terrypward

You need to download overplay to set up the VPN and account, but once you are set up (read the guide I posted), you just access it like you would like any website.

If like me it'll be excitement for a big night in Manchester, inconvenienced by a football match half way through...

I know there are free alternatives, but for quality and steady HD streams (for the tech savvy) , I have found no better offering than ADMC sports through an Egyptian VPN. It's every premiership match direct from Abu Dabhi media, who own the rights in loads of countries. The commentary is English. It's now just less than £15 to subscribe for the rest of the season and £5 a month to keep the VPN open. Guide at http://www.watchadmc.com There is an android app - and an ipad/iPhone one too, with airplay capabilities. If doing this you don't need the £5 a month thingy. You only need to keep the VPN/DNS going if accessing through your PC. Well worth a look in my opinion. If you do sign up, the live streams are much better quality than the video clips and highlights that are on there.

Yeah I want to start taking him to games soon with the hope that he will want to start playing. Problem is my pre-match ritual isn't exactly child friendly... and I don't really want to change it!

One nipper - 5 years old. I am winning the fight with the in laws, who are trying to turn him into a Man Utd fan. When presented with Man Utd slippers by his Grandad on Christmas day, he shouted "I hate Man United" then promptly took them to the kitchen and binned them. Victory. I just hope you do not have the same tussle.

21... pathetic!

Now you mention it - it does make sense. I always though Ramirez had simply stolen Messi's face.... maybe they are brothers and their dad is trying to reunite the family.

Top, top bloke.

Why are we awarded loyalty points out of interest, if away tickets are based on number of matches attended? Does anybody here know how many points they have?

There is - it's a double DVD with the L1 promotion as well. It's not great, but I bought it.

Yes - you can also control XBMC from a PC through the web browser, and through apps for Android/IOS.

No probs

It will, but you may need to add the network manager for wifi and the addons as I have described above. Although with the SD card that comes with the Maplin kit, you don't have much to lose by trying the Raspbmc installer...

Right sort of thing, wrong sort of price - no need to get ripped off. I kitted out 4 of my family/in-laws etc with them for Christmas at about £60 a pop. If you want me to put together a shopping list for you I can. You could even post me the SD card if you like and I will install the lost on there ready to go (no charge of course). Just let me know if you have any of the following already as you may as well use them for this if you have them spare: Usb mouse Usb keyboard Ethernet lead SD card wi-fi dongle (if you want to use wi-fi... although not sure on compatibility - may be better to get one that definitely works with the pi as they are only a few quid) HDMI lead Micro USB Power supply Or if you wanted to get the Maplin kit, just get that, an ethernet lead and a case.

