Reddit mentions: The best streaming media players

1.) Something that is grey: Sculpy! From my cosplay wishlist! :D

2.) Something reminiscent of rain: This hair accessory from my Silly Fun list! I don't know if they're meant to, but the blue bits remind me of raindrops. <3

3.) Something food related that is unusual: Food picks from my Silly Fun list! Maybe not super unusual in Japan, but here in America I doubt you'd see them often.

4.) Something on your list that is for someone other than yourself: This book off my Books wishlist of course! It's for my husband, who's a huge fan of the Elder Scrolls games. I like them, too, but I doubt I'd ever read this.

5.) A book I should read: The Invisible Gorilla, again, off my Books list. I read almost a third of this book while hidden in a book store one day. It's an absolutely fascinating study (or rather, collection of studies) about how much trust we place in our own faulty intuitions.

6.) An item that is less than a dollar, including shipping... that is not jewelry, nail polish, and or hair related: Barely, but this nautical star decal! Unfortunately, it's not on any of my lists.

7.) Something related to cats: Another from my Books wishlist! I'm pretty sure I already know my cat wants to kill me, but this book looks funny anyway.

8.) Something that is not useful, but so beautiful you must have it: Stationary, from my Silly Fun list. I have no one to write to, but I have an obsession with pretty stationary and cards and things. I'm usually too afraid to write on it, even, because nothing ever seems worthy of the pretty paper...

9.) A movie everyone should watch at least once in their life: From my Movies/TV list: Braveheart! Because FREEEDOOOOOOM!!!!!

10.) Something that would be useful when the zombies attack. Explain: Survival knife from my Adventure wishlist! Secluded, unpopulated areas are best for hiding from zombies, and this thing even comes with a firestarter! HOW CAN YOU SAY NO?

11.) Something that would have a profound impact on your life and help you to achieve your current goals: This book which is, strangely, on my Semi-Practical list. I'm a Math/Physics major, but I haven't been in school in quite a while. I'm about to go back very soon, and I'm a little petrified of failing out.

12.) One of those pesky Add-On items: Red Heart yarn from my Crochet wishlist!

13.) The most expensive thing on your list. Your dream item: The PS4 from my Video Games list. I'm an avid gamer. Video games are how I relax. It's one of the few things that, no matter how crappy my day was, always manages to raise my spirits and help me forget about it all.

14.) Something bigger than a bread box: Apparently bread boxes are way bigger than I thought, so I'll go with this desk off my Semi-Practical wishlist. Surely that's big enough! XD

15.) Something smaller than a golf ball: Turtle earrings off my Silly Fun list! THEY'RE SO CUTE!

16.) Something that smells wonderful: Teavana's Blueberry Bliss tea off my Silly Fun list (yet again). If you've never been in a Teavana store, go this second and just...inhale. <3

17.) A (SFW) toy: Frog mitt from my Practical list. I'm fairly certain this isn't supposed to be a toy, but I get the feeling I'm going to spend more time using it as a puppet than as an oven mitt.

18.) Something that would be helpful for going back to school: This backpack from my Semi-Practical list! I want it so badly!! IT'S STUDIO GHIBLI HOW AWESOME IS THAT?

19.) Something related to your current obsession, whatever that may be: 12 Hole Ocarina from my Ocarina wishlist. It's so beautiful and it comes with a Lord of the Rings songbook and I just LOVE IT SO MUCH.

20.) Something that is just so amazing and awe-inspiring that I simply must see it. Explain why it is so grand: Shark sleeping bag from my Silly Fun wishlist! You need me to explain it's awesome?? REALLY? IT'S A SHARK SLEEPING BAG. It looks like the shark is eating you!! Plus it's called the "Chumbuddy" and that just makes me laugh way harder than it should.

Fear cuts deeper than swords!

/u/MeishkaD said that my entry disappeared, so here it is again. I've deleted my previous entry now (after you said it disappeared), just to make sure it doesn't show up twice.

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1.) Something that is grey. [Not on wishlist]


2.) Something reminiscent of rain. [Not on wishlist]


3.) Something food related that is unusual.


4.) Something on your list that is for someone other than yourself. Tell me who it's for and why. (Yes, pets count!)

This is for my classroom mostly. One of the projects the student's like to do is making board games. They like using various types of die, but when we made cardboard ones, they fall apart.

5.) A book I should read! I am an avid reader, so take your best shot and tell me why I need to read it!

I can't give too great a reference. This book is on my wishlist, as I've not read it, after all. It's supposed to be really funny though, with an interesting story. The downside is that getting the whole series is too expensive.


6.) An item that is less than a dollar, including shipping... that is not jewelry, nail polish, and or hair related! [Not on wishlist]


7.) Something related to cats. I love cats! (keep this SFW, you know who you are...)

These are pretty awesome.


8.) Something that is not useful, but so beautiful you must have it. [Not on wishlist]

I've wanted one of these for ages, but they're not useful enough to justify.


9.) A movie everyone should watch at least once in their life. Why? [Not on wishlist - I own it]

It's incredibly funny and almost everyone has seen the film it's based on. A lot of people have never even seen a parody movie, so it's a new genre to a lot of people and thus a new experience.


10.) Something that would be useful when the zombies attack. Explain.

A bit of a different item than normal. When the zombies attack, we're going to need to be well rested. Baseball bats and the like are common enough, but a good pillow is hard to find.


11.) Something that would have a profound impact on your life and help you to achieve your current goals. [Not on wishlist, as Amazon.co.uk item]

A book about learning to become a Primary School teacher. After my current teaching job, I want to go back and train as one in my home country.


12.) One of those pesky Add-On items. [Not on wishlist - the base game is on wishlist].


13.) The most expensive thing on your list. Your dream item. Why?

Playstation 4. It's not on my wishlist as I think anyone would ever buy it, but more to remind myself that it's region-free and only $400 in the US if I can get enough giftcards someday. In my home country it's about $550. The why is mostly Kingdom Hearts 3 and Final Fantasy XV - both series which I've gained a lot of enjoyment from. There's also that some of my favorite series such as Disgaea are Playstation-exclusive.


14.) Something bigger than a bread box.


15.) Something smaller than a golf ball.


16.) Something that smells wonderful.


17.) A (SFW) toy.


18.) Something that would be helpful for going back to school.

(For reading digital textbooks on)


19.) Something related to your current obsession, whatever that may be.

Disgaea D2. My current obsession has been trying to convert my old Disgaea 3 save, which has 120 hours and my Disgaea 4 save which has 95 hours, so that I can use it on another PS3.


20.) Something that is just so amazing and awe-inspiring that I simply must see it. Explain why it is so grand. [Not on wishlist.. but it should be]

The toilet throne. It's amazing that someone has thought of it, if nothing else. Now you can feel like a Queen or King, while going to the restroom.


---

Bonus: Made in Oregon

Raffle: fear cuts deeper than swords

Yes and no.

Chromecast and Miracast dongles support full-screen video sharing. Miracast is literally like a wireless HDMI cable and just shows up as an extra monitor, Chromecast is a proprietary variant but basically works the same way.

However, users generally are unhappy with the performance of this solution. Video tends to be choppy.

There is also the huge issue that the playback (start/stop, pause) must be controlled from the computer, not your TV (remember, the TV is just a monitor for the computer in this scenario). There are workarounds for this (wireless keyboard/mouse, smartphone apps) but they're just not as good as a dedicated client with a remote. This also means that, in practice, it's extremely difficult for someone to use the PC while it's streaming content.

The alternative is to get a dedicated player that supports SMB (windows filesharing) and DLNA/UPNP (video streaming). I'd recommend the WD TV for you, as it has the best codec support (support for MKV and other random stuff from torrents).

With the WD TV you have a remote and the WD TV connects to background services on your Windows PC, you can use you PC (even playing games or whatever) and it will have no effect on the stream. Your PC just has to be on. WD TV supports Miracast, so you can still go that way if you want.

Note that the WD TV has really terrible support for streaming services. No Netflix. No Amazon Instant. Pretty much nothing. It's mainly a client for locally-stored video. The intended use case is that you plug a WD external hard drive into the WD TV or you're streaming content off a WD NAS or Windows share.

Another option you might consider is the new Nexus Player, but that kind of an unknown at this point.

Here goes! It looks like I got all but 1 item from my current wishlist. Yah!

1.) Something that is grey.

2.) Something reminiscent of rain. Why not a raincoat?

3.) Something food related that is unusual. These are from Japan and Matcha flavor is hard to find in the US!

4.) Something on your list that is for someone other than yourself. Tell me who it's for and why. (Yes, pets count!) For my son! He's a nugget.

5.) A book I should read! I am an avid reader, so take your best shot and tell me why I need to read it! Guy Gavriel Kay is an amazing writer and I think everyone should read his books. They evoke so many emotions!

6.) An item that is less than a dollar, including shipping... that is not jewelry, nail polish, and or hair related! How about free? Read the classics!

7.) Something related to cats. I love cats! (keep this SFW, you know who you are...) NO.

8.) Something that is not useful, but so beautiful you must have it. I think by definition art is not useful, but very beautiful!

9.) A movie everyone should watch at least once in their life. Why? Because Neil Patrick Harris and Nathan Fillion are amazing.

10.) Something that would be useful when the zombies attack. Explain. For stabbing. It's a silent weapon, which is best. You don't want to attract more of the undead.

11.) Something that would have a profound impact on your life and help you to achieve your current goals. My current goal is to be more active as I try to lose weight, but foot pain is a big barrier to walking/exercising more. I have heard awesome things about this foot wrap and it would be a huge help and keep me from being in pain as I exercise!

12.) One of those pesky Add-On items. It's hard to find in stores now, weirdly. And it's all I wear daily!

13.) The most expensive thing on your list. Your dream item. Why? PS4!

14.) Something bigger than a bread box. EDIT A bread box is typically similar in size to a microwave. Home. Made. Cappucino. It can go right next to the breadbox.

15.) Something smaller than a golf ball. This is pocket sized!

16.) Something that smells wonderful. Apples!!

17.) A (SFW) toy. She-Ra is pretty safe for work

18.) Something that would be helpful for going back to school. If you're in college, you're gonna need one of these.

19.) Something related to your current obsession, whatever that may be. Adventure Time! Come on, grab your friends!


20.) Something that is just so amazing and awe-inspiring that I simply must see it. Explain why it is so grand. What's mrore amazing than being INSANELY comfortable? Just look at it! Get inspired to sleep. It looks so comfy, I can't handle it.

fear cuts deeper than swords

I hunted about for a bit, and a chap posted this on a whirlpool forum:

"My aim was to get access to Coronation Street as cheaply as possible and so began a variable nooobs journey that ended up with a Roku 3 box, watching Hulu Plus, Hbo Go and UK Tv.

Don't know if what I did will be of use to anyone but this forum gave me a lot of help to get there so I’m posting this in the hope it might help someone else.

1. Signup for the TPG unlimited $59/month plan
   This in itself was a bit of a nightmare but that’s a TPG story! I signed up for this because I didn't want to be worried about data usage.
   
   
2. Bought Roku 3 box from Amazon – US$110.96 inc shipping to Oz
   http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BGGDVOO/ref=ox_ya_os_product
   Took 7 days to arrive.
   
   
3. Got the Unotelly Premium subscription – US$48/year
   I used their UnoDNS option – they provide two Sydney options.
   I got the one week trial first to see how it worked. When you sign up for the trial they allocate you the Gold membership but unless you need a few extra features, which I didn't, the Premium plan is a bit cheaper.
   http://www.unotelly.com/unodns/pricing
   
   
4. Setup my router with the UnoDNS settings.
   
   At this stage I could access all the Roku 3 non-subscription channels. No buffering, great quality picture and sound...excellent.
   
   
5. Signed up for Hulu Plus. US$7.99/month
   Now...after doing a lot of reading about how others got access (because Hulu Plus insist you are in the US, using a US credit card to signup) I bought the power seller voucher from http://www.buyfrompowerseller.com/hulu-plus-outside-the-us/
   
   I chose the Hulu Plus outside the US prepaid card which cost $68.99 USD for a Hula Plus card value of $50. So really I paid $18.99 to access the service and it did work (Power seller provides instruction on what to do). Thanks to Unotelly I’ve since found out about Entropay https://www.entropay.com service and am using them because it’s cheaper.
   
   I don't know whether I need to do this but to create my Hulu Plus account I use a free 2 day VPN trial from Purevpn.com. This gave the impression I was in the US when signing up for an account, be aware that the purevpn.com trial only gives you 5x5 minutes access session over the two day trial.
   
   
6. HBO Go
   I feel I could write a book about this! Basically you can't sign up for a HBO Go account unless you have a cable subscription in the US however...you can signup for HBO Nordic http://hbonordic.com/home which gives you access to the same shows I believe. Roku box doesn't support HBO nordic from what I can figure out so I’ve been streaming it via my laptop to the TV – works fine and Unotelly has a setting for it. I found the videos in HD buffered but not in SD.
   
   I signed up for one month to see how it was. I think it worked out at AU$15 for the month but AU$12/month if you take it out for one year.
   
   
7. UK TV
   The US Roku 3 does not have any UK channels (you need a UK Roku for that which in turn doesn't have many uS channels) Many people recommend using Plex to access the BBC player but to be honest I found Plex buggy and unsupported for after a day dedicated to trying to get it to work I uninstalled it and went to for the simpler option of streaming ITV, BBC, C4 and loads of other stuff via UnoTelly channels, and attaching my laptop via a hdmi cable to my TV and watching Coro on that. Mission accomplished.
   
   Approx Costs in Australia dollars:
   US Roku 3 – $110
   Unotelly subscription: $48/year
   Hulu Plus – $96/year
   HBO Go – $144/year
   UK TV – included in cost of Unotelly
   
   There are tonnes of sports and other channels to access for free and subscription; the above just reflect my interest and you can end you subscriptions at any time.
   
   I'm not an expert; I stumbled through the above, so hopefully the above may help someone else."
   
   
   THOUGHTS?

There are really 2 classes of mobile controllers. You have the "pocketable" ones and you have the "full-sized" controllers.

Are you looking for something you can put in your pocket? Or is this going into a backpack or someplace where you'll have more room?

for the "pocketable" controllers, there aren't a ton of options. A few of the more popular ones:

• MOGA Pocket MOGA's first foray into controllers. No D-pad. Kind of cramped. Only 1 set of shoulder buttons. But it's only $18 right now (in the US at least).
  
• MOGA Hero Power Update version of the Pocket. Slightly larger and more comfortable. Has a d-pad. But still only 1 set of shoulder buttons.(fixed) Quite a bit more expensive at $45 USD.
  
• Ipega bluetooth controller d-pad, dual-analog sticks, 1 set of shoulder buttons. There are similar ones made by Nyko and some other companies. I think they're just re-brands of the same generic controller though. $22 USD
  
  I haven't used those, but from what I've read they work pretty well for shorter gaming sessions. An hour or more and your hand is going to feel pretty cramped though.
  
  for the full-sized controllers there are more options.
  
  
• PS3 controller with a gameKlip. I haven't used this myself but people are constantly praising it. Personally, I can't stand the analog stick placement on PS controllers, but if you like it then this is a good solution. However, you said that you're using a tablet, so the gameklip probably won't help you.
  
• XBOX 360 controller with an OTG cable. I use this one all the time. It works really well. Very comfortable, plenty of buttons. Although the d-pad sucks. Another downside is wires. You need the OTG cable to connect to either a wired XBOX controller, or to the xbox wireless receiver
  
• MOGA Pro / Pro Power I have the MOGA Pro, and I use it pretty frequently. I typically use the xbox controller at home, and the MOGA while on the road. It's about 3/4 the size of an xbox controller and therefore not quite as comfortable. It does work very well though. Haven't tried the Pro Power, but it's the newer version. Since they're the same price I'd pick the Pro Power over the older Pro.
  
