XBMC

tonyb
tonyb Posts: 32,966
in Electronics
Any of you guys use those G boxes ? You know, with Kodi loaded up.

https://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/ele/5245281864.html

Are these things any good....dependable ? Or are they one of those things that aren't ready for prime time yet ? Clunky to use ?
HT SYSTEM-
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds

Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

Kitchen

Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's
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Comments

  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    I like Kodi (XBMC) but I am gonna guess that most of the stuff on that modded version is 100% illegal.

    XBMC kinda requires some knowledge to play with as well.

    What are you looking for it to do? Netflix, Hulu, ripped movies etc?
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,966
    More so a replacement for cable tv Dan. They look kinda confusing to use, and none provide local channels that I see anyway. Could give a rats behind if it's illegal.

    What do these type of devices provide that todays smart TV's don't ? Aside from the illegal aspects .
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    It's mainly the fact they can play just about any file format.

    Ripped movies in MKV... Downloaded iso rips, etc.

    They aren't super hard to use but again your support is going to be minimal at best.

    And from what I know there isn't a great way to get local stations so your likely back to a antenna
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,966
    EndersShadow wrote: »
    It's mainly the fact they can play just about any file format.

    Ripped movies in MKV... Downloaded iso rips, etc.

    They aren't super hard to use but again your support is going to be minimal at best.

    And from what I know there isn't a great way to get local stations so your likely back to a antenna

    That sucks....oh well, guess I'll stick with cable then until someone comes up with a workable alternative.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • MrRoboT
    MrRoboT Posts: 39
    Tony go with the Amazon fire tv, either the little hdmi usb dongle or the premium with the faster processor.
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    MrRoboT wrote: »
    Tony go with the Amazon fire tv, either the little hdmi usb dongle or the premium with the faster processor.

    That still wont replace his cable box as he wont get his local stations with that either.....
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • MrRoboT
    MrRoboT Posts: 39
    Any HDTV. works with a good digital antenna for free channels over the air in HD so no cable box needed for that.
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  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    I have a MyGica ATV585 and really like it.It comes pre-loaded with KODI (formerly XBMC).With the addition of some of the popular add ons it becomes a very versatile little streamer.As for legalities I believe it is in a grey area since you are only streaming,not downloading.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,966
    MrRoboT wrote: »
    Any HDTV. works with a good digital antenna for free channels over the air in HD so no cable box needed for that.

    Yeah but to surf channels then you have to switch inputs too ? Watching tv shouldn't have to be a choir. I like simplicity and ease of use coupled with dependability, is there such an animal yet to make it worth a look over cable ?
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • Nightfall
    Nightfall Posts: 10,086
    Xbox One does all of that. You're talking about $400 to get going though so if gaming doesn't "blow your sack back" it might not be worth it to you.

    You can plug an external HDD into them and play MKV, MP4, etc. Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, YouTube, some NFL app I haven't tried, Crackle, and live over the air TV with this:

    http://www.amazon.com/Hauppauge-Digital-Tuners-Capture-1578/dp/B00XF7Z5DM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1444081892&sr=8-1&keywords=xbox+one+live+tv

    Ease of use?

    http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-One-Media-Remote/dp/B00IAVDPSA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1444082019&sr=8-1&keywords=xbox+one+remote

    Xbox One itself:

    http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-One-500GB-Console-Master-Collection/dp/B00TY9KYKE/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1444082045&sr=8-4&keywords=xbox+one

    If you get a Kinect you can even talk to it. "Xbox, turn on", "Xbox, turn off", "Xbox, go to Netflix", "Xbox, go to TV" - etc.
    afterburnt wrote: »
    They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.

    Village Idiot of Club Polk
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  • bikerboy
    bikerboy Posts: 1,211
    Tony,
    We use a harmony remote to switch inputs and a TiVo with a roof mounted antenna. I'm impressed with the tuner in the tivo. We can record or watch all the local channels with Netflix built in to the TiVo. The harmony makes things like watch TiVo/listen to radio, or watch tivo/listen to pc easy to switch. Tivo costs $15 per month and an antenna was $70. The wife seems happy with the setup and I think it sounds good also.
    Main system: Lyngdorf TDAI 2170 w/ Pioneer 42" plazma-> Polk LSiM 703 w/Tivo, Marantz tuner, BRPTT: Nothingham Spacedeck-> Pioneer PL L1000 linear arm-> Soundsmith DL 103R-> SUT->Bottlehead ErosDigital: I3 PC w/ Jriver playing flac -> Sonore Ultrarendu -> Twisted Pair Audio ESS 9028 w/ Mercury IVY Vinyl rips: ESI Juli@24/192-> i3 PC server
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  • trj
    trj Posts: 320
    My setup is raspberry pi 2, with kodi (OSMC) with USB IR sensor and Acoustic Research Universal remote. Control everything with one single remote. And you can make activities: one button and it switches the input on the receiver, TV and everything.

    With OTA antennae, blu ray player (netflix and prime) and raspberry pi 2 (for all other stuff), I am pretty happy.

    If you are willing to dedicate a little time to setup raspberry pi, I think it is a pretty good alternative to cable. And cheap too.
    Sony BDP-S6500 | Raspberry Pi 2 | XBOX One S | Wii --> Yamaha RX-V667 --> Adcom 5006 bridged to 175 watts for front LCR -- >Front: Polk Audio RTi8s | Center: CSi5 | Side Surrounds: RTi4s | Rear surrounds: FXiA4s | Cheap 12" sub woofer|Samsung UN60KU6300
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,321
    Tony, did you ever buy the one from Craigslist? I was thinking of the same unit but on the fence about it.
    Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,966
    Nope Ern, I figured it would be too aggravating for the wife.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter