Media Player (Solved!)

[bluesdog]

Confusted by a vast and sparkly galaxy of slick little black boxes, I am seeking recommendations for a media player

I'd like it capable of handling a wide variety of audio and video formats, including mp4, in HD

HDMI output

USB, capable of powering drive

remote control

camcorder/dslr connectivity would be convenient, as would component in/output

capable of streaming content over LAN would be nice, as would be wireless connectivity for media streaming/computer monitor mirroring

Netflix, Kodi, Google, gaming, and other Internet applications and services are irrelevant for my purpose.

Price range below $100, if at all possible

 

[HotRodZilla]

Dude...I think you just said you need a new cell phone.

 

[bluesdog]

Dude...I think you just said you need a new cell phone.

Oh, ha ha.

No

 

[Warpdrv]

Maybe something like this....

https://www.amazon.com/Matricom-G-Box-MX2-Android-Special/dp/B00CH643A8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1444486406&sr=8-2&keywords=xmbc+device

I Run XBMC on a couple of PC's I built and its nice. It will play anything. I have it streaming music, movies tv shows basically everything I have on my 40Terrabyte server. I've been running XBMC since I hacked the first gen Xbox.... Very happy with it...

Ive personally never gotten a preloaded box like that but it looks more then capable and close to your $$ ideas....

FWIW it will require a small bit of you setting up. Look through the reviews, there's some goofy guy that does a bit of a review.

An IT buddy of mine has been trying to get me into PLEX as of late, but I have not looked at it very hard nor do I have much time to do so.

https://plex.tv/ad/getstarted

There are tons of little boxes like that.....

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_n_1?fst=as%3Aoff&rh=n%3A13447451%2Ck%3Axmbc+device&keywords=xmbc+device&ie=UTF8&qid=1444486406&rnid=2941120011

 

[HotRodZilla]

Seriously, because I had no idea what you were posting about. This is a media player for your house?

 

[bluesdog]

Thanks Warpdrv. Those tons of boxes on amazon are why I'm asking here in case someone else has any recommendations or warnings.

Something like this would do nicely, I'm thinking.

But hoping to find a device that I can stream via my LAN or WLAN from my mbp and iMac. It would be convenient for a/v editing.

(the iMac has a large screen, but the 42" HDMI TV is more betterer.

Seriously, because I had no idea what you were posting about. This is a media player for your house?

There I just thought you were being your usual smart-ass self!

Yeah, I'm looking for an upgrade from my archaic sony DVD recorder/player, for entertainment, educational and training stuff, and for a/v editing.

I can likely run a long, (25'), HDMI line to the TV for the editing tasks, but it would be more useful to have a separate remote for the entertainment and educational material, rather than using the computer's media player application's control panel for straightforward media playback.

And LAN/WLAN connectivity would simplify switching sources, as I could hook everything into my existing local network, without having to switch cables from laptop to desktop.

I don't need/want massive built in storage, nor all that hulu/netflix/google/gaming yadda yadda stuff

 

[Warpdrv]

Agreed - thats one reason I went with my own build - but that was way before any of these boxes came out, that have tons of power now, more then enough to stream movies and music - 1080p HD audio, which is / was the biggest challenge, they needed to handle a ton of bandwidth for the audio and bluray 1080p video....

Now basically anything out there can handle it....

I'm with ya on no need for any of that added garbage.... just to be able to stream from my internal network - via LAN...

Should be easy to get something like that....

This unit from ebay has LAN, unlike the unit you linked to..... https://www.ebay.com/itm/MXQ-Android-4-4-Quad-Core-WiFi-Kodi-1080P-Smart-set-TV-Box-8GB-XBMC-Fully-Loaded/121709127802?_trksid=p2047675.c100010.m2109&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D33870%26meid%3De0021233155d43bf93e57406722b6449%26pid%3D100010%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D17%26sd%3D111742535559

I understand that all those extras included are not necessary, but you don't need to use them, but the interface is likely going to be alot nicer....

