Cheapest/simplest way to play local media files on a TV?
November 20, 2019 9:19 AM Subscribe
Is there a standalone device that I can leave perpetually plugged in to my TV for the sole purpose of playing media stored on an external USB hard drive?
I watch media on my TV by connecting my laptop's screen to my computer over an A/V cable (DisplayPort/HDMI) and playing local media in a media player (VLC) with the screen maximized. Audio is through headphones connected to the laptop, but an aux extension connected to the TV or a Bluetooth solution are options too.
The setup must be 100% offline, locally stored media only, no networking involved. I can technically temporarily get wifi using my phone as a hotspot but obviously not as a regular ongoing thing.
Is this a feature included in cheap or all modern TVs, where I can connect a HDD to the TV's USB port and use the TV's built-in UI and media player to play video files?
I think my requirements effectively boil down to "lightweight OS, A/V to monitor, USB to file storage". Video quality isn't a huge concern - 720p looks great to my eyes.
I don't know anything about Raspberry Pi but I have the impression they were made for tiny projects like this if it's too niche for an off-the-shelf product. Googling seems to suggest it's possible. Does that sound not ridiculous? Is there a better option?
I watch media on my TV by connecting my laptop's screen to my computer over an A/V cable (DisplayPort/HDMI) and playing local media in a media player (VLC) with the screen maximized. Audio is through headphones connected to the laptop, but an aux extension connected to the TV or a Bluetooth solution are options too.
The setup must be 100% offline, locally stored media only, no networking involved. I can technically temporarily get wifi using my phone as a hotspot but obviously not as a regular ongoing thing.
Is this a feature included in cheap or all modern TVs, where I can connect a HDD to the TV's USB port and use the TV's built-in UI and media player to play video files?
I think my requirements effectively boil down to "lightweight OS, A/V to monitor, USB to file storage". Video quality isn't a huge concern - 720p looks great to my eyes.
I don't know anything about Raspberry Pi but I have the impression they were made for tiny projects like this if it's too niche for an off-the-shelf product. Googling seems to suggest it's possible. Does that sound not ridiculous? Is there a better option?
Right, is your TV smart enough to browse the menu on a jump drive? If so, get a large one and keep it plugged into the USB port on your tv.
posted by soelo at 9:33 AM on November 20, 2019
posted by soelo at 9:33 AM on November 20, 2019
Are you looking to buy a new TV?
If not, what inputs does you current TV have?
posted by clawsoon at 9:35 AM on November 20, 2019
If not, what inputs does you current TV have?
posted by clawsoon at 9:35 AM on November 20, 2019
Best answer: You can, for sure, do this with a Raspberry Pi. There's a Linux distro called OSMC (the Open Source Media Center) that's a complete, in-the-box solution for just this sort of request, and doesn't require networking outside of the original download and install.
You'll need a Pi (version 3 or 4), a small case, an appropriate power supply, and an HDMI cable. You might want some kind of small wireless keyboard or other remote. You might be looking at a total investment in the $100 range to do this.
posted by hanov3r at 9:54 AM on November 20, 2019 [2 favorites]
You'll need a Pi (version 3 or 4), a small case, an appropriate power supply, and an HDMI cable. You might want some kind of small wireless keyboard or other remote. You might be looking at a total investment in the $100 range to do this.
posted by hanov3r at 9:54 AM on November 20, 2019 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Ideally I would not buy a new TV as I move frequently and they are bulky so I have traditionally picked up a free TV at every new place.
My current TV is from ~2011 and has both HDMI input and USB ports. However when I plug in my HDD the TV doesn't recognize it or do anything.
My PS4 technically has the capability to play home media from an external HDD, however it only supports FAT32 and specific file extensions and codecs. My thought is with a device with an actual OS that would never be an issue, similar to how it isn't with my current computer setup.
Unless this isn't an issue with (even cheap) modern TVs and they basically play everything?
posted by ToddBurson at 9:58 AM on November 20, 2019
My current TV is from ~2011 and has both HDMI input and USB ports. However when I plug in my HDD the TV doesn't recognize it or do anything.
My PS4 technically has the capability to play home media from an external HDD, however it only supports FAT32 and specific file extensions and codecs. My thought is with a device with an actual OS that would never be an issue, similar to how it isn't with my current computer setup.
Unless this isn't an issue with (even cheap) modern TVs and they basically play everything?
posted by ToddBurson at 9:58 AM on November 20, 2019
Unless this isn't an issue with (even cheap) modern TVs and they basically play everything?
TVs that play video files almost always have the same file codec limitations. It's not their primary business model, so it's just not something they want to spend time supporting or troubleshooting.
I'd take a look at the Nvidia Shield. It has USB support and you can install VLC (as well as other media players like Kodi or Plex) to play directly from attached drives (AFAIK it supports exFAT, HFS+, and NTFS formatted drives.) There was just a more powerful version released for 2019, which means you might be able to get the older (but still good) version for cheap.
posted by bluecore at 10:27 AM on November 20, 2019 [1 favorite]
TVs that play video files almost always have the same file codec limitations. It's not their primary business model, so it's just not something they want to spend time supporting or troubleshooting.
