My Vodafone Tv is crazy laggy when trying to watch videos on Syncler. Thinking of moving to Google Tv.
What's everyone using?
What Media Player Device Is Everyone Using in 2021? (eg. Chromecast, Vodafone TV etc)
AydenFX on 28/08/2021 - 19:37
Last edited 28/08/2021 - 19:52 by 1 other user
Last edited 28/08/2021 - 19:52 by 1 other user
Poll Options
- 63Chromecast with Google TV
- 23Chromecast
- 28Vodafone TV
- 7Apple TV HD
- 28Apple TV 4K
- 7NVIDIA Shield TV 2019
- 16NVIDIA Shield TV Pro 2019
- 5Telstra TV
- 3Fire TV Stick 4K
- 7Fire TV Stick Lite
- 19Other (leave a comment)
Comments
Side-load apps & non-smart tv
Installed kodi and foxtel go on the chromecast. Cant do that on the smart tv
Because our "Smart" TV is now older than what the manufacturer wants to support and hasn't received apps for a number of newer streaming services. Which is pretty typical for Smart TV's more than 3 years old. It's a 4K TV and still works perfectly with a great picture. A Apple TV 4K has all the apps we need, we get them before the TV manufacturers bless our model with a app and we can AirPlay stuff from iPhones & iPad's to it. I inherited another TV from when my aunt died. It's a Samsung Smart TV with 3D support. When she bought it it was top of the range for it's size. It's quite a few years old now, I occasionally hook it up to the network for a laugh as it "updates" which means it's removed more now broken and unsupported apps. Despite now being old it's still a excellent TV and makes for a great unit in the bedroom.
Telstra TV (Roku)
Can you side-load apps?
Yes but it’s not one-click. If I remember correctly you can only have one app. I have Plex on mine
Plex is main stream now, should be able to get another side loaded app if you want.
I'll +1 for Roku, either Telstra TV (which is the Roku Ultra) or any of their devices you need to buy from USA. Been enjoying the remotes for years.
Fire stick
VTV is what I use. Have you tried holding the power button down and then selecting restart? I do that probably every 2-3 weeks and pretty much never have any laginess with any of the apps I use, but I’ve never used Syncler.
Chromecast with Google TV on 1 TV, shield pro on the other…
I had
-Fire Stick lite
-Fire Stick 4K
-Chromecast Gen1 and Gen2
-Chinese Android boxes
- Chinese android boxes flashed with Openelect KodiBut now I'm happily settled with Google TV with Chromecast. This is by far the best device I had. I've heard Nvidia shield is better but not within my budget.
I highly recommend Google TV with Chromecast.
This is the way. Have tried them all over the years.
Can you access chinese drama websites with the Google TV Chromecast?
Can you access them via google chrome app in the Chromecast?
Because I tried mirroring, it was horrible, but I forgot to check if it has chrome app.
Before I returned it.I've never tried any videos from websites. Send me the drama link, I'll try on my google tv.
I just installed "open browser" app on it. It seems to play online videos. I'd suggest getting a Bluetooth mouse if you are going to browse and watch videos this way.
FetchTV
Chromecast Ultra x2
Playstation
Apple TV
Cast DNLA via TV and device
MiniX Box running Kodi and a few other things
Spare HDMI cable hanging out the back of each TV to connect the PC when needed/wantedDon't use most of this anymore… Can't be ar5ed
Oh and the TV's each have a smart function… aaahhh why do we need all this double up 5#17!
12 year old Xeon HTPC. It's surprising how many apps you don't need to get all the content under the sun.
FetchTV, which includes Netflix app.
Chromecast.
Plex media server.
Apple TV, though I often just use my Xbox Series X because it's already on. The Xbox keeps loading up German subtitles on Prime Video for some reason, so I'll usually end up back on the Apple TV for extended TV viewing because turning them off manually all the time gets annoying.
Doesn’t Austria speak German?
youtube via htpc lol
YouTube on iPad.
Redtube on iPad? lol… I knew it!
Sorry, I miss red… I mean read… hahahaha
Saturday night in lockdown! aaahhh F'it…
Previously had a WD live, Noontec, and Vodafone box. Now with a Smart tv can just plug and play just about anything which is even easier than streaming/mirroring via Chromecast or DLNA. So just a usb and smart tv (chromecasted) for now.
I rarely watch TV/Movies. These days I just plug my phone into the plasma screen (USBC -> HDMI).
Used to have a fancy setup with a raspberry pi many years ago.
Patriot pbo core, the even older noontec v7ii recently died
Need a replacement 3.5" media player
.
Smart TV with Plex nd YouTube apps installed.
