Mystery Device

[Ashenvale]

I need help. I have a friend that is looking for a very specific device to accompany his high end home theater system. This individual is very concious of audio and video quality. Everything has to be top in it's class in terms of audio and video hardware. He needs a device that connects his PC to his 60' Pioneer Elite display as well as his high end analog receiver. He has a vast collection of music that he wants to put on a media server so he can have a one stop library that contains all of his music. It doesn't stop there. This device also needs to be able to stream Netflix, Hulu, and Youtube. If this thing could play BluRays as well, that would be optimal. High definition audio and video preformance is a must! I keep finding devices that do bits and pieces, and everytime I send him links to different products he thinks I am an idiot becuase they are never the complete package. Cost is unimportant. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks!

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I keep finding devices that do bits and pieces, and everytime I send him links to different products he thinks I am an idiot becuase they are never the complete package.

You are not an idiot.

I can with strong authority confirm that such device doesn't exist, no matter the cost.
However there are plenty of device which coming close on this very long list of demands, but like I said none of them is one perfect device.

The only possible solution for this guy is find one very competent developer or even a company, to produce custom build of probably XBMC to suit his needs.
The problem is if such product becomes knows or at least semi know - Hulu will block access to it's videos for such device, as they only want their stuff to be watched PC and not on 60' HD Plasma. Netflix is also pretty restrictive with access to their content remotely, thou not as strict or paranoid as Hulu.

 

[highfigh]

I need help. I have a friend that is looking for a very specific device to accompany his high end home theater system. This individual is very concious of audio and video quality. Everything has to be top in it's class in terms of audio and video hardware. He needs a device that connects his PC to his 60' Pioneer Elite display as well as his high end analog receiver. He has a vast collection of music that he wants to put on a media server so he can have a one stop library that contains all of his music. It doesn't stop there. This device also needs to be able to stream Netflix, Hulu, and Youtube. If this thing could play BluRays as well, that would be optimal. High definition audio and video preformance is a must! I keep finding devices that do bits and pieces, and everytime I send him links to different products he thinks I am an idiot becuase they are never the complete package. Cost is unimportant. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks!

For $119 (on sale now, but the normal price is $179), the Panasonic DMP-BD65K BluRay player does a lot of this- it streams NetFlix, Pandora, VuDu, YouTube and you can access Picassa photo sharing and there's more coming. Why he has to have it all in one piece, I don't know. The problem with that is if one section goes out, the whole thing needs to go someplace for service. Add a media server like ReQuest, which does stream some things, and he has everything. The ReQuest can also be used with a NAS, but there's a fee for the software to allow this. Also, the new Intel chip works with a NetGear piece called Push to TV, which is a wireless piece that connects to the TV or deceiver's HDMI input. This shows whatever is on the computer's screen. The NetGear piece won't work if the computer doesn't have the right chip.

 

[fightinkraut]

I realize I'm likely missing the point here, but why not build a custom HTPC using some nice cases from the likes of Moneual? HDMI to TV, throw a high quality analog card in for receiver, plays anything, skin it how you like, set up a server, etc.

Is it potential ease of use issues w/htpc?

 

[Nemo128]

Yep, such device does exist. It's an HTPC. It can do anything he wants, especially if money is no object. If he throws enough money at me, I'll build him the best and easiest to use HTPC in the world. Plenty of companies out there can do the same right now.

 

[Nestor]

For the "I want it all and will pay for it" consumer...

Kaleidescape

 

[HexOmega]

Yep, such device does exist. It's an HTPC. It can do anything he wants, especially if money is no object. If he throws enough money at me, I'll build him the best and easiest to use HTPC in the world. Plenty of companies out there can do the same right now.

Yup, all he has to do is pick up his computer and walk it into the living room. Then hook up a few cables and voila, problem solved.

 

[BMXTRIX]

Kaleidescape is a true testimony of whether or not someone truly has the money to do it however they want and wants the ultimate top shelf in technology.

I've been playing with my Dune, and I can't comment yet on it's Blu-ray capability, I've read that some people have had some issues with direct Blu-ray player playback. I will know soon how it handles things when playing from an attached hard drive.

But, for DVD it is excellent - but, moving forward, who really cares about just DVD?

I would go with the cheap Panasonic player personally. It works, it doesn't cause headaches, it is super easy to use, and it's incredibly reliable.

Add a HTPC to the mix, or a nice media server (or two) if more is desired.

Plus, when you add more specialized sources, they become available to the entire system as individual sources. Not sure if the home has distributed audio/video, but for my home system, adding more pieces means we get more versatility everywhere.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

HTPC could do all that, except it doesn't have 10ft interface ...
Bunch of great devices available, but none of them as single device could do all that with nice 10ft interface.