How Do You Handle Home Media? 381
carpoolio writes "Yahoo's Tech Tuesday has an interesting series on bridging the PC/home entertainment gap. The solutions are fairly complicated, and very Windows-centric. As I store more media on my PowerBook, I'm finding more ways I can't listen to or view it on my stereo and TV. One example: TiVo Desktop won't stream AAC files - only MP3s - from iTunes to TiVo. That's an easy fix, but still: how do you get stuff off of your computer and onto your TV, stereo, etc.?"
Xbox + XBMC all you need (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Xbox + XBMC all you need (Score:2, Interesting)
It's wonderful.
Re:Xbox + XBMC all you need (Score:2)
We also have the new dual tuner DVR HDTV box from Comcast in two rooms... 120GB each... it's great for recording shows and pausing live TV (even HDTV)... too bad you can't watch the shows that are stored on one box from another... that would be a sweet feature...
Re:Xbox + XBMC all you need (Score:3, Interesting)
No AAC support, but then, everything I buy from iTunes I immediately burn to CD and re-rip as MP3 anyway... I've had to rebuild my desktops too often to not burn a physical copy of anything I buy electronicly.
Re:Xbox + XBMC all you need (Score:2)
Re:Xbox + XBMC all you need (Score:2, Interesting)
I just wish I could get it to listen to the party shuffle stream, or if they could break the airtunes protocol so i can "Send to Xbox" from my iTunes, it would be the best item I have used for my xbox
Re:Xbox + XBMC all you need (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Xbox + XBMC all you need (Score:2, Informative)
I can even stream shows off my TiVo using the ccxstream searver and TivoX (module for TivoWeb).
It truly is wonderful
Re:Xbox + XBMC all you need (Score:3, Informative)
I use Samba on my server to give files to my XBox downstairs.
For music, I have playlists that are generated for XMMS, WinAmp and XBMC stored with all of my music. The only downside of this is that I have about 13,000 tracks in my "jukebox" with the following hierarchy:
first character of artist name
and for some reason the scan on the top level directory is pretty slow. Otherwise it's great.
For movies I either use XVid e
Re:Xbox + XBMC all you need (Score:2)
I still need to get the noscramble.o hack done to my Tivo. With a streaming server, you can watch stuff on your Tivo with XBMC.
Re:Xbox + XBMC all you need (Score:3, Informative)
Even better is the LCD support [heo.biz] offered by the XBOX. If you're not scared to use a dremel, you get headless operation too.
I still do it the low-tech way (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:I still do it the low-tech way (Score:3, Insightful)
But allow me a few remarks:
1)If power goes down while you are listening to your music there is a chance that you may loose some data or even have a damaged HD.
2)Especially if you're running Windows, your system can be rendered unusable by a number of reasons. How long would it take you to rebuild the entire system installing the OS and all the software that you are using.
3)How long does it take to boot your system? A minute, half a minute perhaps?
I could go on, but you get the point
Myth(TV) (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Myth(TV) (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Myth(TV) (Score:5, Informative)
I'm sure a lot of people will take the "I did it, therefore it's easy enough for my mom to do it" tack, but that's just not the case. Obviously MythTV has fans and I guess I'm one of them, but even I, with 20 years of experience building and maintaining computers, could not get MythTV doing everything I wanted it to do before giving up. And the way I feel is, if it takes me that long just to get something working, and if I still can't get it to do everything I want it to do, then it's not worth dealing with.
Right now I run Windows XP on a server that's hooked up to my Dolby Digital receiver through S-video (both in and out) and optical audio out. I'd use component if my TV supported component, but it doesn't so I don't worry about it. Anyway, I've got it set to login automatically, and I've also get it set up to use magic packet as well as remote desktop connections so even though I leave that PC off most of the time (for various reasons), I can activate it from anywhere and immediately start either playing through the home theater system or streaming to another PC.
Software-wise, I use Media Portal when I'm sitting in front of my TV, an OSS app for Windows that's similar to MythTV but works well "out of the box". It looks great, it runs great, and it plays pretty much every format that you've got a codec for on your machine already - which, if you're like most Windows users, is pretty much all of them anyway. The experience is not unlike running Windows Media Center. In fact, I'm not sure what I can do with Media Center that I can't do with Media Portal, and they look very, very similar. I also have this PC set up as a TiVo server, so I can use that as a front end as well (though I generally don't, but I've tried it out since they made the HMO free).
