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Thread: Set-Top Media Streamers
And YouTube. I watch YouTube channels more often than TV. I'm all about decentralized info and entertainment.
TiVo streams YouTube directly. It also connects directly to Pandora, Rhapsody, Spotify, Photobucket, and Picasa and can play podcasts as well. They've done a pretty good job of integrating it with most of the popular web-based media services. That's one of the reasons I love the thing so much, it's a single box that does everything for you. It also takes cablecards so you don't even need an ugly cable box around.
But it costs a monthly fee, right?
A monthly fee or a lump-sum lifetime subscription. Might be worth it if you still have cable, and your cable company plays nice with Tivo. Comcast changed to switched-IP transmission, and from then on I was never able to get my Tivo and the local cable to play nice. I warned both companies (who blamed each other) that I would fire them all if they couldn't work it out. They couldn't, I fired them, and I've never looked back.
ICSD, it would be helpful to know which services you really want, what you imagine a media player doing, etc. Do you plan to keep cable? Is YouTube the big draw? Netflix? Hulu? Amazon Prime?
No single box does it all (yet), so getting a sketch of your intended use would be incredibly helpful ...
ICSD, it would be helpful to know which services you really want, what you imagine a media player doing, etc. Do you plan to keep cable? Is YouTube the big draw? Netflix? Hulu? Amazon Prime?
No single box does it all (yet), so getting a sketch of your intended use would be incredibly helpful ...
Originally Posted by Lemur:
A monthly fee or a lump-sum lifetime subscription. Might be worth it if you still have cable, and your cable company plays nice with Tivo. Comcast changed to switched-IP transmission, and from then on I was never able to get my Tivo and the local cable to play nice. I warned both companies (who blamed each other) that I would fire them all if they couldn't work it out. They couldn't, I fired them, and I've never looked back.
ICSD, it would be helpful to know which services you really want, what you imagine a media player doing, etc. Do you plan to keep cable? Is YouTube the big draw? Netflix? Hulu? Amazon Prime?
No single box does it all (yet), so getting a sketch of your intended use would be incredibly helpful ...
I use Netflix and YouTube channels most. I also use HBO go and Hulu plus. I never play stored files anymore. I would like an intuitive experience at first I was thinking big, now I want easy. Roku 3 would be ideal if it had YouTubeA monthly fee or a lump-sum lifetime subscription. Might be worth it if you still have cable, and your cable company plays nice with Tivo. Comcast changed to switched-IP transmission, and from then on I was never able to get my Tivo and the local cable to play nice. I warned both companies (who blamed each other) that I would fire them all if they couldn't work it out. They couldn't, I fired them, and I've never looked back.
ICSD, it would be helpful to know which services you really want, what you imagine a media player doing, etc. Do you plan to keep cable? Is YouTube the big draw? Netflix? Hulu? Amazon Prime?
No single box does it all (yet), so getting a sketch of your intended use would be incredibly helpful ...
I just went to Google TV and all of the listed devices (pulse, cube, co-star, are brutally reviewed. I can't even consider any. It looks like it might be the WD Live, a cheap Roku LT, or just cave and get the Roku3 until they figure out how to integrate youtube, but I'm not quite convinced.
If you never stream local files, then the Roku is most likely the way to go. (The can-opener quality of the WD boxes with local files are their unique selling point.)
There's a fairly simple hack that allows you to play YouTube: details here.
Unfortunately there is no device that plays Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, local files, and Amazon Plus. Closest thing might be the Xbox 360, which can handle all of those streaming services, but falls flat on its face with local files. And there's a yearly subscription fee with the Xbox. So ... the perfect box does not exist.
But if you're all about streaming, the Roku 3 seems like your beast. It's been getting consistently fantastic reviews, and YouTube integration is hackable.
There's a fairly simple hack that allows you to play YouTube: details here.
Unfortunately there is no device that plays Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, local files, and Amazon Plus. Closest thing might be the Xbox 360, which can handle all of those streaming services, but falls flat on its face with local files. And there's a yearly subscription fee with the Xbox. So ... the perfect box does not exist.
But if you're all about streaming, the Roku 3 seems like your beast. It's been getting consistently fantastic reviews, and YouTube integration is hackable.
Originally Posted by Lemur:
If you never stream local files, then the Roku is most likely the way to go. (The can-opener quality of the WD boxes with local files are their unique selling point.)
There's a fairly simple hack that allows you to play YouTube: details here.
Does apple tv have access to YouTube, Netflix, HBO go, Hulu Plus? Its also only $99If you never stream local files, then the Roku is most likely the way to go. (The can-opener quality of the WD boxes with local files are their unique selling point.)
There's a fairly simple hack that allows you to play YouTube: details here.
The hack involves beaming individual videos from your mobile device.... That's not a practical hack for somebody who constantly watches youtube
Originally Posted by ICantSpellDawg:
But it costs a monthly fee, right?
Yeah, cost is the downside. If you're keeping cable I think the fee isn't that bad. It only needs cablecards which means you save money on the set top boxes that the cable company would want to rent to you. When you compare its monthly costs with cable-company DVRs, its really not that expensive. If you're not keeping cable I wouldn't recommend it though; despite the awesomeness of its features, it's just too expensive for cable-cutting.But it costs a monthly fee, right?
Originally Posted by Lemur:
Unfortunately there is no device that plays Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, local files, and Amazon Plus.
TiVo! Unfortunately there is no device that plays Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, local files, and Amazon Plus.
[edit] While I have no experience with it, I have a friend who has a Roku and loves it. If that device does most of what you want, it's probably a decent purchase.
Originally Posted by ICantSpellDawg:
And YouTube. I watch YouTube channels more often than TV. I'm all about decentralized info and entertainment.
I don't have cable TV anymore. I can't justify the expense for the value I get from it.And YouTube. I watch YouTube channels more often than TV. I'm all about decentralized info and entertainment.
For Youtube and other Internet sources that you can't stream over the Roku, I just have a PC in my entertainment center. Maybe not an option for everyone, but it works great for us.
I've already got a chrome book hooked up to the main TV and laptop hooked up in the bedroom. I just wanted something with a remote and ease of use, but honestly I'm probably just going to hold off since they haven't figured out how to do it yet. Boggles the mind when tech is out there but companies haven't made it work yet. Thanks for the suggestions, I would have just bought one and been pissed off and had my wife yell at me for spending more money for minimal benefit.
Does anybody k now if there is a chrome program that makes it a streamer? I could just buy a handheld mini wireless keyboard and mouse. Any suggestion on those?
Does anybody k now if there is a chrome program that makes it a streamer? I could just buy a handheld mini wireless keyboard and mouse. Any suggestion on those?
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