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| New Blu-Ray Player | |
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| Topic Started: Dec 7 2013, 05:00 AM (516 Views) | |
| Trotsky | Dec 7 2013, 05:00 AM Post #1 |
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Big City Boy
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We had an older Blu-Ray player for both discs and streaming Netflix. It was the SONY BDP-BX 38. It was a great machine with only one drawback, it would not stream closed captioning on English language films and shows. So Black Friday we bought the BDP-S1100 from Tiger Direct for $60, an incredible price, and we just hooked it up and VOILA, it streams closed captioning (Bob has 2 hearing aids.) I was nervous because the hassle of sending something back by mail is daunting. I recommend the player for any of you who want to subscribe to Netflix Watch Instantly, or any streaming service. NWI is $7.99/month and you can stream movies 24/7 if you wish. Only proviso is that you really need about a minimum of 5 Mbps internet download capability to get a good high definition feed. So now the older Blu-Ray will go into the bedroom for disc play only. Occasionally Bob will order some 1940's film noire or 1930's musical, or even silent comedies, that I have no use for. We can watch separately. So now we have a standard definition player heading for the closet. Edited by Trotsky, Dec 7 2013, 05:03 AM.
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| Olive Oil | Dec 7 2013, 05:36 AM Post #2 |
Gold Star Member
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Electronics are getting cheaper all the time. Do you remember the days thieves would break into homes to carry off VCRS? Sounds like a good machine you bought. I have a Samsung blu-ray which works well except that I get electrocuted every time I touch it. Dry air and metal case will be the death of me yet. |
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| Darcie | Dec 7 2013, 05:49 AM Post #3 |
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Skeptic
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I guess I could stream stuff with a speed of 6.4. I am more interested in streaming channels from the UK, can I subscribe to that and stream with this blue-ray? I want something to hook up to my TV to stream stuff from the internet, would this do it? What is there that I could not do with this? I thought I had to buy a computer to do this?? I am really totally not aware of what I need. |
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| Dialtone | Dec 7 2013, 06:10 AM Post #4 |
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Gold Star Member
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When DVDs first became mainstream, I figured it was time to upgrade so I bought a Sony 5.1 true surround sound DVD player, a true surround sound Receiver, speakers, sub-woofer, and a 52" HD big screen TV. I was amazed at the sound and picture clarity, (still am) and bought many movies that are proudly sitting in my DVD rack, after watching them once. In the following years, I bought another cheaper DVD player, and a DVD recorder so I could record TV programs and movies on blank DVDs. The DVD recorder didn't survive our last move and became garbage, the second DVD player has not been connected in 4 years, and by my tally I've spent thousands on technology that is now almost worthless. For our old eyes, my original DVD player still works, the receiver still works, and my big screen TV still produces a brilliant high def picture on our HD DSL TV service. I have decided to bypass the Blu Ray phase of life, I can download and watch any current movie from our Telus service in HD, the cost is less than buying a disk and I don't have to store it on a shelf somewhere. Our library has over 5000 movies, both old and new, that I can watch for the cost of membership ($7.50 a year senior's rate). That being said, as I get older I find that most movies being made today are total crap and IMO aren't worth watching even if they were free. |
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| Trotsky | Dec 8 2013, 02:11 AM Post #5 |
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Big City Boy
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Why would you have an internet connection and no computer? <How do you connect to WWS?> But yes the Blu-Ray player acts like/actually IS a computer and it will decode a high definition signal which you'd get from your router/modem either with an Ethernet cable or even wirelessly for some models. Tell me about "streaming channels from the UK? To where, via which company? |
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| Trotsky | Dec 8 2013, 02:40 AM Post #6 |
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Big City Boy
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I realized that before I bought my first DVD or BLU-RAY that I was NEVER going to own and store these dustcatchers, certainly not at the $15-$20 they cost. I VERY rarely watch any movie twice. I have a maybe a half dozen porn DVD's but these I picked up at a Dollar Store...probably disposing of the content of a failed video rental. I never watch them but then they don't take up much room. But Netflix is right up my alley. We did a long term study of our rentals with them and over several years we were averaging about $1.16 per movie. That was for the disc-by-mail, all costs considered. Netflix nearly always has the movie we want in their 100,000+ library and we don't need to leave the house to get them. Streaming is a little harder to determine and we may not be getting the same value. I'll have to grind the numbers sometime. Last night we streamed SHERLOCK HOLMES on the new player (the new Benedict Cumberbatch.) The picture was crystalline (1080p) and better than some movie houses I have been in. Best $60 I ever spent. Edited by Trotsky, Dec 8 2013, 02:45 AM.
