Hi all,
Just wondering if there's a new crop of simple and effective streamers out there yet since the last time I was here, a little more than a year ago IIRC. I bought a Popcorn Hour A-110 and while it's been functional, the amount of intense troubleshooting and configuration is beyond what I ever want to do again. If you're a Linux guru and a tinkerer, it's great. If you're a garden-variety movie fan....not so much, IMHO.

Bottom line: I want to play ISOs of my ripped DVD collection, AVIs, and maybe the odd FLV file here or there as well as play some of my music collection once in a while. I'd also like to be able to upscale my ISO-ripped DVDs to my 1080p-capable TV via HDMI.

I value reliability, simplicity and the ability for the wife to pick up a remote and make it play more than the ability to play rare esoteric formats, blu-ray or other such stuff that I'll likely never need. After pulling out what's left of my hair in the last little while, I really do not want anything that presupposes a working knowledge of Linux or that requires me to go in and tinker on a daily basis. I'm just looking for a glorified movie jukebox that plays remotely-stored .ISOs across a wired network and that can accept outboard USB storage. Does such a beast exist yet--preferably from a name-brand commercial Home Theatre component manufacturer?

Thanks in advance.

Hi all,
Just wondering if there's a new crop of simple and effective streamers out there yet since the last time I was here, a little more than a year ago IIRC. I bought a Popcorn Hour A-110 and while it's been functional, the amount of intense troubleshooting and configuration is beyond what I ever want to do again. If you're a Linux guru and a tinkerer, it's great. If you're a garden-variety movie fan....not so much, IMHO.

Bottom line: I want to play ISOs of my ripped DVD collection, AVIs, and maybe the odd FLV file here or there as well as play some of my music collection once in a while. I'd also like to be able to upscale my ISO-ripped DVDs to my 1080p-capable TV via HDMI.

I value reliability, simplicity and the ability for the wife to pick up a remote and make it play more than the ability to play rare esoteric formats, blu-ray or other such stuff that I'll likely never need. After pulling out what's left of my hair in the last little while, I really do not want anything that presupposes a working knowledge of Linux or that requires me to go in and tinker on a daily basis. I'm just looking for a glorified movie jukebox that plays remotely-stored .ISOs across a wired network and that can accept outboard USB storage. Does such a beast exist yet--preferably from a name-brand commercial Home Theatre component manufacturer?

Thanks in advance.

The Kaleidescape(spelling?) is likely what you want then, but convenience and ease of use have a price. They have released a lower priced option for general consumers, but still a big nut.

Alternatively an HTPC with some select software and you might get there quicker than say these other devices.


Good luck, in either direction you choose.

Regards,

Requis

The Kaleidescape(spelling?) is likely what you want then, but convenience and ease of use have a price. They have released a lower priced option for general consumers, but still a big nut.

Alternatively an HTPC with some select software and you might get there quicker than say these other devices.


Oh now....there has to be a simpler option. The Kaleidescape site won't even give a price.

I want about the same thing, specifically serviceable DVD ISO playback. The WD TV does it, but only barely. Don't any of the other boxes (Popcorn Hour, Sage TV HD Theater, etc) do any better? I suppose the WD does all I can expect for a $100 gadget, and after six months of using it, I can't really complain. I'd be willing to go $100 or so more for a device that will support DVD ISO menu and chapter support from my external USB hard drives. Does such a device exist?

Take a hard look at the Netgear EVA9150. Plays Iso's out of the box. Plays most AVI containers. Those that don't play (canon camera files) you can run TVersity on a computer and transcode. I don't know about FLV files. Can access Hulu and Netflix by running PlayOn on a PC. Lots of support on the forum and firmware updates every couple of weeks. Hardware seems to be rock solid. Latest beta's are very stable. Downside, is the price is relatively high ($400). I'm very pleased with it.

Alan

Blah. Hate to beat a dead horse but an original xbox running XBMC can do almost all you want and more in an easier, better looking and pretty much trouble free interface.
The only thing you asked for that it doesnt do is it upscales to 720p or 1080i over component, no HDMI.

All for about $50. (Used xbox with remote is about $50, XBMC is free)

I don't want to search out an old Xbox. I want a currently-produced, turnkey solution. Not something I have to hack together.

Any NMT (Popcorn hour, Egreat m34a) will play back ISOs with DVD menus, but it's not exactly plug and play. Getting the network shares set up properly can be a bit tricky. You'll also want to install one of the 3rd party UIs (the default UI is abysmal), which is also rather involved. Once you're set up though, you're good to go.

As much of a chore as it is to set up a NMT, it's still the best option going unless you want a full fledged HTPC.

<snip> I want a currently-produced, turnkey solution. Not something I have to hack together.

Unfortunately, nothing exactly like this currently exits and hasn't for the four years I have been looking. Every current solution will take some amount of "hacking"...

