TV net connectability......

[Gray_Area]

I'm looking at a Panasonic that has an ethernet port, and uses widgets for online content. Can I also use this to access video files on a hard drive of another computer, so that I don't need a dedicated PC for the TV?

[gonzo90017]

As long as it has DLNA I don't see why not. BUT not all files are compatible.

[leapinlew]

I'm looking at a Panasonic that has an ethernet port, and uses widgets for online content. Can I also use this to access video files on a hard drive of another computer, so that I don't need a dedicated PC for the TV?

I doubt it.

[Howard_Casto]

What pbj said about rouku, but to be honest, I just don't get the point of those little boxes. 

The scheme of things is like this:

Most web enabled tvs have some sort of app that allows you to stream media from a pc to the machine.  These typically don't work well as they only support a few codecs and they are usually "portable" codecs like mp4.  There are also apps like flingo... again, same problem.  Then there are tvs with working usb ports.... guess what?  Same problem!

Here's the thing... most of these web tvs have a full fledged pc and OS inside.  Unfortunately it is a pretty puny one... think low end smart phone.  Because of this they can't really handle video unless it is sent in a format specifically meant for that tv.  (So the processing can be done via hardware).

That being said.... most tvs have the very excellent youtube and "web videos" apps, which will cover most of your online video needs as well as several other commerical services like amazon, blockbuster ect....  So any videos you own that are already "in the cloud" will work quite well.  It's just dvds and blu-rays you've ripped to your hdd you are going to have a problem with.  But I've gotta ask... since it's a tv why not just pick up a cheap blu-ray player in that case?

[Samstag]

I'm looking at a Panasonic that has an ethernet port, and uses widgets for online content. Can I also use this to access video files on a hard drive of another computer, so that I don't need a dedicated PC for the TV?

If it has DLNA and x264 support then it may work pretty well for a lot of media.  Some integrated DLNA players are kinda crappy though.

[Gray_Area]

@Howard: I don't do laser media. And I want to pull from my network.

[Howard_Casto]

@Howard: I don't do laser media. And I want to pull from my network.

Well then good luck doing things the hard way.

[Samstag]

It's only a little bit more complicated than inserting a shiny disc right-side up in a tray.

[newmanfamilyvlogs]

And if we keep holding our breath long enough, the Rasiberri Pi will get released.

[Howard_Casto]

It's only a little bit more complicated than inserting a shiny disc right-side up in a tray.

If the hardware and software existed to do what he wants... but it doesn't.  Your options are to hook up a computer, get a roku and hope and pray that it supports the formats you are using... or just use a bluray player. 

Or you know... don't pirate your media.  As I said, all the commercial video services have their own tv apps and they work just fine.  In addition, most of your major streaming media websites also have their own apps and they work.  If you "don't do laser media" then you are either buying it from these services or pirating it.  I'm not judging at all, I'm just saying....

[Samstag]

It's only a little bit more complicated than inserting a shiny disc right-side up in a tray.

If the hardware and software existed to do what he wants... but it doesn't.  Your options are to hook up a computer, get a roku and hope and pray that it supports the formats you are using... or just use a bluray player. 

Or you know... don't pirate your media.  As I said, all the commercial video services have their own tv apps and they work just fine.  In addition, most of your major streaming media websites also have their own apps and they work.  If you "don't do laser media" then you are either buying it from these services or pirating it.  I'm not judging at all, I'm just saying....

There's not a single true statement in your entire post.  Do you seriously believe this or are you just trolling?

[Vanguard]

Boxee will do exactly what you want.   Nice and small too.  It will pull over the network and supports just about every format:

Supported formats/codecs:
Physical media: CDs, DVDs, Video CDs (including DVD-Video, VCD/SVCD and Audio-CD/CDDA)

Container formats: AVI, MPEG, WMV, ASF, FLV, MKV, MOV, MP4, M4A, AAC, NUT, Ogg, OGM, RealMedia RAM/RM/RV/RA/RMVB, 3gp, VIVO, PVA, NUV, NSV, NSA, FLI, FLC, and DVR-MS (beta support)

Video codecs: MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 (SP and ASP, including DivX, XviD, 3ivx, DV, H.263), MPEG-4 AVC (H.264, including Nero Digital), HuffYUV, Indeo, MJPEG, RealVideo, QuickTime, Sorenson, WMV, Cinepak,

Audio codecs: AIFF, WAV/WAVE, MP2, MP3, AAC, AACplus, AC3, DTS, ALAC, AMR, FLAC, Monkey's Audio (APE), RealAudio, SHN, WavPack, MPC/Musepack/Mpeg+, Speex, Vorbis and WMA.

