Best streaming box (Now a Blogish post)

[boomhower]

The repo file should be a zip file. Then you install that repo and you can add from it.

Bluecop's repo rocks but I also use Superepo:

http://superrepo.org/get-started/add-the-super-repo-directory-as-source/

For some of the streaming plugins you can get surround on the HD streams. I recommend either Icefilms or Navi-X plugins to start with.

For any local files you play it should bitstream the audio perfectly to your AV receiver.



Consider building one. I think the best media server you can buy is an Unraid server.

I'll give the repos a try tomorrow when I get home. Been down the home built nas road before and would prefer a commercial version this time. If memory serves it was unraid I used. I want a bit more plug and play this time. Just don't have to time to mess with all the settings.

 

[boomhower]

Also interested in the harmony experience as that's what I use as well. It's a very important WAF that as most if you know can make or break anything tech wise.

 

[ponyo]

I'm really leaning towards XMBC right now and am giving it a run on my Mac. Having some initial issues but just getting started with it. It seems to be the best option at the moment. Went to install amazon/hulu with blue cop and it isn't working, don't think I have the right download as I'm not getting a zip, just an XML file. Like I said, still playing. Now to also search for a NAS...

Still my biggest concern is surround sound with all the online services.

You can use both XBMC and Plex. I have both installed. I rarely fire up Plex but it's nice having options. I also have Bluecop repo zip if you need it. It used to be one of my favorite repo and used it constantly back in the day for Hulu and Amazon on the JB AppleTV 2.

 

[boomhower]

You can use both XBMC and Plex. I have both installed. I rarely fire up Plex but it's nice having options. I also have Bluecop repo zip if you need it. It used to be one of my favorite repo and used it constantly back in the day for Hulu and Amazon on the JB AppleTV 2.

Shoot me a pm.

 

[boomhower]

Just ran across the Asustor AS-302T, NAS with XBMC built in. Any experience with this? I'm a little weary of the multi use in one box as it seems they rarely do everything well.

 

[zerocool84]

Also Roku has tons of other channels or "apps" that no one has for streaming, most of them are huge like HBO Go but they have it. That's it's biggest positive. I gave mine away though as Chromecast is enough for me.

 

[boomhower]

Settled on a Synology DS214 for the NAS so that's settled. I'm still debating between a NUC and the Chromebox. What kind of receiver do I need for my Harmony? I have the smart hub that has the little remote and also uses the apps.

 

[Thegonagle]

I liked my Roku so much, I just bought a 2nd. I bought the new version of the Roku 2, which is currently on sale for about $60.

(My older Roku is the Roku 2XS, which is discontinued.)

 

[boomhower]

The Roku is out because of it's lack of good local media support.

 

[ponyo]

Settled on a Synology DS214 for the NAS so that's settled. I'm still debating between a NUC and the Chromebox. What kind of receiver do I need for my Harmony? I have the smart hub that has the little remote and also uses the apps.

It depends on which box you get. Lot of the newer Intel NUC come with built in IR receiver so you don't need anything and can use your Harmony remote. Chromebox doesn't so if you want to use Harmony remote, you have to buy and add IR receiver. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000ZGHZ1G Most people use the $14 HP MCE receiver since it's cheap and works out of the box. I would pay $5 more and get the Windows Media Center remote and IR receiver combo. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AYE6JDO/ $5 is cheap for backup remote.

You can use the Xbox360 and the Xbox One as remote also if you have the HP MCE receiver since it's compatible with WMC.

I don't have a Harmony. I use Playstation bluetooth DVD remote since I got it for free. It works great for me. When I'm using my Chromebox in ChromeOS, I use the logitech K360 keyboard and M570 trackball.

There is also the official XBMC remote app and Yatse if you like using phones and tablets as remote.

 

[boomhower]

It depends on which box you get. Lot of the newer Intel NUC come with built in IR receiver so you don't need anything and can use your Harmony remote. Chromebox doesn't so if you want to use Harmony remote, you have to buy and add IR receiver. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000ZGHZ1G Most people use the $14 HP MCE receiver since it's cheap and works out of the box. I would pay $5 more and get the Windows Media Center remote and IR receiver combo. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AYE6JDO/ $5 is cheap for backup remote.

You can use the Xbox360 and the Xbox One as remote also if you have the HP MCE receiver since it's compatible with WMC.

I don't have a Harmony. I use Playstation bluetooth DVD remote since I got it for free. It works great for me. When I'm using my Chromebox in ChromeOS, I use the logitech K360 keyboard and M570 trackball.

There is also the official XBMC remote app and Yatse if you like using phones and tablets as remote.

