Any alternative to the Apple TV?

[Duddy]

I got $300 sitting here burning a hole in my pants, and really want something like the Apple TV but less locked down. I really miss my XBMC, I want something like that if it exists.

Any suggestions?

 

[JMapleton]

Apple has their own tv?

 

[zerocool84]

You sure the burning sensation isn't something else?

 

[xanis]

You could build a budget Hackintosh for $305... it would probably suit your needs. Head over to the Apple subforum and check it out.

 

[BeauJangles]

http://www.popcornhour.com/onlinestore/

 

[LtPage1]

Are you looking for an internet-connected box that will rent/download movies and TV shows? Or are you thinking more along the lines of a simple HTPC? If the former, you should cross-shop the Apple TV with an Xbox 360 and a Netflix subscription; if the latter, check out the Western Digital TV+external hard drive.

 

[funkymatt]

wdtv, western digital's answer.

 

[mugs]

If you want to stream from a PC, or you don't mind streaming from a PC, get an Xbox 360 and use it with TVersity (TVersity is free).

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: JMapleton
Apple has their own tv?

If you're serious - no. They have a media player that hooks up to TVs, and it's called Apple TV. It plays videos, music, does photo slideshows, and if you hack it (very easy) you can install third-party software like XBMC and Boxee to do even more than what the Apple TV does.

That's actually an option for the OP - get the Apple TV and hack it. It's so easy, even my wife could do it.

If you were trying to make a joke - nice try.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: mugs
If you want to stream from a PC, or you don't mind streaming from a PC, get an Xbox 360 and use it with TVersity (TVersity is free).

TVersity mugs? &

 

[Duddy]

Originally posted by: mugs
If you want to stream from a PC, or you don't mind streaming from a PC, get an Xbox 360 and use it with TVersity (TVersity is free).

I have this now with my PS3, but it sucks. Audio is fine, but if I try to stream over a movie or TV show, it plays 2 seconds then loads for 5 seconds. CONSTANTLY!

Perhaps it's my network? The PS3 and the PC are both connected wirelessly to a Linksys WRT54G router and are no more than 10 feet apart.

 

[JMapleton]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: JMapleton
Apple has their own tv?

If you're serious - no. They have a media player that hooks up to TVs, and it's called Apple TV. It plays videos, music, does photo slideshows, and if you hack it (very easy) you can install third-party software like XBMC and Boxee to do even more than what the Apple TV does.

That's actually an option for the OP - get the Apple TV and hack it. It's so easy, even my wife could do it.

If you were trying to make a joke - nice try.

It was no joke. I know nothing of Apple products, I find them absurdly useless.

 

[Duddy]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: JMapleton
Apple has their own tv?

If you're serious - no. They have a media player that hooks up to TVs, and it's called Apple TV. It plays videos, music, does photo slideshows, and if you hack it (very easy) you can install third-party software like XBMC and Boxee to do even more than what the Apple TV does.

That's actually an option for the OP - get the Apple TV and hack it. It's so easy, even my wife could do it.

If you were trying to make a joke - nice try.

My GOD! You can put XBMC on an Apple TV now?! If so then I'm sold!

 

[nageov3t]

laptop + HDMI connection?

 

[Skeeedunt]

A Roku might do some or none of what you want.

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: Duddy

Originally posted by: mugs
If you want to stream from a PC, or you don't mind streaming from a PC, get an Xbox 360 and use it with TVersity (TVersity is free).

I have this now with my PS3, but it sucks. Audio is fine, but if I try to stream over a movie or TV show, it plays 2 seconds then loads for 5 seconds. CONSTANTLY!

Perhaps it's my network? The PS3 and the PC are both connected wirelessly to a Linksys WRT54G router and are no more than 10 feet apart.

We hardwired the PS3s in our house because the wireless network couldn't handle streaming anything. Plugged in they work great!

 

[silverpig]

Check out plex. I've got it running on my hackintosh and use my iPod touch as a remote. It's fantastic.

You could build a hackintosh for $300, or if you wanted to spend a bit more but not have to mess around, you could try to find a used mac mini.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Originally posted by: mugs
If you want to stream from a PC, or you don't mind streaming from a PC, get an Xbox 360 and use it with TVersity (TVersity is free).

TVersity mugs? &

http://tversity.com/

TVersity is a uPnP media server. It allows you to serve up your media files so they can be played on any compatible device (Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Wii with the web browser, and other devices). What's great about TVersity is that it'll transcode the files on the fly if they aren't supported by the devices you're using. Microsoft and Apple have their own proprietary media server, but TVersity uses an industry standard.

