Hello,
I currently have a PC in my basement that holds mostly music but soon movies as well. It is wired to my network. I have used a Prismiq media player in the past to get the music to my living room, but it is no longer supported, has a terrible UI, and takes a massive amount of processing power to run the software. So, it is heading to the trash.
What I now want to do is replace it with something that will do audio and HD video. It will be connected to the TV and audio system there. The TV for now only has component, S-video, or composite but plan to get a Samsung TOC LCD shortly. The receiver is an older but excellent marantz without HDMI.
I want the ability to stream audio and video from the PC downstairs either wirelessly or wired (I have capability of either in the living room). I do not need an internal HD in the device as the files will be on the PC, so this capability doesn't matter unless there is something I'm missing. I am looking at the popcorn or the apple TV. For video, I use the H264 format mostly, as I will be getting an iphone soon. I like the ability of the iphone to control the apple TV, but have no allegiance to Mac other than that. I have all PC's otherwise.
What would you get between these (or something else)??
Thanks,
Pat

Hello,
I currently have a PC in my basement that holds mostly music but soon movies as well. It is wired to my network. I have used a Prismiq media player in the past to get the music to my living room, but it is no longer supported, has a terrible UI, and takes a massive amount of processing power to run the software. So, it is heading to the trash.
What I now want to do is replace it with something that will do audio and HD video. It will be connected to the TV and audio system there. The TV for now only has component, S-video, or composite but plan to get a Samsung TOC LCD shortly. The receiver is an older but excellent marantz without HDMI.
I want the ability to stream audio and video from the PC downstairs either wirelessly or wired (I have capability of either in the living room). I do not need an internal HD in the device as the files will be on the PC, so this capability doesn't matter unless there is something I'm missing. I am looking at the popcorn or the apple TV. For video, I use the H264 format mostly, as I will be getting an iphone soon. I like the ability of the iphone to control the apple TV, but have no allegiance to Mac other than that. I have all PC's otherwise.
What would you get between these (or something else)??
Thanks,
Pat


Pat, I came down a similar path and ended up choosing the Apple TV. It is now probably my favorite tech toy. Mine has a 40gb internal drive so my audio and photos reside on the ATV, meaning that the synced PC doesn't even have to be turned on. The user interface is superb. I chose the ATV after a hands on demo at an Apple store, which I would suggest you visiting if one is nearby (was not in my case, but did it on a trip). I am currently connected to my HDTV via component video and to my audio receiver via digital optical. While I have lots of music and photos, I don't really have any video so I cannot speak to that. FWIW, this is the first Apple product I have purchased in over 20 years, but will be followed soon by an iPod touch, which will have some of the ATV's features in a handheld device. Good luck.

Pat, I came down a similar path and ended up choosing the Apple TV. It is now probably my favorite tech toy. Mine has a 40gb internal drive so my audio and photos reside on the ATV, meaning that the synced PC doesn't even have to be turned on. The user interface is superb. I chose the ATV after a hands on demo at an Apple store, which I would suggest you visiting if one is nearby (was not in my case, but did it on a trip). I am currently connected to my HDTV via component video and to my audio receiver via digital optical. While I have lots of music and photos, I don't really have any video so I cannot speak to that. FWIW, this is the first Apple product I have purchased in over 20 years, but will be followed soon by an iPod touch, which will have some of the ATV's features in a handheld device. Good luck.

Thanks much for the feedback. I like things to look good and just plain work. The prismiq did neither. That is the draw of the apple TV for me. I see Popcorn as Prismiq, in that they could go under tomorrow (prismiq did) and I will be stuck with something that doesn't work. The popcorn may be more capable, but I am looking for something that will endure. I actually only have a few movies ( just started ripping my DVD's with DVD43 and handbrake to the H263 format for use on a laptop or iphone) but plan to have more in the future. Maybe I could leave those on the PC and keep audio on the apple TV such as you did. I like the idea of controlling the audio from my patio using the iphone. We listen to a lot of music outside in the summer. I doubt I'd have that capability in the popcorn????

I welcome additional responses please!

