Wireless streaming

twenty8

Hi - a newbie here looking for some advice.

I have a desktop with about 2TB of movies / music on it and this is connected to a small network - both Cat5 and wireless.

I am looking for something to connect to my TV so that I can stream wirelessly from the desktop. (Has to be wireless as the muppets who put my Cat5 cable in managed to mess up the most important room!!)

I have an Xbox in one of my rooms and it works perfectly - but looking for something that I can stream music / movies and perhaps also go online for things like RTE player, Youtube etc etc.

I have looked at the Apple TV - but I don't like the restrictions that it puts on re file formats etc.

Have you any suggestions as to what I could get? I have been looking around and I am just more confused that ever!

An added bonus would be if I could control the streamer / player via my iPad - that would be fantastic! (I have a couple of Squeezeboxes - and I can use my iPad for them - the best thing ever!!!)

Thanks,

stephendevlin

I have a media box for all my "media" funny enough any films music etc all stored in the one place and have it set as a shared drive so Its accessable from my laptop/pc/iphone etc

The box came with no hard drive but I put in a 1tb and its plenty for me.

I have it hooked up with HDMI to my tv but its also hooked up to my router.

Very good job IMO

Oh and it has youtube player also but norte iplayer. (have it on the PS3 anyways or the laptop is always good) Not that I watch it much

twenty8

Thanks - is this what you have?
http://www.pixelmagicsystems.com/products/media_players/hd_mediabox.htm

stephendevlin

http://www.wholesaletip.com/image/64/z8d-3-5-inch-hdd-1080p-full-hd-media-player-dvb-t-tv-box-network-video-recorder-64008_1.jpg

Thats mine (well nearly)

stephendevlin

Something similar. Mine has a youtube "app" on it also can do a lot more video formats. (as I wanted it to store and play MPEG-TS which are my dreambox recordings)

The one I have also has hot swapping for the hard drive.

BionicRasher

Not sure how much you want to spend but I would highly reccommend one of these

Asus EEEBOX

It comes with Windows 7, Wireless keyboard and mouse, Windows Media Centre including remote control. Also has USB 3 and a disk drive so you can play DVD etc.
Cant speak highly enough of it. I have Boxee installed and that plays any type of file I have thrown at it. It also sorts all you content automagically - gets cover art and info on all my movies and TV shows that I have stored on my attached 2TB drive. Boxee also has loads of add ons etc.

I use Windows Media Centre to play all my music and that's great. WMC also has a Sky Player add on so you can watch Sky stuff on the Asus too.
The Asus is a full blow PC which is almost silent and is really small and tidy looking. It has all the usual Youtube etc as its a PC but with the added bonus of a remote control that you can use to control it from the sofa.

It really is great and if you can get it at the right price you really are future proofed for a good few years to come.

twenty8

Thanks tui0hcg.

Probably a bit more that what I was looking to spend. The ATV is around €100 - was thinking around the same level - +/- €40