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None of those words are in the Qur'an
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Apr 5, 2024 12:54
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Crumps Brother posted:...faithful... TheScott2K posted:None of those words are in the Qur'an Surely at least one of those words are in there.
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Apr 5, 2024 13:10
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I've been using one of those new Beelink SEI14 mini PCs in my living room for almost a month now, and wanted to share my thoughts. Streaming services are getting worse in all sorts of ways. Plex rubs me the wrong way, and Jellyfin is too clunky. My tv's apps are sluggish. I wanted a quiet little box to handle absolutely every media-related task I could throw at it and emulate just about anything without breaking a sweat. I also wanted to be able to simply pull up a browser window and catch random live streams as they happen on my tv. The Beelink is the size of an Apple TV and uses an Intel Core Ultra 5 125H, which is considerably more capable than the super popular and cheaper N100. They make a big deal out of the 32GB of Crucial DDR5, and honestly this thing is noticeably snappier than my desktop PC which has a faster CPU but half as much DDR4 RAM. I have it set up to run SABNZBD, Sonarr, Radarr, and launch directly into Kodi at startup. It had been years since I used Kodi. I forgot how much I love it. The default interface looks great with the big poster art view. It's cleaner than Plex/Jellyfin, it doesn't shove unwanted stuff in front of me, and it performs super fast on this hardware. Kodi's also a great player with some surprisingly nice tone mapping options. I also played around with the new MPC-HC and it rules. It's basically the platonic ideal of a Windows media player, and it integrates with yt-dlp. So, Windows 11. I'm used to Windows so I know all the stuff that has to be disabled. Still, it's a pain. Using Windows 11 on an HTPC also gets a little weird when the OS, Intel graphics control panel, video player, and tv all have different things to say about color settings, HDR, game mode, etc. I've got everything dialed in now, but it took some fiddling. Since I'm storing everything locally I popped the Beelink open and removed the dust filter to slot in a 2TB nvme and 2TB SSD. I also have an external 2TB USB drive plugged in to the back of the HTPC. So that's one drive for TV shows, one for movies and music, and one for ROMs. My library isn't huge so this is enough for the foreseeable future. I only hang on to a handful of shows and they're mostly SD, like MST3K. This thing sips power (around 20-28 watts during 4K playback) and runs super quiet. It sits right under my tv - about eight feet from my couch - and I haven't heard it at all, even during super quiet scenes. My next steps? Remove Windows' login screen so I can push the power button and get right to the good stuff. Set up yt-dlp to automatically grab and sort my YouTube subscriptions. I also plan to get EmulationStation going to organize my game collection. I'm thinking I'll have Steam launch in big picture mode so I can either jump into Kodi or EmulationStation using a controller. I'll check back in a few months from now to bug everyone with a progress report. The Beelink is almost overkill but I kind of like that, and it should last for years and years. Since it's so power efficient when it's no longer an htpc it will make a nice little home server.
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Jul 8, 2024 12:50
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Corin Tucker's Stalker posted:My next steps? Remove Windows' login screen so I can push the power button and get right to the good stuff. Set up yt-dlp to automatically grab and sort my YouTube subscriptions. I also plan to get EmulationStation going to organize my game collection. I'm thinking I'll have Steam launch in big picture mode so I can either jump into Kodi or EmulationStation using a controller. I'll check back in a few months from now to bug everyone with a progress report. I would recommend looking at Launchbox instead of EmulationStation since it's a Windows machine. Especially if you buy the license and get Big Box, it looks phenomenal.
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Jul 8, 2024 13:00
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Medullah posted:I would recommend looking at Launchbox instead of EmulationStation since it's a Windows machine. Especially if you buy the license and get Big Box, it looks phenomenal.
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Jul 8, 2024 13:59
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Ok, so I been over in the quick audio thread trying to come up with a solution to patch up the multi-zone setup on my Onkyo receiver. I have outdoor speakers run from the second zone on the AVR. It has built in "NET" features that allow casting from your phone over wifi, but its garbage. Complete garbage. I was looking at maybe something like an Arylic S10, but I'd like to get away without spending more money if I could. I have an old Surface tablet that works fine and I was wondering if there was a way I could chromecast to it, and then just connect it via 3.5mm to the receiver (it will only take analog input for the second zone). Would be sorta nice as I could wall mount it and have an interface to use it that way as well instead of just by phone. Anyone know a way to make this work, or some similar way?
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Jul 11, 2024 15:45
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Android phone?
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Jul 11, 2024 18:08
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Yeah. Just some way to control a media player on a PC thats more intuitive than using remote desktop.
