Hulu+, Netflix etc.

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1

Ok, I’m ever-so-slowly dragging my butt into the 21st century and the
next step is ditching the cable company for a streaming media service.
With HD ‘internet-ready’ tv sets, Apple TV boxes etc. my question is this:

What are the minimum hardware requirements for setting up media
streaming through an online service? For example, if a TV has the
Netflix, Hulu etc. software built-in then do I need something like an
Apple TV? Does the TV require a special tuner for these services? Or Wi-Fi?

Todd

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2

Netflix and Hulu Plus are each about US$8 monthly subscription and are accessible through browsers and iOS devices (my iPad is my favorite tv). With my last girlfriend, we had a device called Roku that connected the Internet to our HDTV with both Netflix, Hulu Plus, and a few other services. I added to that mix an Apple Mac mini (which has a digital video output) to play my iTunes movies, the movies that I had ripped from DVD, DVDs, and browser streams of network shows not available on Roku. I had considered an AppleTV, but I liked my setup better.

I know that a lot of this sounds like a heavy initial investment, so as long as you have good wifi at your place, I would recommend a minimum of Netflix, Hulu Plus, and an iPad. You’ll use the iPad for a lot more than a television, but you’ll love it for that. If you have a nice HDTV with HDMI inputs, then the Mini solution is sweet.

The one big drawback is local television and breaking news. We kept a minimum cable package for those. Many US cable providers are also Internet providers (as well as phone companies) so its hard to avoid the bundles.

Best wishes,
Ernie Simpson

Sent from my iPad

On Sep 14, 2012, at 10:47 PM, Todd email@hidden wrote:

Ok, I’m ever-so-slowly dragging my butt into the 21st century and the next step is ditching the cable company for a streaming media service. With HD ‘internet-ready’ tv sets, Apple TV boxes etc. my question is this:

What are the minimum hardware requirements for setting up media streaming through an online service? For example, if a TV has the Netflix, Hulu etc. software built-in then do I need something like an Apple TV? Does the TV require a special tuner for these services? Or Wi-Fi?

Todd

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3

Hi TBE,

I’m doing preliminary ‘window’ shopping for a HDTV so with media
streaming being the primary focus are there any streaming-specific
features I should look for in a TV?

Yeah, the news aspect is a downside of getting rid of cable but it’s not
like there aren’t numerous ways to get the current skinny, albeit not as
conveniently, I suppose, but I’m tired of feeling like I’m being
bent-over on a monthly basis come bill time. The upfront hardware cost
will be recouped quickly with no cable bill.

Todd

Ernie Simpson mailto:email@hidden
September 14, 2012 10:55 PM
Netflix and Hulu Plus are each about US$8 monthly subscription and are
accessible through browsers and iOS devices (my iPad is my favorite
tv). With my last girlfriend, we had a device called Roku that
connected the Internet to our HDTV with both Netflix, Hulu Plus, and a
few other services. I added to that mix an Apple Mac mini (which has a
digital video output) to play my iTunes movies, the movies that I had
ripped from DVD, DVDs, and browser streams of network shows not
available on Roku. I had considered an AppleTV, but I liked my setup
better.

I know that a lot of this sounds like a heavy initial investment, so
as long as you have good wifi at your place, I would recommend a
minimum of Netflix, Hulu Plus, and an iPad. You’ll use the iPad for a
lot more than a television, but you’ll love it for that. If you have a
nice HDTV with HDMI inputs, then the Mini solution is sweet.

The one big drawback is local television and breaking news. We kept a
minimum cable package for those. Many US cable providers are also
Internet providers (as well as phone companies) so its hard to avoid
the bundles.

Best wishes,
Ernie Simpson

Sent from my iPad

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Todd mailto:email@hidden
September 14, 2012 9:47 PM
Ok, I’m ever-so-slowly dragging my butt into the 21st century and the
next step is ditching the cable company for a streaming media service.
With HD ‘internet-ready’ tv sets, Apple TV boxes etc. my question is
this:

What are the minimum hardware requirements for setting up media
streaming through an online service? For example, if a TV has the
Netflix, Hulu etc. software built-in then do I need something like an
Apple TV? Does the TV require a special tuner for these services? Or
Wi-Fi?

