apple tv - Off-topic

anybody got any exp with it?
was thinking about getting one mainly for
having an easy access to music from the pc
in the livingroom for partys where i guess
the easyness of apple would be handy if you
had a bit of a drink
and maybe the odd yourTube click for fun
and a few video clicps not too many so i guess
the 40gb would be enough

apple TV sucks, especially the value of it. Its simply too expensive for its features. I rather buy a home media centre PC for the living room TV.

I quite like them
Dont expect to get every youtube clip on it though, they are currently somewhat limited.
Certainly when 'modified' they become great little boxes capable of playing XVID encoded videos.
A friend of mine (www.semthex.com) developed a kernel for it that allows Tiger 10.4 to run natively!
Well worth the money IMHO.

buy a used macmini add $20 adapter
mini duo +
dvi- hdmi
or dvi to s
4 usb ports
usb to s-video nad sound
i or 2 firewire ports to all of the above including dvi hdmi
all white apple adapters frys
assuming that mac tcv is still over priced
mini is mac tv skills and adapter (no skills if you can listen to a guy at the apple store)
assuming mactv is still $$$$
ebay mini duo $300 xp upgrade $0 Toshiba dvd player with usb port and divx on it$40
or even $20 linksys wireless gaming device to tv
yu got options

i dont really want another pc
what i want is a device with 0 boottime
and zero hassel
that my gf and or guests can operate without
having to mess about

Related

Netflix Vs Hulu-Plus

Both are now $8 a month for streaming TV shows and movies.
Which is better ?
In my opinion:
Netflix
However
I like hulu to watch a lot of tv shows that come out a day after they air, One thing i hate about hulu is there are limited commercials, but its a lot less then cable tv
I have them both instead of cable and im saving over 60 bucks a month, cause im also watching all my shows on tv links
If you are going to turn off your cable
Get netflix,hulu plus, an antenna to get local channels and use tv links
This way you get it all for only 16 bucks a month
davidrules7778 said:
In my opinion:
Netflix
However
I like hulu to watch a lot of tv shows that come out a day after they air, One thing i hate about hulu is there are limited commercials, but its a lot less then cable tv
I have them both instead of cable and im saving over 60 bucks a month, cause im also watching all my shows on tv links
If you are going to turn off your cable
Get netflix,hulu plus, an antenna to get local channels and use tv links
This way you get it all for only 16 bucks a month
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea, my cable bill has gotten completely out of hand. It's as much as my power bill.
TravisBean said:
Yea, my cable bill has gotten completely out of hand. It's as much as my power bill.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cancel IT!!!!
-Just pay your internet fee whatever it maybe
-Get an antenna for local channels so u can watch sports
- Get both netflix and hulu plus 16 bucks a month
- Use tv links to watch every possible show you like
- Save tons of money and watch very little commercials (on hulu plus only)
Get a Boxee Box! Make sure you add the Navi X app to it.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA App
EddieSpaghetti said:
Get a Boxee Box! Make sure you add the Navi X app to it.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
meh, i got something better
Hp Wireless Tv Connect : http://www.amazon.com/HP-WY555AA-ABC-Wireless-Connect/dp/B00462QT62/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
Its basically wireless hdmi and can work with anything that has an hdmi port (Computer,Blueray player, Xbox, ps3 etc.) as long as u have a usb port or usb wall plug to power it

HDMI cable?