... but an original xbox running XBMC can do almost all you want and more in an easier, better looking and pretty much trouble free interface.


I did look into XBMC, and today came across a review on AnandTech of a nice little Asrock Ion 330 box that it might be a good fit for. So, that's a good possibility, thanks for pointing me in that direction. (but no old Xbox :) )

I did look into XBMC, and today came across a review on AnandTech of a nice little Asrock Ion 330 box that it might be a good fit for. So, that's a good possibility, thanks for pointing me in that direction. (but no old Xbox :) )

Something like that will be my upgrade from the 'old xbox' eventually just so I can stream hi-def rips.

BUT, if you dont need to do Hi-Def material I would strongly suggest going the 'old xbox' route.
Its easier and works right everytime. It also upconverts to 720p or 1080i and already has built in IR receiver for remote operation. And is very very simple in every day use.

That said, if you do decide to go the ION route go over to the xbmc.org forums and under the 'xbmc for Linux' board over there you can read the thread about xbmc on Ion 330. There are some people already running it.

...serviceable DVD ISO playback. The WD TV does it, but only barely.

Are you using the June firmware? When you say it barely works, do you have menu support? I'm thinking of buying the WD TV because I just got a Canon camcorder & the mts files are supposed to work well on the WD TV, but I'd also like iso support if I'm going to the trouble of setting up another device. There is talk of a 2nd gen WD TV, maybe I'll wait for that, but it sounds like it's mostly going to add networking which I could take or leave.

The WDTV does NOT currently support DVD menus.

When you say it barely works, do you have menu support?

No.

No menus, no chapters. Playing an ISO, it plays the main feature, and that is all. That's what I meant by "barely works". It gets the movie itself on-screen, but nothing much beyond that. Fast forward, fast reverse and the "10-minute-skip" are all the navigation controls there are.

Frankly, I've about given up on ISO support appearing in new firmware. Heck, there doesn't seem to be any new firmware coming for it anyway. I'm beginning to research other alternatives. The SageTV HD Theater is looking pretty good to me.

The WDTV does NOT currently support DVD menus.

Uh... yes it does. I own one. ISO files have subtitle, alternate languages, but no extras. It does not have 'chapter support' IE, you can't simply select a certain point to start the movie.

It does allow you to fast forward 16 x though, and I find that adequate for my needs.

Other video formats, I am not sure of menu support, most 'repackaged' movies are simply re-authored without any menu at all, IE: movie only. I use mine for .ISO images only for video.

What firmware version are you using?

I'm not going to get into a pointless "yes it does....no it doesn't" fight here, but if you do a straight ISO of a full DVD, the WD does NOT support the DVD menu. We are not talking about using the WD device hardware manu to turn on and off subtitles. What we are wanting is the software DVD menu from the disc itself. The WD does NOT support this. The main feature plays when you select the ISO... that's all. You do not have access to any DVD extras.

Full DVD ISO menu support is one of the top desired features on the WD uservoice forum. If somehow yours does it, then thousands of us want to know how you managed it.

Wait until next year, IMO tech is still not at the stage of "plug and play". Everything now still requires set up and use of a PC(stuff that my mom would never get close to). Unless you want to spend thousands on a high end Kaleidescape or Nivues system you are better going the
Sony ES mega disc changer route(plug and play that auto downloads cover art, etc.. for you)

Otherwise just wait it out until stuff like the Pioneer Etap(direct legal rips, easy UI, etc..) comes out

What firmware version are you using?

I'm not going to get into a pointless "yes it does....no it doesn't" fight here, but if you do a straight ISO of a full DVD, the WD does NOT support the DVD menu. We are not talking about using the WD device hardware manu to turn on and off subtitles. What we are wanting is the software DVD menu from the disc itself. The WD does NOT support this. The main feature plays when you select the ISO... that's all. You do not have access to any DVD extras.

Full DVD ISO menu support is one of the top desired features on the WD uservoice forum. If somehow yours does it, then thousands of us want to know how you managed it.

Yes, you are correct in that you don't get the extras.... sorry if I was implying that they would. So yes, you have subtitle support, but no chapter skip, no extra's.

I guess I should edit the earlier post.

I also have XBMC running on the laptop, got confused there for a moment. As of right now, I think I am going to stay with both: there are some .ISO that XBMC does not like... but I do like the interface / skins for the XBMC.

For firmware, I just downloaded B-RAD's latest unofficial firmware upgrade, the WDLXTV 1.02.10-0.5.6.2.

Thanks all for the input. Looks like I'll stick with my wait around strategy, I can always play direct from my camcorder & keep using dvds. It sure would be nice to rip them all to iso & reduce the clutter, though. I guess some of the small form factor pcs will support hdmi soon enough, maybe I'll just build an xbmc player.

You can add an inexpensive video card with HDMI to any SFF pc that has a PCIe slot. The ASRock ION 330 has HDMI on-board.