How can i do this without going to Apple?

mediamatt · 15 Sep 2013 at 20:58

Hi,

Was thinking of doing the following and buying Apple kit as it all syncs nice but was wondering if its possible with windows gear and if it would work as good?

Apple TV for downstairs connected to the TV which will be all we watch on the TV as we dont watch live tv really.

Apple TV for upstairs as will have a TV Bed.

Macbook Air 13" for a family computer

Iphone 5s for phone and mp3 player but can also mirror itv player or iplayer to the apple tv if we want to watch any normal tv.

Everything all syncd up and have access to music, movies etc on any of the devices.

How would i achieve all that above with windows kit? And what kit?

mediamatt · 16 Sep 2013 at 10:53

Anyone? Any help really appreciated

oceaness · 16 Sep 2013 at 11:22

I use a combination.

I currently use an Apple TV to stream all my movies and TV shows from my iTunes library on a Windows 8 PC. Works pretty nicely, my iPhone 5 even wifi syncs with iTunes as well.

I also have Air Video server running on the PC, pointing at my iTunes Movie and TV Show folders, for streaming to my 2 iPhone 5's and iPad whether in the house or away, providing I have a decent 3G signal or wifi.

The only issue I've found so far with this set up is that for some reason iTunes isn't keeping the PC awake whilst it's streaming. So I can't currently use auto sleep.

Morfik · 16 Sep 2013 at 12:16

If your budget can stretch to it, building an HTPC to connect to the Main TV is a better option. You can use iPlayer etc as well as anything you might download from other sources (automatically if you want) and use it as a media server with Air Video as the above person says. You could also share your iTunes library from this PC too. I find this to be a very flexible option.

mediamatt · 16 Sep 2013 at 13:22

Morfik said:
If your budget can stretch to it, building an HTPC to connect to the Main TV is a better option. You can use iPlayer etc as well as anything you might download from other sources (automatically if you want) and use it as a media server with Air Video as the above person says. You could also share your iTunes library from this PC too. I find this to be a very flexible option.

So i could build a HTPC for downstairs , perhaps have a big hard drive inside for storing videos/bluray rips etc and then if i built a cheap one for upstairs in the bedroom, i could stream from the air video htpc downstairs?

Could i stream from air video from the htpc to say a windows surface tablet if im away from home?

Matt

oceaness · 16 Sep 2013 at 13:41

Yep.

I used to use a PC as a Media Centre, but the size and cost of that compared to an Apple TV under your TV, and the fact that the Apple TV is completely silent, made me rearrange things. Also the cost of adding additional Apple TV's is relatively small compared to building a new PC for each TV.

The old Media Centre is now a server hidden away out of sight with an 8TB storage pool.

Air Video is an iOS only app I believe, however I'm sure there must be a similar application for Windows Surface, you'd have to have a search on the Store.

For streaming between the two PC's I believe Windows Home Group has a media sharing option, under Network and Internet?

MartynB85 · 16 Sep 2013 at 14:25

You could use XBMC, this will play any movies, tv shows and music you have. You can run it on all kinds of devices like a windows pc, mac, linux or even a raspberry pi etc. You would need a central location for your media though.
I use this on a mac mini, so i get the benefit of being able to watch anything available online like sky go, iplayer, lovefilm etc.