Originally posted by: Duddy

I have this now with my PS3, but it sucks. Audio is fine, but if I try to stream over a movie or TV show, it plays 2 seconds then loads for 5 seconds. CONSTANTLY!

Perhaps it's my network? The PS3 and the PC are both connected wirelessly to a Linksys WRT54G router and are no more than 10 feet apart.

I sometimes have issues where it'll repeatedly stutter throughout a video on my PS3, to the point that it's unwatchable. My PS3 is also connected wirelessly. It also causes my router (WRT54G) to reboot every time I turn my PS3 on, which is really annoying. It has always worked flawlessly with my Xbox 360 with wired ethernet. 90% of the time the PS3 works fine for me. I would try hard-wiring the PC and

Originally posted by: JMapleton

It was no joke. I know nothing of Apple products, I find them absurdly useless.

Useless is one I've never heard before. Oh well, now you know what the Apple TV is.

For future reference: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=apple+tv
Trolling is childish.

Originally posted by: Duddy
My GOD! You can put XBMC on an Apple TV now?! If so then I'm sold!

Yeah, but I think Boxee is better. http://www.boxee.tv/
Boxee is based on XBMC, but it adds streaming video via the Internet. The streaming video isn't flawless, so I've stuck to streaming music and video from my computer.

Originally posted by: Skeeedunt
A Roku might do some or none of what you want.

I've heard they may be adding uPnP media player capabilities to the Roku Netflix box... if they do, and it's still $99, that will be an amazing device.

 

[shortylickens]

I've been reading a lot of stuff on review sites about this and it seems the Netflix box is actually a lot better, and a better deal for your money.
If the Netflix box isnt good enough just make yourself a Home Theater PC. I've seen prebuilts for a reasonable price and I'm sure you could build one for even less money.
If you are gonna do that you may as well get one with Vista and a Blu-Ray drive.

 

[PricklyPete]

Have you looked at an Xbox 360?

I have a external HD hooked up to it with all my music, pictures, and videos that I can directly play on the TV. I also use Conncet360 to beam additional content from my laptop. On top of that they have a rental service with HD/SD downloads as well as direct NETFLIX access with digital content streaming. My wife and I don't even have TV anymore as this satisfies all of our needs (other than sports...which I watch at friends/bars when I want).

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: mugs
If you want to stream from a PC, or you don't mind streaming from a PC, get an Xbox 360 and use it with TVersity (TVersity is free).

I use TVersity with my PS3 and it works great.

The Xbox 360 is pretty dirt cheap and can make a nice media streamer.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: lokiju

Originally posted by: mugs
If you want to stream from a PC, or you don't mind streaming from a PC, get an Xbox 360 and use it with TVersity (TVersity is free).

I use TVersity with my PS3 and it works great.

The Xbox 360 is pretty dirt cheap and can make a nice media streamer.

It doesn't have to be a streamer...just hook and external HD with all of your stuff on it directly to the xbox usb ports.

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: Duddy

Originally posted by: mugs
If you want to stream from a PC, or you don't mind streaming from a PC, get an Xbox 360 and use it with TVersity (TVersity is free).

I have this now with my PS3, but it sucks. Audio is fine, but if I try to stream over a movie or TV show, it plays 2 seconds then loads for 5 seconds. CONSTANTLY!

Perhaps it's my network? The PS3 and the PC are both connected wirelessly to a Linksys WRT54G router and are no more than 10 feet apart.

Yes it's your network.

You have to have a wired solution for it to be passable.

I have a gig network and it's flawless.

Can fast forward, rewind and pause and it picks right back up where it left off with no issues.

 

[loup garou]

I use my 360 + PlayOn + TVersity. Works well.
You could also consider an MSI Wind desktop + Ubuntu + Boxee. You could build that for ~$200, depending on how much local storage you want. The Atom + integrated graphics isn't going to get you 1080p video though...have to wait for Ion boxes for inexpensive systems that'll do that.
Or you could just load Boxee on an AppleTV.

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: PricklyPete

Originally posted by: lokiju

Originally posted by: mugs
If you want to stream from a PC, or you don't mind streaming from a PC, get an Xbox 360 and use it with TVersity (TVersity is free).

I use TVersity with my PS3 and it works great.

The Xbox 360 is pretty dirt cheap and can make a nice media streamer.

It doesn't have to be a streamer...just hook and external HD with all of your stuff on it directly to the xbox usb ports.

Streaming is nice though since it's easier to manage your content than having a HD that you have to then hook up to another computer to update from time to time.