RE: Browser on a TV?

["John McManus" <jpm.egroup1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The BT Digibox / Netgem digibox provides an integrated web browser (you
han=
g
a USB->ethernet adapter off it).  Depending on what you want to do, this
ma=
y
fit the bill.  Think you can get them for around =A360 with a IR keyboard.
Can save the web page as a 'channel' so you can access via remote, rather
than having to use the keyboard.

Browser is limited in what it can display, but offers reasonable web
rendering.

Can post a MPEG showing some of the browsing & i/f to Homeseer /
Comfort if
that is of any interest.
-----Original Message-----
From: UKHA [mailto:mailinglists@xxxxxxx]
Sent: 21 August 2004 19:15
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [ukha_d] Browser on a TV?


There's a lightweight browser available for the XBox, you can hang it off
the back of XBox Media Player too...

I haven't tried it myself yet, but I've got it on the PC waiting to be
downloaded to XBox...

Lee

-----Original Message-----
From: rb_ziggy [mailto:richard.boreham@xxxxxxx]
Sent: 21 August 2004 18:36
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: [ukha_d] Browser on a TV?


OK, not sure if this is a real dumb one but...

I'd like to be able to view and then browse web pages on one
(possibly all) TVs in my house.  Reason, to access various HA
artifacts (e.g. Comfort interface, Squeezebox, etc).

I don't really want put the PC in the lounge as the current server is
some distance away. Cat5 is readily available so I really need a
ethernet to TV based solution.

The obvious route is a small form PC to act as a web browser but is
there any off the shelf box that could do just this (i.e. provide a
browser on a tv)?  (Noting that I do need it to be able to access a
number of, user, definable URLs).  I'm not sure if any of the
streaming boxes (Pinnacle/Neustron) can do this or whether they are
restricted to their own menu type system.

If I really do need a PC, any recomendations for a v small, silent,
perhaps even solid state (and er cheapish). As I say, it can be v
basic as it only needs to provide a browser client (I'd perhaps even
go for a linux sol'n to keep things light.)

I guess I'd be ok with any solution in the sub =A3300 bracket.  More
than this and the CBA starts looking a bit iffy!

Finally, the TV I have (a Loewe Aconda) apparently has such an
upgrade (called Online Plus) which seens to provide an internal
browser type feature but I'm dammed if I can find anything useful on
this anywhere (aiming to call Loewe tech support next week). But if
anyone knows anything on this I'd be grateful too. (Not really
holding out too much hope here as I suspect it will be plenty
expensive but...).

Thanks all

Richard


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