Network capable media player

toXin · 2nd June 2012, 8:16 PM

I'll start off by saying sorry if this is the wrong section, I couldn't find anything else that was suitable.

Does anyone have any suggestions for an Ethernet capable media player that can play the modern codecs? I've currently got a PS3 and PS3 media server to view my media, but in some cases it has to transcode on the fly to the PS3 because the PS3 cannot handle certain codecs, which has been fine in most cases, but I've realized over time that some of these codecs don't work really well and can be a bit flakey when they are being transcoded.

I think it is more so that the transcoder libs aren't as good on Linux as they are on Windows, or the PS3 Media Server software isn't utilizing it very well, it's not really a media orientated OS anyway so it is expected. Switching to Windows is something I would rather not do for many reasons, notably that I've always favored Linux for servers because I much prefer managing a Linux box than a Windows box - it's just plain and simple.

So I've decided instead to just get a player that has native support for these codecs and stream it from my server using ftp/smb.

Does anyone have any suggestions on a nice player with this sort of support? Something around the $100-$150 mark would be preferred, and with a smooth UI, I have used some of my Father's media players but they have such clunky and slow UIs which is really irritating.

I also apologize if this seems lazy, I've done some searching and I come up with a variety of players but they are mostly brands I haven't heard of and there isn't much info on them, and the specs are difficult to find. I figured it would be more effective to ask OCAU'ers since it's likely that many members here have a similar setup already in place.

tl;dr

Need media player that has support for a wide range of codecs, containers, and subtitles (which I think is a given anyway), over Ethernet only, using ftp/smb as the application layer. Price: $100-$150 (unless unrealistic for features required).

Madengineer · 2nd June 2012, 10:12 PM

Boxe box. Whatever its called

My brother has one and he uses it all the time. Its apparently quite good, because it also has wireless capabilities.

toXin · 3rd June 2012, 3:11 AM

I have been looking into this Boxee box for the past few hours. Actually seems like a really good way to go.

Thanks mate, much appreciated

.

danyell · 3rd June 2012, 3:58 AM

If you can pickup an apple tv 2 secondhand, when jail broken these will run XBMC

Apple tv 3 (current model) is not yet and may never be jb'n however

Re: boxee, just set one up for my boss. Boxee is based on a modified xbmc. Handles everything I've thrown at it so far, but that hasn't included 1080p content. Pretty nifty little units.

die_piggy · 3rd June 2012, 3:42 PM

Boxee box is awesome, I have 2 and they get used daily. They play 1080 content fine too. Someone is selling one in the For sale section if you are interested

Pugs · 3rd June 2012, 9:28 PM

so you are talking mp4/ mkv/ xyz ? if so most if not all newer modles on the market support them.. just depends if the unit does everythign else you want it to do...

MR CHILLED · 3rd June 2012, 9:38 PM

WDTV Live seems to fit your requirements, I think?

ni9ht_5ta1k3r · 3rd June 2012, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MR CHILLED

WDTV Live seems to fit your requirements, I think?

i have a WDTV and i think it's questionable. the UI feels sluggish, i can't even get it to see networked drives so it's a letdown ever since i am using an HTPC.

toXin · 3rd June 2012, 10:19 PM

I was just comparing the boxee box to the WDTV.

What kind of problems were you having with the WDTV ni9ht_5ta1k3r?

MR CHILLED · 3rd June 2012, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ni9ht_5ta1k3r

i have a WDTV and i think it's questionable. the UI feels sluggish, i can't even get it to see networked drives

Really? I don't have either of those two issues. The interface is snappy and network drives have been very easy to set up, whichever way I have decided to set it up.

sw-m78 · 3rd June 2012, 10:36 PM

Astone Media Gear AP-110D USB & Network 1080p HD Media Player

http://www.astone.com.au/index.php?productID=25

Cheap as chips and zero problems.

ni9ht_5ta1k3r · 3rd June 2012, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toXin

I was just comparing the boxee box to the WDTV.

What kind of problems were you having with the WDTV ni9ht_5ta1k3r?

sometimes it won't play the audio or keep it in sync when it plays fine on PC, that's why i just went with an HTPC since it plays fine and I don't have to fiddle with the WDTV much when it comes to theme customisation cos the interface on the WDTV is just crap.

