What kind of device for media streaming?

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sep11guy

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#79192 14-Mar-2011 16:25

Hi,

I am after a device which can stream anything - pretty much everything from laptop onto my LCD - wirelessly. I know there is a product which does something like this in the US, but I am not sure. Any pointers to brands which may do something like this available here??

One of the main objectives is to avoid connecting laptop and tv with either hdmi / composite cable. My tv can read files straight from the laptop, to the folders I have allowed but it will be even better if I can stream *anything*

Any ideas??

[Moderator edit (MF): Fixed subject, moved to correct forum]

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#448289 14-Mar-2011 18:03

Apple TV2 with XBMC is probably going to be your best bet.

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billgates

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#448293 14-Mar-2011 18:35

WDTV Live.

Do whatever you want to do man.

JimmyH

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#448297 14-Mar-2011 18:59

+1 for WDTV Live

I have just hooked up mine with wireless, and it works well. As well as the laptop it can see attached USB drives and network shares etc. For only $239 (which is what DSE has it for at the moment) plus the cost of a wireless adapter it was a very cheap solution.

So far I have only tried it wirelessly with a Vista share, wired with a USB drived attached to the actual unit, and wirelessly with a USB drive attached to the router. All work. According to online reviews, if your laptop is Win7 then it supports the "play to" push feature from the media centre as well - but I haven't tested this.

Just make sure you check the list of wireless adapters on the WD website, and buy a compatible one. Some don't work with it.

Handle9

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#448302 14-Mar-2011 19:16

+1 for AppleTV with XBMC I've had one pretty much since XBMC came out for it and love it. Saying that I've been an XBMC fan since way back :)

Still $169 with 802.11n is hard to beat.

dpw

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#448313 14-Mar-2011 19:53

+1 for WDTV Live. I still find it the most flexible in playing the various formats and displaying subtitles...

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sep11guy

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#448342 14-Mar-2011 21:06

Hi,

Thanks for all the replies. I did expect a lot of WD Media player replies - no worries. I know that option, and thats why i mentioned that my TV can already play a good variety of formats already.

This is through either USB drive or the network connection to both my laptop and desktop.

What i really want to LITERALLY see everything on the laptop on the screen, wirelessly. Say not only for movies but for everything. Say a MS word file or a PPT. Just use the big screen as a bigger monitor.

But my main idea is - I want to be connected wireless.

WD Live may be good no doubt, my tv almost does 90% of its job - but the thing is WD is pre programmed. It may not *really* have brains to read a lot of formats.

Say, for eg, a new format called mkvpg comes out tomorrow, which is like the father of mkv in terms of compression, what will happen? VLC may just bring out a update, and your comp will read it - but will the WD ??

Are you getting my flow?

dpw

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#448349 14-Mar-2011 21:15

sep11guy: Hi,

Thanks for all the replies. I did expect a lot of WD Media player replies - no worries. I know that option, and thats why i mentioned that my TV can already play a good variety of formats already.

This is through either USB drive or the network connection to both my laptop and desktop.

What i really want to LITERALLY see everything on the laptop on the screen, wirelessly. Say not only for movies but for everything. Say a MS word file or a PPT. Just use the big screen as a bigger monitor.

Whoa...you want to see everything on your laptop?! That's completely different from "Media streaming". What "media" format do you think MS Word or PPT file represents?! Are they "media" files? With WDTV Live you can share your entire hard drive if you wish. You can see all the folders and content but I doubt there will be a media streaming software, or media player hardware, that will play/display MS Word, PowerPoint, etc.

But my main idea is - I want to be connected wireless.

WD Live may be good no doubt, my tv almost does 90% of its job - but the thing is WD is pre programmed. It may not *really* have brains to read a lot of formats.

Say, for eg, a new format called mkvpg comes out tomorrow, which is like the father of mkv in terms of compression, what will happen? VLC may just bring out a update, and your comp will read it - but will the WD ??

Are you getting my flow?

Sure, I'm getting your flow. Here's my flow:

WDTV is not "pre-programmed" as such. Have you heard of "firmware" The bit between hardware and software. WDTV devices get firmware updates regularly - I had one on mine just the other day. If your device is not too old or obsolete I reckon WD will keep them updated with the latest codecs.

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Handle9

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#448351 14-Mar-2011 21:18

If you want something that will play every format forever you'll be needing a flux capacitor for it....

mattRSK

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#448358 14-Mar-2011 21:28

My suggestion would be a PS3. You can run PS3 media server on your computer and see everything on your TV through the PS3.

dpw

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#448363 14-Mar-2011 21:35

mattRSK: My suggestion would be a PS3. You can run PS3 media server on your computer and see everything on your TV through the PS3.

Really? Even MS Word and PowerPoint files?

I tried PS3 media player and it still choked on some media files - can't remember what they were. I think they were those with separate subtitle files but I can't remember. In the end it was much more reliable to just share the folders and watch through WDTV Live.

Android user, software developer, a semi-typical (not a gamer) geek, and a Bernese Mountain Dog nut!

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mattRSK

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#448373 14-Mar-2011 21:41

Haven't tried documents. The transcode feature takes care of every format I've tried. Including large .mkv files.

sep11guy

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#448550 15-Mar-2011 13:51

This was the exact solution I was looking for :). The ultimate solution!!!

HERE - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3psUWOV1Xug&feature=player_embedded

mattRSK

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#448555 15-Mar-2011 13:56

sep11guy:

This was the exact solution I was looking for :). The ultimate solution!!!

HERE - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3psUWOV1Xug&feature=player_embedded

Yeah thats cool.

Ragnor

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#448566 15-Mar-2011 14:17

Something like this?

USB Wireless Adpater > Base Station with HDMI out
http://www.atlona.com/Atlona-PC-to-Computer-Monitor-HDTV-Wireless-adapter-p-17797.html

However, probably cheaper, more flexible and less error prone to:

- Build a HTPC locate it next to the TV connected via HDMI
- Connect the HTPC to your network via wireless or ethernet cable
- Remote desktop (or vnc etc) from the laptop to the HTPC over wireless.

Basically remote desktop over:
Laptop > Wireless > Router > Wireless or LAN > HTPC > HDMI > TV

Standard RDP over regular networking to a HTPC attached to the TV via HTMDI avoids a bunch of problems with protected content and proprietary wireless/display protocols imo.

robjg63

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#448587 15-Mar-2011 15:28

Sure, I'm getting your flow. Here's my flow:

WDTV is not "pre-programmed" as such. Have you heard of "firmware" The bit between hardware and software. WDTV devices get firmware updates regularly - I had one on mine just the other day. If your device is not too old or obsolete I reckon WD will keep them updated with the latest codecs.

You are partly right and partly wrong.

Sadly the codecs are often programmed into the processor chips - they are pretty much a video PC on a chip - Not sure which chip the WD has but a lot use Realtek chips. They can program quite a few features using the SDK kit that Realtek provide (interface/web browsers etc) - but usually these little boxes can only decode what the chip was built to handle.

I have a Playon HD mini - it plays pretty much everything (for now). I still have a Mediagate MG350HD that was quite good 3-4 years ago when I bought it. I still use it quite often - but it wont handle surround sound mkv files etc. Both manufacturers state that the limits are what the viedo/processor chip is built to handle.

I can see the advantage in the Netgear device - that looks pretty cool and PCs do have enough PC power to support soft coded codecs....

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

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