The main reason people pony up for a software raid is for the parity drive. Having to re-rip a couple hundred dvd's doesn't sound like fun to me but to each there own... The bigger issue is if you store pictures or documents the extra protection is always appreciated(off-site backup is recommended also).
Not listening to your wife complain about lost pictures... Priceless...
Let's say you spent $400 on the hdd's. Spending $16 on the server is cheaping out a bit man.
Pogoplug is a cool option though. Unraid is free for up to 3 hdd's btw(don't remember there being a time limit).
It is not a question of price. I do not want to have a dedicated PC to run 24/7 in order to be a server.
Pogos, on the other hand, consume just 4W.
As of losing my collection, I back up my external USBs to the internal drives on my main PC which has a lot of HDD storage.
But hey, to each their own.
I did not say using Unraid is wrong, I only said that I don't need it.
... Lovekeiiy, could you please provide some information about your VPN. I am ready to do NBA Game Time Broadband for next season but am concerned about the blackouts. PM is just fine.
I would have PM'd, but I figured some may have similar questions as you. It's the other part of using HTPC, especially for sport fans, that doesn't get discussed much. Yes, it's possible to do the NBA GameTime. This is old, but shows it working:I have don't this year. They really need to increase the speed option. Compared to the NFL, it looks kind of bad, but it works. I can also use the VPN and the NBA GameTime app on my smartphone or tablet. this is more recent with the NFL Game Pass service. The audio actually works fine, but when I run Media Center at the time, my HTPC chokes. This is comparing to live TV for the local game in my home network. The Game Pass service is not available in the US.
I have used a VPN to watch games on NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB. In addition, I have watch BBC iPlayer, Canadian Broadcast (cbc), TVCatchup, ScottlandTV (stv.tv), Hulu in Japan. I used it with TuneIn radio to listen to games on BBC radio5 that are blackouted outside the UK; I also use their Android app as well.
Since I'm not exactly clear on what your concerns are with regarding blackouts, I'll just make some general statements. First thing first, the use of VPN or such services is against all the TOS agreements with all the sports leagues. If your'e caught, your subscription will be cancelled and will charge you an additional $100 to $250. I've been doing this for two years, and have written the sport leagues for various reasons about my subscriptions, such as accidently subscribing during a complimentary service. If you don't want to get caught, don't use to show an event to the public. Sports bar get caught for this reason.
As for blackouts, this really depends where the games are being shown and the IP (the location) you're using. Just because you're using an IP outside the US, doesn't mean the game isn't being shown in the area of the IP you're using. The NFL is shown in the UK on EPSN. Thus, trying to use a IP in London to watch Monday Night Football through the NFL Game Pass service will get you a blacked out. But using an IP in say China, the game will be viewable. You'll figured out quickly with IP servers work best for various services.
As for VPN in general, I suggest not using the freebies. In regards to VPNs, you get what you pay for. Bandwidth isn't free. You can a good service from $8 to $15 a month. I personally pay annually so I'm in the $8 range. I personally like the ones that let you pick and switch servers when ever you want. Some services tie you to one location server. Some will include the use of smartphones such as through apps or using the phone's VPN software. You also should consider a service that has been around for awhile. It establishes that they're not sniffing your information; your info is safe from the outside, but not from within the VPN channel, so there's trust issue.
On a side note for VPNs, it may be important to you, but depending on where the VPN is headquartered, and possiblly the server, will determine which laws the VPN has to follow. If they VPN service is located in the US, they're required to log when and where you signed into. Some people got popped for pirating copyright material this way. On the same token, some VPN services do not allow **********ling; it's in their TOS. Other's don't say one way or the other.
I personally use ExpressVPN. They're based out of Los Angeles, CA (US based), good band width, quite a few servers, which they're expanding, can use on smartphones/tablets, decent pricing. They've been around for a some time, but not as long as I thought when I signed up; been around five or six years. HideMyAss is very popular; I think they're located in the UK. They're are others located in China and so forth, so you don't have worry about tracking.
Family photos should probably be backed up 3 times.