MR CHILLED · 3rd June 2012, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ni9ht_5ta1k3r

sometimes it won't play the audio or keep it in sync when it plays fine on PC, that's why i just went with an HTPC since it plays fine and I don't have to fiddle with the WDTV much when it comes to theme customisation cos the interface on the WDTV is just crap.

I disagree. I've had two models in the WDTv Live range and had none of the problems you have listed. Nor the problem regarding audio not in synch or not playing. The interface has always been very easy to navigate and has been made even easier with the latest TV Live model.

Dropping in pre built themes is incredibly easy. I don't bother with them though as the default is actually quite nice and really I'm interested primarily in playing media.

5tumpy · 4th June 2012, 6:05 AM

I had the same dilemma at the OP a couple of weeks ago, see below for my on the 3 obvious choices in order of my coming across them:

1. WDTV- everything I read was either "This is fantastic or This is shit" I didn't want to run the risk of being one of the people who thought it was shit, and didn't have an opportunity to trial one.

2. Jailbroken Apple TV- this got shot down pretty much straight away for the obvious reason with ATV 3... Looked around for an ATV 2, and looked the process, and decided I CBF going to all that trouble.

3. Boxee Box- the only negative I could find about these was that they were more expensive than their competitors, this for me was outweighed by the fact that it was an out of the box- will just work solution. It's guts are an atom-based HTPC, minus internal storage, but it's SD card slot and 2 USB ports took care of that. The remote has a full QWERTY keyboard, and is a piece of piss to use. I bought mine from PCCasegear on the Thursday night at like 11pm, and received it on Monday morning. Extremely happy with it, it's flawless and simple to use.

ni9ht_5ta1k3r · 4th June 2012, 8:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MR CHILLED

I disagree. I've had two models in the WDTv Live range and had none of the problems you have listed. Nor the problem regarding audio not in synch or not playing. The interface has always been very easy to navigate and has been made even easier with the latest TV Live model.

Dropping in pre built themes is incredibly easy. I don't bother with them though as the default is actually quite nice and really I'm interested primarily in playing media.

i keep getting invalid username/password errors when i try and access a network drive on my WDTV gen 3 with the latest firmware.

3rd June 2012, 9:28 PM	#6
Pugs Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: St Marys, SA Posts: 7,872	so you are talking mp4/ mkv/ xyz ? if so most if not all newer modles on the market support them.. just depends if the unit does everythign else you want it to do... __________________ PC Gamer, PC/ Networking Geek, Licenced Cabler, Sci Fi Junkie Jesus was a Chippie, I'm a data cabler..make sense ??? "I don't just have tickets on myself, I have a whole booklet of tickets on myself" My Becoming a Cabler & Tool Thread To The Cloud...!!

3rd June 2012, 9:38 PM	#7
MR CHILLED D'oh! Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Keep it up! :D Posts: 89,957	WDTV Live seems to fit your requirements, I think? __________________ Co2 is weightless apparently. Be careful what you vote for. Howard on the economy: ''When the Prime Minister and the Treasurer and others tell you that the Australian economy is doing better than most – they are right,'' Asked how cash payments of baby bonus and school bonus are any different, Opposition Leader tony abbott says 'well look, they just are.'

3rd June 2012, 10:36 PM	#11
sw-m78 Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Brisbane City Posts: 180	Astone Media Gear AP-110D USB & Network 1080p HD Media Player http://www.astone.com.au/index.php?productID=25 Cheap as chips and zero problems. __________________ Successfully traded with: King of Cool, alexp, trop, lukhangcheng, akk, muzzer67.

3rd June 2012, 3:58 AM	#4
danyell Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Melbourne, 3116 Posts: 1,103	If you can pickup an apple tv 2 secondhand, when jail broken these will run XBMC Apple tv 3 (current model) is not yet and may never be jb'n however Re: boxee, just set one up for my boss. Boxee is based on a modified xbmc. Handles everything I've thrown at it so far, but that hasn't included 1080p content. Pretty nifty little units.