Cab anyone recommend a UK sourced HDMI cable which can be used with the special USB slot in the Nook Colour please? Thinking of getting Netflix
From what I recall, previous discussions pretty much ended with
"not possible"
If someone can correct me I'd be extremely pleased.
Nope, Nook doesn't have the hardware to support it.
Sent from space
Yea, I don't think that's possible, plus the nook is pretty slow when it comes to netflix anyway, just HDMI connect a laptop if you have one, or game console. I would recommend a Dynex wire, cheap, but I've had 4 for the last two months for all of my hd consoles and tv's, no problems and exceptional video quality.
Newegg has cheap HDMI cables too.
MeatyMcSausage said:
Yea, I don't think that's possible, plus the nook is pretty slow when it comes to netflix anyway, just HDMI connect a laptop if you have one, or game console. I would recommend a Dynex wire, cheap, but I've had 4 for the last two months for all of my hd consoles and tv's, no problems and exceptional video quality.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My NC runs Netflix flawlessly on CM7. Returning to the topic, it is not possible.
jgaf said:
My NC runs Netflix flawlessly on CM7. Returning to the topic, it is not possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here! Flawless...
...back on topic...
...NO HDMI.
Yeah, I wanted to try this awhile back. Here are some links I found looking into the topic;
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1061856
https://sites.google.com/site/voyageofbeagleboard/Home/displaylink-for-android
http://sven.killig.de/android/N1/2.2/usb_host/
Essentially, it looks like there is a way to get android to write the framebuffer to the USB port, and some converters to get that out as a display, but I do not have anywhere near the skills to get it working and the adapters were prohibitively expensive for the gain.
My verdict is; Possible, but very unlikely.
You could get a Raspberry Pi and connect it to your Nook (or any tablet without HDMI) through WiFi. At only $35 or so (assuming you already have a WiFi router to plug it into), it's a very affordable solution. The software side would be tricky. I suppose you could just install Linux and a VNC server on the Raspberry Pi...
NiHaoMike said:
You could get a Raspberry Pi and connect it to your Nook (or any tablet without HDMI) through WiFi. At only $35 or so (assuming you already have a WiFi router to plug it into), it's a very affordable solution. The software side would be tricky. I suppose you could just install Linux and a VNC server on the Raspberry Pi...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For a good streamer. I am using modded atv2 (appletv) it supports netflix w/o anything else, plug and play. I use it everyday and with my NC supporting airplay .

