Options for playing video content on TV

Fed · Jan 2, 2013, 02:27 PM

The other month, I bought an Apple TV. It wasn't long before it was then sold on because I couldn't be bothered with all of the video conversions. I've been thinking of buying a Playstation 3 however the last time I had one, I kept getting copyright messages and it would bail from the video. From what I understand, this still occurs on current PS3s when playing external video files (from USB or media server). Does this kind of thing happen on an XBox?

I'm thinking of just buying a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter for my MBP (or doing the same with my HP NAS) and plugging it directly into the TV. However this will be cumbersome.

Can anyone offer some options for either streaming data directly from a HP NAS or via an external hard drive? Prior to the Apple TV nonsense I used a Raspberry Pi and if it wasn't for aesthetic reasons, I'd probably still use it for that purpose.

Thanks for any help or opinions.

d21mike · Jan 2, 2013, 03:45 PM

WDTVLive has a number of options and inexpensive.

Fed · Jan 3, 2013, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d21mike

WDTVLive has a number of options and inexpensive.

Thanks for the recommendation. Just been checking out the reviews and they seem somewhat mixed. From the description alone, it looks the best option actually. Nice and cheap too

mmomega · Jan 3, 2013, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fed

Thanks for the recommendation. Just been checking out the reviews and they seem somewhat mixed. From the description alone, it looks the best option actually. Nice and cheap too

I bought two for when we go RV'ing and I haven't met a video file that the WDTV wouldn't play. MKV, avi, mpeg, etc, etc (this was the first WDTV Live pre-wifi)

I've since been doing the whole convert everything to M4V so everything plays nicely within my little Apple ecosystem. Said I never would but it was just easier in the long run. ( 6TB of media files almost done, converting as we speak)

JGRE · Jan 3, 2013, 04:30 PM

I use Beamer to stream videos om my MBP to my ATV (no iTunes no conversions, no jailbreaks). The software is not perfect yet as it has problems with some large MKV's and does only stereo currently.

chrisperro · Jan 3, 2013, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JGRE

I use Beamer to stream videos om my MBP to my ATV (no iTunes no conversions, no jailbreaks). The software is not perfect yet as it has problems with some large MKV's and does only stereo currently.

+1 Beamer

Jan 2, 2013, 02:27 PM	#1
Fed macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Cheshire, England	Options for playing video content on TV The other month, I bought an Apple TV. It wasn't long before it was then sold on because I couldn't be bothered with all of the video conversions. I've been thinking of buying a Playstation 3 however the last time I had one, I kept getting copyright messages and it would bail from the video. From what I understand, this still occurs on current PS3s when playing external video files (from USB or media server). Does this kind of thing happen on an XBox? I'm thinking of just buying a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter for my MBP (or doing the same with my HP NAS) and plugging it directly into the TV. However this will be cumbersome. Can anyone offer some options for either streaming data directly from a HP NAS or via an external hard drive? Prior to the Apple TV nonsense I used a Raspberry Pi and if it wasn't for aesthetic reasons, I'd probably still use it for that purpose. Thanks for any help or opinions.
	0

Jan 2, 2013, 03:45 PM	#2
d21mike macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Torrance, CA	WDTVLive has a number of options and inexpensive. __________________ Mike
	0

Jan 3, 2013, 04:30 PM	#5
JGRE macrumors regular Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Dutch Mountains	I use Beamer to stream videos om my MBP to my ATV (no iTunes no conversions, no jailbreaks). The software is not perfect yet as it has problems with some large MKV's and does only stereo currently. __________________ iPhone 4, 2008 iMac 20", iPod Nano, 2011 MBP 13", ATV3, iPad Mini.
	0

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