Just wondering what other people were using to access their media (front end devices)

 

I came across a product made by a company named GM Inc, Model# 3500 OPT MG - Digital Media Gateway Dix Player http://www.galaxymetalgear.com/products.HTML which looks like it could be used as an option to a PC if my unraid server were a UPnP enabled NAS device, I did a quick search on UPnP software and found something called TwonkyMedia http://www.Twinkled.DE/Products/Twinkled/index.HTML which some other media server companies seem to be using to enable UPnP on their server products. I realize this would not be the optimal solution (no PVR) and I am looking at this for secondary viewing i.e. bedroom, kitchen...

 

My first question to the community is has anyone that knows more about the unRAID software know if it might be even remotely possible to install TwonkyMedia ?

 

It did not look like support for UPnP was high on Tom's "Sticky: Ye Olde Laundry List" but I think that a non PC front end combination with the unRAID server could really be a powerfull media center solution.

 

Any other users have suggestions for non PC front end devices that have worked well with the unRAID server?

 

 

for front end devices I am currently using XBMC on a modded xbox, xbox360, and a MCE2005 PC. All work great....

Also, its seems that a lot of people over on AVS really like Tivx5000, you should take a look at that solution as a possibility as well.

Interesting this comes up now.  I needed a break last night so I fired up the Link Player 2 and downloaded it's latest firmware.  Also went here and downloaded and installed latest wizd on my own media server.

 

Well, surprisingly, the combination isn't too bad.  For someone who doesn't want to build an HTPC, I'd say a Link Player 2 is useable.

 

So would anyone be interested in a wizd download for unRAID?  The distribution from above site is for 'debian' distro and kind of a pain to extract & set up for unRAID, but I can repackage it without much difficulty and save someone some time.

 

---

 

Current 'spare time' project is getting the latest Slimserver running.

 

I'll get a chance to look at TwonkyMedia maybe this evening.

Tom,

 

If you think TwonkyMedia might be something that can be added I would be willing to buy the IPTV DMG Divx player http://www.galaxymetalgear.com/Products/3500IPTV.html and test, might be useful to document player compatability for the community. Also I apologize for not using the right link in my first post, company home page not product as in this reply.

 

Thanks for looking into this, I will bet there many people out there looking for "system sollutions" that do not involve building an HTPC, I know the XBMC is an option, but I can buy this IPTV DMG Divx player for $195, my guess is that to build a XBMC it would be around $350 and some time, guess I am lookig at out of the box sollutions that "are good enough"

 

 

I'm using a WinXP desktop PC, an MCE2005 HTPC (running SlimServer), and a Squeezebox (SB2) to access media on the unRAID.  All work well.

 

Kevin

Honestly? I have a Buffalo LinkTheater and it's uPNP server on a Linkstation - it's not bad. However the Linkstation software is Linksys only and not open source. I have tried and successfully run WizD on my unRAID and found that while okay it was nowhere as good as the Linkstation. Even the Linkstation left alot to be desired IMO. So far most ANY uPNP software I've tried has not been really terrific IMO. Most of these front ends are VERY lightweight and seem akin to browsers that rely very heavily on the server to give them a halfway decent interface. I've amost completely stopped using my LinkTheater for this kind of viewing as a result.

 

I also have an MCE machine. All in all it's not bad but it's more money than most would want to spend IMO. However setup correctly with something like My Movies as a plug-in it's not too shabby for ripped DVDs. Decent but more hassle than I think it was worth at the time, perhaps I'll appreciate it more when I've got an HD display?

 

The winner? Right now a $100 or less XBOX series 1, chipped or softmodded, plus XBMC blows anything out of the water! It cannot yet do HD but there are efforts to use it's graphics acceleration to do it - the CPU itself cannot do that kind of heavy lifting and it's memory limited. For SD, games, weather, MP3, 'net streamed audio, blah blah this thing ROX! It's interface is good, the price is right, and features are added often. It plays DVDs easily, has a good catalog feature for them, and streamed from an unRAID it works perfectly over 10meg Ethernet. As a result I've hit Ebay and purchased two more plus a third for parts that I may revive. Two will be holiday gifts and the third (bought for $50) will be my second box here. Seriously, this thing is way better than anything else I've seen. It can be modded to be quite silent and if the video bores you fire up a game It is supposed to be gaining uPNP support but I've not found it to work with my uPNP servers and frankly SMB sharing with it from the unRAID is cake <shrug>

 

P.S. For the ultimate - build a MythTV box. I've crashed and burned doing this a few times but in the end I think that this will be the ultimate since it can record as well as play back. If any one box was going to be perfect this would be it once you leaped the huige hurdle that is it's setup. Start with KnoppMyth and that will be easier but still not as easy as XBMC...

I have considered both the modded XBOX with XBMC. and KnoppMyth, I am not really looking for PVR funtions because I have a HTPC with two DVICO tuners and a PVR500

How much time would you estimate you need to build a modded XBOX with XBMC ? I have spent a little time on the XBMC site and its looks like it could turn into another "project"

 

I like the idea just buying the IPTV DMG Divx player and plugging it in without a whole lot of work, I realize the interface will be simple but this would be for simple access to media from the kitchen or bedroom on a standard def TV, I may experiment with TwonkyMedia on a PC (they have a PC version) if Tom thinks it may be possible to run it on an unRAID server to get a feel for the interface, looks fairly mature.

 

 

 

roblkuhnjr,

 

I have modded four XBOXes with the X3 mod chip.