Ok so whats your honest opinion of the chromcast

So wondering what you all think of your chromcasts, I like mine but I can't say its the best thing ever. It feels almost useless. Now don't get me wrong, what it does do, it does extremely well and ts my favorite way of watching youtube but it doesn't do much.
I mean there are just so many devices that can stream youtube and netflix. And both youtube and netflix could already be controlled remotely way before the chromecast. The only thing its super useful for is for those who invested a lot of money in google play music and movies and I personally havn't due to their prices usually being more.
Then again it was only $43 after shipping and taxes and it should have plenty more features on the way I hope. Hopefully google will finish the sdk soon and we can get some real use out of it. Though its hard to justify buying something on what it might do in the future.
I guess I don't regret buying it, but its hard to recommend it to someone right now.
How do you all feel about it?
I love mine, but I only paid $35 (amazon free shipping, and no tax where I live), and I got the three months free Netflix (already a member).
I have a Vizio smart TV, and the Netflix app is bad. It hasn't been updated in three years. Cannot enable closed captions. Cannot view all episodes for a TV series with more than 100 episodes. Plus, it's slow. So the Chromecast was an easy way to upgrade my Netflix experience.
I was going to use it to stream local stuff to my TV, but instead I just hooked up my computer directly to the TV and set up plex for other TVs.
I would like to see being able to cast the browser from a phone. Plus support for plex or other DLNA streaming would be nice.
At $43, it's too close to $55 for a Roku XS, personally. I don't see it as a Roku or Apple TV competitor. Nor, in its current state, a replacement for either or them. But, I think it's a much better play at getting to TV service than the Q was. I'm interested to see what Google does with it in the next year.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337
firesoul453 said:
So wondering what you all think of your chromcasts, I like mine but I can't say its the best thing ever. It feels almost useless. Now don't get me wrong, what it does do, it does extremely well and ts my favorite way of watching youtube but it doesn't do much.
I mean there are just so many devices that can stream youtube and netflix. And both youtube and netflix could already be controlled remotely way before the chromecast. The only thing its super useful for is for those who invested a lot of money in google play music and movies and I personally havn't due to their prices usually being more.
Then again it was only $43 after shipping and taxes and it should have plenty more features on the way I hope. Hopefully google will finish the sdk soon and we can get some real use out of it. Though its hard to justify buying something on what it might do in the future.
I guess I don't regret buying it, but its hard to recommend it to someone right now.
How do you all feel about it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I pretty much agree with you on all points. For about 6 years i have had a HTPC hooked up to our main home TV screen. With a wireless keyboard attached, it does pretty much everything that chromecast/roku/internet tv's/xbox 360/etc will do and more. I have been a XBMC user since back in the softmodded xbox 1 days. I switched to my HTPC when high def video releases became more common and I needed more horsepower.
Using my tablet to browse and cast youtube videos has been pretty fun. Chromecast caused me to take the time to get my tablet (iconia a500) on a updated and stable ROM. I had been ignoring it for some time and the previous rom I had was crashy and frustrating.
Mostly, i bought Chromecast because i believe the dev community will eventually do some fun stuff with it.
Chromecast was next to free when i bought it since I got the netflix deal. I wish I would have bought at least 10 more. they seem to be going for double on Seattle Craigslist.
firesoul453 said:
So wondering what you all think of your chromcasts, I like mine but I can't say its the best thing ever. It feels almost useless. Now don't get me wrong, what it does do, it does extremely well and ts my favorite way of watching youtube but it doesn't do much.
I mean there are just so many devices that can stream youtube and netflix. And both youtube and netflix could already be controlled remotely way before the chromecast. The only thing its super useful for is for those who invested a lot of money in google play music and movies and I personally havn't due to their prices usually being more.
Then again it was only $43 after shipping and taxes and it should have plenty more features on the way I hope. Hopefully google will finish the sdk soon and we can get some real use out of it. Though its hard to justify buying something on what it might do in the future.
I guess I don't regret buying it, but its hard to recommend it to someone right now.
How do you all feel about it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like mine a lot. But, then, i like my Toast-r-Oven a lot also. Is my Toast-r-Oven the same as a full sized oven? No. Is it the same as a microwave oven? No. But that doesn't mean that I won't have all three and use them differently.
The best feature about the Chromecast is that it's literally plug and play. Type in a wifi password and you're done. About as easy a technology product to use that I've ever seen. This will make it a big hit. I would have no problem giving this to any friend that knows absolutely nothing about technology.
I've used an HTPC as my primary mode of content delivery for years and I've been always searching for a better way to completely eliminate the need for a mouse/kb. My remote and tablet both fully XBMC for all the things I download. But my other big source of content has been Netflix, for which there has been no good way to access without using a mouse at the very least. That's been a big annoyance to me for some time, so being able to fully control Netflix, while getting the highest HD and 5.1 stream possible, has been huge.
I'm hoping that HBO Go will be implemented soon. Hopefully the Xfinity will get support, as well. I'm not going to hold my breath, but maybe someday Amazon will finally release a true Android app and they'll put in Chromecast support. I'm looking forward to the expansion of content, but for me, just putting the control of Netflix onto my tablet has made the product a winner.
a better way to completely eliminate the need for a mouse/kb. My remote and tablet both fully XBMC for all the things I download. But my other big source of content has been Netflix, for which there has been no good way to access without using a mouse at the very least.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Off the main subject, but...
Have you tried the gmote app? it sort of accomplishes the same thing as turning your tablet or android phone into a touchpad. You have to run a little server app on the HTPC though.
Another workaround I came up with is to used a wireless keyboard with a mouse (roller ball or touchpad) built in. These are no good for gaming, bit they are a little handier than a separate mouse and keyboard. I have tried both of these and they have been decent.
lenovo multimedia remote/keyboard
Iogear multimedia remote/keyboard
mudsloth said:
I've used an HTPC as my primary mode of content delivery for years and I've been always searching for a better way to completely eliminate the need for a mouse/kb. My remote and tablet both fully XBMC for all the things I download. But my other big source of content has been Netflix, for which there has been no good way to access without using a mouse at the very least. That's been a big annoyance to me for some time, so being able to fully control Netflix, while getting the highest HD and 5.1 stream possible, has been huge.
