Move over DVD...

[lostcarpark]

Why have a DVD player, when a modded XBox running XBox Media Center could be so much better?

I really like the idea of being able to play all the video I have on my computer on the TV, without having to have a big noisy PC sitting next to it.

Comments

[jcaswell.livejournal.com]

The modded Xbox works really well, the only problem being it's a bit noisy. It should be noted, however, that ours is one of the first batch - we bought it the day it was released. There's every possiblity that newer models may be different. We actually use our DVD player more than the Xbox now, mostly as the DVD player is an integral part of our surround sound system. We tend to use the Xbox more for streaming downloaded stuff direct from Chris's PC.

And the point to this comment? No bloody idea.

[lostcarpark.livejournal.com]

Do you mean it's noisy as a DVD player, or noisy in its own right (e.g. fan noise)?

Apparently the XBox can output to a surround sound amp with the right adapter (though it would be nicer if the device came with standard connectors). What I'm especially interested in is being able to play media on the PC network. It would also be cool if it could do video recorder type stuff, but I don't think that's on offer.

[jcaswell.livejournal.com]

Fan noise, the DVD part itself is pretty quiet.

I can't be sure, but I think we had it connected to the surround sound, but it was a lot of buggering about if we wanted to change from the Xbox back to Sky. Or something - I must have switched off when Chris was talking about it :)

Chris actually had it streaming the wedding photos direct from his PC the other night...dead impressive.

[btd.livejournal.com]

:)

The XBOX noise is purely fan. Ours is a 1.0 XBOX, which has an additional VPU fan, which is rather noisy. The fan can be replaced with a quieter one or silenced with a heat sync. Tutorials for this are on xbox-scene (www.xbox-scene.com)

It's not connected to the surround amp atm, as the amp only had one optical in, and I figured we use sky more :) I will connect it via regular phono's when I can be bothered :O)

[jcaswell.livejournal.com]

Yeah, what he said :p

XBMC vs a DVD player

[btd.livejournal.com]

Hey

The XBOX doesn't really make a good alternative to a DVD player for actual DVDs. The MS software is ok, but is region limited. There is a another player, which will play any region, but the quality is really poor, and can be quite choppy. XBMC will play the main feature from a DVD, but none of the menu or extras etc. (I've not actually tried, so cant say if its quality or not).

I certainly prefer a stand alone DVD player for DVDs. I use the XBOX for everything else, divX, XVID, SVCD, VCD etc etc. Plays from my PC server, over the lan.

Been using my XBOX modded for nearly two years. Any info you need, just shout :)

Re: XBMC vs a DVD player

[lostcarpark.livejournal.com]

That sounds cool. XBMC looks like it has real potential, but still needs to mature a little. If you could add a TV in and use to do Sky+ type stuff, you'd be onto a real winner. If you could take it a step further, and add a web server and an interface to let you add programmes to the record list while you're away, you could ditch the VHS and DVD in a stroke.

Or you could spend a load of money on a Windows XP media centre edition PC...

Re: XBMC vs a DVD player

[btd.livejournal.com]

XBMC is about as mature as its going to get. The xbox isn't powerful enough to record from live video, but even if it were, you'd need to run linux to use a usb capture device (or write new drivers for the device). Its all quite harsh.

As it is, its an excellent media player, which totally compliments sky+ and a stand alone dvd.