Smart TV Upgrader

[r.j.dawg]

I have been looking at the different media streaming/smart tv boxes available and it's just mind boggling. I would like to be able to access the web from our tv to watch Youtube, go to different networks to catch up on missed shows or stream internet content from my laptop to the tv. We currently have a three year old LG 42" plasma and high speed internet.

I have looked at the LG Smart TV Upgrader, Apple TV, Roku, Sony Internet Player and NeoTV Smart TV.

Does anyone own one of these gadgets or have suggestions on what to get?

 

[colbyt]

Re: Smart TV Upgrader

Forget Apple TV some of the providers don't like and won't work with Apple.

I specifically avoided buying a smart TV when we bought last year.

I failed to consider everything I wanted to do before I made my first purchase so we have 2 of those. We use Roku and Neos Max.

Youtube won't do business with Roku. Roku is not DLNA compliant. I was my first purchase and still used the most.

I added the Neos Max when I wanted to use a network smart drive (NAS) to store pictures and music so that the computer need not be on to use them.

Now I have yet another problem that might be the solution to yours, I am unable to find a blu ray player that does not have streaming built in so if I upgrade to blu ray I will have 3 streamers. You can buy a blu ray with streaming for very little more than the cost of one of the streaming devices.

Be glad to answer any questions.

 

[matt167]

Re: Smart TV Upgrader

I have a Roku, and it's not all it is cracked up to be.. It does not have a youtube app, the one that did exist was canceled and removed by Roku. Now you have to use Plex and it's youtube app as a back door to make it work. That takes a computer running the Plex server to make it work.. NeoTV does have youtube and if it had Plex I would have gotten it over the Roku, but for your uses, I don't think you need plex

 

[eavega]

Re: Smart TV Upgrader

I have a Roku box, a WDTV Live box, and a LaCie Home Cinema box. All three function similarly. For the money, thought, the Roku is really the best one. Most media servers play with Roku natively (I am thinking specifically Plex and PlayOn, as well as Windows Media Server). I run PlayOn as my main media server because it will play YouTube, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Video as well as media stored locally on my hard drive. I even have local television service via Aereo, a new service that streams local channels to your device (plus it includes a DVR function where you can record up to 20 hours of programming for later viewing). Roku plays it natively and PlayOn supports it as a channel. All in all I pay about $25 a month for Netflix, Hulu and Aereo. Between those three and the content that is available online for free from the networks I have more TV and movies than I can watch. The Roku cost me $55.

Rgds

Eric

 

[dolluper]

Re: Smart TV Upgrader

Its simple you can hook up your lap top to the tv and play what you want ....you just need video + audio....if your lap top has Hdmi connector just buy a long hdmi cable.....if it's older like mine I run one long screen cable and a 3.5 audio cable into a convertor which converts to hdmi ....then run the hdmi to the tv.....my laptop is wireless from router.....just some configuring after on your lap top to be done to fit your tv screen size.......Its basically adding an extra screen to your laptop,just happens to be a tv

 

[agallant80]

Re: Smart TV Upgrader

Amazon.com: Google Chromecast HDMI Streaming Media Player: Electronics


Product Features
Stream online video, music and more to your TV using your smartphone, tablet, or laptop
Supports Netflix, YouTube, Google Play, as well as select web content through Chrome browser
Works with Android, iOS, Chrome for Mac, and Chrome for Windows
Easy setup: Plug into any HDTV and connect to your home WiFi network
Box includes Chromecast, HDMI extender, USB power cable, and power adapter
› See more product details

 

[dolluper]

Re: Smart TV Upgrader

That looks interesting only note you must have at least WINDOWS 7 ......usb to hdmi dongle humm

 

[Pony]

Re: Smart TV Upgrader

The Chromcast is insanely popular....especially at that price. I can't keep them on the shelf at work

 

[Grandad]

Re: Smart TV Upgrader

You might check into the Raspberry Pi. It's cheap, about the size of a cigarette pack and is essentially a self-contained mini computer. We've got a couple of them in our house and haven't looked back since getting them in the Spring. Don't ask me how they work, but with the right software that's readily available, you can download TV shows and movies off the internet and store them on your main computer. Then, via your own network, the Raspberry Pi can be accessed using your android phone to instruct it to source a video from your computer and play it on your TV. Don't start asking me any technical questions; my son set this up for us. You don't have to be an IT person to install this, just persistent in getting all the bugs out. I'm sure all the info is widely available on the internet. - Grandad
Raspberry Pi + TV +XBMC = SmartTV - YouTube

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Smart TV Upgrader

I bought a blu ray player, with virtually any online system you want in it, I can download shows, and save them to an external hard drive, I can get streaming video from all of the services in addition to playing upscale DVD's and Blu rays. It is also network connected so I can watch shows on all of my devices. I have Youtube, Netflix and a bunch of others, just get a smart blu ray, hook it up with HDMI cables and you are good to go.

 

[r.j.dawg]

Re: Smart TV Upgrader

Wow.. Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I didn't realize there was so much choice. I guess I have a lot of research to do. We like to watch a lot of shows that are not normally available here in Canada. Hulu, Nine Australia, BBC ect. so I connect through a VPN. I'll have to find out if some of these devices will allow me to do that.

 

[colbyt]

Re: Smart TV Upgrader

Wow.. Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I didn't realize there was so much choice. I guess I have a lot of research to do. We like to watch a lot of shows that are not normally available here in Canada. Hulu, Nine Australia, BBC ect. so I connect through a VPN. I'll have to find out if some of these devices will allow me to do that.

I am about 90% sure that if your TV allows for a PC connection via HDMI you don't need anything other than your computer and a cable to do the VPN thing. In this usage your TV is just a large monitor.