• NYKO playpad I think this is really very similar to the IPEGA one in terms of build quality. However it has triggers as well as shoulder buttons, a d-pad, and extended grips. Plus it's cheap. Only $20 USD.
  
  One of the main benefits with the MOGA line of controllers is that they have the phone-holder clip built right in. But if you're using this for a tablet, then that doesn't really help you. Therefore I think I'd recommend that you get either an XBOX 360 controller or a PS3 controller. You simply can't beat the quality of those two. MOGA's coming close, but it's not there yet.
  
  
  |Controller Model|Full-Sized|D-Pad|Shoulder Triggers|Wireless|Phone-Holder|Price (USD)|
  |:--|:--|:--|:--|:--|:--|:--|
  |MOGA Pocket| | | | X | X | 18|
  |MOGA Hero Power | | X | X | X | X | 45|
  |MOGA Pro Power| X | X | X | X | X | 50|
  | Ipega bluetooth controller| | X | | X | X | 20|
  |NYKO Playpad | | X | | X | X | 15 |
  |NYKO Playpad Pro| X | X | X | X| | 20|
  | DualShock 3* | X | X | X | X | w/ gameKlip| 40|
  | Wired XBOX 360 Controller | X | X | X | | | 35|
  
  * Dualshock 3 controller (PS3 Controller) requires the Sixaxis app($2.50) and Root (if you want to use bluetooth instead of the OTG)
  \ Xbox 360 Controller requires USB OTG cable (~ $5 shipped)
  

You should buy a Roku anyway. Specifically the current model Roku stick seen here. I had a Chromecast and a Fire TV and a Smart TV and a Roku, the Roku is BY FAR the best device.

The Roku's search feature alone is worth the price difference from the other devices. Install the app for whatever you want, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, Google Play, whatever. Then use Roku's search to check ALL of those services for whatever it is you're looking for. It will return results telling you which services have it, how much it costs (or if it's available for free), etc. You can also "monitor" things so if you know you want to watch a movie when it comes to streaming but it's not available yet you can tag it and the Roku will let you know when someone has it. Or if something is available for RENT but you want to watch it for free you can tag it and they'll let you know when it's available free.

In addition to that amazing and utterly competition destroying feature, it's also faster than any of the others (the newest version I linked to is, some of the older ones are not as impressively fast). It's interface is simple and attractive, it's platform agnostic so everyone works and plays nicely with it, it supports auto-switching HDMI inputs so you can just hit a button on it's remote and it will change your TV to the proper input (this is becoming more common with all devices and requires your TV to also support the feature but it's still worth mentioning as some of the competition still doesn't do this).

There's other little things too but you get the point. I've used all the major alternatives and the Roku is just better. Better enough that I took the time to write this post to advocate for it. It's the difference in buying a product from a company dedicated to making one thing as well as possible versus buying a product from a company with a mish-mash tech lineup where "pretty good" is what they aim for.

The reason people did that in the late 1990's was some people had at least one console(PS1 or a Saturn) that played cd roms, but not always access to a decent pc with internet. Libraries often had internet access plus burners or the persons knew someone that had access to a pc that could burn cds (as the drives and the cds themselves were extremely cheap). The consoles were typically already modded to get around regional blocks and play the games that they ripped to a cd rom.

You mention the screen, battery, and controller... but those are poor reasons.

You'd take a perfectly good console (that requires a lot of room, and takes ten minutes to setup and tear down every time you move it) and mod it either by using a mod chip (some soldering required), or bootload a different OS using a separate USB drive or external hard drive. This includes multiple steps for prepping either a special cd/dvd, a usb stick, or an additional hard drive. If it's a recent console, you lose the ability to RMA if anything breaks. Any method you use, you'd have to make multiple trips to your PC to get it working. On top of that you get half ass support when it comes to graphics, internet access (minus... the Wii), applying patches, and games and consoles past the gensis/snes era are not going to have any of the support they have today-so you'll have a lot of roms that don't work... and you'll be waiting for some poor soul to port the emulator to your console and support it.

The whole time you're setting that up, you're doing it on a perfectly good PC that has well established emulators that have several years support. I can setup a PS2 emulator that works with greater than 90% of games, and I can basically play effectively all games on any console before that (minus the Atari Jaguar, Saturn, and N64). If it's PS1 or older, I can do it on my cell phone and tablet too.

Wither you're using a console, cell phone, tablet, or pc... being discouraged by 1-2 hours on one battery charge means anything when you're already going to be setting aside space and plugging it in for a console.

Modern tablets and cell phones are pretty sensitive and accurate that you can play a number of action games without being frustrated. If you need more, usb controllers and bluetooth controllers starts at $25 and goes up in price. A decent one in either area goes for about $40 and will last you forever. People acting like they don't have this option in this day and age are either obtuse or really cheap-they sell them at every Walmart.

As far as playing on a big screen, you can use multiple software or hardware options. Some expensive, some cheap depending on your setup and what you're willing to tolerate. You can do it from your cell phone and tablet, or your pc. Playing on a big screen doesn't beat convenience tho.

I don't own any of these set top Boxes, but this is something I've been wanting to see. So Upvotes to you. Anywho, Just looking from an "At the Moment Price" perspective, I'd say either Google TV or Roku 2.

I have a $1000 Media Center (in 2008 monies) and honestly I kinda regret getting that, I wanted the potential to play games and watch HD TV, but now I see it was kind of a waste, I hardly play games, it's a streaming device and I occasionally play minecraft...

But hell nowadays, if you are able to spend up to $400 on a device your options are great, I think a computer would be easily 4x that of a set top box would be worth it.

Really for me, price is a heavy hitter on determining what I buy. Here's my thought.

• Boxee Box is $179
  
• Logitech Revue is $99
  
• Apple TV is $99
  
• Roku STARTS at $59, tops out at $99
  
• If price isn't an object I'd just get a Set Top PC
  
• This looks like it could be good, eventually or not, you know whatever.
  
  Roku is cheap enough to play with IMO (the $59 version), Apple TV and GoogleTV are definitely going to be getting updates and at the price, probably worth it. The Boxee Box is [goes to look] Holy crap a year old... ya an update is most likely to be coming soon, regardless it's the most expensive, especially if you're willing to spend a bit more and get a PC.
  
  I'd probably go with Google TV right now, the revue alone because it comes with a nice keyboard. Second is $99 Roku XS. The Boxee Box wouldn't even be in play. I'd prefer a Set Top PC honestly, but again, I'm looking at price. AppleTV if I had more Apple devices, but still more appealing than Boxee. (Take this with a grain of salt, I haven't used any of these)
  
  Either way, Hope this helps.
  
  *edit, formatting, spelling

Hello fellow projector owner. I myself just inherited one and while it's amazing it has been tricky to get going. There are two popular options that I know of, one mentioned below.

1. Adding a HDHomeRun to your network which can transit OTA signals to your computer, I would recommend using Windows Media Center for this. From here you can watch, pause, and record live TV with a really nice program guide. Personally this sounded awesome and was my first choice but after using it for awhile I'm just not a fan of the whole laptop as HTPC option. Having to turn on my projector, receiver, laptop and then switching audio and then displaying the image on the projector isn't exactly high on the WAF. However it is a nice bonus with the HDHomeRun that you can get live tv on most devices connected to your network like phones, tablets, and bluray players.
   
   
2. This is the new option I am exploring, I haven't received it yet though. I purchased one of these guys from Amazon, http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00I2ZBD1U/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1410444766&sr=8-2&pi=SY200_QL40. From my research this should be able to transmit the signal from the OTA antenna to HDMI which would then give you these channels on the projector. It has mixed reviews saying the guide is pretty barebones and the recording function isn't the best due to it using EPG data that the stations broadcast. But for me I think this is the best option considering it frees up my laptop and requires less setup each time I want to watch tv. I should note though that this requires a separate hard drive or flash drive in order to access the time shift or recording feature. Personally I just purchased a $10 flash drive from amazon.
   
   Let me know if you have more questions, I would be happy to try and help!

14awg wire should work for just about anything unless you are putting them more than 10 feet.

There is a fella here who likes to put books under his heresy II's to angle them up -- I don't quite remember why but it may be something to keep in mind or try out when setting them up, I think it was about a 2 inch lift in the front.

The big idea of a preamp is to keep the low level signal away from the ridiculous power supply in the power amp.. in reality it's not a big deal and people do it mainly because high end gear is sold that way, you can get a higher end preamp that just does it's job and does it well instead of an afterthought add on part of a power amp.

Tubes do strange things to audio, it is distortion of the signal, but in a unique way that literally pulls out things that are quiet in a recording and basically raising their volume, this creates the sparkle effect you may have read about. Also they have an effect on the low end that boosts the bass frequencies by compressing the sounds, causing the bass to get fuller(louder). These effects can be subtle at low volumes, and vary from tube amp to tube amp.

Solid state has lots of different categories.. it breaks down into classes dictated by the way the amp is designed to to it's job not as a rating of good or bad. Class A is silly accurate, very hot, and very pricey in general.. if you have more than $700 to spend on just a stereo amp and don't mind 50 plus pounds of aluminum heating up your room then I can toss out a recommendation for these.. Class A/B is pretty much 95% of the market.. the first 1-5 watts of power runs at class A and the rest works with not so clean class B to do the job when you crank the volume knob or the music gets loud. Class D offers a huge swing of really crappy cheap amps just made to push power with no real design for fidelity, this will be used mainly in plate amps for subwoofers to OK cheap amps Dayton audio T-Amps would fall into this range to Holy crap that sounds amazing which is more of the B&O ICE amps and the Hypex module amps.

If you have a budget, I'm assuming that you do and that it's possibly pretty low since these were given to you I would focus on two purchases to make these things work together in a nice clean user friendly way.

An interface to your music is a good start. I like the Logitech Squeezebox, it's the one peice of gear I have no desire to upgrade. It works with my phone as a remote control and pulls music from my computer and subscription services without any hassle. If you like using your TV while listening to music(I'll never understand this) the WD live box is pretty good and offers onsite storage via the western digital external hard drives that work well with it.

The next step is an amp/receiver.. your old Scott is probably planing to burn up and die. I would suggest getting a newer receiver. The cheap one I like is the Harman Kardon HK 3390 it's got low distortion figures (0.07 at 80 watts both channels driven) this is hella good for a Class A/B especially for less than $250 bucks.

If I've undershot your budget let me know.

1.) Something that is grey.

2.) Something reminiscent of rain. It always rains when I go camping

3.) Something food related that is unusual. Tiramisu wafer cookies. Better than sex.

4.) Something on your list that is for someone other than yourself. I have a whole wishlist for other people. My boyfriend, gramdma, mom, dad, and little brother.

5.) A book you should read! Clearly. You should have read these already because they are the best books evar.

6.) An item that is less than a dollar, including shipping Not on my wishlist

7.) Something related to cats Leopards are big cats.

8.) Something that is not useful, but so beautiful you must have it.

9.) A movie everyone should watch at least once in their life. Because it's the best trilogy of all time.

10.) Something that would be useful when the zombies attack. To whack them in the head and the use the pick to smash their brains out. And it's foldable so it will fit in a backpack.

11.) Something that would have a profound impact on your life and help you to achieve your current goals. I'm a student and I practically live in the library most of the school year. I need a laptop because the computers at school are SO outdated.

12.) One of those pesky Add-On items.

13.) The most expensive thing on your list. Your dream item. PS4! I need this because I love to game and I really, really need Kingdom Hearts 3. Like really.

14.) Something bigger than a bread box.

15.) Something smaller than a golf ball.

16.) Something that smells wonderful. This is the BEST SCENT EVER. It smells like marshmallows, fire burning, and vanilla.

17.) A (SFW) toy. Grown-up toy!

18.) Something that would be helpful for going back to school.

19.) Something related to your current obsession, whatever that may be. Harry Potter is always an obsession.

[20.) Something that is just so amazing and awe-inspiring that I simply must see it. ]()

[Anything that has my real name on it.]()

Anything made in Oregon. This is a bit of a stretch but bear with me. The Bourne Triology preceeds The Bournce Legacy. Which starred Edward Norton who also starred in Fight Club. A movie based off the book who was written by none other than Chuck Palahniuk who is from Oregon & resides there.

I'll be back to finish this!

fear cuts deeper than swords

1.) [Something that is grey.]
(http://www.amazon.com/ThinkGeek-Minecraft-Note-Cube/dp/B005GMWAOQ/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1P0WLUX7HZM88&coliid=I2MKPWR46VCNAV) (Main WL)

2.) Something reminiscent of rain.

3.) [Something food related that is unusual.]
(http://www.amazon.com/Shady-Maple-Farms-Organic-Stroopwafel/dp/B002HQERCM/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2VCRE2W8VCMM7&coliid=I3JA1YGZR61PNX) (Feed Me WL)

4.) [Something on your list that is for someone other than yourself. Tell me who it's for and why. (Yes, pets count!)]
(http://www.amazon.com/LEGO-DUPLO-Princess-Undersea-Castle/dp/B00A88EP9Q/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=GG0TDT1M6D60&coliid=I2SQZ4UMA01M8G) (Niece/Nephews WL)

For my niece! Because she loves LEGO and she's obsessed with Little Mermaid.

5.) [A book I should read! I am an avid reader, so take your best shot and tell me why I need to read it!]
(http://www.amazon.com/Longmire-Mystery-Series-Boxed-Volumes/dp/0147508770/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=19GY5YG4ALBHP&coliid=I2RQ3KT5XJD3MR) (Books WL)

All of these! The characterization is so much fun, the mystery itself is great...I got addicted to this entire series.

6.) An item that is less than a dollar, including shipping... that is not jewelry, nail polish, and or hair related!

Nope.

7.) [Something related to cats. I love cats! (keep this SFW, you know who you are...)]
(http://www.amazon.com/Armarkat-B5701-57-Inch-Tree-Ivory/dp/B003BYQ100/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2DFWCO414C0RT&coliid=I143IEDBCBUABI) (Cats WL)

8.) [Something that is not useful, but so beautiful you must have it.]
(http://www.amazon.com/United-Cutlery-UC1264-LOTR-Sting/dp/B00062BO7U/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2RKYWCYW31M08&coliid=ITZAAOEK7L109) (Pipe Dreams WL)

9.) [A movie everyone should watch at least once in their life. Why?]
(http://www.amazon.com/Stand-25th-Anniversary-Edition-Blu-ray/dp/B00164GDA0/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=14ENPLB26HMQU&coliid=I172GKBYIDX0SZ) (Movies WL)

It's the perfect 'coming of age' movie. Featuring two actors who are still active and well known, and two we lost too soon.

10.) [Something that would be useful when the zombies attack. Explain.]
(http://www.amazon.com/Spectre-Compact-Take-down-Survival-Arrow/dp/B003O98OJI/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2RKYWCYW31M08&coliid=I2E8WI49EDG9BU)
A silent killer. Capable (I think) of skewering an undead brain. What more is there to explain? (Pipe Dreams WL)

11.) Something that would have a profound impact on your life and help you to achieve your current goals.

I have no goals right now. Sigh.

12.) [One of those pesky Add-On items.]
(http://www.amazon.com/Village-Naturals-Shoppe-Vanilla-Amber/dp/B001PLH58I/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1P0WLUX7HZM88&coliid=I1LPIJLUADQUO6) (Main WL)

13.) [The most expensive thing on your list. Your dream item. Why?]
(http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Frame-Digital-Camera-24-105mm/dp/B007FGZ1V0/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2RKYWCYW31M08&coliid=I2HDOC9WS17GPM) (Pipe Dreams WL)

It's a major upgrade from the camera I have now. I have no USE for it since my camera is nice, but damn do I drool over it.

