What media device works?

Gurm

Folks, looks like Plex is SERIOUS about deprecating my XBox 360 (i.e. no release after 1.18.0 support XBox 360, but now they REQUIRE that you update to 1.18.2 in order to keep using TV DB) so I ask you - what devices that are eye friendly do you guys use to stream media? My wife's Roku has eyestrain on some apps but not others, I forget which revision it is but it's one of the itty bitty ones and I got it for her like 18 months ago.

Is there an old version of FireTV that works? I can hunt for an ancient one on eBay or wherever. Some old Roku? I just need 1080p, and it'd be nice if it ran Amazon, Youtube, Netflix, and Plex. Don't much care about anything else.

Thanks in advance!

P.S. I know that this has probably been covered in OTHER topics, but let's brainstorm here!

P.P.S. I can still use the PS3, but its codec support is waning...

diop

I don't use Plex any longer for this reason. It's a shame because I bought a lifetime Plex Pass a few years back and was great until devices decided to update and become unusable..

If you have to use Plex I would probably go the HTPC (Kodi+Plex) way. If the latest Kodi is uncomfortable you could install an older version or set it up to use an external player e.g. a good build of VLC/MPC-HC. It doesn't look as pretty as the Plex apps but it just about does the job.

FWIW this dilemma isn't just facing Plex users, but any app-centric service like Netflix, Prime Video will all soon need to be on the latest tech to work.

Sunspark

I don't agree that services like Netflix will require the latest tech to work. It would mean removing paying subscription revenue from lots of old tablets and phones. Those services are luxuries.

diop

Sunspark Maybe not the latest hardware, but you will need a recent firmware/OS to keep running the apps. Eventually those platforms will be replaced with newer ones, just like my Samsung TV which OS switched to Tizen and most app updates for older <2013 TV's started to dry up.

degen

I feel personally like the best solution is to unplug from the majority of digital media consumption until the technology situation improves

JTL

degen I think the best solution is to find a known good laptop with a known good GPU, OS and software and connect it to a "boring" TV.

Easier said then done, but smart TV's are a solution in search of a problem, and just adds to planned obsolescence, etc.

degen

JTL I do that with my desktop HTPC, but then I mostly play Blu-rays and old DVDs.. and the occasional thing I downloaded. Can't really get proper Netflix app and others on Windows 7. I'm happy with this solution but it does mean not being up to date with whatever the latest is.

JTL

degen Indeed

diop

Does anybody know of a H/W Media Player which is comfortable to use? (e.g. Roku/Apple TV/WDTV Live)

It needs to support X264/XVID/MPEG-2 - Last year I bought an old (2009) WDTV Live and I got eye strain.

I was also considering a XB360/PS3 however it is a pain to have to convert files and would rather play everything natively.

degen

diop Merged your post into this recent thread.

KM

diop I don't know of one but you could build one yourself using an old PC, known-good OS, and one of the known-good graphics cards. Even the old known-good NVS 295 supports H.264 I think. But the PS3 should, too? I have Movian installed on my custom firmware PS3 Slim. It plays many videos, including 264, but not 265, and has network functionality. I'm not sure what you mean by converting. But Movian plays almost everything you throw at it.

It may also be worth to take a look at ARM boards, since they seem to have a variety of GPUs. I haven't had luck with Raspberry Pi (3 and below), but maybe there's something else that is usable.

diop

KM I'm not sure what you mean by converting. But Movian plays almost everything you throw at it.

I haven't tried CFW yet on PS3. IIRC on a vanilla PS3 you had to convert to MP4 for anything to playback, that was years ago.

PS3 probably is a good choice, however some of the fat models aren't reliable (YLOD) - then again they are cheap so I could buy a handful of them.

jasonpicard

KM This is awesome. I have a custom firmware PS3 I need to try this. I mostly use my PS3 for all my media mostly just watch YouTube with it though. A little bit of Netflix. My 2013 Samsung plasma's have a built in movie player which is cool. My wife has a 2012 upstairs though so I will try this modded PS3 trick as I'm not even using the modded PS3 right now.