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kupan787 · Feb 28, 2007, 03:16 PM

Hello all.

I am looking for a device that would allow me to stream videos (encoded with either h.264, xvid, mpeg4, anything on top of that would just be gravy) to my tv. The appleTV would be perfect, except the videos need to be in iTunes. Now, I know you can create ref files to my xvids, and load those into iTunes, but I would rather not have to do that (it is a time consuming process). Does anyone have any recomendations on a box like this?

besson3c · Feb 28, 2007, 03:30 PM

CHeck out the Hauppauge MediaMVP. I just ordered one for myself, although I plan to run the replacement open source MVPMC software on it so that I can use it with my MythTV server.

If you have an extra PC lying around, there is a Linux distribution specifically for running Myth. You should be able to simply install this OS, and connect it with this modified version of the MediaMVP, and you'd gain a full fledged PVR plus much more.

You could also just use the MediaMVP without Myth...

besson3c · Feb 28, 2007, 03:35 PM

Oh, you'll also need a video capture card in the PC to encode the video. I suggest the Hauppauge 150 or 500 if you want to do the picture-in-picture thing and record two things at once.

besson3c · Feb 28, 2007, 03:37 PM

The aforementioned OS designed for running MythTV is Knoppmyth. It should detect your Hauppauge card right out-of-the-box.

kupan787 · Feb 28, 2007, 03:53 PM

It doesn't mention MPEG4 support (or Xvid) on their website, do you know if it is supported? Also, it looks to not be HD capable. I forgot to mention, but that is also something I would like

This looks perfect though, if it would handle the two needs I have.

mduell · Feb 28, 2007, 05:00 PM

Slingbox

kupan787 · Mar 1, 2007, 12:41 PM

I just checked slingbox out, and that appears to be a device to play my tv anywhere, which is the opposite of what I want.

It seems like there isn't really an option for what I want. There are a few devices that can do some of the things, but not all. I just need a device that can play my xvid, mp4, and h.264 videos on my HDTV. Wired or wireless (although wired is preferred). With the ability to play HD resolution videos (720/1080). At this point, I think a mac mini is my best bet (although more money than I initally wanted to spend).

Does anyone here know, can front row pick up videos on a networked machine? I know it might not just "sense" them, but if I mounted a network volume on my mac mini, and placed an alias of my videos from the network drive to my local mac mini movies folder, would front row pick it up?

iDaver · Mar 2, 2007, 12:32 AM

Originally Posted by kupan787

Does anyone here know, can front row pick up videos on a networked machine? I know it might not just "sense" them, but if I mounted a network volume on my mac mini, and placed an alias of my videos from the network drive to my local mac mini movies folder, would front row pick it up?

Yes. I've been experimenting after having canceled my AppleTV order.

Placing aliases of networked video files in the Movies Folder on a Mac connected to your TV will enable those remote videos to be played with FrontRow. You can nest those aliases in folders within the Movies folder to categorize them. Any protected iTunes video files will play just fine (as long as the Mac is authorized) as well as any mp4 or .mov files. (I haven't tried other formats.) With a wireless mouse, you then have the option of bypassing FrontRow if you like to play the videos with QuickTime Player.

This is the route I'm going to take and I plan to buy a mini as soon as they're upgraded to Core 2 Duo or better. AppleTV currently just seems a little too limited for me, even though I think it's a great idea.

kupan787 · Mar 2, 2007, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by iDaver

Yes. I've been experimenting after having canceled my AppleTV order.

Placing aliases of networked video files in the Movies Folder on a Mac connected to your TV will enable those remote videos to be played with FrontRow. You can nest those aliases in folders within the Movies folder to categorize them. Any protected iTunes video files will play just fine (as long as the Mac is authorized) as well as any mp4 or .mov files. (I haven't tried other formats.) With a wireless mouse, you then have the option of bypassing FrontRow if you like to play the videos with QuickTime Player.

