Ask Engadget HD: Easiest-to-use HD media streamer?
"I've heard various HD media streamers proclaimed as being "the best," but of those great ones, which is easiest to use? I can imagine things getting complicated quick when trying to find media on various connected PCs and hard drives, and I'm not looking to frustrate myself with yet another box that doesn't really work. What HD media streamer is simplest to setup and use? I want things to be as pain free as possible."
Ah, pain free. Isn't that what we all strive for? If you've found your own streamer to be remarkably simple to use, speak up. And moreover, if you've found yours to be incredibly difficult to use, speak up even louder.
Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jiffylush @ Mar 4th 2009 3:14PM
I always had the best look with an HTPC, it was the only thing I could find that would play everything.
I used to use beyondtv as the frontend.
Unfortunately when I made the jump to HD I went with a PS3 and a TiVo S3. Both do what they are supposed to do well, but neither streams media as reliably or simply as the old htpc.
Brent @ Mar 4th 2009 3:41PM
For the best of HTPC/Media Streamer worlds I'd go with a SageTV HD200.
Alternatively possibly a PCH
Missile-Mike @ Mar 4th 2009 4:06PM
My S3 Tivo does everything I need it to:
-Streaming Netflix
-Streams any video format I can throw at it from pytivo on my desktop including divx,mkv,avi,ANYTHING that FFMPG can support.
-all the other Tivo stuff.
I hear about all of these other new little set top boxes that do various things, but I have been happy with my S3 and pytivo doing all of these things for a few years now.
@ Jiffylush: What DLNA server are you using for your PS3? Try out Pytivo for your Tivo. You won't go back to using the PS3 for serving up movies from your PC!
MK153 @ Mar 5th 2009 12:47PM
I just bought a Mini to be come a torrent server and to run plex on with my main TV - but I would like to share its files on the network and have my bedroom TiVo HD act like you describe.
Are you using TiVoServer? Have you had to hack your S3?
Ordeith @ Mar 4th 2009 4:07PM
Xbox 360
nathan @ Mar 4th 2009 5:07PM
That's a joke, right? I mean, I use one for that just because I'm too cheap to buy something that has good codec support. But transcoding MKV (for example) to MP4 and losing surround sound is not my idea of good -- either easy, convenient, or high quality.
Gus @ Mar 4th 2009 6:50PM
I agree with Nathan, my 360 reads very few files, it's codec support is poor, I gave up using it as a streamer.
Morgan Boyle @ Mar 5th 2009 11:45AM
PS# now supports MKV through the updated divix codec
Justin @ Mar 4th 2009 4:10PM
I have used my movies. Works pretty good. Have had problems with ps3 on it, but anything that supports windows media seems to work just fine.
chumley @ Mar 4th 2009 4:11PM
Do you really desire streaming or just media playback? Streaming may be convenient once you get it setup and working, but it also adds complexity and opportunity for problems. If you are willing to forgo streaming, the WD HD Media Player is might fit the bill.
swilson23 @ Mar 4th 2009 4:17PM
I hope it's the PopcornHour A-110 since I ordered one and awaiting shipment. I was going to wait until EngadgetHD followed up their hands-on report... but that seems to be taking a while :-P
Joel @ Mar 5th 2009 1:20PM
I'm in the exact same boat! My A-110 should be arriving today!
Stand your ground, the popcorn hour is definitely the best. ;)
David S @ Mar 4th 2009 4:32PM
"Easy" means more than pretty/non-intimidating GUI. I wouldn't call an AppleTV easy because it can't play xvid encoded files and mkvs. Even with hacks, it's been reported it doesn't have the horsepower to play 1080p smoothly. HTPCs require management, like any computer. The Popcorn Hour has certain quirks that sometimes pop up, but for the most part plays most files. A Windows Media Center extender has codec limitations AND you have to manage a computer (but you might already be "managing" the box anyway).
I think it's important to consider which negatives don't (or minimally) harm your user experience and pick accordingly. Some people don't mind being locked into the iTunes ecosystem, and AppleTV would be a perfect match. A HTPC can be kept clean of unnecessary apps, and the result would be a media device that can play anything. Never having to care about the file extension or codec makes content on the HTPC very "easy" to play. The Popcorn Hour UI doesn't bother me, and its wide container/codec support means no transcoding and only sporadic file conversion. That said, picking the right DNLA Server makes all the difference, and the experience one ends up with on a Popcorn Hour depends on the ease of use of the DNLA server, which vary and add a level of complication.
Jeff C @ Mar 5th 2009 8:36AM
Would you really take advice from someone who does not know it is a "DLNA Server", not a "DNLA Server"?
Peter F @ Mar 4th 2009 5:02PM
Linksys DMA2100 for Media Center.
glenn s @ Mar 4th 2009 5:12PM
While I am extremely happy with my HTPC running XBMC or Boxee on Linux (and a WindowsXP VM for playing netflix streams), I'm not about to call the system easy to use, if that includes setting it up and configuring. As far as my wife is concerned, it is pretty easy to use since I have it all set up with the Harmony remote. But getting it configured is well...let just say it is fun hobby.