14.) [Something bigger than a bread box.]
(http://www.amazon.com/Piece-Queen-GREEN-BEIGE-Comforter/dp/B00AH397MC/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1P0WLUX7HZM88&coliid=I13G5R4KW7DZ5C) (Main WL)

15.) [Something smaller than a golf ball.]
(http://www.amazon.com/Kingdom-Hearts-Avatar-Mascot-Figure/dp/B002RT8N4M/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1P0WLUX7HZM88&coliid=I1XTE6YT1EJ1CT) (Main WL)
Tiny Vivi!

16.) [Something that smells wonderful.]
(http://www.amazon.com/Morning-Star-Lavender-Incense-Sticks/dp/B001B67TD8/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1P0WLUX7HZM88&coliid=IKK20VKTRHL1D) (Main WL)

17.) [A (SFW) toy.]
(http://www.amazon.com/LEGO-Minifigure-Collection-Series-Mystery/dp/B003LQMFOY/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=30PMJOCYEK1SN&coliid=I3DQVVIEVUAAHK) (LEGO WL)

18.) [Something that would be helpful for going back to school.]
(http://www.amazon.com/Asus-A55VD-AH71-ASUS-15-6-Inch-Laptop/dp/B009M2XB6M/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1P0WLUX7HZM88&coliid=I1XMKVRS88GQGV) (Main WL)

19.) [Something related to your current obsession, whatever that may be.]
(http://www.amazon.com/Burn-Notice-Season-Six/dp/B0060MYLCU/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=14ENPLB26HMQU&coliid=I5YQM2A3MEDGS) (Movies WL)

BURN NOTICE

20.) [Something that is just so amazing and awe-inspiring that I simply must see it. Explain why it is so grand.]
(http://www.amazon.com/PlayStation-4-PS4-Standard-Edition/dp/B00CMQTVQO/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1XFZ5B9UHNEEK&coliid=I20LPXNM34AJ3U) (High Priority WL)

It's the PS4. Any gamer worth their weight knows that this is going to be one of the grandest, most desirable gaming systems ever. The graphics are going to be just amazing and we'll be one step closer to games being so realistic that we feel like murderers while playing them.

ETA: fear cuts deeper than swords

My opinion - so you can take it or leave it - but you really want one of the new Roku Streaming Sticks (the 3600R). It's got a quad-core processor, and is much faster than the older models. You might be able to find a refurbished model of the older 3500 series for $29 or so, but IMHO it's worth it to spend the extra $10 on the new one.

If you want new (current) TV shows, Hulu is the best option. Many series show up there the day after the episode airs in the US. Netflix and Amazon are great, but they tend to get shows on their own schedule. Netflix is great for when you just want to browse for something to watch, but Hulu is better if you have a specific TV show in mind you want to watch.


I have to ask, though: if Verizon can't transfer your TV service, will they still be able to transfer your Internet service? Because you're going to need some kind of Internet connection, and 4G would get really expensive really quick.

Well.. this can be harder than it seems. All fixable if you build it of course... like an OS on a small ARM device or even a PC (usually expensive though).

If you want something fancy, I recommend Kodi (a lot more than a player, but really excels as a player). If you want something that will work against any smart frontend (anything that has a Plex app), use a Plex Media Server on the backend, it will transcode as needed to support the frontend.

Btw, a Roku as a frontend can play some media types off it's USB (if you get one with USB support). The problem with stock frontends is that they only support certain codecs... so it might not work for your friend.

There's some work involved, but Kodi is what I'd use. It gives you a settop like experience. If you don't mind a bit of risk on a prebuilt system, you might try something like: http://www.amazon.com/Matricom-G-Box-Android-Streaming-Media/dp/B00QHLSKOE

I love my Apple TV, but it IS very expensive, especially if you are only using it occasionally for things like Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video. (I have cut the cord, so the Apple TV is my main set top box I pretty much use for all my media watching/streaming)

I am not familiar with Roku, but I do have a Firestick on one of my TV’s and it is great for what it is.The 4K version is on sale for $24.99 right now (regular $50) and if you don’t need 4K, the normal version is on sale for $20 (regular $40). Just note, there is a coupon code I believe you have to manually put in at checkout (it says it on the product page).

I honestly think that is your best bet, especially if you already use Amazon stuff/services.

> That's a lot of work for me to basically record PBS ... I don't watch any of those shows.

Less work than you think. I had my whole setup up and running in about 35 minutes or so.

>https://i.imgur.com/YwdncO3.png

There's some gaps in there. Notice there's nothing after May of 2017. Zilch for 2018.

>I literally would not know what to do with local channels, I already have a pretty large HDTV antenna on my roof and I get maybe 10 channels.

Your antenna may just need to be repointed. TVFool and a compass can do a lot. It's also possible you have a crappy TV tuner. The tuners put into TV sets and USB dongles/PCIe cards in the early 2000s were pretty crappy. Newer ones a significantly better. When I swapped out my WinTV HVR-950Q for a HDHR Connect I saw a dramatic increase in reception.

>I mean sure I could record Bobs Burgers or something on Fox, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, but those are the only shows on regular over the air channels that I watch and I barely even watch them.

That's kind of the magic of a DVR. Set your recording rules to keep storage manageable and they'll just be there whenever you get the urge to watch it.

I mean, for example, my mom and I love Cook's Country and America's Test Kitchen. Every Sunday we'd sit down on the couch and watch it. When I moved out I've kind of fallen out of that habit, but from time to time I still do like to sit down and watch them. So whenever I'm all like "what should I watch," I can say, "oh, I'll watch ATK" and a recording will be sitting there, waiting for me.

I don't have to go out and find a torrent (since it's not available streaming), wait for it download, and then get it into Plex or whatever. I just go press play. I've got the recording rules set up to keep only the three most recent showings, and set it to a relatively low priority.

>Spending $200 so I can record 3 shows I don't care about is really offputting, but thanks for the hardware recommendations.

Actually the HVR-150PVR goes for $30 on Amazon, add a cheap hard drive and you've got everything you need for less than $100. That's less than a month's worth of coffee shop visits.

>I doubt any of that can be DVR'd without also paying for cable and many add-on packs to get HBO/Starz etc.

Well of course not, but while I have a DVR I still have Netflix and Amazon Prime. It's a supplement, not a replacement. Helps save on the data caps, gets some oddball programming that isn't commonly available, and enables me to follow special programming that may not be available streaming. Like CBS.

Leslie Moonves has an enormous stick up his ass about streaming. But putting up an antenna and DVR'ing 60 Minutes is pretty easy. No muss, no fuss. No need to set up VPNs and play with Sonarr and SickBeard, juggling around Plex libraries, and stuff like that, just to watch a show that is available to me, for free, legally, all I have to do is pluck it out of the air.

I can't really remember the plex differences off hand, but I remember liking it better. I'll try them both out tonight and let you know. WDTV definitely has more connection options. Such as Plex (DLNA), NFS, and SMB.

That isn't to say that the WDTV isn't without it's problems. The ideal way to hook up media is using the SMB option where it stores meta data in a .wdtv folder on the SMB/NFS share itself, but I couldn't get this to work reliably with the current firmware. Using a Windows server was unreliable. The share would disappear randomly and was unable to reconnect the share without deconfiguring the share, rebooting the device and trying again. And using Linux/Samba or NFS as the server wouldn't even work claiming it didn't have write access (it did). So I use Plex on Windows and it works well, although some movies might take 30 seconds or so to start up, but once they're playing it's fine. There is a newer firmware revision out that I haven't had a chance to check out yet. I'm sure other people have it working fine, but there's something about my network (possibly the Linux Samba server) that it doesn't like.

If I had to buy it again, I'd opt for the version with the hard drive as all the SMB/NFS/DLNA woes would not be an issue, and hopefully everything will just work as there's no other computers that need to be configured, turned on, etc. 1TB wouldn't store all my media, but at least all my home videos, pictures and music would have fit...


EDIT:

I have this:

http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Streaming-Media-Player/dp/B005KOZNBW/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1347034810&sr=1-1&keywords=wdtv+live

But would rather have this:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004GK0GKO

Yeah as others have obviously pointed out it is spun in the best interest of Tablo.

The true upfront cost is definitely higher with Tablo. In the given scenario if you required multiroom streaming (2 devices) + remote access (stream) then yes going with Tablo may save you money in the long run. However, IMO Tivo still probably provides a much better and reliable service overall and has a long established name in the industry to back it up.

For most new or average cord cutters, I highly question how much does multi-room / remote streaming appeal to them. I can see multi-room being more of a desire but for this you just need a Tivo Mini w/o the Stream.

How about a comparison of true upfront cost to a basic cord cutter?

Tablo Basic Upfront Cost:

• Tablo 4 Tuner: $300 https://www.amazon.com/Tablo-4-Tuner-Digital-Recorder-Streaming/dp/B00MWLZR0I/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1466955429&sr=1-2&keywords=tablo
  
  
• 1TB external HD: $55 https://www.amazon.com/Elements-Portable-Drive-Storage-WDBUZG0010BBK-EESN/dp/B00CI3BLPA/ref=sr_1_4?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1466955459&sr=1-4&keywords=1tb+external+hard+drive
  
  
• Lifetime subscription: $150
  
  
• Roku 2: $65 (best deal with 3 months of SlingTV https://www.sling.com/devices/roku)
  
  
• Total ~$570
  
  
  Tivo Basic Upfront cost:
  
  
• Tivo Roamio 1TB OTA w/ Lifetime $400 (https://www.amazon.com/TiVo-Roamio-OTA-DVR-Compatible/dp/B01DR4T73Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1466955739&sr=8-1&keywords=tivo+roamio)
  
  
• Total ~$400
  
  I think Tablo definitely needs to adjust it's price model on their lines in order to stay competitive. The new price change and lifetime model by Tivo completely changes the playing field for cord cutters.
  
  I personally as a consumer wouldn't consider a Tablo unless the price was $350 for 4-Tuner with Lifetime (even at this price keep in mind for 1 TV, it costs more after adding hard drive and streaming device vs Tivo).
  
  I know before the permanent price change, Tivo used to do limited offer sales on their products where they include the lifetime with the device for a discounted price. I mean you could do the same sale model. Regular price $300 Tablo 4-Tuner. Sale $250 Tablo 4-Tuner, save extra $350 Tablo 4-Tuner w/ Lifetime included. etc. etc.
  
  

well soaps are mainly on antenna stations .. reality depends on what your mom likes .. does she like A&E or Bravo or Discovery or does she like Antenna based Reality TV ?

if she just wants antenna tv then the MediaSonic DVR is $40 and works pretty good and uses the Guide info in the TV Signal so you don't have to sign up for a $300 TV Guide subscription on top of other DVRs

http://www.amazon.com/Mediasonic-HW-150PVR-HomeWorx-Converter-Recording/dp/B00I2ZBD1U/

its not the prettiest thing but it lets you hang a USB Stick maybe 128gb or 64gb for a little dvring.. or up to a 2TB drive for lots of DVRing

if she wants Bravo or A&E then you either have to go with Sling.tv

or just keep her cable as it is .. she probably enjoys the ease of using it.. and for older people being able to use something easily is very very important.... she will be all proud of you when you hook up $1000 worth of crap that she cant work once you are out the door.. then she will go down to the bar to watch TV and become an alcoholic.. do you want that? DO YOU! ... anyway good luck..

To echo others in the thread, most tablets and laptops will be more expensive than some of the small set-top boxes for digital media, like the Roku 2 XS, Roku 3, Amazon Fire TV, or WDTV. All have their trade-offs, but I know the first 3 at least can connect to a few varieties of media server on a separate computer, such as the very popular Plex, or play local media from an attached USB device. They all sell at $100 USD or less right now.

I have used both the USB and Plex options personally on Roku 2 XS and Amazon FireTV and really enjoyed the experience, though my preference of the two is Plex for a home setup, while USB is fairly convenient if you want to go binge a show at a friend's house.

The Plex client for the device should support more than one server machine, so if you have other members of the household with their own media, they can fire up a Plex server of their own when they want to watch on the set-top box.

I cannot say anything about the WD TV from first hand knowledge, only the Roku series and Amazon Fire TV.

Since you haven't bought it yet...

Look up the WD TV Live. It's another set top box and really shines when it comes to playing local content. It has greater codec support than the roku and doesn't have to use plex or get things transcoded. You can hook up your hard drives to the WD TV via USB and play files directly, saving you the need of involving your laptop.

The downside is you can't get the prettied up UI of plex, but the basic file-folder navigation style is simple and easy.

Roku is great for accessing official streaming services, but it's simply outdone by the WD TV Live when it comes to local content playback.

http://www.amazon.com/Streaming-Media-Player-Wi-Fi-1080p/dp/B005KOZNBW

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136997

Online shops advertise it as costing $120 but always have it discounted to $100...and I don't know why because Western Digital's official price for it is $99. So don't pay more then that.

I cut the cord eight years ago, and I am never going back to cable.

The OTA options are great, IMO. If I want to veg out and watch TV (i.e. not a movie I own or Netflix or Amazon Prime or something recorded on Tivo), there is always something on. Regular network shows, PBS stuff, PBS UK (which is sort of a BBC America but with slightly older shows), foreign programming, old favorite TV shows and game shows, movies, etc.

Of course, it helps that I have a 4-tuner Tivo. Amazon is selling the Tivo OTA with a lifetime subscription (i.e. no monthly fees) for only $369. The Tivo has great apps for Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Go, Hulu, Plex, and others. And it's super easy to swap the standard hard drive with something larger (I put a 3GB in mine).

I had a whole big thing written up for you but I accidentally closed the tab T_T. I don't know anything about the G Box, sorry, but I do know about a few other devices.

I would recommend the Nvidia Shield if you can afford it. Normally $199.99, it's on sale for Cyber Monday for $149.99 with a free $49.99 remote you can sell on eBay to offset costs if you want. Easily the fastest product for Kodi, as well as a gaming rig, Netflix/Hulu/etc. player.

Next is the Fire TV, on sale right now on Amazon for $74.99. Ignore the rating on Amazon as the initially release didn't support 5.1, Amazon pushed out a patch to fix that. Learn how to sideload with a 5 min videos, push Kodi onto their, install firestarter and you're set to go. I use the first generation, a lot snappier than the Fire Stick.

The amazon Fire stick is $24.99 right now at Best Buy, not the snappiest device, but good for just putting on a movie, netflix, Hulu etc and just watching without too much switching in a out, as it doesn't run as smoothly as the other two. Still a great alternative if you don't want to spend too much and do a test run on Kodi and get a feel.

Here's the links to the devices on sale right now

[Newegg, Nvidia Shield (Not sure if remote comes) $149.99 no tax for more]
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815351001&cm_re=nvidia_shield-_-15-351-001-_-Product)

Amazon Nvidia Shield, $149.99 w/ Remote

Amazon Fire TV Box, $74.99

Best Buy Amazon Fire TV Stick $24.99

Alternatively if you want these a fire TV today, staples and best buy both have them for $74.99 and you can pick it up, try it out for a couple days and return if you don't like them.

Also I hope you're in the US or this was a waste of time lol.

The bad news:

Wifi sucks for media distribution. While many routers will do 802.11 a/b/g/n speeds, they'll mostly only do one at a time. So if you have just one slow device in the house requiring a/b speeds, it's going to drag your real-world transfer speeds into the 150kbps range and even SD video will stutter.

Most "smart" TVs aren't. Many brand new smart panels/BD players have poor codec support and abysmal interfaces.

The good news:

All of this is fixable. As for moving files, you can find and disable the slow device that's dragging down your wireless network. In my case, it ended up being a wireless printer. Alternately, you can pull an ethernet cable from your server to the TV, or do ethernet over AC.

As for smartening up your TV, you have several options. The free one is to keep using the PC that's currently connected to it. It's not really putting any "strain" on the CPU, since unless it's an ancient machine, video playback is handled with no real effort by the GPU. If you want a standalone device, I've tried dozens of set-top players over the years and have found the WD TV units to be as close to perfect as anybody has gotten. Codec support is very good, the interface is acceptable, and they play nice with network shares.