Todd

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4

You have the right attitude. :slight_smile:

If you try and like Hulu/Netflix, then you may look at hardware they recommend. I liked the Roku as they upgraded the firmware and replacing it would be cheap if necessary. I’m wary of built-in options for those reasons, but that may just be my inner conservative talking.

I can stream all my movies now from the mini to the iPad, which works well in my post girlfriend HDTV lifestyle. Whatever you decide, you’ll have to have me over for popcorn and movie night. :slight_smile:

Sent from my iPad

On Sep 15, 2012, at 12:07 AM, Todd email@hidden wrote:

Hi TBE,

I’m doing preliminary ‘window’ shopping for a HDTV so with media streaming being the primary focus are there any streaming-specific features I should look for in a TV?

Yeah, the news aspect is a downside of getting rid of cable but it’s not like there aren’t numerous ways to get the current skinny, albeit not as conveniently, I suppose, but I’m tired of feeling like I’m being bent-over on a monthly basis come bill time. The upfront hardware cost will be recouped quickly with no cable bill.

Todd

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5

which works well in my post girlfriend HDTV lifestyle

Did she take the HDTV with her Ernie?

D :wink:

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6

Todd, I cut my Direct TV service about a year ago, which was running me $130/mo. I decided to go with Netflix, which I’m streaming through several devices, which I’ve listed below:

Roku - Master Bedroom
PS3 - Living Room
Wii - Son’s Room
Mac Pro - Office

All of this works great. I purchased an HD roof antenna for the local channels and I couldn’t be happier. However, the only problem is football. The Direct TV (non-subscriber) Sunday Ticket is $299 on the PS3 and I can’t get ESPN Monday Night games without a cable or satellite subscription. I can however watch ESPN on my Verizon phone, but I can’t stream it to a TV. Damn NFL. Still working on a solution.

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7

If you have an amazon Prime account you can also stream free movies from them. :slight_smile:

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8

That does sound like a sweet and relatively inexpensive setup. Deal on
movie night. Assuming I can get all of this figured out.

Todd

Ernie Simpson wrote:

I can stream all my movies now from the mini to the iPad, which works well in my post girlfriend HDTV lifestyle. Whatever you decide, you’ll have to have me over for popcorn and movie night.

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9

I thankfully am not a big TV watcher, but I am a fan of Netflix. $8 a month is a steal in my opinion. There is however a downside. The downside being their content is not the most recent, or the most popular particularly in the theatrical movie department. Their selection of retread TV shows, especially dubbed Japanese anime is impressive though. Haven’t tried HULU+.

I consume news almost exclusively from the internet these days which is another very handy iPad use. I also must admit I have an ATV which I almost never touch. Ernie’s Mac Mini rig is a much better way to go in the way that he uses it. Although ripping DVDs is the ultimate in watched pot syndrome agony.

As to getting rid of cable…I assume you mean the TV portion. I can’t imagine doing away with cable internet access.

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10

Correct.

Todd

chuckamuck wrote:

As to getting rid of cable…I assume you mean the TV portion.

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11

Hmmm…Hulu requires Flash. Pity.

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12

Ok, that is only true on the Mac. IOS device works fine.

On 16 Sep 2012, 3:41 am, chuckamuck wrote:

Hmmm…Hulu requires Flash. Pity.

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13

I’ve been doing some homework on streaming services and for my needs I’m
really liking Hulu+. Granted, these services are inexpensive and there’s
no need to use only one but in an effort to keep things simple I’m going
to try to keep it that way. I’m kinda looking forward to doing this
(cutting the cable cord and going streaming).

Todd

chuckamuck mailto:email@hidden
September 15, 2012 10:49 PM
Ok, that is only true on the Mac. IOS device works fine.

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