I can watch DVD's with this PC, any movie format you can name, I could watch TV if I wanted to set that up, and since I have all my music stored in MP3 format (why the originala submitter is using DRM-protected AAC is beyond me), I have no problems whatsoever playing music through Media Portal, streaming it to another PC using iTunes or whatever other app I want, or streaming it to my TiVo.
In short, I can do pretty much anything, and apart from the costs of Windows and the hardware (which is mostly comprised of second-hand parts from old PC's), I haven't spent a dime on anything. I'd peg the total cost including Windows, a new capture card, and a new hard drive at less than $200.
Could you build a functional Myth box cheaper? Maybe. Could you mod an Xbox and build a server for it cheaper? I doubt it. But my solution was much easier to set up and is easier to use than either of these other solutions anyway (my wife can use it, and she knows nothing about computers). And I have to spend zero time maintaining it or adding features or upgrades. It just works, and I can play all of my media files without problem anywhere in the house.
I will say that I make a point of completely avoiding any DRM protection at the source, which makes things a lot easier. I'd advise everybody to do this. Instead of buying Apple's AAC files, buy CD's and rip them to MP3 (or Ogg if you prefer, but MP3 has greater hardware and software support, which I think is important). If you rip a DVD, make sure to strip the Macrovision and CSS, which most DVD rippers will do (go ahead and violate the DMCA - the DMCA violates fair use laws as it is). There are lots of ways to avoid DRM and this will help you avoid headaches later.
My setup (Score:5, Informative)
Video: ATI Radeon 9800 Pro w/TV out (composite & svideo). A coax line runs composite -> the TV in line of my receiver.
Audio: Audigy 2 card with coax running from the SPDIF connector to the receiver's digital TV in.
To control it all: an ATI Remote Wonder [ati.com] remote control. It works by RF with ~10M of range so the source computer makes its noise in another room.
The Remote Wonder works well under Linux and MacOSX although you may have to google for drivers.
Dear carpoolio (Score:5, Insightful)
In reading the question, you have actually answered the solution yourself. As you point at problems simply eliminate that area. You pointed to Tivo not streaming then eliminate that component from the problem.
There is nothing preventing you from hooking the computer to a stereo tuner solving the issue or hooking a composite video card to a TV (better would be a DVI input directly to a flat panel). If the component doesn't suite your needs then that component is not part of the solution. That goes for the Windows Centric issue you addressed; if it doesn't solve the need than there are non-proprietary solutions, I think the name start with L or something someone.
Really, Tivo and other you named are fighting a battle that may be hard won. The proprietary market seems to have slowed in response, yet the onslaught of FOSS solutions hasn't eroded over the years. The FOSS solutions seem to now fit needs faster than their proprietary relatives. Now if the true lower level hardware could be non-proprietary so you could order a manufacture to assemble components you designed in a collective community. Don't like Intel great IBM has some neat PowerPC chips don't like the video card drivers great we'll build it to your specs - this is a dream not achievable just yet.
cheap setup... (Score:5, Interesting)
For serious music I usually burn the SHNs/FLACs to CD and play them in my stereo.
I have tried using my Tivo for MP3s but I just don't see the point. Maybe if I could use it for video I would. That would be a lot easier than screwing around with TV-out and waiting for the screen to resize, etc. I have a feeling that won't come to fruition from Tivo though
FreeBSD, FLAC, and a sound card... (Score:5, Interesting)
Works great. One of these days I'll put a web interface on it and be done with it.
The most obvious solution works just fine. (Score:5, Informative)
1) TV
2) Stereo
3) Wireless Keyboard / Mouse
It works. I'm really not sure what the issue is here.
a few ways (Score:5, Interesting)
For now, I'm using Tivo home media and not really loving it.
Building my own DVR... (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Building my own DVR... (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Building my own DVR... (Score:3, Informative)
Airport Extreme (Score:5, Informative)
For $130, you can plug it in anywhere in your house, and play anything that iTunes can play from any computer. As a bonus, its also a 802.11g extender and printer server.