Yeah, that's what I do because movies, eh, whatever, I can always watch it some other way or just forget about it.
Family photos is another thing - if they are gone, they are gone.
I use an Oppo 103 for Blu-ray and mkv rips; a Lumagen Mini for video processing outputting to a JVC RS4810, and a Synology NAS for storage. The Oppo plays it all with outstanding quality, including HD audio formats without the fuss of software conflicts and codec issues, etc. All good.
I use an Oppo 103 for Blu-ray and mkv rips; a Lumagen Mini for video processing outputting to a JVC RS4810, and a Synology NAS for storage. The Oppo plays it all with outstanding quality, including HD audio formats without the fuss of software conflicts and codec issues, etc. All good.
I will never go back to HTPC.
Willie
Problem is the new Oppo's have Cinavia. I heard a while back that the Cinavia protection wasn't working on DLNA content (at least for MKV and m2ts). I'm not sure if that's still the case. Anyway, any firmware update could "fix" it and break playback of all Cinavia titles.
It's hard to stomach paying $500 on a player that's meant to PREVENT me from playing my rips, and I'm sure as hell not going back to using discs. It's a pretty crappy state of things if you ask me, and I'm just happy there's still non-licensed blu-ray playback via HTPCs. Edited by lockdown571 - 1/12/13 at 8:55pm
Problem is the new Oppo's have Cinavia. I heard a while back that the Cinavia protection wasn't working on DLNA content (at least for MKV and m2ts). I'm not sure if that's still the case. Anyway, any firmware update could "fix" it and break playback of all Cinavia titles.
It's hard to stomach paying $500 on a player that's meant to PREVENT me from playing my rips, and I'm sure as hell not going back to using discs. It's a pretty crappy state of things if you ask me, and I'm just happy there's still non-licensed blu-ray playback via HTPCs.
LOL.
I've heard there are couple of solutions against Cinavia on HTPC, and I sincerely hope that my beloved Anydvd HD will have this solution one day.
So, mostly the conclusion is, it is too soon to retire HTPCs, no?
I've heard there are couple of solutions against Cinavia on HTPC, and I sincerely hope that my beloved Anydvd HD will have this solution one day.
So, mostly the conclusion is, it is too soon to retire HTPCs, no?
To be clear, no one has managed to circumvent Cinavia yet. The only way to avoid it is to use non-licensed players (or licensed blu-ray players made before Feb. 1, 2012, or in the case of the Oppo 103, newer players that don't seem to implement it properly).
To be clear, no one has managed to circumvent Cinavia yet. The only way to avoid it is to use non-licensed players (or licensed blu-ray players made before Feb. 1, 2012, or in the case of the Oppo 103, newer players that don't seem to implement it properly).
To be clear, no one has managed to circumvent Cinavia yet. The only way to avoid it is to use non-licensed players (or licensed blu-ray players made before Feb. 1, 2012, or in the case of the Oppo 103, newer players that don't seem to implement it properly).
That has not been my experience, to be honest. I used the Media Player app from the jailbreak and played full bitrate rips without stuttering. Perhaps you are experiencing network issues and the stream can't send fast enough?
My home network is CAT 6 wired...
The ATV was on the wired network...
The media player app was a disappointment with full bit-rate HD movies...
It spends three minutes buffering and two minutes playing and another three minutes to buffer and two minutes to play... ahhggrr
I've heard there are couple of solutions against Cinavia on HTPC, and I sincerely hope that my beloved Anydvd HD will have this solution one day.
So, mostly the conclusion is, it is too soon to retire HTPCs, no?
If all you do with your htpc is watch local media and streamed content then feel free to retire it. If you already have a htpc though then I don't see why you would switch to a less smooth solution.
OTOH, if you already own a media streamer and blu-ray player and all you want is the same functionality then why would you switch to a htpc?
I don't think the htpc is dead(or close) but in certain circumstances there is no reason for you to build one anymore, which is a good thing.
On a side note. The pogoplug sounds like a great solution for what you use it for.
If Cinavia protection becomes an issue for me that a PC will defeat, of course I will go back to a PC for those titles. I still have a PC in my rack, I just don't use it for watching movies any more.
