39 replies to this topic Post Order

[Grebel]

kosmonooit, on 20 June 2012 - 01:10 , said:

There's an upside and a downside of going the PC route, the unbeatable upside is that there is no limit. Often you find one media file will not play in Zoom or VLC, only Windows Media, and so on.

Then there is no limit on Youtube / Flash formats, some things work only in IE etc etc and lets not forget Microsoft's Silverlight which only runs on Windows.

Fit an SSD in that box and you are sorted. Keep media files on Ext HDD or on your home LAN / NAS.

For sure. Assuming that you would control that via a keyboard and mouse?

[Slowbee]

now to sound really stuoopid.

does this mean you keep all your videos that you watch  ? I mean once you have seen it, no need to keep it ?

[Grebel]

kosmonooit, on 20 June 2012 - 01:13 , said:

No necessarly. A lot of lot screens have a VGA input and certainly HDMI now  so depends what your laptop has as a second port. DVI can interface to HDMI with a simple cable, VGA to HDMI not impossible but expensive, better to get a USB HDMI port

If you have a laptop then the connection is simply a cable interface. If you have a PC in another room, you need a separate interface (unless you run a loooong cable and don't mind getting up to go to the PC to control the media). I think some of the newer flat screens have a built in media player. Not sure how good they are. I have a PS3 which I currently use, but some of my "backed up" movies are having issued with the Cinavia bull that Sony have gotten into bed with that mutes the audio if the digital watermark is not evident on the audio track...

[Grebel]

Slowbee, on 20 June 2012 - 01:19 , said:

now to sound really stuoopid.

does this mean you keep all your videos that you watch  ? I mean once you have seen it, no need to keep it ?

You don't sound like you have kids....

Edit: I have sport related movies as well. MTB, motorsport (Crusty demons, Nitro Circus, Romaniacs etc) that I watch over again.

Edited by Grebel, 20 June 2012 - 01:22 .

[kosmonooit]

There is no unique solution, and lots of options here, but I can say that the dedicated box solution is limited.  Even the media player aspects of the screens. The world of media file formats is a maze. For example mp4  or mkv is not a format. Its a wrapper. Embedded in that is another format which your player might not be able to handle. Then there is the plethora of sub title formants

And another factor in favour of the PC solution, making 'backup' copies of DVD's and handling Region coding problems. Install SlySoft's AnyDVD and you are sorted.

Slowbee some media is worth keeping on line. For me what is Nature and History docs, which I never tire of watching repeats of.

[kosmonooit]

Grebel, on 20 June 2012 - 01:20 , said:

If you have a laptop then the connection is simply a cable interface. If you have a PC in another room, you need a separate interface (unless you run a loooong cable and don't mind getting up to go to the PC to control the media). I think some of the newer flat screens have a built in media player. Not sure how good they are. I have a PS3 which I currently use, but some of my "backed up" movies are having issued with the Cinavia bull that Sony have gotten into bed with that mutes the audio if the digital watermark is not evident on the audio track...

It depends if you have matching interfaces between the laptop and the TV. Most late model laptops have HDMI, older have VGA or DVI and mentioned those scenarios.

Long cables can be  problem, there is a limit with these things. For long stretches you need Baluns, that gets pricey.

hwww.hdcabling.co.za are a good local source.

As you say PS3 / XBox works to a point but they are limited in terms of formats and DRM can be nasty. Updates cut off formats that they don't like or feel threatened by.

[MockTurtle]

kosmonooit, on 20 June 2012 - 01:29 , said:

There is no unique solution, and lots of options here, but I can say that the dedicated box solution is limited.  Even the media player aspects of the screens. The world of media file formats is a maze. For example mp4  or mkv is not a format. Its a wrapper. Embedded in that is another format which your player might not be able to handle. Then there is the plethora of sub title formants

And another factor in favour of the PC solution, making 'backup' copies of DVD's and handling Region coding problems. Install SlySoft's AnyDVD and you are sorted.

Slowbee some media is worth keeping on line. For me what is Nature and History docs, which I never tire of watching repeats of.

+1

Went for HP Microserver running linux + XBMC setup. Also serves as the SABnzb/uTorrent/Sickbeard/mass storage server.
Sure a lot of customization involved but its soooo worth it at the end.
And yeah avoid wireless if possible. My HD streams over wifi seem to stutter whenever someone nukes food in the microwave
Used to have the Xtreamer (same ideas as WD live) and the XBMC setup is so much neater.

edit: oh, and btw, this setup cost me less than 2k all in.

Edited by MockTurtle, 20 June 2012 - 01:51 .

