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Ask Slashdot: What's Your Preferred Media Streaming Device?

Posted by BeauHD on from the all-in-one-devices dept.

New submitter bkr1_2k writes: Way back when, I had a PC dedicated as a media server using MythTV. That died and I didn't bother building a new one. Consumer electronics caught up and I recently bought an Apple TV (3rd Generation) to use for streaming my media library. I am, unsurprisingly, finding flaws with it. I'm looking for alternative devices that allow me to stream from my media server directly, without the need for a middleman app like iTunes for the Apple TV. I don't need a ton of streaming services (we have Netflix and Amazon Prime but don't use anything else). I primarily want to use this for streaming my own music and movie libraries over my home network, preferably with a user interface that lets me browse those in a fashion that doesn't force me to scroll through my whole library to get to the title that starts with the letter "Z" (A very poor design choice in the Apple TV). Nor do I want any voice controls since they all suck, in my experience. I would prefer an 'open' device that I can update at will with add-ons, but it's not a requirement. What are the current options out there? Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast. Anything else that might fit my needs better? Last week, we asked a similar question: "What's your preferred music streaming service?"

4 of 226 comments (clear)

  1. Raspberry Pi & OSMC by uncle+slacky · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Raspi with Kodi (OSMC is good) does it for me.

    --
    Windows is like the faint smell of piss in a subway: it's there, and there's nothing you can do about it.
    1. Re:Raspberry Pi & OSMC by thegarbz · · Score: 3, Interesting

      In 2001 the HDMI spec added CEC. Pretty much every TV made in the past 10 years supports it. You don't need a fancy app. Just plug the RPi into the TV with a HDMI cable and use your TV remote to control Kodi.

      Or if you really get stuck you can add an IR receiver to the RPi for $2 and 30min worth of entry level electronics effort.

  2. Playstation 4 by mcb · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I use my PS4 with Netflix, Amazon Prime, MLB At Bat, rented Blurays and Plex Media Server (for my local content). Works flawlessly. Only complaint is no support for 5ghz wireless.

  3. Re:Roku + Plex Media Server by Scyber · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Plex from Roku no longer uses the default Roku UI screens. It uses a completely custom UI. It pretty much matches the functionality of the Plex clients across other TV devices.