How to bring internet and movies on TV?

[cadfx]

So, I'm trying to get the some sort of an internet/movie experience going on my television, I've heard some have computers hooked up to the TV and view movies this way with direct connection to the internet. I don't have much experience in this, anybody can recommend anything for a start?

[Bonam]

So, I'm trying to get the some sort of an internet/movie experience going on my television, I've heard some have computers hooked up to the TV and view movies this way with direct connection to the internet. I don't have much experience in this, anybody can recommend anything for a start?

Put your computer next to your TV. Take an HDMI cable and plug one end into your computer (if it is pretty new, there will be an HDMI output on the back), the other end into your TV, as if it was a computer monitor. Done.

Edited September 22, 2012 by Bonam

[eyeball]

Yep, we're down-scaling too. Unfortunately the local cable guy is soon to lose another customer.

By the way, has anyone tried Ooma? It looks like a pretty good alternative to Telus but, since my Internet connection would still be with Telus...how long will it be until Telus makes up their loss on the land line phone side by ramping up the price they charge on the Internet side?

[rizy]

Try the Sony Internet Player it's free now. Seems like the cheapest way to get internet and online movies on TV. According to this site there is a giveaway with the Sony Card. I wasn't even aware of what Sony Internet Player is but there is a video and small review of the device.

free sony player

Here is the YouTube video if someone wants to see:

So, I'm trying to get the some sort of an internet/movie experience going on my television, I've heard some have computers hooked up to the TV and view movies this way with direct connection to the internet. I don't have much experience in this, anybody can recommend anything for a start?

Edited September 28, 2012 by rizy

[Boges]

An Xbox 360 is a pretty good media extender. They start at $200 now but obviously you get more than just the ability to stream downloaded content. If you buy a Wifi enabled 360 you won't even need to hook your Computer to the TV. That assumes you use a Windows PC. I'm not sure the compatibility of a Mac to an Xbox. If you have a Mac you should probably get an Apple TV.

I guess I'm one of the few people that still values the variety cable TV offers. I do enjoy Netflix to but only to compliment my cable viewing.

If everyone downloaded their TV shows illegally through a bittorrent we'd soon see a reduction in quality programming.

The best TV comes from premium and basic cable programming like HBO and AMC now. I know several people who just wait to watch the programming the next day by downloading.

It's the way entertainment consumption is going. Cable providers will need to adapt. A Netflix or Youtube model for new TV programming will likely be the future of TV.

Edited September 22, 2012 by Boges

[eyeball]

If everyone downloaded their TV shows illegally through a bittorrent we'd soon see a reduction in quality programming.

Geez, how much worse can it get? I've got dozens and dozens and dozens of channels now and there's just so much of it that's already pure crap.

But that said, isn't just about everything that's ever been made available online? I don't mind paying but I do expect it to be dirt cheap, given the quality and all.

[rizy]

The problem with TV is that pretty much 3 companies here in Canada run the whole TV industry, so they market anything they want like the crappy Toronto Maple Leafs losers or the Blue Jays losers (I know I'm gonna make some enemies here) feed the viewers endless ads, garbage reality shows, etc. Point is with so much advertising the cable TV should be free, otherwise you pay for watching ads.

No wonder people look at other options.

[MiddleClassCentrist]

Geez, how much worse can it get? I've got dozens and dozens and dozens of channels now and there's just so much of it that's already pure crap.

But that said, isn't just about everything that's ever been made available online? I don't mind paying but I do expect it to be dirt cheap, given the quality and all.

I watch my shows whenever a legitimate website is available. If I miss the window of opportunity that the streaming version is available. I use my special "world wide friends" PVR.

The market has overpriced how much each episode costs... especially shows that air for free.

In Toronto/GTA you don't even need Cable for the most part, just an antenna and you can get 20-30+ stations for free.

Edited September 23, 2012 by MiddleClassCentrist

[Boges]

In Toronto/GTA you don't even need Cable for the most part, just an antenna and you can get 20-30+ stations for free.

Well that's complete BS.

Want to watch Monday Night Football? The CFL? Most Leaf Games? (when they end up playing again) Breaking Bad? HBO? Anything other than cruddy network TV from Toronto or Buffalo? Then by all means get the HD rabbit ears. But don't pretend to say you're getting most of what cable has to offer.

Very little of what you can over the interwebs is full HD. And if you're downloading content to get a majority of your TV viewing then you'd have to have an unlimited internet limit if you value watching stuff at full HD.

Streaming Full HD off of Netflix runs around 2 gigs an hour+ You'll use up your data pretty fast if you download all your stuff at that quality.

