Smart TV boxes

Tringa

Tringa

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Grateful for some advice about the devices that convert a TV into a smart TV.

The Now TV box looks great for the price and the Roku devices seem well liked. I may have missed this in my reading but do these boxes allow internet access, ie do they have a browser so you can surf??

While being able to watch things on iPlayer, etc and stream films via these boxes appeals, I can do that already via the laptop. I could use the laptop (connected to the TV) to access the internet but having a box(which would also give me full access to the internet) permanently linked to the TV and a convenient remote control would be much easier.

Any advice appreciated.

Dave
 
little disappointed with my wdtv live in all honesty. I have some mkv's that it refuses to play and other movies where it just stops half way through. These same files play fine even via the inbuilt media player on my tv (the only thing stopping me using this as my default player is audio outputs) and with xbmc. I was expecting it to be a little less finicky tbh. Might flog it and change to an android box running xbmc
 
I'd stay away from Now TV as it's limited in scope to Now products. roku are very good value, I stream Netflix and iplayer through mine. however they are both dedicated media streamers and therefore not full browsers.

I also have a smart TV which I can access the internet through but it's not very user friendly so doesn't get used for that.

If you want to browse on the big screen then you really need to link up a computer.
 
I have just bought a WDTV and thinking about returning it.

Just cannot get it to connect wirelessly although an ethernet cable is fine. Tried it on three different peoples TV/routers now and nothing.

Am I doing something wrong? The other thing that annoys me about is the inability to keep the username/password everytime I try a different tack (WPS button, manual entry, pin number etc)
 
Could take a look at Chromecast - plugs into a hdmi socket and seems to be selling well now it is available in the UK
 
Harriers9 said:
I have just bought a WDTV and thinking about returning it.

Just cannot get it to connect wirelessly although an ethernet cable is fine. Tried it on three different peoples TV/routers now and nothing.

Am I doing something wrong? The other thing that annoys me about is the inability to keep the username/password everytime I try a different tack (WPS button, manual entry, pin number etc)
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Never had an issue with the wireless on mine.


Sounds like yours is faulty
 
Neilc28 said:
Big thumbs up for Chromecast from me!
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Until 2 weeks ago I would have agreed but now my Google Cast constantly crashes and I lose the connection. Very frustrating having to go into another room to restart it! I've looked on the net and it's happening to a lot of people.
 
I've found my wdtv to be pretty good. It plays everything i throw at it.

Just wish the interface was better / quicker. Frustrated that it rescans my library everytime i switch it on, it often forgets the played / unplayed status, it won't rewind / forward when paused, no volume controls, wont connect to a networked drive.

The apple tv is another option, but dislike the fact you have to have a computer running to access anything over the network. UI is much improved over the WDTV, but lacks iplayer, is limited on formats it will play and it too has no volume controls.

May have a look at rasbmc but having spent the best part of 2 decades playing with and setting up various boxes, i quite like plug and play simplicity.
 
Rapscallion said:
The apple tv is another option, but dislike the fact you have to have a computer running to access anything over the network.
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I have an apple tv and have linked it to my NAS drive, so works with that without the laptop being on. Have my iTunes folder on the NAS drive and linked to the cloud. Combination of that and the smart tv gives me all that I have wanted so far.
 
Another option (albeit a lot more costly) is to use a dedicated PC.

This gives you total flexibility in what you watch and how, the internet and other benefits. This is what we have in our living room, a PC attached to a 50" screen. I've had a similar system for about 10 years. Besides having a great TV system and internet access we also have it configured as a gaming machine. As it's quite a powerful system it's also great for a bit of editing.

I work online from home and find I use the living room more than my office.
 
Bythesea said:
I have an apple tv and have linked it to my NAS drive, so works with that without the laptop being on. Have my iTunes folder on the NAS drive and linked to the cloud. Combination of that and the smart tv gives me all that I have wanted so far.
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Hi Brian,

what NAS are you using?

Is it identical in features as if you were connecting to the itunes library on the laptop?
 
Thank you for the comments. I think have some more thinking to do.

Dave
 
the now tv box doe not allow you to surf you have the roku app store to choose from. it will stream inlayer and 4od and channel 5 on demand but thats about all thats free
 
Nexus 7 2013 + Miracast Dongle

Download Showbox and Mobdro and you are good to go!
 
antihero said:
Never had an issue with the wireless on mine.


Sounds like yours is faulty
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I'm the same. It sounds like there have been some faulty units - but mine is fantastic. Plays any file i throw at it (including 20gb MKVs), and has a really nice interface.

Can thoroughly recommend WDTV Live.
 
tommillski said:
I'm the same. It sounds like there have been some faulty units - but mine is fantastic. Plays any file i throw at it (including 20gb MKVs), and has a really nice interface.

Can thoroughly recommend WDTV Live.
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Although I haven't yet noticed it with mkv's, I have several avi's it won't play for some reason. Transcoded them to mp4s and they now work :/
 
I have a Roku-3; you can get all the main on line players except ITV.
The reason I wanted one was that it streams my PC content via Media browser server, the hand-set has an earphone jack and the fact that the hand-set has wi fi connectivity, I can play the music stock on my PC and listen to it in the garden. The earphones are great for listen to loud films at night when the missus has gone to bed.
It will do I until I can afford a new TV.

http://www.roku.com/uk/what-is-roku

Rhodese.
 
Another vote for WDTV I have had one for pretty much going on 5 years, I have it cabled up and use software called Twonky which is DLNA compliant from my PC plays pretty much everything very rare I get a file it will not play and the remote and interface is so slick and easy. It also updates itself over the web auto.
 
Mr Bump said:
Another vote for WDTV I have had one for pretty much going on 5 years, I have it cabled up and use software called Twonky which is DLNA compliant from my PC plays pretty much everything very rare I get a file it will not play and the remote and interface is so slick and easy. It also updates itself over the web auto.
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Same here.

It's tidy unit. Used it with wireless but IPlayer was not happy and kept buffering. Stuck it on TP Link AV500 Powerline unit and no problem.

Got a second one for £59.99 from ASDA recently and all good.

Plays everything I have.

S
 
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I've been using a nano-PC with XBMC (OpenElec) but it's finally given up on me, so have a Chromecast arriving today, combined with Plex it appears on paper to be a nice solution using my Nexus 7 2013 as a controller.
 
Now I've discovered my new LG plasma can pass through DTS audio the WDTV has had it :)

granted, it's a prettier interface than the LG media player, but is more fussy with my collection of movies (Trust me, I was more than surprised that the LG played everything I threw at it, including movies the WDTV wouldnt)
 
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I use a NOW TV box. Cost £10 initially, and you get a free month of either sky movies access or the tv programme alternative.

Does 4OD and iPlayer and it does the job for me :)

Only 720p though!
 
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