Airport Express! (Score:3, Informative)
Not to pick nits. ;)
Re:Airport Extreme (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Airport Extreme (Score:2)
Rumormongering ahead... (Score:3, Interesting)
-truth
Old iMac for audio (Score:2, Informative)
A remote would be nice, but I'm too cheap to buy the one that's specifically designed for iTunes. I'd rather find some kind of IR USB dongle that can receive the codes from the remotes I already have on my coffee table, and tie that to iTunes with some applescript. I haven't found one yet.
I agree this stuff is still too complicated ... (Score:5, Funny)
MythTV you insensitive clod! (Score:5, Interesting)
FABULOUS TiVo replacement, but sometimes a bit hard to get working, especially if you only have seemingly random hardware, or just whatever is laying arround. The machine I dedicate for this is piped into my TV, stereo, local network, and it is convenient to drag-and-drop whatever media files I want (including MAME ROMs!) onto the MythTV box, and play away! Check it out, it really is worth it. Use an MPEG tuner card if you can.
Re:MythTV you insensitive clod! (Score:3, Insightful)
Enough gushing.
Re:MythTV you insensitive clod! (Score:3, Informative)
Actually, my setup is slightly fubared at the moment. It seems the 6xxx series nVidia drivers dork up the DVI out, no vhold. I'm currently using S-V
Easy Solution (Score:5, Interesting)
Re::Easy Solution-Signal Strength. (Score:2)
w00t [radioshack.com]
Re::Easy Solution-Signal Strength. (Score:2)
Windows now - moving to mythtv (Score:5, Interesting)
The next step is to get MythTV running on the box, which has a much easier interface and can do more, such as image galleries, etc...
The biggest problem I have is input. Right now the notebook is on top of the entertainment center because of the aforementioned kids. And it's running windows so things like forcing video out is a pain, plus my wife doesn't know how to work it. And what idiot decided that play/pause in media player should be Control-P instead of space.
My main mythtv box has a remote controller for the video capture card, but I have nothing to hook to the notebook. I guess I need to bite the bullet and either buy some cheap IR receiver for use with lirc or threaten to burn the house down by building my own.
I'm surprised no company has come out with a USB based IR receiver that can be taught so you can control all your apps with it. Seems like a simple little item, not much needed to make and could be sold cheap enough to return a decent product and get lots of people to buy.
Re:Windows now - moving to mythtv (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Windows now - moving to mythtv (Score:3, Interesting)
As someone else mentioned, keyspan makes some remotes [keyspan.com] that work well. It looks like the express remote replaced their digital media remote, which has been out for years. The software is totally customizable and allows it to recognize the signals from a JVC VCR remote, which most universal remotes have no problem sending. I've had mine set up to control BSPlayer and iTunes and a f
MythTV (Score:3, Informative)
In general, you have to deal with two sides of the issue: the format you get your media in, and the formats that your output device can handle. For me, that means I can do just about anything that doesn't have DRM involved. If instead of running your own system directly connected to you media setup, you rely on some consumer electronic solution (TiVo, etc.), you're going to have to deal with the formats accepted by that system. This is one reason a roll-your-own approach is so enticing.
Squeezebox (Score:5, Informative)
I've not conquered the video thing yet. I like the idea of having easy access to the digital media, but I don't like the idea of having a computer in the family room. Computers go in the office, where there's a desk and a proper work environment.
Re:Squeezebox (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Squeezebox (Score:3, Informative)
Apple's way: (Score:2)
Re:Apple's way: (Score:2)
Airpot Express (Score:2, Informative)
I'd love to see something like this that you could use to broadcast Video too, but for that I'll have to wait I guess.
--
Free Flat Screens [freeflatscreens.com] | Free iPod Photo [freephotoipods.com] | It really works! [wired.com]
what i do for video (Score:2, Informative)
+
$60 DVD burner (fits 6 divx movies per dvd):
http://shop4.outpost.com/product/4105013?s
+
$80 divx/dvd player:
http://www.divx.com/hardware/detail.php?
=
finally!
