ROKU Photobridge HD

[JasonJoel]

I started a new thread in the Hardware Support forum for the Buffalo device. Might want to start posting about that guy in that thread. By the way, I got my Buffalo device, and so far LOVE it. Plays Dixv/Xvid perfectly. Interface needs some work, but there are firmware updates coming - we'll see what they change.

I thought it was time to stop invading thhis ROKU thread!

JasonJoel

[waynedunham]

Just thought I'd give a shout out here. Roku has just released the 2.016 firmware version and it has added support for UPnP. In this first UPnP release all they have in there is the ability to connect to a UPnP server and list your music files. You can also play single music files.

This first version does not have the ability to queue music, nor support playlists. They just wanted to get it out there to test everyone's compatability.

Coming versions will add support for playlists, etc as well as pictures and video.

All 3rd party apps have to be re-compiled with the new SDK to work due to the major additions/revisions in the firmware. It doesn't look like the re-compiles are going to require many changes. Several of the 3rd party programs had new compatible versions out in mere hours after the release of the 2.016 firmware and SDK.
Luckily Mplay, which is the app I use the most, was re-compiled and working very quickly. That is the app I use to play my Sage recordings on my TV in the living room through the Roku.

[Jesse]

Hello waynedunham,

I have got another question regarding the roku. I have checked out mplay, but I am wondering if the roku will play ripped dvd files without this app? If so, what sort of functionality will it have (ie, FF, RW, etc). I am hoping to intergrate the roku with an app from Cinemar called DVD Lobby. This app is a really nice interface for selecting your harddrive (or changer) based dvd's and then launching whatever player you happen to use (eg TT, Zoom, Changer) to view them. I will need to convince someone on the cinemar forum to write a plugin, so I am trying to figure out what sort of players will work with the roku. If you have never seen DVD Lobby you can check it out at http://www.cinemaronline.com .

If we could just get someone here to write a plugin to use the roku as a sage client this might make for a very slick client device.

Thanks very much,

Jesse

[waynedunham]

Jesse,

Wow, I'm really not the guy to ask that question. I don't have any ripped DVD's and don't follow that topic much over on the Roku Forums.

The Roku doesn't work "with" any DVD players/changers, etc. It's basically a network media device similar to things like the Pinnacle Show Center, Hauppauge Media MVP, D-Link Media Lounge, etc. It has more capabilities than most of those as far as power goes, but to be honest some of the newer options coming out in the very near future are catching up to the Roku's abilities/possibilities.

You're just basically asking something I can't answer intelligently since I presently don't have a need for what you're looking at. My Roku is in the living room where I have a DVD player so when I want a DVD I plop one in there. My DVD collection isn't anywhere near large enough to warrant ripping them onto har drives at this point. Not to mention the amount of DVD watching I do. My main focus personally for the Roku is watching tihngs I recorded with my PVR 500 and SageTv.

You might want to pop over to the Roku Forums and ask the question yourself in the appropriate forum. There are many people VERY into ripped DVD's stored on their computers and Network Storage Devices over there.
Check out Roku Forums

I did take a look at the Cinemar site and the program looks very interesting and actually may fill a need for a close friend of mine.

Sorry I couldn't be of any real help.

[Crashless]

Jesse and waynedunham:

You should both take a look at Meedio. It does everything that Dvd lobby does and more AND it costs less.

Stay with Sage for TV though, Meedio's current beta is _very_ beta, and not ready for most people's living room.

[Jesse]

Hi,

Thanks very much for the response Wayne. I will spend some time on the roku forum as you suggest.

Crash,
I am a registered owner of meedio. It will not do all that the cinemar product can. When the interface between housebot and meedio rolls out (and works) then it might. The real strength of the cinemar products are their client/server features. Meedio's user produced plugins are a double edged sword. Lots of cool stuff, but also alot of variation in their quality and reliability. Dont get me wrong, I like the product (heck, I bought it) but it just is'nt right for me. It might be in the future, but not now.

Unless I am mistaken, you and I conversed on the meedio forums about a multizone audio system. If meedio offered a real client/server feature then you would not need netremote to control your multizone audio system. I use and like JRMC, and it looks like we were thinking the same thing: Meedio with the JRMC plugin and netremote for zone control outside of meedio. After playing with meedio and the JRMC plugin (lots of promise, but buggy and unstable on my system) I decided to stay with cinemar products. The only reason I have considered anything else is my wife's preference for hard button remotes over touchscreens (except for multizone audio control). If you are familiar with cinemar products you know that they really only shine on a touchscreen.

So did you ever get your multizone audio system up and running? BTW, I did see the (now discontinued) maudio d410 sound cards for <$100 on newegg. They are very nice for multizone audio.

Take care,

Jesse

[Crashless]

Oh yeah. I remember, you're THAT Jesse. It's nice when we use the same usernames on each board huh? Good memory!

Unfortunately haven't gotten that up yet. Drew up all the plans though using your recommendations. Now I just need the funds to get that card, and speakers for the first(or second I guess) zone.

You and I seem to be in very similar situations - my fiance also isn't a big fan of touchscreens either (she thinks they're ugly), which is the other reason I havn't been able to pull the trigger on my multi-zone plans; I need to find a PDA that doesn't look like a PDA...tough challenge for sure. Hopefully Meedio will get their client/server stuff in order, Cinemar definitly has the leg up in that department, (actually, so does xlobby, have you taken a look at that program? Never used it myself) it was the first program I researched for my setup, but the entry price was prohibitive.

As far as the Roku goes, it definitly has HUGE potential due to it's internal processing speeds - the problem I found, at least as far as integrating Sage went, was that it didn't play very nicely with external GUIs, so a specific client program would have to be written for it. There might be a way around this as far as simply sending it metadata and filenames though, so it's very possible it could be integrated into DVDlobby's database without too much trouble.

Anyways, I'm not sure if I've actually said anything of use here so...

Good luck!

[waynedunham]

Crashless, Jesse,

There is a 3rd party app on the Roku which will give you a remote PC screen, basically allowing you to see what's on our computer screen. I've been meaning to take a look at it to see if it might work to "see" Sage on the Roku.
I just haven't had the time yet to do so. I don't "think" it could keep up with video and is more for controlling a PC remotely, but I'm hoping I'm wrong.

It sure would be nice if the SageMvp project could be ported to the Roku. I did send a message to the SageMvp author and he had thought of it, but dismissed it at the time of the older original firmware on the Roku.
I was hoping that with the newer firmware which addressed many of the technical problems with viewing video on the original firmware (lip synch, etc) he would take another look. We'll see I guess.

Too bad I don't have any programming ability.

[dbfresh23]

I bet if sage would release a linux client the Roku would be working as a sage client in no time at all. Looking at everything out there in terms of extenders, the Roku would without a doubt be the easiest (well maybe least hard) to get working with sage. I'd buy one and start messing around almost immediately!

[waynedunham]

Let's hope they do just that and release a Linux client. I know I sure would love to see the Sage Client interface on the Roku. It would sure be easier than having to pick the files from a fairly standard file browser window and then remember to delete it from Sage after I watch it.