Ok, that is great to hear. Does front row play any video files that are playable by quicktime? If that is the case, then it should play my Xvids just fine

iDaver · Mar 2, 2007, 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by kupan787

Ok, that is great to hear. Does front row play any video files that are playable by quicktime? If that is the case, then it should play my Xvids just fine

Not sure. Point me to where I can get a sample xvid and I'll check it out.

besson3c · Mar 2, 2007, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by kupan787

It doesn't mention MPEG4 support (or Xvid) on their website, do you know if it is supported? Also, it looks to not be HD capable. I forgot to mention, but that is also something I would like

This looks perfect though, if it would handle the two needs I have.

You can transcode the video to whatever format you want using ffmpeg, which I believe is the default transcoding util used by Myth. ffmpeg supports h.264, xVid, and pretty much any other format. You can download ffmpegX if you want to play around with ffmpeg using a GUI.

MythTV does support DVB (the standard for high definition broadcasting). If you have a capture card that supports DVB, this will work with MythTV:

DVB - MythTV

besson3c · Mar 2, 2007, 06:08 PM

The problem with playing the video right off of your network volume is that you'll need Ethernet to prevent skipping... wireless G just doesn't cut it, unfortunately.

MythTV is a far more robust and comprehensive solution, maybe it's overkill for what you want... If you want a PVR and awesome setup though, it's worth looking into!

kupan787 · Mar 2, 2007, 07:02 PM

Originally Posted by iDaver

Not sure. Point me to where I can get a sample xvid and I'll check it out.

http://www.rdkleinpowerb.de/computer...en1_XviD82.avi

It is a 6MB file, short clip.

kupan787 · Mar 2, 2007, 07:05 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

The problem with playing the video right off of your network volume is that you'll need Ethernet to prevent skipping... wireless G just doesn't cut it, unfortunately.

Ya, I have ethernet, so no worries there.

But why would wireless G not cut it? I have done tests, and can sustain transfer rates of up to 25Mbits. Most video files are only in the range of 1.5 - 6Mbits. 802.11g seems like it should handle it just fine.

MythTV is a far more robust and comprehensive solution, maybe it's overkill for what you want... If you want a PVR and awesome setup though, it's worth looking into!

Ya, myth is overkill. I have a spare PC, but it is loud. Plus, I don't need to do any PVR stuff (I have my comcast DVR for that). So just streaming videos to my tv is all I want.

iDaver · Mar 2, 2007, 09:05 PM

Originally Posted by kupan787

http://www.rdkleinpowerb.de/computer...en1_XviD82.avi

It is a 6MB file, short clip.

Kupan787, I got that clip and put it on my Power Mac desktop and then went to the TV which is connected to a MacBook which is networked to the Power Mac via ethernet. I put an alias of the xvid file in the MacBook Movies Folder. The video clip plays fine with FrontRow. (There doesn't seem to be any sound with that particular clip though, correct?) While I was at it, I also found a couple of sample divx clips to try the same thing. They worked fine after installing the divx software. I'm ignorant about these kinds of files having never heard of either of them until recently with the discussions of what AppleTV won't play.

The simple solution for this aliasing technique is to create an alias of the whole folder on my Power Mac that I keep my video files in. Putting that one alias in the Movies Folder of the Mac connected to the TV gives me FrontRow access to all of the files without having to create lots of aliases.

Since I'm not real crazy about using iTunes for organizing and playing video, I'll be using a wireless mouse instead of the Apple remote to access the files. It works great either way.

besson3c · Mar 2, 2007, 11:21 PM

Originally Posted by kupan787

Ya, I have ethernet, so no worries there.

But why would wireless G not cut it? I have done tests, and can sustain transfer rates of up to 25Mbits. Most video files are only in the range of 1.5 - 6Mbits. 802.11g seems like it should handle it just fine.

I was referring to playing DVDs this way...

kupan787 · Mar 2, 2007, 11:32 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

I was referring to playing DVDs this way...

Ah, ok. I will be ripping all my DVDs into either Xvids or h.264 files to save space (since a full DVD can fit in about a 1GB file).

Its also good to hear that Front Row can handle Xvids and divx files. Now if only appleTV would...