How to stream videos from your PC to your TV

This post by Jeremy Goldstone originally appeared on Obsessable.

Computers are great media players. Not only can they play many kinds of media files that other devices can't, they can store them digitally, reducing the clutter of DVDs that you forget to put back in the case. Watching video on your computer monitor can be less than satisfying, though. You've paid for a 52-inch screen with multi-channel surround sound in your living room, but instead of enjoying it you're watching downloaded content two feet away from a 20-inch screen, listening to whatever noise will come out of your computer speakers.

If only there was a way to watch the video stored on your PC on your home theater system. Yes, you can always put your video on a DVD, but that takes forever to convert and wastes DVDs. Fortunately, there are quite a few ways to accomplish this. With some extra pieces of hardware, software and some know-how, you can be enjoying the convenience of streaming video to your television. And sorry users of operating systems other than Windows, but that will have to be the topic of a different article.

The easiest way to stream to your TV is if you have a video card with video out. Just plug your computer into your television set and you are basically using it as a glorified computer monitor. This won't do anything to route the sound, however, so you are also going to want a sound card with a proper output that can connect to either your television or audio receiver. Do all this and congratulations, you've basically created a home theater PC.

As fun as a home theater PC can be, it's not an option for everyone. If you only have one computer, you may not want it sitting right next to your television and otherwise, you're going to have a ton of clutter with cables. Fortunately, there are still a number of options that can be explored.

One of the most publicized methods is Apple TV. It's basically a WiFi-enabled hard drive that can play files from your iTunes account. It's a handy device, but with limitations, some of which can't be overcome. First and foremost, as it does not have coaxial or composite video connections, it can't be hooked up to older televisions. If you don't have an HDTV, you're out of luck. Another issue is the Apple TV's lack of codec support. Codecs are the programs required to play different types of media files. If you have files on your hard drive that aren't supported by iTunes, you are back to the same problem as with a DVD: you have to take the time to convert all your files.

Fortunately, the Apple TV community has picked up the slack. By installing new software called Patchstick with a USB stick, Apple TV users can play many different kinds of files, such as DivX or Xvid. Be careful, however, as while Apple is not doing anything to stop this, it does warn that it will violate the warrantee.

There are other devices that can be modified that you probably don't care too much if the warrantee is void or not. If you have an original Xbox lying around, or can find one for cheap, it can also be converted into a rather powerful media player using a program called XBMC. If you have the technical know-how, or know someone who does, you can easily convert an original Xbox into a media center that can play virtually any media file in existence for well under $100. Even if you don't have the technical skill, modified Xboxes can often be found being sold in places like Ebay.

There may be a streaming option that won't cost you a dime, however. If you have an Xbox 360 or a PlayStation 3, you have built-in streaming support, as long as your gaming device is connected to your LAN. All you need to do is go into the sharing section of Windows Media Player 11 and add the gaming console to the shared list. You may have to change your firewall settings, but you should be connected. Currently, the 360 is a more versatile player, as long as you download an optional free pack from the Live Marketplace, but there is a way to turn either device, along with virtually any other internet connected device, into a media powerhouse.

Another free and primarily software-based solution is TVersity, a free program that will convert video in real time into a format that your device should handle and allows your device to connect to it. It requires a decent computer, as converting video in real time is a difficult process, but it will allow you to stream video to an Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, various DVRs and even handheld devices like the PSP or the iPhone. Setting TVersity up takes some trial and error and the stream's quality can be dependent on how powerful your computer is, but it is a free and relatively easy way to stream media to your TV.

[Image credit: Rob Boudon]

• Subscribe to Tecca:
• Facebook
• TwitterFollow @tecca
• Tecca TV on