The BB experiment is now officially over. Got bored with all the workarounds and making it o stuff it should have apps for, if they hadn't upgraded the firmware and f**ked up all the stuff that used to work before they broke it.
Blanked out all my personal info, wiped it's memory and reset the BB to factory specs and took it back to Fry's. No issues with returning it, even after 2+ months and they gave me full store credit even. Got the Roku XS, which was $94 (I paid $170 for my BB). Fry's matches all internet pricing, which is cool.
Only spent about 30 minutes setting up and playing with it. Other than not getting it configured with PlayOn, Plex or XBMC to play network media files, it kicks BBs ass. Without having to do anything at all, it was out-of-the-box ready to run Hulu + and Amazon VOD without having to go through a third-party or altering code. I would still like a fully functioning web browser and ESPN networks, which do not run on the Wii, but after a quick Google search this a.m., I found this old post: http://www.playon.tv/blog/playon-launches-wii-beta (http://www.playon.tv/blog/playon-launches-wii-beta)
Plex was pretty easy to setup but the channel is not in the channel store. It's a private channel you have to add from your Roku account at their web site. Just enter plex as the code and it will automatically add the channel and it will find the Plex server on your network (assuming you have it running somewhere). As far as I know there is no way to use XBMC with it. I think there is something for PlayOn but PlayOn is not free.
I was wondering how that private channel thing worked. I glanced at it last night and it sounds like if you have a movie collection and I have a movie collection, we can give each other our private channel info and we can share our libraries, provided the HD that has the media is turned on, and active on the local network that Roku is connected to. It's not supposed to be used that way (did we NOT learn anything from Napster?) but it could be. I think what I read it said something about a business presentation, as an example. Maybe if you're interested, once we get up an running we can swap info offline and double our viewing options.
Was just reading (here (http://www.playonplugins.com/index.php?topic=5344.0)) that you can load PlayOn with the Roku, and there is a Navi-X plug-in for it, which is way cool.
Quote from: DigiCorn on February 22, 2012, 11:47:08 AMI was wondering how that private channel thing worked. I glanced at it last night and it sounds like if you have a movie collection and I have a movie collection, we can give each other our private channel info and we can share our libraries, provided the HD that has the media is turned on, and active on the local network that Roku is connected to. It's not supposed to be used that way (did we NOT learn anything from Napster?) but it could be. I think what I read it said something about a business presentation, as an example. Maybe if you're interested, once we get up an running we can swap info offline and double our viewing options.
Was just reading (here (http://www.playonplugins.com/index.php?topic=5344.0)) that you can load PlayOn with the Roku, and there is a Navi-X plug-in for it, which is way cool.
Link to where it says you can share Roku content?
:popcorn:
I read it online when I was setting it up. It said something like: If you want to create a private channel for a business meeting... something like that. Can't find it now, but found this: To add a private or beta channel you must first get a code from the channel developer. Second, you must have a Roku account, and you must be logged in. This ensures that unauthorized users cannot add a private channel to your Roku player without your consent. Third, you enter the code provided by the channel developer here. After linking, the private or beta channel will appear on your Roku player's home screen, alongside your other channels (like Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, etc).
http://www.roku.com/developer (http://www.roku.com/developer)
Found this just now: http://www.squidoo.com/roku-channels (http://www.squidoo.com/roku-channels)
The code for Plex is plex. Still don't know how you could share that over over the internet though.
Just installed the USB channel and hooked up a spare USB drive to the boxee. Copied two movies I had ripped previously. One played great. One gets hung up on loading. Will have to investigate further later.
I have a 3TB external and a 1TB external. The idea, maybe, is to take a bunch of stuff I like and copy it to the 1TB and plug into Roku so it's just there; it's a USB. The 3TB is for all backup stuff and extra media files.
Depending on Joe's success that's what I'm planning. I have a 2tb external that I will fill with media (transcoding if needed) and leave it connected. Then buy a larger external for backup use.
Hmmm... wonder if you can transfer from the SD to the USB external through the Roku box. That way I can update the external drive while leaving it plugged in.
I also wonder if the Roku box will spin down the external USB when not in use. That would be perfect.
Quote from: Farabomb on February 22, 2012, 02:55:03 PMDepending on Joe's success that's what I'm planning. I have a 2tb external that I will fill with media (transcoding if needed) and leave it connected. Then buy a larger external for backup use.
Hmmm... wonder if you can transfer from the SD to the USB external through the Roku box. That way I can update the external drive while leaving it plugged in.
I also wonder if the Roku box will spin down the external USB when not in use. That would be perfect.
My guess is no and no. At least I don't see any kind of file management possibility in the USB channel and I just don't think the Roku is smart enough to spin down an unused drive. And there was nothing in the documentation about it. It's easy enough to just turn it off when not in use.
I think the movie that wouldn't play was a file I was testing different transcoding settings with Handbrake. I will test more thoroughly tomorrow. I left about 30 movies copying to the external I'm planning on using with Roku.
Again, not a deal breaker if it doesn't. Unplugging and updating won't be all that hard.
I am wondering if the dock part of the external I have actually powers it down or it's the OS. It's possible it has firmware that will put it into sleep if it detects long idle periods. All my older externals never did spin down.
Quote from: Farabomb on February 22, 2012, 04:09:17 PMAgain, not a deal breaker if it doesn't. Unplugging and updating won't be all that hard.
I am wondering if the dock part of the external I have actually powers it down or it's the OS. It's possible it has firmware that will put it into sleep if it detects long idle periods. All my older externals never did spin down.
The one I'm going to use doesn't have a fan or a switch to turn it off and I know it spins all day if not in use so I will just unplug it when not in use. Newer more expensive enclosures I suppose could have that option. I know none of mine do though.
Quote from: Joe on February 22, 2012, 04:20:20 PMQuote from: Farabomb on February 22, 2012, 04:09:17 PMAgain, not a deal breaker if it doesn't. Unplugging and updating won't be all that hard.
I am wondering if the dock part of the external I have actually powers it down or it's the OS. It's possible it has firmware that will put it into sleep if it detects long idle periods. All my older externals never did spin down.
The one I'm going to use doesn't have a fan or a switch to turn it off and I know it spins all day if not in use so I will just unplug it when not in use. Newer more expensive enclosures I suppose could have that option. I know none of mine do though.
The 1TB does not have a on/off switch and no fan but it does spin down when I shut down Vista 64-bit. I updated the firmware to run 64-bit, so I imagine I'll have to reformat for use with Roku.
The 3TB is still in the box, so I don't know what all it's got. It's a Hitachi. The 1TB is a Seagate.
The Roku manual says it uses less power than a night light and there's no on/off switch; it just stays on all the time (so it can run automatic updates, etc.). I noticed after about 10 minutes of no use last night, mine went into sleep mode (you can change the length of time in the settings). I'm curious to see if this sleep mode is enough to spin down the external?
Mine doesn't go into sleep mode. The screen saver just kicks after after the designated amount of time.
Ya bunch of bastards. Couldn't resist the temptation so I stopped and picked up the last one at Target. Damn the thing is tiny.
Think it took longer to get my wireless keyboard and trackball to install than getting it up and running. Downloading updates and angry birds took a bit because of my crappy connection but it's pretty much idiot proof. So far the image quality seems better than the apps on my internet TV. Haven't played with Pandora yet but as long as it actually quits when I ask it to, rather than shutting off for 30 seconds then continuing playing like the TV app does I'm happy.
I'll play around this weekend with the USB and such but so far I'm quite happy with my ROI on it. Great, more TV to make me lazy but it sure beats paying the monthly fee on cable that I'll watch only a few channels.
Quote from: Farabomb on February 22, 2012, 07:32:10 PMYa bunch of bastards. Couldn't resist the temptation so I stopped and picked up the last one at Target. Damn the thing is tiny.
Think it took longer to get my wireless keyboard and trackball to install than getting it up and running. Downloading updates and angry birds took a bit because of my crappy connection but it's pretty much idiot proof. So far the image quality seems better than the apps on my internet TV. Haven't played with Pandora yet but as long as it actually quits when I ask it to, rather than shutting off for 30 seconds then continuing playing like the TV app does I'm happy.
I'll play around this weekend with the USB and such but so far I'm quite happy with my ROI on it. Great, more TV to make me lazy but it sure beats paying the monthly fee on cable that I'll watch only a few channels.
Us?
<======== :angel:
Quote from: Farabomb on February 22, 2012, 07:32:10 PMYa bunch of bastards. Couldn't resist the temptation so I stopped and picked up the last one at Target. Damn the thing is tiny.
Think it took longer to get my wireless keyboard and trackball to install than getting it up and running. Downloading updates and angry birds took a bit because of my crappy connection but it's pretty much idiot proof. So far the image quality seems better than the apps on my internet TV. Haven't played with Pandora yet but as long as it actually quits when I ask it to, rather than shutting off for 30 seconds then continuing playing like the TV app does I'm happy.
I'll play around this weekend with the USB and such but so far I'm quite happy with my ROI on it. Great, more TV to make me lazy but it sure beats paying the monthly fee on cable that I'll watch only a few channels.
All my movies from the USB drive now play. The one that wouldn't earlier was a test I was doing using different encoding settings. Pretty much using the standard Handbrake settings, everything plays. Quality is every bit as good as the original DVD. I have to figure out how to get captions but regardless of that I'm a very happy camper with my Roku so far.
I'll be happy once I figure out how to get Navi-X running. The wife watched Contagion on Navi-X on Boxee Box when I was out of town a weekend or two ago. Now she won't shut up about it. I spoiled myself by streaming to the big tv on the comfortable couch, and now I don't want to go back to the futon and the 32".
I was skimming through some of the movie apps last night. There are literally thousands of free movies on Roku, but a lot of them are dogs. Still, Crackle or Flix or one of those has a bunch of campy horror films that could easily fill my time over a weekend or two (Psycho, Child's Play, all the Saws, etc.)
I have to wait until the weekend or on a night my wife works to really get into the thing and see what all there is going on. So far, a way better experience than the Boxee Box.
I have been reading the Roku user forums and PM'd a few of the guys over there. Here's one of the responses I got:
Hi
You might want to look into the playon tv private channel. They do not allow discussion of this channel on the roku forums so please do not reference this PM back on the forum or associate me with any discussion of Playon. Espn3 does work wonderfully via this channel if your ISP provides the stream. They offer a free trial, no credit card required to try the channel out. It is a server program so you do have to have the software running on a computer on the same network as the roku to make it work.
More info
http://www.playon.tv/playon/ (http://www.playon.tv/playon/)
Good Luck and happy espn3 viewing
I've had a few cornsumer electronic video gadgets, (original Arcos player, D-Link DSM320), all DOGS. The original Roku I have - not a dog. How is it that a little company like that can get something so right?
Getting more and more tempted to get an XS.
There is no one set-top box to rule them all... but Roku is cheap, simple, and the workarounds work and are easy. I say go for it.