I started off with a Popcorn Hour A-110 and eventually went with an HTPC. I like being able to type quickly the movie Im looking for and also like the ability to click where I went to go in the movie instead of relying on chapters. Yea it did take some time to set it up to output 23.976 properly and getting the colors and brightness correct but hey, it was totally worth it in the end.
I've yet to see anyone anywhere confirm that they purchased one of the HDMI android sticks and ran Plex on it?
I'm not sure if the Plex for Android app can run on the Rockchip chipset, which every android HDMI stick seems to be built on
Abso-freaking-lutely.
Right this moment Android stick Uhost 1A is connected to my Visio TV thru HDMI and successfully playing a movie initiated from the Plex client, WiFi-only, smooth as silk.
it does not even need the power source, TV USB port marked "For Service only" is supplying the power to the stick.
Actually it has Allwinner A10 CPU, whatever it is, Cortex?
$34 shipped.
Does not need the local media, Plex does everything. Although I was able to mount 64GB NTFS Flash stick on it thru the non-powered USB hub.
Lenovo multimedia kb/mouse combo controls it.
No cords showing outside.
CNN and whatever is there on my Plex server so I can watch the morning news in my bed. Edited by galileo2000 - 1/15/13 at 9:03pm
That's very cool about the android stick. I think it's a ways from replacing an HTPC client, but it's a very cheap way to add your media to another room. Can you provide a link to the specific android stick you used?
That's very cool about the android stick. I think it's a ways from replacing an HTPC client, but it's a very cheap way to add your media to another room. Can you provide a link to the specific android stick you used?
They had it for sale at $30 something.
Now Amazon sells MK 802 II for $40 and this stick runs the same firmware, I would expect the performance to be adequate or better. Edited by galileo2000 - 1/15/13 at 9:42pm
They had it for sale at $30 something.
Now Amazon sells MK 802 II for $40 and this stick runs the same firmware, I would expect the performance to be adequate or better.
THANKS A MILLION
You're the first person I've seen admit to buying one of these and confirm that Plex runs on it.
That's honestly great news, I've liked this idea all along. It's a great way to bring your collection over to a relative or friend's house (most of mine don't have surround sound anyway)
The big showstopper would have been the Mali-400 gpu, but if it runs fine on that then it will also run on the MK802 and basically any of the Allwinner or Rockchip Android sticks (I've always referred to them as dongles )
That's just great, ordering a MK802 for guest bedroom
You're the first person I've seen admit to buying one of these and confirm that Plex runs on it.
That's honestly great news, I've liked this idea all along. It's a great way to bring your collection over to a relative or friend's house (most of mine don't have surround sound anyway)
The big showstopper would have been the Mali-400 gpu, but if it runs fine on that then it will also run on the MK802 and basically any of the Allwinner or Rockchip Android sticks (I've always referred to them as dongles )
That's just great, ordering a MK802 for guest bedroom
These android sticks are going to be pretty awesome once they get arm A15 chips. Personally I would rather have a little box, roku style, rather than the stick.
You're the first person I've seen admit to buying one of these and confirm that Plex runs on it.
That's honestly great news, I've liked this idea all along. It's a great way to bring your collection over to a relative or friend's house (most of mine don't have surround sound anyway)
The big showstopper would have been the Mali-400 gpu, but if it runs fine on that then it will also run on the MK802 and basically any of the Allwinner or Rockchip Android sticks (I've always referred to them as dongles )
That's just great, ordering a MK802 for guest bedroom
These android sticks are going to be pretty awesome once they get arm A15 chips. Personally I would rather have a little box, roku style, rather than the stick.
I think the mac-mini/roku look is pretty sleek myself, but I like that these can run off the tv's usb. You could mount a bargain flatscreen on a wall and hide the whole setup for a completely minimalist look that's still functional
Yeah, but don't forget, with Android stick you have access to the hundreds of thousands of Android apps.
I have Slingplayer installed on my stick, so I can watch TV from my satellite dish w/any equipment attached to the TV.
