Network Media Player/Extender

LeperousDust

LeperousDust

LeperousDust

Soldato
Joined
4 Nov 2003
Posts
5,738
Location
Edinburgh
This seems a little immature right now but it seems the most sensible way to access music (and films to a much lesser extent) on a server. Reviews seem a little scant though and overall there doesn't seem to be one prevailing great box. More like each has there own great advantages and disadvantages.

More importantly most reviews don't really go that in depth with regard to GUI which after container and codec support is pretty damn important!

Essentially i'm after something which supports as much as possible, mainly MP3's and DivX/XviD will be thrown at it, but its nice to have support for anything else just in case.

1080p is wanted, but not exactly expected... Digital audio is obviously needed though.

802.11n would also be nice since thats what i'm running my network on and is pretty damn fast, but i could probably bring ethernet to the box if need be...

Anything i should be looking at in particular? The big names in the network business all seem to have their fingers in the pie at the minute but i'm not sure if they're really any good?
 
I went for a HTPC & Squeezebox system. HTPC for video. Squeezebox for music (needs no TV to be switched on) Problem with media streamers is limited codec support, you're relying on firmware updates.
 
True, i can't do HTPC but then again video support isn't really paramount. This is mainly aimed at my parents to be fair (well actually just my mum). I'm trying to make life easy for her. How easy it is to play music off the small LCD of a slingbox device?

When she's listening to music, the TV won't be in use anyhow as they're in the same room, so using the TV as the GUI seemed a logical thing to hopefully make it easier...

I've just thought about possibly using an appleTV although i have no idea as of yet, about to do some research into it...
 
How easy it is to play music off the small LCD of a slingbox device?
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Easy. It's like browsing a mp3 player, but on a larger screen with remote control.

When she's listening to music, the TV won't be in use anyhow as they're in the same room,
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Same reason why I bought the Squeezebox. Daft leaving the TV on to just play music. Wasting power and will cause screenburn.
 
No but the TV will just be used for a GUI it can be turned off the sound will be plugged into the AV receiver and directed to some real speakers as opposed to TV speakers. So one some music/album/artist is chose she could just turn it off... :)

Apple TV although quite expensive is actually looking like an excellent buy right now though...
 
No but the TV will just be used for a GUI it can be turned off the sound will be plugge
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And when you want to change music? Need to switch on again. Then off etc. It's one thing if she switches TV and then just goes to random start playing, switch TV off, and leave it playing on random all day.
 
Well yeah the point is, it needs to be easy to use, most likely she'll choose an album like you would a CD anyway or an artist set it to random and leave it. Thats more than she'd get from a multi CD changer. If you could playlist that would be even better obviously, hence asking about GUI's in reviews which are sparse, and why i'm now looking at the Apple TV. :)

Cheers FISHGUTS but i think theyre a little too much for what i need, i'm generally after an extender where as they have tuners hard drives and all sorts in them which apart from creating noise puts the price up and then makes me again just look at an AppleTV...
 
Squeezebox IS easy to use. Little tricky to setup but once it's running easy. Remove menus which confuse her. You need a server PC or NAS running slimserver.

ow is it possible to browse happily 20k tracks with that though? Seems a little bit of a nightmare...?
Click to expand...

Use Erlands custom browse plugin and my xml files (\A \B etc)

My collection is about 20,000 all tagged and dead easy.
 
See now it sounds like it could be easy after i fart around, this isn't what i want to do because I'm not going to be there at all. A happy bubbly GUI on the TV is a much better way forward if you ask me, in this scenario. My parents really don't want to fart around, and i don't want to have to tech support over the phone regarding servers or installing anything end of. This needs to "just work".
 
Well no, you're just not saying anything which is swaying me tbh. I just don't think you understand the target audience, i'm sure i'd love it, and you get on with it great. But my parents are not like this. They don't really like the DVD player... Having all the music on a server available to my mum (who doesn't really get on that well with her iPod :p) on a tiny LCD screen plugins or now doesn't sound as user friendly as the big screen menus and options of an AppleTV or *insert something else i haven't seen here* which is why i',m asking.

You're essentially ramming this squeezebox down my throat like there are no other options? ;) When i'm sure there are i just haven't fell across them yet, hence why i'm posting here.

it sounds like you love your squeezebox and thats very fair it sounds great, i don't think that means its right for everyone.
 
:-/ If your parents can use a ipod, then they can use a Squeezebox. All they have to do is make sure your server (or nas with slimserver) is on.

You can browse via the large VFD, of you buy the new Duet on the remote. No different to a ipod.
 
The popcorn isn't wi-fi is it? (It'll probably be used for music, and it saves a wire... :p). It does look very good for the price though, a distinct possibility, cheers :)
 
Have you looked at the Popcorn Hour? There's a thread knocking about which was discussed recently.

Just ordered one myself.
 
Apparently you can add certain usb wireless sticks to a popcorn hour to make it wireless
Will let you know in a few weeks(when they eventually ship my order :( )
 
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