btw I have cat5 to the TiVo so can use either a wireless or wired device. I would not be necessarily be anti an XBox if it does what I need...
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Soft-modded. Very easy to do, the hardest part was getting some files onto a memory stick thingy - that took me about 8 months, the rest about 20minssmokie said:
I use xbox media center, not sure if there are other apps that do the same thing, and it is fantastic. Easily one of the best bits of software I have ever used (can't decide which is best, tivo or xbmc)
WRT HD, Somebody (I think ChrisD?) mentioned they had got this to work - I'll see if I can find the thread.
There are a lot of options and a lot depends on your budget and the little tweeks which you want as there are pros and cons with most.
If you don't want to use the TV to select tunes then google 'sonus' and 'squeezebox' as both these are well respected - both form the foundations for a proper multiroom music system. The sonus is expensive but really nice.
I use Netgear MP101's connected to TwonkyMedia's Universal Plug and Play media server (uPnP). It has it's own screen and quite powerful SMS style search interface from the remote. I really can't recommend the MP101 as it tends to be fussy about slight drops in the network even wired to a 'g' speed network - if you wanted to try it out and found one very cheap on eBay it might be worth a look but I wouldn't spend more than £30.
Philips Streamium products are also uPnP compatible and notionally all uPnP clients can work with all servers. Twonky is preinstalled on some NAS devices.
http://www.twonkymedia.com/Products/TwonkyMedia/devices.html
You can even get a PSP to talk to a uPnP server but the interface isn't that pleasant - all the tracks listed one by one
The AppleTV will integrate well with iTunes but I was put off by it using as much power in standby as when on - Automan posted his thoughts on his in the UK Chit Chat forum.
For a good overview of what is available I can recommend this site which belongs to a regular AVForums poster andrewsome number
http://www.audiofi.co.uk/reviews/overview.php
If use iTunes and you have one then I would recommend docking an iPod. Since I got my 80GB iPod we more or less abandoned the MP101 system and music server. Now my partner has a 160BG classic our whole library fits on it so there is almost no reason to power up the music server. If you don't have one then I would consider it. As well as a portable player both our cars have iPod interfaces so all our tunes go with us everywhere. I haven't played a CD in a year!
If you don't want to use the TV to select tunes then google 'sonus' and 'squeezebox' as both these are well respected - both form the foundations for a proper multiroom music system. The sonus is expensive but really nice.
I use Netgear MP101's connected to TwonkyMedia's Universal Plug and Play media server (uPnP). It has it's own screen and quite powerful SMS style search interface from the remote. I really can't recommend the MP101 as it tends to be fussy about slight drops in the network even wired to a 'g' speed network - if you wanted to try it out and found one very cheap on eBay it might be worth a look but I wouldn't spend more than £30.
Philips Streamium products are also uPnP compatible and notionally all uPnP clients can work with all servers. Twonky is preinstalled on some NAS devices.
http://www.twonkymedia.com/Products/TwonkyMedia/devices.html
You can even get a PSP to talk to a uPnP server but the interface isn't that pleasant - all the tracks listed one by one
The AppleTV will integrate well with iTunes but I was put off by it using as much power in standby as when on - Automan posted his thoughts on his in the UK Chit Chat forum.
For a good overview of what is available I can recommend this site which belongs to a regular AVForums poster andrewsome number
http://www.audiofi.co.uk/reviews/overview.php
If use iTunes and you have one then I would recommend docking an iPod. Since I got my 80GB iPod we more or less abandoned the MP101 system and music server. Now my partner has a 160BG classic our whole library fits on it so there is almost no reason to power up the music server. If you don't have one then I would consider it. As well as a portable player both our cars have iPod interfaces so all our tunes go with us everywhere. I haven't played a CD in a year!
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