Quote from: DigiCorn on February 23, 2012, 09:16:13 AMI'll be happy once I figure out how to get Navi-X running. The wife watched Contagion on Navi-X on Boxee Box when I was out of town a weekend or two ago. Now she won't shut up about it. I spoiled myself by streaming to the big tv on the comfortable couch, and now I don't want to go back to the futon and the 32".
I was skimming through some of the movie apps last night. There are literally thousands of free movies on Roku, but a lot of them are dogs. Still, Crackle or Flix or one of those has a bunch of campy horror films that could easily fill my time over a weekend or two (Psycho, Child's Play, all the Saws, etc.)
I have to wait until the weekend or on a night my wife works to really get into the thing and see what all there is going on. So far, a way better experience than the Boxee Box.
I have been reading the Roku user forums and PM'd a few of the guys over there. Here's one of the responses I got:
Hi
You might want to look into the playon tv private channel. They do not allow discussion of this channel on the roku forums so please do not reference this PM back on the forum or associate me with any discussion of Playon. Espn3 does work wonderfully via this channel if your ISP provides the stream. They offer a free trial, no credit card required to try the channel out. It is a server program so you do have to have the software running on a computer on the same network as the roku to make it work.
More info
http://www.playon.tv/playon/ (http://www.playon.tv/playon/)
Good Luck and happy espn3 viewing
Plex has an ESPN3 channel. I tried it yesterday and get an error on the screen for everything I tried to watch which it seems is pretty typical of most plugins/channels/apps for Boxee, XBMC, and Plex. Roku has sports channels like CBS Sports, MLB and a bunch of others but not ESPN that I can find. Although I have added the Plex channel to Roku I don't see me using it much since #1 I don't like to leave the server running on my Mac all of the time (which as you pointed out, you would have to do with playon) and #2 I can watch Plex/XBMC/Boxee via HDMI connection direct from the Mac to the TV without clogging up the network. Navi-X on the Roku would be nice but it's not a deal breaker for me as I can watch it via XBMC if I want to see it.
When all it did was play Netflix I bought the original, for $90. I'm still totally satisfied with it, for that price, and for that sole function - because it did just that one thing so much better than the other options. Now that my original roku has more channels on it I still just use it for that one thing that it did so well that initially got me to buy it. I can see getting another one for the living room (where the original roku lived for a long time until we got the htpc with boxee) - just because netflix playback is superior on it to watching via pc.
Roksbox looks promising. It's a private channel which allows you to stream video, music, and photos from your network to the Roku or play content from a USB device. It is a private channel and has a non-recurring lifetime fee of $15.00 which will allow you to use it on all Roku devices in your home...it has a free 30 day trial period though so I'm going to test it out.
You can add the channel here (you must be logged into your Roku account): ROKSBOX (https://owner.roku.com/add/P1KWQ)
Another one (public) is RoConnect. It's $0.99. It's in the channel store.
I just had to go to Fry's for work to buy an NAS 2TB external to fix our backup problems as we convert from AIT to DVD/Blu-Ray and they had restocked with Rokus. I got mine a few days ago, and they only had one XS box left, and open box and it was missing the AV cable for $94 (which I didn't need anyway because of the HDMI). Today they had special edition Red XS with an angry bird logo stenciled on top for $99 new and $79 open box. I had my receipt with me, and Fry's price matches, so I got $16.16 in cash back for the price match! Awesome... only I have the black box with an XS stenciled on it... it might have been cool to get the red one, but the black one is stealthier on my AV rack.
AV rack? it's so small you can velcro it to the back of the TV.
Quote from: Farabomb on February 23, 2012, 03:02:07 PMAV rack? it's so small you can velcro it to the back of the TV.
You could, but then you'd have to upgrade to the UHF remote instead of using the IR one it comes with. Unless there's an iphone/android app I'm not aware of.
Just bought the android app today and the remote that comes with the XS is RF, not IR. RTFM man!
I was cruising the forums today, noticed your post and stumbled onto a FAQ/Tweak post where I found the app.
The Roku ships, batteries included. Mine must be dead already, because it doesn't act like a UHF/RF remote - it acts like an IR. I swear I read that you could upgrade to the RF remote.
BTW, here's a page from the manual. RTFM yourself :lmao:
EEEEKS!
the rf remote on my original is probably the best rf remote I've ever owned, as far as range and not caring what direction it is pointed.
EDIT: IR REMOTE doh all these damn acronyms :old:
Quote from: DigiCorn on February 23, 2012, 04:02:37 PMThe Roku ships, batteries included. Mine must be dead already, because it doesn't act like a UHF/RF remote - it acts like an IR. I swear I read that you could upgrade to the RF remote.
BTW, here's a page from the manual. RTFM yourself :lmao:
That's for the wireless network signal. Not the remote.
shhhh! I got 'im on the ropes.
That AV rack sounds like an enclosure to me. :tongue:
Quote from: Farabomb on February 23, 2012, 06:19:36 PMThat AV rack sounds like an enclosure to me. :tongue:
It's a rack. It's a glass shelf above a wooden shelf. Open air all around.
In other news, set up PlayOn last night. Found out two things:
PlayOn does not "play on" on any Roku 2 device. BUT if you buy a lifetime premium license ($79.95) you get a free Roku LT box that WILL play PlayOn. So I went ahead and bought it, since I anticipate using it a lot. Reading the forums, ESPN3 streams great to the LT, and for college football alone, it's totally worth it (I spent more than that last year on tickets and online subscriptions to follow/stream my team). There's also a Fox soccer channel that I know my in-laws will watch when they come over. Plus, I will now have Roku in the bedroom and living room with this deal.
Going to set up Plex tonight as a backup, and then it's on to installing Navi-X.
There are remote apps for the Roku available but the phone might have to be rooted. I found 2 for my phone but there were none for my GF's pone. :huh:
I have the android Roku remote. Used it last night. It's a bit sensitive, but works great. I also set up PlayOn for the android.
Quote from: DigiCorn on February 24, 2012, 09:05:37 AMQuote from: Farabomb on February 23, 2012, 06:19:36 PMThat AV rack sounds like an enclosure to me. :tongue:
It's a rack. It's a glass shelf above a wooden shelf. Open air all around.
In other news, set up PlayOn last night. Found out two things:
PlayOn does not "play on" on any Roku 2 device. BUT if you buy a lifetime premium license ($79.95) you get a free Roku LT box that WILL play PlayOn. So I went ahead and bought it, since I anticipate using it a lot. Reading the forums, ESPN3 streams great to the LT, and for college football alone, it's totally worth it (I spent more than that last year on tickets and online subscriptions to follow/stream my team). There's also a Fox soccer channel that I know my in-laws will watch when they come over. Plus, I will now have Roku in the bedroom and living room with this deal.
Going to set up Plex tonight as a backup, and then it's on to installing Navi-X.
stop giving me more options, I can't decide how to set stuff up already
Quote from: DigiCorn on February 24, 2012, 09:05:37 AMQuote from: Farabomb on February 23, 2012, 06:19:36 PMThat AV rack sounds like an enclosure to me. :tongue:
It's a rack. It's a glass shelf above a wooden shelf. Open air all around.
In other news, set up PlayOn last night. Found out two things:
PlayOn does not "play on" on any Roku 2 device. BUT if you buy a lifetime premium license ($79.95) you get a free Roku LT box that WILL play PlayOn. So I went ahead and bought it, since I anticipate using it a lot. Reading the forums, ESPN3 streams great to the LT, and for college football alone, it's totally worth it (I spent more than that last year on tickets and online subscriptions to follow/stream my team). There's also a Fox soccer channel that I know my in-laws will watch when they come over. Plus, I will now have Roku in the bedroom and living room with this deal.
Going to set up Plex tonight as a backup, and then it's on to installing Navi-X.
Navi-X on Plex? Don't think it is available for Plex.
So it will play only on the Roku LT but not any Roku2? Why is that?
Quote from: Joe on February 24, 2012, 12:20:17 PMQuote from: DigiCorn on February 24, 2012, 09:05:37 AMQuote from: Farabomb on February 23, 2012, 06:19:36 PMThat AV rack sounds like an enclosure to me. :tongue:
It's a rack. It's a glass shelf above a wooden shelf. Open air all around.
In other news, set up PlayOn last night. Found out two things:
PlayOn does not "play on" on any Roku 2 device. BUT if you buy a lifetime premium license ($79.95) you get a free Roku LT box that WILL play PlayOn. So I went ahead and bought it, since I anticipate using it a lot. Reading the forums, ESPN3 streams great to the LT, and for college football alone, it's totally worth it (I spent more than that last year on tickets and online subscriptions to follow/stream my team). There's also a Fox soccer channel that I know my in-laws will watch when they come over. Plus, I will now have Roku in the bedroom and living room with this deal.
Going to set up Plex tonight as a backup, and then it's on to installing Navi-X.
Navi-X on Plex? Don't think it is available for Plex.
So it will play only on the Roku LT but not any Roku2? Why is that?
According to PlayOn's website, there is a line in the Roku 2's firmware that prevents PlayOn from streaming properly. The folks at Roku HATE the folks at PlayOn and won't do anything to help them or cooperate in the development of their private channel, so for now it only works on lower Roku models.
Had trouble figuring out Navi-X for PlayOn and couldn't find any concrete help on the internet.
As for Navi-X on Plex, I thought I saw it was available, but on further reading, development stalled.
I can always run Navi-X off my computer, but as for Roku I might be SOL.
Navi-X works well on XBMC but you can't use XBMC on the Roku like you can Plex. I read the same thing where the development of Navi-X for Plex is pretty much dead.
I just wrote one of the Navi-X guys to see what's up with PlayOn and Navi-X
http://deviceguru.com/google-tv-vs-apple-tv-vs-boxee-vs-roku/ (http://deviceguru.com/google-tv-vs-apple-tv-vs-boxee-vs-roku/)
more confusion for you guys...
Read that. Roku looks like the way to go... with PlayOn (Not the Roku 2, oddly, but a lower version).
Bought a NAS for personal use ($135 for 2TB, but I added another 2TB for $130 more). Used handbrake to prep files and streaming on Roku with the Roksbox. Very nice!
If you decide you're looking for a cheap NAS for personal use (not sure how well this would hold up in a work environment) check this out: http://www.amazon.com/Buffalo-Technology-CloudStor-CS-WX2-0-1D/dp/B004RFGK2Q/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1330361981&sr=1-2 (http://www.amazon.com/Buffalo-Technology-CloudStor-CS-WX2-0-1D/dp/B004RFGK2Q/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1330361981&sr=1-2)
If you add a second drive, it's a 2TB max addition for a total of 4TB. You can use the Buffalo software to make your own 4TB RAID or have them display as 2 separate drives. I made mine 2 separate drives: 2TB for just music and the other 2TB for just movies. This is the drive I added: http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Caviar-Desktop-WD20EARX/dp/B004VFJ9MK/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1330362009&sr=1-2 (http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Caviar-Desktop-WD20EARX/dp/B004VFJ9MK/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1330362009&sr=1-2)
major show stopper with Plex for us is that it doesn't play out of .rars. The media server is good enough for the Roku to play some local media and web streaming stuff.
