Date post: | 12-Jul-2015 |
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Blu-ray Players:
From the Kindle book
Home Theater for the Internet Age
More than Discs
Three Inputs
Most people use Blu-ray players only for shiny silver discs
—We play music CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray movies
—Typically, that’s about it
But Blu-ray players offer much more
—Play any disc (yea, we knew that, dude)
—Plug in a USB flash drive for media playback
—Use wi-fi or Ethernet
So What?
Why should I go to the expense of adding network connectivity to my player?
— Play any media file on any PC on your home network
— Remotely control your Blu-ray player using your mobile device
— Effortlessly install firmware updates
Better value
— You paid for all the functionality of your player
— Using only 1/3 of that functionality is silly
The USB Port
Most modern Blu-ray players feature a front-facing USB port
USB can be used to “sneakernet” media files from a computer to your player
Most players can interpret a wide variety of file types— Music, video, and photos
No more burning files to disc on your PC— Instead, simply copy them to your USB flash drive and
plug it into your Blu-ray player
Network Connectivity
Most Blu-ray players support some type of network connectivity—Wi-fi is common (built-in or an add-on)
—Ethernet (many models feature an Ethernet port, sometimes labeled “LAN”)
Wi-fi or Ethernet allow you to:—Play music or video files from another PC or
storage device (NAS) on your home network
—Stream music from the internet
Blu-ray Ethernet
Best connection available— Superior to wi-fi, which is prone to interference— Faster and more robust: Better in all respects
Involves cabling, not wireless— This makes it more difficult to install, but eliminates—
eliminates—local interference and drop outs
Must run CAT6 cabling from your internet router to your Blu-ray player— If DIY isn’t your thing, hire a professional installer— While this might cost you a couple hundred bucks, it
will give your Blu-ray player the best connection
Blu-ray Wi-Fi
The easiest and most affordable connection
Less reliable than Ethernet
— Prone to interference from common devices
— Garage door openers, microwave ovens, baby monitors, and cordless phones
If wi-fi is a feature of your Blu-ray player (like many Sony models), try it
— It’s free
— Can always switch to Ethernet if unhappy with quality
More about Wi-Fi
If you have to add a dongle or accessory to your player to get wi-fi….— Consider instead investing that $$ into Ethernet cable
installation— My Pioneer Elite player offered a $130 wi-fi dongle; I
put that money into CAT6 cable installation and now have super-fast, very reliable Ethernet
Wi-fi not only more interference, but slower— A concern when streaming high-def video— With UltraHD (4K) video right around the corner,
wi-fi not the best way to go
Remote Control
Another huge benefit of network connectivity to your Blu-ray player: Remote control
Gives you the option of installing a manufacturer app on your mobile device and controlling the player from it
No more crappy bundled remote controls—Bundled remotes almost always suck
—You already have your mobile device; why not use it to control your home theater equipment?
Firmware Updates
Firmware = software on your Blu-ray player that helps control it— Firmware updates are common on home theater
equipment (including AV receivers)— You should always install firmware updates
Firmware updates facilitated via USB or your network connection— You can download and copy firmware update files to
a USB flash drive and install from there— If you have wi-fi or Ethernet on your player, you can
use the player’s menus to update the firmware
New Blu-ray Player
When shopping for a Blu-ray player, ensure that:
—It features either wi-fi or Ethernet
—Both is nice; it gives you options
Ensure that the player has a front-facing USB port (rear-facing is a huge pain)
—Some Blu-ray players feature a rear-facing USB port that works only for firmware updates
These slides are derived from the Amazon Kindle book
Home Theater for the
Internet Ageby
Curt Robbins
Other Books by Curt Robbins
Understanding Personal Data Security
Understanding Digital Music
Understanding Cutting the Cord
Understanding Home Theater
About Curt Robbins
Publishes a blog: Middle Class Tech
Flipboard magazine: Middle Class Tech
Twitter: @CurtRobbins
Surround Sound Formats
Excerpt from Home Theater for the Internet Age