However, if you're willing to spend a bit more, you can get a full-fledged windows PC that is even smaller and more capable. I currently use two gigabyte brix systems in my house. Toss in 4GB of RAM and a cheap SSD and you can have a complete system for about $200. Using a good media player like MPC-HC this will handle anything you throw at it.

WiDi works by acting as a wireless cable. So imagine that it's like the same as connecting through hdmi, since the adapter will likely take in or output hdmi on either end. In this manner, it basically treats the TV as a monitor, so whatever you can do with your current hdmi connection, you should be able to do with the WiDi adapters.

In regards to the product, it'd be more helpful if you gave a direct link, but if you mean this item, then that's a different beast altogether. This one is basically a media player that looks for media shares, so similar in functionality to a Roku or similar.

Which one to get really depends on what your wider preference is. Both will let you stream netflix to your TV and play files from your local media shares, but the media player limits you to those activities. This comes with the benefit of a TV friendly user interface(usually) and a remote, so you don't even need your computer nearby as long as it's on the network.

WiDi will require you to keep a keyboard and mouse handy, wireless is helpful here, since you're basically operating your computer/laptop and the TV is acting as the monitor. However, WiDi allows you do to anything you can do on your computer on the TV screen, whether it's playing games, browsing the internet, doing work, etc.

I would recommend the Roku 1. I've have a Roku 3 (not worth the extra money IMHO), a Chromecast and an AppleTV 3. I like the AppleTV the best but it's also the most expensive and doesn't support Amazon Prime video. I would also get an HD antenna unless you live in an area with horrible reception. Reception issues aside, you will get all the major channels in perfect HD for free. I pick up about 20 channels but I live in a major city and on a big hill.

I would recommend picking up a device first and then getting the initial month trial with both Hulu Plus and Netflix to see which you like. You can get a free web account on Hulu now to check it out but you need Hulu Plus to stream to devices like Roku. I have both and watch much more on Hulu than Netflix. The commercials are short and don't really bother me. The really annoying thing about Hulu is not all shows are licensed for devices so you can only watch them on a computer. This is potentially a big issue if you're getting Hulu to replace your cable box. I'm happy with the content but CBS doesn't participate (other than some older shows) which bugs some people. My sister cut the cord a year ago and I still have to listen to her complain about no Big Bang Theory every time I see her (she also can't pick up CBS on antenna). Netflix is a better overall experience but I find very little content that interests me. Don't get me wrong, they have decent content but nothing I haven't seen (I've been a TV/movie nut for decades).

Congratulations on the new gig! Also, just a thought....if you have a spare $50 laying around, a Roku is a worthwhile purchase if she's going to be using Netflix fairly often. There are quite a few free things on there you can watch aside from Netflix and it can stream pretty much any other internet TV service you pay for. I just got one for my wife to use in our bedroom and it's excellent. If you did that, she could have her Netflix and you could have your GYBB...again, just food for thought :)

http://www.amazon.com/Roku-Streaming-Player-Black-2710R/dp/B00F5NB7JK/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1395094562&sr=8-5&keywords=roku

Either way, congratulations again and can't wait to see you back in Los Santos!

Looks like you can pick one up used from Amazon Warehouse Deals for $117 (Prime) LINK. Compared to a few other options it seems pricey, but it is a pretty polished build and the remote is useful. Well worth the money over a WD TV Live. The Boxee Box is much more "wife-friendly" or "kid-friendly" IMO.

Amazon’s new Fire TV Stick 4K is effectively replacing the company’s Fire TV with 4K Ultra HD, which the company introduced last year. “We have sold through the earlier Fire TV 4K edition inventory and we do not plan to replenish supply at this time,” says a spokesperson.

Pre-order HERE. Official release is October 31st.

Features & details

• The most powerful 4K streaming media stick with a new Wi-Fi antenna design optimized for 4K Ultra HD streaming.
  
  
• Launch and control all your favorite movies and TV shows with the next-gen Alexa Voice Remote. New power, volume, and mute buttons to control your TV, sound bar, and receiver.
  
  
• Enjoy brilliant picture and immersive sound with access to 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Vision, HDR, HDR10+, and Dolby Atmos.
  
  
• Choose from 500,000 movies and TV episodes. Watch favorites from Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, STARZ, SHOWTIME, CBS All Access, and others.
  Experience tens of thousands of channels, apps, and Alexa skills, plus millions of websites like YouTube, Facebook, and Reddit.
  
  
• Alexa on Fire TV provides the most comprehensive voice experience of any streaming media player—view live camera feeds, check the weather, dim the lights, and stream music.
  
  
• Amazon Prime members get unlimited access to thousands of movies and TV episodes, plus ad-free listening to millions of songs with Prime Music.
  
  
• No cable or satellite? No problem. Watch live TV and sports with subscriptions to Hulu, PlayStation Vue, and Sling TV.
  
  
  Specs
  
  
• Processor: Quad-core 1.7 GHz
  
  
• GPU: IMG GE8300
  
  
• Storage: 8 GB
  
  
• Wi-Fi Connectivity: Dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi (MIMO) for faster streaming and fewer dropped connections than standard Wi-Fi. Supports 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi networks.
  
  
• Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.0 + LE
  
  
• Ports: HDMI output, micro USB for power only
  
  
• Audio Support: Dolby Atmos, 7.1 surround sound, 2-channel stereo, and HDMI audio pass through up to 5.1
  
  
• Content Formats Supported: Video: Dolby Vision, HDR 10, HDR10+, HLG, H.265, H.264, VP9 Audio: AAC-LC, AC3, eAC3 (Dolby Digital Plus), FLAC, MP3, PCM/Wave, Vorbis, Dolby Atmos (EC3_JOC), Photo: JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP
  
  
• Output Resolution Supported: 2160p, 1080p and 720p up to 60 fps
  
  
  For a limited time, save $10 when you purchase two Fire TV Stick 4K devices. To redeem this offer, add two Fire TV Stick 4K to your cart and enter promo code TWOPACK at checkout.

I think you should treat yourself by buying the Roku player. That way, you can watch ALL of the episodes of Parks and Rec, Doctor Who, Game of Thrones, and anything else your heart desires on the largest TV you own!

As for how I'd treat myself, I would buy either this motivational tank or this nerdy one because I've gotten really good at getting exercise into my weekly schedule (I have a 2 hour boxing class, a 45 minute Soul Cycle class, as well as one or two 3-mile walks). Plus, I've lost a good amount of weight so far and I would like to look good while breaking a sweat!

I don't believe there is a single streaming platform that covers everything -- it's common to have more than one. I started with only the ATV4 and didn't mind AirPlay casting from my iPhone to my ATV for the occasional Amazon Video uses, that is unless I wanted to use my iPhone without losing the AirPlay session. I also find the bluetooth audio lacking on the ATV4, frequent skipping and often drops connectivity to my JayBird X2's.

I eventually purchased the 2016 Roku Streaming Stick primarily to have an app for Amazon Prime Video. While my smart-TV has an Amazon app, wireless listening isn't available, with the Stick it is. As I installed other Roku apps, I found Sling works much better than the tvOS version. Roku's Plex app is a lot nicer. Also, wireless audio performs much better with the Roku stick. Top it off with a more ergonomic remote ;-) Comparatively the Roku has a clunkier UI, but it just works -- surprising given how much less expensive it is.

I have a MacBook Pro that I sometimes use to AirPlay Mirror web video. It works OK, but there's a noticeable drop in frame rate. I also have a Surface Pro 2, and a DLNA stream to the Roku Stick mirrors a lot better than AirPlay -- web video is smoother, as if it's being accessed from a Roku app.

Thought I'd only be using the 2016 Roku Stick occasionally, but as it turns out I use it far more often than my ATV4. Sounds like you're going with just one option -- that'll be up to you. Apple's ATV4 product page has a comprehensive description of what it does, take a look and then maybe Google some reviews.

Your TV needs to have a built in tuner, if it does it'll have a coax input that looks like this.

If it doesn't, you can buy an external tuner like this.

As for antennas, just search around for "TV antenna" and you'll get something like this. The biggest difference between any are pretty much the range. They all will give you a coax cable that you just plug in (and screw the nut to tighten) to your TV or tuner box. Longer range ones will also need USB power but they usually come with all the stuff you need.

Once you do that place the antenna where you please. On your TV your settings menu should have a section named something like "TV", "antenna", or "channels". You'll need to go there and tell it to scan for channels. If you can't find the menu you can likely just search for your TV brand and antenna to find a guide

Finding a good position for the antenna might be tricky. You might need to move it around, rescan for channels, and try again and again. Eventually you should max out the number of channels you can get and have a stable TV picture.

Unfortunately depending on your location you might not get great TV reception. You can try to search for your location here to get a sense of what channels you may get and how strong the signal might be.

Hope this helps!

Happy cake day!!!

1 Rubber spatulas that I would use to mix up my cake, or icing colors which I use to die icings for cakes I make!

2 This one is a stretch but portal socks because Simon Pegg did voices for video games...and Portal is a video game!

3 I don't have any books on my WL. :P but.... I'd like to read this bag while I devour it's contents!

4 Mixing bowls. My SO tends to eat his cereal out of the few I have now >.<

5 Gecko food for our gecko! It even has a picture of one on the label!

6 Purple socks or purple nail polish!

7 Portal companion cube!

8 My (not so guilty) pleasure.

9 Pocket knife!

10 The definition of my childhood!

11 Literally for organizing!

12 My favorite hobby is baking!

13 PlayStation 4 could be geeky to some.

14 Made with 100% natural almonds!

15 Green socks!

16 I can wear these adorable leggings!

17 Funny candles!!

18 NSFW beads...

19 Gardening boots!

20 The item I love is this mixer!

I think you will buy these!

I agree with others that say the Shield is the best no-compromises solution. However, I've had excellent luck with my Roku Streaming Stick+. It direct-plays all my H.264 and 10-bit H.265 content. However, I don't have any fancy audio requirements like many others, so I can't speak to whether it can handle DTS-X, ATMOS, or whatever.

I have mine strapped to the back of my TV and connected via 5GHz WiFi to a router in the cabinet beneath the TV, which is more than enough to support 4k streaming.

You can get one on Amazon for $50.

The Single E5-2620 V1 will handle about 3x 1080p transcodes. However, if your clients are decent enough and your media is compatible, you'll likely not need any transcoding. Remember, transcoding is converting the file on the fly because the client is not compatible with the native codec.

Direct Streaming and Direct Playing performance will be impacted more by your network (home streaming) and internet connection (external streaming). I'm not saying CPU/Hardware wont effect your ability to Direct-Play/Direct-Stream, but it's likely less of an issue, until you really start increasing your simultaneous streaming.

Xbox One should direct play H264 MKV.. I'd also recommend checking out the new Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K if you're looking for another cheap highly compatible client. A few of my friends that I share my server with have them, and they direct-play just about everything I have..

What's nice about this build is, you can easily upgrade if you need more CPU power. You can start with a single CPU and either add a 2nd one or upgrade both. The rule of thumb is 2000 Passmarks for 1x 1080p transcode. Check out the CPU Comparison Chart for more info. They also list a ballpark price for the CPUs as well.

I own a couple Boxee Boxs. They're pretty sweet devices, and play most formats, but I've been having some issues lately with some more recent anime with certain encode profiles (like High10 for h264), but it's still overall pretty awesome.

I think it might be worth it to use a PC with the boxee software, though. It's free

Would this be the best one? Its the newest. Amazon Link WD TV
This has no Netflix for some reason..

There is also this one which has older software I believe. Amazon Link WD TV Live

There is also a WD TV Play, but no USB included.


...

Ordering a WD TV Live 3rd Gen WDBHG70000NBK. Seems to be the best.

Actually I got the WD TV Live 1080p Streamer. Just a little box and remote, that is almost like the Roku. But it will play every video format and audio format. I have an expensive home theater setup, and like to put it to good use. Most of the streamers that are out, won't play many audio formats, but this one will.

http://www.amazon.com/WD-TV-Media-Player-WDBYMN0000NBK-HESN/dp/B00JXFM75Y

Bought it though almost a year or so ago, when it was around $99. It's cheaper now. Pretty much the cheapest and best video streamer out, for 1080p. If you want a higher resolution, you have to look elsewhere though.

Android TV very good setup and will fit your budget read the reviews from the buyers that's only opinion that matter from people that actually own these products.

TCL 55S405 55-Inch 4K Ultra HD Roku Smart LED TV (2017 Model) $349.99 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MTGM5I9/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

NVIDIA SHIELD TV Gaming Edition | 4K HDR Streaming Media Player with GeForce NOW $199.00 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N1NT9Y6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

SiliconDust HDHomeRun CONNECT. FREE broadcast HDTV (2-Tuner) $73.95 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GY0UB54/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[2018 Latest] Amplified HD Digital TV Antenna Long 65-80 Miles Range – Support 4K 1080p & All Older TV's Indoor Powerful HDTV Amplifier Signal Booster - 18ft Coax Cable/USB Power Adapter $27.95 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FVLXHYV/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm sorry for not putting in more effort yesterday. I didn't really investigate the HTiB that you already had. You don't have a HTiB from Yamaha you have a prepack. You actually have a real AVR and set of speakers. So yes you could keep the existing speakers for rear surrounds if you wanted to.

I think my recommendations still stand. If you didn't need a BRP or sub you could swing a nice Micca X setup keeping the existing surrounds. As it stands I think you're limited to getting a set to save money.

New shopping list...I tried to get you better speakers up front...Micca's went up in pricing.
$200-AVR see above

$50-Roku

$100-Yamaha Sub

$80-MB42x

$80-MB42x-C

$510- if you use all the existing cables you have. If you went for the 8" sub it would be right at $500 but I think the 10" is worth the extra money.

Another option is to get this set from Fluance instead of the Micca speakers. Sign up for the newsletter and save $25. Use the "rears" as mains with your existing surround speakers. Then buy a set of SX6 for the front when you get more money. This would allow for the BRP to be fit into your budget or cables ect.

The Xiaomi Mi Box is plug and play. You can add kodi on it if you want.

Or

Nvidia Sheild is also plug and play. More expensive but you can buy it without the gaming remote. This is the one I personally use.

Both can add kodi if you want to and both work from google play store.

Otherwise Apple TV works too but just as expensive as the Nvidia shield. But you can only add MrMc which is a kodi like app.

Hope that helps. If you need help with set up, message me (FYI I’m in Australia so may be a delay on a reply).

Hi David - there's an [inexpensive but reliable zero latency HDMI receiver/transmitter you can buy for $250] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0092T3E3A/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0092T3E3A&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20) - but its range is limited to 160 feet through walls. If you can get clear line of sight, and reduce your range a little, this may be an easy and relatively inexpensive solution.

Good luck!

Bill

I have two TiVo units in my apartment and I love them. I have a Roamio and a Bolt. The Roamio is currently on sale on Amazon.

I haven't used the Tablo but using the TiVo is probably most like a dvr you would get from a tv provider with an easy to use interface and great channel guide.

If it has to be already released, and money was no object, I would probably get Lego Hogwarts.

However, out of ANYTHING on my lists for me, I would get a PS4!!!!!

If I were able to get anything though for anyone, I would most likely get stuff for my hubby and kiddos. I would get my hubby one of the pairs of shoes on his list for work because he is on his feet all day and goes through shoes quickly; I would get the Star Wars wampa rug for my son; and the Little Tikes playhouse for my daughter :-) (I know this discussion was for ourselves, but honestly my dream would be to get everything on my hubby and kiddos lists because I love giving them gifts more than getting things for myself!!!)

I ran into the same issue with Apple TV, which isn't supported either. DISH/SlingTV/AirTV, if you're paying attention, I've been waiting two years for Apple TV support! What is taking so long? Sorry, had to get that out of my system.