Installed and set up xbmc on my newly fixed htpc (which now runs a lot quieter thanks to a new psu and a vigorous blowing out with compressed air, and I've made it so the cats can't sleep on it anymore).
My setup will be Roku upstairs in the bedroom where it is now, htpc in the living room where it is now, running uTorrent and xbmc, a (newly purchased and on it's way) 19" led tv in the kitchen on an articulating wall mount arm, with probably a hdmi to cat 6 converter setup coming off the htpc and cable box, run down through the baseboard into the basement then back up into the kitchen feeding the kitchen tv off the living room gear so both can have the same thing on it.
I alternately have an idea of buying a small form factor pc, with xbmc and a cable box to the kitchen tv. There's a plugin for xbmc that supposedly will synchronize 2 xbmcs to play the same thing. I'll probably do this eventually as the wife likes to have a computer in the kitchen. I may just opt for using the android tablet with a hdmi cable instead, it'll play most stuff and be good for surfing the web, with a wireless keyboard/touchpad combo.
oh and there's a basement tv with a cable box and a wii, I think plex works for wii? not sure on this but it doesn't matter, never gets used.
PlayOn works for the Wii... and I spoke to a guy at Naxi-X who says development is all but over for Plex and PlayOn, which means forget about using Navi-X on anything other than a media PC. It "works" on Boxee, but he says to use XBMC if you want it to work best. Here's a cool site with stealth media PCs: http://xbmc.org/natethomas/2011/11/26/feature-friday-hidden-htpcs/ (http://xbmc.org/natethomas/2011/11/26/feature-friday-hidden-htpcs/)
Tried watching a college basketball game on Saturday on ESPN3. First I tried Plex but everything I tried to play just displayed the word "Error" on the screen. After looking at the Plex forum I found that ESPN3 has a list of ISP's that are only allowed to get ESPN3 and unfortunately my local ISP is not on the list so I thought I was dead in the water but just for kicks I tried ESPN3 on XBMC. It allowed me to watch it though there was a great deal of buffering and it often kicked me back out to the listing page. Was a real pain to try to watch. Can't find anyway to watch ESPN3 on the Roku either.
Digi, you mentioned you were using Roksbox. Wondering why you are using the pay option instead of the free USB Media channel?
Only issue I have been having is my suck ass internet is too damn slow. Some channels are better than others but some are unwatchable.
Some of the free channels are ad supported and while I don't mind and understand you have to pay the bills but every 10 minutes? Also don't just return back to the same spot, go back 10 seconds. Jumping in really screws with the flow.
Probably should start a new thread with the best channels free/paid.
Quote from: DigiCorn on February 27, 2012, 02:09:02 PMPlayOn works for the Wii... and I spoke to a guy at Naxi-X who says development is all but over for Plex and PlayOn, which means forget about using Navi-X on anything other than a media PC. It "works" on Boxee, but he says to use XBMC if you want it to work best. Here's a cool site with stealth media PCs: http://xbmc.org/natethomas/2011/11/26/feature-friday-hidden-htpcs/ (http://xbmc.org/natethomas/2011/11/26/feature-friday-hidden-htpcs/)
I haven't turned on the wii in months so doesn't matter. I think I used tversity with it and it "worked" but was so poky that it wasn't pleasurable to deal with.
Navi-x "worked" on boxee, but not as well as xbmc.
Looks like the dudes at Plex were kinda rude to ironbill from navi-x so he seemed to take that as "not interested" and left it at that, nobody else picked up the ball and boxee is pretty much dead except for ios, so moving on and seeing if xbmc is acceptable to the wife, it is similar enough to boxee, but boxee did a lot better job of identifying and sorting media, xbmc seems to have issue with tv and movies being all in the same directory (we just download all torrents to an unsorted folder and don't unrar them).
The kitchen pc will be a sff Atom D525 based box, only requirements beyond that are cheap, small, vesa mountable, and hdmi. I'm looking to spend well under $300 on that box, but may go with a prebuilt Lenovo for around $360 just because.
I didn't pay for Roksbox. I'm on a free trial to see if I like it better than Roku's media channel. I have AT&T, which is allowed for ESPN3. PlayOn has excellent streaming of ESPN3 on Roku, from what I've heard. But you have to have the LT Roku - not the Roku 2. PlayOn does not work for any Roku 2.
Quote from: t-pat on February 27, 2012, 03:26:58 PMQuote from: DigiCorn on February 27, 2012, 02:09:02 PMPlayOn works for the Wii... and I spoke to a guy at Naxi-X who says development is all but over for Plex and PlayOn, which means forget about using Navi-X on anything other than a media PC. It "works" on Boxee, but he says to use XBMC if you want it to work best. Here's a cool site with stealth media PCs: http://xbmc.org/natethomas/2011/11/26/feature-friday-hidden-htpcs/ (http://xbmc.org/natethomas/2011/11/26/feature-friday-hidden-htpcs/)
I haven't turned on the wii in months so doesn't matter. I think I used tversity with it and it "worked" but was so poky that it wasn't pleasurable to deal with.
Navi-x "worked" on boxee, but not as well as xbmc.
Looks like the dudes at Plex were kinda rude to ironbill from navi-x so he seemed to take that as "not interested" and left it at that, nobody else picked up the ball and boxee is pretty much dead except for ios, so moving on and seeing if xbmc is acceptable to the wife, it is similar enough to boxee, but boxee did a lot better job of identifying and sorting media, xbmc seems to have issue with tv and movies being all in the same directory (we just download all torrents to an unsorted folder and don't unrar them).
The kitchen pc will be a sff Atom D525 based box, only requirements beyond that are cheap, small, vesa mountable, and hdmi. I'm looking to spend well under $300 on that box, but may go with a prebuilt Lenovo for around $360 just because.
Rude was an understatement. I reread those posts about 3 times to make sure I understood. The Plex guys were assholes.
the plex guys seem like assholes in general. They took out rar playback support and just blew off everyone asking wtf please put it back, responses like "don't be so lazy, unrar your stuff and organize it" or "go buy another hard drive so you have room" - that's just dumb.
Personally, I'm OCD with my files so I unrar and organize everything so that wouldn't bother me. The fact that they removed it and answer with comments like that is just dickish. If you changed code and it's a bitch to go back, say that. No need to be a dick.
Quote from: t-pat on February 27, 2012, 03:26:58 PMQuote from: DigiCorn on February 27, 2012, 02:09:02 PMPlayOn works for the Wii... and I spoke to a guy at Naxi-X who says development is all but over for Plex and PlayOn, which means forget about using Navi-X on anything other than a media PC. It "works" on Boxee, but he says to use XBMC if you want it to work best. Here's a cool site with stealth media PCs: http://xbmc.org/natethomas/2011/11/26/feature-friday-hidden-htpcs/ (http://xbmc.org/natethomas/2011/11/26/feature-friday-hidden-htpcs/)
I haven't turned on the wii in months so doesn't matter. I think I used tversity with it and it "worked" but was so poky that it wasn't pleasurable to deal with.
Navi-x "worked" on boxee, but not as well as xbmc.
Looks like the dudes at Plex were kinda rude to ironbill from navi-x so he seemed to take that as "not interested" and left it at that, nobody else picked up the ball and boxee is pretty much dead except for ios, so moving on and seeing if xbmc is acceptable to the wife, it is similar enough to boxee, but boxee did a lot better job of identifying and sorting media, xbmc seems to have issue with tv and movies being all in the same directory (we just download all torrents to an unsorted folder and don't unrar them).
The kitchen pc will be a sff Atom D525 based box, only requirements beyond that are cheap, small, vesa mountable, and hdmi. I'm looking to spend well under $300 on that box, but may go with a prebuilt Lenovo for around $360 just because.
XBMC is my fav among it, Boxxee, ad Plex at the moment. The Netflix plugin for XBMC sucks ass but it's not made by the XBMC developers so I can't complain about it. I don't need it now anyway as I can do Netflix on the blu-ray in the living room and from the Roku in the family room. I was gifted a PC over the weekend that has an AMD Athlon 64 single core processor with a 1 gb video adapter w/hdmi so I'm hoping that will be strong enough to drive XBMC. Just need a remote receiver for it now but I have to get it hooked up and see if it's enough CPU to handle it.
TV/Movies in the same directory is a problem because you pick the scraper per folder. Either a movie or TV scraper. Whichever one you pick is probably not going to find the other info. But I've had some issues with XMBC trying to identify a TV show and it misses by a mile to something completely unrelated.
Quote from: Farabomb on February 27, 2012, 04:06:08 PMPersonally, I'm OCD with my files so I unrar and organize everything so that wouldn't bother me. The fact that they removed it and answer with comments like that is just dickish. If you changed code and it's a bitch to go back, say that. No need to be a dick.
I do that too. Plus it causes additional overhead for the media server to have to unrar them.
Quote from: Joe on February 27, 2012, 04:12:33 PMQuote from: Farabomb on February 27, 2012, 04:06:08 PMPersonally, I'm OCD with my files so I unrar and organize everything so that wouldn't bother me. The fact that they removed it and answer with comments like that is just dickish. If you changed code and it's a bitch to go back, say that. No need to be a dick.
I do that too. Plus it causes additional overhead for the media server to have to unrar them.
I just want to watch tv, I uncompress and organize files all day, and doing that with a remote control or even the wireless keyboard/touchpad deal is tedious, I have to pull up a chair closer to the tv so I can actually read what is going on. Ruins my 15' experience. The wife is the primary downloader and she's damn sure not going to take the time to unrar and organize files to watch once and delete.
As far as overhead, it's running a Core Quad 2.9xxghz processor and that's been able to handle just about everything rared, even ginormous .mkv bluray rips, with the occasional need to unrar something, but most of what we watch is tv shows so they aren't usually huge.
Quote from: Joe on February 27, 2012, 04:11:30 PMJust need a remote receiver for it now but I have to get it hooked up and see if it's enough CPU to handle it.
More RAM, but don't buy it from Apple. Actually, I don't know if thats good advice or not, but I heard it somewhere.
When you say remote receiver, do you mean an adapter that allows it to receive remote control commands, a remote control, or a wifi/wired connection?
XBMC has an app for Android, but I don't know about iPhone. I'm using the remote for Roku, and it's a tad sensitive, but works great.
Quote from: DigiCorn on February 27, 2012, 04:37:32 PMQuote from: Joe on February 27, 2012, 04:11:30 PMJust need a remote receiver for it now but I have to get it hooked up and see if it's enough CPU to handle it.
More RAM, but don't buy it from Apple. Actually, I don't know if thats good advice or not, but I heard it somewhere.
When you say remote receiver, do you mean an adapter that allows it to receive remote control commands, a remote control, or a wifi/wired connection?
XBMC has an app for Android, but I don't know about iPhone. I'm using the remote for Roku, and it's a tad sensitive, but works great.