 

[Bounce]

For local media streaming the WD Live TV box can't be beat. Most others focus on streaming and, while the WD box does Netlix and some other stuff, it's strength is in LAN connectivity to a plethora of media types. Most from MS, Apple, etc. will play their corporate format but little else; forcing you to stream stuff more.

https://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=1270 is their current version, but their previous one (WD Live TV Plus HD) is still out there in the channels. The interface isn't as slick but navigation through lists is easy and the product is rock solid.

https://www.wdc.com/wdproducts/library/UM/ENG/4779-705043.pdf

I have a 27" iMac, a 15" Macbook Pro, and an Apple TV. For local media the WD box is still the go-to. For streaming they all do pretty much the same thing but I'm not interested in many of the pay subscription offers. I use Netflix but my 4K TV does it as do my Apple TV (Gen 3) and the WD box. Unless I want to watch a 4K stream from Netflix (usually travelogues) the WD box does the job. If I want to play something in iTunes then it's either the Apple TV (podcasts, the 3 movies I bought through iTunes when on business travel and bored), or I export the content to MP3 and then play them with the WD box.

After experiencing it, my Brother, Oldest Daughter, and Mom all got WD boxes (Mom like's her Frank Sinatra channel on Pandora).

 

[Warpdrv]

Sounds exactly like what he's looking for....

 

[bluesdog]

Thanks for the suggestions all!

Those things are very cool, but I chose to solve the problem using a 35' High quality HDMI cable.

Got one on Amazon for under $30 CDN, shipped.

Local shop wanted $100, which is partly why I started looking for a media player thing as a cheaper alternative.

With the HDMI cable connected to my iMac, I can use the bluetooth trackpad as remote control. Best of all, I now have a big screen to preview while editing

 

[DeSudet]

I use Plex, but neither of my media boxes has the capability to use it, so I just hook my laptop up to my receiver and use a wireless mouse on the coffee table when I want to watch something on the big screen in the living room. Favorite thing about plex is that the server has very low impact on my PC, can access my 6TB NAS, and can be watched from any computer with a web browser. There's even an android app that's free (google play services may be required depending on your phone, $5 USD). I can even share my libraries with other plex users. I currently have 8 users I'm sharing with, had as many as 4 using it at a time, no lag or strain on my PC. There are media boxes and more than a few smart TVs that support it too, although I have no idea what the process is to set them up.

 

[rickysnickers]

Ok, so forgive me for asking, but what is the point of all those different boxes you guys listed, what do they do for you? Being uneducated in these things, I'm just curious.

 

[DeSudet]

If you use your PC as a TiVo or make digital backup files of the movies you own (Yes, I know, just go with it ), you can put those files on a usb drive (little thumb drive in many cases, full sized portables in others), plug them into the media player, and watch them on your television instead of at your computer desk. I currently TiVo <cough!> over a dozen shows a week and don't always get to watch them the next morning. On the weekend, I'll load up the new episodes I haven't seen onto a thumb drive and settle in on the couch to binge watch. Cheaper than netflix or any number of network specific services (HBO GO! etc) that would allow watching them whenever I want.

 

[Bounce]

Most media boxes stream music and movies to the TV without the need to keep your Computer/Laptop running. This usually saves $ in power consumption and wear and tear on your more expensive equipment. Most of these boxes use convection cooling so there's no fan noise in the background while trying to listen to your media. It's also less clunky in your media viewing room.

Local streaming conserves monthly bandwidth to avoid caps or over-usage charges from ISPs. Sometimes people's bandwidth is too limited to stream media smoothly or without unacceptable compression.

Some allow the local streaming of manufacturer-specific media files (Windows-specific for XBox, Apple-specific for Apple TV) from a storage device (USB, NAS, etc.) to the TV. Few stream agnostically (WD Live TV) regardless of which format the file type that's used.

 

[dudeckp]

I use Plex, but neither of my media boxes has the capability to use it, so I just hook my laptop up to my receiver and use a wireless mouse on the coffee table when I want to watch something on the big screen in the living room. Favorite thing about plex is that the server has very low impact on my PC, can access my 6TB NAS, and can be watched from any computer with a web browser. There's even an android app that's free (google play services may be required depending on your phone, $5 USD). I can even share my libraries with other plex users. I currently have 8 users I'm sharing with, had as many as 4 using it at a time, no lag or strain on my PC. There are media boxes and more than a few smart TVs that support it too, although I have no idea what the process is to set them up.

FYI - Chromecast loves Plex servers

• they plug right into TV's HDMI
• get power from USB (on the TV or a phone charger)
• Use any Plex library you have access to
• you control them from the phone running Plex App!

 

[Bounce]

I have an Amazon Fire Stick but keep it in my road warrior kit for on the road (like when needing to spend time caring for my mom). It's direct HDMI design means it doesn't feed my audio receiver.