Unless you really love the "smart" part of your Samsung TV, you could add a supported set-top box, or streaming stick. I've been pleased with our Roku Ultra. The remote for the Ultra, and for the Roku Streaming Stick+ as well, can control the TV's power and volume, which enables a single-remote solution. The remote for Amazon's new Fire TV Stick 4K also controls TV power and volume.

Very helpful, thank you. So a couple follow up questions. 1. I think that's a good idea about not giving them something fully loaded. I havent used it yet, but I was imagining something that had a simple interface like popcorn time, netflix, or hbo go. So out of all the options even if cost is not that much of an issue, you recommend the fire stick kodi? 2. Are you saying, it's probably better to buy the firestick with kodi loaded on ebay then either learn to jailbreak myself or find a friend that can do it? 3. Also, I just saw this with over 3k reviews and the description says it can load any of the extra apps. Not sure what you think? https://www.amazon.com/Matricom-G-Box-Android-Streaming-Media/dp/B00QHLSKOE/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1481774273&sr=8-10&keywords=kodi

I've got a very similar setup. I use a QNAP TS-431p for network storage, and a 7700k that runs my Plex server. Streaming directly to my x900e even over ethernet was not always smooth. I found that streaming to a FireTV or Apple TV worked much better. While the x900e is an awesome TV, I don't think the CPU they used is powerful enough, even to just run the Android OS. There are tweaks you can do to the TV though, like set it to developer mode and then go turn lots of background services off that you don't need, which will help speed things up.

My suggestion is to buy a FireTV 4k and try that out. If it doesn't work, you can always return it.

You may also want to make sure that slower wireless devices are not connected to your faster wireless SSID.

More info on what? The shield? There's a few versions - regular and pro, with and without game controller.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075RXV2VR/ref=twister_B00U37EA38?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

It all depends on what you want to run. It used to be that if you had specific things you wanted like Prime Video for example, you had to go with something specific. That's mostly no longer the case anymore.

Apple TV is fantastic for almost all provider based apps with their TV section. If you have subs to things like HBO Go, Netflix, Hulu, etc. Doesn't support things like Kodi (There is an alternative to Kodi 16 called MrMc though), and forget about terrium. I've given up on most of those things since switching to plex shares, and now emby shares anyway, it's way more user friendly than constantly dicking with Kodi and the occasional crashes. To me it's the most polished of the 4 options, and the remote is the nicest to use.

For Android TV the shield is hard to justify, but nothing else touches it in terms of smoothness. It's on par with the Apple TV in terms of how effortless it runs. The remote kind of sucks though, and it's more expensive. It is better than the Mi, but $100 better? Only if you care about 4K amazon video or a few other things like that. If you're into Kodi then you probably want the Shield, or even the Shield Pro. It's the only box that can really handle it reasonably well. Kodi will literally turn my Mi Box into a fiery inferno until it eventually locks up due to thermal protection.

FireTV is kind of the outsider. It can do most everything a Mi Box can do, but is mainly geared towards buying and watching all things amazon. You can sideload things onto it though. Some people prefer the interface to Amazon TV, but I'm not sold. Never really did like the Prime App. The stick as you've discovered is woefully underpowered though. The previous gen box is ok though, more powerful than the Mi Box but not as much as the Shield.

Roku is kind of the "keep it simple" of the bunch. They aren't a content provider like Apple, Fire TV, etc, so they remained neutral and had the most app support for a long time (except Apple Movies). Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, etc, they were one of the only ones that had it all for a long time. I find that the interface is kind of dumb and woefully outdated though. It feels slower than just about everything else, and it's very restrictive on what you can do with it. You can't even set your own DNS or static IP for christ's sake. The other poster did have it right though, it is very stable and simple. I see a lot of older people using Roku.

When it says "Ships from and sold by Amazon" like this, I agree that Amazon sets the price.

But when it says "Sold by Fulfilled by Amazon" like this, Amazon does not set the price.

So, I only responded to point out that being fulfilled by amazon does not mean that amazon sets the price.

I'm a big fan of the Amazon Fire Stick. It's $39.99 but runs an Android OS. You can sideload apps on it, which means you can install pretty much any Android app you'd like.

It's a little pricier, but I like the fact that it comes with a physical remote. Don't get me wrong, I love the Chromecast, especially for the price. Just wanted to drop another option in the mix for you.

u/FloX04 - the $249.99 Nyrius Aries Pro is probably the least expensive option [Referral Link].

Reviewed here (reviewer is using it for remote monitoring, but it will work with your Camlink as well).

Hope this is helpful and good luck finding the right wireless video solution for your needs!

>What you're essentially looking for is VoIP -Video Over IP. It's not consumer grade yet for good quality. Enterprise or data center - yes. But for live A/V, no.

Whelp, that pretty much sums that up. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with me.

On another idea, what do you think about something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/Nyrius-Transmitter-Streaming-Projector-NPCS549/dp/B0092T3E3A/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1496783607&sr=8-3&keywords=wireless%2Bhdmi%2Btransmitter&th=1

It will definitely be within the hundred feet, then if I grabbed a camera with an HDMI out I could eliminate the laptop altogether?

Edit: Just need video too, no audio.

I did this on the new firestick with Alexa and put it on the TV at my sweetheart's house. It works wonderfully for streaming apps but there is not much memory for media to be stored on the device or any way to add local storage. I haven't connected any network storage at her house to see how well that works but I imagine it is fine. The firestick runs KODI like a champ. It also has Netflix and Amazon apps.

If you just want one player, check out PlaySignage . You can link and manage one device for free without limitations and only start paying with the second one.

For hardware, I recommend you just get an Amazon Fire TV stick .

​

Here are the things you'd need to do to get started:

1. Order Amazon Fire TV stick .
   
2. Install PlaySignage application on your fire tv stick, from Amazon app market (free application)
   
3. Sign-up for free account on https://playsignage.com
   
4. Connect your free online account to your tv stick (there are instructions on that, both in the app and your online account but feel free to ask)
   
5. Make a "playlist" in your account with your mp4 video and click "Publish" in your account - that's it.
   
   ​
   
   Play Digital Signage system only relies on the network when publishing the content to your device. Once your device downloads the content, it can go offline and still work.
   
   ​
   
   Hope this helps.

me too. i was really really sad for a while. but i bought an antenna for like $15 bucks and this device from mediasonic. works pretty flawlessly and i am very happy.

Not to derail, but sure you don't want to just get a WD TV Live Media Player and a big enough external?

I have had the pleasure of using one and it seems like exactly what you need without spending more than $100 dollars. It plays almost any video file, can stream locally, has hulu plus/netflix, and does all this through wifi (or ethernet).

I was looking for the same thing. I couldn't find anything great. The only one I considered was the SteelSeries one, but it's pretty expensive. Edit: It looks like this Nyko one gets good reviews and has decent reviews.

I went the Xbox 360 route but only so that I could do multiplayer on it, and because of potential controller lag (I hook mine up to the TV). Consider it if you want to eventually do that.

There is a USB adapter on Amazon that gives you two ports. Another thing that could free up the USB port is a 64gb SD card. That's were I currently put my Steam games.

I live in the same general area as you do, and I get excellent OTA reception using this cheap antenna. I get excellent picture on CBS, NBC, ABC, and PHL17 (which had the MNF game on last night, as it was in market).

I have been using this converter box as a DVR to record live OTA tv. The menus are not very pretty but it works well. You have to supply your own storage, and recording takes up a lot of space (about 6 gb per hour). The picture is as good as watching live tv, and probably better than what I got with Comcast cable.

Amazon Fire Stick in our bedroom and a normal PC in the living room.

The Fire Stick takes a good bit of tinkering to get exactly as desired, but once you do, it's literally a (tiny) Kodi stick, with the ability to also play games, Youtube and any other Android apps you happen to like.

In the living room, the PC I've got setup, has a graphics card with a HDMI out to my TV. Kodi obviously runs great there too, plus I've got the versatility of Windows.

Yeah, Chromecast stuff has never interested me it's just (slightly) limited in what it can do, because of this most Android stuff frustrates me.

Here's what I'd suggest, if you're not interested in always having the laptop plugged into your TV; grab one of these preconfigured Android TV boxes, they start around $40, and come with a remote control, so once you've got everything setup, it functions like a cable box. They've already got Kodi installed, plus a majority of the latest Add-Ons, so you don't have to spend a bunch of time getting setup.

Here's a couple options, the first being one of the cheaper options, the second a more fully loaded, faster option;


A. http://www.amazon.com/Susay%C2%AE-Amlogic-Android-Smart-Streaming/dp/B00W1F1I62/ref=sr_1_4?s=tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1451798314&sr=1-4&keywords=android+box

B. http://www.amazon.com/Matricom-G-Box-Quad-Octo-Android/dp/B00QHLSKOE/ref=sr_1_6?s=tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1451798314&sr=1-6&keywords=android+box

As little as possible. The more crap you have, the more it weighs you down.
That said, every home needs some necessities to get by. For me those generally involve cooking, sleeping, and repairs. I just finished watching Parks & Rec and am in a bit of a Ron Swanson mood.

For the kitchen (all recommended by America's Test Kitchen):

Victorinox 8" Chef's Knife

Victorinox Paring knife

CDN Instant Read Thermometer

Lodge 12" skillet - cheap and will last you forever

Crockpot, 6qt - the one kitchen appliance I'd cheat with. Easy delicious meals. Toss in a cheap cut of meat (chuck roast, etc), salt, pepper, garlic, onions, carrots, whatever. Let it sit for 6-8 hours. Dinner for 3 meals.

Tools:

I'd probably just pick up a cheap set of craftsman stuff (screwdrivers, hammer, sockets, pliers). Splurge on the ratchet and any power tools you need:

Bahco 3/8" ratchet - same as snapon F80 at 1/2 the price

Other misc. tools that are quite handy:

Magnetic stud finder - in a new place you're going to be hanging pictures, installing shelving, and mounting curtain rods. These are dirt cheap and super convenient.

Multimeter - Flukes will last you for life. If you need to do any electrical work, these are great. If you don't want to splurge up front just borrow them or buy a cheap $15 one at home depot.

Bedroom:

Get comfortable pillows and nice sheets. Don't get all caught up in the 1000 thread count crap, it's a hoax. Just get at least 400tc or so, and preferably egyptian or pima cotton. My favorite sheets are actually a super cheapo brand that are 60% cotton 40% polyester. I prefer them because they feel more "smooth and cool" rather than "soft and warm".

Obviously get real furniture: dresser, bed with headboard, etc.

Electronics

I won't go into too much detail here, but consider cutting the cord (/r/cordcutters).

A cheap Roku3 + netflix + an OTA antenna can go a long way.

If you have a lot of pictures/media/etc, don't forget about backups. I'd look into an inexpensive NAS, or at least a USB harddrive. They are dirt cheap and worth the insurance.

Insurance

Lastly, don't forget renters or homeowners insurance. If you are renting, you can get rather good coverage for quite cheap. I just paid around $50 for 12 months of coverage on my apartment ($15k coverage, $1k deductible). I shopped around at 5 different places and Amica came out the cheapest by FAR.

Other than that, you don't need much. Buy less crap. Don't buy some $50 automatic electronic wine opener when a $1 wine key will do the job. Same for a can opener.

You don't mention it in your post, but the other big deal with the shield is its quite future proof nature for home theater enthusiasts that have local media to playback. It has:

• 4K Playback
  
• HEVC Hardware decoding
  
• MPEG2, VC-1, and WMV9 hardware-acceleration
  
• M2TS, ASF, and WMV container support for VC-1
  
• WMA audio support (including WMA Pro, and WMA Lossless
  
• HD audio passthrough (DTS-HD and TrueHD)
  
• CEC Volume Control
  
• X1 Chip (truly incredible piece of hardware)
  
• Audio jack on the remote
  
  Make sure you get the bundle! The $50 remote comes with the shield right now

For my purposes I like the Roku better and it was cheaper. All I use it for is streaming Netflix and Hulu. If you have an Apple computer the Apple TV is cool because you can play stuff from your computer through your TV by pushing one button. The Apple TV also has iTunes radio (kinda like Pandora) and you can buy movies and TV shows through your iTunes account to watch on the TV. If your main use is really just Netflix and Hulu a Roku will serve you well. I have this one and got it on sale from Amazon for $39.99 (regularly $59.99, $49.97 today).

The quad-core streaming stick is currently $40 on Amazon. Be a good kid and buy them a new one. Looks like Best Buy has them for the same price. It will be a MUCH better experience than the purple one which I believe came out in 2012.

https://www.amazon.com/Roku-Streaming-Stick-3600R-Quad-Core/dp/B01DA0YCNC

I have been a long time cordcutter but since getting an XB1 I wanted to use the OneGuide. I just asked about this a couple weeks ago.

http://www.reddit.com/r/cordcutters/comments/2rbcww/best_stb_for_xbox_one_owners_who_are_also/

While the official tuner shows no signs of coming almost everyone recommended the MediaSonic HW150PVR -- its around $40 on Amazon. I figured what the heck and bought one. Have had it hooked up now for over a week and its working great. Need a usb hard drive for using the DVR functions but the tuner portion is great.

NOTE: If you don't have a Kinect you need an IR transmitter to be connected directly to the XB1 in order to change channels etc (assuming you want to do away with the tuners separate remote as well)

There are products, but they are not cheap.

A 1080p signal, even at 30 fps is a very high bandwidth. Luckily you only have a short distance to cover, so you probably won't have issues with signal strength, but its a lot more expensive than buying an HDMI cable.

60 GHz wireless HDMI transmitter 1080p 60 Hz + audio: $175

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0077LKEKQ?tag=thewire06-20&linkCode=as2&creative=374929&camp=211189

Various other tech:

http://www.amazon.com/Actiontec-Wireless-WiFi-Multi-Room-Video/dp/B005L9ZZ32

http://www.amazon.com/Nyrius-Transmitter-Streaming-Satellite-NPCS549/dp/B009E6R89C/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_0_2

http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/the-best-wireless-hdmi-video-transmitter/

There are probably better and cheaper products than these, but I haven't researched them much so I couldn't say.

You can use something a lot cheaper, like Chromcast for example, although I believe it uses a compressed signal so it will have worse latency and image quality, and it maxes out at 720p.

The K1 is from my readings the best Android tablet on the market for gaming.



Sadly Nvidia discontinued it, I'm assuming they have a new model coming.

I only paid like $160 or so they are on Amazon for almost $300!

If Dokkan supported a controller I would have gotten the [Nvidia Shield TV](NVIDIA SHIELD TV | Streaming Media Player with Remote & Game Controller https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1NT9Y6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_XnmdBb3TT2V5F) it just got the Oreo update to.


So I'm not sure what tablet would be budget friendly as literally I only use that tablet for dokkan and that's pretty much it.

I have this one, the tuner works well, but the rest of it is really hard to use. Plus, it doesn't always come on, and takes a bit to warm up.

And when I do have to use the remote, it's a super pain.

http://www.amazon.com/Mediasonic-HW-150PVR-HomeWorx-Converter-Recording/dp/B00I2ZBD1U/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1425240189&sr=1-5&keywords=dvr+with+tuner

I would get something a little better made, but I went for price. But the tuner works great and you can add a flash drive for PVR/DVR recording.

Found the new one on Amazon, has the new controller

Marketing info is the same/similar as the old Shield TV

e.g.

old

> Expand your entertainment with the best gaming streamer experience that’s 3X more powerful than Apple TV.

new

> It's everything you want in one game-changing device that's 3X faster than competitors

So its probably the same, which explains why they didn't talk about improved performance during the keynote

WD TV Live is a pretty awesome little machine. Netflix app runs just as good as anything I've seen, wireless capabilities, hulu, youtube, pandora, and can play basically any video format via the usb hub for $90.

Gift One: There's no way this is gonna happen, but it's worth a shot (By the way, rasta, you look incredibly stylish today, is that a new sweater?)

