Best way to play films on hard drive on big TV ?

Darkst4r · 30 May 2012 at 22:07

As the title reads really, I'm thinking of buying a new TV and was wondering what I'd need to play the films I have on my external hard drive, on the TV.

I've seen the little media player things but havent a clue which type to get.

Would I need some kind of micro PC ?

Any help would be great, cheers

RomanNose · 30 May 2012 at 22:11

HTPC such as Apple TV/WDTV or you can make your own. Other options but they are difficult to get hold of.

Morgoth · 30 May 2012 at 22:12

I'll sell you my Rasberry Pi.

I won't really.

Winky_The_Winking_Turtle · 30 May 2012 at 22:12

A Pi.

RomanNose · 30 May 2012 at 22:13

Yes apart from the chances of getting hold of one is very slim even in the next three months.

cymatty · 30 May 2012 at 22:14

Buy a tv with DNLA and do it over the network.

BloodyL · 30 May 2012 at 22:14

The latest iteration of the Sumvison Cyclone.

Joshct · 30 May 2012 at 22:14

I want a pi

but due to the nature of him wanting to plug it in and work i'd guess its not the solution for him...

Look at media center solutions, or thin clients, or maybe even some sort of dvd player with usb etc...

jpmonkey69 · 30 May 2012 at 22:29

My TV has a usb port on it to read off flash drives, I don't see why an external HDD should be a problem if it has an external power source too...

hopeful_builder · 30 May 2012 at 22:53

I have a Acer Revo which I use as a media centre (obviously no optical drive) but failing that what about an android tv box? can pick them up for around £50 new

Dano · 30 May 2012 at 22:58

My TV will happily play movies off an external drive, alternatively it can also happily stream them off my pc via the netwrok.

bullit in head · 30 May 2012 at 22:58

if your buying a new tv , just get one with a usb port and plug the drive in to a caddy and play from that or usb stick....both my sammys do it.... and have dlna so can play across the network too.

bullit

jackthezipper · 30 May 2012 at 23:04

cheap xbox is also an option

The Halk · 30 May 2012 at 23:06

XBMC running on a lower end PC - e.g. a Pentium Sandybridge or the like.

I love mine, it's one of my favourite things.

arad85 · 31 May 2012 at 08:31

Atom+ION/ION2+xbmc. I'm a firm believer that these things should be external to the TV for the next few years as the processors in the TVs evolve into something worth having.

Darkst4r · 31 May 2012 at 20:10

Dano said:
My TV will happily play movies off an external drive, alternatively it can also happily stream them off my pc via the netwrok.

What model TV do you have ?

Dano · 31 May 2012 at 22:26

Darkst4r said:
What model TV do you have ?

Samsung UE40D5500, so a fair few models out of date too.

Steve M · 31 May 2012 at 23:28

http://wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=330

I've got one and its awesome.

johny dolan · 1 Jun 2012 at 09:15

A Sony Blu-ray with usb is what i have with external HD or mem stick and it has wifi.

sypher365 · 1 Jun 2012 at 13:42

bullit in head said:
if your buying a new tv , just get one with a usb port and plug the drive in to a caddy and play from that or usb stick....both my sammys do it.... and have dlna so can play across the network too.

bullit

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