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How to make your cable or satellite box a high definition movie server |
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The best high definition movie server will likely cost you nothing and you probably already own it
For these devices to work, they must be connected to your homes high-speed Internet connection. Once connected, both devices utilize a very intuitive-on screen graphic system that allows easy maneuverability through a vast assortment of movies enabling you to find just the right ones. Once the desired movie has been chosen, simply select the rental option (costs about as much as a new release in a video store) and the movie will be downloaded to your Vudu or Apple TV box. The time necessary for the download depends on your Internet connection speed. Once your rental has been downloaded, you have 30 days to start watching the film. Once playback of the film starts you have a 24-hour time window in which it can be viewed as many times as you would like. Once the 24-hour window (or 30 day period has passed) the movie is automatically removed from your hard drive. While we think the capabilities of these devices are fantastic and the user interface is great, the major downside is their cost; the hardware needs to be purchased (currently a few hundred dollars plus) and the rentals need to be purchased, as well. Combined with the fact that these boxes are primarily for renting movies, with limited movie buying options, these boxes are best suited for avid fans of movie rentals, and may be tough for the casual movie viewer to justify the cost. As a customer, you should gauge your interest in movies before deciding on purchasing one. In fact, you may find by using your existing cable or satellite box to its fullest you will enjoy a premium movie watching experience for less money and with less viewing restrictions.
To create your own digital movie server simply navigate this guide and click record on the movies you would like to see. Your cable or satellite box will setup a recording queue and automatically record the selected movies onto your hard drive. TIP: You may find the best movies tend to be broadcast during prime time hours. Rather than surfing your on-screen guide an hour at a time, did you know most cable or satellite boxes can "jump" forward in large time increments? With Direct TV you can jump forward or backward in the guide in twelve hour increments by pressing the appropriate on-screen buttons (see inset photo). With cable TV you will normally find a Day+ and Day- button on your remote control allowing you to skip forward/back a full day at a time.
Check with your digital cable service provider to see what types of service plans are offered; if you are not happy with your current service plan’s movie content, virtually all providers now offer premium plans geared specifically to provide a multitude of movies, in the genres you enjoy most. For many consumers, finding a service plan that fits their taste in movies and then scheduling recordings of the ones they want to see may be much more practical than the cost of the "rental boxes" and the rentals themselves. For you as a consumer, the right "solution" is based on how you plan to watch movies. Apple TV and Vudu allow you to choose specific films on-demand with limited viewing options. Your existing cable or satellite box can provide a constant stream of movies from a service plan that is catered to your taste in films with no viewing restrictions. To see if your cable or satellite box is the best option, take a look through the coming days’ scheduled programming on your guide; you may just find some of your all-time favorites just waiting to be recorded! Please note certain movies can be purchased through Apple TV or Vudu (at a higher price) for repeated viewing. While the purpose of this article was to explore some of the best ways to access movies in your home theater system it should be pointed out that Apple TV is also designed to serve additional purposes such as link digital photographs and music to your home theater system.
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