I was at ISS 07. was rather taken by the "Kaleidescape" as demonstrated by ong radio.

 

http://www.kaleidescape.com/experience/

 

Is there a similar and cheaper (or DIY) solution that achieves similar effects? some kind of media server/NAS solutions?

 

thanks in advance for pointing me in the right direction...

Manual back-up and playback via HTPC or multiple HTPC.

Large or multiple NAS to store all the data.

 

Nothing as elegant as the kaleidascape's interface, but functionally quite similar.

For interface, only the Apple TV comes close (if we are talking only about consumer-level devices)

 

My progress so far:

 

I am ripping DVDs using dvd shrink 3.2 into virtual DVDs on the harddisks. These are fully functional ones with all menus and subtitles intact.

 

I have tried both xlobby and mediaportal as the front-end. I have installed these on another computer and is able to play the ripped DVDs from the mapped networked drive on another computer over 10/100 ethernet.

 

Can't get the PS3 to detect even these ripped DVDs though. I gathered form reading elesewhere that if I choose to just ripped out the .vob files of the feature films and put them into the right folders, PS3 can actually playback these direct streamings but I want to preserve a fully functional virtual DVD.

 

Next I will explore whether I can convert an old xbox into an xbmc and use it to read these DVDs or maybe just build another htpc. see what sitex have to offer.

 

I can play a virtual DVD on the original computer and stream another DVD to a second computer and playback with no problems. so i suppose multiroom media network is possible with my current setup.

 

xlobby looks nicer but is no longer freeware, in case you are thinking of doing what i am doing. mediaportal is usesable but not as pretty. the coverart they download seems to be the cinema release poster instead of the coverarts from amazon.com etc. I think the options must be somewhere inside the programme but so far have no time to figure it out yet.

 

will keep cracking on it.

your workflow seems rather complicated  :)

 

Another advantage of the Apple TV is not just the great user interface but that it also uses iTunes, which IMHO is one of the best media management SW around, to manage your media on the PC.

 

Elgato also has a HW H.264 encoder dongle to accelerate your "ripping" activities  ;D

 

The main drawback is the limited format support.

not bad. i use Vista MCE with MyMovies for mine. cover art, artistes and producer details all pretty automatic. not sure if xbox360 mce extender can be used with this.

 

think the original xbox xbmc method can still work. shldn't be an issue if u not doing any post-processing.

 

also, i have an option to rip to vob files with dvdshrink so i don't need to use virtual daemons to load mine. MCE is able to detect and playback by folder, which is exactly same as the original dvd anyway.