Playing music from an external media drive... need a screen!

[popeye]

Hi,

I've been using a Lifebox media centre to play music from, which is fine when you have the odd TV ready to search through the folders. Any suggestions on what I could do for a simple, small screen just to scroll through the files (through the "video out" port)? I can unfortunately only play lossy files through it so something fairly cheap would be fine.

I saw something similar a long time ago which had one of those green and black scrolly thingums, this is the only place I could think of asking though!

Thanks a lot!

[daddyray]

love the user name but I cannot understand what you are asking? do you need an app or a stand alone player or what?

[dcbullet]

He needs a screen, like a LCD or something so he can see what is on his external drive. I can't help, though.

[Karst]

Lossy and a screen? Get an ipod and connect it to a couple of Bose speakers. Nice!

http://www.best-ipod-online.com/images/best-ipod-speakers-4.jpg

[diggrd]

I solved a similar issue with a cheap pair of goggles (http://www.amazon.com/Myvu-Personal-Viewer-Universal-MA-0483/dp/B000VKY0J6/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1242578845&sr=8-7)from woot. I looked at some portable dvd players ( http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=PET726-PB-R&cat=CON) with dual screens from geeks that could work as well.

[GRC]

I heard of someone who needed a small screen to navigate menus on a digital receiver that he used for audio only - his solution was a screen from one of those DVD playback systems that are sold for in-car use - the type with the screen that hooks over the front headrests to keep the kids amused in the back.

Seem to recall he picked it up at a car boot sale (or a 'yard sale' for the american contingent) at a bargain price, kept the screen and threw away the DVD player component.

[travelinsong]

at one time -
I hooked mine up thru a nearby laptop computer
then ran an audio wire connection to the amplified stereo receiver
it worked great!!!
music was playing loud out of my home stereo speakers and sounding well enough (compared to computer speakers)..

I was able to view the files through whatever media player I used on the computer and listen to the music through the big home speakers... though if your amplifier does not amplify all components then it may not be so loud... making it sound way in the back.


it surprises me there haven't been more ways to play hard drives on a home stereo...
After years of waiting I finally saw one the other day with a USB port, but again NO SCREEN so it's back to the computer... it also looked cheap..


I was trying to come up with a better way to connect using generic computer supplies avoiding large high priced electronics that had bad reviews....
I opted this route and only had to buy an audio connector which I found on clearance for 3.00 (normally 35.00)...

that's my secret and IT WORKS....