I'd take a look at the Nvidia Shield. It has USB support and you can install VLC (as well as other media players like Kodi or Plex) to play directly from attached drives (AFAIK it supports exFAT, HFS+, and NTFS formatted drives.) There was just a more powerful version released for 2019, which means you might be able to get the older (but still good) version for cheap.
posted by bluecore at 10:27 AM on November 20, 2019 [1 favorite]
Grab an older Roku and make sure it has a USB port. Plug in Roku, plug in USB thumb drive into Roku, play files until the cows come home. Done.
posted by Bill Watches Movies Podcast at 11:02 AM on November 20, 2019
posted by Bill Watches Movies Podcast at 11:02 AM on November 20, 2019
Seconding bluecore. Get an Nvidia Shield and you'll never look back.
posted by kuanes at 11:28 AM on November 20, 2019
posted by kuanes at 11:28 AM on November 20, 2019
My thought is with a device with an actual OS that would never be an issue, similar to how it isn't with my current computer setup.
If you have VLC, you can covert to any formats your tv will support. It's one of the options in VLC to convert from mp4 vs mpeg for whatever. It takes some time to convert videos, but not reallly that much time.
posted by The_Vegetables at 11:38 AM on November 20, 2019 [1 favorite]
If you have VLC, you can covert to any formats your tv will support. It's one of the options in VLC to convert from mp4 vs mpeg for whatever. It takes some time to convert videos, but not reallly that much time.
posted by The_Vegetables at 11:38 AM on November 20, 2019 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Seconding an OSMC (or similar Linux distribution compatible) device. I was once in your PS4-as-a-media-player shoes until I grabbed an older model from the OSMC store.
There probably are much cheaper/better options available but I couldn't be arsed going down that rabbit hole and I'm extremely pleased with the decision, does what it says on the tin, etc.
My thought is with a device with an actual OS that would never be an issue, similar to how it isn't with my current computer setup
You're on the right track. Never trust modern TVs or other closed devices not to fuck you over eventually.
posted by Bangaioh at 12:20 PM on November 20, 2019
There probably are much cheaper/better options available but I couldn't be arsed going down that rabbit hole and I'm extremely pleased with the decision, does what it says on the tin, etc.
My thought is with a device with an actual OS that would never be an issue, similar to how it isn't with my current computer setup
You're on the right track. Never trust modern TVs or other closed devices not to fuck you over eventually.
posted by Bangaioh at 12:20 PM on November 20, 2019
You can get a media player like a Micca. They work great, and can handle pretty much any codec. This particular model can handle up to 4TB external drives.
posted by current resident at 12:24 PM on November 20, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by current resident at 12:24 PM on November 20, 2019 [1 favorite]
They've been discontinued for some time, but my old Sony Media Player does this (it was sold as a streamer, but has the USB option, which is one reason I hang onto it--also that it can serve my video files to my TV over WiFi more reliably than my Apple TV can!). You might be able to find one cheap (cheaper than an Nvidia almost for sure, probably comparable to a discontinued Roku).
posted by praemunire at 12:29 PM on November 20, 2019
posted by praemunire at 12:29 PM on November 20, 2019
This is similar to praemunire's answer, but I used to use a (now discontinued) Western Digital “WD HD Media Player” in an art gallery setting to play media files from a USB stick to a display with an HDMI input. They were simple and pretty reliable. You can find them on eBay for between $10 and $50.
posted by D.Billy at 4:30 PM on November 20, 2019
posted by D.Billy at 4:30 PM on November 20, 2019
Best answer: There's a Linux distro called OSMC...
You'll need a Pi (version 3 or 4),
Go with a 3 for now - OSMC doesn't support the 4 yet.
posted by HiroProtagonist at 6:27 PM on November 20, 2019 [1 favorite]
You'll need a Pi (version 3 or 4),
Go with a 3 for now - OSMC doesn't support the 4 yet.
posted by HiroProtagonist at 6:27 PM on November 20, 2019 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: @Bangaioh + hanover: Thanks, looks like OSMC is very much a solution that will either work for me as-in or definitely set me on the right path. At a cursory glance for example it supports x265 which was a very common obstacle for my PS4 which didn't.
In googling around I came across another Linux distro called LibreELEC too, which seems to be closer to "literally just an OS that runs Kodi" than the Debian-based OSMC so I'll have to compare the two for my use cases.
posted by ToddBurson at 7:46 AM on November 21, 2019
In googling around I came across another Linux distro called LibreELEC too, which seems to be closer to "literally just an OS that runs Kodi" than the Debian-based OSMC so I'll have to compare the two for my use cases.
posted by ToddBurson at 7:46 AM on November 21, 2019
This thread is closed to new comments.
On most newer tvs, you can play media directly off a usb plugged into the tv.
posted by The_Vegetables at 9:26 AM on November 20, 2019