Help Me Get Intertubes TV!

GWC Community GWC Hive Mind
#1

Okay, it is time to figure out how to get Internet TV. Here is what I have now for hardware:

[ul]
[li]A really nice digital TV. Not HD, but I am not that concerned about having HD.
[/li][li]A Intel-based MiniMac, which can burn DVDs but is not in the same room as theTV. Its monitor is lame, so watching on this screen is not an option. Also, the sofa is is the room with the TV.
[/li][li]An iPad.
[/li][li]Decent DSL.
[/li][li]A sofa.
[/li][/ul]

I mostly want to watch movies or stuff from Hulu or iTunes.

Suggestions?

#2

I think anyone these days would love to have a dedicated computer hooked to the TV just for Internet TV watching—I sure would. (I think Chuck does something like that(?)) but that’s not realistic for many.

You can hook the iPad to the TV — I discovered that the same A/V cable I have that connects an iPod to the TV also works with an iPad.

With any iPad hooked to the TV you can watch any iTunes video on your TV, any YouTube video…but Hulu…I don’t think so. Or at least no easy way that I know of.

As you proabably know, some web videos can’t be played on the iPad cuz it doesn’t support flash.

There is a great browser app for the iPad called Skyfire. Skyfire indentifies any videos on the web page your on and converts (in a minute or so) it to a playable video.
That said, the video quality of that converted video is a little sub par.

#3

I am thinking under $200 for additional hardware.

#4

FWIW, You might be able to assemble some kind of cheap computer to connect to the TV. You’re definitely not going to build a functional HD DVR for that kind of cash – maybe not a DVR at all. But I’m not sure that really matters much anymore. If you’re just looking for something that’ll let you play web video and Netflix/Hulu from their sites, that’s a much simpler project. My advice: post something like the “I’m building a new computer” thread and get the techies out there to help you find the right cheap parts to get the job done.

One thot: Video with hardware acceleration for h.264 might help save you some cash on processor.

For my setup I use Minis (like yours) on my bedroom and theater TVs. Then I have a Gentoo-based media server that holds my ripped DVD collection and so on. I control the Minis with The AirMouse app on my iPhone. It works great for web video/etc. and it’s nice to be able to watch all the DVDs (especially the TV series) without hunting for the discs.

#5

I actually don’t care about DVR. I am pretty sure once I get Hulu/iTunes/NetFlicks set up, I am gonna kiss cable good-bye.

#6

Oh, and you can definlity watch Netflix Instant Watch videos on your iPad and on your TV-connected-to-the-iPad.

And, I think, if you subscribe to Hulu Plus(?) there’s an app for that too.

BUT, I dunno. Maybe you don’t want to tie up your iPad to be your media device for your TV. The iPad has so much other great uses as a mobile hand held device.

#7

What I am looking for, I guess, is a media device I can plug into the TV. Sort of a parts of the iPad that does video thing. Maybe AppleTV? Xbox?

#8

Does anyone use Roku or AppleTV?

#9

I have two Roku boxes, one SD and one HD. They are a great inexpensive option (you’re looking at $60-$80 depending on which box you get) and they are just plug and play. They are a bit like the Android for the Apple TV in that you can mod them and create your own private channels if you are into that kind of thing. I have premium channels like Netflix, Amazon video, Hulu plus, Pandora and some nice private channels like Youtube, Funny or Die, CNN, Nowheretv, NASA, and Twitter. I think there is even an app now that will let you DVR with the Roku now. I haven’t used it yet but it sounds awesome.

#10

I ended up with AppleTV. As long as what I want is in iTunes, it works great. I don’t have enough DSL to stream live, but if I download before hand it is okay.