TV Media Player Needed

[BRUN]

My parents don't have a smart TV, my dad is now retired and likes watching films and TV series, is their anything I can buy him that will connect to his TV via HDMI that will play mkv's etc off memory sticks ?

 

[Mikeyjp]

You could buy him a google chrome stick, I don't think you will be able to play downloaded content with out some sort of.media center

 

[glowworm105]

Some of the android boxes on eBay have sdcard slots , i have used one but not for that purpose , the quality was pretty good though and being android I'm sure it would play the file type no problem

 

[Matt Cup]

Check out the Amazon firestick thread on here.

 

[CrippsCorner]

PS3 will do most file formats, though I believe you'd have to convert MKVs.

 

[JonnyK]

You have a few options of media centre - amazon fire stick, raspberry pi with kodi, android tv box. But most of them work better when you have a server to hold your files. Plus it can get a bit "techy" - not to mention the firestick doesn't have a USB port to plug in to anyway (it has micro USB, but that's for power). So i'd ignore the above suggestion to use one of those.

A PS3 as listed above would work, but you would need ps3 media server running on a pc on the network to transcode mkv files.

in all honesty if you are set with the usb stick route, you are probably best just buying a cheap smart TV, so it's plug and play.

 

[iain187]

Depending on budget and technical ability

I built a small PC - specifically choosing all components with no fans so it's silent in the living room

I installed plex media server on the PC

I have a NAS elsewhere in the house as big capacity disks needed moving parts

I also have an Apple TV - if you Google plex connect - you can install a hack to turn the Apple TV trailers app into a plex client

Disadvantage - cost / complexity
Advantage - can be used with an Apple TV remote and very easy for the user

 

[JonnyK]

Depending on budget and technical ability

I built a small PC - specifically choosing all components with no fans so it's silent in the living room

I installed plex media server on the PC

I have a NAS elsewhere in the house as big capacity disks needed moving parts

I also have an Apple TV - if you Google plex connect - you can install a hack to turn the Apple TV trailers app into a plex client

Disadvantage - cost / complexity
Advantage - can be used with an Apple TV remote and very easy for the user

couldn't you have installed plex on your NAS, negating the need for the small PC?

 

[Scrooge]

Roku players are awesome, very easy to use, IIRC you have to convert MKV files to play though.

It's all I ever used before I stopped downloading films.

 

[iain187]

couldn't you have installed plex on your NAS, negating the need for the small PC?

it's just a mybooklive so not in this case plus I don't want hard drives spinning in the living room
I use the pc for streaming football on the tele amongst other things so it's handy

although I don't like having a nas with 1 disk so probably will change it soon

 

[JonnyK]

I think the point is being missed here. The OP wants to give his dad a usb stick with mkv's on. So all this talk of ROKU boxes/PLEX/NAS is a waste of time lol.

 

[Chrisgti6]

I think the point is being missed here. The OP wants to give his dad a usb stick with mkv's on. So all this talk of ROKU boxes/PLEX/NAS is a waste of time lol.

Some of the android boxes have USB ports for storage etc, so they would be able to do what the OP wants.

 

[Adam D]

Something like this should do you, I'm sure it plays mkv files but I'll try and check it out later to see if it does.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/maplin-mi...dapter-n32de?gclid=CKGq8OaW0ckCFUUOwwodneoPxQ

 

[JonnyK]

Some of the android boxes have USB ports for storage etc, so they would be able to do what the OP wants.

True. However the people suggesting those options are talking about converting files to play, streaming and the like.

 

[JonnyK]

Something like this should do you, I'm sure it plays mkv files but I'll try and check it out later to see if it does.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/maplin-mi...dapter-n32de?gclid=CKGq8OaW0ckCFUUOwwodneoPxQ

Looks ideal mate, although MKV is not listed as a file format and despite being called a 1080p media player, it seems the max output is 720p! (not sure if that matters to the OP or not)

 

[Detail Chris]

I use mede8er players. Mede8er and dune are pretty much the standard for stand alone players for mkv and BD iso's. Play from nas or usb, support for 3d/hd audio etc.