Hardware Best device to stream movies to TV

[yusuo]

I'm looking for a device to stream all the many films on my PC to my non-smart flatscreen TV.
I'm lookin for something cheap and doesnt need to be too flashy, its for a five year old so don't need all the netflix and all that, just something that can simply stream movies over my wireless network to a tv.

Any ideas anyone

 

[Krestent]

Are the movies in iTunes or simply files in a folder?

 

[Subtle Demise]

I have a Sony set-top box, SMP-N100 it was like $50 at my local store. It works pretty well if you set up a media server like TVersity or mezzmo on your PC.

 

[yusuo]

Are the movies in iTunes or simply files in a folder?

There not in iTunes so appleTV is out of the question, plus I hate apple with a passion. I just want to basically samba share them to a external media hub

Ok hate is a strong word, i just hate the fact that i can't mess with the os

 

[FAST6191]

You can do pretty well with XBMC and I am told the raspberry pi versions do quite good for this sort of thing too (I assume you have a spare HDMI port). Control varies from network (if they have a cheap android thing then it could do) to quite a few USB IR remotes.

All in assuming you have a cable, want wireless and want an IR remote you can probably do it for under £50.

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

A Raspberry Pi would work well enough, though the wait time for one can be generally long depending on availability.

XBMC has been ported to Android as well, so an alternative would be some sort of Android device with an HDMI output if you can't wait for the Pi. I've seen one of these in action and I have to say they are quite useful. The best possible thing to do with these is install XBMC, then set it to launch the app on boot so you don't have to deal with a keyboard/mouse, and have an XBMC Remote app on another device so you can easily control the thing and you'd have a small and easy to use media center.

 

[yusuo]

android devices is what I've been looking for but theres quite a few on the market and im guessing more than a few of them are pretty crap, so im trying to find the little gems

 

[marcus134]

1. connect the computer directly to your tv
2. use a xbox 360/ps3 ( it's cheap if you already have one)
3. blu-ray drive ( if you don't have one already, you'll have to buy one anyway)

 

[Deleted_171835]

Get a Raspberry Pi and use Plex.

http://lifehacker.com/5991040/rasplex-puts-plex-on-your-raspberry-pi+powered-home-theater-pc

 

[Haloman800]

android devices is what I've been looking for but theres quite a few on the market and im guessing more than a few of them are pretty crap, so im trying to find the little gems

Buy an Android Stick PC from amazon, put XBMC on it. if it's junk just pay return shipping and you get a full refund.

I'd recommend at least dual core + 1GB RAM, also check reviews/see if anyone uses XBMC on it.

Also as someone else stated, plug your laptop/desktop directly to your TV (I have mine hooked up to a 27" monitor and my 50" TV".

 

[mrtofu]

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