So close, and yet...

rpm

rpm

Admin
Staff member
Joined
Jul 22, 2003
Messages
66,805
Reaction score
5,057
Location
Johannesburg
So close, and yet...

MEDIA PLAYERS THAT ALLOW you to watch computer files on your TV are a fickle lot. Some are great but others are completely awful. For the most part they tend to do one thing well and everything else either awfully or in the most mediocre fashion possible. Sadly, the Emtec MovieCube falls into the middle field when it comes to features.
Click to expand...
 
Why buy it when you can make your own? I made my own PVR box.

Use either MediaPortal or MythDora.

MediaPortal is Win32 and MythDora is Linux.

MythDora and MythTV are great, but I did not have a Hauppage tuner and remote. Hence MediaPortal

Building you own PVR has the benefit of upgrading the HDD when you want to. Can play directly avi files off a dvd. Also you can add in a wireless network card if you want.
 
I love my MviX ... was a great investment! and you can also upgrade the HDD. The software works just fine.
 
Peder said:
but MviX doesn't record thats the problem...
Click to expand...

I either use my Tedelex HDD recorder or the line input into the computer.

But I don't have DSTV anyway... gave that up to get the ADSL. I download everything I watch. Don't use the record much. Don't miss it.
 
Peder said:
well you have a HUGE cap eh?
Click to expand...

no cap on local ;)

But a ton of it is also stuff I have backed up from my own DVDs. Like the article said then the kids don't have to handle the stuff over and over.
 
whats the one java cafe sells?(it doesn't have a pvr tho)
 
Garyvdh said:
I love my MviX ... was a great investment! and you can also upgrade the HDD. The software works just fine.
Click to expand...

The MViX is indeed a good player and supports a wide range of file formats.

I needed to get media players that could be controlled via IP (so the kids could select their own movies via touch screens) and I eventually settled for the Netgear EVA8000's as my MViX could not do this.

The biggest problem with all these blackbox media players are the poor GUI's. While functional they're not exactly the slickest or prettiest around. Especially when compare to something like Media Center which probably boasts the best GUI (and also the worst file format support).
 
I'm using XBOX 360 and Tversity running as a media server off one of my PC's works great for watching movies - just doest have any recording capability
 
Using XBOX v1 + XBMC - plays pretty much anything you throw at it (except mkv) and the interface is awesome. Has a library mode which links to tvdb/imdb
 
I use my Wii (Geexbox) to watch all my stuff on the TV. It supports flash drives, SD cards, USB hard drives, iPods, and over network. Works well enough for me ;)
 
Tversity

Like Zeely mentioned, he uses Tversity to watch things from his pc to his tv via Xbox 360. This also works for PS3 & Nintendo Wii. And all those fanboys out there, you can use it with your silly iPhones as well:-P I have had limited success in this regard as I constantly have to copy paste links on my Tytn 2 to play. I have an easier time using VLC to stream to my phone.

This whole media center setup thing is pretty cool. Any video, any device, any time. Let's see what products/software pop up the next while.
 
sounds interesting, the recording part at least. Anyone have specs or link to the website?
 
Popcorn hour

I bought a Popcorn hour a-110 late last week and I am very happy with it so far. I played with it this weekend and it looks like you can stream anything under the sun. Works beautifully when steaming mkv 720p. Apparently can also do mkv 1080p, but I dont anything to test it with. It even has a torrent client and newsgrabber built in. So you dont have to leave you pc on 24/7 for downloads. Another big plus, it’s completely silent. Which probably was the biggest reason I decided on this media streamer. I suppose that if you install a loud hard drive it might be distracting.

I reserve judgement until I have put it through its passes. But I am very impressed so far.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X