Such a device exists - Page 2

scherzo · #1 01-01-2012, 07:30 AM

It sounds like you are trying to do this (correct me if I'm wrong)

You have media files on your computer (movies... By the sounds of it since you are burning .avi files)

You want to put them on a USB drive then walk over to the tv and play the files.

You could get rid of the USB portion by using an apple tv.

As long as you have iTunes installed on your computer you can play any media files in your library (stored on your computer) and stream it to your tv.

You could also do the same thing if you have windows 7 and an Xbox 360.

$129 for an Xbox
$119 for an apple tv

I have both but like the interface on the apple tv. It seems peppier than browsing media on the 360.

msjboy · #2 01-01-2012, 08:11 AM

buy a media player such as Patriot Box Office ( at $29.99 w/ rebate sometimes.. I use this one) or Western Digital's WDTV...dlink Boxee, Asus !oplay, etc as well as others. Plays every format including music, jpgs, rmvb, iso, avi, quicktime, mkv ( ie blue ray rips) etc.
Also, can put onto a network via ethernet or a cheap wifi card, plays thru USB as well. I put in a hard drive on mine which serves as a movie/media juke box.
Can also be open source moded to play youtube, etc.

This is what Apple TV should have done but it has to avoid the legalities of what other companies like Patriot doing movie player rips (ie illegal downloads).

msjboy

Bryan · #3 01-01-2012, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scherzo

It sounds like you are trying to do this (correct me if I'm wrong)

You have media files on your computer (movies... By the sounds of it since you are burning .avi files)

You want to put them on a USB drive then walk over to the tv and play the files.

You could get rid of the USB portion by using an apple tv.

As long as you have iTunes installed on your computer you can play any media files in your library (stored on your computer) and stream it to your tv.

You could also do the same thing if you have windows 7 and an Xbox 360.

$129 for an Xbox
$119 for an apple tv

I have both but like the interface on the apple tv. It seems peppier than browsing media on the 360.

Thanks everyone, appreciate the replies. Correct just want to copy avi's to a usb stick as opposed to burning to a dvd and playing in the player. Checked my tv and no HDMI input, time for a new tv.

I do have a XBOX 360 that came with my Telus Optik TV subsrciption. Never used it and it's just sitting in the closet gathering dust. Will pull it out of the closet and see if it will do what I need. I have win7 as well. Yes I know a Xbox sitting in the closet. Shows my age and interest in video games.

Patriot Box also seems like a good idea as well

lee9 · #4 01-01-2012, 09:19 AM

HDMI isn't the only way... you can old school s-video or even older depending on your computer's outputs. No need to "copy" just connect

Bryan · #5 01-01-2012, 09:51 AM

Looked up the patriot Box and it seems to be a a real good product. From the looks of it the Patriot can almost do everything.

lastlight · #6 01-01-2012, 04:03 PM

If you have an xbox 360 simply install vuze on your computer. It's a torrent download application but it allows you to stream movie files to your xbox. We watch all of our downloaded content this way and it will cost you nothing.