Amazon FireTV Stick announced - Page 43

fjtorres · 03-19-2015, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I know, I was joking. Plex is rather pointless if you don't also run a Plex server.

I saw the smiley.

I was just pointing out that with hard drives NASes (and NAS-socapable gadgets) cheap these days it doesn't make much sense to use full PCs as media servers. I retired my PC file server for that reason. Big savings in electricity going with the WD cloud server.

What I'm thinking is the whole concept of PC-based media servers is becoming pointless what with cheap NAS options and stick PCs.

ApK · 03-20-2015, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Big savings in electricity going with the WD cloud server.

What I'm thinking is the whole concept of PC-based media servers is becoming pointless what with cheap NAS options and stick PCs.

But only a decently powerful PC can do on-the-fly transcoding from the widest selection of formats. Any consumer appliance device is likely to be a compromise of some sort.
Plus, PCs themselves are far more energy efficient now.

I think a modern laptop would make an ideal media server, if it were not for the high-enthusiast-level of tech ability required to get it to work seamlessly in a home-theater setup.

ApK

DiapDealer · 03-20-2015, 11:11 AM

Transcoding on the fly is exactly why I stick with a PC-based media "server." I have no desire to keep manually transcoding my entire video library every time the newest app that's capable of streaming from a NAS/stick/cloud decides it needs video to be in codec X for best results. I don't have the time to make my existing library convenient for each new wizbang app for the set top box/stick.

fjtorres · 03-20-2015, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApK

But only a decently powerful PC can do on-the-fly transcoding from the widest selection of formats. Any consumer appliance device is likely to be a compromise of some sort.
Plus, PCs themselves are far more energy efficient now.

I think a modern laptop would make an ideal media server, if it were not for the high-enthusiast-level of tech ability required to get it to work seamlessly in a home-theater setup.

ApK

Look at the stick PC's if transcoding matters to you. It'll probably run you $200 or so but it'll play everything n atively or serve and transcode. Or both. QuadCore, too. Not much bigger than the fire stick.

For me, transcoding is no issue because my STB plays everything I can throw at it.

wizwor · 03-21-2015, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Does it still bug anyone else that you can't just browse and search the appstore from the device itself?

No. Having suffered the Roku Channel Store, I am happy to use a PC to browse and search for apps.

DiapDealer · 03-21-2015, 05:01 AM

Well alrighty then. Must say I find that a bit strange. But... to each their own, I guess.

wizwor · 03-22-2015, 11:23 AM

There are many ways to discover Android and Roku apps. For Fire TV, I keep my eye on AFTVNews, newly released apps, and the free app of the day. I like to read the reviews before making a purchase. I think all of this would be very frustrating without a keyboard.

The Roku is worse because a lot of good apps never make their channel store.

I just happen to have set up a streamer at my sister's house. She has only an iPad. Just tapping out all the words was unpleasant.

DiapDealer · 03-22-2015, 03:00 PM

I understand searching for new stuff can be easier on a PC/keyboard. But I'm thinking more of the situation where I KNOW the app exists, I KNOW I want it installed (it's free) and I CAN'T install it from the device. The History channel wasn't anywhere in the recommended apps on my brand new Fire TV Box (like Netflix, Hulu, Plex, etc, were), and the first night I wanted to use it to watch TV (from a bed with only a remote and not a PC in the house turned on and the tablet plugged into a charger), and I couldn't add it.

I'm able to install a whole host of games I'm uninterested in right from the device/remote, but not some fairly common TV viewing channels/apps? That's just dumb.

wizwor · 03-22-2015, 04:06 PM

There are a lot of dumb things about all of these streamers. I wouldn't even own one except that they let you watch a lot of media and play games for next to nothing ;-)

DiapDealer · 03-22-2015, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wizwor

There are a lot of dumb things about all of these streamers.

You're right there! As well as the apps. The whole "go to blahblahblah.com/activate and enter the code on your screen" is crap too.

"Please go flush your upstairs toilet in order to complete the installation of your new downstairs toilet."

ApK · 03-22-2015, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

You're right there! As well as the apps. The whole "go to blahblahblah.com/activate and enter the code on your screen" is crap too.