As for ease of use, I don't really think that there is one yet. The consoles (360 or PS3) are probably what I would guess, but I haven't played with any other options though.
At this point though I think there is an inverse relationship between easy and functional.
Jon @ Mar 4th 2009 5:38PM
PCH put in anything bam done ..
Thomas @ Mar 4th 2009 5:40PM
DViCO's TViX comes with a high WAF. The GUI is nice and easy, but network setup is a little difficult if you are not familiar with networking in general. Offcause you can just use it with a local HD or with a USB drive attached.
CraigK @ Mar 4th 2009 5:52PM
WDTV has been the easiest for us. I just periodically swap out mkvs for the newer releases but keep all the kids movies. Nothing else has to be on (Harmony takes care of that - WAF intact) and I don't have to have another PC running all day.
I need a larger usb hdd, but I also need to not get into keeping some of the media. Once we watch the newer releases, they're gone. (Rule Number of Fight Club.... etc etc)
Darwin Smith @ Mar 4th 2009 6:55PM
The WD TV is not a streaming device of any kind since it has no ability to STREAM, as in not have to transfer files to a HD before you can watch them.
The Tivos wouldn't be so bad if the interface wasn't so slow and didn't crash so often.
Bleepbloop @ Mar 4th 2009 5:58PM
I am a major advocate of the D-Link DSM-330 aka DIVX Connected box. Been using mine since August '08 when it was released in the U.S. It has a sexy interface like Apple TV but you're not tethered to the iTunes interface and has an open(ish) platform that allows for plug-in development that includes access to YouTube, Hulu, Google Maps, Weather, etc. The latest beta version of the software (1.5) includes MKV compatibility (excluding DTS-audio) when installed with DIVX 7 but requires a computer with higher horse power than my 3 year old Pentium 4 desktop can handle to run 720p mkv files smoothly (and forget about 1080P). The interface for MP3 playback also leaves a little to be desired but there is a Jukebox in development available on the DIVX Connected site that makes it more appealing. The shortcomings include limited progress on software development (Divx Connected was in version 1.2 when I bought the device last year), wireless G only and not N (improved by connecting to my computer using a Belkin Powerline AV), and much of the GUI sexiness requires a computer with a fair amount of horsepower (which my Pentium 4 is up to the task 99% of the time except for MKV files). All in all, I still think between Apple TV, HTPC's, Roku, Popcorn Hour, etc. I think the DSM-330 packs the best features & compatiblity wrapped in a sexy interface compared to the other options that offer additional playback features but have all the slickness of MS-DOS hooked up to your $2000 plasma.
Check out http://labs.divx.com/Connected for more information on plug-ins, etc.
Darwin Smith @ Mar 4th 2009 6:54PM
The Apple TV, PS3, and XBox 360, in order, are the best and easiest to set-up IMO. The Apple TV really couldn't be any more simple and the PS3 is far behind plus it support more types of video files and doesn't lock you into iTunes. The XBox 360 is okay, but its interface can be daunting at times and doesn't seem to have the ease of use down like the PS3 and Apple TV.
Dave Roberts @ Mar 4th 2009 7:04PM
My SAGE HD 200 is so easy to use my 7 year old and wife can make it work. A huge improvement over the HTPC that only worked for me!
kuriti @ Mar 12th 2009 5:27PM
I spent alot of time researching streamers with the intent to also use my computer as a DVR. Since you are already using a computer, i don't think that adds complexity, so to me, a long HDMI cable seemed to be the best solution. i bought a refurbished duo core processor with a decent graphics card with DVI ($300), a blu ray optical drive ($100) and a 35ft DVI/HMI cable ($75). My home office is in the same room as the new HDTV ($nevermind), but i still ran the cable through the wall so it is clean and not part of the other TV components. you can get HDMI repeaters and go a long way. now i have my HDTV set up as my extended monitor where i drag and drop anything i can play on my computer with no limitations (Netflix, Hulu, blu ray, winamp, etc.). i love it and spend alot less time trolling the intertubes looking for the 'best' or a better solution since i am not restricted to any formats, etc.
kuriti @ Mar 4th 2009 7:16PM
Oh yeah, and i just got the DVR from the satellite company since nothing seems to be able to record cable shows except their own equipment.
Cesar @ Mar 4th 2009 7:53PM
I am currently using PS3 to stream HD videos from my Linkstation Live running Twonky.
So far so good, I use GotSent to convert .MKV to MPEG1 without losing any quality.
Cezar @ Mar 5th 2009 11:20AM
I have both Tvix HD M-5100SH and Popcorn Hour A-110.
Well, Tvix runs coller. and even with the fan on, it is silent.
As Thomas said, networking on the tvix is a little dificult at first. But after you`ve set up, it never fails. No stutters.
Popcorn Hour Has the easiest setup I`ve seen, but has no display and it runs way HOT.
