Streaming Box for Mother in Law

bloodiedathame · 13 Sep 2014 at 23:04

My mother in law currently has a WD Play, which she's pretty happy with but it seems it no longer supports BBC iPlayer. So I've been tasked with finding something that has all the functionality and a bit more. She currently has an iPhone and an iPad and would want to use the new box with with her Logitech Harmony remote so it needs IR. It would also be extremely useful to be able to use her iPhone or iPad as a keyboard when searching for videos on Vimeo or Youtube (she's not quite grasped screencasting yet). It needs to have a simple UI and be easy to use as shes not technically minded.

She uses it mainly for
- Netflix
- Plugging in USB devices to watch films + pictures
- Youtube

She'd like (in order of preference)
- BBC iPlayer
- Spotify
- 4OD
- ITV Player
- Demand 5
- If something exists that has XMBC/Plex and Airplay (for viewing photos, video and listening to music (not mirroring)) then even better, but it's not a prerequisite.

I did think about a Roku 3 but they're expensive and have dubious file support. I also had a look at the Tonsmart Vega M8 but it looks pretty buggy and the UI might scare her.

Any ideas?

Caged · 14 Sep 2014 at 00:53

Keep the WDTV for file playback and add an Apple TV for AirPlay screen mirroring? Can't think of any single box that is going to do everything that you want.

Pigeon_Killer · 14 Sep 2014 at 02:02

Chromecast supports iPlayer, Netflix, Plex and YouTube.

lucid · 14 Sep 2014 at 02:08

There are about a dozen different Android media boxes for around £50 that tick all those boxes. They also come preloaded with XBMC

bloodiedathame · 14 Sep 2014 at 06:52

Thanks for the input, lucid can you list said boxes please? Are there any branded ones that have decent support? The ones I've seen look like they are made by enthusiasts for enthusiasts and aren't really an easy, out of the box solution.

I'm editing the original post to add an order of preference.

lucid · 14 Sep 2014 at 11:14

Not sure if this link will work. If not, just type Android MX in to Ebay. http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR8.TRC1.A0.H0.Xandroid+mx&_nkw=android+mx&_sacat=0

I'm running one that looks like this (Ebay link) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-MX-Android-4-2-2-Dual-Core-Smart-TV-Box-XBMC-Media-Player-Network-Streamer-/191292100922?pt=UK_ConsumerElectronics_VideoSwitches_SM&hash=item2c89e5d13a It's connected to a 1G USB drive locally, and wireless to the house NAS for movies, music videos, photos, TV show downloads and some "argh Jim lad" eye patch wooden leg "purely for evaluation purposes" content too

. The IR remote is totally useable. I also use a Logitech K400 wireless keyboard with track pad. I prefer this for doing any set-up work and for managing content via the XBMC interface.

martos123 · 14 Sep 2014 at 11:25

lucid said:
Not sure if this link will work. If not, just type Android MX in to Ebay. http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR8.TRC1.A0.H0.Xandroid+mx&_nkw=android+mx&_sacat=0

I'm running one that looks like this (Ebay link) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-MX-Android-4-2-2-Dual-Core-Smart-TV-Box-XBMC-Media-Player-Network-Streamer-/191292100922?pt=UK_ConsumerElectronics_VideoSwitches_SM&hash=item2c89e5d13a It's connected to a 1G USB drive locally, and wireless to the house NAS for movies, music videos, photos, TV show downloads and some "argh Jim lad" eye patch wooden leg "purely for evaluation purposes" content too . The IR remote is totally useable. I also use a Logitech K400 wireless keyboard with track pad. I prefer this for doing any set-up work and for managing content via the XBMC interface.

Does this box stream BD-ISO with HD Sound? Looking for something to replace my old Dune box is all.

bloodiedathame · 14 Sep 2014 at 14:34

Looking at reviews and things, I think an android box is going to be too complicated for her, I don't really want to be technical support when it eventually goes wrong, which it will.

NexusK · 14 Sep 2014 at 14:38

bloodiedathame said:
My mother in law currently has a WD Live, which she's pretty happy with but it seems it no longer supports BBC iPlayer.

Which WDTV Live does she have? iPlayer works fine on mine although they did update it recently and changed the player a bit.

lucid · 14 Sep 2014 at 17:36

martos123 said:
Does this box stream BD-ISO with HD Sound? Looking for something to replace my old Dune box is all.

Dunno. I'm not ripping BDs, just the old DVD back catalogue to clear space.

I can tell you in plays HD audio from downloaded clips though.

Lex1970 · 14 Sep 2014 at 17:59

I would get an LG blue Ray player it does every thing you need and more for ninety pounds

bloodiedathame · 14 Sep 2014 at 20:07

NexusK said:
Which WDTV Live does she have? iPlayer works fine on mine although they did update it recently and changed the player a bit.

It's the WD Play I believe, iPlayer used to work but doesn't after an update. Have noticed that people have complained on Amazon and WD's forums.

bloodiedathame · 14 Sep 2014 at 20:09

Lex1970 said:
I would get an LG blue Ray player it does every thing you need and more for ninety pounds

She already has a Sony BDV-E380, which has good file support and is her Blu-Ray/Home cinema setup so don't really want to get another big box. It's a shame this BDV home cinema doesn't have the apps.

NexusK · 14 Sep 2014 at 20:34

bloodiedathame said:
It's the WD Play I believe, iPlayer used to work but doesn't after an update. Have noticed that people have complained on Amazon and WD's forums.

Ah, as you said Live in the OP i assumed it would be one of them and not the Play. The Live SMP's are still supported and working fine, the Play is EOL though.

bloodiedathame · 14 Sep 2014 at 20:54

The Play was released more recently than the Live boxes though?

NexusK · 14 Sep 2014 at 21:28

Yes but sold dismally. It was pretty much just a cut down live smp for similar price so hardly anyone bought them.

bloodiedathame · 14 Sep 2014 at 21:39

Bizarre.

Still none the wiser on what to get her. The WDTV Live box doesn't have 4oD, Amazon Prime, Five on Demand, ITV player.

I did think that maybe I could replace her home cinema box with something newer which has support for the content. Ok it's more expensive but it's one less box for her to worry about and the DRC settings on the BDV-E380 are awful. The only problem is that I'd want to trial run a few first.

Looking into:
The Ouya
Little Black Box
Mini Neo X7

bloodiedathame · 18 Sep 2014 at 11:31

I ended up buying a MiniX Neo X7 Mini. Then the Roku 3 dropped in price to £70. So I bought that too.

On doing a bit more research I think the x7 is going to be too tricky for MIL. My dad likes fiddling with android and he could do with a better solution than he currently has, so he's going to have that, Roku for the MIL.

bloodiedathame · 22 Sep 2014 at 09:58

Ok so the Android box is definitely not consumer grade (it's for enthusiasts - I feel this about the whole Android ecosystem).

The Roku however is excellent. All the on demand stuff she wanted (with the exception of Amazon Prime). Loads of channels to choose from. Works with her Logitech remote. She can browse Facebook photos on it. Casting tried and tested on the Youtube app works well. Roku even has an iOS app (and probably Android/Windows) that you can use as a remote, and works in the same way as Airplay, so I steamed photos, music and videos from my phone to her TV. Played some mkvs off USB without a hitch. And has a Plex app. Couldn't be much more pleased with it.

Neil King · 9 Oct 2014 at 02:38

I can't believe nobody recommended a Roku 3 for your MIL :eek:

, it's perfect for her as you say.

I have a Roku 3 and it's an amazing device with lots of content/channels.

If i had seen this thread before i definately would have recommended it to you.