"Please go flush your upstairs toilet in order to complete the installation of your new downstairs toilet."

To be fair, that method is good when entering credentials on a device with no keyboard input might be tedious. I like apps that give you choice of logging in directly or using the code method.

ApK

DiapDealer · 03-22-2015, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApK

To be fair, that method is good when entering credentials on a device with no keyboard input might be tedious.

It's also good for dropping cookies on a device with which the user of the app WILL browse the internet as opposed to a machine with which they WON'T.

Quote:

I like apps that give you choice of logging in directly or using the code method.

Agreed. Choice is good.

Polarpenguin · 03-24-2015, 04:27 AM

Now available to Pre Order in UK. Launch date 15 April.

£35 or £19 for prime customers (2days Only)

Fire Stick

Josieb1 · 03-24-2015, 09:50 AM

I've got Prime so I've ordered once for £19. I don't have a spare HDMI on our main TV but we can watch Prime via the WII on that so it'll be mainly used on our second tv in the Kitchen/Dinning Room.

ApK · 03-24-2015, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josieb1

I don't have a spare HDMI on our main TV but we can watch Prime via the WII on that so it'll be mainly used on our second tv in the Kitchen/Dinning Room.

Several of us here are very happy with the small, cheap HDMI auto-switches like this one. Painless way to add extra ports.

03-22-2015, 03:00 PM	#638
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,587 Karma: 204624552 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	I understand searching for new stuff can be easier on a PC/keyboard. But I'm thinking more of the situation where I KNOW the app exists, I KNOW I want it installed (it's free) and I CAN'T install it from the device. The History channel wasn't anywhere in the recommended apps on my brand new Fire TV Box (like Netflix, Hulu, Plex, etc, were), and the first night I wanted to use it to watch TV (from a bed with only a remote and not a PC in the house turned on and the tablet plugged into a charger), and I couldn't add it. I'm able to install a whole host of games I'm uninterested in right from the device/remote, but not some fairly common TV viewing channels/apps? That's just dumb. Last edited by DiapDealer; 03-22-2015 at 03:06 PM.

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03-20-2015, 11:11 AM	#633
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,587 Karma: 204624552 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	Transcoding on the fly is exactly why I stick with a PC-based media "server." I have no desire to keep manually transcoding my entire video library every time the newest app that's capable of streaming from a NAS/stick/cloud decides it needs video to be in codec X for best results. I don't have the time to make my existing library convenient for each new wizbang app for the set top box/stick.

03-21-2015, 05:01 AM	#636
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,587 Karma: 204624552 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	Well alrighty then. Must say I find that a bit strange. But... to each their own, I guess.

03-22-2015, 11:23 AM	#637
wizwor Wizard Posts: 1,068 Karma: 23867385 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: kindle, fire	There are many ways to discover Android and Roku apps. For Fire TV, I keep my eye on AFTVNews, newly released apps, and the free app of the day. I like to read the reviews before making a purchase. I think all of this would be very frustrating without a keyboard. The Roku is worse because a lot of good apps never make their channel store. I just happen to have set up a streamer at my sister's house. She has only an iPad. Just tapping out all the words was unpleasant.

03-22-2015, 04:06 PM	#639
wizwor Wizard Posts: 1,068 Karma: 23867385 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: kindle, fire	There are a lot of dumb things about all of these streamers. I wouldn't even own one except that they let you watch a lot of media and play games for next to nothing ;-)

03-24-2015, 04:27 AM	#643
Polarpenguin Groupie Posts: 176 Karma: 1834850 Join Date: May 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony PRS-300, Sony PRS- T3S, Kobo aura H2O Kobo aura One Kobo libra	Now available to Pre Order in UK. Launch date 15 April. £35 or £19 for prime customers (2days Only) Fire Stick

03-24-2015, 09:50 AM	#644
Josieb1 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,086 Karma: 18051062 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: UK Device: Kindle Scribe, Coloursoft, PW SE, Kindle 6, Kobo Libra 2	I've got Prime so I've ordered once for £19. I don't have a spare HDMI on our main TV but we can watch Prime via the WII on that so it'll be mainly used on our second tv in the Kitchen/Dinning Room.