I use the web for Streaming sports when my teams aren't on TV. It works but it's pretty shitty. Want to talk about ads BTW? Websites that stream content for free plaster your screen with intermittent pop-ups. More annoying that normal ads IMHO.

[Bonam]

Well that's complete BS.

Want to watch Monday Night Football? The CFL? Most Leaf Games?

Sports are dumb and boring to watch.

(when they end up playing again) Breaking Bad? HBO? Anything other than cruddy network TV from Toronto or Buffalo? Then by all means get the HD rabbit ears. But don't pretend to say you're getting most of what cable has to offer.

Very little of what you can over the interwebs is full HD. And if you're downloading content to get a majority of your TV viewing then you'd have to have an unlimited internet limit if you value watching stuff at full HD.

Get unlimited internet?

I haven't had a cable subscription in 5+ years but still watch all the "TV" episodes that I want.

[Wild Bill]

Well that's complete BS.

Want to watch Monday Night Football? The CFL? Most Leaf Games? (when they end up playing again) Breaking Bad? HBO? Anything other than cruddy network TV from Toronto or Buffalo? Then by all means get the HD rabbit ears. But don't pretend to say you're getting most of what cable has to offer.

You're right in principle, Boges. Still, it all depends on your personal taste.

Myself, I have an OTA setup. I get my channels from Toronto and Buffalo. For me that's enough. I am not that much of a sports watcher. I do listen to Jays baseball and TigerCat games on the radio. I like to follow a game with my ears while my hands are doing work.

All the over the air channels I receive are full HD. Also, the nature of the signal is such that you either have perfect reception or none at all. "Snow" is a thing of the past.

I get my PBS and TVO science and political documentaries. There are very few new entertainment shows that I watch. Except for Ozzy and his family, reality TV bores my butt off! Anything like the Khardashians makes me consider poisoning myself rather than watch. I would cheerfully murder any 'Survivor' folks.

I do watch a few dramas, like NCIS. If I miss an episode, I can always pull it off the Web and feed it thru an HDMI port.

Actually, what I enjoy most from OTA is that many stations broadcast alternate channels filled with classic programming. During my "loogan" years I never watched much tv, being out 'gallivanting'. So I missed MASH, WKRP, Barney Miller and others the first time around. Now I can catch them on OTA, including many shows from the Golden Years - the 1950's.

So again, it is all a matter of taste. The fact that Ricky Lake is back on daytime TV is not nearly enough to bring me back to cable or satellite service.

[Boges]

Sports are dumb and boring to watch.

That's a rather silly blanket statement. If sports are dumb why does our National Broadcaster devote so much time to showing it on Saturday Nights and throughout the spring?

Get unlimited internet?

I haven't had a cable subscription in 5+ years but still watch all the "TV" episodes that I want.

Sure if you don't want the convenience of watching high-quality Television on demand then fine.

But it's hilarious that people think streaming a show on their lapper is just as enjoyable as watching it in HD on a 50" screen.

[Bonam]

That's a rather silly blanket statement. If sports are dumb why does our National Broadcaster devote so much time to showing it on Saturday Nights and throughout the spring?

Because people like to watch dumb things?

Sure if you don't want the convenience of watching high-quality Television on demand then fine.

But it's hilarious that people think streaming a show on their lapper is just as enjoyable as watching it in HD on a 50" screen.

My "lapper" is connected to my 60" screen and plays HD just fine. It's funny that people still talk in these terms as if connecting a TV screen to a computer wasn't the simplest thing in the world.

[Boges]

You're right in principle, Boges. Still, it all depends on your personal taste.

Myself, I have an OTA setup. I get my channels from Toronto and Buffalo. For me that's enough. I am not that much of a sports watcher. I do listen to Jays baseball and TigerCat games on the radio. I like to follow a game with my ears while my hands are doing work.

All the over the air channels I receive are full HD. Also, the nature of the signal is such that you either have perfect reception or none at all. "Snow" is a thing of the past.

I get my PBS and TVO science and political documentaries. There are very few new entertainment shows that I watch. Except for Ozzy and his family, reality TV bores my butt off! Anything like the Khardashians makes me consider poisoning myself rather than watch. I would cheerfully murder any 'Survivor' folks.

I do watch a few dramas, like NCIS. If I miss an episode, I can always pull it off the Web and feed it thru an HDMI port.

Actually, what I enjoy most from OTA is that many stations broadcast alternate channels filled with classic programming. During my "loogan" years I never watched much tv, being out 'gallivanting'. So I missed MASH, WKRP, Barney Miller and others the first time around. Now I can catch them on OTA, including many shows from the Golden Years - the 1950's.

