XBMC

[Ah Pook]

I stumbled across this while looking for an alternative to Hulu. Loaded version 12.3 Frodo onto the MacBook Pro. It combines TV, movies, music, photos...into one searchable package. What I'm really liking is the add-on abilities. Added XBMC Fusion and it opened up a lot of TV/movie options.

Anyone using this? Pros? Cons? I'm not a gamer, so the whole XB thing is Greek to me.

Been contemplating adding a Mac Mini (with external storage) to the audio/video system. JRiver now runs on Mac and has more options then current versions of iTunes. Load up all the CDs (ALAC) and podcasts on the external HD and still have an updatable audio streaming option. XBMC looks like a good addition for streaming video.

[ZERO THEORY]

I am a member of a private torrent site that I use for e-books, programs, movies, music, games, et. al. Can't say that I've really ventured outside of that option in a LONG time. Sold my PlayStation and XBOX, and my MacBook Pro is a paperweight. I just go balls to the wall with my PC, since a well-built Windows rig covers every base.

I just hook the HDMI up to the comp when home theater stuff is called for.

[Zundfolge]

I run an offshoot of XBMC called Plex (https://plex.tv/). It has more library management enhancements than XBMC and also has a client app for the Roku so I can use one of the 3 Rokus in the house to access the central Plex server running on my wife's Mac.


Anyone using this? Pros? Cons? I'm not a gamer, so the whole XB thing is Greek to me.

The XB in XBMC comes from the fact that the first versions were designed to be installed on an X-Box (X Box Media Center) so you could use it as a media machine, but quickly outgrew just the X-Box application but kept the name.

[10mm-man]

I XBMChub, check it out already configured.

[Ah Pook]

I'm set up for PC at the shop but my laptops/phones are Mac. Being able to load up and down from a Mini/Mac laptop makes it easier for me. Otherwise, I'd probably use a Linux machine.

Heard of Plex but haven't played with it yet. Looked at Roku but can't get past the "preferred" buttons on the remote. AppleTV would be my first choice.

I think Fusion came from XBMChub.

[brutal]

I've toyed with the idea of both XBMC and Plex.

My streaming is mostly audio at the moment, and mostly Logitech Touch (and the SqueezePlay apps).

Do either of them support Chromecast?

[Zundfolge]

Do either of them support Chromecast?

Plex does.

[hatidua]

yo habla engles?

[Ah Pook]

yo habla engles?
Push button. Make pretty pictures.


[flamingo]

[nynco]

I really need to give plex a try with my projector setup and my laptop.

[asmo]

http://rasplex.com/

Plex on Rasberry Pi.. Passes the wife test.

[Zundfolge]

http://rasplex.com/

Plex on Rasberry Pi.. Passes the wife test.

Does Rasplex run Plex Channels yet? Once they cross that line I'll consider dumping my Rokus for Raspberry Pi boxes (just because I prefer a more open source solution ... so I don't have to worry about Roku taking something I like away like they did with the PowerBlock channel or the original YouTube channel).

[asmo]

Does Rasplex run Plex Channels yet? Once they cross that line I'll consider dumping my Rokus for Raspberry Pi boxes (just because I prefer a more open source solution ... so I don't have to worry about Roku taking something I like away like they did with the PowerBlock channel or the original YouTube channel).

There is alpha support in the experimental release. Its supposed to be there solid in the stable release (if it ever comes).

[DeusExMachina]

I run RaspBMC for the past year, streaming off a local NAS that houses all my ripped movies. I am in the process of switching to a beefy HTPC to play games on Steam and media.

I tried Plex and while it is a great package, I decided to stick with XBMC due to the fact I have more configuration options. Being able to stream my media from anywhere for $5 (cost of the iOS app) is pretty amazing, though. And the fact that it streams to Chromecast is killer, but more expensive ($3/mo or $75 forever).

For a basic home media PC, you can't beat the cost and options of a Raspberry Pi running Plex or XBMC.

[Teufelhund]

I've been running an XBMC setup for a couple years now. I use it for streaming Movies, TV Shows, and Music from the media server in the basement to the big screen in the living room. It works great for these functions, but I haven't tried any other add-ons besides the weather app.

I started out using an Ubuntu build, but I'm just not enough of a Linux guy to keep it updated without a lot of manual intervention, so it was kind of a pain to maintain. I just use the bootable image on a USB flash drive now; the HTPC doesn't even have a HDD in it anymore. I built a small-footprint HTPC with parts from Microcenter for about $200, but I should have gone with an all-in-one platform like a Zotac Z-Box or an Apple TV; I think that'll be the next iteration I put together.

[Grant H.]

I run RaspBMC for the past year, streaming off a local NAS that houses all my ripped movies. I am in the process of switching to a beefy HTPC to play games on Steam and media.



Interesting.

I went from a dedicated media PC to my Pi running Raspbmc. It seemed a cleaner, and easier, solution than the mediapc.

All my coworkers thought I was crazy when I built my 18tb NAS.

[Zundfolge]

All my coworkers thought I was crazy when I built my 18tb NAS.

I have never been more jealous of another human being in my life.

Assuming you have that set up RAID somehow so it's not a full 18TB of storage space?

[Ah Pook]

All my coworkers thought I was crazy when I built my 18tb NAS.
As they should, you built it too small. [Coffee]

[Grant H.]

I have never been more jealous of another human being in my life.

Assuming you have that set up RAID somehow so it's not a full 18TB of storage space?

Lol.

Using RaidZ2 in FreeNAS. Six 3tb Seagate NAS drives leaves me with 11tb of usable storage across 6 drives. I can lose 2 drives at a time and still maintain all my data.

Pretty slick little box that just sits there.

Just for redundancy I have Rsync setup to keep a copy of anything irreplaceable (documents, pictures, etc) on a different raid that is remote from my house.

[Grant H.]

As they should, you built it too small. [Coffee]

I'll let you know when I run out of space... A long time from now... LOL.

:D

[Ah Pook]

yo habla engles?
Took me longer than I thought to find this vid. The subject is audio based but isn't much of a jump to video. I've watched this about four times. The first time my eyes were glazing over listening to Greek. It'll give you some ideas what to search for. Lingo soon to follow.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fG9UlTcocs