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Jul 11, 2024 18:24
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If you have 20$ try out airserver, looks like it has a free trial period to check it out
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Jul 11, 2024 20:39
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Hmm, that might be worth a look though I don't need screen casting, just audio. But I literally only use my shield these days to Chromecast so if I could move that into the bedroom to replace the Xbox one we use that would be a win.
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Jul 12, 2024 00:14
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Is there a recommended launcher or firmware to load on a 2017 Shield? I'm getting tired of all the ads baked into the stock Android firmware.
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Oct 6, 2024 15:15
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Projectivy Launcher https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.spocky.projengmenu&hl=en-US I have this on both my 2015 and 2019 models.
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Oct 6, 2024 15:47
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Is there something like the beelink but can fit 2x 2.5" HDDs? I would like to get 8TB of storage without paying nearly $400 apiece for a 4TB M.2 stick
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Oct 14, 2024 01:31
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Jinnigan posted:Is there something like the beelink but can fit 2x 2.5" HDDs? I would like to get 8TB of storage without paying nearly $400 apiece for a 4TB M.2 stick ASUS kind of made this thing to be an HTPC like that but it's a bit pricey. Also, while it has two 2.5" drive bays it mentions SSDs specifically so it may not be tall enough to fit some laptop sized drives, especially the bigger ones (higher capacity are often taller disks to fit more platters): https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-VivoMini-VC66-C2-i5-10400-Windows/dp/B08TLSDFF7 This is a lot bigger than a normal mini pc but the Seeed studio reServer has two full 3.5" drive bays plus an M.2 slot on the main board. You kind of have to take it apart to put the disks in since it's all vertically screwed together inside an aluminum outer shell which has thumbscrews, but it's a nice unit. It's got a low power 11th gen CPU. I have one of the i3 ones I got when it was on sale for $165 or something (there was $58 shipping on top to the US), but normal price is closer to $300 depending on configuration. I also got mine with no RAM but it just takes DDR4 SODIMMS so it was pretty easy to put 32GB in. Here's mine on top of a Dell SFF with a NUC next to it:  https://www.seeedstudio.com/reServer-Compact-Edge-Server-powered-by-11th-Gen-Intelr-Coretm-i3-1125G4-p-5088.html If you do pick one up it won't come with anything it doesn't say it does, like there's WiFi antennas but I'd need to buy a M.2 wifi card to use them. I didn't specify an AC cord so it came with the transformer and no mickey mouse wall plug which would've been $2.50 to add on but I didn't notice and had to spend $5 on one from Amazon. This looks like a similar idea but a bit more plasticky. I can't speak to its build quality: https://www.amazon.com/AOOSTAR-R7-Support-Storage-Computers/dp/B0CKXLSFQ4/
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Oct 14, 2024 07:00
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Jinnigan posted:Is there something like the beelink but can fit 2x 2.5" HDDs? I would like to get 8TB of storage without paying nearly $400 apiece for a 4TB M.2 stick How diy are you willing to get? Here’s a case for an intel odroid sbc that fits exactly 2 2.5” drives https://ameridroid.com/products/odroid-h3-case-type-3
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Oct 14, 2024 13:52
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Bonzo posted:Projectivy Launcher I forgot to say thanks for this. Looks like it has a ton of options to play with, but I was also able to do a simple 3x3 grid of the apps I actually use. Perfect.
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Oct 14, 2024 14:43
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Wow, this thread is getting some traffic so I may as well ask. We’re trying to set up an old non-smart TV in the bedroom to watch as we fall asleep. It’ll be watching YouTube probably 99% of the time. What’s the cheapest possible solution here? I’ve currently got a laptop playing through it and that’s cool and works great using keyboard and mouse, but is there any better UI and control schemes that would be more wife-approved? Should I pick up a Roku or chromecast or something? A D-pad, ok button and volume (the tricky one maybe) would be best I think? We currently use an xbone in the living room with apps and a harmony remote because I hate ads
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Oct 14, 2024 16:09
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Newest Chromecast is cheap, especially on the second hand market, and has basically a smart TV interface and remote
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Oct 14, 2024 16:30
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ante posted:Newest Chromecast is cheap, especially on the second hand market, and has basically a smart TV interface and remote This is the way. If you don't want ads then use the Projectivy Launcher I linked above. No rooting or anything needed.