 

I generally buy used XBOXes for between $90-$120.

 

The X3 mod chip kit is around $60.

 

If you want to replace the original XBOX hard drive, outpost.com is selling the Seagate version for around $10 plus shipping. Fry's Electronics is selling the same drive for $20.

 

The XBMC team has just released version 2.0 of XBMC and the reviews are sounding pretty good.

 

Regards,

TCIII

Honestly, modding a xbox is now so easy.... I am no where near as advanced and versed like a lot of folks here and I was able to knock out a modded xbox. I did my first one about 6-7 years ago when I graduated from high school... now it has become very, VERY easy. The chips are easier to install and booting to XBMC took no time. I had to re-mod my older xbox which took me about 1 hour total and now installing Evox on the XBOX is a joke, there is now a program that all you do is burn it to dvd, start your box and it does everything for you. All you have to do is make a few quick file copies/changes and the xbox will boot directly to XBMC.

 

It might turn into a bit of a project for you only in regards to modding it, find the chip that you want and install it.. once that is done you are finished. I remember the first box that I did I used a solderless chip and you can install those in a few minutes and you can be done. I now only user the solder chips because they are more secure, but do require more work. There are MANY, MANY detailed guide out there that walk you through step by step with photos...

 

I really enjoy my XBMC and it looks decent on my 56" Samsung 1080 tv. The 360 still has a better picture, but for STD Tv, movies, and Divx files it rocks.

 

 

Well i too have 3 - Soft Modded Box's in use in my Home. All of them running XBMC 2.0 and loving it! The whole family loves them.

just a question about the xbox's

 

are they strong enough to playback a 1080i MPEG2 file/stream/movie? (like hdtv)

 

to bad they arent strong enough for h264, but im hoping the x360 will playback this with the upcoming update (trough MCE)

just a question about the xbox's

 

are they strong enough to playback a 1080i MPEG2 file/stream/movie? (like hdtv)

 

to bad they arent strong enough for h264, but im hoping the x360 will playback this with the upcoming update (trough MCE)

 

Not sure if it stron enough to back 1080i mpeg2, if you have a file and want me to test it out I will. I just don't have any content.... let me know and I will followup with you.

 

I really wish the 360 could work just like XBMC...

The xbox 360 plays back 1080i MPEG2 flawlessly (and 1080p as well). There is enough horsepower to handle h.264/AVC and VC1 as well (with 3 3GHz cores), but currently M$ is standing in the way of this. I am hoping that with the fall dashboard update for the add-on HD-DVD player, these codecs which will be needed anyways for HD-DVD playing will be allowed for Media Center as well.

 

The original xbox can run XBMC itself in 720P or 1080i. This is only the interface of XBMC, not actual movies (the 700MHz P3 can't cut anytthiong over 480). I have found that if you run in 1080i widescreen you have memory errors frequently, but I regularly run in 720p with no problem. Again, this is for XBMC only, not movies.

Some folks are looking to use the NVIDIA chipset to accelerate and do HD rather than just using brute force CPU power. Thus far it's been reportedly done by a Microsoft guy but duh obviously not released. While the XBOX may not do it now I have some faith it might in the future - fingers crossed.

 

Meanwhile Mediaportal is supposedly done by some of the same guys who did XBMC and it runs on Windows so I'm tempted to play with it too for grins. It looks to have PVR functionality etc. and can run on MCE so itmight be worthwile.

 

While I patiently await the 360 being hacked. Vendors selling the MOD chips for the PS2 just got smacked by Sony though so if this keeps up we may not even be able to get the hardware if the boxes get hacked <sigh> I hope folks remember some of this grief come election time, it's getting a bit nutz! When the 360 is whacked well enough to run 3rd party software I'll buy one but so far only silly backed up games have beenrun and that's NOT my interest...

I use SageTV as my front end.  I use the UnRaid box to store my ripped DVD, and CD.  I also use it to record/playback my SDTV content.  I've not been successfull using it to record my HDTV content and still use a local drive for that.

 

When I try to record to the UnRaid, the recordings are glitchy and jumpy.  I can playback HD conten if it is recorded locally and copied over to UnRaid.  I just seen that the UnRaid cannot record the streams without loosing info.  I assume this means that the write buffer in SageTV is overflowing.

 

I have not tried recording with the new beta releases.

 

 

...

 

I have not tried recording with the new beta releases.

 

 

When yout get a chance to try this, I'd be very interested in the results.  A high priority is getting this to work flawlessly.

I recorded the football game on FOX today and it looks good.  Significant improvement over previous versions.  I'll allow SageTV to record to the UnRaid box now and see how it goes over the next week as far as quality.

 

 

The xbox 360 plays back 1080i MPEG2 flawlessly (and 1080p as well). There is enough horsepower to handle h.264/AVC and VC1 as well (with 3 3GHz cores), but currently M$ is standing in the way of this. I am hoping that with the fall dashboard update for the add-on HD-DVD player, these codecs which will be needed anyways for HD-DVD playing will be allowed for Media Center as well.

Yipee  ;D ...

 

VC-1/H.264 Streaming Coming to the Xbox 360

>> From happybeggar.com:

http://www.xbox-scene.com/xbox1data/sep/EEypuFZFZZvMfmiIdN.php

Double Yipeee?!?  ;D ;D ;D

 

Xbox 360 to get DivX support?

http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/11/xbox-360-to-get-divx-support/

This would be a very smart move for MS. I don't know why Gates didn't just buy XBMC and call it a day