Advice on Media Device Apple TV, G-Box XBMC

Liamb2005

Liamb2005

Liamb2005

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I am looking to buy a little Apple TV style media player / mini pc player such as Rasberry PI or G-Box, ideally under £100 and would like some advice please.

The device is for my bedroom TV via HDMi and im hoping to be able to wirelessly stream movies from my computer which is downstairs.

I know there is two devices 2 main devices to choose from either Linux or Android (not interested in the apple one)

It needs to be fast enough to be able to watch HD movies & even 3D without stuttering, preferably through XBMC. I dont know if these devices support full hardware for XBMC ?

I would like it to be Wifi included as well as include a air mouse if possible

if anyone can recommend a device i would really appreciate it
 
Have a look at the WD TV Live, cant do xbmc but it will do most of the other things you want.
 
Apple TV is out if you want an XBMC media interface. The only ones that will support XBMC are ATV1 and ATV2 boxes. They can be hacked. The current ATV3 can't be hacked.

ATV2 only does 720p and doesn't support 3D. They also fetch mad money second-hand... well over your budget.


Rasp PI will support XBMC. However, you need to add on the cost of all the peripherals to the basic PI price. Keyboard, air mouse, wireless adapter, memory etc etc. The costs mount up pretty quickly and soon you'll see that £100 was a distant memory. Do your homework first.


WD TV Live does the wireless thing. It does 1080p HD. Air mouse, no, I don't think so. But you have a wireless IR remote so that's no big deal. the stumbling block is 3D. It will do 3D side-by-side (SBS) format (a la Sky HD 3D) but not the interleaved format used on Blu-ray. It's the TV that converts SBS to the 3D watchable signal.

Requiring 3D support all for under £100 limits your choices IMO. Have another think about your priorities or you budget... or both! :D
 
thanks guys will look into them, ive been researching and hearing the latest ones (which are not yet available in this country) are the Exoon devices, anyone hear of these ?
 
Raspberry pi can be done very cheaply, no need for keyboard, mouse etc. Just sd card and a micro usb lead... Assuming your tv supports cec. But I wouldn't get a pi for wireless as I hear it will struggle.
 
I've just had a Neo G4 delivered..
£45.
Android, runs XBMC, built in wifi, does 1080p and 3D and has a mini remote.
Going to test it tonight after a few other bits and bobs are done.
 
R088ieS86 said:
I've just had a Neo G4 delivered..
£45.
Android, runs XBMC, built in wifi, does 1080p and 3D and has a mini remote.
Going to test it tonight after a few other bits and bobs are done.
Click to expand...

Intrested in hearing your thoughts on the G4 especially how well it runs XBMC, ive been looking at the X5 mainly for its ethernet port.
 
Attu90 said:
Intrested in hearing your thoughts on the G4 especially how well it runs XBMC, ive been looking at the X5 mainly for its ethernet port.
Click to expand...

Will give you some details tomorrow night. I have it up and running. But don't have enough time to configure XBMC just yet.

I looked at the X5 but the Ethernet port is only 10/100 and WiFi can match/beat that if it can use the full wireless N speeds.
Will post some thoughts tomorrow.
 
lucid said:
Apple TV is out if you want an XBMC media interface. The only ones that will support XBMC are ATV1 and ATV2 boxes. They can be hacked. The current ATV3 can't be hacked.
Click to expand...

Not quite there but i believe in the last week or so they've made a bit of a breakthrough on the ATV3, might mean its not too long till its JB'd.
 
I have Google alerts set up to keep me posted on this. I get exceited each time there's a "ding!" But it's just another person asking "Is it ready yet?" lol

Seriously though, I hope they do crack this and soon. XBMC on ATV3 will be a killer application.
 
Ah I thought I read something the other week saying developers had made progress. Thought more might've been released by now.
 
Not over Wi-Fi it can't.
Tested with full size Blu Ray ripped MKVs over WiFi and it can load them, but it plays them with the audio running at normal speed and the video 5x slower than normal.
Trying to see if I can improve it, but out of the box, no :(
 
R088ieS86 said:
Not over Wi-Fi it can't.
Tested with full size Blu Ray ripped MKVs over WiFi and it can load them, but it plays them with the audio running at normal speed and the video 5x slower than normal.
Trying to see if I can improve it, but out of the box, no :(
Click to expand...

Any chance you can see if it would play it via ethernet?
 
The G4 doesn't have a built in Ethernet port, that's where the X5 comes into play. I can test my USB to Ethernet adapter if you would like.
It plays my full size MKVs from a USB HDD absolutely fine.
 
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