Samsung Smart(?!?) TVs and DVD BlueRay players

[SoloFlyer]

We now have two TVs and two players ... just got around to trying the smart hub. Several issues:

Got them connected to wifi no probs.

Downloaded BBC and BkkPost eventually. But BBC wont play the newsclips (error 30) ... anyone here get it working.?? How?

DVD will play vids off a thumb drive, but wont read off a portable HD - is that normal??

Are any of the apps available worth the hassle? - I seem to have to install an updated version of most apps every time I open one.

Got SmartView on the phone to control basic functions, which is nifty, but no keyboard input. The main Samsung phone app - Samsung Smart TV Now is just frozen on 'installing'. - Is that an iPhone vs Apple thing?? (As I type the phone just started downloading from the iTunes version on the notebook...).

Anyway ... anyone find anything useful about these 'smart' gizmos, or should I just not bother??

[Chicog]

The main use for me is being able to play off the multiple media players/storage I have dotted round the house...

[SoloFlyer]

Using allshare? or Plex? Or???

[kkerry]

While there will be enough power to run a flash drive from a DVD player USB port, there might not be enough juice for a hard drive.

The back of my Samsung TV has 2 USB ports, one specifically marked HDD. If I try inserting an external HDD in to the other USB slot it will not play.

The ratings and comments about the Samsung app on iTunes and Google Play... not very positive.

[xen]

I have a Panasonic Blu-Ray player and i use a portable 3.5 Hard drive with no problems . It is a USB 3 if that should make any difference. It is one of the cheaper Western Digital models. The other thing to look for on the Hard drive is a lack of security passwords as you may not be able to unlock it without typing a password in - i don't know how you do this.

[phil2]

While there will be enough power to run a flash drive from a DVD player USB port, there might not be enough juice for a hard drive.

The back of my Samsung TV has 2 USB ports, one specifically marked HDD. If I try inserting an external HDD in to the other USB slot it will not play.

The ratings and comments about the Samsung app on iTunes and Google Play... not very positive.

Hmm! I have a 1TB HDD connected to my TV without any problem. The HDD also works on my blu ray player.

[kkerry]

While there will be enough power to run a flash drive from a DVD player USB port, there might not be enough juice for a hard drive.

The back of my Samsung TV has 2 USB ports, one specifically marked HDD. If I try inserting an external HDD in to the other USB slot it will not play.

The ratings and comments about the Samsung app on iTunes and Google Play... not very positive.

Hmm! I have a 1TB HDD connected to my TV without any problem. The HDD also works on my blu ray player.

Can depend on the brand and how old.

Recently I visited a friend in a nursing home where there were many LG and Toshiba televisions, only two years old I'd guess. Could not get my external drive to play in four different tvs there, in the end I had to hook up a laptop (HDMI) and play the video off the laptop to the tv, yet it plays on my Samsung tv (in the HDD slot) just fine. If I try to connect a external drive to the USB port on my Soken DVD player (about 3 years old) it won't work there either, but a 32GB USB 3.0 flash drive is ok.

[Chicog]

Using allshare? or Plex? Or???

Plex driving a Drobo, and two other media players (currently Mede8er and eGreat) with various HDDs attached.

[SoloFlyer]

Thanks guys. Didnt have a chance to fiddle last night, but did notice the downstairs TV does have a HDD usb, and when I tried the portable drive on the weekend it was the upstairs TV. Will fiddle more on the weekend.

Chic, dunno what is a Drobo or those other devices. Got a review? I'm ultimaltely looking to get the house linked up to a single media centre - whether it be an old notebook, WDTV, or ?????? Each has pros and cons ....

[sammycic]

Using allshare? or Plex? Or???

Plex driving a Drobo, and two other media players (currently Mede8er and eGreat) with various HDDs attached.

thinking of updating my wdtv. what model numbers do you have for the mede8er and the egreat.

cheers

[Chicog]

Using allshare? or Plex? Or???

Plex driving a Drobo, and two other media players (currently Mede8er and eGreat) with various HDDs attached.

thinking of updating my wdtv. what model numbers do you have for the mede8er and the egreat.

cheers

Mede8er 600X3D and eGreat R200S. But if you are in Thailand, have a look at the HiMedia HD910A, 3D capable and very network aware, so you can attach drives to it and copy straight from the PC on which you do your downloads.

