[Rumor]

So far, using the Plex media server and the built in Media Player app seems to work really well.

Sofa Play is another option, but I didn't want to pay for the App when Plex is free.

At some point, I am going to transfer everything to my Windows 7 box and it should be even more seamless (probably faster since the box and xBone are hard wired).

Are there any other options out there that work well?

[P]

Personally I use an AppleTV these days. They're cheap enough that the improved experience is worth it. Have had two small PCs connected to the TV a few times, but they're always more work than they're worth (the big one that I also gamed on got loud, the small one had a ground loop that caused a buzz). I would like one so I could stream Steam games, and I've been looking at a Raspberry Pi for that, but so far Steam for Linux doesn't run on ARM.

[The Final Dakar]

Apple TV forcing you to use iTunes really ruins the point. There are some workaround apps, but I haven't looked into them yet.

Don't you have to pay for Plex now? I believe it's getting released for PS4 but you need to have a sub to stream to it.

[P]

What's the problem with using iTunes? Drop your file on that window once, and that's all you have to bother with it. It doesn't support .mkv files, but that's a two minute fix.

[The Final Dakar]

Originally Posted by P 

What's the problem with using iTunes? Drop your file on that window once, and that's all you have to bother with it. It doesn't support .mkv files, but that's a two minute fix.

If you want library to make any sense, you have to enter metadata. Whilst using the Finder, you likely already know exactly what it is by the folder label (Or because you've been sorting the files in the finder for years).

i.e., it's might be ok if you go in knowing you'll be using iTunes, but not adopting late. And yes, wacky file formats or encodes can throw it off. It's half the reason I stopped ripping DVDs. I can't just enter "Harvey Birdman". I need to know the episode name too. And while I'm at it, why not add a description...

Why not just let anything opened in Quicktime stream to the Apple TV? (Because Apple, that's why)

[P]

I guess I treat music and videos completely different. Videos I don't have in a library per se, I view them once and then remove them from iTunes (if usually not the drive). Music I have in my iPhone, and then stream that to the AppleTV if I want it from speakers.

[Rumor]

What does an Apple TV have to do with streaming from an OS X device to a xBox One?

[Dex13]

I typically have all of my video/audio hosted on my desktop or I put it on my airport extreme external hard drive. I then just remote in and use beamer to stream my video to any of the apple tv's in the house.

It's quite possibly the best since I don't ever have to convert or mess with any type of program like plex.

[The Final Dakar]

Originally Posted by Rumor 

What does an Apple TV have to do with streaming from an OS X device to a xBox One?

We got sidetracked, grumpypants

[Rumor]

Originally Posted by The Final Dakar 

We got sidetracked, grumpypants

This is what it must feel like to be an elementary school teacher.




















Squirrel!

[P]

Originally Posted by The Final Dakar 

We got sidetracked, grumpypants

Sidetracked by post 2!

It's just my default reaction to any question of streaming solutions. I have tried many ways of doing it and considered even more, and my conclusion is just that the easiest thing is to pay the fairly low price for an AppleTV because it works with most things (.mkv being the shining exception, but after reading up on how that format works, I can understand that it is not so easy). Normally the thought process is "I have this thing that can also play streaming videos, how can I do that best?". I think that that is often a mistake. I can stream video files using either my TV, Bluray player or the HTPC I used to have, yet I still bought an AppleTV because it works that much better. YMMV.