With all the internet entertainment, I haven’t done traditional TV in a decade. As a result, I have no clue how to upgrade my TV to do modern stuff.
Let’s say I’ve downloaded a bunch of HD movies onto my computer as mpg of avi files. They’re sitting on my desktop, which has a decent internet router (love my Verizon FIOS). I know my router works well because guests come over and use their tablet pc’s all the time to get wireless internet.
How do I get movies from my computer to wirelessly shoot over to my TV so that I can watch on the big screen in the living room? What technology should I be buying?
I bought a Chromecast at Costco earlier today but am afraid to open it because the cover implies that it only works with streaming media like Youtube or Netflix. I’m not interested in that so much, only in watching the movies I already have. Besides, how would I even navigate YouTube from the living room if the keyboard and mouse is in my bedroom with the desktop computer?
Have used Airplay (I think that’s what it’s called) on my iPad which projects whatever is on your iPad to your Apple TV; I believe you could do the same thing from a Mac PC. Sounds like you’re in the Google ecosystem; I’m not positve what they have for a similar option. But if you’re looking to control your key/mouse wirelessly there may be an app. I do have one to control my Mac from my (android) phone - kind of clunky, but it works.
But even that option isn’t great if you’re looking for hi-def and zero lag. Probably people here that could speak better to the Chrome side of things.
well by my calculations the router can put out 2 MB/second which is 120 MB/minute or 10.5 gigs over a 90 minute movie. Since the files I have are only 4 GB, then it should be lag free right?
Some sort of DLNA server is pretty common. I used to use my PS3 as a DLNA, but I use another approach now (FreeNas server with wired connection to HTPC and XBMC/Kodi as a front end). I’ve heard good things about Roku. If you have stuff in iTunes, then an Apple TV might be good. There are some options for using Plex with these and Chromecast, which might be good. Also, if your tv has a usb port, then you can just put the video on a stick and plug it it. That usually works pretty well.
I wouldn’t put too much stock in that calculation in the last post. The best way to know if you get lag is to try. Nevertheless, I prefer to avoid wireless connections if I can help it. Even if it means putting some holes in my walls.
Chromecast should work. You just need to load the video file on the Chrome browser on your PC (which just means you have to browse to the C:… location, rather than http://… or whatever).
I use a WD TV Live. It will play everything you can throw at it (Audio and Video). HDMI Output, Decent GUI, Wireless/Wired networking so it connected to my NAS in a snap. If you don’t want to go the networked route it also has USB, so you can fill up a thumb drive/External HD and just plug it in and go.
I have also heard it ignores copy protection on files, unlike mainstream media players (PS3/4, Roku) but clearly I could not know this to be fact…
I’ve had a couple of Chromecasts for about a year and they really are for internet streaming. You can mirror via the Chrome browser, but it can be choppy and not full resolution. The point is really to initiate streaming via any device (iPhone, iPad, Android device, etc…). Install the Chromecast app and every compatible app magically displays a “cast” icon in the corner so that you can send the stream to your TV. After your TV starts streaming, you don’t need to keep your device connected.
If you have the movies on your computer, then an apple tv might be a nice solution. It has sharing, so you can sit on your TV in the basement and using the apple tv you can pick off any movie you have on your computer and it will play. The only limitation is on the speed of your internal wireless network (or wired) which should be more than adequate. Same for music/playlists, just pick it and it will play thru your speakers.
I have a chromecast too an dont like it, everything from youtube casts so pixelated.
Copy your movie file to a USB stick or external harddrive and then plug stick/drive into your TV, DVD, or Blu-Ray player. Navigate to the file and play. Pretty easy.