USB receiver and remote is what I mean. The mac has the built in receiver with the remote but the PC does not.
Quote from: DigiCorn on February 27, 2012, 02:09:02 PMHere's a cool site with stealth media PCs: http://xbmc.org/natethomas/2011/11/26/feature-friday-hidden-htpcs/ (http://xbmc.org/natethomas/2011/11/26/feature-friday-hidden-htpcs/)
Did y'all see the device that's the prize in DigiCorn's link, very cool... http://www.pulse-eight.com/store/products/104-usb-hdmi-cec-adapter.aspx (http://www.pulse-eight.com/store/products/104-usb-hdmi-cec-adapter.aspx)
Quote from: Nick Burns on February 27, 2012, 04:55:26 PMQuote from: DigiCorn on February 27, 2012, 02:09:02 PMHere's a cool site with stealth media PCs: http://xbmc.org/natethomas/2011/11/26/feature-friday-hidden-htpcs/ (http://xbmc.org/natethomas/2011/11/26/feature-friday-hidden-htpcs/)
Did y'all see the device that's the prize in DigiCorn's link, very cool... http://www.pulse-eight.com/store/products/104-usb-hdmi-cec-adapter.aspx (http://www.pulse-eight.com/store/products/104-usb-hdmi-cec-adapter.aspx)
OK. What can I do with that?
Quote from: Joe on February 27, 2012, 05:05:40 PMQuote from: Nick Burns on February 27, 2012, 04:55:26 PMQuote from: DigiCorn on February 27, 2012, 02:09:02 PMHere's a cool site with stealth media PCs: http://xbmc.org/natethomas/2011/11/26/feature-friday-hidden-htpcs/ (http://xbmc.org/natethomas/2011/11/26/feature-friday-hidden-htpcs/)
Did y'all see the device that's the prize in DigiCorn's link, very cool... http://www.pulse-eight.com/store/products/104-usb-hdmi-cec-adapter.aspx (http://www.pulse-eight.com/store/products/104-usb-hdmi-cec-adapter.aspx)
OK. What can I do with that?
Ultimate control
Control your TV, Amplifier and/or Blu-ray Player from XBMC!
Consolidate
Or control XBMC from your TV remote, condense all your remote controls into 1 device!
What does it give me that I don't already have?
The USB - CEC Adapter allows XBMC to turn your TV and other attached equipment on and off (if they support HDMI CEC) adjust the volume or eject the disk from a drive. Start playback etc.
Likewise these same devices can tell XBMC what to do, for example, your TV remote can also control XBMC, or vice versa. With this device you can move that step closer to a clutter free living space while maintaining simple remote control for friends and family who may not be familiar with all of the features of a professional remote control.
I guess I am missing something then. How will this device get XBMC (from a Mac or PC computer) to display on an LCD that does not have any network connectivity which is my current dilemma at the moment. I would like to run XBMC on one server and have it available to all TV's in the house.
Quote from: Joe on February 27, 2012, 05:59:09 PMI guess I am missing something then. How will this device get XBMC (from a Mac or PC computer) to display on an LCD that does not have any network connectivity which is my current dilemma at the moment. I would like to run XBMC on one server and have it available to all TV's in the house.
http://www.amazon.com/HDMI-Extender-over-Cat5e-Cables/dp/B004GX0DEA (http://www.amazon.com/HDMI-Extender-over-Cat5e-Cables/dp/B004GX0DEA)
I'm thinking of this, involves running 2 cat5e/cat6 cables to wherever I need to display. I have multiple hdmi outputs on the xbmc pc
along with an IR extender it may do what you need... unless you want to watch 2 different things at the same time, in which case you need another pc or some sort of hack to get your roku to work (playon, plex, whatever)
That's interesting but might be more work than it is worth.
This is interesting which will make your non-internet enabled TV internet enabled. Plex can be streamed to this device on your network.
LG Smart TV Upgrader (http://www.lg.com/us/tv-audio-video/discoverlgblu-rayandconnecteddevices/smarttvupgraderbox/index.jsp)
(Doesn't have to be an LG TV)
http://www.plexapp.com/medialink/files/index.html (http://www.plexapp.com/medialink/files/index.html)
Quote from: Joe on February 27, 2012, 06:23:08 PMThat's interesting but might be more work than it is worth.
This is interesting which will make your non-internet enabled TV internet enabled. Plex can be streamed to this device on your network.
LG Smart TV Upgrader (http://www.lg.com/us/tv-audio-video/discoverlgblu-rayandconnecteddevices/smarttvupgraderbox/index.jsp)
(Doesn't have to be an LG TV)
http://www.plexapp.com/medialink/files/index.html (http://www.plexapp.com/medialink/files/index.html)
yes but it costs more than a roku and plex works with roku, so ?? it seems like it's just a roku pretender to me.
Good point...and the Roku has a lot more apps.
Quote from: Joe on February 27, 2012, 06:50:12 PMGood point...and the Roku has a lot more apps.
the fact that Roku has opened their box up enough for people to write apps for it is very cool, if they'd make the thing DLNA compliant it would really simplify the whole integration thing, as plex is limited. I am not a big fan of any media server scheme though, from back in the D-Link DSM320 days - very frustrating and way more time spent configuring than actually using to watch/listen to my media.
I think the only way to get things working exactly the way I want them is to have a pc running xbmc at every tv that I want to have everything working.
Now what really sucks is even with that setup you don't get your cake and get to eat it, because as you've mentioned, netflix on xbmc is pretty piss poor. I think this is really a limitation of the netflix api and not so much the plugin itself.
The thing with Netflix though is the Netflix channel on Plex works great. The developer of the XBMCFlicks says it has to play in a web browser because it has to have Silverlight. But Plex does it in its own player instead of the web browser.
I agree the best option would be to have a PC next to each TV. You could load Plex, XBMC, Boxee, and others and then just run the one you want at any given time. But that many PC's can get a tad expensive.
Take a look at this on newegg.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856173029 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856173029)
From the description I don't think it comes with an HD or memory installed but does have the CPU. So to add a hard drive and ram it would still be under $300.
Quote from: Joe on February 27, 2012, 05:59:09 PMI guess I am missing something then. How will this device get XBMC (from a Mac or PC computer) to display on an LCD that does not have any network connectivity which is my current dilemma at the moment. I would like to run XBMC on one server and have it available to all TV's in the house.
Sorry Joe, not missing anything, I haven't read this whole thread, I was just commenting on the remote control posts. Your quest is mine also, but you're already one step ahead of me, you've got moca running which is my next goal. So you can easily achieve the bandwidth to push blu-ray quality everywhere, we just need economical and efficient receivers for each tv.
t-pat, what kind of remote/receiver are you using on your htpc?
Quote from: t-pat on February 27, 2012, 04:29:13 PMQuote from: Joe on February 27, 2012, 04:12:33 PMQuote from: Farabomb on February 27, 2012, 04:06:08 PMPersonally, I'm OCD with my files so I unrar and organize everything so that wouldn't bother me. The fact that they removed it and answer with comments like that is just dickish. If you changed code and it's a bitch to go back, say that. No need to be a dick.
I do that too. Plus it causes additional overhead for the media server to have to unrar them.
I just want to watch tv, I uncompress and organize files all day, and doing that with a remote control or even the wireless keyboard/touchpad deal is tedious, I have to pull up a chair closer to the tv so I can actually read what is going on. Ruins my 15' experience. The wife is the primary downloader and she's damn sure not going to take the time to unrar and organize files to watch once and delete.
As far as overhead, it's running a Core Quad 2.9xxghz processor and that's been able to handle just about everything rared, even ginormous .mkv bluray rips, with the occasional need to unrar something, but most of what we watch is tv shows so they aren't usually huge.
It seems XBMC will play RAR files...maybe. I saw this on their forum: "Xbmc can play from rar archives if they are not compressed or corrupt in any way. Not while they are downloading either the whole set has to be complete."
Of course the whole point of rar files are to compress them so probably any RAR you download will be compressed...
Wow! Holy fast shipping, Batman. I just signed up for lifetime license with PlayOn and got my Roku LT yesterday. The Roku 2 is not compatible with PlayOn, but tested PlayOn on the LT last night and it worked! The one disadvantage is that the LT maxes out at 720p while the XS outputs at 1080p. Another nice thing about the Roku was when I hooked up the second one, it immediately populated with all my apps from the first Roku I set up so I didn't have to set it up with all the apps I liked and are using again.
I did look at the Roku USB media share app, but as I am not connected via USB, it doesn't suit my needs. I do need a third party app like Roksbox to run media files off my network, since Roku has no DLNA.
With my new NAS drive, I have to format correctly into a format Roksbox understands, but I can then play any media file from my network. I can also sync PlayOn and my NAS with my Android, since there are apps for both.
Quote from: Joe on February 28, 2012, 11:21:06 AMt-pat, what kind of remote/receiver are you using on your htpc?
I'm using a RF wireless keyboard/touchpad combo, looks like the bottom half of a laptop. -- that or the android remote for xbmc or boxee, both work fine.
I've also used the MCE remote and receiver I had left over from a HP mediacenter pc that's been retired.
I gave up on xbmc last night, I can't deal with the mandatory manual tv/movie sorting. Boxee does this automatically.
That Zotac box is probably not up to the task of 1080p due to the slower processor and lack of a decent video chipset, but newegg sells other Zotac boxes either with the Atom d525 with Nvidia Ion graphics, or either of the AMD e-350 or e-450 based boards with iirc ATI graphics that will be up to the task. Foxconn, Shuttle, Acer, and others also offer similar form factor barebones boxes -- all for around the same price if you shop
Yea, you need a decent video chipset. My netbook with an Atom and Ion graphics has issues driving HD on my TV.
Quote from: t-pat on February 28, 2012, 12:06:54 PMQuote from: Joe on February 28, 2012, 11:21:06 AMt-pat, what kind of remote/receiver are you using on your htpc?
I'm using a RF wireless keyboard/touchpad combo, looks like the bottom half of a laptop. -- that or the android remote for xbmc or boxee, both work fine.
What kind of receiver? Built in or a USB?
Quote from: t-pat on February 28, 2012, 12:06:54 PMThat Zotac box is probably not up to the task of 1080p due to the slower processor and lack of a decent video chipset, but newegg sells other Zotac boxes either with the Atom d525 with Nvidia Ion graphics, or either of the AMD e-350 or e-450 based boards with iirc ATI graphics that will be up to the task. Foxconn, Shuttle, Acer, and others also offer similar form factor barebones boxes -- all for around the same price if you shop
Something like this? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856107081 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856107081)
Quote from: Joe on February 28, 2012, 12:26:15 PMQuote from: t-pat on February 28, 2012, 12:06:54 PMQuote from: Joe on February 28, 2012, 11:21:06 AMt-pat, what kind of remote/receiver are you using on your htpc?
I'm using a RF wireless keyboard/touchpad combo, looks like the bottom half of a laptop. -- that or the android remote for xbmc or boxee, both work fine.
