Help select Media/video device

[Kimmaz]

Hello. I am looking to play video in 1080p with stereo or 5.1 audio with the help of a media device and internet. I would need hdmi and minijack or digital optical audio cable. And its depth must be under 34cm on the shelf.

 

What are the alternatives to a small windows laptop?

What device would you use?

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

 

[Metallus97]

media from where?

budget?

Do you want a integrated box or something DIY with something like Plex/kodi etc?

[Kimmaz]

Id like to play video files from the device and youtube/twitch and other sites perhaps. And perhaps 3d video, my projector is capable of showing 3d movie (have to use glasses.) I use a blue ray player for discs.

I could spend around $100, perhaps used.

[Metallus97]

1 minute ago, Kimmaz said:

Id like to play video files from the device and youtube/twitch and other sites perhaps. And perhaps 3d video, my projector is capable of showing 3d movie (have to use glasses.) I use a blue ray player for discs.

I could spend around $100, perhaps used.

Hm wouldn't you have said 3D content idd recommend an Apple TV used.

You really need 3D I mean its basically dead for home use and I think you can find 3D capable Blu-ray players for real cheap. Sell yours and buy one with 3D support

At 100$ a custom box is pretty hard to do and prebuild (if you manage to find one) are CRAP.

 

Want to fiddle around a bit? Gettho solution: Raspi with Kodi and stuff

[Founders]

Just get an Android Box of your choice. Most are around $100 or less and should do everything you're looking for. 

[Metallus97]

7 minutes ago, Founders said:

Just get an Android Box of your choice. Most are around $100 or less and should do everything you're looking for. 

used Apple TV (the gen 4 or the 4k) have more power/are faster and are much easier to use and can access the same stuff as you can with an android box. 

[Founders]

4 minutes ago, Metallus97 said:

used Apple TV (the gen 4 or the 4k) have more power/are faster and are much easier to use and can access the same stuff as you can with an android box. 

If OP wants to use any of the APK's available for free media consumption he'll need an Android Box of some kind. If OP is OK with the basic paid services I guess an Apple TV is OK, it's up to him/her. 

[Metallus97]

7 minutes ago, Founders said:

If OP wants to use any of the APK's available for free media consumption he'll need an Android Box of some kind. If OP is OK with the basic paid services I guess an Apple TV is OK, it's up to him/her. 

sure, but since there now is an App Store for the Apple TV there is really not much missing. Or well nothing that I miss on it.

[Anomnomnomaly]

58 minutes ago, Founders said:

Just get an Android Box of your choice. Most are around $100 or less and should do everything you're looking for. 

The idea is a sound one... however the only problem with that... is that most of them are cheap for a reason... probably 95% of them are utter garbage, will never get updates and are already running vastly out of date android os versions... Seriously I'm seeing stuff with 6.0 on them still.

 

You also need to avoid anything with rockchip mentioned/built in. Those are worse than garbage and you won't even be able to run kodi properly unless you can find a really old version from V16 or before (currently on 18.5).

 

There are a few good ones, but it's really hard to figure out which is which. I actually own 2 nVidia Shield TV, a 2017 and a 2019 Pro. I cannot fault them, they get updated with new features and security patches often and will get OS updates too. I think mine are on a variation of android 9 and we're waiting for 10 to be rolled out at some point.

 

Try reddit r/kodi or something like that... I forget which subreddit now, but they've got guides on what are currently the best android boxes out there.

[Kimmaz]

I found a used Apple TV gen 3 that has Optical Audio output and its nearby me. ill think about it. And I will check out what Android box is, and see if there are any used for sale in my area.

[Kimmaz]

Could I perhaps control a windows laptop with a samsung galaxy S7 Edge? Is my phone too old for this perhaps?

Using my phone as remote control. A laptop is pretty cheap, and a old one will have the ports I need compared to a new one with almost no ports.

[Metallus97]

8 hours ago, Kimmaz said:

I found a used Apple TV gen 3 that has Optical Audio output and its nearby me. ill think about it. And I will check out what Android box is, and see if there are any used for sale in my area.

nono dont get a 3rd gen. Thats super outdated and doesn't support all the features of the streaming services and its slow.

Get a ATV gen4 or 4k

[Metallus97]

8 hours ago, Kimmaz said:

Could I perhaps control a windows laptop with a samsung galaxy S7 Edge? Is my phone too old for this perhaps?

Using my phone as remote control. A laptop is pretty cheap, and a old one will have the ports I need compared to a new one with almost no ports.

you can! There are tons of apps for this. Then you need to install Koid and the streaming apps you want on the Laptop