Media viewing & storage advice

[Yamana_New]

Hi

Some media player/streamer/server advice please?

What I want to do:
• Be able to store and play home movies from HD camera & GoPro (main priority)
• View & store still photos from various camera sources (incl. Canon Raw files)
• View downloaded content (HD movies)
• Watch Youtube videos
• Above to be viewed on HD TV.

What I have:
• 2008 iMac (not powerful enough to play GoPro movies without issues) Want to upgrade to Macbook Pro, but will be after finding solution for my storing/viewing issue.
• Xtreamer Sidewinder II (no longer supported by Xtreamer, i.e. no more firmware upgrades, laggy, often gives errors, space for one hard drive only) So not keen on supporting any Xtreamer products!
• Samsung Plasma Smart TV

What would be the best all in one solution, if such a thing exists?

At one stage I thought an HP media server would be the solution, but not sure if there are better options available now.
The solution should preferably cater for easy storage expansion & backup.

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Hemps]

MY setup at home

Adsl router
WD MyCloud 4TB
Droidtv ATV400 running Ember 2.0.2 (Kodi)

The WD MyCloud feeds the DroidTV and iPhones and iPads , all my home movies/pictures are on there and my movie/blu ray collection.

Only thing i haven't got working correctly is Hulu, that i currently need macbook connected to Sony amp.

 

[Yamana_New]

Thanks Hemps!
Do you keep any backup of the WD MyCloud?

 

[AstroTurf]

I have a normal old core2duo pc with 4GB ram and a cheap Nvidia card attached to the tv.
3x 3tb drives for storage, an IDE dvdr for watching dvd's and a 500gb hard drive for os and software.

It has plex server on it for wireless viewing and Kodi for viewing on the tv.

Works a charm.

 

[Hemps]

Thanks Hemps!
Do you keep any backup of the WD MyCloud?

Only Time Machine for my macbook and another 2x 2TB externals that have copies of the movies etc in case WD goes belly up.

My kids and myself can stream anything directly from the WD or can even stream from the DroidTV to their iPads.

Edit: the MyCloud mirror has support for plex server so I think you can install plex app on smart tv and app on mycloud, unfortunately my model doesn't support 3rd party apps.

Plex Media Server Western Digital NAS Support.
My Cloud Mirror
My Cloud EX2
My Cloud EX4
My Cloud EX2100
My Cloud EX4100
My Cloud DL2100
My Cloud DL4100

 

[Yamana_New]

Thanks Hemps!

I like the streaming to kids' iPads idea!

 

[Yamana_New]

I have a normal old core2duo pc with 4GB ram and a cheap Nvidia card attached to the tv.
3x 3tb drives for storage, an IDE dvdr for watching dvd's and a 500gb hard drive for os and software.

It has plex server on it for wireless viewing and Kodi for viewing on the tv.

Works a charm.

Thanks Astroturf!

Was considering this as well, but does noise from the PC not irritate you, assuming you have it close to TV?
And what if you want to stream to other TV or devices in house?

 

[AstroTurf]

Thanks Astroturf!

Was considering this as well, but does noise from the PC not irritate you, assuming you have it close to TV?
And what if you want to stream to other TV or devices in house?

Pretty quiet machine, my ups is louder than it (why I put it in the next room with longer cables).

It has plex server on so android about R50 for plex player no idea apple and windows plex player is free.
Anything attached to my wifi can stream from it.

I actually had my neighbour streaming from it via an old Sony xperia S (had a hdmi port) I plugged into his tv for months without issues.

 

[Hemps]

Thanks Hemps!

I like the streaming to kids' iPads idea!

Only pain is having to shutdown the WD MyCloud whenever theres power outages or guess you can get a ups.
Also need to have wifi in the kids bedrooms so stream works.

 

[Hemps]

Installed plex app on Smart TV, server on the macbook, must say it pretty easy setup and works very well.

Convenient as well.

 

[Yamana_New]

My thinking at the moment:

HP Microserver with 2 x 3TB drives to start with, leaves 2 bays for future expansion
ACRyan or Mede8er media player

Any comments?

Hemps, appears as though DroidTV was discontinued?

I played around with Smart TV functions on my Samsung, but frustratingly slow!