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Anyone else "made" their own smart TV?
stirlingguy1
15-07-2014
So, couldn't afford a smart TV with all the features, but have a relatively new 42 inch. HDMI cable hooking Macbook up to TV, little icons on the desktop for Iplayer/4OD etc, remote mouse and keyboard - my very own smart TV! Sorry, just excited, but wondered if anyone else has done this?
Nigel Goodwin
15-07-2014
You can buy Android based TV boxes to connect to your TV, somewhat cheaper than a MacBook
stud u like
15-07-2014
There are cheaper alternatives such as Apple Tv and Roku.
chenks
15-07-2014
Originally Posted by stud u like:
“There are cheaper alternatives such as Apple Tv and Roku.”

AppleTV doesn't give access to the on-demand services that the OP mentioned.
mac2708
15-07-2014
Cheapest of the lot https://shop.nowtv.com/

Maybe not all bells and whistles, but hey at under £10 what can you expect.
stud u like
15-07-2014
Originally Posted by chenks:
“AppleTV doesn't give access to the on-demand services that the OP mentioned.”

I don't use them. Seldom anything on worth watching these days. Day in, day out, same old tripe.
Deacon1972
15-07-2014
I read it as they just bought an HDMI cable to hook up existing equipment......
Mr Dos
15-07-2014
My pc has been my tv for ages. 1080p screen, quad HD tuner plus (obviously) all the catch-up and streaming services. Recording is superior to any pvr (eg editing out adverts). Maybe I invented the smart tv years ago.
jjne
15-07-2014
Raspberry Pi, Android TV box w/Plex or XBMC, Chromecast, Roku, NowTV or a cheap £99 Net-Top.

You could buy one of each of the above and still only have spent a quarter of what the MacBook is worth
stirlingguy1
15-07-2014
Originally Posted by Deacon1972:
“I read it as they just bought an HDMI cable to hook up existing equipment......”

Yes, sorry, had the Macbook, already, since 08. Thank God for HDMI cables - saved me a a packet on buying a smart TV. Now I am thinking about a cheap way to "output" the TV to the Mac to be able to record things (Yes, I am too stingy to buy a PVR).
grahamlthompson
15-07-2014
Originally Posted by stirlingguy1:
“Yes, sorry, had the Macbook, already, since 08. Thank God for HDMI cables - saved me a a packet on buying a smart TV. Now I am thinking about a cheap way to "output" the TV to the Mac to be able to record things (Yes, I am too stingy to buy a PVR).”

Much better idea to get a TV tuner for the MAC. All you will get out of the TV is low quality SD composite video.


http://www.scoop.it/t/apple-thunderbolt-accessories
jjne
15-07-2014
USB DVB-T tuners cab be bought for as little as a fiver (there's little point in spending any more unless you want HD -- and even then the price difference isn't that great any more) -- and I'm sure the drivers, and free software will exist for the DVR side on Mac-OS.
chrisjr
15-07-2014
And of course the major advantage of using a separate tuner on the Mac is that you can watch Eastenders on the telly while recording Corrie on the Mac (or whatever combination of programmes floats your boat )

If you use the TV you can only ever watch and record the same TV programme. Though you might be able to watch a DVD on the telly while recording a TV programme on the Mac
barbeler
16-07-2014
I was doing this back in the days of Windows ME Media Centre Edition. That must be about six years ago.
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