Tv pc

[ZippyDan]

I have all my movies and music on a Synology NAS.

I just need a box that will stream those movies/music to my TV/sound system.

I want something cheap and small and low-power. What do I want?

Since it will be connected to my sound system, I would also like it to allow me to play music via Bluetooth from my Android devices, like this: w.amazon.com/Logitech-980-000910-Bluetooth-Audio-Adapter/dp/B00IQBSW28

Is that possible?

Support for other services like Netflix, Spotify, Pandora, etc. would be nice but not necessary.

 

[poofyhairguy]

You want a Raspberry Pi 2 running Openelec. The only thing I am unsure of it doing is bluetooth audio, but you can easily use DLNA instead.

 

[ZippyDan]

You want a Raspberry Pi 2 running Openelec. The only thing I am unsure of it doing is bluetooth audio, but you can easily use DLNA instead.

The Pi 2 can handle 1080p video?

 

[Xtrem]

The Pi 2 can handle 1080p video?

Yes...

 

[poofyhairguy]

The Pi 2 can handle 1080p video?

With the code pack a Pi2 can play any 1080p Blu Ray rip out there. I have tested one with the worst of the standard.

 

[ZippyDan]

can I use some kind of remote with that?

 

[ZippyDan]

How does the Pi 2 compare to something like this (for instance) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856110105R ?

 

[Binky]

For the remote, buy a Flirc and use any remote. The Pi2 is better than the linked atom box, unless you want to run windows.

Cheap + small + low power = Pi2

 

[ZippyDan]

For the remote, buy a Flirc and use any remote. The Pi2 is better than the linked atom box, unless you want to run windows.

Cheap + small + low power = Pi2

Coolness. Can I do Netflix, Spotify, Pandora off the Pi 2 also?

 

[Xtrem]

Can't do netflix by itself, not sure about spotify/pandora

 

[poofyhairguy]

Coolness. Can I do Netflix, Spotify, Pandora off the Pi 2 also?

In that case you are looking at an Amazon FireTV. Pi 2 is a pure media center.

 

[ZippyDan]

In that case you are looking at an Amazon FireTV. Pi 2 is a pure media center.

Then I have to see a Chromecast vs. Roku vs. FireTV vs. AppleTV comparison haha...

 

[poofyhairguy]

Chromecast:
+s: Works great will Google Stuff, can mirror Android devices, Good streaming options
-s: Local content (aka mkvs and Blu Ray rips) require a Plex server, Any control requires another mobile device, 2.4GHz internet SUCKS for this sort of thing

Roku:
+s: Best streaming options with a large selection, can be completely remote driven with a good remote
-s: Local content requires a Plex server, we are close to a refresh IMHO

FireTV:
+s: Great streaming selection options (right behind Roku), remote driven with a good remote, is full Android so can install Kodi and play almost all local content, has enough power to play games
-s: Cost, and the fact that it isn't quite as good for local playback as a Pi 2 or Chromebox. Still beats everything in the list because it doesn't need a Plex server to play everything on your NAS.

Appletv:
+s: Hooks into your other Apple stuff, allows screen mirroring, is remote driven
-s: Locked ecosystem, remote is too basic, apps are often out of date compared to Roku ones, so-so streaming options, little flexibility for local playback, really should only be bought be bought by Apple people

 

[myocardia]

Appletv:
+s: Hooks into your other Apple stuff, allows screen mirroring, is remote driven
-s: Locked ecosystem, remote is too basic, apps are often out of date compared to Roku ones, so-so streaming options, little flexibility for local playback, really should only be bought be bought by Apple people

Huge -s: All of your videos will have to be recompiled, so that they use Apple containers, instead of the PC containers that you are using now. MKVs have to be converted to M4Us, etc, etc.

 

[piasabird]

The PI 2 B seems to be made to be a good HTPC. It is quite versatile and can do a lot more. It has sound out, and HDMI output and runs off of a Powered USB jack. It has a quad core ARM processor and runs off of Linux. I think Microsoft says it has a version of WIN 10 that will run off of it.

https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-2-model-b/

Has a connector for a camera also.

I would describe the Raspberry PI2b as a powerful piece of kit that has a lot of free support and other people using it for a wide variety of jobs.

•A 900MHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 CPU
•1GB RAM

Like the (Pi 1) Model B+, it also has:
•4 USB ports
•40 GPIO pins
•Full HDMI port
•Ethernet port
•Combined 3.5mm audio jack and composite video
•Camera interface (CSI)
•Display interface (DSI)
•Micro SD card slot
•VideoCore IV 3D graphics core

Because it has an ARMv7 processor, it can run the full range of ARM GNU/Linux distributions, including Snappy Ubuntu Core, as well as Microsoft Windows 10 (see the blog for more information).

This device runs for about $40 or so but you would still need
Power source (Powered USB2 Port)
USB cables
Micro SD card 8-32 GB (Suggestion)
Wireless USB device
Wireless Keyboard or controller
Case

Since it is really designed to be Linux based, there are a lot of possible options. It can probably run most tablet type software. Go look for some Youtube videos.

If you don't like to tinker with things this might not be for you.