The only additional step is installing a server application, you would probably have installed VLC or something to use anyway on the client. Having a box to sto

The only additional step is installing a server application, you would probably have installed VLC or something to use anyway on the client. Having a box to store your stuff, ripping or downloading to it is still the same regardless of installing a client or not. > how is the tether going to have any signal? I have a phone plan? Your decisions would be different if you have different requirements and restrictions. It's not like any of this requires expensive hardware, Intel Quicksync is on my £75 Wyse thin client acting as the server and can transcode perfectly for an iPhone/Android TV/etc. Secondly, it isn't only doing those duties. It's also hooked up to stream TV so if I remember something I want to watch later it will record, and if I'm having to wait and there is nothing to read I can watch a show. Can't do that with "putting files on a device".