Gift Two: I get hungry at work, so I always need some snacks :)

186394, you look okay today, but a banana suit would really complete the outfit.

C'mon...gimme.

Assuming you talk about this.

Impossible to know for sure, but the fact that they are not taking orders at all suggests they are not sure if they will ever get more of them. But unless NVIDIA has discontinued it in favor of the remote-only bundle, my guess is that Amazon will get more stock at some point.

Note that Best Buy still has the full bundle in stock for $169.99.

Your options:

1. Move your gaming pc to your tv.
   

• Buy long hdmi cable like this 45 footer
  
• Buy Wireless HDMI reciever
  
  I like the first option, it is what I do at home. I use a laptop to do real work, gaming pc on my tv for entertainment.
  
  The second and third options are good if you really want your pc at your desk. 45ft is the max that hdmi can go through wires. Depending on your setup that might be long enough to make a permanent solution.
  
  Wireless while not cheap, is better than running through a secondary device.

The passport series that WD has is very impressive. I got a 1TB one for $70 and I don't regret it at all and I'm more than happy. More space than I know what to do with it. I use it along with a WD media player which is hooked up to my TV. I pop in movies on the passport from my computer and watch them on my flatscreen, no need for DVD players or new high-end smart-tv's.

The changes a year has wrought:

AppleTV

Roku

Western Digital Live

Vizio Co-Star

Many Blu-Ray players

Many Smart TVs.

Most current gen game consoles (PS3, Xbox 360, Wii)

All support Netflix and all support 5.1 sound. It depends on personal preference to define what is best for you.

Oh! So even though it's fulfilled by Amazon, it's not Amazon's price. Got it. Thank you for the feedback. It looks like the Amazon Sold and Fulfilled one is actually still $22.11, though:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0092ZEINO/ref=olp_prime_new?ie=UTF8&condition=new&shipPromoFilter=1

Well, I meant streaming from my computer via media server, to a PS3. I have a 2tb in my computer currently that my PS3 reads just fine, and it's formatted in NTFS. If it can read that via media server, I suppose it should do exFAT just fine too! if not, I suppose I could invest in something like this. I'm sure my wife wouldn't mind the nexflix/hulu/spotify hub right there at our TV/stereo. hm. exFAT it is! thanks reddit!

You have a few options depending on your budget.

The cheapest option is something like this. A consumer hdmi transmitter and receiver, probably poor reliability.

HDMI in general isn't great for this, and you'd be better off with something that uses SDI.

A camera like this can use an SDI cable which is better for longer runs, has locking connectors, and will be easier to run than hdmi. You can pick up a wireless SDI if you want a more reliable wireless solution.

If you still want to go the HDMI route, but want a cheap camcorder that's fairly versatile with longer lasting batterys, try something like this (and you can even use this with the cheaper wireless HDMI if you so desire)

Oh, and for running SDI into a computer, this has worked well for me

That's certainly a valid choice. I'll make it even easier for you. Here's a straight link without any affiliate codes to the PS4.

A few things:

• Yes, I do earn affiliate income from Amazon if you buy it via my submission link. But your purchase is not more expensive, so I'm not sure what you've lost by using my link.
  
  
• I purchased ad space from Reddit. The money paid helps support this site. Of course not trying to sound altruistic or anything -- I bought this ad because I thought I could make a few dollars of beer money. But this ad helps Reddit as well.
  
  
• I'm not some outsider who just randomly stumbled upon Reddit. I've been here 6 years and a charter member of Reddit Gold.
  
  
  

Me and my friend we play street fighter alpha 3,Tekken 3, Darkstalkers 3 and Marvel vs Capcom on the Ps1 emulator.

My friend uses this: http://www.amazon.com/Playpad-Android-Bluetooth-PC-Mac-Linux/dp/B0092ZEINO
And I use this: http://www.amazon.com/GameSir-Bluetooth-Wireless-Joystick-Controller-Windows/dp/B013QFQR9S
This is done on my Galaxy tab 4

If you're open to spending a bit more (and ordering it from Amazon), NVidia Shield TV.

Fancy Android TV box (and actual Android TV, not just regular Android in something resembling tablet mode that's been shoehorned into TV functionality), fast (really, really fast) CPU, 4K support, and you can load Kodi from the Play Store if you so desire. Has a nice, Xbox-esque controller for gaming (streaming from a PC, and built-in games), optional remote (with a microphone you can do voice searches with), Chromecast support, etc etc etc.

But yeah, that pricetag. If you're in the market for a new TV anyway, Sony will sell you one with the Android TV functionality built in, which might soften the blow a bit.

So I have had this receiver for over ten years, it is a Kenwood 1080VR. It has many inputs on the back, but one I've never used is the optical. I am not an audiophile. I feel reasonably competent to set up a stereo, but the extent of my knowledge is that the red and white wires are sound and the yellow one is video.

I am about to buy a WD TV Live Streaming Media Player Wi-Fi 1080p. The website says it has "SPDIF digital output", and you can see a picture of the output jack here.

The image in the post title is from the stereo manual and says that it has an input optical port for a "component with an AC-3 (or PCM) OPTICAL DIGITAL OUT". You can see a picture of the back of the receiver here and there appears to be some kind of plug in the jack.

So will my receiver and this settop box talk to each other? Should I buy an optical cable when I order the WD TV? Or should I look to get a new receiver that can take SPDIF output? And if so, what is the most economical option to do so?

Thanks in advance

Ok thanks, that seems to be the consensus on my Amazon question too. I guess i'l have to exchange it.

By any chance do you know the difference between this version and the version I have?

One seems to be newer, more expensive, but doesn't have netflix, while the older, cheaper one seems better. Is the more expensive one worth it at all?

Ok, so given you have a TV that can decode the signal, which is best? Because my TV can't seem to get a channel I'm supposed to get, I got something like this (right brand, can't remember which model): https://www.amazon.com/Mediasonic-HomeWorx-Converter-Recording-HW-150PVR/dp/B00I2ZBD1U and it doesn't pick up the channel either. So I'm left thinking my indoor TV antenna is failing me. I've positioned it all around too, no luck, although some places and orientations are clearly better at receiving the channels I do get than others.

Agreed. I bought this one on the recommendation of someone in this sub, and I have been pleasantly surprised.

Also, it may just be in my head, but I think the tuner in it is better than the built in tuner in my TV. The Signal Meter is a really nice feature. I know most TVs have it built in, buy mine doesn't.

I am truly surprised that no one has mentioned the Nvidia Shield TV for this application. The device can be had for well under $200 and you can attach external drives to it.

It has plenty of oomph as a Plex Server for your described use case. This concept gives you:

• All the transcoding goodness you want without mucking with filetypes and formats
  
• Small footprint
  
• Low power consumption
  
• Can be run essentially headless
  
• Cost effective
  
  Hopefully /u/Cravenspurs is still reading this thread!
  
  edit: formatting

I use it with 2nd gen Amazon Fire TV boxes and it works great.

Amazon stopped selling it awhile ago, now offering a $70 dongle that should work at least as well, I'd think. There's supposed to be a replacement 'box' model soon with Echo stuff built in, but if you don't want that Echo stuff, I wouldn't wait.

The Apple TV 4K is pretty nice, but at $180+, it's hard to justify over the Fire TV or Roku (though I didn't mention Roku above because the Vue app specifically on it isn't so good. It's apparently getting improved soon)

this tech actually exists - versions of it that work well cost a couple hundred, but I've set them up for clients a couple times.
I've used and been pleased with the aries brand:
https://www.amazon.com/Nyrius-Transmitter-Streaming-Projector-NPCS549/dp/B009E6R89C

So not only does nintendo have the tech it used for the wii u to draw from, but a lot of other new research and production with widi, other wireless HDMI implementations, etc.

Additionally, taking the "wii u" half of the wireless display into a dongle and swapping in the wireless display hardware into the console itself makes a lot of sense, and should function well. Just have to hope they can nail near-zero latency, or they offer us a cabled option when latency matters... for smash bros with your bros.

Then take it up with Amazon's copywriters.

https://smile.amazon.com/Fire-TV-Stick-4K-with-Alexa-Voice-Remote/dp/B079QHML21/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1QFBZD2QABW7U&keywords=fire+stick+4k&qid=1567641510&s=gateway&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&sprefix=fire%2Caps%2C421&sr=8-3

​

>Enjoy brilliant picture with access to 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Vision, HDR, and HDR10+. Experience immersive sound with Dolby Atmos on select Prime Video titles.
>
> Supported audio Dolby Audio Dolby Atmos Dolby Atmos
>
> Audio Support
>
>Dolby Atmos, 7.1 surround sound, 2-channel stereo, and HDMI audio pass through up to 5.1. Dolby Atmos is not currently supported on Netflix titles.

Anyway, it looks like they also updated the FireTV Cube, so that is an option now as well after Oct 10, 2019. Says it has a 6-core CPU instead of 4-core like the stick.

Precisely, that's what it'll allow you to do. The downside is that they can be pretty expensive for a good one (like this, judging by customer reviews), and even then, the signal won't be as stable as with a wired HDMI connection. That's why, if you have to go with wireless, I recommend you get the best possible wireless HDMI system you can afford, as the lower-end ones will usually give you lag, connection problems, and/or instability. If you have the option between wired and wireless HDMI (like if you're in a situation where you just don't want to deal with cable management or it looks ugly), I strongly suggest you stick with wired, as it's much less expensive and you'll almost always get better picture quality than most wireless HDMI connections.

Does she like tv/movies? You could get her one of these Roku Streaming Stick+ | HD/4K/HDR Streaming Device with Long-range Wireless and Voice Remote with TV Power and Volume https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075XLWML4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_jOZuDbKBRH586 and subscriptions to some streaming services for a few months. What are some other things about her? Like interests, hobbies, etc? I think adding those will improve and increase responses

So for those bummed out about this and are looking for alternatives here are a few options

1. build one yourself with a raspberry pi
   I would recommend using a RPi2 or RPI3 rather than the zero.
   check out these subreddits for more info
   
   r/retropie
   
   r/recalbox (my personal favorite os for emulation)
   
   r/lakka
   
   
2. use an android box for emulation
   
   amazon fire tv
   
   Nvidia shield tv
   
   Emtec gembox
   
   
3. use an old laptop or desktop
   look on craigslist for old computers you can usually find one under $50 that will work just fine
   both lakka os and recalbox os have x86 ports that run fine on desktop
   i also recommend a bluetooth adapter and a 8bitdo controller
   
   
4. if your looking for something more portable putting homebrew launcher on a 3ds or 2ds works really well
   check out r/3dshacks for that
   
   edit: formatting

This would be my suggestion of what to buy for $3000. I'm sure most people on this sub would disagree with my more budget oriented picks. I'm just putting it out there.

Feel free to explain why I'm wrong.



Item | Price
---|---
VIZIO P-Series Quantum 65” | $1,500
Pioneer SP-PK52FS Andrew Jones 5.1 | $505
Denon AVRS740H | $403
100ft Speaker Wire | $13
Surge Protector | $25
Apple TV 4K or Nvidia Shield TV | $180
HDMI Cables (2x) | $13
Total | $2,666
|
Optional |
Banana Clips | $20
VESA Mount | $35
Atmos Speakers (In Ceiling) | $75
Atmos Speakers (Stand Alone) | $240



For 4K and HDR it is very important that your HDMI cables are capable of 18Gbps. I have never had any signal issues with Monoprice cables, and the slim form factor of these cables is ideal for cable routing and management. Two cables is the bare minimum you need to get up and running. Obviously buy the appropriate length and amount that you need.

**For the Atmos speakers you only need one of the two options. In-ceiling speakers are objectively the superior quality and cheaper option. But they are not realistic for everyone's living situation. That is why I included the stand-alone speaker option. The speakers I picked would replace your two surround speakers and act as both surround and Atmos channels.

Go with a Roku Streaming Stick+. That way, regardless of what smart TV you buy in the future, you'll have a good external device you can use to stream. Smart apps tend to age poorly, but Rokus tend to have a bit longer life and get supported better.

This is pretty interesting and I haven't seen it before. From what I'm gathering, its like how we used to use VCRs? Plug in channel, start time, end time or just press record.

This look like what you are referring to, right? http://www.amazon.com/Mediasonic-HW-150PVR-HomeWorx-Converter-Recording/dp/B00I2ZBD1U/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1404868855&sr=8-2&keywords=Homeworx

I'll suggest the same setup I have.

1 Roku at each TV (streaming box that's super easy to use and runs Netflix and other streaming apps). These can connect via WIFI.

An over the air hooked up to a Tablo. The Antenna sits wherever it needs to and connects to the Tablo via coax cable. The Tablo then can connect to your router via WIFI or ethernet. Make sure you get an antenna big enough to pick up your main local stations. Since you’re going rural it may need to be an attic or roof mount installation.

Then on each Roku install the Tablo app as well as whatever other streaming services you want to use. From the Tablo app you can watch live or recorded TV, etc. just like a Tivo.

Basically the antenna sends the TV signal to the tablo. The Tablo does the recording and then sends the TV content to the Rokus via WIFI and the Tablo app on the Rokus.

So since the Tablo and Rokus are all wireless the only wiring you need to worry about is the coax from the antenna to the Tablo. If you live in the middle of a big city you can probably just get a cheap basic antenna and put it and the Tablo behind one of your TVs. If you're further out you may want to look into an attic or rooftop antenna with coax wired to somewhere inside the house for the Tablo.

Also: ‏

@amazongames 5h
@TheNickPham If you ordered before ~noon PST today, you should be getting a system at launch. Hope this helps!
View conversation

@amazongames 5h
@TheNickPham If you're logged in, this page will have a yellow stripe to confirm which system you've ordered: http://amzn.to/1btJHyh

Pretty sure just the support folks aren't in the loop with how it works, since people that ordered right after it went up didn't have to choose "Launch Edition" from the start.

You want a PVR. It takes the signal and gives you an HDMI out that you can connect into the XBox One. The cable from your college isn't encrypted since it is meant to plug into your TV so any of the OTA options that have an HDMI out would probably work, but the one below looks like your best bet. You can check /r/cordcutters for other options, but some of them require an app which XBox One just doesn't have yet. You also won't be able to get a proper XBox One TV Guide as your college probably doesn't broadcast channel information.

http://www.amazon.com/Mediasonic-HW-150PVR-HomeWorx-Converter-Recording/dp/B00I2ZBD1U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408993503&sr=8-1&keywords=pvr

https://www.amazon.com/Matricom-G-Box-Android-Streaming-Media/dp/B00QHLSKOE/ref=sr_1_8?s=tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1466986668&sr=1-8&keywords=android+box otherwise check these out http://kodi.wiki/view/Devices
This is the box I started out with and now I currently use an NVIDIA Shield TV Box but that is a much more expensive box. This one is very easy to use, good remote, and I would recommend you get an empty box and not one of those "preloaded" boxes you'll see all of the internet.

I'm a big fan of the WD TV live streaming media player.

Not only can you plug in a USB hard drive and have all of your media on there, it also can stream from your mac with Playback or PS3 Media Server. It's compatible with pretty much every format I've thrown at it, and it you set it up right, it can play your itunes collection right through your mac as long as they're on the same wifi.

It's cheap, and I really couldn't be happier with it.

http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Streaming-Media-Player/dp/B005KOZNBW

OP here - just letting you all know what I bought and how it's working out...

1. Homeworx HW-150PVR ATSC Digital TV Converter Box with Media Player and Recording PVR Function/HDMI Out
   http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I2ZBD1U/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
   
   
2. Homeworx HW110AN Super Thin Indoor HDTV Antenna
   http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008KVUAGU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
   
   
3. Any old USB hard drive -- I had a 500gb one laying around.
   
   Reception great, does exactly what I wanted.
   
