Internets on my TV?

[bean]

No they are not getting there, as evident by what is not available on Netflix Watch Instantly.

Would it be better if there was absolutely nothing there instead? Media industry types are morons, but they're getting dragged in to the future, even if it's a slow and herky-jerky process.

[stuckathuntermtn]

herky-jerky?
More like fighting tooth and nail.
No, shit comes and goes on Watch Instantly, and lately it seems like a lot more going.
They are obsessed with scheduled TV which is 99% garbage and selling movies on plastic disks, which are again, mostly 99% garbage.

[bean]

herky-jerky?
More like fighting tooth and nail.
No, shit comes and goes on Watch Instantly, and lately it seems like a lot more going.
They are obsessed with scheduled TV which is 99% garbage and selling movies on plastic disks, which are again, mostly 99% garbage.

You're saying the same thing I did, just in a more argumentative and douchey manner.

[RShea]

Back to some possible solutions for TV. This is just out and could be a possible solution to all the non-smart TV owners out there. Pocket TV based on Android OS http://www.thegeeksclub.com/pocket-t...cs-tv-smart-tv

[splat]

Really important question:
So where can I stream the last couple seasons of Weeds and Breaking Bad?

[Name Redacted]

Really important question:
So where can I stream the last couple seasons of Weeds and Breaking Bad?

Netflix has them on discs but I have no idea where you can stream them.

[stuckathuntermtn]

You're saying the same thing I did, just in a more argumentative and douchey manner.

No, I'm saying it like it is.

[DJSapp]

Really important question:
So where can I stream the last couple seasons of Weeds and Breaking Bad?

You can stream both on netflix.

Weeds through season 6
BB through season 3

[f2f]

How's OTA HDTV in the US? Here in Big City, Canadia a simple aerial plugged into a Hauppage tuner card gives me 7 HDTV channels, including all the big network equivalents. For everything else there's pirating (not that I watch much).

OTA digital HDTV is the best

[bean]

Really important question:
So where can I stream the last couple seasons of Weeds and Breaking Bad?

Torrents if they aren't on Netflix, but Weeds really went downhill in the last couple seasons. Breaking Bad just keeps getting better, of course.

[bean]

How's OTA HDTV in the US? Here in Big City, Canadia a simple aerial plugged into a Hauppage tuner card gives me 7 HDTV channels, including all the big network equivalents. For everything else there's pirating (not that I watch much).

OTA digital HDTV is the best

It's outstanding in Denver. I've been sans-cable for 6 or 7 years now and don't miss it a bit.

[up an down]

Really important question:
So where can I stream the last couple seasons of Weeds and Breaking Bad?

splat.., i get cable tv shows from my local library, what they don't stock i can get from interlibrary loan.. and it's all free.. season 4 of BB is in stores now, should be in my local library in a few weeks.

[f2f]

It's outstanding in Denver. I've been sans-cable for 6 or 7 years now and don't miss it a bit.

denver looks quite good indeed: http://buyinghdtv.com/html/denver_lo...els_in_hd.html

my non-digital cable has been steadily deteriorating over the past two years as they want to re-sign everyone for digital (and subsequently introduce caps on internet traffic). it's now to the point where I can watch the canadian grand prix streamed from canada to europe (satellite) and back to canada (internet) at a higher quality than my local standard-def tv...

i think cable will be dead in 5 years, maybe 10.

[stuckathuntermtn]

Depends on where you live.
Also been my experience that lots of mountains around (or something) seems to mess with the signal. Or at least the signal isn't as strong. Picture is crystal clear though. This was when I worked at a Radio Shack in Bozeman, and a lot of people seemed to be losing their picture when they when digital.

It's confusing, but I think they did that intentionally, but:

Digital has nothing to do with HD.
You can have digital without HD, like a DVD (DVD's are standard def, 480)
and you can have HD without digital, like a lot of sports and stuff was before digital, and I bet a lot of cable still is analog somewhere in the line between the TV network, your cable network, your cable box and your TV. Probably less so every day.