[Grebel]

kosmonooit, on 20 June 2012 - 01:36 , said:

As you say PS3 / XBox works to a point but they are limited in terms of formats and DRM can be nasty. Updates cut off formats that they don't like or feel threatened by.

That's what happenned to the PS3. My old media player literally played anything. Sony released an update with the cinavia bit in it and that's when the trouble started. I can't even roll back the update. I sold my Chronos because I thought I had no use for it... wish I had kept it now.

[agteros]

Grebel, on 20 June 2012 - 12:13 , said:

Found this old topic while using the search function.... I have been looking at a Mede8er as well as the WD TV Live media players. Is it possible to stream to your TV directly from a website such as Freecaster or Redbull Live TV using either one of these devices?

What else are you using that can stream from a PC via a LAN cable (Besides these two already mentioned)? I need movies (avi and mkv), music, pictures and live streaming off a website would be nice as well (perhaps even Youtube...)?

I recently got hold of the WDTV Streaming model...
2USB ports
Wifi
LAN
HDMI output
plays all kinds of formats (even .flv / .klv)

http://wdc.com/en/pr...cts.aspx?id=330 lists the myriad of online media sites it can stream from.

There is even an Android app to control it remotely (via Wifi)

Very happy with my purchase!


For the older, non-streaming models there is custom firmware (http://wdlxtv.com/) which allows you to use USB hubs / DVD roms etc - just make sure you have the correct device, otherwise you'll end up with a light weight brick!

[Grebel]

RoboCyclist, on 20 June 2012 - 10:29 , said:

I recently got hold of the WDTV Streaming model...
2USB ports
Wifi
LAN
HDMI output
plays all kinds of formats (even .flv / .klv)

http://wdc.com/en/pr...cts.aspx?id=330 lists the myriad of online media sites it can stream from.

There is even an Android app to control it remotely (via Wifi)

Very happy with my purchase!


For the older, non-streaming models there is custom firmware (http://wdlxtv.com/) which allows you to use USB hubs / DVD roms etc - just make sure you have the correct device, otherwise you'll end up with a light weight brick!

That looks like the one. Having a look at the streaming sites and it includes RedbullTV, Vimeo and Youtube among a host of others that probably aren't available to us. The RedbullTV means I should be able to watch the international DH on my flat screen hopefully in HD Do you know if it is possible?

After chatting to a few salesman yesterday they seem to be under the impression that no media players that are locally available will stream live from the internet. If this device will do that then it should be a done deal!

[Grebel]

What is the model number of the streaming one or is it just the WD TV Live? I just filterred the chanells for Africa and the list is still quite long!!

[agteros]

WDBGXT0000NBK is the number on the price list.

I've not even had it for a week, and tried the YouTube streaming, not the video streaming options. 1meg ADSL line is not really up to the task for streaming higher definition video

Was able to stream Shoutcast, or one of the other radio streams - not too sure which, was just playing around.

[fandacious]

RoboCyclist, on 21 June 2012 - 09:17 , said:

WDBGXT0000NBK is the number on the price list.

1meg ADSL line is not really up to the task for streaming higher definition video

well then you're in luck. telkom is upgrading all 1mb to 2mb for free in the next 2 months

[agteros]

fandacious, on 21 June 2012 - 09:18 , said:

well then you're in luck. telkom is upgrading all 1mb to 2mb for free in the next 2 months

yep, I know.... But I'm nearly 3km from any exchange. Had 4meg but had to lower the sync profile down to 1 for the connection to be stable. Dropped to 512 subscription, which got bumped up to 1meg.

My only hope is fibre....

[fandacious]

RoboCyclist, on 21 June 2012 - 09:20 , said:

yep, I know.... But I'm nearly 3km from any exchange. Had 4meg but had to lower the sync profile down to 1 for the connection to be stable. Dropped to 512 subscription, which got bumped up to 1meg.

My only hope is fibre....

upto 5km should still get you a stable 4mb connection. unless the copper is dodgy...

anyways... telkom are replacing dslams with MSANS which will shorten the local loop drastically, so at some point it should improve

[kosmonooit]

In terms of live streaming,  low res is feasible at this stage, mainly because of up-stream net congestion, not to do with any limitations of technology.

So Eurosport, Redbull TV that is streamed live is watchable, but not quite normal TV res but good enough. Buffering from time to time, but not really an issue.

HD live Streaming: forget it.  If you want to watch HD broadcasts, join a Torrent indexing website like cycletorrents (which are private) members cap streams then seed them, you d/l and watch the next day.

Youtube can get congested (upstream). Best hit the pause button, let it d/l then watch uninterrupted

Edited by kosmonooit, 21 June 2012 - 09:28 .