   GOODBYE TIME WARNER !!!!
   

I like that they provide such specific specs (although they don't link to that from the 'technical details' on their product page).

That Shield TV looks interesting, and on a quick google it looks like the bootloader is unlockable, so it might be a contender. Thanks.

I have had several Roku devices over the years. I frequently sell older units as new models come available. I can state the older units (Roku 2s and older) need more frequent reboots (about twice or more a week). However, the top of the line Roku 3 ( http://amzn.com/B00BGGDVOO ) is much more stable and rarely needs a reboot. I also rarely get those freeze-ups on Netflix you describe (but yes, I do get them on older units).

Also, I think the newest model (the slims) PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 make great streaming devices. But I still prefer the Roku 3 for the remote.

I have this box for doing exactly what you described. I would suggest putting custom skins on it which makes it much more visually appealing for organizing all of your media. I havent found any file it cant play. Doesnt have a ton of features but if you just want all the files to play and be able to scroll through your files it works great. If you have any questions let me know.

Batman Suit

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BGGDVOO/ref=wl_it_dp_v_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=HXTS6E4DV1VF&coliid=IWJ1PIPJSPET5

you need to buy this because I had a roku 1 for a long time and I loved it, and the 3 is much much better!


http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DR7NMXA/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2KB6ZYT0WQ3W3&coliid=I20UNXXX7RUBX4

I NEEEEEED this so I can kill zombies on my phone! PREASE?!?!

If that's all then a complete reset shouldn't be that hard to recover from. It's amazing what a reset can accomplish sometimes. That said, the 1st gen Stick is getting pretty long in the tooth at this point and the 4K Stick would be a big upgrade.

Also, upvote for the Remo Williams reference.

Roku is going to work best. It's super simple and requires very little setup plus it is going to support the lower-resolution of her TV better than any other device. You can download an app that lets you control it from your phone.

Just wanted to high five - took delivery of the exact same TV this morning!

I'd be willing to bet the TV would support just about any size hard drive. I can't imagine that they rolled their own eg. NTFS implementation for whatever OS the thing uses. But like /u/GbMaxSE said - honestly, don't.

You've just spent that kind of money on a TV, I would also highly recommend an Nvidia Shield.

Depends on your location because for me personally this was an easy solution, but for others it's kind of an expensive fix.

All I had to do was buy this (most important) and this (because I'm playing through an Xbox One and projector). Because I live in a city environment I just hook those 2 up and I'm all set. If you have a regular TV you will not need the digital box, I only needed the box because I am running it through a projector/xbox one setup.

But if you are in a more rural/suburban area you may have to go the expensive route and buy a satellite dish, but buying the $8 antennae I posted above is worth a shot.

FYI this is a guide to just getting local channels, nothing else. You should also look at your TV guide to see what channels you would even get, depending on where you are at this could change everything. I get roughly 20-30+ channels, but I've heard of other locations only getting a handful.

I have a WDTV Live that does all of those things. WD still supports it with firmware updates and it plays more format types that any other streamer box I have found. Some people complain that the interface has too many options and is not very friendly for non-technical people in the house, but I like it. I stream content from a Plex server, and that requires Plex to have an accurate DLNA profile for this device for every content type that I want to play so that Plex knows how to transcode the content. That works most of the time, but not always.

• Roku stick $39.99 and right now you get two free months of Hulu ($7.99). Quad core processor and has a dorm and hotel mode for easy dorm set up.
  
  
• Or the Roku Premiere now on sale for $59.99, 4K video, 4 quad processor, same Hulu offer. Not sure about dorm mode.
  
  
• For truly budget option, Roku express. $24.99. Not great for live streaming services but should be fine for on demand type services. Same Hulu offer.
  
  
• Fire tv stick on sale for $34.99. The Amazon Fire TV box has been discontinued (new model coming) but you could check local stores for it.
  
  
• Chromecast. $35.
  
  
• Look for free or discounted device offers from a live streaming service. Typically Sling TV or Directv Now or YouTube TV are your candidates for this. I don't recall FuboTV ever doing so.
  
  
• Look for refurbished boxes. Roku and Amazon both have pages for refurbished deals.

I'm using a Nvidia Shield TV in the Gold Coast. Excellent system if not a bit expensive. If you are looking to use 4k videos and Netflix 4k then buy this beast. If you also happen to own a recent Nvidia powered graphics card then buy it as soon as you can. I got a GTX950 a few weeks ago for $220 and I am amazed at how well this system runs all the games from my pc. I've only used Nexus player and Fire TV 1 so I can't comment on any other 4k enabled box. But for what you get it is well worth the money. Approx $300 aus delivered.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B013HJ13V0

Well, i've considered chaining them... like using a typical wireless HDMI like this one

https://www.amazon.com/Nyrius-Transmitter-Streaming-Projector-NPCS549/dp/B009E6R89C

and them plugging other things into it...

https://www.amazon.com/VicTsing-Output-1080P-Converter-Adapter/dp/B00K4W62R4

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GB9X8L6




What I'm unsure of is if this kind of daisy-chaining will cause an issue. We're not looking for perfect image clarity here, really just get it up there. SIMPLY --- that's the key.





*Edit: I hope amazon links are OK... not an endorsement, just examples!

The linked product is exactly what you need. They push the video streaming aspect because that's the reason most folks would buy something like this. It's just displaying whatever's on your desktop.

If you look near the bottom of the page there's blurb:

>The Diamond V-Stream Wireless USB HD A/V Adapter Set enables users to display their notebook/PC content, such as pictures, movies, presentations, office documents, web content and other types of data, on a larger remote display, share it with others or enjoy a larger size display without any cable limitations. Wireless USB connectivity is enabled by attaching the PC Adapter to the PC/notebook, connecting the external display to HD A/V Base and plugging the Device Adapter into the HD A/V Base. The HD A/V Base and Device Adapter receive power from an external powersupply connected to the HD A/V Base.

I'd be concerned about the reviews of this particular item though. This one is a lot more money but has many more, and better, reviews: Nyrius ARIES

The Fire TV Stick is ~$39 usd and supports chrome cast and all of the popular streaming apps. The remote has Alexa voice too.

Very impressed. I rarely use my Apple TV now, which might not ever get the Amazon video or music apps.

Again.
$40 amplified antenna

$40 Amazon FireTV Stick
Or
$90 FireTV

+

Kodi

+

Specto

The antenna will give you free local channels

FireTV can give you streaming channels + apps for streaming from channels if you have someone generous enough to provide their cable/satellite login. So we have live streaming of Fox Sports, ESPN, CNN and some more.

and Kodi for every TV Show/Movie. There's add-ons for live tv that's hit or miss but definitely improving

Right on the Vue page it lists what local channels are available. Same with Sling and it's not many

Edit: I don't get your point of trying to cut cords if you're still subscribing to every streaming service available? At that point wouldn't satellite be cheaper?

Check out the Mediasonic HW-150PVR.

http://www.amazon.com/Mediasonic-HW-150PVR-HomeWorx-Converter-Recording/dp/B00I2ZBD1U

I'm using it with an OTA antenna, but it may work for your setup too. Also, it plays nice with the Xbox and easily lets you surf channels with the Xbox OneGuide.

You'll need a Kinect, or other IR blaster to have it change channels through the Xbox.

I'd get this case for $20 after rebate, so you have enough money for a decent power supply. Like this Antec.

Also, that 890FXA doesn't have onboard video, nor does that CPU have an IGP, as far as I know. Unless you plan to make this a headless unit, you'd need to get something like a G630 (comes with a stock fan, so the total cost is actually lower), and an entry-level H61 motherboard. Ideally one with a DVI or HDMI port on the back. For example.

So assuming you took the Intel route instead, you'd also want one stick of RAM, because mATX boards usually have only two slots. That way, you leave room to add more.

Alternatively, you can just buy a Boxee Box and connect an external drive to it, or have another computer on the network that contains a media storage drive.

look up Nyrius Wireless HDMI. I used it and it works pretty well, but I would not recommend it if you plan to use surround sound. The wireless really kills the surround sound quality (ps3 games sounded like a somewhat low quality MP3 file). There was also a slight degrade in visual quality that I didn't notice until I actually switched between the wired and wireless hdmi. If you are just going to be watching FiOS TV, Nyrius Wireless HDMI will be excellent. If you want surround sound and absolutely perfect picture quality for gaming or blue-rays, buy a long hdmi cable from monoprice.com. Since you are hanging this TV on a patio and it sounds like you are just going to watch FiOS tv, I would get the "Nyrius ARIES Pro Wireless HDMI" http://amzn.com/B0092T3E3A. Otherwise go with this http://www.monoprice.com/Product/?c_id=102&cp_id=10255&cs_id=1025507&p_id=9172&eform=e

Something like this Might work for you. It's a bit pricey, but ti should do what you are looking to do. I can't personally speak to the quality as I haven't use it before. but the reviews look pretty good.

Vizio is doing that with some of their units these days. The trick is, instead of labeling them as "televisions", they're "home theater displays". In order to use your OTA TV with them, you'll need a DVR or converter box.

The Mediasonic Homeworx or iView 3500STBII will probably be the cheapest point of entry here. As a bonus, if you attach external storage to them, you'll get some (very basic) DVR functionality. If you don't mind spending more, devices like the Tivo Roamio OTA or Channel Master DVR+ will give you a very robust DVR experience, with multiple tuners, series recordings, etc.

like /u/finally_joined mentioned this is a circa 2008 digital conversion box intended for folks whose TVs only had analog tuners If you're looking for a cheap DVR you'll probably want something like Mediasonic HW-150PVR HomeWorx or a higher quality device like the Channel Master DVR+ or TiVo Roamio OTA. I'm a big fan of my TiVo as it covers most streaming services too.

You can get the same results with an Android Box something like this. http://www.amazon.ca/Matricom-G-Box-Quad-Octo-Android/dp/B00QHLSKOE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452057760&sr=8-1&keywords=g+box

That's the first one I found on Amazon, I'm sure if you search you can find a bunch. They have Kodi on them and depending on what you install on Kodi, you can basically get whatever you want.

Try youtubing Matricom; oh and try youtubing "The Beast Kodi", It's one of the more interesting package addons for Kodi. You may find that it collects what you need in one spot. You'll want unlimited internet though.

You have the stick version of FireTV, which look like a usb drive almost, then you have the newest model, which looks like a Cube, then you have the device model which replaces the FireTV box like models, which now looks like a 'dongle'.

https://www.amazon.com/all-new-amazon-fire-tv-4k-uhd-streaming-media-player/dp/B01N32NCPM

All those shows except for Dr Who are available OTA in many areas. Not that that might matter, the cable companies like to charge pretty much nothing for basic cable.

OTA DVRs can be pretty cheap. Example:

http://www.amazon.com/Mediasonic-HW-150PVR-HomeWorx-Converter-Recording/dp/B00I2ZBD1U

You may want to look into the WD Live Media Player on Amazon, it seems like it might fit your needs.

I tried out several years ago one of these and it didn't work all that well. To be fair though it was trying to stream over Wifi, which I would not recommend for HDTV. It was also several models before this one.

Honestly? Until recently my White chair was my most expensive. Truth is I'm in need of a new chair.. my is breaking and at my size I just can't buy any old chair.. however.. when This was announced... it took over the #1 spot as the most expensive item on my list.

I want it because I've always been a PS supported. I believe in Sony and the PS brand.. I owned a PS1 and a PS2 as well as a PS3. Plus I'm a youtube-er. I make and post videos for youtube and the PS4 would go a long long loooooooong way in helping my channel!

If I never got a PS4 would I be okay? Well kind of? I mean I'm not going to die if I don;t get one.. however I really want it.. not just for the youtube thing but.. well here comes the sob story. Last year I took my ps3 and sold it so I could have Christmas money for my Niece and Nephew. My ps3 and a ton of awesome games sold them to gamestop for 400 bucks so I could Christmas shop... now I look at a lot of the games that come out and don;t come to PC and I really tend to get depressed about it. I know it sounds silly cause well hell it's just video games.. but it's how I feel.... so I really want to get a PS4.

What in the world are you talking about?

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=330

edit: http://www.amazon.com/WD-TV-Media-Player-WDBYMN0000NBK-HESN/dp/B00JXFM75Y/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1407775824&sr=8-2&keywords=WD+TV

I see, apparently they came out with a new version last month that lacks Netflix. Yeah good luck with that version!

that seems like one of the few options that lets me ditch the fios remote and control tv through it as well. I think, no matter what way I choose, I'm going to be fishing at least a power cable through the wall unless I do something like this and just send everything from a nearby laptop.

do you know if the co-star can grab video from network shared devices or play avi/divx?

We share 6 items!

Gift card

PS Vita

PS4

Django Unchained

Kingdom Hearts 1.5

Y the Last Man (I've got a different volume of it on my list though)

Skip the Apple TV and get a Boxee Box. Sure, it is more expensive, but the versatility is MUCH better. It plays everything and already integrates with Netflix! And no hassle of dealing with installing XBMC and all that.

edit//I should mention, that it supports the Netflix streaming built right in. It does NOT, however, have a dvd drive. So you would still need a player for that. Which I presume you probably already have.

You're right about that. The Roku plays h.264 natively; DivX-encoded AVI requires Plex or XBMC to transcode.

This looks like your best option (and it's on sale right now):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005KOZNBW?qid=1343016979&sr=1-1

I bought the Homeworx PVR. Works well, HDMI output, connect an External HD to it and its perfect. Really depends on your antenna though, i had to buy a better one to get more channels to record. Box only cost $50.00

http://www.amazon.com/Mediasonic-HW-150PVR-HomeWorx-Converter-Recording/dp/B00I2ZBD1U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422039899&sr=8-1&keywords=pvr

[Amazon Fire TV Stick] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZV9RDKK/ref=ods_dp_mamv_tkprstrp) -- A great gift for people who don't yet have a "smart TV." Our TV is almost 10 years old, and there's nothing wrong with it, so we don't want to waste money on a new television. For that reason, the Fire TV Stick is perfect for us!

This works a lot better when you're living alone...

Desktop? Ideally, you have some decent speakers -- that alone means you want it in a room away from where other people are trying to work, talk on the phone, or watch TV. Even if you have headphones, that just turns the problem around -- you'd probably like to play uninterrupted by people on the phone or watching TV.

Laptop? Those still seem to cost twice as much as a desktop with equivalent specs. I've given up on using that for gaming. But otherwise, you've got the same problem, the only difference is that you can move to a different room (if you're using headphones) -- but if there isn't a dedicated gaming room, you may find that all rooms are occupied.

Xbox? If that's plugged into the living room TV, the one everyone else uses to watch TV/Netflix/etc, you now have to take turns -- no one can watch a movie while you're playing a game, and vice versa. And this goes double if the living room is used for anything else.

Realistically, those aren't terrible compromises, and if you watch Netflix (despite what Netflix does), having an Xbox in the living room saves you... $100 or so. But it'd still be nice to have a gaming room that you can use for other things (like movies) than shared rooms that you can sometimes use for gaming.

PS4.

Now, keep in the mind that I greatly preferred the Xbox 360 over the PS3.

I don't trust Microsoft anymore. They showed that they actively tried to fuck over the consumers. They planned to implement several things that hurt the gaming experience and screwed the player in order to have as much control as possible over how you spend your money. They only reneged on all of that after everyone lashed out at them. They had dominance over the last generation and sought to use their name brand to force people to eat their hyper controlling garbage.

Meanwhile Sony learned from their missteps and mistakes from the PS3 and is doing much better in their approach to the PS4. Sony became the more consumer friendly and trustworthy one. Imagine that.

Beyond that, the PS4 performs better.

But, really, both of the current gen consoles are medium to medium low gaming PCs. Seriously, they're using mostly standard PC parts now. Which will also make ports to the PC much, much easier. And many games on both consoles are capped at 720P @ 30 fps while some are able to get 720P upscaled to 1080P @ 60 FPS. Meanwhile PCs are doing 1080P - 4K @ 60 -120 fps.

