I’m always in search of movies related to music. So, I added “I Need That Record! The Death (or Possible Survival) of the Independent Record Store” to my Netflix Instant queue without hesitation. After reading the description about the movie, it appeared the movie would be about annoying hipsters who have to let everybody know they still listen to records. I was surprised to find that wasn’t the case. Instead the movie delves into a world of “vinyl nerds”, who obsess over their hobby like a comic book nerd.
How to Connect PC to TV
So you want to learn about how to connect a PC to your TV? Doing so allows you enjoy way more content on a bigger screen. Browse the web on your TV. Use Windows Media Center to record and watch TV. Watch the “web only” stuff on Hulu Plus. Don’t know where to start? This is the guide.
Roku: How to Change Amazon Account
Much of my time has been wasted trying to figure out how to change Amazon accounts from the Roku app. So I thought I’d write this post up to save others the trip. It would be wonderful to add multiple accounts, but the app only allows you to use one account at a time. If you want to switch accounts, the only way is to unregister the device. Here’s how.
Play Windows Media Center Recordings On Roku
I have a PC in my living room that rocks Windows Media Center for recording TV. The bedroom is where the Roku is located. I thought it would be oh so nice to be able to play some of my Windows Media Center recordings on the Roku. I had to find a solution for this. Here are the steps you can take to get started.
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Review: “Sound City”
After listening to Dave Grohl on the Nerdist Podcast, I got a great feel for what he’s all about. Grohl is that creative guy any artist would like to be. His love of making music is unmatched. On the podcast, he was pitching a movie he directed called “Sound City”. The movie is about the Sound City recording studio in Los Angeles, California. A special place in Grohl’s heart where many classic rock albums were recorded, including Nirvana’s Nevermind. I love music history, and I watch the “Classic Albums” documentaries on Netflix religiously. I figured this documentary would be worth the $9.99 purchase. So I took a shot and bought it.
Where Can You Stream NFL Games Online?
Of all professional sports, the NFL is probably the worst when it comes to providing fans with options to stream games online. The main reason for this is because of DirecTV’s exclusive deal with the NFL for rights to the games. This leaves very few options for cable cutters. There are a handful of ways to watch NFL games online though. Some of them are illegal, but I’m not going to cover that stuff that in this post since most of them require you to install a player nobody should trust. Here are a few legal options you can use for enjoying the NFL over the Net.
2 Roku Keyboard Solutions
The Roku has amazed me with many of its features. It seemed only natural that I’d be able to connect a keyboard to its USB port and use it to navigate and type. That doesn’t work though. Nor is there a Bluetooth keyboard solution available. It’s the one missing feature that would make the Roku absolutely perfect. Typing using the standard remote control is aggravating. There are a few handy alternatives for people who absolutely must use a keyboard with their Roku.
Roku app
Use your smartphone or tablet to control your Roku, right from the Roku official app. Not only does the app have a keyboard, but you can also speak commands to change the channel. Commands don’t work to call up individual movies, but it’s still a nice feature. The keyboard (and the entire app) only works vertically, which is perplexing since the keyboard would work so much smoother sideways. The Roku app is available for Android and iOS. Windows Phone users can settle for a number of third-party Roku apps.
remoku.tv
This handy web-based app will connect to your Roku player via your home network and allow you to use the standard arrow controls as well as a keyboard. You can use the website from almost any web browser including Android’s stock browser and Safari for iOS. Just type in the IP address to your Roku on the Setting screen (the scan option didn’t work for me) and you can instantly control your Roku.
Those are the best keyboard connection solutions we could find. How do you use a keyboard with your Roku? We want to hear about it in our comments section.
Finding a Keyboard For the Living Room PC
After installing a PC in my living room and slapping Windows Media Center on it, I was off and running with the entertainment solution I always wanted. I didn’t think ahead though, and used a standard keyboard and mouse with it. This combo doesn’t function well in a Living Room, so I set out on a quest to find the perfect keyboard.
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Universal Remote Works For Apple TV, XBox 360 and More
A month ago, I wrote about a universal remote that worked with my Roku device. I was thrilled that such a low-priced remote worked with the video streaming device. After a month of enjoying the remote, I have discovered that it works with many other devices I didn’t expect. A co-worker of mine told me she has the same Sony RM-VZ320 remote and it works great for her Apple TV box.
After reading some of the reviews on Amazon, I confirmed that many customers are using the remote on tons of unexpected devices like the Apple TV and XBox 360. I had to test this for myself. I was shocked to find that it worked just as well on Apple TV and XBox as it did for my Roku. There were a few hiccups here and there. For example, I couldn’t figure out how to back out of a screen when using Hulu Plus. Even with these types of hiccups, it may be the best remote that’s under $20, ever!
Some people may jump for one of the programmable remotes that are a little more pricey to control such devices. Those are great for some people. You can program custom buttons and put them wherever you want on the screen. But if you’re in my income bracket and don’t mind a giant remote that’s filled with buttons you’ll never use, The Sony RM-VZ320 is the way to go. Just look at all off the remote codes available for video accessories.
You can see the complete list of codes for the Sony RM-VZ320 on Sony’s website.
Roku: How to Watch Videos From USB Drive
My favorite feature of the Roku Media Player is the USB port. You can watch MP4, M4V, and MKV video files from a USB Drive. How do you watch those files though? Here are the steps:
1. Add the Roku USB Media Player Channel. You can add it to your account via the Roku website or find it under the Music or Photos & Video categories in the Channel Store.
2. Plug the USB drive into the USB port on the Roku.
3. Open the USB Media Player channel and select “Movies”.
4. A list of videos will appear. Select the one you want to watch and enjoy.
You can use the normal Play, Pause, Forward, and Rewind buttons just as you can with most other Roku channels.