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Oct 14, 2024 17:00
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Awesome, thx for the replies everyone… I’m always wanting to roll my own thing with old hardware, but I don’t want to mess with this and make my partner annoyed (more than they are)
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Oct 14, 2024 19:55
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We bought a new home theater cabinet, which means it's time for reorganizing everything. I'd like to figure out something to either lift the cables off the floor or house them in something behind the back? It's a nightmare of dust and coiled cables now, even though I tried to tie things up and label everything. I have two UPS devices, which is probably overkill, but I have them so I might as well use them. There's a receiver, an Xbox, a PS5, a Switch, a ShieldTV, and a satellite receiver all in the cabinet. Also in the cabinet is an Arlo camera hub (since the living room is relatively central to everything) and a WiFi satellite transmitter thing to get TV to another room in the house. There's a network switch and everything that has a network port is connected to that. So yeah; a lot of poo poo between power, HDMI cables, and Ethernet. Any advice on stuff to look at to help it stay relatively neat and easy to dust?
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Nov 26, 2024 00:30
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EC posted:We bought a new home theater cabinet, which means it's time for reorganizing everything. I'd like to figure out something to either lift the cables off the floor or house them in something behind the back? It's a nightmare of dust and coiled cables now, even though I tried to tie things up and label everything. There's a lot of products that can help with cable management, from wall raceways to baskets or nets that screw in to the underside or back of desks or cabinets. For the bundles of cables on the floor one simple solution is something like a shoebox that can be a low effort high utility item. You can take the top off and cut a couple of holes, so that cables enter and exit the box with just as much as they need on each end, and the excess can stay inside. You don't have to use an actual shoebox, but the ideal box would be a box that has two holes (or as many as you need in different directions) plus a removeable top so you don't need to feed wire through it, just drop it in and pull in the extra. If you want to bunch up the cables going in and out of the box there's a lot of split loom cable wrap that can bundle it together. I haven't used this stuff but it's the general category of what I mean: https://www.amazon.com/Alex-Tech-10ft-Protector-Sleeving/dp/B07FW3GTXB edit: before hitting post I see a premade cable hiding box if you want something fancier than a shoe box, there's variations without the wood looking top down the page: https://www.amazon.com/Pack-Large-Cable-Management-Box/dp/B08JC55TTL
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Nov 26, 2024 01:34
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Rexxed posted:edit: before hitting post I see a premade cable hiding box if you want something fancier than a shoe box, there's variations without the wood looking top down the page: I can’t count the number of these I have and have bought from a variety of gibberish and not-gibberish brands. They come in many sizes, materials and colors, and are a godsend for managing power strips covered in warts and wires. There are even some brands with built-in power strips, really my whole house is a cable hiding box
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Nov 26, 2024 02:09
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Yeah those look like they could help a lot. I order two so hopefully they will. Also just realized I posted this in the HTPc thread and not the Post Your Home Theater thread. Oops.
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Nov 26, 2024 08:26
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So I've been lots of Server Stuff lately and have dropped Kodi entirely in favor of Plex. I already had Plex setup for my father in law but wasn't really using it for myself. At first I was going to use the PlexKodiConnect add-on at first, but then I just started using the main Plex app and I'm not missing much (I wish the interface was more customizable but having a central database is more important to me at this point). I did used the Kodi add-on WatchList to export watched tags, then I setup the PlexKodiConnect add on and imported those watched tags, so now Plex is sync'd up to where I was on various shows, which is nice. I completely redid my media structure folder to match with Trash's guide for running various *arrs and SAB on a Synology box using Docker, and while I was doing that I installed two 500gb SSDs and 32gb of RAM into the Synology box. Docker apps run on one SSD, and temp files are on the second. It is WILD how much faster Plex and the Usenet apps are now. I've been going back and forth on the Kinhawk I mentioned a few pages back and the ShieldTV, and I'm not seeing much to favor the Kinhawk. They both seem fine for Plex/Kodi media playback. I didn't test emulation on the Kinhawk but I think it's just going to get moved into the guest bedroom (and probably forgotten, tbh). Which leaves me back to the ShieldTV, which is reporting 12gb of system storage used but can't tell me where. Now that I don't need to worry about Kodi, I think I'm gonna to do a complete factory reset and start from scratch. While I was looking around to see if there were better stream boxes, I found this [irl=https://youtu.be/VO7FKuoAlC8?si=GMlmKRCpZnT6LDMz]UGOOS device[/irl] (YT unboxing vid) but idk that I want to spend $150-200 on something that is called UGOOS. My next project is setting up RetroArch finally. Also, the SofaBaton remote has completely replaced my Harmony and I like it a lot better. If it did HomeKit natively it would be even better, but eventually I'll get around to installing Home Assistant and just not worrying about HomeKit support ever again.
