Streaming to TV?
in [UK Mac]
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From: Ben Shimmin on 9 Nov 2009 08:55 Ric <infobubble(a)gmail.com>: [...] > <on this note, why would it be that VLC playes a downloaded HD avi > file much better than Quicktime? Lots of stuttering in QT, smooth as > anything in VLC. Flip4Mac issue or something?> It's because QuickTime (or Perian) sucks. On the occasions when it's the other way round, and VLC stutters, then VLC sucks. They both suck in comparison with the AVI playback on my PS3, which really obviously plays the same AVIs appreciably better than anything on my Mac (I guess it uses some really clever scaling trickery), except occasionally when there'll be no audio, at which point, you guessed it, that sucks too. Video codecs are a wonderful source of misery. b. -- <bas(a)bas.me.uk> <URL:http://bas.me.uk/> `...the Plain English Campaign [...] says some officials only use Latin to make themselves feel important. A Campaign spokesman said the ban might stop people confusing the Latin abbreviation e.g. with the word "egg".'
From: Ric on 9 Nov 2009 10:07 On 9 Nov, 13:46, Ric <infobub...(a)gmail.com> wrote: > On 8 Nov, 13:31, peterd.n...(a)gmail.invalid (Pd) wrote: > > > > > > > What are people using to display computer content on TV? > > > Last night I saw a PCWorld ad where some bloke said they showed him how > > to stream stuff from his PC - wirelessly. That obviously requires the > > use of some wifi enabled box next to the TV - any suggestions that > > people are using? > > > Alternatively, what about a long cable from the computer (it's about 5m > > from the TV). I guess I need a mini-DVI to HDMI adaptor, then a 5m > > HDMI-HDMI cable. Or do I need a mini-DVI to DVI, then a 5m DVI to HDMI > > cable? And does the Mini-DVI port pass audio through to the HDMI > > interface, or does that have to go through the audio out? > > > What other gotchas are there? > > > -- > > Pd > > I'm using an Xbox with XBMC on it to stream music/video off my server. > Last night I got around to trying the dv->HDMI adaptor I got off ebay > a month or two ago. Plugged into Macbook Pro, other end into TV, > borrowed the sky HD boxes' optical audio cable and plugged that into > the headphone jack on the Mac (I'd not realised that an optical > connector fits an 1/8th inch jack until recently) and that was pretty > good, too. Snow Leopard automagically detected my plasma TV, cloned > display to it, and asked if I wanted 720 or 1080 res. Pretty > satisfactory. > > If I were looking for a new option I'd probably build an Intel Atom/ > ION based HTPC, or get a Popcorn Hour box to do much the same. > Devil's in the details with HTPC - it not only has to "just work" it > also has to be quiet, operate with an IR remote, and generally be a > bit more well disciplined and appliance-like than a PC or a Mac > usually is... > > <on this note, why would it be that VLC playes a downloaded HD avi > file much better than Quicktime? Lots of stuttering in QT, smooth as > anything in VLC. Flip4Mac issue or something?>- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - Hang on! If you want a basic option - have a look at this: http://www.expansys.com/p.aspx?i=186127 80 quid, HDMI out, plays most formats, has USB and ethernet...looks great, and reviews decent too. Might get one for the kitchen.
From: Ric on 9 Nov 2009 10:08 On 9 Nov, 13:55, Ben Shimmin <b...(a)llamaselector.com> wrote: > Ric <infobub...(a)gmail.com>: > > [...] > > > <on this note, why would it be that VLC playes a downloaded HD avi > > file much better than Quicktime? Lots of stuttering in QT, smooth as > > anything in VLC. Flip4Mac issue or something?> > > It's because QuickTime (or Perian) sucks. On the occasions when it's > the other way round, and VLC stutters, then VLC sucks. They both > suck in comparison with the AVI playback on my PS3, which really > obviously plays the same AVIs appreciably better than anything on my > Mac (I guess it uses some really clever scaling trickery), except > occasionally when there'll be no audio, at which point, you guessed > it, that sucks too. > > Video codecs are a wonderful source of misery. > > b. > > -- > <b...(a)bas.me.uk> <URL:http://bas.me.uk/> > `...the Plain English Campaign [...] says some officials only use Latin to > make themselves feel important. A Campaign spokesman said the ban might > stop people confusing the Latin abbreviation e.g. with the word "egg"..' ....I find that DNLA/UPnP stuff sucks just as bad. Shame both technologies tend to converge on the living room, really...!
From: Stewart Smith on 9 Nov 2009 10:22
Ric wrote: > > Hang on! If you want a basic option - have a look at this: > http://www.expansys.com/p.aspx?i=186127 > 80 quid, HDMI out, plays most formats, has USB and ethernet...looks > great, and reviews decent too. Might get one for the kitchen. 60 quid surely. It does look good though, I was considering one last week. A step up from the similar WD box Amazon offer for about the same price as that one doesn't network. The Reg. gave it a very positive review and pointed out how apple like the remote is. If it had wireless it would be perfect. Stewart |