Apple TV alternatives?

tres · 26 Sep 2013 at 08:03

Hi all,

I wanted to get something to connect to a big TV and enable me to access a) netflix and b) videos located on an external hard drive. Apple TV looked good, priced well, but then realised it couldn't play external hard drive stuff directly (instead it had to be plugged in to a laptop?)

Any ideas what I could use instead?

a) HDMI connected
b) Netflix etc
c) Somehow able to play movies from a hard drive. Either directly connected or via networked hard drive

Thanks

Tysonator · 26 Sep 2013 at 22:39

Western Digital Live TV

Psycho Sonny · 26 Sep 2013 at 23:31

laptop?

plex?

chromecast?

tablet?

Tackle_Berry · 27 Sep 2013 at 15:23

Tysonator said:
Western Digital Live TV

Gambisk · 27 Sep 2013 at 15:41

Roku

http://www.roku.com/uk/choose-your-roku

dbmzk1 · 29 Sep 2013 at 13:40

Now TV Box. Basically a Roku LT for £9.99

Use the Plex app and away you go

kona786 · 29 Sep 2013 at 15:13

dbmzk1 said:
Now TV Box

does it do iplayer HD?

dbmzk1 · 3 Oct 2013 at 17:37

kona786 said:
does it do iplayer HD?

Yes, via the Plex app.

panthro · 9 Oct 2013 at 17:25

Thinking about one of these myself; do they have a Sky Go app?

ng93 · 11 Oct 2013 at 21:23

I'm looking for something similar for my mum, an easy to use box that can play at least Netflix and iPlayer. The Now TV Box is a great price but unfortunately doesn't have a Netflix app.

So far the best device I've found is the Roku LT for £50. Is there anything else worth considering?

mark66 · 5 Jan 2014 at 20:31

Hi,

I want to be able to watch Netflix in the living room without having to move my Mac Mini across from the study each time, so I think I need something like an Apple TV / WD TV Live etc.

Is there anything that an Apple TV will give me that a WD TV can't? Same goes for the Roku? I'm really rather clueless when it comes to these so any info comparisons would be great.

Can they all pick up media content that reside on my Mac Mini (eg iPhoto) or on my NAS?

Thanks

IvanDobskey · 7 Jan 2014 at 09:42

I bought a WD TV live box for all my media streaming requirements and it's fantastic

Plays everything flawlessly. Mainly use it to stream from my PC upstairs though.

glenimp617 · 7 Jan 2014 at 10:46

FYI...Roku grab their network settings from DHCP, they have no manual option.

This was a deal breaker for me

TheDean · 7 Jan 2014 at 11:02

glen8 said:
FYI...Roku grab their network settings from DHCP, they have no manual option.

This was a deal breaker for me

What would that stop you doing specifically with a Roku?

FerretBoy · 7 Jan 2014 at 11:07

Yeah why not set a fixed one on the router?

booyaka · 7 Jan 2014 at 13:27

dbmzk1 said:
Now TV Box. Basically a Roku LT for £9.99

Use the Plex app and away you go

£2 cashback via topcashback as well!

Yaayuh! · 7 Jan 2014 at 13:47

FerretBoy said:
Yeah why not set a fixed one on the router?

Indeed.

TheDean · 7 Jan 2014 at 14:25

dbmzk1 said:
Now TV Box. Basically a Roku LT for £9.99

Use the Plex app and away you go

It's good as long as you are happy to stream wireless and nothing more than 720p...

glenimp617 · 8 Jan 2014 at 08:40

Rossi~ said:
Indeed.

most routers (especially ones provided by your ISP) dont allow you to change their DNS servers. Therefore, when the ROKU gets its network settings from DHCP, its DNS servers are locked to your ISP.

This means that you can't use something like UNBLOCK-US to stream US Netflix etc etc

See here for a guide I wrote a while ago http://www.avforums.com/threads/guide-roku-changing-netflix-regions-quick-and-easy.1776722/

It's a right pain, and I can't afford money for a decent router yet (nor should I really).

Now TV boxes are good, but only allow you to install one dev app (plex). No good if you want to use plex AND netflix

To be honest, the only box I would recommend to anyone would be the Apple TV (but even that's a stretch). It has manual network settings, netflix, plex-connect (not sure about now tv??)