You get an Apple product if you buy an Apple TV that is already Jailbroken. This means it talks to your other Apple devices. XBMC is one of the Jailbroken apps you can get on the Apple TV. The pros of an Apple TV pre-Jailbroken: You do not have as much to do to set it up, it looks better, wifi is built in and has the better quality build. Cons: Price and 720p resolutions. The Raspberry Pi goes straight into XBMC (although it runs the operating system from an SD card, so you can pop a Linux operating system card in and use it as a PC). Pros: Cheap, 1080p, Cons: a bit of setting up is involved normally, it's only as pretty as you make it and you need a dongle for wi-fi. I would disagree with Baj insofar as needing Linux knowledge to set up a Raspberry Pi just for Media Streaming. Although setting up Raspbmc is easy, you can buy pre-loaded SD cards with Raspbmc already installed from http://www.raspbmc.com/accessories/ However, this is only if you don't want to go through the easy installer. I will provide some links to the device and instructions below. What you need to set it up: Raspberry Pi SD Card Micro USB Power Supply (same as a Blackberry or Android Phone) HDMI Lead (connects to TV through HDMI, although you can use standard definition red white and yellow leads instead) Ethernet lead to connect to your router USB mouse and Keyboard (which you can possibly do away with at a later point for day to day use) Recommended accessories: Wifi Dongle Case Powered USB Hub You can get the Pi itself for and a bunch of said accessories from https://export.farnell.com/jsp/raspi/orderPad.jsp?&country=GB ... or for ease of getting it all together this has all of the above bar a case and ethernet lead: http://www.maplin.co.uk/raspberry-piandreg-board-and-starter-kit-652805. For Cases: http://www.maplin.co.uk/productsearch?criteria=pi+case or http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=raspberry+pi+case&_sacat=0&_from=R40 So you can judge how easy/difficult - In general terms, to set up yourself from a PC/MAC: 1 - Put your SD card in the computer 2 - Download and run the installer from http://www.raspbmc.com/download/ (just select the "I Accept the Licence Agreement" unless you want to tinker with the basic set up). 3 - Plug in all the leads and (importantly) the ethernet lead and turn it all on. A self-installer does the rest on the screen. 4 - When XBMC loads, if you want to use Wifi on the device you can download a Wifi Manager by going to System > Add-ons > Get More > XBMC.org Add-ons > Program Add-Ons > Network Manager > Install. Once installed, you can access Network Manager through the Programs > Add-ons menu - it allows you to set up wifi with an interface like you'd expect on any device, rather than needing to type in the SSID and password etc. 5 - Install the add-ons that you want. A good guide is here: http://www.xbmchub.com/blog/2012/11/26/quick-start-guide-to-watch-free-tv-with-xbmc/ There are linked guides in the above for watching TV, Films and Sports. I would also recommend getting your mitts on Sportsdevil from MaxMusterman's Repo as this directly links to WIZIWIG, FirstRow Sports, ADTHE and a couple of other well known sports streaming sites. Once set up, some newer TVs will allow you to use your television remote to control the interface (My 2010 Samsung does through Anynet+ and my 2007 LG through Simplink upstairs) meaning you can do away with the mouse and keyboard. This works by sending the commands through the HDMI lead (in the same way you can control a Blu Ray player with your TV remote if set up correctly to do so). The alternative is to use your mouse and/or keyboard - or buy a media remote, which also does the job. Examples: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Plug-and-play-USB-PC-Computer-Remote-Control-Media-Center-Controller-18-meter-/280825953122?pt=UK_Computing_Remote_Controls_Pointers&hash=item416287fb62 or http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wireless-Window-Media-Center-MCE-PC-Remote-Mice-Control-/220839268649?pt=UK_Computing_Remote_Controls_Pointers&hash=item336b0bd129 I hope this helps.

It can through XBMC - as you can install that on a Jailbroken Apple TV as well as a Pi. I was just being facetious. The Apple TV is a good bit of kit at £99 which is what I paid a year ago. However if you are now looking at £200+ for a Jailbroken Apple TV2, bear in mind there are cheaper alternatives. Also bear in mind the resolution of the ATV2 is only 720p.

I have always wanted to try something like this, how are you cooling the CPU - as I take it there's not much room for airflow?

It works... but only sometimes! It is very buggy to be honest. A lot of iPad restarting required if I ever get a picture! Other people have had more success than me - down to individual setups by the looks of things.

Actually, think mine's playing up. We are in the lead... must be something wrong with it.

^ +1

That is pretty awesome! Great work.

Ducked my question nicely. Oh and you can buy cases.

Yes you can stream football, sometimes the quality is good (like all footy streaming, sometimes it isn't) and yes it is free. As the owner of both an Apple TV and Raspberry Pi - would say the difference in price isn't worth it. Raspbmc on the Pi has airplay functionality as well and you can get the bits needed for c£60 all in. Delldays has highlighted that the Apple TV I paid £99 last year will now fetch £200-£300 on eBay as it is Jailbroken and the Jailbreak for the new Apple TV is some way off. My Apple TV will be going on eBay to be replaced by another Pi (for those interested - if you don't know which bits to get separately, Maplin have a starter kit for £75 and I can provide links to help with the set up). Ess - you mentioned above that the Apple IOS does all that XBMC does. Can you stream football films and TV for free like you can with XBMC? I like a tinker, so would want to have a go at setting it up if it is possible...

XBMC hub is a good website to have a nosey on. Specifically the add-ons 1channel, Icefilms, Letmewatchthis and Sportsdevil. There is also Navi-X. Youtube search "XBMC 1channel" to get an idea. The first three add ons are film and TV shows, the last one is sport. Navi-x is both. You can also get iplayer, 4od etc... You can get XBMC for windows and the add-ons work on that if you want to try before you go out and buy a Pi or AppleTV.

I have one. I also have a Raspberry Pi with Raspbmc on it. Does the same sort of thing, but half the price... Both very good bits of kit.