Silliness So what are you doing RIGHT NOW? - Page 831

pilotbob · 03-20-2010, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

I need to get there. Keep my posted as to how it's working out.

I'm sick of paying $600 a year just to see History, NatGeo, and the BBC News.

So far uTorrent is working very well. It allows you to set up a filter to get the shows you want... keeps track of which episodes have been d/l'ed etc.
(BTW: Only the windows version has the RSS downloader... the Mac version doesn't have it yet)

Same here... I record 95% from free network channels... basically a few SciFi shows (Stargate, Warhouse 19) and BBC Americe (DrWho) and Comedy Central (The Daily Show and Colbert). I figure if I drop the TV portion of my service (FiOS) I will save about $700/yr also. I figure getting an antenna installed would be about $150. Although I might bump up my Internet from 20/5 to the next level 25/25.

For me it is mostly now to decide just what equipment I want to use to watch this stuff on my TV. I'm undecided on a Mac Mini running Plex, an Apple TV with ATV Flash, a Boxee Box (not out yet) or just sticking with TiVo and setting up a windows PC running uTorrent and PyTivo.

I want to have it all set up (antenna, media server, etc) and working before I cancel my TV service.

BOb

yvanleterrible · 03-20-2010, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

So far uTorrent is working very well. It allows you to set up a filter to get the shows you want... keeps track of which episodes have been d/l'ed etc.
(BTW: Only the windows version has the RSS downloader... the Mac version doesn't have it yet)

Same here... I record 95% from free network channels... basically a few SciFi shows (Stargate, Warhouse 19) and BBC Americe (DrWho) and Comedy Central (The Daily Show and Colbert). I figure if I drop the TV portion of my service (FiOS) I will save about $700/yr also. I figure getting an antenna installed would be about $150. Although I might bump up my Internet from 20/5 to the next level 25/25.

For me it is mostly now to decide just what equipment I want to use to watch this stuff on my TV. I'm undecided on a Mac Mini running Plex, an Apple TV with ATV Flash, a Boxee Box (not out yet) or just sticking with TiVo and setting up a windows PC running uTorrent and PyTivo.

I want to have it all set up (antenna, media server, etc) and working before I cancel my TV service.

BOb

Keep us posted, I'm also interested about those. Furthermore I'd like this system to stream wifi to an iPad.

pilotbob · 03-20-2010, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

Keep us posted, I'm also interested about those. Furthermore I'd like this system to stream wifi to an iPad.

Hmm... interesting idea. Not on my requirements list but I'm sure it's possible. I don't know what type of streaming protocols the iPad supports. Of course, as is you could just access the files and pull them down on demand. I'm sure there is some type of media streaming server out there that you could run on a Mac or Windows PC.

BOb

yvanleterrible · 03-20-2010, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Hmm... interesting idea. Not on my requirements list but I'm sure it's possible. I don't know what type of streaming protocols the iPad supports. Of course, as is you could just access the files and pull them down on demand. I'm sure there is some type of media streaming server out there that you could run on a Mac or Windows PC.

BOb

An Apple TV being basically a computer, do you think I could connect it to my wireless user group? Or should I get a server of somekind? I know Apple has a small server, based on a Mac Mini. It's difficult to find a review on it...

FlorenceArt · 03-20-2010, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

An Apple TV being basically a computer, do you think I could connect it to my wireless user group? Or should I get a server of somekind? I know Apple has a small server, based on a Mac Mini. It's difficult to find a review on it...

I wouldn't count on anything built by Apple connecting easily to anything NOT built by them, unless specifically stated by someone who has tried it.

yvanleterrible · 03-20-2010, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlorenceArt

I wouldn't count on anything built by Apple connecting easily to anything NOT built by them, unless specifically stated by someone who has tried it.

My modem and wifi are integrated and made expressly by/for my service provider. They have standard Mac/PC integration. No problem.

happy_terd · 03-20-2010, 12:22 PM

getting ready for my kid's birthday party. CAKE!!!

zelda_pinwheel · 03-20-2010, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happy_terd

getting ready for my kid's birthday party. CAKE!!!

did someone say CAKE ? here's my plate !!

happy_terd · 03-20-2010, 12:27 PM

kids parties are the best. I may have to start being an overprotective parent and accompany my kids to their friends B-day parties so I can get to the cake.

zelda_pinwheel · 03-20-2010, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happy_terd

kids parties are the best. I may have to start being an overprotective parent and accompany my kids to their friends B-day parties so I can get to the cake.

i'm available if you need an extra over-protective stranger to go with you.

happy_terd · 03-20-2010, 12:32 PM

We can dress alike and keep apart so people think we are the same person.

zelda_pinwheel · 03-20-2010, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happy_terd

We can dress alike and keep apart so people think we are the same person.

sneaky. i like it.

pilotbob · 03-20-2010, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

An Apple TV being basically a computer, do you think I could connect it to my wireless user group? Or should I get a server of somekind? I know Apple has a small server, based on a Mac Mini. It's difficult to find a review on it...

Yes, it will connect to your wireless with an ATV no problem.

However, it won't work as a server... it is just more of a client/access device... and way to view videos/photos on your big TV rather than sitting at your computer. The ATV Flash adds a bunch of features so you can hook up an external hard drive, and FTP to it and stuff. Basically if you want to convert your DVD library to digital and be able to catalog and view it on your ATV.

There is a Mac Mini server... but I don't really think it buys you anything over just a regular Mac Mini. It has no DVD drive and instead has a second hard drive. It also comes with OS X Leopard Server. This gives you stuff like an email server and other group type stuff you don't really need.

So, a Mac Mini would be plenty fine. OS X comes with Apace server on it already and I would guess there is some type of open source streaming module for it that could work. The question is, does the iPad have a video player that streams... If it uses QuickTime I would assume the answer is yes.

BOb

pilotbob · 03-20-2010, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

An Apple TV being basically a computer, do you think I could connect it to my wireless user group? Or should I get a server of somekind? I know Apple has a small server, based on a Mac Mini. It's difficult to find a review on it...

Check out this video all about ATV Flash.

http://www.screencastsonline.com/ind...9-atvflash.php

BOb

FlorenceArt · 03-20-2010, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

My modem and wifi are integrated and made expressly by/for my service provider. They have standard Mac/PC integration. No problem.

I have no doubt. But is the Apple TV set up to connect to any device on any wifi network? As I said, I wouldn't assume that. I don't know anything about the Apple TV, but as I would look for testimonies (or complaints) from real life users. I'm sure you can find them easily enough via Google. If anything can go wrong with an Apple TV, I'm sure Google will tell you about it

03-20-2010, 12:22 PM	#12457
happy_terd Banned Posts: 13,045 Karma: 10105011 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Finally made it to Walmart. Device: PRS 420	getting ready for my kid's birthday party. CAKE!!!

03-20-2010, 12:27 PM	#12459
happy_terd Banned Posts: 13,045 Karma: 10105011 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Finally made it to Walmart. Device: PRS 420	kids parties are the best. I may have to start being an overprotective parent and accompany my kids to their friends B-day parties so I can get to the cake.

03-20-2010, 12:32 PM	#12461
happy_terd Banned Posts: 13,045 Karma: 10105011 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Finally made it to Walmart. Device: PRS 420	We can dress alike and keep apart so people think we are the same person.