I need a rectangle for my bedroom that plays mp4 files. Converting them is untenable, as is watching them on my PS3 when I could be horizontal.

What's the situation here? Is it a thing? Can I buy one off the shelf for not much money?

I'm looking here and I don't see any anythings: http://www.jbhifi.com.au/tv-lcd-led-...a-players/all/

wd somethingorother

Quote:

Originally Posted by diarx

wd somethingorother

Yup, Western Digital TV Live.

About a hundred from JB Hifi, but it will play everything

http://www.jbhifionline.com.au/compu...-player/467774

I will procure this device.

Thank you for your advices.

AppleTV

Get a billion

Move closer to the... wait... that doesnt apply here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morphee

AppleTV

look, i know it's apple and basically fuck apple, but i have to admit the user interface of the apple TV is very nice.

Another vote for the WD TV Live, but have a look at the newer version which is $135
http://www.jbhifionline.com.au/compu...-player/657139
JB Hifi once had it on sale for $115 so you might be able to talk the price down.

If you want one with an internal hard drive there's the WD TV Live Hub - 1TB HDD, $297
http://www.jbhifionline.com.au/compu...-player/632188

^For $297 I'd just build an entry level ITX htpc for around the same cost.

Quote:

Originally Posted by diarx

^For $297 I'd just build an entry level ITX htpc for around the same cost.

He said dont be a dick about it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by diarx

^For $297 I'd just build an entry level ITX htpc for around the same cost.

Thanks media gruso

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morphee

He said dont be a dick about it.

kind of asking for it really.

For the record, pccg aren't even cheap and it's still doable for less than the 'wdtv with HDD'


(some itx mb with hdmi + dual core atom, 4gb, 2tb, case with 200w yumcha psu)
add an old copy of xp/some kind of lunix if you haven't got another copy of 7 lying about

Use any old wireless kb/m you might have and add an mce remote for <$30 if you need one.

Just sayin.

btw bism, i have an iomega boxee. the software on it sucks a bit of a dick, so don't get one of those.

There are stacks of things like this on the super cheap end of the market...

http://www.amazon.com/IncrediSonic-U.../ref=pd_cp_e_0

Just get a tv with USB, plug in a 32gb USB stick, ez.

That would require copying files across and general effort on Bism's behalf.

For those replying with "AppleTV"
Technically yes that will play mp4s, however it will not play AVI and MKV files without jailbreaking the device (plus the jailbreak isn't even available for the current AppleTV yet anyway)

The WD device will just work, out of the box for everything (umadapplefans?)

ATV2 can be had for around $79 now due to being superceded and takes 4 seconds to jailbreak.

U Mad?

I have the WD Live Hub and copying stuff over takes forever, if you want to stream it you'll need a wireless adaptor or have it within router reach with an ethernet. It's not that good.

AV2 only supports 720p though, the WD supports 1080p

I have both an Apple TV and a WD TV, and i use the WD TV so much more.

Plus the WD TV Live Streaming, which Duke linked above includes Wifi built in

^^ How big's his TV?

I've got two Apple TV 2s, but prior to getting the first one, I already had all my movies converted to mp4 and sorted in iTunes (I'm weird and OCD like that so it works well for me)

Do you have an ipad and would you watch stuff on it in bed?

I just stream tv shows to my ipad. AirPlayIt handles all the hard work and the apps are free. (Install server on pc, point to directory of tv shows, run app on iPad, done.)

XBMC, it's the only way to roll

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadMike

Do you have an ipad and would you watch stuff on it in bed?

I just stream tv shows to my ipad. AirPlayIt handles all the hard work and the apps are free. (Install server on pc, point to directory of tv shows, run app on iPad, done.)

Not a bad option and all I use my Touchpad for these days, with KalemSoft media player & streamer. Could probably get the same kinda thing going on a cheaper Android tablet too.

Also, watching TV shows on the shitter is pretty boss.

Quote:

Originally Posted by plan-b

^^ How big's his TV?

Velly small Yum cha/Kony bedroom spec.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadMike

Do you have an ipad and would you watch stuff on it in bed?

Laptop does the job (poorly) at the moment, but maybe a cheap tablet would be advantageous. Basically all that's running through my mind right now is "Oh yes, TV on the crapper."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chippie

XBMC, it's the only way to roll

Your face is the only way to roll.

Fucking crab

Get out of my head.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spicy

but i have to admit the user interface of the apple TV is very nice.

After extensive research, I hvae concluded that a jailbroken ATV2 running XBMC is a fucking piece of shit.

I'm thinking the HTPC mITX option or the WDTV as well. Either/or, but I'd like to be able to browse t3h pr0nz on the TV instead of the computer.

You know, for science.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadMike

Do you have an ipad and would you watch stuff on it in bed?