Re:what i do for video (Score:2)
Dude, Amazon has them for $62.94.
How do I handle my home media? (Score:2, Funny)
Laptop (Score:2)
For movies, I mount a fileshare and stream DivX recordings of DVDs over wireless, with the laptop using the TV as a "second monitor".
For audio, my main stereo is already connected to my desktop PC, which streams my FLAC and MP3 files from the same file server.
Comment removed (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:"Out" cards (Score:4, Funny)
There's a saying out there that goes something like this: "Every program will expand in scope until it becomes a framework." This is the same deal -- "Every home theatre solution will expand in scope until you can play a movie in the living room while sitting on the toilet." To do otherwise just wouldn't be geeky enough!
Simple Solutions: (Score:2)
My music solution (Score:2)
mini-itx HTPC / PVR (Score:4, Informative)
That and some ball bearings, and prestone antifreeze...
e.
Very simple. (Score:3, Informative)
Sound-out from all the appliances goes into the PC's line-in port using a $4 RCA-to-miniplug adapter from Radio Shack. The PC spits it out through two sets of Klipsch Promedia 2.1s (the microphone port is rerouted to act as a speaker port thanks to the motherboard software).
Video from the PC/DVD player isn't a problem; the S-Video out jack from the GeForce 5200 card routes that to the TV while sound goes through the Klipsches. This creates some interesting situations; I can mute a DVD and play music over it or watch video footage while I work on it.
Other devices are routed through an S-video/A-V switch into the PC or TV as needed
mmsv2 (Score:3, Interesting)
Stereo? (Score:2, Interesting)
MythTV (Score:2)
There's not much better than a Myth PC hooked up to a HDTV and a nice stereo system.... I highly recommend it. It's a nice way to control your home media witho
one possibility... (Score:3, Informative)
it runs linux, and is hackable:
http://www.visi.com/~erl/
http://sourceforge.n
http://www.dforsyth.net/mvp/s
http://mvpmc.sourceforge.net/idx.php
http://www.shspvr.com/forum/viewforum.ph
http://www.rst38.org.uk/vdr/mediamvp/
Easy (Score:2)
Re:Easy (Score:2)
Playstation + Gameshark (Score:5, Interesting)
I've only played with it a little bit, but so far it seems to be very usable.
Re:Playstation + Gameshark (Score:3, Interesting)
Can't turn PS2 on/off remotely.
It doesn't let you FF/RW during playback of videos.
Their playlist interface is hideous.
Takes forever to load up when you first turn it on.
If your gameshark disk gets borked, you have to buy a new copy of the software (no way to back it up).
My setup... (Score:2, Interesting)
For audio, I have a device called the Audiotron [audiotron.net] from Turtle Beach. It can stream MP3's and full size wav files from Windows or SMB shares, and is really easy to use. It can also stream from some Internet radio stations.
Re:My setup... (Score:2)
My computer Is my home entertainment system... (Score:2)
you insensitive clod!. But on a more serious note...I find it very convenient to use one setup for all my "entertainment needs".
A TV Tuner card and capture software nicely double up as TV, VCR and (albeit rudimentary) TiVo, while a 5.1 surround sound system provides the desired audio capability. Don't need no fancy-schmancy "bridging PC/home entertainment" crap when everything's a PC.
The only thing lacking in my setup is a way t
philips dvp642 (Score:2, Interesting)
I decided not to bother (Score:2)
Someone I know went a step further and uses a projector & a real HI-FI with his PC.
mini-itx + freevo (Score:3, Informative)
I ended up building a mini-itx 2ghz athlon nforce2 machine using a coolermaster case that looked just like a stereo component.
For software I deicded to use gentoo and freevo. [sourceforge.net] For input I have a standard remote, a wireless keyboard, and a wireless game controller.
the box [alexvalentine.org]
on the rack [alexvalentine.org]
playing tapper [alexvalentine.org]
I already have a Tivo so I didn't bother setting up the TV features, but it works great as an all purpose media player.
Low tech (Score:2)
I have a DVD-RW drive, a number of DVD-Rs and DVD-RWs, and CD-Rs and CD-RWs. Depending on what the media format is, I convert it to something appropriate, write it onto a DVD, VideoCD or MP3-CD, and play it on my DVD player.