The good thing about a media streamer is that you never have to reboot the OS or Reinstall it because someone that did not know what it was doing, messed up the HTPC!
They are realy tiny compared to a computer, and I do not regret a minute for having them.
One other thing, I`m still impressed to what that sigma processor can do! Doesn`t matter what I need to watch (h264 (720p, 1080p), XviD, ISO). They play!
Hope I could help!
Drew @ Mar 4th 2009 9:24PM
I stream from my macbook to my PS3 use Elgato's eyeconnenct software. I use EyeTV for my PVR and it works seamlessly. I also like that I can connect my media hard drive to my PS3 and play media directly on the PS3.
DieselBolts @ Mar 4th 2009 9:35PM
I have used my xbox, 2 generations of TViX, and a popcorn hour and can say that by far the best all around solution in terms of performance and GUI is using a good HTPC with mediaportal (free) using streamedMP skin. Support for mkv, m2ts, iso.....anything really. Hi bitrate movie in either of those formats choked with any of my previous solutions. I have not had any problems with my current solution.
lakersin2025 @ Mar 4th 2009 10:09PM
I just turn my computer on and my PS3 sees it and I stream my movies and files to my TV. So easy even a caveman can do it.
I live in BFE so I dont get local stations in HD so I just download Lost online and watch it in HD on my TV on Thursdays.
MaestroIan @ Mar 4th 2009 11:00PM
I love the PS3's streaming capabilities! While out of the box it plays very well with PCs, it isn't really that difficult to get it going with Macs. It always works without fail for me!
Galley @ Mar 5th 2009 8:36AM
For ease-of-use, nothing beats Apple TV.
Rumplestiltskin @ Mar 6th 2009 9:32AM
PS3 is an amazing media streamer with DLNA. Just set up the PS3 media server from : http://code.google.com/p/ps3mediaserver/ on your PC, Mac, or linux.
It transcodes everything I could through at it: vob, iso, mkv files at 720p (wireless) and 1080p (wired).
some comments in a forum here:
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=100770&page=3
aflat @ Mar 5th 2009 9:45AM
For streaming the Sage HD200. It has pretty much the same guts as the PopcornHour, so they can both do the same thing. The advantage with the HD200 is once you decide you want more then streaming, you can add a server to the back end and get all your DVR functionality too, including those premium channels in HD once you add a HD PVR. Doing it this way is backwards from the way most people do it(get the DVR functionality first, the streaming is a bonus), but it's still very viable.
Fox23 @ Mar 5th 2009 12:17PM
HTPC! As you go you can upgrade it with advances in technology. Don't like running Vista or XP to slow you down, try OSX or Linux.
Joel @ Mar 5th 2009 1:26PM
Not to mention the low wattage of a Popcorn Hour compared to a HTPC.
shaggyjb @ Mar 5th 2009 12:54PM
I have a 360, PS3, and Popcorn Hour A-100. The Popcorn Hour A-100 wins hands down. As far as easy to use after it is setup, the popcorn hour can provide a beautiful and easy to use interface when running something like Yet Another Movie Jukebox (YAMJ), see http://www.youtube.com/v/innpOD86-l0&hl=en&fs=1 or http://www.networkedmediatank.com/showthread.php?tid=11136 for examples. The PCH plays just about anything you throw at it unlike the 360 or PS3. The PCH will map a NAS drive and treat it like a local drive instead of using uPnP or "streaming" protocols which sometimes get a little flaky (ala PS3). My entire family (technophobes) has no problem using the PCH to navigate through and play a large movie collection. My 3-year old can even use it to.
As far as easy to setup, the PCH is not the easiest to get into shape. Programs like YAMJ are community freeware so, getting it working can be a bit overwhelming if you are not prepared.
Himay @ Mar 7th 2009 1:25AM
I hate to say it, but I think the xbox 360 wins in this category.
* Using it's ability to see upnp servers, it streams XviD and mkv just fine across a local network (admittedly, I had to change the extension on my mp4s and mkv's to "m4v" to get the 360 to see/play it).
* When connected as a Vista Media Center extender, it does the whole DVR package. (The Popcorn Hour can be made to support GB-PVR, but it's a pain in the keester.)
* It's got built-in Netflix support
* Either through one of many plug-ins for Vista Media Center, or through the use of PlayOn Media Server, the 360 can stream from Hulu, CBS, YouTube, etc.
(The HD-200 is supposedly getting Hulu support soon...we'll see...it has limited Hulu support via PlayOn currently, and it doesn't do Netflix, period. The HD-200 also requires a minimum $80 investment in SageTV software to use the PVR functionality on top of the $200 hardware cost, although they bundle for $250. As crappy as DVR-MS is as a codec for recording live HDTV, Windows Media Center also happens to have a much nicer price tag (i.e., free).)
Like I said, I hate to say it, since I generally prefer that Sage records all HDTV to *.mpg files, but until Sage gets it's act together with online video (and follows Boxee's lead on that)...