Tiny little Set Top Box.

[markw]

I was just at Wal-Mart to pick up a set of cheapo computer speakers. As usual, I check out all the latest electronic goodies when anywhere near them.

I saw THIS tiny box, maybe 4 x 6 x 1,5" from Magnavox with a price of $48.

Upon closer inspection, it turns out to be a WIRELESS Internet adaptor (that supports 1080 with a HDMI output) with a remote control. This will allow virtually anyone with a wireless connection and a HDTV to have Internet access to Netflix, Vudu, Pandora and other sites, I know now which ones though

This could give streaming video a big boost, once the muggles figure out what these can do. Too bad it doesn't seem to support anything except HDMI. I'll bet there's a lot of older CRT based sets that could benefit from this.

 

[agarwalro]

Wouldn't the average WiFi connected BDP provide this capability?

 

[markw]

Are you familiar with the term "muggles"?

Wouldn't the average WiFi connected BDP provide this capability?

Yes, but that's assuming that a) one HAS a BDP and B) it DOES provide that capability. Many don't, and not all are wireless.

Not everyone in this world is like us and has/wants a BBP and some of them may want to simply stream videos.

Oh, it does have a composite video output so it can give old CRT based TV's a new life.

 

[agarwalro]

Htib ftw!

In all seriousness though, with game consoles picking up more streaming apps, some time soon the STB will be all but obsolete.

 

[Grador]

In all seriousness though, with game consoles picking up more streaming apps, some time soon the STB will be all but obsolete.

Until people care about energy efficiency.

This box seems alright, but there's a sony box that does the exact same thing and as much as I distrust sony I'd prefer them to 'magnavox'

 

[agarwalro]

Until people care about energy efficiency.

This box seems alright, but there's a sony box that does the exact same thing and as much as I distrust sony I'd prefer them to 'magnavox'

The energy efficiency argument seems like a knee jerk comment. If someone is truly caring about energy consumption, in context with this thread, smart TV apps provide almost every streaming service listed for the Magnavox device. I know my three year old Samsung does. Current generation TVs even more so.

I went with disc players and game consoles since, after cable/satellite STB's they are the next most common device connected to a TV, for heavy users of internet services. (citation needed) Adding streaming services to a smart device is just a firmware update away (not counting development effort and device limitations).

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I bough this box for $100 (now even cheaper)
Netgear NeoTV 550 Ultimate HD Media Player NTV550-100NAS B&H

and honestly I have no regrets - while consoles do get new streaming apps - it's important to remember what from current get of consoles:
a) Wii doesn't even do HD at all
b) Xbox 360 requires $50/year subscription to have access to streaming apps and doesn't support several important (to me) video formats
c) PS3 is only good alternative (since no subscription required), but with it being first to implement and enforce the latest and greatest flavor of DRM - this personally pretty annoying to me

Yes, my new TV supports smart apps including netflix and amazon etc, but for how long panasonic will continue to support and update it? I don't know and given the fact it's 2011 model which I bought in 2012 probably doesn't help me...

What am I saying? STBs are cheap as markw mentioned and easy to replace/throw away. The often support more formats than TV itself or console would ever do. Yes they are not ideal solution and eventually TV makers will catch up, but until they do there is perfectly good reason to keep using STBs (maybe just not from Magnavox )

 

[agarwalro]

In some contest, wrt upcoming AV, I responded that I want a device that converges, HTPC and game console. I sincerely believe it will be the halo device. I foresee a future where all content (even cable/satellite) is streaming online and every device is "plugged in".

Honestly, 'Ghost In The Shell' IS the future and it is scary.

 

[j_garcia]

You can get a Roku basic for the same price and a HD version (720p) for $10 more.

My TV has the apps that I want too, but I have no desire to have my TV connected to my network just because it has that capability.

I currently use my PS3 for everything also, but I don't want to have it on all the time, so I use the Roku to do typical TV viewing and I do like it so far.

I don't see it mentioned, but I'd want one with a SD slot. The ability to add room for buffering can make a noticeable difference in performance IMO. My BD-60 has streaming capability, but the Roku and PS3 do much better. I haven't tried adding extra memory to the BD-60 yet though, but I will most likely be selling the BD-60 soon.

 

[Grador]

The energy efficiency argument seems like a knee jerk comment. If someone is truly caring about energy consumption, in context with this thread, smart TV apps provide almost every streaming service listed for the Magnavox device. I know my three year old Samsung does. Current generation TVs even more so.

I'll agree that for streaming energy efficiency may seem a little kneejerk. I was thinking more along the line of replacing cable STBs with game consoles, which is a thought that I've heard thrown around a lot. For this purpose consoles are extraordinarily inefficient, though frankly so are current cable STBs. My nettop streams video better than my ps3 and does it with less than 1/3 [conservatively] the power.

I'd love to use apps built into my TV but I do not have that and have never used a TV with a reasonable interface (i have not tried many)

 

[GlocksRock]

Just came across this little streaming device from D-Link, seems pretty new and not many reviews on it yet. Walmart.com: D-Link MovieNite Streaming Player, DSM310: TV & Video

 

[BMXTRIX]

There's about 400 different streaming servers out there. Some are just Internet appliances which will serve up Netflix and the like, while others are full blown media servers which will play back videos, music, and photos stored on your PC or on a networked hard drive.

The cheap ones are typically just that... cheap. With mediocre sound and not a lot of connectivity. Moreso, many of these products have poor, weak, or even non-existent customer service, so if you have an issue, you are on your own. Not always the case, but worth doing some homework on.

I personally think the Roku boxes are some of the best representations of a well funded streaming product with a lot of support and a very specific focus.

I personally do a lot of media serving in my home with over 300 Blu-ray Discs and another 300 DVDs along with over 2,000 epsides of TV shows on multiple RAIDs on my network. I can play them back and browse them using one of two Dune media players that I have.

If I were to buy a streaming only unit, I think I would get a Roku... The lack of component video connectivity does bug me though.

 

[agarwalro]

I'll agree that for streaming energy efficiency may seem a little kneejerk. I was thinking more along the line of replacing cable STBs with game consoles, which is a thought that I've heard thrown around a lot. For this purpose consoles are extraordinarily inefficient, though frankly so are current cable STBs. My nettop streams video better than my ps3 and does it with less than 1/3 [conservatively] the power.

I'd love to use apps built into my TV but I do not have that and have never used a TV with a reasonable interface (i have not tried many)

A game console or HTPC will certainly be wasteful if used only to stream local and online media since that task doesn't need very much processing power.

Trying to navigate the TV apps is worse than a dental appointment. Even though mine has Netflix, I have always used the PS3.

Looking at the number of streaming media boxes, there is definitely a big market. I'm with BMXTRIX, on getting a mature product with full functionality is the way to go.