Shield Pro is in a league of its own - literally nothing else compares for power/capability and widest support of everything (arguably aside from a HTPC, but that’s another league again) I tried using a chromecast ultra, fire tv 4k, 2020 Samsung TV and a PS4, ps5 before just getting a shield and now I’m finally satisfied.
However you do pay for the privilege of having by far and away the best, since it also costs a lot more than most others. If you care about the fastest experience, full support for all high res content formats (particularly various flavours of lossless audio and 4k HDR, if you use Plex and want nothing to transcode, shield can’t be beaten), stuff like frame rate matching, AI upscaling that is better than any TVs upscaling etc…side bonus that you can load up n64 emulators and the like too and pair your PS/Xbox controller to it and play.
Also can use SmartTubeNext for YouTube which removes all ads (can get this on any android TV based device that can load apps)Probably sounds like an ad but after spending hours messing around with ps4/ps5/fireTV/chromecast…of course if you don’t care about the above things, then it might not be worth the cost to you. E.g my parents are perfectly happy with my rejected fire Stick
You have not tried current model Apple TV to compare? You can play Apple Music, Arcade with game controllers, all streaming apps and all audio inc partial Dolby Atmos and 4K video formats as well. Stream laptop screen to it. Share photos etc. all very easily. Also has MrMC if you want Kodi and supports HDHomeRun for tv channels. Supports Plex and media streaming with Infuse, VLC, etc. 4k YouTube not a problem. Control Apple Home devices such as lights, video cameras, heating and cooling. Siri built in. No format problems, no reboots, low power cost to run. Nothing ever transcoding. Wifi 6 as well as Ethernet. Bluetooth built in. Download subtitles from OpenSubtitles. I messed around with so many supposed 4K Kodi boxes, they were all rubbish. I notice both the Shield Pro and ATV4K don’t support HDR10+ so not all video formats. Plus ATV4K 21 model has a faster processor, the software is latest TvOS and is half the price, for the saving you can pay for YouTube premium to remove ads..
After having a bunch of different devices in the list, we settled back on a tiny windows HTPC, with a couple of always on services (eg. Plex server) running in linux hyperV virtual machines.
Other than the annoying forced reboots, it's given us the best flexibility and durability.
Shield with its upscaling
Im running VTV. Once a year or so have to run a factory reset, but other than that keeps running very well.
Smart TV and Plex.
Same. Got an older Sony TV running android with native Plex app installed. Direct plays everything except some x265 HDR/10bit stuff which I don't really care for anyway.
Windows Media Center. Yep still hanging on.
I bought a cheap Chinese Android box about 4 years ago for about $30 that plugs into the TV. I've installed Kodi on it and use it to:
- connect to my NAS for TV shows/movies
- use the SlyGuy video add-on for IPTV AU and 7Plus (for Olympics) and a few others because my TV Antenna only picks up one network.
- YouTubeIf you're in the Android ecosystem I'd go with a Chromecast with Goole TV, if your a iPhone I'd go with the latest Apple TV 4K with the new design remote which is actually usable, the previous remote was a horrible POS IMO. Luckily the new remote works with older devices and is sold separately.
Mecool Android TV Box — fast, solid playback of any file you throw at it and it allows sideloading any launcher or app. It has the newest Android TV UI if you like that, unlike most Chinese boxes which still feature a clumsy unchangeable 5yo interface, or you can just use a sideloaded launcher.
This is an alternative to the Shield Pro, but for a fraction of the price.
I also have several Foxtel boxes, Chromecast, Vodafone and Fetch boxes, none of them comes close.
Fetch TV Mighty.
Very good for FTA and FTA recording although FTA tuners require a good signal from antenna.
Pretty good at mainstream apps: Prime, Netflix, Disney, Paramount+, Stan, Vimeo, FTA catch-up, Youtube (no YT Music though have to go via YT app)
Has Britbox app (Android TV doesn't have this for some reason).
Plus some cheap optional subscription channels with catch-up apps
Can't install apps - you get what they give you.
Gets software updates and new features.
https://www.fetchtv.com.au/features/streaming-appsFTA picture is noticeably better quality than FTA catchup apps. If you never watch FTA, probably of no interest to you
Also recently have Chromecast with Google TV for Kodi etc. With the Netflix credit, and recent deal, it's very cheap.
I'm about to swap from Vodafone TV to Apple TV. I can''t get Apple TV+ or Amazon on my Vodafone Box.
Are there any android boxes that do Apple, Amazon, Binge, Stan, Disney & NetflixI use Plex on my PS5. It's fantastic, plex was a revelation for me
why a device when you have a smart tv?