It works for me, YMMV.
What about a simple controler (Score:2)
Media Center (Score:5, Informative)
how do you get stuff off of your computer.... (Score:2)
Any other questions?!
Media Center 2005 (Score:3, Informative)
Laptop == Component (Score:2, Interesting)
It's a bit of a pain to use, because it's old and slow, but it gets the job done. I think part of the problem is that it's very difficult to cool--we tried running one of those fan-pads underneath it, but it was rather n
KISS (Score:2)
Games & movies go in the PS2. Done.
I carry my media to the living room (Score:2)
and not no wimpy DVD either... i'm talking heavy laserdiscs!
e.
Open Standards, Open Source (Score:2)
Low tech solution to a high tech problem (Score:3, Informative)
1 x audio
1 x s-vhs-scart
plug into ANY pc setup and you can view what is on your screen on the TV and listen to sound through your stereo.
I have an old ibm thinkpad t21 with a wifi card which sits under my tv and acts as the home media centre.
pretty simple really, and I've been doing it for 7 years!
use dedicated hardware. (Score:2)
view my Divx's? I can not think of the model but my GoVideo DVD player has a pcmcia slot in the back that I put in a ethernet card so I can watch Divx mpeg1 and mpeg2 files from my media server.
finally, mpeg1 and mpeg2 can easily be converted for my replayTV to playback.
instead of som hokey configuration of a laptop or pc sitting in the living room I have hardware that will do w
Everything in PC (Score:2)
Windows Media Player then runs everything from the server's shares.
Works for me, and I find DivX is great for size and quality balance.
HTPC is the way to go (Score:2, Informative)
Here's my HTPC (home theater PC) setup:
The core: Athlon XP 2800+, 160GB HD, ATI Radeon 9600, Hauppauge WinDVR-250MCE, DVD-ROM, CDROM
OS: WinXP Pro
Software: PowerDVD 5.0, SageTV 2.1
Network: Netgear Powerline Networking
Video Output: 27" TV, InFocus SP4805 Projector (to 76" screen)
Audio Output: harmon/kardon Dolby Pro-Logic 5.1 system
About the only thing I wish I had was Ethernet (so I don't have to dump movies onto a DVD-RW), but I'm in an old house (circa 1844) and the prospect of running cable just
A little linux, and a little wireless (Score:3, Informative)
Two issues with this setup: (1) 2.4Ghz microwave over, and (2) 2.4Ghz cordless phone. You can't make popcorn or talk on the phone and stream the music at the same time! I suppose it's sort of a "mute" feature....
-- Rick
The standard, I guess (Score:2)
In the living room connected to a 5.1 surround sounc system and 32" TV, I have a 1.4ghz Tbird w/ 256 megs of ram running winXP. It runs a program named "Media Portal" that I found on Source Forge that looks almost exactly like Windows Media Centre, except its free, and is a bit more customizable. I have a wireless keyboard and mouse to control it, and If I have to do anything major, I use VNC from on
Mac Solution (Score:4, Informative)
1) Audio only. Simple. Use an Airport Express. Setup is easy, it acts as a Wi-Fi access point, and you can stream music from iTunes to the built-in audio out port. Run an RCA stereo adapter cable from the Airport Express to your stereo's inputs and bang - streaming music solution. Price $130.
2) Audio and video. Also simple. Get an EyeHome from Elgato [elgato.com], install the server software on your Mac, and then stream your MP3's, AAC's, DivX movies, MPEG2 movies, etc. to your TV or home theater receiver. Price $200.
I own both of these products, and both are very solid, and great at bridging the media gap between the computer and the TV/stereo.
Re:Mac Solution (Score:3, Informative)
I actually don't store my music, video files, or photos on my PowerBook either, because it wouldn't hold a fraction of my library. I have an iMac G4 that acts as a fileserver on my home network, with a LaCie 1TB external drive attached. The external drive holds all of my digital media files, and the EyeHome server software is installed on this machine to stream media to the EyeHome in my living room.
