.

I like the AppleTV for ease of use and that you do not have to have an Apple household to use it.

If you have a "LAN" cable from your PC to the TV, an HDMI output also on your PC, you could look into an HDBaseT extender and watch everything that is on the PC on your screen using the LAN cable and a couple of HDMI cables. Basically you are mirroring your TV screen to the PC, or if your graphics card allows......a second monitor so you can still surf the net on the PC Monitor while watching a movie on the TV.

"Setting the Standard in Quality and Commitment"

ADKM

841 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1003086 11-Mar-2014 23:37

> Most streaming units will have a draw back in one way or the other.

Understood... very much buyer beware. Be nice to be able to try first.

We have got an old cobbled-together PC next to the TV with HDMi out and use this where DLNA fails.
It's also on the LAN. It's not so handy to use though.

Does the HDBaseT extender accept a LAN cable and output HDMi for the TV ? Ideally we don't 'play' the media content on the PC. Rather like DLNA have it working in the background so the computer can be doing something else.

ADKM

841 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1003093 12-Mar-2014 00:06

This looks interesting

http://www.kaiserbaas.com/media-player/wifi-media-player

How might it compare with what others are using ?

tdgeek

26316 posts

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#1003096 12-Mar-2014 00:19

My solution is pretty basic. I have a WDTV Live, connected to a 2TB HDD, and HDMI to my plasma. I transfer content from laptop to the HDD wirelessly. Works well

driller2000

903 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1003109 12-Mar-2014 07:51

i successfully used an xtreamer - before upgrading to cheap xbmc clients (not sure i would recommend the xtreamer due to slow support and fw upgrades)

i know many have had good success with the wdtv units as they have good codec support (better than apple?)

likewise the roku units have some support around here as well

another option are android based players - albeit these seem to be a bit buggy still - but this is changing

all of these imho should be wired to the network and your media drives mapped

my pick - small clients running xbmc - so much quicker and versatile than any streamer - albeit a bit more set up required...e.g. i scored a $50 sff hp from work + $45 vid card + $15 remote off ebay + spare copy of win 7 + xbmc = cheap but excellent "streamer"( you could even skip an os and install something like openelec)

have fun! : )

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#1003116 12-Mar-2014 08:20

I use an A C Ryan Playon and it plays any type of file I have stored on my PC and other network connected devices without problems. Haven't found anything it won't play yet. Does have a wireless dongle available but I just hardwired to my network.
http://www.priceme.co.nz/AC-Ryan-Playon-HD2/p-887736294.aspx

garvani

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#1003117 12-Mar-2014 08:26

You know there are small streamers with xbmc installed? I am purchasing the Xtreamer Sidewinder4, its on preorder at the moment for a really good price and releases in a couple of days. I had the original sidewinder in 2009, good device but it was a little ahead of its time.
This one is based around android, and comes preinstalled with xbmc among other handy utilities.. After quite a lot of research i ended up with this device, based on capabilities and i have trust in the company. It also has dvb-t2 capabilities as well (not that i live in an area that can receive this)

Xtreamer Sidewinder 4

freitasm

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#1003118 12-Mar-2014 08:33

You posted this in the Freeview forum. So my question is "what you want to do"?

If not related to Freeview I will move the topic.

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ubergeeknz

3344 posts

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Vocus

#1003142 12-Mar-2014 09:22

garvani: You know there are small streamers with xbmc installed? I am purchasing the Xtreamer Sidewinder4, its on preorder at the moment for a really good price and releases in a couple of days. I had the original sidewinder in 2009, good device but it was a little ahead of its time.
This one is based around android, and comes preinstalled with xbmc among other handy utilities.. After quite a lot of research i ended up with this device, based on capabilities and i have trust in the company. It also has dvb-t2 capabilities as well (not that i live in an area that can receive this)

Xtreamer Sidewinder 4

My big question: does it support playback in 24p or XBMC style "smooth playback"? This is the big problem I have with my Android stick now, 24p content plays back jerky and awful.

trig42

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#1003143 12-Mar-2014 09:22

If you can find a small box that you can run the Plex client on, it works really well and is easy to setup.

There is a Plex App for Samsung SmartTV - it will run on the Samsung Smart Bluray players - so if you need to get a BD player think about those (you'd also get Quickflix, TVNZ and TV3 and Colisseum Apps too).

ubergeeknz

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Vocus

#1003146 12-Mar-2014 09:27

trig42: If you can find a small box that you can run the Plex client on, it works really well and is easy to setup.

There is a Plex App for Samsung SmartTV - it will run on the Samsung Smart Bluray players - so if you need to get a BD player think about those (you'd also get Quickflix, TVNZ and TV3 and Colisseum Apps too).

But you need to run Plex Server as well, that's what I don't like about Plex

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