Thanks,

Pat

The Apple seems to have the best GUI but it is bandwidth/quality limited when playing HD video files and it is sorely limited to certain file types if you **cough** get your files any way other than ripping yourself. Check specs to see if it meets your needs.

The Apple seems to have the best GUI but it is bandwidth/quality limited when playing HD video files and it is sorely limited to certain file types if you **cough** get your files any way other than ripping yourself. Check specs to see if it meets your needs.

Way back when in the early days of P2P, I had a visit from the FBI. Since then, I do things semi legit only ripping DVD's myself:) I don't think they track DVD43 and handbrake users through some secret embedded spy software:D

Thanks though,

Pat

I think it is still bandwidth limited to something pretty low like 5Mbps or something like that which limits HD quality quite a bit.

OK. One other thing I have a question about is the video output. I understand that the apple TV can't do 480i. If not, I am stuck for the moment as I am still using an SD TV in that room (plan to replace, but not right away). I am trying to find out if my receiver will downconvert to 480i. If it doesn't, I am stuck with audio only until I replace the TV. Right?

Pat

You know I want to crack up with all of these posts about blu-ray this and blu-ray that and all of the problems. Dudes get a media tank, get an HDX1000 and enjoy all of the hd that you want.

I tried the Atv and the PCH.
The Atv has a beautiful UI but lacks the video's the PCH supports.

They are working on a better music system for the PCH right now. They have a couple of movie jukebox programs too that work pretty good.

I ended up getting a PCH because I didn't want to spend years converting my DVD's. I am very happy with it and don't regret the purchase.

Take a look at the spec sheet on what video and audio files in movies are supported.

http://www.apple.com/appletv/specs.html

Check out the PCH forums and see how active they are and the other apps they have for it.

http://www.networkedmediatank.com/index.php

XBMC's ‘Atlantis’ Beta 2 release added Apple TV support. This is definitely the way to go IMHO.

Just a little info regarding wireless connectivity in networked media tanks, such as the Popcorn Hour A-110, HDX 1000, Elektron EHP-606, etc. Currently all NMTs support wireless streaming only with USB adapters with a specific Atheros chipset.

The most trusted adapter used by the community is the TP-Link Wireless N USB Adapter #TL-WN821N. Note, however, that there are two versions of this adapter. Only "Version 1" is supported. If on the underside of the adapter it says "Version 2", the adapter will not be recognized.

XBMC's ‘Atlantis’ Beta 2 release added Apple TV support. This is definitely the way to go IMHO.

Is the Apple TV capable of 1080p playback with XBMC's ‘Atlantis’ Beta 2? I thought the chip was fairly limited an could only playback 720p HD material.

XBMC's ‘Atlantis’ Beta 2 release added Apple TV support. This is definitely the way to go IMHO.

I tell ya, I've really become interested in this little box since I found out it could run XBMC. I bought an old XBox and hacked XBMC like 6 months, to replace my MG-35, and am still amazed at just how good a media streamer it is. But the XBox is a big form, and the remote system is clunky, so to have the latest version of XBMC running on ATV sounds like a real winner.

It's on a little sale right now for BF, and I was all set to pull the trigger...sometimes, with these appliances, the only way to know exactly what they're capable of is to dive in and fiddle with it...but then I started thinking about the PCH. From what I've read, I think for me, ATV v. PCH, straight-up, I'd have to lean towards PCH. But the XBMC is what is really intriguing.

Can I expect XBMC to behave exactly like it does on the hacked XBox that I have, or are there limitations based on the ATV platform? I read something about the ATV's usb port is just for "support" right now; has that changed with a recent firmware update? Can you attach and stream from usb storage? Will it see WMC or PVC shares from my WHC HP MSS?

CD

Is the Apple TV capable of 1080p playback with XBMC's ‘Atlantis’ Beta 2? I thought the chip was fairly limited an could only playback 720p HD material.

I read ATV will only playback up to 720p, but XBMC on ATV will upscale to 1080p.

CD

The AppleTV can't handle 1080p files. That's the main reason I went with a Popcorn Hour instead of AppleTV with XBMC.

Popcorn Hour A-110, so much good programs you can install, and plays 1080p files flawlessly.

