Hello all,
My mother in law wants to watch a particular web based TV station but it doesn't work very well over their rather inept Samsung Smart TV. I think the TV's computer is simply not powerful enough to decode and play the H.264 stream (it constantly shows a refresh icon in the center of the video); it plays perfectly on a computer or iPhone.
The other problem with the Samsung Smart TV is that it is very "complicated" to wait about 2 minutes, press "smart hub", use the navigation buttons to find the Internet browser, then move the cursor to the bookmarked URL (that I set up), then finally navigate the web sight to start the TV streaming.
What I am looking for is a TV Box that I can pre-configure to minimize the effort required for my mother in law to watch her TV streaming.
Important features:
- Minimalistic controller.
- Decent built-in web browser with capable web video decoding.
- Built-in WiFi.
- USB memory stick interface.
One candidate is the Minix Neo U1 + A2 Lite Air Mouse.
Any other suggestions?
Thank you
Sorry for the long wait for a reply.
>Either way your mother in-law will be confronted with technical choices how to start it if the station is not free to air.
Actually, that isn't an issue. It is a free streaming website. The problems are:
1) The website wasn't designed for Smart TV access because of the multitude of menus and selections. Like this one... allseego.com. It was designed for viewing from a desktop. That is why I am looking for a smart set-top box that comes with remote control that makes it easier to navigate a website from a TV screen.
For example... a remote control with a joystick, mouse pad, or an air mouse.
2) The very limited computer in the Samsung Smart TV cannot properly stream content from any of the TV streaming sites (like the one above). It is the TV, not the home WiFi connection. It plays perfectly from a mobile phone and a desktop computer (all using the same WiFi connection).
> If she is elderly ? how old?
Age isn't really relevant. Like I stated above... it's really mostly about a remote control that is better equip to handle web browsing. :)
>You didn't mention if she is at home and has her own internet.
Home internet (via WiFi) but like I stated, the speed over WiFi is more than adequate.
>Minix Neo U1 + A2 Lite Air Mouse.
Thanks for the Youtube video link. I'll watch it this evening.
>Kodi
No... the only purpose of the box is to allow my mother in law to easily watch Web TV streaming or prepared videos on a USB stick (via a built in USB port).
Kodi is otherwise a really nice personal streaming platform but it requires a home computer that runs the Kodi software. That would not be useful in this situation.
To reiterate, the primary motivation is a box that can easily navigate and play videos from sites like allseego.com (it's a Korean TV streaming website). That means the remote control must have better controls than an up/down, left and right buttons.
Thanks again. :)