Digital picture/image formats: BMP, JPEG, GIF, PNG, TIFF, MNG, ICO, PCX and Targa/TGA

Subtitle formats: AQTitle, ASS/SSA, CC, JACOsub, MicroDVD, MPsub, OGM, PJS, RT, SMI, SRT, SUB, VOBsub, VPlayer

[newmanfamilyvlogs]

I used to use a fullblown PC for media streaming on the TV, but then I gave this a try:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136593

they make one with a built-in harddrive also.

[whammoed]

I ended up using Google TV with a Sony Blu Ray player that has it built in.  I purchased the GTVBox app for $1.99 and I don't even need a DLNA server.  It can play my files over network shares.  This thing also has a "full" Chrome browser built in.  Full is in quotes because some sites will block video from playing like the free Hulu streaming.  It also allows me to do picture in picture using my cable TV so I can keep a show playing and start up an app on Google TV at the same time.  Logitech also has a Google TV device if you don't need a blu ray player.  I wanted both so I went with the Sony.

[shmokes]

I think jailbreaking an Apple TV 2 is the sweet spot right now. It only does 720p, but that's fine for now, especially if you're downloading ripped media. In addition to having access to all the paid content from the iTunes store for buying/renting, you can install XBMC on it and it'll do all the things you want better than anything else out there. Also the thing is about the size of a hockey puck. And it's $100, which is tough to beat.

[leapinlew]

I think Vanguard is right on...

I'd spend a few extra bucks and get a boxee box. It comes out of the box ready to go. No hacking required.

[wp34]

I ended up using Google TV with a Sony Blu Ray player that has it built in.  I purchased the GTVBox app for $1.99 and I don't even need a DLNA server.  It can play my files over network shares.  This thing also has a "full" Chrome browser built in.  Full is in quotes because some sites will block video from playing like the free Hulu streaming.  It also allows me to do picture in picture using my cable TV so I can keep a show playing and start up an app on Google TV at the same time.  Logitech also has a Google TV device if you don't need a blu ray player.  I wanted both so I went with the Sony.

I ended up picking one of these up as well because I needed a Blu Ray player and want to be able to stream Amazon Prime to my TV.  I'm pretty happy with it but wish Hulu was not blocked.  My kids absolutely love it though because it is so easy for them to use.

[whammoed]

I ended up using Google TV with a Sony Blu Ray player that has it built in.  I purchased the GTVBox app for $1.99 and I don't even need a DLNA server.  It can play my files over network shares.  This thing also has a "full" Chrome browser built in.  Full is in quotes because some sites will block video from playing like the free Hulu streaming.  It also allows me to do picture in picture using my cable TV so I can keep a show playing and start up an app on Google TV at the same time.  Logitech also has a Google TV device if you don't need a blu ray player.  I wanted both so I went with the Sony.

I ended up picking one of these up as well because I needed a Blu Ray player and want to be able to stream Amazon Prime to my TV.  I'm pretty happy with it but wish Hulu was not blocked.  My kids absolutely love it though because it is so easy for them to use.

Cool.  Sometimes it feels like I'm the only one using Google TV.  No one else seems to know what it is.  I like that I only added one more device to the system, and I already have an HTPC hooked up to my other TV, so it seemed the closest fit to what I wanted.

[Gray_Area]

Hmmmm. I'm getting a little over-whelmed. I have a spare PC, I may just go that route. I haven't bought a TV yet, though. I watch movies a few times a month, so right now I've spent enough work-hours just thinking about it to cover three month's-worth of watching movies......

[shmokes]

Lol . . . you don't know overwhelmed until you try tweaking a PC to be a pleasant HTPC experience.    With that said, that's what I use and once you have it set up properly nothing else comes close.

[leapinlew]

Lol . . . you don't know overwhelmed until you try tweaking a PC to be a pleasant HTPC experience.    With that said, that's what I use and once you have it set up properly nothing else comes close.

I use a HTPC too. I went with Windows Media Center. When I first built my HTPC, the best alternative was Myth and I tried to build a Myth box. Total frustration. I find the Windows Media Center experience to work very well for my needs.

[shmokes]

I much prefer XBMC, but I don't need it to do DVR duties.

[leapinlew]

I much prefer XBMC, but I don't need it to do DVR duties.

I might have too, but I got invested early before XBMC had much of a foothold.

[knave]

I built a HTPC for my Brother to use, I have both XBMC and Windows MC on there...He's had it about a year and just uses the Windows. I think because it's just more integrated.

[emphatic]

I too am a HTPC user. It's just not possible to get an "out of box" solution that can:

Play EVERYTHING with (optional) subtitles in .srt, ssa, idx/sub format
Give you some clever zoom modes that will even make 4:3 material look great in 16:9 (without people looking fat)
Show you the weather
Give you online videos with a remote and allow you to download youtube, itunes trailers etc
Catalog and properly present your videos, movies and TV shows
Record TV, schedule recordings etc.

I'm using MediaPortal that is way easier to install/manage than XBMC IMHO. http://www.team-mediaportal.com