Popcorn Hour A-110, so much good programs you can install, and plays 1080p files flawlessly.

Yeah, like I said...straight-up, out of the box as they stand, I agree PCH has the edge. But I can't imagine the GUI can touch XBMC.

CD

I tell ya, I've really become interested in this little box since I found out it could run XBMC. I bought an old XBox and hacked XBMC like 6 months, to replace my MG-35, and am still amazed at just how good a media streamer it is. But the XBox is a big form, and the remote system is clunky, so to have the latest version of XBMC running on ATV sounds like a real winner.

It's on a little sale right now for BF, and I was all set to pull the trigger...sometimes, with these appliances, the only way to know exactly what they're capable of is to dive in and fiddle with it...but then I started thinking about the PCH. From what I've read, I think for me, ATV v. PCH, straight-up, I'd have to lean towards PCH. But the XBMC is what is really intriguing.

Can I expect XBMC to behave exactly like it does on the hacked XBox that I have, or are there limitations based on the ATV platform? I read something about the ATV's usb port is just for "support" right now; has that changed with a recent firmware update? Can you attach and stream from usb storage? Will it see WMC or PVC shares from my WHC HP MSS?

CD

My experience running XBMC on my mac mini versus my 11 xboxes says XBMC actually works better, faster and is more stable on the mac mini than the xbox. Since its the same build I expect good results on the ATV but wont for sure for another week...

Sean

I have a PCH-100 and two ATV's. I bought the first ATV and the PH at the same time to see which one I liked better. I wanted to stream DVD content to three panels in the house. I only considered buying the ATV after testing XBMC on a laptop. I was quite pleased with XBMC, so I decided to get one.

Verdict: ATV is very user friendly, has excellent LAN connectivity with a very effective wireless and wired lan. The GUI is very wife friendly and the unit just works fine. You have to hack it a bit to turn it into a streamer, but with work done by many others, it's idiot proof. You do, however, have to stay current with forums for updates and what gets broken as Apple updates their firmware and breaks things that third party developers have implemented. However, the great function of the system is worth a few minutes here and there. Also, if you disable auto updating of the firmware, you're golden.

The PCH is NOT user friendly, but tech savvy people will do well with it. They have recently released their USB wireless dongle so it's now effectively wireless as well. It's remote is more robust than the ATV, but the ATV's is very efficient. You have to hack the PCH a bit as well to get slick GUI's as the standard PCH GUI is lacking.

Now, I won't rate one over the other for 1 reason. I have the ATV on flat panels and the PCH on a standard def tube. You can fiddle, trick and hack the ATV to run 4:3, but why bother. The PCH has component, composite and HDMI out so it's set connectivity is better than ATV.

For me, I like having both, but if I was going to buy one for my parents, it would be ATV all the way. Also, I do find myself getting more excited about talking about the ATV than the PCH so if that means anything.

Also, my flat panels are all 720P so I can't comment on 1080P. The rental on demand from iTunes is pretty cool. I don't do it alot, but I was impressed with it's efficiency however it's lacking in titles.

Just my 2cents.

Yeah, like I said...straight-up, out of the box as they stand, I agree PCH has the edge. But I can't imagine the GUI can touch XBMC.

CD


You can mod it like xbmc, there's even a skin to make it like XBMC.

You can mod it like xbmc, there's even a skin to make it like XBMC.
The infection continues to spread....

You can mod it like xbmc, there's even a skin to make it like XBMC.

Skin Schmin...I don't want it to look like XBMC; I want it to act like XBMC. Sure, XBMC looks great, but it looks great because of the easy functionality of things like tagging images and db synopsis for files; browsing user art, and plug-ins, etc. It seems to me NMTs still have the fugly GUI knock against them.

CD

The infection continues to spread....

What's this mean; is this guy a schill for PCH or something?

CD

Skin Schmin...I don't want it to look like XBMC; I want it to act like XBMC. Sure, XBMC looks great, but it looks great because of the easy functionality of things like tagging images and db synopsis for files; browsing user art, and plug-ins, etc. It seems to me NMTs still have the fugly GUI knock against them.

