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media player recomendation

Discussion in 'Media tanks' started by mrbear27, Feb 5, 2014.

  1. mrbear27

    mrbear27 Member

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    Hello,

    The media player on the Roku has been updated.

    Now it will not play many of my video files.
    I spoke to Roku serveral times about this.
    It worked perfectly before.

    Can anyone recommend a reasonably priced player for me that can read many differnt files?
    I only need it to read files from HD.
    No streaming needed.

    My Dune works great but I do not want to spend that much for such a simple device.
    Only using thjis for bedroom TV.

    Thank you,

    mr Panda
     
  2. scorpNZ

    scorpNZ Active member

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    vlc
    klite
    cyberlink
     
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2014
  3. mrbear27

    mrbear27 Member

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    VLC playseverything I can throw at it.

    I need a player that works.
    Roku does not.

    Those are not players...
     
  4. mrbear27

    mrbear27 Member

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    interesting enough,

    if I could install any of those into the ROKU it would work perfectly..
     
  5. scorpNZ

    scorpNZ Active member

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  6. mrbear27

    mrbear27 Member

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    Have spoken to ROKU many times about this issue.
    They had me re set and go into secret menue to re boot.
    Nothing worked.
    I told them that I really do not think I am the only one with these issues.
    They told me they are using a third party for the Media Player.

    I tried using another media player I found by searching from ROKU.
    Does not work at all.

    At this point I have given up on ROKU.
    But am going to learn about XBMC next.

    Can some one recommend another media player I can look into?

    Dune workd great but more thank I want to spend.

    Asus
    Arogosy- not able to find one for sale
    Cinima Go
    Diamond
    WD- not really interested in these
    Netgear
    Etc.

    Thank you
     
  7. mrbear27

    mrbear27 Member

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    Ok,

    My computer person just came over.

    ROKU does play MKV files.
    I have tried converting files to this format but it takes long time.

    I was trying to play entire files such as AVI files.

    As i have mentioned my Dune playes entire files Video-TS files perfectly.

    Is ther another media player that cost less that can play these files?

    Thank you.....
     
  8. scorpNZ

    scorpNZ Active member

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    What about something that can do the lot yet is very small like a form factor type pc,example below in link,the beauty of them is multicore cpu, hd audio,hd graphics,2-4gb ram etc,it doesn't have to be this specific make or model i'd go after a quad core that had 4gb & 1gb graphic & a 500gb hdd or larger & was ex lease,unlike media players there's no issues with format playback,you can mulitboot different OS systems including installing xbmc as a stand alone OS or as a media player inside windows,just for the record i do both,that is dual boot & have xbmc as an app in windows,unlike a minitower a form factor pc is reasonably portable,there are slims which are smaller still but not very upgradeable

    for playing hd content from converted bluray you need multicore as well as a decent graphic card i can't stress that enough...


    http://www.graysonline.co.nz/lot.asp?LOT_ID=10226313


    edit:even an ex lease laptop
     
    Last edited: Feb 7, 2014
  9. tongs007

    tongs007 Active member

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  10. mrbear27

    mrbear27 Member

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    Yes this has always been an option but way beyond what I need.
    Mini PC great idea for HT room but really not needed in a bedroom for such a small system.
    Still not sure whay it is so difficult to find a cheap media player that can play Video-ts files.

    I most certanly can convert Video Files to somthing like MK4 files but takes way to long.
    Really see no reason for this though.
    My last resort.

    By the way can MK4 files play Dolby and DTS audio files?

    Or only MKV's play these?

    Yes you need aproper video card and multi core but again that is acomputer.
    Way to much for my situation.

    Thank you
     
  11. mrbear27

    mrbear27 Member

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    Going to look at this now.

    But I am in the USA.

    Thank you
     
  12. mrbear27

    mrbear27 Member

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    Unable to locate Sumvision in USA.

    But an excellent option.

    Thank you
     
  13. scorpNZ

    scorpNZ Active member

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    Files as you call them mkv,mp4 or avi or iso aren't actually files they are nothing more than containers think of them as a sort of folder that houses video structured files,the only issue when playing them is hardware (more so for hd content) & if the player has the correct video codec to decode the video

    MKV to me personally is the better format apart from an iso (iso is basically same as tho it was a dvd) as both of these can house menu's,multi langs in 2ch & 5 or 7:1 audio & multi subs

    Another option is a thin client with xbmc installed the downside is you'd need a hdd with movies on it to play from (thin clients have usb ports)

    what 3rd party media player (the name of it)is used on the roku

    edit:there's no reason the roku shouldn't play normal video_ts files or VOBs that update must've been untested before sending it out & quite frankly the incompetence is unbelievable
     
    Last edited: Feb 8, 2014
  14. tongs007

    tongs007 Active member

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    http://www.mixeshop.com/atv1200-dua...-tv-box-with-15g-wifi-external-usb_p1784.html
    this is basically the same box and has the giniatech firmware already installed, Would recommend getting a 2.4GHZ mouse and keyboard for this as the remote takes ages scrolling and inputting characters with the on screen keyboard
     
  15. mrbear27

    mrbear27 Member

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    Wow!

    You are totally correct and understand exactly what is going on.

    Yes it is a container.

    Every Time I called ROKU they spent quite a lot of time trying to help me.
    Now I believe that The ROKU is really not designed for streaming from HD's.
    Incompent especially since they said it should work and spent so much time with me.

    I have just been told to try WD Live.
    Not my first choice3 but I can try it and see if it works.
    Return it if it does not.

    Most appreciated
     
  16. mrbear27

    mrbear27 Member

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    Going to look into this next as a second option.

    Thank you for adding the information about mouse and keyboard.
     
  17. keebles

    keebles Regular member

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    Don't know if WD live supports MKVs. I know mine plays MP4(AVCHD) no problem and if it is connected to the internet it can download covers for the films.
     
  18. mrbear27

    mrbear27 Member

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    There seems to be a brand new WD model.
    For some reason in the past I really did not want to use WD.
    But now it is worth a try.
    I will return it if it does not play my files.

    The ROKU does play MP4's no problem but that is not what I am trying to play.

    Am intrigued by the ATV TV Box but really do not need all that for just playing files from HD.

    Thank you
     
  19. mrbear27

    mrbear27 Member

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    Hello Tongs007,

    I am starting to see your point.

    For about the same price I could get one of these devices instead of WD Live.

    From what I have learned you can add medial player such as VLC Etc.
    That by itself is worth geting one of these over a player like WD Live.
    Works kind of like a Mini PC but much more reasonably priced.

    Do not really need internet streaming options but would be fun to have.

    Most appreciated,
     
  20. tongs007

    tongs007 Active member

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    yes its like a mini pc, tbh I mainly use mine for xbmc, and plugging my 2 tb hdd in and playing my stored moviesthrough it, like i say it plays anything i throw at it, yes you can install VLC you can install anything that runs on android :), you can use it also for browsing the net ETC, i have a smart tv but do not use the smart part as this does that and much much more
     

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