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Video Appliance For a Large Library On a Network?
devjj writes "For the past year or so I have been trying (and failing) to figure out a reasonable solution for bringing my large media library to my living room. All of my media lives on an Ubuntu server that sits on my network. It's been very reliable and it's fast enough for streaming purposes. My content is exposed via SMB. It's the living room side where I keep running into problems. I am currently using Windows 7 and XBMC, but the case is too big and noisy, I don't particularly care for Windows, and the whole thing just seems overkill. What I want is a device that can present a decent UI that the non-Slashdot crowd would be able to use, but that is still powerful enough to stream full-fidelity 1080p. I dream of a small box that can transcode video over a network, but that's probably a pipe dream. The new Apple TV would be great if it could connect to network shares. What say you, Slashdot? Is what I'm looking for possible, or should I just give in to the iTunes/Amazon/whatever juggernauts?"
You will want this: http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.asp?driveid=735
And this: http://b-rad.cc/wdlxtv-live/
Simple, effective and above all...cheap.
Option 1: ReadyNAS Duo (built in torrent client) + WD TV Live (simple remote)
Option 2: Ubuntu server on network + PS3MediaServer + Sony PS3 (enable HDMI CEC for use with TV remote)
Option 3: Fritz!Box 7270 + USB HDD + PS3 as DLNA client / built in DLNA client on TV
Option 4: ASRock ION330 + Ubuntu
Option 5: Mac Mini + Apple Remote + Plex / XBMC + NAS/USB HDD
The key bottle neck is the network, if you can run LAN cables no worries, if you decide to go wireless 802.11n will do fine for 720p, 1080p is pushing it
It's a catergory of device known as a NMT - network media tank. There are various ones, and I have a popcorn A110
You can put a hard drive in it and store/play media from there
You can hook a usb drive to it and store/play media from that
It also acts a a usb device, you can plug it into a pc and use it as a usb drive
you can plug it into a network and hook up multiple servers, either via nfs/smb or http streaming (no wifi on mine)
It runs ftp / http so you can browse it and use it, the device it self, as a server to stream media to your PC
It has 'web apps' built it so you can view many online video services and video/podcasts etc, (but not youtube afaik)
It has hdmi,composite and component out for video output
it has optical out and phono stereo for sound out (and the hdmi)
it plays just about everything i've thrown at it, full 1080p, dvd rips, xvids, crappy phone vids
no lagging, no jumping, seeking it very fast even on 18GB blu ray rips
Support for various video modes, refresh rates and 24fps, progressive/interlaced.
In terms of hooking it to your TVs think of it like a set top box - so one device per TV, unless you want to take the output and split it/distribute it.
I got it because I was fed up of a myth tv box whirring away in the corner of the living room
This thing (without a HD inside) is silent. And by silent i don't mean nearly silent, but actually silent, no moving parts.
I just point it at my video share on my linux server and it plays everything.
For movies, you may want to check out YAMJ, whichi makes it all shiny and nice (think apple TV / xbmc) but tbh I don't need any of that 'I watch, I delete'
Also, with a HD inside you can opt to have a torrent client (transmission IIRC) which will download straight on to it for your viewing pleasure..
for ease of use and WAF / Child AF totally recommend.
I do this for my PS3, and there are a few issues that would make me NOT recommend it for the OP.
Occasionally my PS3 refuses to find the media server and both have to be restarted. Not a huge deal, but annoying- especially to someone who doesn't know how to reboot the media server.
Sometimes PS3 Media Server doesn't get the auto-transocde right. So you have to browse to the TRANSCODE folder on your PS3 and select a transocde preset manually. Very handy for a techie, not user friendly at all.
The interface on the PS3 kinda sucks. It's a basic hierarchy-style file browser. Yes you can find something if it's labeled properly. I have a "TV" and "Movies" folder, and in there each show or movie has its own folder and in that is the media file(s) associated with it. But after using XBMC or Boxee which automatically find your media, pull all of the metadata you'd ever want about it, then make it easily searchable, you'll realize just how much the PS3 is missing. They both offer WAY more in terms of usability, plus Boxee streams all kinds of fun internet content. I had occasion to run Boxee this summer after using my PS3 for 2 years, and it was like fucking magic.
"Upon attaching the waterblock to my penis, I began to notice that I know nothing about computers." -- JRockway
No shit, He can get a 1080p player from WD for about $120 that'll play just about any format thrown at it, uses something like 12w, and as a bonus is small and light enough he can easily take it and a USB drive anywhere he wants.I have set up a couple of these systems for those with kids and the WD boxes are pretty solid, no noise, and make a great replacement for the family DVD player. Blowing the money on a Mac Mini (or hell any PC unless he has an old SFF P4 laying around he isn't using) for a streaming player is just nuts.
ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.