I'm hoping that HBO Go will be implemented soon. Hopefully the Xfinity will get support, as well. I'm not going to hold my breath, but maybe someday Amazon will finally release a true Android app and they'll put in Chromecast support. I'm looking forward to the expansion of content, but for me, just putting the control of Netflix onto my tablet has made the product a winner.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apple TV (version 3) and Roku 3 are both 1080p and have on-screen browsing, which is obviously better than dinking around with a tablet. And they are only $100, so there is no barrier to just getting one.
I have a htpc, too, and it sits now. It's just too much easier and better to browse with a remote.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda premium
To those using XBMC get yatse. Its a remote for XBMC and you can "share" youtube vids with your XBMC from your phone or tablet
It's very hit or miss.... Having an HDMI to your PC is way better. And cheaper. Maybe once hackers fix all the ludicrous functionality gaffs..... My advice: wait to buy till it's useful.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
It's by far the best netflix streaming experience I've had.
It looks great in 1080p, and I don't have to use yet another remote control to navigate a clunky interface from 10 feet away.
I'm very pleased with it and it will only get better as more developers add support to their applications.
Right now... Not worth $35, however long term once we get Pandora, HBO go, etc support. Then I believe it will be a perfect media device. Am I disappointed with mine? No. Do I use it often? Yes. My only gripe is the lack of app support and some bugginess when streaming from chrome.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 4
The way they showed it work on Google's press conference. It was almost instant mine doesn't work like that. It sometimes takes a little while to load. And it seems to slow down the netflix app on my phone. Anyone else experience this?
Sent from the TermiNOTEr 2!
I'm with you guys. I have a Mac Mini running XBMC and after that kind of an experience, this is a pretty big let down. I have been eyeing an Ouya running XBMC for a while now, and I was hoping to have that modded onto this, but I don't think that's going to happen now.
Furthermore, format support is really not there for such a single purpose device, it no doubt has the horsepower to decode more. I was hopeful when I found I could stream stuff directly to it without some sort of transcoding, but instantly disappointed with no AC3 audio, which is a bit of a deal breaker.
Yatse on my Android phone with some sort of XBMC remote is a lot more up my alley. I suppose this is nice for Netflix, which I can't get on there, but I have an XBox currently capable of doing it.
One last thing, my Chromecast interferes with my over the air signal. I don't know why or how, but if that sucker is plugged in anywhere close to my TV, no over the air channels receive at all. Mind you, I already have plenty of wifi, bluetooth, and other wireless gadgets over there.
Waiting for more dev support
I have Logitech Revue (which is just awesome since I got it for 99bucks). I love that it has physical keyboard, and plays everything that Chromecast does and more and has better controls (thanks to the keyboard). Also,Chromecast currently does not support live streaming on youtube, which sucks. The main reason I purchased it was I got 3 months free Netflix (which I am a member anyway) and the possible dev support in future. I pretty much knew what I was buying, so did not have any more expectations.
Am ok with it
its not the jesus streamer but it covers 97% of what i would like it to do. Changing to mp4 isn't deal breaker. streams well enough from youtube and excellently from netflix. hopfully more to come
I have mine connected to our office TV (second of 2 TVs in our house). That TV does not have a cable box connected to it because we could not justify the cost of the cable box for the limited amount that we would use it. I did get a Roku 3 for that TV but returned it the day before Chromecast was announced because it was having trouble staying connected to our network. Chromecast does exactly what I want it do do. I can start streams from any of our devices and and I have had no issues (other than a minor installation hiccup). I would like other services to work with it like HBO Go and MLB.TV, but those should be coming and I am content for now. There are a lot of little things that could be improved to make this an exceptional product, but it is still a very god product as it presently stands.
Actually no, onscreen controls are NOT obviously better than dinking around with a tablet.
everyone needs to wake up, a roku is triple the price of this thing, you can't buy a ipod or hell a watch that can do any of what this can do for 35.00. in a simple term this is a Netflix/youtube streamer. routers, modems, download speeds are all going to impact things. I have a Roku 2 XS , Roku is clunky and unpolished. I don't care who you are but Roku is no speed demon, it does a ok job at 50 bucks I got on a accomidation. Chromecast is working for me like the demo. I have a beefed up Asus router, I'm about 4 feet from my router with my tv and I run Cat 6 across all my connections. Chrome cast is fast and snappy. My setup was smooth too. Everyone is going to have a different experience. The only thing close to this is a raspberry PI. at 35.00 I may want the Pi for other things but for playing my content you won't find any streamer with the hardware or Dev support community this little device has. It's one of a kind whether you choose to accept that or not. a plex plugin is in the works also. It's all simple I can buy a 200 dollar nexus 7 or a 330 dollar ipad mini. build quality will be a bit better on the ipad the camera sharper. and more accessories and gadgets. so why to I get the nexus 7? because anyone can buy a ipad if you had the money and 2 the open experience. I can't crack open roku and flash a new OS. with chromecast it's endless since chrome browser can have anything built on it making it your own.
Mine works fine out the box, no issues. I can't see how anyone can complain about the out-the-box features. It IS lacking features, which is why I wasn't gonna buy one. But once I realized the possibilities and the fact that it was only around eleven dollars after the Netflix promo, I snapped one up on faith that Google would open it up to things like what Koush is doing. But even if that never happens, I can't complain. I'm still left with a painless way to use services on my TV that I use everyday.
Long story short, if you have real issues getting to work, your complaints are valid. But if you bought one and you're unsatisfied with the features, you have no one to blame but yourself.
I have an old TV & stereo in my garage / workshop that I wanted to project to from my phone, mainly for the Google Play Music app. I used to use an Airport Express but switched to Android so that was no longer an option. For me, Chromecast is awesome. I had to get an adapter to connect the audio to the stereo, but the Chromecast + Adapter was still cheaper than the Airport Express was. I was looking for something similar to Airplay and for me this was by far the best option. No, it's not an HTPC or even a Roku, but if you realize it's a dumb stick aimed at people who have no idea what anyvody on XDA is talking about, it's a great little device.
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4