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Nov 30, 2024 17:13
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I want an HTPC to replace my Shield. Use cases: Ideally, it would work just like my shield (controllable by a remote, easy access to YouTube/Streaming Apps/Plex-or-plex equivalent for local media) but I want to store my media on the device/on a hd connected to the device, instead of streaming from my PC. Want to be able to playback 4k content. Will probably acquire media on my main PC and then transfer it to the box, but would be great if I could do it directly from the box. Seems like Beelink is recommended for this - someone above mentioned this one: https://www.bee-link.com/products/beelink-sei14-ultra5-125h but that seems like it may be overkill for my needs. Also, remote suggestions? Software to give me a Shield like interface?
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Dec 5, 2024 15:36
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Thom Yorke raps posted:Also, remote suggestions? Software to give me a Shield like interface? For remotes, I'm really digging the SofaBaton. The higher model has a base station with IR blasters you can hook up, so you can hide it in your cabinet and still be able to control your devices. It's basically a Harmony remote replacement, and controls everything I have: TV, receiver, Xbox, shield. Idk anything about standalone PCs and their software nowadays, but you can get a variety of AndroidTV boxes and a launcher to remove the ads and bullshit from the interface. The one I see recommended a lot is the UGOOS boxes, but that may require a little tinkering to do everything you want it too. Kinhawk makes decent devices as well, although the cheaper model I have didn't really do much more than the shield was doing. The higher end version does a decent job at emulation of that's a thing. Either box will let you connect an external drive, and you can use an app called FileManager+ to move stuff from your desktop to the external device, assuming you can create a share on your desktop that is accessible to other devices. Also, I should mention you can run Plex/Jellyfin on your desktop and just stream your media from there as opposed to trying to sync files to another device for playback. I do 90GB 4K HDR Linux isos from my Synology box via Plex without issues (both units are wired, if your client is wireless that may cause issues. So it be worth factory resetting your Shield and connecting to a Plex server and seeing if it'll still do the job you need it for. (But don't make the Shield a plex server, imo) Edit: I just reread and you said specially that didn't want to stream from your PC, oops. Using an external drive should be fine on any AndroidTV box and certainly a HTPC.
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Dec 5, 2024 15:54
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Man if you're trying to do paid streaming apps you should probably just get another Shield, an Apple TV, or an Xbox. PCs are square pegs with that stuff. You've got all the power you need but DRM stuff is all fucky, HDR is all fucky, refresh rate switching (you're gonna want that for 24fps content) is all fucky. You get it all working then it breaks and you don't know why. HTPCs are great if you're rolling your own content through Plex or XBMC, but when you bring Disney+ and poo poo into it, ugh.
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Dec 5, 2024 16:22
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My trouble right now is that half my watching is on Netflix/Youtube and half of it is through Plex, and when I want to use Plex I need my upstairs computer to be on. I could leave it on all the time, but it's a power hungry beast. Plus, sometimes it randomly disconnects from the network, PLUS the network can't handle 4k over wifi and I refuse to run ethernet cables. Worst case, I can stream through my TV's built in apps and use the HTPC for my local media
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Dec 5, 2024 16:27
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Run Plex on the Shield. Or, make a little low power computer that serves Plex, but keep using your Shield as a client. HTPC in the living room, in 2024 it's mostly negatives if you're doing paid streaming services.
TheScott2K fucked around with this message at 16:33 on Dec 5, 2024 |
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Dec 5, 2024 16:31
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TheScott2K posted:Run Plex on the Shield. Or, make a little low power computer that serves Plex, but keep using your Shield as a client. HTPC in the living room, in 2024 it's mostly negatives if you're doing paid streaming services. Like, use the Shield as the Plex server instead of the client?