What kind of receiver? Built in or a USB?
just a usb dongle, actually I have 2 of them, one is laptop size and the other is like this: http://www.amazon.com/Laptopmate-Ipazzport-Touchpad-Wireless-presentation/dp/tech-data/B005C71L5Y (http://www.amazon.com/Laptopmate-Ipazzport-Touchpad-Wireless-presentation/dp/tech-data/B005C71L5Y)
Quote from: t-pat on February 28, 2012, 12:47:12 PMQuote from: Joe on February 28, 2012, 12:26:15 PMQuote from: t-pat on February 28, 2012, 12:06:54 PMQuote from: Joe on February 28, 2012, 11:21:06 AMt-pat, what kind of remote/receiver are you using on your htpc?
I'm using a RF wireless keyboard/touchpad combo, looks like the bottom half of a laptop. -- that or the android remote for xbmc or boxee, both work fine.
What kind of receiver? Built in or a USB?
just a usb dongle, actually I have 2 of them, one is laptop size and the other is like this: http://www.amazon.com/Laptopmate-Ipazzport-Touchpad-Wireless-presentation/dp/tech-data/B005C71L5Y (http://www.amazon.com/Laptopmate-Ipazzport-Touchpad-Wireless-presentation/dp/tech-data/B005C71L5Y)
So the dongle comes with that? How big is that keyboard? Looks small but pics on the internet can be deceiving. Easy to use?
Quote from: Joe on February 28, 2012, 01:01:12 PMQuote from: t-pat on February 28, 2012, 12:47:12 PMQuote from: Joe on February 28, 2012, 12:26:15 PMQuote from: t-pat on February 28, 2012, 12:06:54 PMQuote from: Joe on February 28, 2012, 11:21:06 AMt-pat, what kind of remote/receiver are you using on your htpc?
I'm using a RF wireless keyboard/touchpad combo, looks like the bottom half of a laptop. -- that or the android remote for xbmc or boxee, both work fine.
What kind of receiver? Built in or a USB?
just a usb dongle, actually I have 2 of them, one is laptop size and the other is like this: http://www.amazon.com/Laptopmate-Ipazzport-Touchpad-Wireless-presentation/dp/tech-data/B005C71L5Y (http://www.amazon.com/Laptopmate-Ipazzport-Touchpad-Wireless-presentation/dp/tech-data/B005C71L5Y)
So the dongle comes with that? How big is that keyboard? Looks small but pics on the internet can be deceiving. Easy to use?
comes with a usb dongle included, or there is a bluetooth version of it which I regret not getting.
Range is a little sensitive, and I wouldn't want to write a book on it, but as far as controlling a media center it works fine. You can rotate the orientation to use the dpad 90 degrees from landscape.
Touchpad is fine.
It is about the size of a Hershey bar.
It also comes with a usb Y cable with a standard mini-usb end to charge it (bonus! no batteries!) and a standard female A end to plug the dongle in, I have this sort of under the tv so when the battery goes low I can just walk over there and plug it in to charge.
If you want to go a bit bigger I just got.
This (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003VAGXWK/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details) and this. (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0043T7FXE/ref=oh_o00_s01_i00_details) The lighted part is real nice, rechargeable (keyboard only) and both use the unified receiver. If you buy both you end up with 2 receivers so you can use them on 2 boxes.
Quote from: Farabomb on February 28, 2012, 02:39:43 PMIf you want to go a bit bigger I just got.
This (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003VAGXWK/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details) and this. (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0043T7FXE/ref=oh_o00_s01_i00_details) The lighted part is real nice, rechargeable (keyboard only) and both use the unified receiver. If you buy both you end up with 2 receivers so you can use them on 2 boxes.
meh, 2 more things to keep track of. Like I said I have a full size RF wireless keyboard WITH A BUILT IN TOUCH PAD.
looks just like the lower half of a slim laptop, I bet it contains laptop components.
this is the full size one I have. Works fine, takes AAA batteries though.
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?InvtId=W-9824&utm_source=GoogleProducts&utm_medium=ShoppingSites&utm_campaign=W-9824 (http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?InvtId=W-9824&utm_source=GoogleProducts&utm_medium=ShoppingSites&utm_campaign=W-9824)
I mainly got it for the light up part. My big HP laptop has the world's worst keyboard. Unless I have an arclamp directly above the keys the contrast is so horrible that I can't see the keys. Yes, I slept through typing class and use a modified hunt and peck system so I need to see the keys sometimes.
Quote from: Joe on February 28, 2012, 12:38:54 PMQuote from: t-pat on February 28, 2012, 12:06:54 PMThat Zotac box is probably not up to the task of 1080p due to the slower processor and lack of a decent video chipset, but newegg sells other Zotac boxes either with the Atom d525 with Nvidia Ion graphics, or either of the AMD e-350 or e-450 based boards with iirc ATI graphics that will be up to the task. Foxconn, Shuttle, Acer, and others also offer similar form factor barebones boxes -- all for around the same price if you shop
Something like this? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856107081 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856107081)
Check this one out for just under $300 with ram and a 320gb hd
http://www.ebay.com/itm/270897236643 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/270897236643)
Quote from: t-pat on February 28, 2012, 02:45:06 PMQuote from: Farabomb on February 28, 2012, 02:39:43 PMIf you want to go a bit bigger I just got.
This (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003VAGXWK/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details) and this. (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0043T7FXE/ref=oh_o00_s01_i00_details) The lighted part is real nice, rechargeable (keyboard only) and both use the unified receiver. If you buy both you end up with 2 receivers so you can use them on 2 boxes.
meh, 2 more things to keep track of. Like I said I have a full size RF wireless keyboard WITH A BUILT IN TOUCH PAD.
looks just like the lower half of a slim laptop, I bet it contains laptop components.
Those are nice but I think I like the small one t-pat posted. I really don't have to have a keyboard so I might just get one of these and then I think I can program my DirecTV remote with Flirc to use it.
Remote Control USB Receiver with IR Cable (http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Remote-Control-USB-Receiver-IR-Cable-MCE-Logitech-Harmony-/230705355061?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35b71c5935#ht_4814wt_1413)
If my DirecTV control won't work with it I can always get a cheap Harmony for it.
Quote from: t-pat on February 28, 2012, 03:15:35 PMQuote from: Joe on February 28, 2012, 12:38:54 PMQuote from: t-pat on February 28, 2012, 12:06:54 PMThat Zotac box is probably not up to the task of 1080p due to the slower processor and lack of a decent video chipset, but newegg sells other Zotac boxes either with the Atom d525 with Nvidia Ion graphics, or either of the AMD e-350 or e-450 based boards with iirc ATI graphics that will be up to the task. Foxconn, Shuttle, Acer, and others also offer similar form factor barebones boxes -- all for around the same price if you shop
Something like this? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856107081 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856107081)
Check this one out for just under $300 with ram and a 320gb hd
http://www.ebay.com/itm/270897236643 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/270897236643)
Nice. Right now I'm going to try to drive it with AMD Athlon 64 PC running XP and see how that does.
should be ok with a video card that can do hardware decoding I would think.
Quote from: t-pat on February 28, 2012, 12:47:12 PMQuote from: Joe on February 28, 2012, 12:26:15 PMQuote from: t-pat on February 28, 2012, 12:06:54 PMQuote from: Joe on February 28, 2012, 11:21:06 AMt-pat, what kind of remote/receiver are you using on your htpc?
I'm using a RF wireless keyboard/touchpad combo, looks like the bottom half of a laptop. -- that or the android remote for xbmc or boxee, both work fine.
What kind of receiver? Built in or a USB?
just a usb dongle, actually I have 2 of them, one is laptop size and the other is like this: http://www.amazon.com/Laptopmate-Ipazzport-Touchpad-Wireless-presentation/dp/tech-data/B005C71L5Y (http://www.amazon.com/Laptopmate-Ipazzport-Touchpad-Wireless-presentation/dp/tech-data/B005C71L5Y)
t-pat, what OS are using this with?
It says "Laptopmate Ipazzport Mini Touchpad Wireless Keyboard for Windows 7/ MacOS 10.x or later/ Linux Debian 3.1 with laser pointer and presentation [R.F 2.4G Black]"
I'm running XP Pro.
worked on Vista for sure. Mine is not exactly the pazzport one but looks identical. I did not need any drivers for either keyboard, they auto installed as USB HID keyboard and mouse, generic style, because that's what they are.
I tried the tiny one on my android tablet and it worked on that about as well as any work on my tablet.
I'll try connecting them to my virtual machine XP install and see what that does, but I expect it will just work right.
I just went ahead and pulled the trigger on this. FAVI Entertainment Wireless Keyboard (Built-in TouchPad/Laser Pointer) - Black (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003UE52ME/ref=sc_pgp__m_A2HBX5WXK67A8_1?ie=UTF8&m=A2HBX5WXK67A8&n=&s=&v=glance)
Quote from: Joe on February 29, 2012, 11:45:29 AMI just went ahead and pulled the trigger on this. FAVI Entertainment Wireless Keyboard (Built-in TouchPad/Laser Pointer) - Black (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003UE52ME/ref=sc_pgp__m_A2HBX5WXK67A8_1?ie=UTF8&m=A2HBX5WXK67A8&n=&s=&v=glance)
nerd!
oh yeah, it lights up too, there's a button on the top left.
Quote from: t-pat on February 29, 2012, 11:53:53 AMoh yeah, it lights up too, there's a button on the top left.
Yes. Gotta have the backlit keys.
nice price too!
Quote from: david on February 29, 2012, 12:31:01 PMnice price too!
El Cheapo strikes again! :laugh:
So far I've only got about $30 invested in this HTPC. Unless you count my time screwing around. Then I have about $430,000 in it.
Quote from: Joe on February 29, 2012, 11:45:29 AMI just went ahead and pulled the trigger on this. FAVI Entertainment Wireless Keyboard (Built-in TouchPad/Laser Pointer) - Black (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003UE52ME/ref=sc_pgp__m_A2HBX5WXK67A8_1?ie=UTF8&m=A2HBX5WXK67A8&n=&s=&v=glance)
awesome, im snagging one as well.
Quote from: delooch on February 29, 2012, 01:16:33 PMQuote from: Joe on February 29, 2012, 11:45:29 AMI just went ahead and pulled the trigger on this. FAVI Entertainment Wireless Keyboard (Built-in TouchPad/Laser Pointer) - Black (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003UE52ME/ref=sc_pgp__m_A2HBX5WXK67A8_1?ie=UTF8&m=A2HBX5WXK67A8&n=&s=&v=glance)
awesome, im snagging one as well.
Mine has already shipped. Won't get to me until Tuesday though.
Quote from: Joe on February 29, 2012, 01:21:24 PMQuote from: delooch on February 29, 2012, 01:16:33 PMQuote from: Joe on February 29, 2012, 11:45:29 AMI just went ahead and pulled the trigger on this. FAVI Entertainment Wireless Keyboard (Built-in TouchPad/Laser Pointer) - Black (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003UE52ME/ref=sc_pgp__m_A2HBX5WXK67A8_1?ie=UTF8&m=A2HBX5WXK67A8&n=&s=&v=glance)
awesome, im snagging one as well.
