Mailing List Archive: MythTV: Users

Re: Slightly OT: Simplest way of playing HD .mkv's/.avi's on a TV?? (Out of the loop about FEs, help!)

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sfreilly at roadrunner

Nov 24, 2009, 11:58 AM

Post #1 of 3 (328 views)
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Re: Slightly OT: Simplest way of playing HD .mkv's/.avi's on a TV?? (Out of the loop about FEs, help!)

Bobby Gill wrote:
> A friend of mine just bought an HD TV and I do all his computer tech
> support as it is, so I'm looking for a way by which he can play video
> files directly on the TV (no DVD/disc preferentially). I know there are
> DVD players that are "DiVX compatible" but most of my stuff is HD .mkv
> content, and we'll both be using the TV, but when I'm not around I need
> the /simplest/ way for him to watch what he wants.
>
> The way I see it:
>
> a) He has a laptop (brand new, we bought it about a week ago), and of
> course they only have the VGA input so would this make sense to pop
> files onto the laptop and do a TV OUT to watch? Wouldn't a VGA->HDMI
> connection cut quality? I am just guessing this isn't the /optimal/
> method, but I could be wrong.
>
> b) Preferred solution: A simple device I can purchase that will store
> video files and allow for him to directly plug his TV in via HDMI,
> select the video file desired and watch it, bada boom bada bang?
>
> I admit I have barely glanced at threads on the list pertaining to ION,
> atom, etc. frontends and if any of these are reasonably priced
> ($100-$250 range?) and can do what I'm asking here, then great,
> appreciate any recommendations.
>
> P.S. It's fine if the device runs via linux, I can surely set up
> everything and maintain it if need be, but of course the MAIN thing here
> is that the interface and viewing experience is pretty simple. I don't
> know if this is getting into "build a myth BE/FE" territory or not,
> though I'd rather avoid that as again, this guy needs coaching on how to
> select the right disc with his multi-disc receiver, heh...
>
>
> Thanks fellas
> Bob
>

If they arent "myth" capable sounds like maybe all you need is a NAS
hanging on his network to store everything. throw xbmc or boxee on the
laptop and connect it via vga to the tv, a nice media center remote and
their all set. of course im assuming both the hdtv and lappy have a vga
port or svideo, most do, that ive dealt with anyway. if not, adapters
are cheap.

--
Steve Reilly

http://reillyblog.com

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jedi at mishnet

Nov 24, 2009, 12:48 PM

Post #2 of 3 (298 views)
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Re: Slightly OT: Simplest way of playing HD .mkv's/.avi's on a TV?? (Out of the loop about FEs, help!) [In reply to]

On Tue, Nov 24, 2009 at 02:59:31PM -0500, Johnny wrote:
> > I admit I have barely glanced at threads on the list pertaining to ION,
> > atom, etc. frontends and if any of these are reasonably priced ($100-$250
> > range?) and can do what I'm asking here, then great, appreciate any
> > recommendations.
> >
> > P.S. It's fine if the device runs via linux, I can surely set up everything
> > and maintain it if need be, but of course the MAIN thing here is that the
> > interface and viewing experience is pretty simple. I don't know if this is
> > getting into "build a myth BE/FE" territory or not, though I'd rather avoid
> > that as again, this guy needs coaching on how to select the right disc with
> > his multi-disc receiver, heh...
>
> Well it looks like you don't want anything to do with mythtv so you
> are more than slightly off topic. You are probably better off with
> google. There are lots of ION systems available in the $200 range.

...or Engadget.

There are plenty of appliances out there that are well suited to being
the frontend for a virtual DVD Jukebox. They are in the same price range
as ION PC hardware.

[deletia]
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1canuck2 at gmail

Nov 24, 2009, 2:09 PM

Post #3 of 3 (297 views)
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Re: Slightly OT: Simplest way of playing HD .mkv's/.avi's on a TV?? (Out of the loop about FEs, help!) [In reply to]

>> > P.S. It's fine if the device runs via linux, I can surely set up everything
>> > and maintain it if need be, but of course the MAIN thing here is that the
>> > interface and viewing experience is pretty simple. I don't know if this is
>> > getting into "build a myth BE/FE" territory or not, though I'd rather avoid
>> > that as again, this guy needs coaching on how to select the right disc with
>> > his multi-disc receiver, heh...
>>
>> Well it looks like you don't want anything to do with mythtv so you
>> are more than slightly off topic. You are probably better off with
>> google. There are lots of ION systems available in the $200 range.
>
> ...or Engadget.
>
> There are plenty of appliances out there that are well suited to being
> the frontend for a virtual DVD Jukebox. They are in the same price range
> as ION PC hardware.
>
If no MythTV FE needed, I can highly recommend the Popcorn Hour
(A-110). I have two of them now, both pulling from a NAS, but you can
also put a disk in them. When you want to get fancy, there's skins to
do nice jukebox front ends, but OOB its still pretty usable. And not
that expensive for what you get.

If you have a myth BE you can also connect to it through uPnP, but its
not the nice Myth frontend, just a list of stuff.

Go too cheap and I think you'll regret it, the PCH has lots of
potential for future growth and is actively supported. The HD quality
on my 1080p projector is quite stunning with good MKV files.

Robin
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