Plus, the indie gaming scene is so much better on PC. There are lots of seriously great small titles to be had. And Steam/GoG sales. Oh, yes. And there's always emulation for older games from NES through PS2.

For the record, I have ~15 consoles throughout the years and 2 gaming PCs. My only "current gen" consoles is the Wii U as I can't justify the other 2 right now.

Edit:

> I also work in IT so staring at a computer screen on top of my 9 hour workdays would probably drive me crazy.

So hook a PC up to your TV. It's what I do. I sit on my couch with either a wireless keyboard and mouse or a Xbox 360 Windows controller with my PC hooked to my big screen TV and surround sound system. And as for the size, a mid tower isn't much bigger than either console. And if you want to keep the PC away from the TV you can just get a wireless transmitter to send the HDMI signal to the TV. My PC sits next to my TV. I haven't used a computer desk in years.

wdtv live- shittier version of xbmc but you can stream from a network share. its great.

http://www.amazon.com/Live-Media-Player-Wi-fi-1080p/dp/B005KOZNBW

I had posted some information about Miracast yesterday and thought I'd add some more information. It might be too detailed for most people and they might not care but here it is nonetheless:

As is mentioned in the wiki, the technology protocol it uses is Miracast, which is a peer-to-peer wireless networking technology. To further expand on that, it's considered WiFi Direct, which means that while your internet connection, modem, router, and WiFi factor into using your bike, your casting to a device/TV does not. The WiFi connected devices in your house unrelated to your bike or TV could interfere with your ability to Miracast since they operate on the same frequencies (2.4Ghz and 5Ghz).

Also, casting from Digital is not always the same as casting from your bike. Bike casting is just literally casting whatever is on your screen to a Miracast device. While a lot of mobile devices can do Miracast as well they tend to go a different route for casting of content to another device. For instance, Android phones and tablets can cast to a Chromecast using the app where the bike cannot cast to a Chromecast.

The device I use to cast from my bike to my TV is the Roku Stream Stick+ after having a lot of issues with my LG TV 's Miracast losing signal often. It is the 4K version of the Roku Stream Stick, which should also work, but I've only tried it with a Roku Stream Stick+. I think any current gen Roku device will work. The reason I opted for the Stream Stick is because it's small footprint and it's the cheaper of Roku devices, since I only use the Roku for the Peloton bike. Here is the support article for Roku devices and screen mirroring (Miracast).

I've only had mine for 7 DAYS and I absolutely love it. I have several other streaming devices and this is now my favorite. I purchased it from Amazon. Link below. Also, I just ordered a Rii i28 mini keyboard for $18.99 but many people like the phone app.

https://www.amazon.com/NVIDIA-SHIELD-Gaming-Streaming-GeForce/dp/B01N1NT9Y6/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=nvidia+shield&qid=1556041572&s=electronics&sr=1-3

Yo, better idea. Get the Android box and go here(you can thank me later): http://www.tvaddons.ag/

Good Box:
http://www.amazon.com/Matricom-G-Box-Quad-Octo-Android/dp/B00QHLSKOE

or if you really wanna ball out

http://www.amazon.com/NVIDIA-SHIELD-Streaming-Chromecast-Advanced-Performance/dp/B00U33Q940

Nvida shield. $179

PC's can have issues with surround sound through HDMI unless your motherboard/soundcard was made to be used in an HTPC kind of set up.

You can still stream content through Plex/Kodi for free through your home network in a more user friendly UI than a PC.

Pretty sure you can also stream games from your computer through the shield TV

I don't have one yet but as soon as I get some bills out of the way I'm rewarding myself with one. I was going to build a whole 3rd computer to use as an HTPC but forgot about all the annoying little stuff I had to deal with on my i3 4160 htpc build.

>I notice that Amazon doesn't offer a new version of the box, only dongles now?

This is the new version, it's as powerful as the box, just connects to the TV differently. Not a fan of it hanging from the HDMI port, myself.

>ethernet

You can use their Ethernet adapter with the new pendant-style FireTV devices.

I wish the Roku interface didn't suck so much, I'd like to move away from Amazon due to their pissing contest with Google.

I've bought one of these great, great Amazon Fire TV Sticks and it has not set anything on fire. Total fake news. Very amazing product. ^(Really, really great.)

Have you thought about using something like a WD stream box? I was thinking of picking one up myself.

http://www.amazon.com/Live-Media-Player-Wi-fi-1080p/dp/B005KOZNBW

We shifted to a couple of these Nyrius Aries wireless display options in our conference rooms. Plug it in, and it "just works" (which was very important for our non-techy users). So far, its worked great (we're a few months in).

​

We tried a Barco Clickshare, but after connecting to your PC, you had to install an extra piece of software from the thumb drive it created. which was "too much" to ask for our end users. ;)

Pi is better off streaming stuff like steam games from a pc not so much console based stuff. The pi I don't think can be used as a pvr like device where the HDMI is used as an INput and not an OUtput

If you wanted wireless console gaming across your house. Try this.

https://www.amazon.ca/Nyrius-Transmitter-Streaming-Projector-NPCS549/dp/B009E6R89C

There is a cheaper one that requires a subscription or the more expensive one that is subscription free. I went the long term approach and got the more expensive subscription free version. Waited for a sale though around Christmas and it was 320 instead of the normal 400.

https://www.amazon.com/TiVo-Roamio-OTA-DVR-Compatible/dp/B01DR4T73Q/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1506387139&sr=8-2&keywords=tivo+roamio+ota

in the US we already have this. i did a bit of research based on /u/jbaker1225 response to me somewhere below.

but you can buy something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Mediasonic-HW-150PVR-HomeWorx-Converter-Recording/dp/B00I2ZBD1U/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1407430081&sr=1-1&keywords=HW150PVR

and set it up like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qt6qqNyJXw

and it should provide the same thing.

You can do wireless displays, but its not really very good and expensive:

https://www.amazon.com/Nyrius-Wireless-Transmitter-Projector-NPCS600/dp/B0092T3E3A/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0092T3E3A&pd_rd_r=95Y2GH4C6AP9E92RPC57&pd_rd_w=jkkEU&pd_rd_wg=W9qk8&psc=1&refRID=95Y2GH4C6AP9E92RPC57&linkCode=sl1&tag=socialtech109-20&linkId=2be7253b298c8a5714478346b5be2842

> Lastly, are there any modern inverted itx boards out there?

What? Inverted? idk what u mean.

And why not just buy a laptop? Its easier and better in every way

If you buy a PVR (and an external harddrive for the model below), you can schedule and live record in all that glorious crystal clear HD too. It's the digital HD equivalent of the old VCR.
https://www.amazon.ca/Mediasonic-HW-150PVR-HomeWorx-Converter-Recording/dp/B00I2ZBD1U for example.

I've been using this bluetooth controller for a while now to play emulated games on my phone. It's awesome!

We use these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009E6R89C/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

They work well, are wireless, and don't require software to install on a persons machine. So it's great for when clients come in and want to put a demo up on our screens, all we have to do is give them an HDMI dongle to plug in.

The clients with the best compatability for 4k content are the Nvidia Shield and a PC running Plex Media Player.

Also, Your 960 is not going to choke playing 4k content. The weaker Integrated Graphics on Intel CPUs are more than capable of streaming 4k content.

You could use wireless HDMI if you have the pocket change for it. Other than that the only thing I could really recommend is just using a long HDMI cable, that's what I do and it's just super simple.

Ofertas previas al viernes afro:

• JBL Charge 3 (90 dólares)
  
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• Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 DRAM 3000MHz C15 (125 dólares)
  
• Xbox One S 1TB Console - Minecraft Creators Bundle (200 dólares)
  
• Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum (48 dólares)
  
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• Fire HD 10 Tablet (100 dólares)
  
• NVIDIA Shield TV | 4K HDR (140 dólares)
  
• Kindle Paperwhite (130 dólares)
  
• Xiaomi Mi Box - 4K (62 dólares)
  
• SanDisk 128GB Ultra Fit USB 3.1 (20 dólares)
  
  De nada...

If you can't connect directly from the camera to the projector with a cable, you could also look into a nyrius aries:
https://www.amazon.com/Nyrius-Transmitter-Streaming-Projector-NPCS549/dp/B009E6R89C/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1539720479&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=nyrius+aries&psc=1

They're not 4k, but 1080p max, but otherwise great.

I bought a Homeworx 150PVR and plugged that into my Xbox One. I need to set up the IR right still so the XboxOne can change the channels, but other than that it's been working great. I have an off-air antenna in my attic and already had coax installed from there to where my TV / XboxOne is.

I have not tried the PVR options, just watch live TV from time to time.

If you want wireless streaming of HD video you'll want a wireless adapter for the computer or to have your computer physically attached to a network that has a wireless router. You'll also need some sort of media box that has wireless streaming capabilities. As much as I hate to recommend it, the Apple TV would be a good cheap solution. You could also get the Boxee Box or something like this by D-Link.

I have one of these http://www.amazon.com/Mediasonic-HW-150PVR-HomeWorx-Converter-Recording/dp/B00I2ZBD1U for my basement. All of my equipment is in a closet and just have one HDMI cable going to my tv. This box works great and sounds like what you need.

Not really sure what your exact requirements are for this though so the following may not apply but here goes...

If there is already a video village set up, I would get a field monitor and plug in to an open HDMI port. Bring a splitter if you need to. They can provide 1080 resolution for a decent price and as an added bonus, there will be no lag. Here is a 7" full HD "Amazon's choice" model for $140. Runs on battery too.

Getting it streamed to your phone is going to get involved since it would like involve having to convert the video signal to a stream. If you want to get away from the video village you could go with a wireless HDMI transmitter receiver like this: https://www.amazon.com/Nyrius-Transmitter-Streaming-Projector-NPCS549/dp/B009E6R89C but it would be way cheaper to just buy a long HDMI cable.

Depends on your budget really, should check out GearBest as it tends to be cheaper then amazon when buying android boxes(http://www.gearbest.com/).

If you want a high end box($200) that runs flawless then I would get a Nvidia Shield

If you have a lower budget(under $60) and want it to run good I would get a M8S PRO TV. If you buy this I would change the launcher to something you like as default launcher kinda sucks and uninstall all the apps you won't use.

Western Digital Media Player is arguably the most popular. Pretty much any media player you get will have streaming ability, but it's first and foremost a way to plug in an USB full of videos and play on your TV or projector:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005KOZNBW?pc_redir=1412256797&robot_redir=1

Yeah, still don't have nextlight here but i've considered getting an antenna and a tivo for it, but I really struggle to think of anything i'm particularly missing. I suppose if you wanted to watch local sports then it'd be a good idea, but hardly worth it for me.

I will say that I think tivo have a great product. If i were going down that path i'd get a TiVo Roamio and an antenna.

Is this for OTA?

Homeworx has a couple models that are cheap and will tune ATSC. Some even record (although things can get buggy on that front).

I have had a fairly positive experience with this model:

http://www.amazon.com/Mediasonic-HW-150PVR-HomeWorx-Converter-Recording/dp/B00I2ZBD1U

I bought it to tinker with and ended up permanently lending it to a family member who could put it to better use.

I dont know what the exact name of it is, streaming media player or something like that. Its like a little computer where you download an app and from there you can stream a show/movie. I have one like this

Then This and any DVD player you want. Put the thing in a cabinet, another room if you want, wherever. Also, has the added bonus of being able to switch what you plug into it- i.e. laptop, ipad, etc.

Btw- if you're intent on putting it behind the tv, this Toshiba is the only one of its type I've run across. Amazon sells a mount for it too. Definitely read the reviews however- I didn't think it worth the risk.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Still going through... XD

9, 10, 11


Phew, all done.

Umm well... the Roku 3 is pretty cool ;)

I only use kodi to stream that's pretty much it, so you would recommend this one then? https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01N32NCPM/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1510720086&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=amazon+fire+tv&dpPl=1&dpID=41i-QOwmwoL&ref=plSrch
hmm if that's the case I'll buy a 50ft cat6 cable and just run it around the wall

I haven't tested Tinycore or 8bitdo's apps, so I can't comment there. All I can say is that Nvidia's default gamepad mapper hasn't made me want to go looking for some other solution, so I guess that's a good a testimonial for it as any.

I also wouldn't say it works with any controller. I've only tested this Nyko controller: https://www.amazon.com/Nyko-Playpad-Pro-Android-Bluetooth/dp/B0092ZEINO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1502630121&sr=8-2&keywords=Nyko+controller+Android It works just fine with Nvidia's controller mapper. So I suppose any controller with similar specs and functionality would also work.

I like these a lot. great tuner, PVR, means u must plug in a USB hard drive for DVR function.

http://www.amazon.com/Mediasonic-HW-150PVR-HomeWorx-Converter-Recording/dp/B00I2ZBD1U

The new Shield TV models include both the new TV remote and the new game controller: https://smile.amazon.com/NVIDIA-Shield-TV-Streaming-Media-Player/dp/B01N1NT9Y6/

Still the same price ($199) as the original Shield TV.

The new remote and controller are also sold separately, so that owners of the original Shield TV can upgrade their accessories if they want to without repurchasing the entire console (since the basic hardware remains the same and the new features are coming to the original Shield TV in a software update).

That was true maybe 5-10 years ago when hardware acceleration was a new and unique feature but these days everything comes built in with it. Pick up one of these for $60, side-load Kodi on it and enjoy your 4K

https://www.amazon.com/all-new-amazon-fire-tv-4k-uhd-streaming-media-player/dp/B01N32NCPM

First, you can get him something called a powerbank. Powerbanks are small, portable, things used to charge your phone, tablet, mp3, etc on the go when there is no plugs around.

Here's one I found on Amazon

The Roku 3 is an awesome gift.

I do not have intimate knowledge of Steam link, but I have used one at a friends house once. It does/can display the desktop and programs, and it has a local USB port for connecting back to the PC. You should be able to use programs with it, and at the very least warrants more research. I believe though, a wired Ethernet connection is preferred, but that may only be with high resolution games playing.

They also make wireless HDMI adapters, but those are probably going to be ~$200 and may not work perfectly. They one I have used worked fine enough though.
http://www.amazon.com/Nyrius-Transmitter-Streaming-Satellite-NPCS549/dp/B009E6R89C/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1452896332&sr=1-4&keywords=wireless+hdmi

At the risk of sounding like I can't read (VGA, I know), I'm going to suggest a wireless HDMI device. Almost every new(er) laptop has HDMI, mini-HDMI, or DP/mini-DP. We've been using the Nyrius ARIES Prime wireless HDMI to 3 TVs and a projector and it's nearly flawless (except it's not VGA...). We've also gathered a few converters to get iPads and the above-mentioned alternatives converted into HDMI, and they all work really well.
See it on Amazon.

You have to use Bluetooth with the stick. Every input device I have tried has worked after installing the settings.apk

For a mini keyboard and mouse: the QQ-tech mini Bluetooth keyboard/touchpad works pretty well. Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/QQ-Tech®-Wireless-Bluetooth-Keyboard-Handheld/dp/B00BALK9CM/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1417633347&sr=1-1&keywords=qq-tech+mini+wireless+bluetooth+keyboard+handheld+with+touchpad

The Nyko Play pads for tablets (not FireTV version) have a mouse mode you can just use the on screen keyboard. Pro version and little nvida shield one work

http://www.amazon.com/Playpad-Android-Bluetooth-PC-Mac-Linux/dp/B0092ZEINO

http://www.amazon.com/Playpad-Android-Bluetooth-PC-Mac-Linux/dp/B0092ZEIN4/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1417633434&sr=1-2-catcorr&keywords=nyko+playpad

I also had success with an HP Bluetooth keyboard. Audio devices will pair but don't output sound.
If settings crashes reboot.

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