So again, it is all a matter of taste. The fact that Ricky Lake is back on daytime TV is not nearly enough to bring me back to cable or satellite service.

Sure there are ways around having cable. But it's not nearly as good as cable. 0% of Jays and CFL games are on OTA anymore. So if you like Sports you pretty much have to get cable unless you're satisfied streaming crap.

The other really cool thing about cable/satellite nowadays is the DVR. Scan what's on TV for weeks to come and record it without having to remember when the show comes on. I love it.

[Boges]

Because people like to watch dumb things?

My "lapper" is connected to my 60" screen and plays HD just fine. It's funny that people still talk in these terms as if connecting a TV screen to a computer wasn't the simplest thing in the world.

It is easy, I do it sometimes if I do miss a show or accidentally delete it from my DVR, the quality isn't as good.

Again if you're happy stealing all your TV shows, then great.

If people didn't subscribe to HBO then there would be no Game of Thrones for you to steal.

[Bonam]

If people didn't subscribe to HBO then there would be no Game of Thrones for you to steal.

I'd be happy to pay for Game of Thrones if they offered a reasonable pricing model to watch individual episodes or series.

[Boges]

I'd be happy to pay for Game of Thrones if they offered a reasonable pricing model to watch individual episodes or series.

Doesn't iTunes do that?

[Bonam]

Doesn't iTunes do that?

I don't use Apple products/services. I've seen episodes on Amazon, but they only seem to make them available long long after the airdate.

[Boges]

I don't use Apple products/services. I've seen episodes on Amazon, but they only seem to make them available long long after the airdate.

Cool another Apple hater.

That's the trade-off going the internet route. You get content later and at a lower quality.

Netflix is an excellent service but it makes you wait up to a year for TV. They get some movies out really quickly now though.

I saw at the Emmys last night that a show called Homeland did very well. In Canada you can't get that on Cable unless you subscribe to a separate movie service called The Super Channel. It's like $15/month and shows second-rate movies usually (many movies that are available on Netflix ironically)

So I may consider going the bittorrent route to watch Homeland.

Unlike the TMN/HBO/CW subscription, you don't get your money's worth from the Super Channel. Lots of great stuff on the TMN/HBO/CW. My wife loves the CW shows so she wants to keep the subscription.

[segnosaur]

Put your computer next to your TV. Take an HDMI cable and plug one end into your computer (if it is pretty new, there will be an HDMI output on the back), the other end into your TV, as if it was a computer monitor. Done.

I've also found that many new TVs have VGA inputs in the back, so you can basically use your TV like a great big monitor.

[bleeding heart]

Sports are dumb and boring to watch.

That's heresy, Bonam.

On the other hand, I support heresy.....

[Bonam]

I've also found that many new TVs have VGA inputs in the back, so you can basically use your TV like a great big monitor.

Yeah you can use VGA too, or DVI, or whatever type of connector you can find on both your computer and TV or have adapters for. The downside of using a VGA cable is it will degrade the quality of the image if you are piping full HD content through it. Lots of new monitors are going away from the VGA cables too, and tend to use HDMI interfaces.

[cybercoma]

This was some elaborate spamming. Damn.

[MiddleClassCentrist]

You're right in principle, Boges. Still, it all depends on your personal taste.

Myself, I have an OTA setup. I get my channels from Toronto and Buffalo. For me that's enough. I am not that much of a sports watcher. I do listen to Jays baseball and TigerCat games on the radio. I like to follow a game with my ears while my hands are doing work.

All the over the air channels I receive are full HD. Also, the nature of the signal is such that you either have perfect reception or none at all. "Snow" is a thing of the past.

HD or Not, as long as I get the content (enjoyment) of the show I don't care.

The less money I provide the telecom oligopoly the better.

Right now we only have netflix as a paid service entertainment service, it's OK. Paired with gaming and internet entertainment, and hosted shows online, we get our entertainment.

We have a single OTA digital channel where we are, turn it on when I just want to vegetate and don't care what's on. Cable/Sat TV free for a long time. Not planning on getting it any time soon. If I could pick the few channels I want without having to get a $100/month package, I'd consider. Until I can pick 5 channels and pay $10-$20/month to get exactly the ones I actually watch, I'm not giving my money to the dinosaurs.

Edited September 24, 2012 by MiddleClassCentrist

[wyly]

there a free downloads on the web you just gotta know where to find it I'm not sharing...after that you can connect laptop to tv, done..

or telus optik...we've eliminated a lot of channels and just kept the basic to which we added the best movie channels HBO, AMC, Movie Central and Encore...and then our tv is connected to the web through which we access netflix, netflix is poor but if we watch one movie a month it's half the price of one adult theater ticket...