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| reactivate | Dec 8 2013, 02:48 AM Post #7 |
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Gold Star Member
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You don't need a DVD player at all to receive streamed programs from the Internet (Netflix or any other supplier). Newer TVs that are described as "Smart" TVs can receive a stream and if you don't have a Smart TV, you can add the smarts with a device like the Western Digital "TV Play" available from places like BestBuy for about $39. It's a small box that sits beside your TV with an HDMI cable into the TV set. It is attached to your household LAN (Wi-Fi) either wired or wireless (802.11 bgn). Select the device's HDMI port on your TV and use the small "Remote" to select any of the services that are available. Some cost (like Netflix) and some don't (like YouTube or Weather). As well as being able to select streaming services, you can deliberately stream to it from your PC. That makes your TV able to receive a stream of a music Playlist or Picture Playlist (or both). You just stream to it whatever you want from your PC Library. It also has other features like a Bluetooth connection so you can pair it with your phone (or any Bluetooth device). Other features here. http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=920 |
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| reactivate | Dec 8 2013, 03:02 AM Post #8 |
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Gold Star Member
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I am mistaken in suggesting the media player I mentioned could receive a stream of a DVD from your PC. WD has three similar devices with increasing capability (and price) so you should select the appropriate one. http://www.wdc.com/en/products/homeentertainment/mediaplayers/ |
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| Darcie | Dec 8 2013, 03:19 AM Post #9 |
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Skeptic
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This is a list of companies that my friend sent me a while ago. She uses the last one and get to watch Downton Abbey when it comes out in the UK. I primarily want to stream BBCUK. I have not looked into these links at all, if you have sure would like to know what you think of them. http://www.allmyfaves.com/blog/allmyfaves/how-to-watch-tv-shows-online-top-10-tv-streaming-sites-2012/ http://sharetv.com/watch?gclid=CNCh2vCfnrsCFY47MgodFmsAvg http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005KOZNBW/ref=asc_df_B005KOZNBW2578367?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=pgtvs-389-01-20&linkCode=asn&creative=395097&creativeASIN=B005KOZNBW http://www.my-expat-network.co.uk/?gclid=CP3sxN-gnrsCFclaMgodMk8AGQ http://www.myiplayer.eu/home.php https://3click.tv/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/radio# http://www.worldtvpc.com/catchuptvuk.php http://www.worldtvpc.com/catchuptvuk.php http://www.techradar.com/news/television/16-best-tv-streaming-services-1044010 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8ONsvFv670 http://brittv.co.uk/ http://www.pcworld.com/article/260236/tunnelbear_vpn_circumvents_geoblocking.html The last one is one used by my friend, she says it gives no problems. Forgot to add that Bell wants $10 a month for BBC Canada and the shows are a year late, I also only get TVO and one PBS channel, sure would love to stream other PBS stuff. So even if I pay for a streaming service I would get many channels from the UK as well as up to date shows I like. Edited by Darcie, Dec 8 2013, 03:26 AM.
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| Trotsky | Dec 8 2013, 03:20 AM Post #10 |
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Big City Boy
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A lot cheaper to buy a Blu-Ray player with HD streaming capability. Those 2 WD units in stock carry price tags of $110 and $260 and won't play a disc. The ROKU boxes are a lot cheaper. Edited by Trotsky, Dec 8 2013, 04:01 AM.
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| Darcie | Dec 8 2013, 03:22 AM Post #11 |
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Skeptic
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Thanks Reactivate, appreciate the information and with my limited know-how will attempt to make sense of this My Internet wifi modem and desktop is on one side of the room and the TV on the other. I was to connect whatever unit it takes to the TV and have it get the Internet signal wirelessly, if that is at all possible. |
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| Trotsky | Dec 8 2013, 03:38 AM Post #12 |
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Big City Boy
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Darcie, Have a look at these small wireless streaming devices. http://www.roku.com/products/compare Edited by Trotsky, Dec 8 2013, 03:40 AM.
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| Darcie | Dec 8 2013, 04:19 AM Post #13 |
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Skeptic
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That looks pretty good, I wonder if it streams UK stuff, can't tell looking at the site. |
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| reactivate | Dec 8 2013, 10:23 AM Post #14 |
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Gold Star Member
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The problem with streaming from the UK or any country outside your own is that the source frequently does not have the distribution rights for your country. They know what country you are in by your IP address and will refuse your stream request. All Bell customers automatically have the right to request a stream of most of the programming you subscribe to so you can watch it anytime. In addition, if you subscribe to the Movie package as part of your Bell package, you can request a stream of any of their programs through TMN Go. If you have a mobile device, you can stream to it from these sources. |
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| Darcie | Dec 8 2013, 10:27 AM Post #15 |
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Skeptic
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My girlfriend subscribes to Tunnel Bear and this link should explain how she does it, apparently she secures an IP from the UK and has had no problems for just about 3 years. Ooops forgot the link. http://www.pcworld.com/article/260236/tunnelbear_vpn_circumvents_geoblocking.html Edited by Darcie, Dec 8 2013, 10:28 AM.
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9:21 PM Jul 11