How to watch MP4/AVI/DIVX etc on Old TV with only AV inputs?

[daedalus5]

I have an old Noontec 3.5" External Hard Disk enclosure, with a remote control that lets me play AVIs only through an AV (picture + sound) lead to the back of my good old Cathode Ray Tube TV. I don't want a flat screen TV with HDMI inputs etc until my current TV breaks, as that's £500ish I'd rather spend when I have to.

However, what I do want, is a 1Tb External HDD enclosure that my TV (Which only accepts AV in and SCART leads) that will let me play MP4/AVI/DIVX files that also has a remote control to pause/fast forward etc. It must have a USB interface so I can backup my PC files to it, too.

Am I totally obsolete technology wise now? I bought my old enclosure back in 2008, but, alas, when I download stuff now, its all in MP4 format, meaning I have to convert to AVI, which takes ages and often loses lip-synch.

Anyone point me to some brand names that I can try and find in the UK? I don't want a second hand unit.

Any advice?

 

[trekkiedane]

I sorta recently bought a new (flat) TV and had the opposite problem; how to play all my weirdly formatted media* on a modern system.

My solution should also satisfy your needs as it has HDMI and composite output: The LG DP1W

It is just a media-player though... but then; it allows you to connect to your home-network (+ has 2 USB-ports) and play media files from any source in your home (or on-line for that matter).
One of those and a wifi harddrive should do the trick.

it's the BEST.LITTLE.GADGET I've ever had



__________
*)

Video Formats (Codecs):
dat, mpg, mpeg, avi, vob, ts, mov, xvid, mp4, mkv, m2t, m2ts, wmw, asf, iso, divx, m1v, MPEG 1/2/4, DivX 3/4/5/6, VC1(WMV9), H.264, MJpeg(SD), AVC

Video Extensions (Containers):
dat, mpg, mpeg, avi, vob, ts, mov, xvid, mp4, mkv, m2t, m2ts, wmw, asf, iso, divx, m1v, MPEG 1/2/4, DivX 3/4/5/6, VC1(WMV9), H.264, MJpeg(SD), AVC

Audio Formats (Codecs):
mp3, wma, wav, ogg, aac, m4a, flac, mka, ape, aif, aiff, mp1, mp2, ac3, mpa, mp4a, MP3, WAV/PCM/LPCM/ADPCM/BDLPCM, AAC, FLAC, DTS, WMA, OGG, Dolby AC3, AIF/AIFF, APE, WMAPro, MPEG-1 Layer 1/2/3, MPEG-2 Layer 1/2/3

Audio Extensions (Containers):
mp3, wma, wav, ogg, aac, m4a, flac, mka, ape, aif, aiff, mp1, mp2, ac3, mpa, mp4a, MP3, WAV/PCM/LPCM/ADPCM/BDLPCM, AAC, FLAC, DTS, WMA, OGG, Dolby AC3, AIF/AIFF, APE, WMAPro, MPEG-1 Layer 1/2/3, MPEG-2 Layer 1/2/3

Oh, and did I mention that it also plays an assortment of subtitle-files:

Subtitle Formats:
SRT, SUB, SMI, SSA, ASS, vobsub, PGS

 

[ngc7293]

I have a Samsung 22" flatscreen with AV plugs as well as 2 HDMI plugs. It also has USB. I don't have the new Direct TV, but I use the HDMI with my laptop to view my movies or just as a larger screen.

For your situation, does the particular flatscreen you are interested in have RCA plugs?

 

[daedalus5]

^^^^
I'm hoping to avoid buying a flatscreen and want to use my low-Tech traditional TV to watch AVIs/DivXs.

Sadly, it looks like LG DP1W cannot be bought in the UK (and the reviews of it were pretty bad too) - shame as it does look to have the right connectors and it was 1Tb!!! This would have been ideal.

 

[trekkiedane]

Sadly, it looks like LG DP1W cannot be bought in the UK (and the reviews of it were pretty bad too) - shame as it does look to have the right connectors and it was 1Tb!!! This would have been ideal.

The composite video-out is a 3.5 jack though -you'd need a cheap little jack to RCA-plug for it to work on systems so old they have the yellow RCA-connector.
It does, however, NOT have any memory of it's own! (where did you read that?)

I seriously don't get those bad reviews!

If you can't go out and buy something in a shop there's always this newfangled place ...nowwhatsitcalled?... the internet!

I am sure there are other ways to get the same result though; what kind of telephone do you have? -mine came with composite out (which was a bit strange as it came out at the same time every country in the world was doing the switch from analogue to digital broadcasting ).

Have you considered using a graphics card (internal or external) with (analogue) TV-out (like this) and any software media player in your computer?

 

[LitmusDragon]

GoFlex TV can do it. http://www.seagate.com/home-entertainment/digital-media-players/goflex-tv/

I own one, it's a pretty good device for it's price. I have since moved on to a media center PC.

 

[trekkiedane]

^Cool device

 

[Showdown]

I use this...

http://us.kworld-global.com/files/SA235_CP_1303140871_thumb.jpg