If you have a WDTV, have a look at flashing a custom image to it, adds lots of features.

[Chicog]

Thanks guys. Didnt have a chance to fiddle last night, but did notice the downstairs TV does have a HDD usb, and when I tried the portable drive on the weekend it was the upstairs TV. Will fiddle more on the weekend.

Chic, dunno what is a Drobo or those other devices. Got a review? I'm ultimaltely looking to get the house linked up to a single media centre - whether it be an old notebook, WDTV, or ?????? Each has pros and cons ....

To be honest, the Drobo is a bit outdated, but essentially it's a 4-drive storage device which attaches to the PC. Nowadays you can get ones that connect straight to your router so they are accessible anywhere on your network.

Here's a place to get started:

http://reviews.cnet.com/best-network-attached-storage/

[sammycic]

Using allshare? or Plex? Or???

Plex driving a Drobo, and two other media players (currently Mede8er and eGreat) with various HDDs attached.

thinking of updating my wdtv. what model numbers do you have for the mede8er and the egreat.

cheers

Mede8er 600X3D and eGreat R200S. But if you are in Thailand, have a look at the HiMedia HD910A, 3D capable and very network aware, so you can attach drives to it and copy straight from the PC on which you do your downloads.

If you have a WDTV, have a look at flashing a custom image to it, adds lots of features.

Thanks for the info, I finally got wdlxtv to work on my wdtv just now , looks a lot better and now find out what to do with all the extras. I am in Issan so will check out the HiMedia.

[Somtamnication]

I am curious about these smart tvs. They update themselves? How do you know that Samsung or Google are not looking at you from the built in camera?

Flash videos work? Browsers update?

Love what and hate what?

[Chicog]

TBH I don't use all that Internet stuff, but I do update the firmware.

There's already been one exploit if you believe the below, but it requires you installing an app.

12:40 PM

Smart TVs, particularly Samsung’s (005930) last few generations of flat screens, can be hacked to give attackers remote access according to a security startup called ReVuln. The company says it discovered a “zero-day exploit” that hackers could potentially use to perform malicious activities that range from stealing accounts linked through apps to using built-in webcams and microphones to spy on unsuspecting couch potatoes. Don’t panic just yet, though. In order for the exploit to be activated, a hacker needs to plug a USB drive loaded with malicious software into the actual TV to bypass the Linux-based OS/firmware on Samsung’s Smart TVs. But, if a hacker were to pull that off, every piece of data stored on a Smart TV could theoretically be retrieved.

[SoloFlyer]

Said external HDD drive does not work in either of the two TVs, in the HDD slot. Put in DVD player, it sees it, but says ther'es no vids on board. But there is. Disks are old, but not that old at 500gb.

[Chicog]

Said external HDD drive does not work in either of the two TVs, in the HDD slot. Put in DVD player, it sees it, but says ther'es no vids on board. But there is. Disks are old, but not that old at 500gb.

Disk format? Fat32? NTFS? What type of video? And what formats does the manual say it supports? TBH there are so many flavours....

[SoloFlyer]

Havent checked the disk format, but mp4 vid files loaded off a mac, if that gives any indication??

[Chicog]

Havent checked the disk format, but mp4 vid files loaded off a mac, if that gives any indication??

Have you tried converting one to a different format?

[SoloFlyer]

... I actually just finished converting to mp4!!

[kkerry]

Said external HDD drive does not work in either of the two TVs, in the HDD slot. Put in DVD player, it sees it, but says ther'es no vids on board. But there is. Disks are old, but not that old at 500gb.

You also mention MP4 files. That could be your problem with the DVD player. Previously AVI was the most commonly downloaded format and it has only been in the last year or two that most files being downloaded have become MP4. If the DVD player can see the drive but not the files then it probably cannot play MP4 but a check of the manual or online specs would confirm this.

You reminded me of the problems I had when setting up my external hard disks. My original USB 3.0 case would not work in any tv. Bought a cheap one more recently and the same hard disks now work with my tv so something to do with little circuit board I suppose. If you have a friend with a brandname external such as a WD passport then try that, they seem to work with most applications, provided the tv or DVD can play the files in the first place, not all can, especially if more than a couple of years old.

[Chicog]

^ Or copy some JPG files to your drive and plug it in, just to prove the TV can actually see the device.