# \[deep geek\] I just want my media on my FREEKIN TV! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 28, 2007, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-geek-i-just-want-my-media-on-my-freekin-tv/431461 "2007-12-28T12:29:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2007, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-geek-i-just-want-my-media-on-my-freekin-tv/431461/1 "2007-12-28T12:29:18Z")
This is a problem suffered by a 0.001% geek, so turn away if you don’t care about these things. A year ago, I had a very simple setup: Linux File server -----Xbox Media Center (a hacked xbox) ----- TV But it wasn’t HD and I wanted something better, so in November, I bought an Apple TV. So now I have to have: Fileserver ---- (Something that plays iTunes that’s always on) + Something that converts to h.264 + TV to get a flat list of all the movies, and no way to seperate out the kid stuff from the adult stuff. Just after that, the Xbox added Divx/XviD support(!), I look under the xmas tree at that white and green box and thing it could be my solution. Okay, three days after xmas and some heavy hacking later, i’ve got: linux file server - small spare computer with Windows XP media center edition - MCE SP2 Rollup - Windows Media 11 - Zune Player - Xbox 360 And my wimpy little 1.2 Ghz Duron just can’t keep up with Microsoft’s needs. So I put iTunes on it and that kinda works, but I’m back to figuring out how to batch convert a TON of video…through a Duron…to get a flat list of movies. The file server has some oomph, but I don’t want to install a Microsoft OS on it for this one supid need, and I couldn’t get OSx86 to see the boot device. So. Lots of AVI/Divx/h.264 files, two video endpoints, and no joy. ☹ I live out of a Mac laptop and take it with me…getting the Apple TV to stream from it means: pull out laptop, get apple TV to stream from laptop, WAIT 10 minutes while they negotiate my media library… Any clues how to (preferably) get back to what I had with the XBMC with HD? ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2007, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-geek-i-just-want-my-media-on-my-freekin-tv/431461/2 "2007-12-28T14:37:07Z")
I have Server: 2.0 GHz linux server (SME7) with TwonkyServer (paid for software) - MS UPNP Firefly - Apple DAAP server. OxylBox - HTTP server for Showcenter Media Clients: XBox360 (A/V) Pinnacle Showcenter (A/V box) Pinnacle SoundBridge (Audio only) for my wife to play MP3s without turning the TV on ITunes/WMP/Amarok clients on laptops/desktops - all accessing music from the server. It all works really well. My A/V files are all AVI (XVid) files, and can be played on all appropriate devices. There is no on-the-fly transcoding. The only thing to watch is the Showcenter does not decode Dolby to the TV audio out. Si ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2007, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-geek-i-just-want-my-media-on-my-freekin-tv/431461/3 "2007-12-29T01:25:40Z")
HUZZAH! Twonky Server did it for me! Definately a package worth buying! Thankyou, THANKYOU Si! ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2007, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-geek-i-just-want-my-media-on-my-freekin-tv/431461/4 "2007-12-29T01:39:56Z")
I was in your same situation about a year ago, before the xbox got it’s divx support. I ended building my own hoem theater PC out of spare parts I had lying around + a new mobo and CPU and a HTPC case runnign vista’s media center. I get basic (unencrypted) digital cable and my local HD channels + I can play any video/music file I want even those damn matroska files. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2007, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deep-geek-i-just-want-my-media-on-my-freekin-tv/431461/5 "2007-12-29T12:50:54Z")
[QUOTE=Unintentionally Blank] HUZZAH! Twonky Server did it for me! Definately a package worth buying! Thankyou, THANKYOU Si! [/QUOTE] Glad to help Si