CD



It does all that it's called movie jukebox.

It does all that it's called movie jukebox.

Price you pay for being a zealot; people tend not to trust your message.

CD

Well, I didn't pull the BF trigger on ATV after all (turns out it was just a $21 reduction anyway...I thought the 40gb model was $249 regularly, not $229). I think I'm going to ask the little woman for a BD drive for Xmas, figure out ripping those files, and then see how this whole ATV/XBMC v. PCH argument shakes out.

Thanks for the feedback; for the record, if I had to decide now, I would lean to the ATV/XBMC combo. Maybe what BobbyD says is true, but I have never seen anything work better than XBMC.

CD

Price you pay for being a zealot; people tend not to trust your message.

CD

Why not? All the other media tank companys use the same GUI, and software made by users.

Well, I didn't pull the BF trigger on ATV after all (turns out it was just a $21 reduction anyway...I thought the 40gb model was $249 regularly, not $229). I think I'm going to ask the little woman for a BD drive for Xmas, figure out ripping those files, and then see how this whole ATV/XBMC v. PCH argument shakes out.

Thanks for the feedback; for the record, if I had to decide now, I would lean to the ATV/XBMC combo. Maybe what BobbyD says is true, but I have never seen anything work better than XBMC.

CD


The new movie app for the NMT's looks like a significant improvement for them. does that put make any of the syabas devices close XBMC. No, Thats about 1/10th of what XBMC does.

I bought a ATV yesterday and will have XBMC and boxee on it soon. I have been really enjoying XBMC on the mac mini. I hope this week to get the xbox analog controller running on the Mac. Yes I have it setup using my harmony remotes but I still love the analog aspects of the Xbox controller for browsing my large media collection.

BTW: I posted on the XBMC thread. Having tried PLex and Boxee the original XBMC for MAC seems to be the most stable. Boxee is an interesting concept and one day will be cool. today its too buggy and the ripped out a lot of power user features from XBMC. Plex is buggier but does not seem to be any different than XBMC original except for the extra bugs. Still struggling to understand what plex brings to the party...

Sean

what about upconverting SD say compaired to the denon or oppo. Does the apple tv do a better job on SD comparied to the NMT's. I would like to store my movies on a NAS and stream to one of these devices , but if the quality is lacking why bother.

Well I run XMBC on an Xbox, a PS3 and recently purchased a PCH A-110. I use Tversity for the Xbox and the PS3 and map a share directly for PCH. I wanted my device to watch HD movies. I have three HD devices (two are 1080p) and want the best picture I can get.

All the fuss about XMBC being great?? It is OK, but in the end no HD and I can get the weather!

The PS3 does a nice job of upscaling SD DVD's and great on BD. I also used Tversity to stream movies to it. Problem is that the PS3 is very particular on the format of the movie, so a lot of converting/transcoding must be done.

I do not own a ATV, but have a friend who has one and I am not interested. For music great, but I can use XMBC for music, but usually just carry my iPod and plug it into my receiver. Then I can turn off the monitor and just listen. Back to ATV - almost all video must be in a set format for the ATV and purchased from the apple store?? What even TV shows that I record for FREE they want to charge me. This does not even make the short list.

Finally to the PCH. It is not for the non tecnical (but none of these are). However this device worked almost out of the box for me. I plugged it in mapped a drive and it auto discovered Tversity and I could watch TV shows or movies right away. Best thing about the PCH - pick a format, any format and it will play it. This has support for most every format available. So for me no more transcoding! Throw the file in the directory and point to it to play. The added bonus of the movie jukebox (like YAMJ) is an extra bonus. This will also play full 1080p just fine. I watch on a 10 foot screen with a 1080p projector and image quality is king - trust me at this size you can see everything.

For me I use the PCH for all ripped content and the PS3 for all SD and BD discs.

So for someone non-technical - get a Tivo or DVR from DirecTV or your cable company. They can buy a pay-per-view/on demand, watch recorded content and do it all in HD. Otherwise I would highly recommend the PCH. Another device to keep your eyes on is the Dune BD Prime - which is basically a NWT with a blu-ray player built in!

Hope this helps.

Mike