Thanks! The built in IR is another point towards the NUC. I have an IR and remote somewhere from back when I had a HTPC using a Ceton and WMC but have no clue where that may be. I'll pick up the HP IR if I go Chromebox. May end up flipping a quarter. Is either one quieter? I have no interest in dual booting, it'll be strictly Openelec.

edit
You can take out the built in IR as I'm looking at the 2820.

 

[Ichinisan]

I have an Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Roku 3.

Of those, by far the Roku 3 is my favorite. I L-O-V-E this thing!

Apple TV and Chromecast are both pretty nice, and the Chromecast just down right amazing for it's price tag. However both really require a phone or tablet to make them shine. Apple TV has stand alone apps and remote, but the apps are pretty terrible on the Apple TV and it's missing some important stuff.

Fire TV. Just disappointing really. It's kinda fine for watching Amazon content, but the other apps are pretty bad.

Apple TV only makes sense if you have an iPad or iPod touch (iPhone gets interrupted with phone calls). Missing services like Amazon have iOS apps that work great with AirPlay.

 

[Ichinisan]

Last time I tried to stream Amazon Prime Instant Video on a PC, it was terrible. Most content was not available and the stuff that was is SD only in a web browser.

How would you access Amazon video on a NUC?

 

[boomhower]

Last time I tried to stream Amazon Prime Instant Video on a PC, it was terrible. Most content was not available and the stuff that was is SD only in a web browser.

How would you access Amazon video on a NUC?

I wouldn't, I'd use the xbox one. I've realized that one box isn't going to work. Pretty much it's looking like the NUC/Chromebox for NAS related material plus various community sources and the xbox/Apple TV for Netflix/Hulu/Amazon. Not ideal but until that magic box comes along it's what I've got to work with.

 

[ponyo]

Thanks! The built in IR is another point towards the NUC. I have an IR and remote somewhere from back when I had a HTPC using a Ceton and WMC but have no clue where that may be. I'll pick up the HP IR if I go Chromebox. May end up flipping a quarter. Is either one quieter? I have no interest in dual booting, it'll be strictly Openelec.

edit
You can take out the built in IR as I'm looking at the 2820.

2820 should come with built in IR. FYI, 2820 has been discontinued by Intel. 2830 should replace and should ship soon as the existing 2820 stock is depleted. I didn't want 2820 and I didn't want to wait for 2830. If you already have the ram and the SSD, 2820 would be a good option. Baytrail in 2820 is slower than the Haswell Celeron in the Chromebox. As for the fan noise, I can't hear the fan in the Asus Chromebox. I'm not sure if 2820 has a fan or not. It might be fan less.

 

[boomhower]

2820 should come with built in IR. FYI, 2820 has been discontinued by Intel. 2830 should replace and should ship soon as the existing 2820 stock is depleted. I didn't want 2820 and I didn't want to wait for 2830. If you already have the ram and the SSD, 2820 would be a good option. Baytrail in 2820 is slower than the Haswell Celeron in the Chromebox. As for the fan noise, I can't hear the fan in the Asus Chromebox. I'm not sure if 2820 has a fan or not. It might be fan less.

Ok then if the chromebox is faster I guess I'm back to it. I cant really wait. My satellite is turned off in a month so I need to get everything in and set up before then. I don't have ram but I do have an SSD. Wanting to order either today or tomorrow.

 

[ponyo]

Last time I tried to stream Amazon Prime Instant Video on a PC, it was terrible. Most content was not available and the stuff that was is SD only in a web browser.

How would you access Amazon video on a NUC?

Easy. If he's running OpenELEC, he can use Bluecop Amazon Prime Streaming plugin. That's what I used to use on AppleTV XBMC. But I don't use Amazon Prime Streaming anymore so I don't know if that plugin still works 100%. If not, he can use the Chromium browser plugin for OpenELEC. He can access Netflix, Amazon Prime Streaming, Hulu, or any website he wants. The only thing I found a problem with Chromium is that it doesn't sync my Chrome account so all my Chrome plugins like AdBlock Plus won't load. But you won't have to worry about ads with Netflix or Amazon Prime Streaming.

With my Chromebox, I don't mess with Chromium and just boot straight into the ChromeOS. ChromeOS boots in less than 5 seconds so it's faster for me to reboot than watch one ad on site like OnDemandKorea. Before one ad even finishes, I could be watching a show ad free using the Chrome browser. ChromeOS is awesome.

 

[smitbret]

Ok then if the chromebox is faster I guess I'm back to it. I cant really wait. My satellite is turned off in a month so I need to get everything in and set up before then. I don't have ram but I do have an SSD. Wanting to order either today or tomorrow.

Just something you may want to consider. I have been running OpenELEC in my Chromebox for a few weeks and was getting the (occasional every few days) lockup where the video will freeze but the audio will continue.