Mine has already shipped. Won't get to me until Tuesday though.
they also list another unit as "bluetooth" for the same price.. the FAVI doesnt say if its BT or not.
i didnt even know i needed one of these until i seen the post..
lol if it doesnt say bluetooth, it probably isnt
It's a handy little toy, having the touchpad built in is sweet.
Quote from: delooch on February 29, 2012, 01:28:58 PMQuote from: Joe on February 29, 2012, 01:21:24 PMQuote from: delooch on February 29, 2012, 01:16:33 PMQuote from: Joe on February 29, 2012, 11:45:29 AMI just went ahead and pulled the trigger on this. FAVI Entertainment Wireless Keyboard (Built-in TouchPad/Laser Pointer) - Black (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003UE52ME/ref=sc_pgp__m_A2HBX5WXK67A8_1?ie=UTF8&m=A2HBX5WXK67A8&n=&s=&v=glance)
awesome, im snagging one as well.
Mine has already shipped. Won't get to me until Tuesday though.
they also list another unit as "bluetooth" for the same price.. the FAVI doesnt say if its BT or not.
i didnt even know i needed one of these until i seen the post..
No bluetooth on my HTPC so I don't really need that.
I'd get one but the GF would probably be miffed after getting the keyboard and trackball already.
Maybe I'll get her something shiny from amazon to distract her. :dev2:
You guys are NERDZZZ. :hello:
Quote from: gnubler on February 29, 2012, 01:44:38 PMYou guys are NERDZZZ. :hello:
BEWARE of the revenge of the nerds! :whip:
Quote from: Joe on February 29, 2012, 01:55:13 PMQuote from: gnubler on February 29, 2012, 01:44:38 PMYou guys are NERDZZZ. :hello:
BEWARE of the revenge of the nerds! :whip:
What if C-A-T really spelled dog?
i was thinking the BT option would be a good crossover for the smartphone, as typing on a touchphone is a PITA.
Quote from: delooch on February 29, 2012, 02:45:26 PMi was thinking the BT option would be a good crossover for the smartphone, as typing on a touchphone is a PITA.
I see. I have a stupid phone so I don't need it. :laugh:
it is actually very similar to the slide out kb some of the smartphones I've had in the past have had
i dont think ive ever owned a BT device that worked like it was supposed to. tried a KB combo before, every time it woke from "sleep" mode the pc we see it as a new device.
this little keyboard goes to sleep after a while, you have to hit a key on it to wake it up. It also has a power switch on the side so you can fully shut it off for long term disuse.
the laser pointer is good for playing with cats.
Roku Channel Database: Roku Channel Database (http://www.roku-channels.com/)
The unofficial Roku channel guide annotated Feb_March 2012
[smg id=715 type=av]
Quote from: Joe on March 01, 2012, 01:45:55 AMRoku Channel Database: Roku Channel Database (http://www.roku-channels.com/)
The unofficial Roku channel guide annotated Feb_March 2012
[smg id=715 type=av]
Dude, that rocks! Kudos! :goodpost:
Just sat here and entered a bunch of these. Only about half of them work, but of the ones I added, several I was already using with PlayOn. Still some gems, though. like Funny or Die and the Onion.
I installed HGTV and Food Network for the wife, which added properly. Then, when attempting to demo, I was greeted with "The owner of this content has asked that it be removed." It does work on PlayOn, though.
I saw over on the Roku forums where HGTV asked that it's content be removed. Right now it's a bug fustercluck between the broadcasters and all these little companies trying to stream their content. What you see today is probably not what you'll see tomorrow.
Quote from: Joe on March 02, 2012, 09:50:31 AMI saw over on the Roku forums where HGTV asked that it's content be removed. Right now it's a bug fustercluck between the broadcasters and all these little companies trying to stream their content. What you see today is probably not what you'll see tomorrow.
That's what happened when I started on Boxee Box. If it did all the stuff they promised, and all the stuff it was capable of, it's be hands down he device. Greed rules.
I sometimes like to turn captions on. Roku only supports captions if you have an external .srt file which are easy enough to find. But I've yet to find one that syncs properly with voices of the movie. Most of them are off by 5 to 10 seconds. Anyone know of an easy way to sync them?
there's no offset adjustment in what you're using to play it?
If anyone is serious about buying one, I'm serious about pimping them.
Quote from: t-pat on March 02, 2012, 12:32:51 PMthere's no offset adjustment in what you're using to play it?
Just playing them from the USB drive hooked to the Roku. I don't see anything in there about changing the sync rate.
I can get subtitles to play in stand alone Plex but they show up as garbled text playing a movie on the Roku via the Plex channel.
Quote from: Joe on February 29, 2012, 11:45:29 AMI just went ahead and pulled the trigger on this. FAVI Entertainment Wireless Keyboard (Built-in TouchPad/Laser Pointer) - Black (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003UE52ME/ref=sc_pgp__m_A2HBX5WXK67A8_1?ie=UTF8&m=A2HBX5WXK67A8&n=&s=&v=glance)
I got this bad boy on Saturday. Works well. No drivers to install. It just works. I don't have a usb port on the front of the box so the receiver is plugged into the back of the PC. Still works. Takes some practice to get used to but so far it is an awesome little tool. The only little complaint I have is with the backlit keys, there are a few that are not as bright as most of them.
Quote from: Joe on March 05, 2012, 09:31:20 AMthere are a few that are not as bright as most of them.
Sounds like my co-workers.
Loaded up Plex over the weekend and stuck in a bunch of movies. Turns out it isn't a sync problem with my reRIP. It's the original download that's off. Got a new download and everything's fixed. Plex sometimes misidentifies the movie, but streams better than Roksbox or PlayOn. Almost no buffering and full FF, REW and pause.
I was using Plex to watch netflix on the same box as the plex media server, so far for me it's the best way to watch netflix outside of Roku. Interface works a lot better than via xbmc or boxee, and is easier to navigate than the website at 15 feet. No buffering. Haven't figured out how to enable subs yet though.
Quote from: Farabomb on March 05, 2012, 09:48:51 AMQuote from: Joe on March 05, 2012, 09:31:20 AMthere are a few that are not as bright as most of them.
Sounds like my co-workers.
That would be "most are not as bright as a few of them". :laugh:
Quote from: DigiCorn on March 05, 2012, 10:01:01 AMLoaded up Plex over the weekend and stuck in a bunch of movies. Turns out it isn't a sync problem with my reRIP. It's the original download that's off. Got a new download and everything's fixed. Plex sometimes misidentifies the movie, but streams better than Roksbox or PlayOn. Almost no buffering and full FF, REW and pause.
My ISP is not on the list of ESPN3 ISP's that can get it so ESPN3 does not work for me on Plex. Oddly, it does work through XBMC.
scored an open box on this:
http://www.zotacusa.com/zbox-sd-id12-plus.html (http://www.zotacusa.com/zbox-sd-id12-plus.html)
(http://www.zotacusa.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/z/b/zboxsd-id12-plus_image3_1.jpg)
for $219 yesterday off fleabay, could not pass it up for that price.
gonna add another stick of ram. This is going to be the kitchenputer. I mounted a 19" LED tv/monitor on the kitchen wall Saturday and ran coax and a comcast dta to it. I'm wondering if the coax output from the dvr in the next room would output a clean enough signal at around 20' of coax so I could have the same stuff playing off the dvr in both rooms on the cheap.
I don't think 20' would be a problem. I watch stuff from the bedroom DVR about 60' away through the DTV coax.
HD? or standard def digital?
good to know, I didn't want to drill another hole in the corner of the living room. I should really just do it right, I've got a bunch of little holes drilled for this and that in a couple corners of the floor in the living room but it is getting to the point where I should just run the stuff through the wall and put in wall panels with coax and ethernet ports.
We have a few of those boxes at the car shop for customers to browse pron on. They work well enough.
Now that we have a wheel and a racing seat setup they are much more entertained. Even have a lap times board up. If it keeps them from being up our ass asking questions I'm all for it.
I didn't know you could feed HD signal from the receiver. I knew you could feed it TO the receiver, but I didn't know it worked FROM the receiver to the monitor. Are you talking standard 75ohm coax, or the coax that looks like a single RCA cable, like what I drive my 5.1 from my DVD to my amp from?
Quote from: DigiCorn on March 05, 2012, 01:24:20 PMI didn't know you could feed HD signal from the receiver. I knew you could feed it TO the receiver, but I didn't know it worked FROM the receiver to the monitor. Are you talking standard 75ohm coax, or the coax that looks like a single RCA cable, like what I drive my 5.1 from my DVD to my amp from?
talkin cable company coax, 75 ohm out the back of the dvr to the tv. Can be SD hell its going on a 720p 19" tv in the kitchen, and probably viewing such cinematic gems as Real Screeching Housebags of Douche County and RuPaul's Drag Race or whatever the wife watches in there.
I'm sooooo glad the GF's viewing habits are in line with mine. I'd loose my mind if I had to watch some reality TV bullshit.
Quote from: Farabomb on March 05, 2012, 02:15:09 PMI'm sooooo glad the GF's viewing habits are in line with mine. I'd loose my mind if I had to watch some reality TV bullshit.
I can't stand that stuff on while I'm in the house but she's home most of the day and she'll watch what she wants while fixing my dinner :)
Well I'll be damned. I never thought you get get more than 480 out of coax.
It's the same coax that runs from the DTV dish to the DVR. Carries HD from the dish to the DVR...
Quote from: DigiCorn on March 05, 2012, 04:00:21 PMWell I'll be damned. I never thought you get get more than 480 out of coax.
This will really blow your mind... you can get HDTV over the air! no wires involved.
Quote from: Farabomb on March 05, 2012, 04:15:45 PMQuote from: DigiCorn on March 05, 2012, 04:00:21 PMWell I'll be damned. I never thought you get get more than 480 out of coax.
This will really blow your mind... you can get HDTV over the air! no wires involved.
I had an HD antenna once. I ran it through a satellite receiver (back in the days before local channels were broadcast on satellite). I had it hooked up to a SD CRT too, but didn't know I could use it coax without the receiver. I know Boxee Box has a USB coax adapter you can plug an HD antenna in to and receive local HD live on your Boxee Box. http://www.boxee.tv/live (http://www.boxee.tv/live)
Quote from: Farabomb on March 05, 2012, 04:15:45 PMQuote from: DigiCorn on March 05, 2012, 04:00:21 PMWell I'll be damned. I never thought you get get more than 480 out of coax.
This will really blow your mind... you can get HDTV over the air! no wires involved.
That's exactly what I have, a homemade HD antenna on top of my house. works like a champ. Standard coax, 1080. and, it's ALL FREE!
