Google TV v's Apple TV v's others...

Bluefoam

I have a mini network at home that consists of my laptop & a networked hard drive linked to the wifi.

I want to get a box that will allow me to play movies, browse photos & stream music over wi-fi & allow me to stream YouTube & rent streaming movies/downloadable movies.

I'm considering a Google TV box, Apple TV 2 or a Western Digital TV.

Google: allows web browsing, but will it give me access to the hard drive? is it good enough at this stage to by into or do I need to wait for next version?

Apple: Its a bit limited - no internet browser. But if I jailbreak it, I can stream movies from the hard disk & play all sorts of file types, just like a regular media centre. Does this mean I can't update it? Shame it won't do web browsing.

Western Digital: Seems like a great box, but a bit limited and underdeveloped...

If you have any other suggestions I'd love to know... The Apple TV is probably winning out at the moment.

Hootanany

The new Xbox 360 HD does that also

Bluefoam

Hootanany wrote: »

The new Xbox 360 HD does that also

Cool, I'll have a look and see if it come in at the same price as the Apple TV.

I had a look at the WD last night and there's no wifi or hard disk. I'll have top wait for my next trip to the states to get one, as none of the shops have them here...

There was a batch of iPad 2's came into a shop last night and they were selling them off for nealy €1000!

PogMoThoin

Xbox won't natively play .mkv's which most HD content is these days. Windows Media Centre is terrible

How about the Boxee Box? It plays absolutely everything and ticks all the boxes for what you listed, wifi, browser, even has card reader and usb ports for external hard drives:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056080740

Hootanany

It can with a bit of tweaking:D

Bluefoam

PogMoThoin wrote: »

Xbox won't natively play .mkv's which most HD content is these days. Windows Media Centre is terrible

How about the Boxee Box? It plays absolutely everything and ticks all the boxes for what you listed, wifi, browser, even has card reader and usb ports for external hard drives:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056080740

Boxee looks expensive. Apple TV is only about €80, Boxee is about €300 as far as I can see...

BionicRasher

How about an Iomega ScreenPlay TV Link DX HD Media Player - about 100 - 120 eurupes at the moment I think.

Problem I see with Apple TV is you will have to convert all your stuff to Apple file formats where as other players are way more diverse and will play 'normal' stuff that is in your collection. A lot of them are on-line streamers also which is great

Other than that you might need a dedicated HTPC like this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Asus-EeeBox-EB1501P-Factor-Premium/dp/B0043D29H2/ref=sr_1_18?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1302100018&sr=1-18

PogMoThoin

Bluefoam wrote: »

Boxee looks expensive. Apple TV is only about €80, Boxee is about €300 as far as I can see...

Boxee is $179 in the States if you know anyone over there that'll ship it back. Thats how i got mine.
http://www.amazon.com/D-Link-DSM-380-Boxee-Box-by/dp/B0038JE07O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1302112858&sr=8-1

The Apple TV only does 720p, even when hacked with XBMC it downscales all 1080p to 720p. Hacking it with XBMC means it will play everything
http://lifehacker.com/#!5739364/how-to-install-xbmc-on-your-apple-tv-2

PogMoThoin

Hootanany wrote: »

It can with a bit of tweaking:D

How, its not possible for it to play .mkv's unless you encode them to another format. You can stream them from the network drive with your pc or laptop using Tversity, but thats using another device, the Xbox will not natively play them

akaSol

Previously owned a PHC and a Dune BD prime, and used them to exhaustion.

Currently using the ATV2 to stream movies from my nas.
It works buy and large , mkv to 720p etc. No subtitle support as of yet and forget TS files thus far.

Sol
( Iomega are set to release a Boxee variant this month with internal HDD just so you know. )

Bluefoam

PogMoThoin wrote: »

The Apple TV only does 720p, even when hacked with XBMC it downscales all 1080p to 720p. Hacking it with XBMC means it will play everything
http://lifehacker.com/#!5739364/how-to-install-xbmc-on-your-apple-tv-2

My TV is only 720p & the plan would be to put XBMC on it - its a bit limited otherwise. If I hack the Apple TV, would I be able to update the box when Apple release firmware?

PogMoThoin

Bluefoam wrote: »

My TV is only 720p & the plan would be to put XBMC on it - its a bit limited otherwise. If I hack the Apple TV, would I be able to update the box when Apple release firmware?

Yes, it installs alongside the Apple firmware. Not sure why You'd need it, Apple TV is very limited in what it plays

akaSol

Bluefoam wrote: »

My TV is only 720p & the plan would be to put XBMC on it - its a bit limited otherwise. If I hack the Apple TV, would I be able to update the box when Apple release firmware?

Yes you can , depending on what "plugin" you use it can suppress those annoying updates.
However , the last two updates forced me to reinstall my "plugins", not to much of a change but interesting none the no.

Sol