video conversion for old TV

Anyone tried a product like this that converts HDMI to composite? I have an older TV in a spare room that I want to use with the tablet. I don't want to run more cables or buy a DVD player or anything like that and figured if something like this worked it would be perfect for the few times I needed it.
http://www.amazon.com/KEEDOX®-Compo...r-Adapter/dp/B00GGFY6LW/ref=pd_rhf_cr_p_tnr_5
Wow, those things are going cheap these days. When I was looking for some a few years back they were all over $150.
As long as the device can convert and scale the digital signal into analog then you are set. Just don't buy simple cables that claim to do that. I've seen several DVI-to-Component/composite cables that say they work but could never due to DVI being a digital signal and component/composite being analog.
So, that looks like it -should- work, I say should because I'm not sure if the Nook HD adapter does/requires a secure HDCP handshake.
Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk

Looking for a cheap Chromecast

Hey guys,
I'm looking to buy a Chromecast off of ebay but I'm not sure if this is ok to buy: https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-Chrome...HDMI-Media-Video-Streamer-Player/392876990895
There's no Google branding anywhere so it's obviously a knockoff but would it still allow me to mirror my phone screen via Smart View, PC desktop and browser tabs, YouTube, Spotify and Poweramp from their apps just like a legit Google Chromecast would? Would be nice if someone who's bought a similar thing shares some info. I'd like to save as much money as possible as all Google branded ones have delivery fees bigger than the device itself and in the local shops here it's around 40 euro which is still pricey.
koragg97 said:
Hey guys,
I'm looking to buy a Chromecast off of ebay but I'm not sure if this is ok to buy: https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-Chrome...HDMI-Media-Video-Streamer-Player/392876990895
There's no Google branding anywhere so it's obviously a knockoff but would it still allow me to mirror my phone screen via Smart View, PC desktop and browser tabs, YouTube, Spotify and Poweramp from their apps just like a legit Google Chromecast would? Would be nice if someone who's bought a similar thing shares some info. I'd like to save as much money as possible as all Google branded ones have delivery fees bigger than the device itself and in the local shops here it's around 40 euro which is still pricey.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Buy once cry once. Don't cheap out on something you really want to use and enjoy. I personally gave up on casting since dex seems to have a cleaner image quality to me with movies.
macgyver40 said:
Buy once cry once. Don't cheap out on something you really want to use and enjoy. I personally gave up on casting since dex seems to have a cleaner image quality to me with movies.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah but I'd like a way to use my TV wirelessly. DeX needs an HDMI cable. Also if I buy a Chromecast I can use wireless DeX if it comes to my Note9. Guess I'll get the real Google Chromecast as a present for my birthday in 6 months.
I just hope I can cast H265 HEVC mkv video files via VLC. I know the Chromecast 3 doesn't support it but I've read VLC converts it to H264 in real time and plays it via the Chromecast.
koragg97 said:
Yeah but I'd like a way to use my TV wirelessly. DeX needs an HDMI cable. Also if I buy a Chromecast I can use wireless DeX if it comes to my Note9. Guess I'll get the real Google Chromecast as a present for my birthday in 6 months.
I just hope I can cast H265 HEVC mkv video files via VLC. I know the Chromecast 3 doesn't support it but I've read VLC converts it to H264 in real time and plays it via the Chromecast.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use VLC and it does work with the fjrst gen chromecast but even I notice a quality different and beyond 720p I normally don't. It also could lag etc. I recently unplug my chromecast since it kept freezing playing the same movie it played the night before flawlessly. Just my experience. I have been looking at the nvidia device and wondering if it could handle casting better.

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