XBMC forums seem to have narrowed this down to a problem with the hardware decoding of h264 streams. You can shut off the hardware encoding so it takes care of everything at the CPU level and the box handles it just fine but CPU usage goes from 10-15% to almost 80% depending on the source material. As a result, the box consumes more electricity, runs warmer and the fan may become more audible, although I haven't noticed mine at all.

Just some food for thought. Other than that, I think it is awesome.

 

[smitbret]

Easy. If he's running OpenELEC, he can use Bluecop Amazon Prime Streaming plugin. That's what I used to use on AppleTV XBMC. But I don't use Amazon Prime Streaming anymore so I don't know if that plugin still works 100%. If not, he can use the Chromium browser plugin for OpenELEC. He can access Netflix, Amazon Prime Streaming, Hulu, or any website he wants. The only thing I found a problem with Chromium is that it doesn't sync my Chrome account so all my Chrome plugins like AdBlock Plus won't load. But you won't have to worry about ads with Netflix or Amazon Prime Streaming.

With my Chromebox, I don't mess with Chromium and just boot straight into the ChromeOS. ChromeOS boots in less than 5 seconds so it's faster for me to reboot and watch one ad on site like OnDemandKorea. Before one ad even finishes, I could be watching a show ad free using the Chrome browser. ChromeOS is awesome.

BlueCop Amazon streaming hasn't worked on XBMC for quite awhile now.

 

[ponyo]

BlueCop Amazon streaming hasn't worked on XBMC for quite awhile now.

Good to know. I'm assuming his Hulu plugin doesn't work either? Not that I care. I stopped using Amazon Prime Streaming, Netflix, and Hulu years ago.

 

[boomhower]

Just something you may want to consider. I have been running OpenELEC in my Chromebox for a few weeks and was getting the (occasional every few days) lockup where the video will freeze but the audio will continue.

XBMC forums seem to have narrowed this down to a problem with the hardware decoding of h264 streams. You can shut off the hardware encoding so it takes care of everything at the CPU level and the box handles it just fine but CPU usage goes from 10-15% to almost 80% depending on the source material. As a result, the box consumes more electricity, runs warmer and the fan may become more audible, although I haven't noticed mine at all.

Just some food for thought. Other than that, I think it is awesome.

My videos are going to be encoded to mpeg4 for xbox compatibly, not sure the details of the exact encoding. I just use handbrake, select the xbox and hit go. Will this type be an issue?

 

[ponyo]

My videos are going to be encoded to mpeg4 for xbox compatibly, not sure the details of the exact encoding. I just use handbrake, select the xbox and hit go. Will this type be an issue?

It shouldn't. Honestly, if you're going to encode everything to mp4, I wouldn't even bother with NUC or Chromebox. Amazon FireTV should be able to handle everything with ease and it's only $99. It has everything you're looking for in a box. NUC or Chromebox would be overkill and harder to use in your case.

 

[smitbret]

My videos are going to be encoded to mpeg4 for xbox compatibly, not sure the details of the exact encoding. I just use handbrake, select the xbox and hit go. Will this type be an issue?

Yeah, that's h264/x264.

It will still playback flawlessly, you would just need to disable Hardware Decoding in the XBMC menus and the box will run warmer than if you played back via Hardware Decoding. Someone mentioned Intel getting a fix out for this, but I don't see how that can be done short of a firmware upgrade and if you are going to be using a modified BIOS to boot into OpenELEC anyway.... well, I suppose they could modify the old BIOS.

All in all, I don't regret using the Chromebox as my XBMC box at all. It is quick and smooth. Everything is in the box short of the IR receiver and remote control. I just use a FLIRC and my Harmony Remote. You can get cheaper solutions that work fine, too. I just wanted you to know about the one issue I had with it.

 

[boomhower]

When I say everything it may be a bit of an exaggeration but certainly most it will be. What are the issues with the Fire and XBMC? I'm considering getting 1-3 of them for the bedrooms if they run it OK. Willing to spend more for the main unit in the living room. It seems like a good one box for close to everything for secondary usage.

 

[MrSquished]

The Roku is out because of it's lack of good local media support.

when i get home i'll write the app i use, can't remember the name of it now, but i stream video from my pc seamlessly with this program and the Roku 3. HD video and it's fast and super smooth.

i need to find out if there is an app that can take content live-streaming on my pc or tablet and push it to my tv. if i can't i'll get a chromecast. directv started offering NFL sunday ticket packages for people without direct, like where you can watch on your pc or tablet. then i could just stream it from my nexus 7 to my tv.

hopefully Roku can do it, if not 35 bucks for chromecast is justifiable.