Internet TV?

[OddSox]

I don't have cable because I refuse to pay Rogers. I can't get satellite because of my location. I basically get CTV and TVO on rabbit ears.

I would like to buy an HDTV monitor and a computer, hook it up to my internet, and watch downloaded movies, Utube videos and some television shows as available online. Ideally, this would work similar to a PVR/TIVO with remote control etc. rather than sitting down at a keyboard and monitor - but that's not a huge deal. Streaming video would be nice, but I suspect most of the stuff I watch would be something I've downloaded for later viewing. I can go to the pub for sports.

I know the Apple TV does something like this, but as I understand it they are geared more towards paid downloads of movies etc. which I'm not really interested in (or am I wrong?)

The computer would be dedicated to this.

Is it possible?

PS: I won't do Windows - Linux or Apple is ok.

 

[Pugsley]

This could be of benefit to you.. no special hook-ups required.

http://www.channelsurfing.net/

http://www.ovguide.com/

 

[djk]

Apple TV will play anything in iTunes. If you convert a file to H.264 MP4, iTunes will play it.

Specialized programs like Handbrake do an excellent job of converting files from one format to another. http://handbrake.fr/?article=download

The only downside is you will spend time waiting for stuff to covert over. You can get reduced prices on Apple TV's through Apple Store refurbished section.

Otherwise, just watch the Apple Store's refurbished section frequently and pick up a Mac Mini.

http://www.tuaw.com/2009/07/24/behold-my-mac-mini-media-center/
http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/21/tuaw-guide-setting-up-the-ultimate-mac-mini-home-theater/

I'm currently using an Apple TV and waiting for the next revision of Mac Mini. Rumor has it they are going to include HDMI.

 

[WoodPeckr]

On Linux I've used http://www.hulu.com for movies and TV clips.

Used Winamp with windows, which has many TV channels from all over the wold.

Don't really watch much TV on the PC.

 

[djk]

Another thing if you want to go the Mac Mini route, be sure to check out Plex.

http://www.plexapp.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ner5Z2WlAuI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hlZ8xmLVGk

 

[OddSox]

Thanks for all the suggestions. It looks like it might take a while to work through them all.

I just want to clarify - I don't want to watch TV on my computer, I can do that already. I want to use a computer to watch TV - which I think is a different ball game, isn't it?

 

[Powershot]

Boxee sounds like something you might like

http://www.boxee.tv/homepage/

 

[WoodPeckr]

I just want to clarify - I don't want to watch TV on my computer, I can do that already. I want to use a computer to watch TV - which I think is a different ball game, isn't it?

Well I can plug my laptop into my big screen TV to use the laptop to play whatever on TV. Is that what you mean? To do this I just connect a S-video cable and an audio cable between the two and anything on the laptop can be played on TV, music, movies, photos, etc.

 

[djk]

Thanks for all the suggestions. It looks like it might take a while to work through them all.

I just want to clarify - I don't want to watch TV on my computer, I can do that already. I want to use a computer to watch TV - which I think is a different ball game, isn't it?

Both of my suggestions will do that. Happy HTPCing!

 

[xix]

Build Your Own MythTV Box. mythtv

google it.
if you are mechanical inclined and can build computers together then this will do it
Only draw back is to download any file to a 8 gig usb drive and upload it to the mythtv box.

A couple of linux magasines always carry instructions.

 

[Clear History]

This one is pretty good for sports.

http://atdhe.net/

 

[djk]

This one is pretty good for sports.

http://atdhe.net/

Thank you for sharing.

 

[djk]

Hulu + Hotspot Shield

Hulu blocks Hotspot Shield now.

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/05/06/control-freaks-hulu-now-blocks-anonymous-proxies-too/
http://newteevee.com/2009/05/06/hulu-blocks-hotspot-shield-users/
http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2009-05/hulu-blocks-access-from-hotspot-shield/

Do you know a workaround?

 

[Anynym]

Don't forget to look at an ATSC-capable Video Capture Card (e.g. Hauppauge HVR-1600) and an ATSC antenna (you can get a cheap one for about $60 or $80 at The Source by Circuit City, to pick up over-the-air High Definition (and other Digital) broadcasts. A variety of stations are available locally digitally, according to the Wikipedia page (scroll down to Deployment).

Note - you'll find the latest Ubuntu release should support the HVR-1600 under MythTV, although you may have to work with it for a while. Support for the HVR-1800 (PCI-Express) or HVR-2250 is much more limited, but improving.

 

[WoodPeckr]

Which latest Ubuntu release 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope or 9.10 Karmic Koala, due out next month?

 

[Tam69]

Go to http://eztv.it/ and download the shows manually. They normally have every show minutes after its done airing.

Or Use Ted (http://www.ted.nu/) to auto download the show. Connect it with utorrent and your all set.

Or install Hulu Desktop app on a dual boot on Winblows - http://www.hulu.com/labs/hulu-desktop. Best app for HDTV.

 

[emvee]

Thanks Tam69

Go to http://eztv.it/ and download the shows manually

Thanks for the recommendation Tam69! I found some shows here I'd been looking for for a while.

With the downloaded files, I'm using videora to convert them to mp4's so I can watch them on my iPod. Works great!