Best setup for Streaming to TV?

dmnEPC

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Dec 23, 2010
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What kind of setup are you guys using for streaming video to your tv's (local media, Netflix, Hulu ect. I am currently using on of my pc's for the media server w/ XBMC and WDLive. I would like to be able access everything including search, see thumbnails, trailers or whatever. So far I haven't really found great way to access everything in one easy to use place. Any one have any ideas for a kick-ass setup (software, hardware, ect?)

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A few weeks back I hacked an old Apple TV with Boxee. You can install on Apple TV, buy their box, or hack an old computer. Great concept and I think it has some potential, but not ready for prime time yet. There's no Hulu or Amazon support and the AppleTV won't stream NetFlix.
Never tried Roku, but it looks much more solid.
 
i use linux for a media server with a few externals...ubuntu has a lot of software that you can use with a remote to see thumbnails, etc. you can scoll back and forth btw movies, record streams of TV shows, facebook, etc.

i also have apple tv which has the capabilites of a ROKU box built into it (netflix basically)

all of that is good but what is really necessary is a good torrent database and a high speed, and reliable connection that does not penalize for downloading torrents.
 
I just bought a Logitech Revue and it works great. I don't use Hulu so don't know if that is supported. But Netflix, HBO GO, and random sports streams work perfect. It comes with Chrome which is cool.
 
I have the Roku top model waiting for me in the box, and procrastinating on setting it up because I hate messing with wires and such. I hope it's going to work well using WiFi and my home network. How well do these units perform when using them with a wireless network?

My prediction: As this technology improves and advances it's going to bury cable. Cable TV is donezo.
 
I would go with a Logitech Boxee Box. All other options involve a ton of work getting set up installing things. Its fun if you like that sort of thing, but if you just want it to work get a boxee box.
 
I would go with a Logitech Boxee Box. All other options involve a ton of work getting set up installing things. Its fun if you like that sort of thing, but if you just want it to work get a boxee box.

Is Logitech making a new version of the Boxee Box or did you mean D-Link?
 
iGugu looks like the only one worth owning... If you can get your hands on one:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vb6zZjx5C0]YouTube - ‪IGUGU INTERNETV in 1 minute‬‏[/ame]

When I tried to buy one though they flaked out and their sales page didn't work!

They've had (weird) ads in PC world for about a year now and seem to know how to advertise but I can't find their product anywhere.
 
I have the Roku top model waiting for me in the box, and procrastinating on setting it up because I hate messing with wires and such. I hope it's going to work well using WiFi and my home network. How well do these units perform when using them with a wireless network?

My prediction: As this technology improves and advances it's going to bury cable. Cable TV is donezo.

I was worried about the same thing (hate messing w/ wires) but it's very simple and takes about 3 minutes. Only 1 wire HDMI to worry about going from the box to the TV.

The only snag I ran into was that it couldn't find my wireless network. But once I switched from 5 Ghz to 2.4 Ghz it worked like a charm.
 


I thought about the Roku myself but it looks like that still has limitations as to which services it "partners" with (netflix, amazon, ect.) that the WDLive that I am currently using so if you want to use an outside service than your fucked if its not supported (hbo go, or maybe even wanting to go download a torrent right from the unit).

That IGUGU that was mentioned below looks like it might be kind of interesting going to have to take a look at that one