My setup (Score:2)
I was too lazy to run Cat5 downstairs (explaination below), so my downstairs Panasonic HDTV (projection) has my cable modem and 802.11g router by it. I have a Hauppage MediaMVP connected to the TV and 5.1 surround sound system and wired into the wireless router. I had three choices -- run cable from my upstairs computer, use a wireless bridge (I was too cheap to buy one), or go this route.
Thin client! (Score:3, Interesting)
Brace yourself... (Score:2, Informative)
MythTV obviously does TiVo-like functionality, and it does it extraordinarily well, i might add. MythDVD (using Xine for menu support) for DVDs. My whole music collection is in mp3 format anyway, so MythMusic is fine for me.
I used to have the mp3's all on the MythTV box, but once I got my iPod it seemed silly to have a IEEE1394 connection from the iPod to the WindowsXP box, and a piddling 100Mb/s
What I want, videos, dvds, etc... (Score:3, Informative)
Stop coveting it. (Score:2, Funny)
The 'net is your hard drive. Delete, I say. Let the winds blow to you what they will.
You don't need 8gigs of TV show. It isn't actually doing you any good to hoard all this so-called 'valuable content'. Some would consider it a kind of cancer
simple apple solution (Score:2)
Composite & Stereo to VCR thru home theater receiver to TV
Watch & listen works with two button presses.
But since I mostly just listen,
& since watch is a bit of a waste
(Given a $100 Sony DVD player w/component video...)
Will soon move to Airport express and forget watching.
Of course I have little or no stored video to worry about.
Media PC (Score:2)
All that lives in a closet.
Control is the main issue. I have several solutions for that, however.
One is an ATI remote wonder. I can have the PC directly output to my TV or to my Projector, giving me a desktop and
I've said it before (Score:3, Informative)
VERY easy integration with a Mac (Score:3, Interesting)
2) Load your Mac up with a Terabyte of disk space (I have 4 internal 250GB drives... just cheap drives, they don't need to be fast. Mine were $150 each)
3) Fire up Azureus as your BitTorrent client (make sure to avoid crashes by installing the latest beta, B8 or greater).
4) Purchase the $150 eyeHome from El Gato.
You're all set!
I have about 250GB of music (mostly AACs encoded at 192K, but some MP3s and a rare OGG, ALE or FLAC). I also have about 250GB of video, either DVDs, 3ivx, DivX, and videos with other crazy codecs.
eyeHome connects to my entertainment system with component, composite or svideo cables and optical digital or composite audio cables. It connects to the home network via 10/100BaseT Ethernet (router or crossover cable) or WiFi (Airport Express). The box itself is tiny and light. There's no interface on the box outside of a red power light which turns green when connected. I routinely unplug the unit and take it with me from living room to bedroom, or take it with me on vacation.
It connects using Rendezvous...amazingly fast and easy...it really is easier than most VCR setups.
The audio/video quality is amazing, but that's kinda to be expected because you're sending the actual files to the unit, not some compressed stream. The impact on my Mac isn't noticeable...Activity Monitor shows less than 1% cpu use even when viewing a DVD. Surprisingly, the impact on the network is just as insignificant.
The unit plays:
iPhoto albums and slideshows, or any images in your Pictures directory
Videos in your Movies directory
Music and playlists in iTunes
It also allows you to put aliases in these directories...My Movies directory has an alias to another 250GB drive.
Now with BitTorrent, what I have is like a time-traveling Tivo! If I miss something on Tivo, I just head over to Suprnova.org and download it. Often I can find HDTV versions that are much better quality than the crappy HDTV programming I get from Comcast (who totally over-compresses).
I also have a Formac Studio TVR for recording shows on my Mac. This works pretty well, especially with the scheduling feature.
The eyeHome is only available for Macintosh and OS X. If this was the only thing I used a Macintosh for, it would be well worth the purchase of the Mac...of course I *do* use the Mac for everything else as well since I can't even notice when the eyeHome is in use.
Re:FM radio. (Score:2)
Re:Prismiq (Score:2)
Any problems with yours? Media compatibility OK? Are you using it wirelessly? How is the web browsing?
Thinkgeek has this for $149 (after rebate) and there is a wireless keyboard for it for ~$30.