[Jonathan DA]

Just want to make sure I'm not missing some magical device in the market. Can anyone chime in if you know of a device other than an HTPC that can do all of this:

1. Play blu-ray and dvd discs
2. Connect to a media server to play archived video, music, and photos
3. Steam online video from multiple sources (Hulu, PlayOn, etc.)
4. Watch live OTA HDTV (this can be accomplished either via a direct tuner in the device, or by connecting to a networked tuner or server feeding a live stream)

The PS3 can do the first three when connected to a server, but TV watching seems to be out of the question (in the U.S. at least).


Thanks,


Jonathan

 

[TornadoTJ]

Yea, unfortunately there's no way to use the PS3 to pull a feed from something like a HDHomeRun. It would be a neat option, but I have antenna feed where the PS3s are so it's not a big deal to me.

 

[Suntan]

Supposedly the Dune devices are/will have support for an OTA tuner. If so, their models that have BR drives would probably do most of what you want (they may still be lacking for Netflix/hulu though.) I have not looked closely at them in some time so you would need to look at them and see where they are with features, but they are one of the few brands of network players that I would suggest to someone.


Otherwise, you can somewhat do everything on your list if you have a Sage HD300 at the TV and a computer running a tuner, SageTV, AnyDVDHD and Play On on your network.


Play On allows for access to Netflix/hulu/Amazon VOD, etc. and when you have AnyDVDHD running, you can play back a BR or DVD disc (through the HD300) that is put in the computer drive. You will get full menus for DVDs, but you won't get menus for BRs, just BR-lite menu functionality.


If BR menus are a must, or if you don't want to hassle with Play On to access IP shows, a PC is probably your main option for an all-in-one solution.


-Suntan

 

[Jonathan DA]

Suntan,


So an HD300 can stream a Blu-ray disc "live" (i.e. not ripped onto a hard drive)? I did not know that. Very interesting.


TornadoTJ, you make a good point -- I could just use the PS3 to access stored files and BD playback, then use the TV's built-in tuner for OTA TV. I'd get everything except the ability to pause and rewind the broadcast. I can probably live with that in order to avoid the constant fiddling required with an HTPC. I used to enjoy the fiddling, but time is precious these days

 

[Suntan]

Yes. As long as AnyDVD is running to negate the DRM on the fly, you can add the disc drive as a network folder, just like any HDD on the network.


-Suntan