I just stream tv shows to my ipad. AirPlayIt handles all the hard work and the apps are free. (Install server on pc, point to directory of tv shows, run app on iPad, done.)

i do this on my transformer using ES file explorer (also free). has a LAN option that doesn't require any software on the PC, it just works.

How does the WDTV device perform with 1080p content over Wifi? I have always struggled with HD content on PS3 Media Server, even on Wifi - N. I assume the extra transcoding needed for mkv is what causes this to be a problem. Ethernet is the only time I get a flawless stream.

Quote:

Originally Posted by primalstatik

How does the WDTV device perform with 1080p content over Wifi? I have always struggled with HD content on PS3 Media Server, even on Wifi - N. I assume the extra transcoding needed for mkv is what causes this to be a problem. Ethernet is the only time I get a flawless stream.

I'm guessing it would suffer quite a bit; it's not about the format, it's the sheer amount of data required to deliver a 1080p picture.

The transcoding from mkv to an mpeg2 stream is done on your pc/mac (via ps3 media server), and any compression that you might actually get from the source mkv (say a 2gig mkv file) is then set to an uncompressed mpeg2 stream which requires lots and lots of bandwidth.

At least that's how I thought it worked; I'm sure I'll be corrected by the AV here

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Duke

Another vote for the WD TV Live, but have a look at the newer version which is $135
http://www.jbhifionline.com.au/compu...-player/657139
JB Hifi once had it on sale for $115 so you might be able to talk the price down.

If you want one with an internal hard drive there's the WD TV Live Hub - 1TB HDD, $297
http://www.jbhifionline.com.au/compu...-player/632188

This made me chuckle

Bring the arcade to your HDTV
Swap gems with Rockswap, try your luck with Texas Hold’Em or test your math skills with Sudoku.

1080p thru power into the top wdtv down into hdmi mutha f*****



+



=

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABitPatchy

ATV2 can be had for around $79 now due to being superceded and takes 4 seconds to jailbreak.

U Mad?

I have the WD Live Hub and copying stuff over takes forever, if you want to stream it you'll need a wireless adaptor or have it within router reach with an ethernet. It's not that good.

A router within eternity reach? I doubt anybody on this forum lives in a house with 90 meters distance from their router at any point.

Tell that to the people whose places have two floors.

Like me.

Does the special gravity prevent cables from running, you know 'up'

I don't want to live inside a LAN party.

Streaming isn't a requirement anyway. Copying the week's TV shows to a flash drive and carrying them to my bedroom is within scope.

Some reading on why mp4 is a thing nowadays, in case you aren't aware.

Haha love those comments quoted in the article.

I WILL TAKE MY BUSINESS ELSEWHERE!

I've got that WD thingo with the 1TB internal hard drive and it works great.

I also didn't understand anything in Diarx's post.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KuRuPTeD

1080p thru power into the top wdtv down into hdmi mutha f*****

EoP plugs ftmfw (if your place doesn't have shitty electrical wiring)

I live in a three level place and stream shit through EoP plugs from the top level of the house to the bottom level without any reliability probs whatsoever. Before with wireless we were always having a bunch of signal strenth/distance issues with it having to go through a staircase and two floors, with both HTPCs also situated in opposite corners of our place.

My choice are the TPlink EoP plugs though. Netcomm can go eat a bag of dicks.

I bought mine from these guys, $66 for the starter kit (2 EoP plugs):

http://www.expresspcparts.com.au/Ite...V#.T6nzQS-Dl8E

and $33 per additional:

http://www.expresspcparts.com.au/Ite...V#.T6nzMC-Dl8E

Bargain.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anselm

I've got that WD thingo with the 1TB internal hard drive and it works great.

I also didn't understand anything in Diarx's post.

in short, its not hard to build a better specced and more flexible micro home theater PC for that kind of money.

Gigabit for lyfe.

Fuck it brb running fibre channel to the tv.

I was lucky and scored those netcomm POE adpaters for free from the foxtel guy, he had just done an install for some batty old lady and she screamed at him to take them out...WIN

Quote:

Originally Posted by big eddie

Gigabit for lyfe.

Fuck it brb running fibre channel to the tv.

Just run hdmi throughout your house and connect all your TVs to a monster HTPC with 2 x dual head hdmi graphics cards. Who needs streaming anyway.

I'd love to run gigabit, but I don't want to pay through the arse for an installer to do what would be a pretty awkward and difficult job at height. We only got an aerial socket put in our top level loft because the installer was a bit of a cowboy, anyone else would have had to break out the harnesses/safety gear.. he just jumped out the our tiny loft window onto a short steeply raked roof, lifted up some of the roof tiles and fed the cable through. Fucking nutjob.

If your house wiring is good, then 100-200mb EoP beats wireless streaming.

We're renting and 3 blokes so we're just opting for the cat5/cat6 behind shit and under rugs and stuff.

It's pretty obvious that we don't have +1's staying over much. haha

^living the lanparty dream