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Dec 5, 2024 17:22
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I took a look in the Microsoft App store and there's a Disney+ app! Sweet maybe Thom Yorke will be OK. I install and realize it's just a PWA wrapper, that's not good but does mean I get access to developer tools! So, I load up Deadpool and Wolverine, check the HLS manifest, and I top out at 1280x720 being served to me. You are going to see this constantly where if you aren't in an iOS or Android app you are going to get subpar resolutions. Your best bet is to buy that low powered PC to run Plex/Jellyfin server and buy some sort of streaming device. There's a reason the thread is "Dont [sic] buy an HTPC". EDIT: You love ice skating uphill a Shield can be a Plex server but like a HTPC no one really does it. Buy some normal computer and run Plex. You really don't even need that fancy of a computer, I believe a N100 can do everything with QuickSync if you even need transcoding. gariig fucked around with this message at 17:30 on Dec 5, 2024 |
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Dec 5, 2024 17:26
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One disadvantage of hosting on the Shield is that you have no way to restore a library or database in the event of a crash. Some of the admin settings won't work either because the Shield is kind of it's own thing and there is no specific build. I hosted on one for years but I also run Arrs which have to be on a PC. Eventually I got one of those BeeLink N100 Win11 machines and things are easier. gariig posted:I took a look in the Microsoft App store and there's a Disney+ app! Sweet maybe Thom Yorke will be OK. I install and realize it's just a PWA wrapper, that's not good but does mean I get access to developer tools! So, I load up Deadpool and Wolverine, check the HLS manifest, and I top out at 1280x720 being served to me. You are going to see this constantly where if you aren't in an iOS or Android app you are going to get subpar resolutions. Your best bet is to buy that low powered PC to run Plex/Jellyfin server and buy some sort of streaming device. There's a reason the thread is "Dont [sic] buy an HTPC". Agreeing with this. The Windows Apps are really just browser windows and are likely meant for a more mobile experience. Plus I don't know how you would switch apps with a remote since MS killed WMC years ago.
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Dec 5, 2024 17:31
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Cool thing about Shield as a client is you don't have to transcode much of anything. Not even the dreaded MPEG2 that OTA broadcasts are made of that nobody's Netflix box supported back in the 2010s. So your Plex server can be a bag of loving sun chips as long as it can house hard drives.
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Dec 5, 2024 17:46
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I already have a PC that is a plex server, and I use my Shield as a Plex client. The trouble is that it struggles to stream 4k over wifi, among other issues. It sounds like I should just get a beelink to use as my plex server&client, and also use another device for Streaming services. Can the Beelink N100 handle 4k playback?
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Dec 5, 2024 17:56
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Yes but the CPU may run very high. It's a quiet machine but just know that the machine won't be doing much else, or at least not quickly.
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Dec 5, 2024 18:02
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Thom Yorke raps posted:I already have a PC that is a plex server, and I use my Shield as a Plex client. The trouble is that it struggles to stream 4k over wifi, among other issues. It sounds like I should just get a beelink to use as my plex server&client, and also use another device for Streaming services. Can the Beelink N100 handle 4k playback? Network problem. edit: You've got a ShieldTV, which is still a top tier client device, hooked up to your TV. One of the things that makes it top tier is its broad codec support, which means Plex doesn't have to transcode, it can just send it the file. That means your server isn't required to do much as long as everything is set to Original quality. But the data isn't reliably getting to your ShieldTV fast enough. Replacing the server PC AND your client with an HTPC isn't the solution here. A new wifi6 router with the existing server PC plugged in via gigabit ethernet might very well fix your problem. I'm running a router I got off of woot for $12, it's the only router in the house, and it's sending 4K movies and live unmolested OTA TV to another room, zero hiccups. That's not a "works for me," that's simply the state of modern wifi. It can do that now. Used to be unreliable in most cases, that has flipped. Thom Yorke raps posted:Sure but I live in a 130 year old house with plaster walls, and I think this is a cheaper solution It solves your Plex problem but creates a whole mess of new ones for everything that isn't Plex. There are edge cases out there that still benefit from an HTPC. I've been doing this poo poo forever, I'm telling you, your situation isn't one of them. Better wifi, powerline ethernet - something that gets those bits to your Shield is the right answer. TheScott2K fucked around with this message at 18:18 on Dec 5, 2024 |
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Dec 5, 2024 18:04
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TheScott2K posted:Network problem. Sure but I live in a 130 year old house with plaster walls, and I think this is a cheaper solution edit: Powerline ethernet is probably worth looking into. Our router is a good one I believe, we have the TP-Link AX3000 WiFi 6 Router. And my PC has a TP-Link AC1200 PCIe WiFi Card (Archer T4E) which I thought would be fine? double edit: there is also the issue of needing my PC to be on. I have it set to sleep after a few hours to save power. Thom Yorke raps fucked around with this message at 18:30 on Dec 5, 2024 |
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Dec 5, 2024 18:14
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Wire the PC to the router. Or the Shield. One of them. I'm sure your PC, as an old desktop or whatever, is less power efficient than a modern little low power one, but when it comes to your power bill it's still a rounding error. An idling PC is loving nothing compared to your thermostat.
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Dec 5, 2024 18:31
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In my previous house I had really good results using a couple of MoCa adapters and the existing inwall coaxials to connect my htpc to the rest of the network. I'd never heard of MoCa before that moment so I'm mentioning it now just in case it ends up being something useful to you.
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Dec 5, 2024 19:23
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