[jamesp]

Apple TV question. If I'm streaming video from any random website, can I watch it on a TV by using the "Airplay Mirroring"?

If I had the apple TV connected with the HDMI cable through a receiver (receiver connected to the TV), could I connect the laptop via Apple TV, view the video on the TV & play the sound though the receiver/speaker system?

I know the nicer way would be to get a Mac mini w' wireless keyboard, but we have 2 Apple laptops in the house already & don't want to spring for a new computer just now.

Edit:
Current plan is to pick up a home theatre receiver w' a couple small bookshelf speakers. This will be just for music initially. As time goes on I plan on adding a TV, sub & surround speakers, maybe speakers on the deck via the 2nd zone.
I want a decent music system now but am trying to keep initial cost down. Also don't want to annoy the neighbors downstairs with a thumping sub.

[jamesp]

bump... none of you nerds are surfing TGR on the TV? I don't even get heckled?

[Tye 1on]

my experience w/Airplay is limited to music and videos. Not sure if it will mirror browsing/webpages, but i have no macbooks...

[Pegleg]

Apple TV question. If I'm streaming video from any random website, can I watch it on a TV by using the "Airplay Mirroring"?

If I had the apple TV connected with the HDMI cable through a receiver (receiver connected to the TV), could I connect the laptop via Apple TV, view the video on the TV & play the sound though the receiver/speaker system?

I know the nicer way would be to get a Mac mini w' wireless keyboard, but we have 2 Apple laptops in the house already & don't want to spring for a new computer just now.

Edit:
Current plan is to pick up a home theatre receiver w' a couple small bookshelf speakers. This will be just for music initially. As time goes on I plan on adding a TV, sub & surround speakers, maybe speakers on the deck via the 2nd zone.
I want a decent music system now but am trying to keep initial cost down. Also don't want to annoy the neighbors downstairs with a thumping sub.

My understanding is that this is exactly how Airplay Mirroring works, so yes. Whatever's on your laptop screen will be "mirrored" on the TV attached to your Apple TV, and audio from your laptop will play through whatever home theater system is plugged into your Apple TV.

The catch is that you have to have a Mac laptop that's compatible with Mirroring, which as I understand it means that you have to have a mid-2011 or later Macbook. Apple's website has the full specs required. I don't have that yet, so I haven't personally tried it - waiting until I have a more practical reason to replace my 2006 Macbook Pro to upgrade. As soon as I do, though, I'm looking forward to using Mirroring.

Edit: if you're looking for a budget surround speaker setup to go with your receiver, check this one out. You're certainly not going to get anything cheaper than that, and the reviews all say that it's pretty extraordinary for the price.

[jamesp]

ok thanks, I didn't see that info on the apple site. Guess I won't be rushing to get apple TV, my macbook is also older & I won't be upgrading just so I can wireless connect to a TV. I've found a good price on a Yamaha receiver that has Airplay so I can play music sans cords at least (which is all it will be used for now anyways).

Still inclined to grab small bookshelf speakers though. A sub will mean annoying the neighbours, the basement suite downstairs is not sound insulated at all. Sub can wait till we have our own place.

[old goat]

For your amusement: I recently built a 7'x4'x2' cabinet out of $1000 worth of wenge to hold my DVD's, CD's, and VHS tapes (there are also a few drawers with placemats and napkins--you can't stream those yet). Like I said, for your amusement.

[WesleyDean]

Google Chromecast works really well for me, especially only costing $30 off Amazon. You can stream anything you have open in a Chrome browser and can connects directly through your WiFi. I've also be able to drag video files off my local & external hard drives into a Chrome tab and stream video that way. Highly recommended.

[RShea]

Recent comparison of devices including Amazon's new FireTV and Google's Chromecast which have come out since this thread started was done by Kim Komando (she does a technology Radio show) discussing features and what works best for different sources (Netflix, Hula, Amazon, ITunes, etc.)

http://www.komando.com/buying-guides...ming-video-2/2