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alanjg007
14-08-2014, 10:46 AM
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We’re currently spoiled for choice when it comes to media players and video streamers, with everything from the Apple TV to Chromecast on offer. If you fancy something a little different, however, where you don’t need to rely on the internet or other devices, the new Raspberry Pi-based Slice media player could be the ideal box to sit under your telly. Read on for all the details!

The Slice rewrites what we’ve come to expect from Raspberry Pi-based tech, as while plenty of Pi-based gadgets we’ve seen in the past have been incredibly cool, such as the Pi Smart jacket, they’ve also looked a little… home made… with circuit boards and all sorts on display. Not so the Slice, which also sports a slim and suave chassis to go with its clever tech.

The tiny aluminium black box is bisected by a transparent LED strip, lighting up when you turn on the Slice, and there’s also a neat-looking remote to go with it. Granted, design isn’t the main thing when it comes to media players, but if you’re looking for a slick Apple TV rival that looks the business, it definitely helps. You’ll also find the Slice running XBMC, the powerful open-source media playing software that can handle almost anything thrown at it – and the makers of Slice have also dressed it up nicely to match its slick hardware.

When it comes to the internals, the Slice gets a whopping 1TB of storage to go alongside its Raspberry Pi-powered guts, and an HDMI port on the back makes it easy to hook up to your TV. It’s that storage that sets the Slice apart from the current crop of media players, with devices like the Chromecast instead streaming content from the web and working alongside services like Netflix. That’s perfect if you’ve got a reliable and fast internet connection, but not so good otherwise – and what happens when your internet inevitably goes down?

Say hello to the Raspberry Pi phone!

Instead of streaming content, the Slice lets you store all your favourite films and TV shows locally, with a couple of USB ports included to make it easy to drag and drop files straight from your laptop. The Slice also supports Apple’s AirPlay, making it easy to stream videos and music from Apple devices if you want to.

Check out the Slice in action HERE (https://To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Want to get your hands on a Slice? Check out the Kickstarter page (https://To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. where a pledge of ?159 will get you everything you need just before Christmas, with shipping included. If you don’t mind adding your own hard drive, you can get your hands on one for just ?109, with deliveries expected in November – it could be the ultimate media player for when your internet goes down.

The Slice is good, but is it more impressive than the Pi Smart Jacket (http://gadgetshow.channel5.com/gadget-show/gadget-news/the-ultimate-retro-wearable-meet-the-personal-pi-smart-jacket)? (yes it does imo)

Source (http://gadgetshow.channel5.com/gadget-show/gadget-news/meet-slice-the-raspberry-pi-based-apple-tv-beater)

Peter Wilkes
18-08-2014, 09:47 AM
This sounds interesting, anything has to be better than Apple.