Quote from: david on March 06, 2012, 08:49:48 AMQuote from: Farabomb on March 05, 2012, 04:15:45 PMQuote from: DigiCorn on March 05, 2012, 04:00:21 PMWell I'll be damned. I never thought you get get more than 480 out of coax.
This will really blow your mind... you can get HDTV over the air! no wires involved.
That's exactly what I have, a homemade HD antenna on top of my house. works like a champ. Standard coax, 1080. and, it's ALL FREE!
The benefit of living in a metropolitan area. I live about 80 miles form the nearest TV station. I'd get a whole lot of nothing with one of those.
When I had my HD antenna (before I ditched it after local channels in HD were on satellite) I didn't even have to hook it up to the tv. It was amplified ($150 for the antenna, amp and mount at Radio Hut), and once I plugged it in, it was about 5 feet away from a SD tv and I was pulling in channels from Chico and Redding, 150 miles away.
okie dokie, this popped up on WOOT today, should i bite?
roku xds 1080 for 65 shipped
http://www.woot.com/Blog/ViewEntry.aspx?utm_source=Daily+Digest&utm_campaign=17de47024f-Daily+Digest+-+20120304+-+Woot&utm_medium=email&Id=22268#tracked (http://www.woot.com/Blog/ViewEntry.aspx?utm_source=Daily+Digest&utm_campaign=17de47024f-Daily+Digest+-+20120304+-+Woot&utm_medium=email&Id=22268#tracked)
EDIT: this email was 3 days old, missed out. didnt notice the date. :(
Quote from: delooch on March 06, 2012, 03:22:01 PMokie dokie, this popped up on WOOT today, should i bite?
roku xds 1080 for 65 shipped
http://www.woot.com/Blog/ViewEntry.aspx?utm_source=Daily+Digest&utm_campaign=17de47024f-Daily+Digest+-+20120304+-+Woot&utm_medium=email&Id=22268#tracked (http://www.woot.com/Blog/ViewEntry.aspx?utm_source=Daily+Digest&utm_campaign=17de47024f-Daily+Digest+-+20120304+-+Woot&utm_medium=email&Id=22268#tracked)
EDIT: this email was 3 days old, missed out. didnt notice the date. :(
just look here...
http://www.roku.com/roku-products#3 (http://www.roku.com/roku-products#3)
oh and someone was pimping referral links, may want to do that instead:
Quote from: t-pat on March 06, 2012, 03:26:23 PMQuote from: delooch on March 06, 2012, 03:22:01 PMokie dokie, this popped up on WOOT today, should i bite?
roku xds 1080 for 65 shipped
http://www.woot.com/Blog/ViewEntry.aspx?utm_source=Daily+Digest&utm_campaign=17de47024f-Daily+Digest+-+20120304+-+Woot&utm_medium=email&Id=22268#tracked (http://www.woot.com/Blog/ViewEntry.aspx?utm_source=Daily+Digest&utm_campaign=17de47024f-Daily+Digest+-+20120304+-+Woot&utm_medium=email&Id=22268#tracked)
EDIT: this email was 3 days old, missed out. didnt notice the date. :(
just look here...
http://www.roku.com/roku-products#3 (http://www.roku.com/roku-products#3)
oh and someone was pimping referral links, may want to do that instead:
yeah, i was just pokinig around and noticed it wasnt that great of a deal at all.. $69 off the roku website, and its not a refurb!
DAMN YOU WOOT!
and you don't have to read through 6 paragraphs of "cutesy" copy. Seriously people, who WRITES that shit? Them and Groupon need to be taken out and shot.
read?? i just look at the pictures..
they are just one more hand in the awkwardly small pool of funds known as my paycheck...
you get paid for this?
dayum
Read woot? hell no but I did just buy a slot car track from them.
I got the same email as digi but didn't feel the need to pimp it here.
Family is a different story.
Quote from: delooch on March 06, 2012, 03:30:15 PMQuote from: t-pat on March 06, 2012, 03:26:23 PMQuote from: delooch on March 06, 2012, 03:22:01 PMokie dokie, this popped up on WOOT today, should i bite?
roku xds 1080 for 65 shipped
http://www.woot.com/Blog/ViewEntry.aspx?utm_source=Daily+Digest&utm_campaign=17de47024f-Daily+Digest+-+20120304+-+Woot&utm_medium=email&Id=22268#tracked (http://www.woot.com/Blog/ViewEntry.aspx?utm_source=Daily+Digest&utm_campaign=17de47024f-Daily+Digest+-+20120304+-+Woot&utm_medium=email&Id=22268#tracked)
EDIT: this email was 3 days old, missed out. didnt notice the date. :(
just look here...
http://www.roku.com/roku-products#3 (http://www.roku.com/roku-products#3)
oh and someone was pimping referral links, may want to do that instead:
yeah, i was just pokinig around and noticed it wasnt that great of a deal at all.. $69 off the roku website, and its not a refurb! DAMN YOU WOOT!
Doesn't have the wired ethernet or USB port on that model.
Quote from: david on March 06, 2012, 03:41:20 PMyou get paid for this?
dayum
not really. prepress, production, & dezign are "free" out of the goodness of my heart. I charge them $42k yearly to be a delivery driver, which really blows.
Sidenote about external USB drives. My 2tb Seagate will spin down when it's not being accessed by the roku box. I just bought a 3tb model that's slightly different and I will report back if if spins down as well.
I just use Plex on my desktop along with the Roku app, and run everything from the NAS. I have the NAS programmed to turn off and on at designated times though the day when I know I will use it. I do this because I have apps on my tablets and cell phones that access NAS files also; this way I don't have to load up all my devices with data, and every device has access to the same stuff.
Just counted up the devices on my home network - there are 12 wifi devices and 2 hard wired devices. No wonder my router can't handle the traffic. I need a better ISP; Might have to bite the bullet and go back to xfinity/comcrap.
Quote from: Farabomb on April 25, 2012, 09:23:08 AMSidenote about external USB drives. My 2tb Seagate will spin down when it's not being accessed by the roku box. I just bought a 3tb model that's slightly different and I will report back if if spins down as well.
What are you using to watch content from the external?
The Roku USB channel. It only reads .mkv files so out of my thousands of videos I can watch maybe 20-30 of them. I'd love one that reads everything but I haven't had the time to find one if it exists.
Plex plays .mp4, .wmv, and .mkv for me. I tried out roksbox and playon, but plex plays the best, even if it does misidentify the videos half the time.
Does Plex read from the USB or do I have to have my other computer on?
Never tried. But it should work from whatever directory you point it at. As long as Plex server is running on that device.
Yeah, you have to have the computer running Plex server but Plex can store it the USB device but it's going to have to stream it across the network instead of having the USB drive plugged directly into the Roku.
That's what I'm trying to avoid. I want to have all the movies on the USB so I can just turn t on and go. Yea, I could use plex, turn on my PC, stream it form there but getting the woman to understand how it all works is the trick.
Quote from: Farabomb on April 25, 2012, 11:45:25 AMThat's what I'm trying to avoid. I want to have all the movies on the USB so I can just turn t on and go. Yea, I could use plex, turn on my PC, stream it form there but getting the woman to understand how it all works is the trick.
That is why I'm not using Plex. Sounds like you need to Handbrake your movie collection. The nice thing about Handbrake is that you can set up a whole slew of them and set them off and let them run overnight or over the weekend.
That's why I bought the 3tb. That's going to be for backups and I'm going to transcode everything and put it on the 2tb just for the roku.
Would love to get a screenshot of how you have handbrake set up. Every time I try to run it, I run into issues. I always end up just doing it through DVD Fab. I just did four Pixar movies last night from DVD and then copied onto my tablet's SD card for the kid for when we go out of town this weekend. I made .mp4s; each one was 720 and about 1gb. I think .mkv is a better format, but I wasn't sure if the LePan could play an .mkv file. As it turns out, it can't play an .mp4 either, unless you install the MX Player app.
iirc .mkv is just a wrapper, not a format per se,
well, yeah, but your media player has to be able to understand the .mkv contents in order to play
Here are the settings I use for my Roku. Just unzip and import them into Handbrake under the Presets menu.
Damn, I was going for a record for how long it's been since I booted up the big computer at home. :laugh:
Picked up a nice house shaking sub yesterday too. Scared the crap out of the cats.
Quote from: Farabomb on April 25, 2012, 12:27:57 PMPicked up a nice house shaking sub yesterday too.
I've wanted a new sub ever since I got my new amp, which was 7+ years ago. Finally got mine in January. It's an amplified Infinity 8", but man can that thing pound. I have to keep it at about 30-40% or it's too overpowering. Had to watch all the Jurassic Parks and all the Star Wars films again right after I got it. I'm lucky my neighbors on either side are octogenarians and deaf or else I might have issues.
Same deal here. Bought an amp years ago as well as some infinity reference towers. The towers did a well enough job so the sub went on the back burner. Walking through costco yesterday there was a Klipsch 10" (http://www.klipsch.com/kw-100-subwoofer) for $160 so I picked that up. I'm quite pleased so far. The cats? Not so much.
A couple years ago I got a 26" Samsung, open box, and I used a couple of Christmas gift cards, and I paid about $45 out of pocket. The stand was kind of jacked, 'cuz it was open box. I used it for a while, but it made a lousy monitor since it was only 720, so I traded it to a friend who got the sub fairly new off Craig's List for like $65. Pretty even swap, if you ask me. Took me a while to figure out how to go into the menu on the amp to activate the subwoofer output, but once I got it going, it rattles everything. My 2-year old got scared the first time we watched Jurassic Park, but now after Star Wars, she absolutely loves it - she always kneels down and puts her ear up against it and giggles. Now I get home from work, and she says, "Daddy? I want to watch robots!"
My Yamaha amp's menu blows. Without the remote it's an exercise in futility but luckily my flaky remote (happens when it's been in a flood twice) played nice last night and I was up and running quickly.
I was a little disappointed becasue I want to get a new amp but can't ever get rid of working tech.
someday I'll finish working on my place and actually set up the sounds in the living room. I have a Yamaha YSP somethin or other sound bar which is very cool but definitely needs a sub. The sound bar will go on a wall mount along with the tv, and the sub somewhere hidden.
The days of a room full of big or small speakers are behind me and I don't really know what to do with my surround receiver.
I have another 2 speakers for rears but last time I ran wire to them the friggin cats ate it. All I have now is the reference towers and the sub hidden behind the TV. Works well enough for me. When I own a house and not rent then I will have everything set up.
Trust me. I own a house, and everything is NOT set up. I have it all wired, but the speakers sit by the tv stand and I pull them out when I want to watch a movie with surround sound.
My old house was built on the slab, so I had to run the lines along the wall and hide it behind the couch. My new house is on a foundation. I always thought I'd go under in the crawl space and run the lines, but 7 months later it still hasn't happened. I thought my amp was limited to 5.1, but after examining it again last night I think it can do 7.1, but I don't have the speakers for it. I guess I should look at the manual to be certain.
