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back to article What's the best NAS-to-TV box?

I have a Western Digital MyBook network drive on which I keep videos, music and documents that are linked into iTunes and Windows Media Player on the handful of machines I, my partner and our kids have here. Even the Linux netbook can access it and play back content. But now I want to do make the next step and access it …

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  1. MattyB
    Go

    Sooooo Many choices.....

    A PS3 or Xbox360 can stream from a UPNP source (bot sure if your NAS has a UPNP server). Failing that your best bet (IMO) is to get an Apple TV or a nettop PC and install XBMC (it will install on either, check youtube for a how to on Apple TV). XBMC plays back most file types and will check with online databases to download DVD thumbnails for all your files.

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  2. LRob
    Thumb Up

    Popcorn Hour A110

    I've read lots of great things about the Popcorn Hour A110. It handles almost all codecs, is upgradable, can be used as a bit torrent client, it can work from an internal hard drive or also access a NAS. If you put an internal hard drive in the Popcorn Hour it will also work as a NAS - the only problem being that it only takes one disk.

    Also have you considered looking at the QNAP range of NAS. They seem very comprehensive, two of my friends have them and can't recommend them enough. I'm in the middle of rationalising my home IT and will be implementing a combination of a Popcorn Hour and QNAP NAS with necessary home powerline networking.

    http://www.popcornhour.com/

    http://www.qnap.com/

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  3. My Opinion
    Thumb Up

    PS3

    As per title - with added benefit of being able to play games on it too should you so wish, many of which are available as free demo versions through the PS3 on-line store.

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  4. sjiveson
    Linux

    My Recommendations

    If your TV has a PC input, why not just use your netbook?

    For £159, the Acer Revo, with HDMI output looks like a good bet: http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/9606798/Acer-Aspire-Revo-Intel-Atom-N230-1-6GHz-1GB-8GB-SSD-Linux-Desktop-PC/Product.html although I've heard they are still a bit noisy.

    There is always the overpriced Eee Box.

    Aleutia also do an interesting range of silent and small PCs: http://www.aleutia.com/products

    Personally, I just buy second hand small form factor PCs for £50 from ebay, but they can be a bit noisy.

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  5. GingerMohawk
    Thumb Up

    XBMC

    I have an xbox 360 and i used to stream from my linkstaion pro nas using twonky media as a upnp server and i worked pretty well, the 360 plays .avi .mp4. .mp3 .divx so not too bad. I sold my NAS recently and built a media server, i'm still using my 360 to stream but will be building a custom built mini itx htpc and putting XMBC on it. Download XMBC live cd and give it a try, it's fantastic, it looks amazing and plays a crap load of stuff.

    I like the idea of the acer revo as it's cheap at £150 and is more upgradable than apple tv which is under powered and over priced.

    Cheers

    Ginge

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  6. NonIncognito

    An all in one solution

    There are several TVs now that will stream from DLNA devices. Take the new Samsung LED 7000 series for example. It can be CAT5ed into a router or through optional wireless adaptor. It will play a whole host of formats too, divx SD and HD, .mkv and mp4s.

    Of course this does require the purchase of a new Kate Moss-ingly slim TV though...

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  7. spencer
    Linux

    Popcorn Hour A110

    you can pick one up on ebay from £150-£200 and be guaranteed that it'll play all of your media, in high def as well

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  8. NotAGeek

    BLOBbox: DVB-T + PVR + torrent + internet

    If you need a box with DVB-T and HDD PVR + all the features of a popcorn hour + free SDK with a developers community, take a look at the BLOBbox.

    http://www.tvblobbox.com/ataglance.php

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  9. Matt 6
    Thumb Up

    HDX1000

    Also very similar to the PCH A100, check out www.networkedmediatank.com for more info on these devices.

    I have a HDX and couldn't recommend it more!

    Take note there are some media formats that devices like a PS3 and Xbox360 won't / don't support, and many with serious geekwork involved.

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  10. gyre
    Go

    thumbs up for qnap

    I use a qnap 209 pro II nas for storing the media, then access it via xbmc on multiple xboxes (standard definition) or xbox 360s (high definition) throughout the house. Totally painless.

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