USB on HDTVs

Pitbull

Pitbull

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Hi Guys,

I'm taking my dad to buy a TV tomorrow morning. He's one and only requirement is that the TV itself plays AV. MKV. MP4 and so on file formats.

I know a Blu-ray player will sort that out but he wants to connect the HDD to the TV directly. I supply him with series and movies which he then watches on a Laptop but wants to watch it on the new TV now. Are there any TV's that has this capability? If not I'll have to buy him a Blu-Ray player...
 
Pitbull said:
Hi Guys,

I'm taking my dad to buy a TV tomorrow morning. He's one and only requirement is that the TV itself plays AV. MKV. MP4 and so on file formats.

I know a Blu-ray player will sort that out but he wants to connect the HDD to the TV directly. I supply him with series and movies which he then watches on a Laptop but wants to watch it on the new TV now. Are there any TV's that has this capability? If not I'll have to buy him a Blu-Ray player...
Click to expand...

Most of the newer Samsung's have this functionality, would assume it's pretty common across all brands.
 
RazedInBlack said:
My gf has a Samsung. Plugs in HDD and plays everything.

Not sure what series TV it is though.
Click to expand...

Cray said:
Most of the newer Samsung's have this functionality, would assume it's pretty common across all brands.
Click to expand...

Cool Samsung it is then :)

Dad needs it to fit his cabinet... So Assume 37" is the biggest. Will check tomorrow. Is there anyway I can be sure it will play it without waiting to get home? Is there a spec or something I need to look for? Also, it's won't be a Smart TV as he has no internet :D
 
If it's branded, it'll likely have USB HD playback. If it's branded and FHD, it'll definitely have it.

My 4 Series HD Ready Samsung 32" LED-LCD has it, it's from about 2013.
 
Hisense also works well... as do most newer models of any brand.

It should state very clearly in the manual what formats can be played. Else take your interwebz with you and google (*spits*) the make and model for its capabilities.
 
PostmanPot said:
If it's branded, it'll likely have USB HD playback. If it's branded and FHD, it'll definitely have it.

My 4 Series HD Ready Samsung 32" LED-LCD has it, it's from about 2013.
Click to expand...

I see it seems like I need to be looking for the following feature on Samsungs: "Connect share movie"
Any good buys or suggestions for TV's around 37" ?
 
Pitbull said:
Cool Samsung it is then :)

Dad needs it to fit his cabinet... So Assume 37" is the biggest. Will check tomorrow. Is there anyway I can be sure it will play it without waiting to get home? Is there a spec or something I need to look for? Also, it's won't be a Smart TV as he has no internet :D
Click to expand...

Keep in mind that if your video files use weird audio compression the video files may not play. My TV works for most but occasionally you will get a file that won't y, downloading in HD usually solves this...

I would imagine if it has a USB connector it should play most formats..
 
Be careful when measuring the cabinet vs new TV size... I had an old 84cm TV in a cabinet and it now houses a 32" LED TV as a perfect fit.
 
MickeyD said:
Be careful when measuring the cabinet vs new TV size... I had an old 84cm TV in a cabinet and it now houses a 32" LED TV as a perfect fit.
Click to expand...

This it will be then. 32"

You measure the TV from bottom corner to opposite top corner tight?
 
Pitbull said:
This it will be then. 32"

You measure the TV from bottom corner to opposite top corner tight?
Click to expand...
Yes... BUT!!!!!

All that will concern you now is the width - bottom edge to bottom edge. You then measure the new LCD/LED TV from edge to edge horizontally (not diagonally!!).
 
I have a Samsung, an LG and a JVC all with built in media players and all of them play the usual file formats without any problems.
 
MickeyD said:
Yes... BUT!!!!!

All that will concern you now is the width - bottom edge to bottom edge. You then measure the new LCD/LED TV from edge to edge horizontally (not diagonally!!).
Click to expand...

O I get it. Thanks. Actually makes sense.
 
Look for a samsung that has DTS functionality otherwise MKV's that have DTS will have video but not audio.


But for instance, my TV (sony bravia) can play MKV,AVI,MP4 but it doesnt support DTS. So I use a program called MKV2AC3 to convert the audio stream to AC3 and it literally takes a few seconds to convert a 24GB movie.
 
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Pitbull said:
I see it seems like I need to be looking for the following feature on Samsungs: "Connect share movie"
Any good buys or suggestions for TV's around 37" ?
Click to expand...

37" is no more, your options are 32" and 40". 32" is the usual size that fits in old school 4:3 TV cabinets. Which unfortunately is quite small.

If possible, I suggest moving away from a cabinet.
 
PostmanPot said:
37" is no more, your options are 32" and 40". 32" is the usual size that fits in old school 4:3 TV cabinets. Which unfortunately is quite small.

If possible, I suggest moving away from a cabinet.
Click to expand...

I agree. Gonna be a pain to access the USB port everytime you need the HDD to copy movies.
 
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