Last time I bought speakers, I wanted high-end so I wouldn't have to replace them again for a while, so I bought Definitive Technology from Magnolia; 2 bookshelf, 2 towers and a center. Now Magnolia is gone, and it's bad enough I have an Infinity sub that doesn't match.
I have wires all over the place - through the baseboards and floors, into and back out of the basement, through closets going upstairs, out under and onto the deck. Do I have anything hooked up? Of course not.
need more wire...
the t-pat household is sorely lacking in cowbell. I'll have to look for one on the next thrifting excursion.
:rolleyes: boys and their toys! :laugh:
I just want to watch what I want to watch, when I want to watch it. And I want it to sound good. If I never have to leave home ever, I wouldn't.
And my wife now asks, "don't you want that in surround?" Plus, she's a roku junkie now. She works nights, and I get home while the daughter is napping. She's chain watching shows on netflix and hulu.
Quote from: Tracy on April 26, 2012, 11:45:38 AM:rolleyes: boys and their toys! :laugh:
And then there are boy toys. :laugh:
Joe's a boy toy!
We use to have roku but now netflix comes as an app thru the tv
is that what you guys are talking about?
all kinds of apps on new tv's I might just click on that hulu and pandora button one of these days :laugh:
The TV is my husband's area :laugh:
Quote from: Tracy on April 26, 2012, 01:49:53 PMWe use to have roku but now netflix comes as an app thru the tv
is that what you guys are talking about?
yup!
Quote from: Tracy on April 26, 2012, 01:49:53 PMThe TV is my husband's area :laugh:
you are a good woman
Pandora is simply awesome. I actually pay the $36 a year for no commercials. I use it on my phone to and from work, and all day on my work computer. Worth a look.
I will check it out! thanks!
I had to ask my husband how to use the remotes to play a dvd the other day :laugh:
Quote from: Tracy on April 26, 2012, 01:58:30 PMI will check it out! thanks!
I had to ask my husband how to use the remotes to play a dvd the other day :laugh:
the thing about Pandora is that it's not some random playlist. You create a "station" based off an artist or particular song, and it will play related music based on thousands of parameters, which are manually tagged and categorized by actual humans working for Pandora.
So for example you like Pearl Jam, you're going to hear them, Nirvana, Blind Melon, and everyone that influenced them.
To make it more interesting you can, via the Pandora website, then customize a station by doing "add variety" - so to your station you based off Pearl Jam you can say add some Johnny Cash - which will mix in some man in black and probably other artists that were influenced by him and vice versa.
Quote from: Tracy on April 26, 2012, 01:49:53 PMJoe's a boy toy!
We use to have roku but now netflix comes as an app thru the tv
is that what you guys are talking about?
all kinds of apps on new tv's I might just click on that hulu and pandora button one of these days :laugh:
The TV is my husband's area :laugh:
My TV has internet apps as well but the Roku blows it out of the water. Downloads faster, keeps what I viewed updated in reatime, the TV would take a day to update and far more channels than the very limited ones on the TV.
I go my tv just before apps on a tv became the norm. Mine gets weather and news, but that's it. Directv has a few fairly useless apps also. Roku kicks ass.
Quote from: Farabomb on April 26, 2012, 02:41:06 PMMy TV has internet apps as well but the Roku blows it out of the water. Downloads faster, keeps what I viewed updated in reatime, the TV would take a day to update and far more channels than the very limited ones on the TV.
Quote from: DigiCorn on April 26, 2012, 02:47:05 PMI go my tv just before apps on a tv became the norm. Mine gets weather and news, but that's it. Directv has a few fairly useless apps also. Roku kicks ass.
Ditto!
I really should have posted a referral code for Roku when I recommended it, I'd have a free one by now or something.
Quote from: t-pat on April 26, 2012, 04:12:55 PMI really should have posted a referral code for Roku when I recommended it, I'd have a free one by now or something.
Maybe 2! :laugh:
it's enough for me that a) people like something I recommended way back, and are using it and b) Roku didn't pull a d-link or Boxee asshole move and just quit developing rather than moving a good product forward.
My daughter ripped the "select" button out of my remote. You use that button for everything. I have been getting by using the app on my phone, but it's a PITA if I want to use my phone for something else while watching tv, so I ordered a new remote. Cheapest one I could find was $20. The LT model I'm using only cost $40!
I'm thinking of setting up a Private Channel using Roku SDK. It will host my personal collection of movies, tv and whatnot, for personal use. Has anyone else done this?
Quote from: DigiCorn on December 06, 2012, 12:31:48 PMI'm thinking of setting up a Private Channel using Roku SDK. It will host my personal collection of movies, tv and whatnot, for personal use. Has anyone else done this?
no but it sounds a bit like what Navi-X does for xbmc
fwiw those of you that don't have one of these little boxes, my original Roku still remains the all time best electronic gadget purchase, years later it still just does what it does so well I'm not even considering upgrading to a newer one.
Quote from: DigiCorn on December 06, 2012, 12:31:48 PMI'm thinking of setting up a Private Channel using Roku SDK. It will host my personal collection of movies, tv and whatnot, for personal use. Has anyone else done this?
So how does that work? I assume you want to do this to share your library with family & friends? The library is stored on a computer on your own network? And then streamed to them? Wouldn't that eat up your bandwidth? Does Roku have anything in place to monitor the content for copyrighted materials and possibly block them?
Quote from: t-pat on December 06, 2012, 12:44:23 PMQuote from: DigiCorn on December 06, 2012, 12:31:48 PMI'm thinking of setting up a Private Channel using Roku SDK. It will host my personal collection of movies, tv and whatnot, for personal use. Has anyone else done this?
no but it sounds a bit like what Navi-X does for xbmc
fwiw those of you that don't have one of these little boxes, my original Roku still remains the all time best electronic gadget purchase, years later it still just does what it does so well I'm not even considering upgrading to a newer one.
Agreed that it does what it does well for the price. I'm moving my Roku to the living room TV where the big screen is not a smart TV, i.e....no network capabilities. I have Plex running on a Windows 7 box and connect to it wirelessly with the Roku using the Plex channel (no way I know of to connect the Roku to my XBMC setup that I use hence why I had to setup the Plex server). It works OK but it has a hard time recognizing some .srt caption files. Sometimes it recognizes and uses some of them and others it ignores. But it plays the sound and video flawlessly. I also have a 64 gb USB thumb drive I can plug directly into the Roku and watch it directly from it with no issues.
Quote from: Joe on December 06, 2012, 12:47:50 PMQuote from: DigiCorn on December 06, 2012, 12:31:48 PMI'm thinking of setting up a Private Channel using Roku SDK. It will host my personal collection of movies, tv and whatnot, for personal use. Has anyone else done this?
So how does that work? I assume you want to do this to share your library with family & friends? The library is stored on a computer on your own network? And then streamed to them? Wouldn't that eat up your bandwidth? Does Roku have anything in place to monitor the content for copyrighted materials and possibly block them?
http://www.herofish.com/2012/01/how-to-create-you-own-roku-videoplayer-channel/ (http://www.herofish.com/2012/01/how-to-create-you-own-roku-videoplayer-channel/)
I think you upload your files to an internet location, or perhaps an always-on device or server (perhaps even a NAS) so that you can stream from a direct source without having to run a media server app like Plex or PlayON. I bought my cousin a Roku for his birthday and i thought I'd create a private channel, and then we'd both populate it with stuff to watch.
Quote from: DigiCorn on December 06, 2012, 01:32:12 PMQuote from: Joe on December 06, 2012, 12:47:50 PMQuote from: DigiCorn on December 06, 2012, 12:31:48 PMI'm thinking of setting up a Private Channel using Roku SDK. It will host my personal collection of movies, tv and whatnot, for personal use. Has anyone else done this?
So how does that work? I assume you want to do this to share your library with family & friends? The library is stored on a computer on your own network? And then streamed to them? Wouldn't that eat up your bandwidth? Does Roku have anything in place to monitor the content for copyrighted materials and possibly block them?
http://www.herofish.com/2012/01/how-to-create-you-own-roku-videoplayer-channel/ (http://www.herofish.com/2012/01/how-to-create-you-own-roku-videoplayer-channel/)
I think you upload your files to an internet location, or perhaps an always-on device or server (perhaps even a NAS) so that you can stream from a direct source without having to run a media server app like Plex or PlayON. I bought my cousin a Roku for his birthday and i thought I'd create a private channel, and then we'd both populate it with stuff to watch.
QuoteStep 5: Put Your Files on the Internet Somewhere...
There ya go...
Quote from: Joe on December 06, 2012, 01:42:41 PMQuoteStep 5: Put Your Files on the Internet Somewhere...
There ya go...
Well, I guess my question (not answered on the site, which is why I was wondering if anyone had done it) is does it have to be at an offsite internet storage server with a different IP/subnet or could you use a local NAS (or even a Cloud location)?
Quote from: DigiCorn on December 06, 2012, 02:25:20 PMQuote from: Joe on December 06, 2012, 01:42:41 PMQuoteStep 5: Put Your Files on the Internet Somewhere...
There ya go...
Well, I guess my question (not answered on the site, which is why I was wondering if anyone had done it) is does it have to be at an offsite internet storage server with a different IP/subnet or could you use a local NAS (or even a Cloud location)?
You can do it on your local NAS and use port forwarding in your router to route traffic to the IP address of the NAS....if your NAS supports whatever method the ROKU developer tools have you to use. And if you use a device on your network it is going to be using your ISP bandwidth. Many ISP's consider it a violation of your TOS if you are serving content to the web from an internal computer. Cloud storage would be iffy. For example Amazon S3 allows you to set up a basic HTML web site but you can't use it for a web site that uses something like ASP or PHP or something that needs to use MySQL. Not sure what Roku uses. I would try setting it up on your local network and see if you can get it working that way. If you can than it shouldn't be that much of a problem to get it working across the net. You would probably need to get a premium account on one of the file sharing sites to have the bandwidth and storage space you would need. Of course then you never know when the FBI will shutdown that particular file sharing service like what happened to megaupload.com.
see if you can incorporate TOR into it if you want to be hiding. Seems overkill though, if it's on your LAN why have it leave your lan? Maybe you can use VPN too, but that'd slow it down. Just mail him dvds ffs.
Quote from: t-pat on December 06, 2012, 06:06:36 PMsee if you can incorporate TOR into it if you want to be hiding. Seems overkill though, if it's on your LAN why have it leave your lan? Maybe you can use VPN too, but that'd slow it down. Just mail him dvds ffs.
If it on his LAN the people streaming it from his LAN across the net will be using his bandwidth. It would be better to have it on a fast service on the net...but a lot of trouble to make it work right.
no I meant if he's serving up under the same private subnet... like, only users on his lan. That didn't make sense, I must have misread. Nevermind.
Seems like you could just use plex though. Or a million other things. Not sure how any of this gets you privacy. VPN might be an option.
I think if it is done as a Roku private channel, that only those he gives access to can see it. Of course I'm sure there are hackers out there that can defeat Roku security too and would turn it into their own private storage facility.