how to make a tv " smart "

G

gov

Senior member
We have a Panasonic flatscreen plasma tv - it's about 4 years old , has 3 hmdi 's , scarts , a 15 pin computer connection thingee but no usb port . We have a Humax freesat box that is hardwired to our internet router so can get bbc iplayer/itv player. What I would like to get is 4od and channel 5 on demand on the tv . Is there a way I can buy something to add these two additions or is there a cheap way to play my laptop through the tv . I keep hearing about this NOW 10 quid box but it seems to be tied up with Sky who i hate. Unfortunately because we live in a one horse village our maximum internet speed is a paltry 1.5 mb - just enough to watch iplayer at the crappy low quality :(

Any ideas please.
 
Your laptop will probably have a VGA out socket use that to connect it to the tv. Not used one for some time so not sure if it's 15 pin but if not just search for a VGA to the type of connection the tv has. I just bought a net top (acer revo 3700) and it is permanently connected to the tv - it's basically a computer.
 
Keyboard thing connects to pc wirelessly via USB dongle.(you get a usb extension cable if you want to hide the pc a bit)
15 pin cable from pc to telly.
It's not slick but it works.
 
This? £20 off...

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/audio/digital-media-players/digital-media-players/roku-lt-media-streamer-18386105-pdt.html
 
I'm trying to do the same. The Now TV and other similar boxes seem to miss ITV player or one of the others.

Best I can come up with is Samsung BD-F6500 3D Smart Blu-Ray and DVD player. Looking at one of these as I'm after Blu Ray.

Can't find confirmation if all the services are available yet or not though.
 
Got one of these a few months back...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/DroidBOX-V9-MK908-RK3188-Android/dp/B00DVO6Z42/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386366705&sr=8-1&keywords=tv+box+908
Brilliant bit of kit, and unlike one of the reviews, never crashes. Not only does it make your TV smart, but you get virtually any movie you like for free (and HD) and get all sports channels including Skysport and BT for free! (Hence the jailbroken spec, I guess).
 
I bought the nowtv box as you can easily sideload plex media server onto it and stream music and videos off your home PC. The NowTV box is just a rebranded Roku LT just a little cheaper.

http://digiex.net/guides-reviews/gu...tep-step-guide-installing-plex-nowtv-box.html

Google are bringing out the chromecast in the UK soon (i think) and I believe that will do everything a smart tv can do and maybe a little more.

In fact amazon are selling in the UK atm, very temped myself.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Google-Chromecast-Streaming-Media-Player/dp/B00DR0PDNE
 
I've got an Aspire Revo r3600 booting straight into XBMC taking care of all the streaming/video playing side of things.

This is partnered with an Apple TV for youtube/netflix and such.

Not the cheapest combo, but it works well enough.

Eventually as Popey has said above< I'd like a Mac MIni, just so I can have it on display because it looks so good! (the Acer is currently mounted behind the tv)
 
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