Why purchase Apple TV?

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themightyquinn

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Hey, I am looking for a way to rip my DVD's that I already own into my mac to store and view on my computer, and if i ever decide to get one, watch on apple TV. Also, is there a way to take movies already downloaded on my computer, but not through itunes, and store them in itunes?
 

Sparkee

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themightyquinn said:
Hey, I am looking for a way to rip my DVD's that I already own into my mac to store and view on my computer, and if i ever decide to get one, watch on apple TV. Also, is there a way to take movies already downloaded on my computer, but not through itunes, and store them in itunes?
Read through the TV & Video section for software and tips. Most software have AppleTV and iPod settings but I opt for a high quality iPod conversion that will play on both the iPod and AppleTV. AppleTV files will not play on an iPod, yet, maybe the next gen iPods will. The files are better quality than an iPod needs and are acceptable quality for TV viewing.
 

Sparkee

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I finally got my AppleTV and find it to be the perfect solution for my setup. I just got the 40Gb model and stream my Video Podcasts, Movies and TV Shows through an 802.11g wireless network with no problems. I also synced my music and photos (iPhoto) to the ATV so it's available if the computer is off. It's worth it even for photo slide shows and listening to music with the album art since my TV is connected to a home theater system. The new YouTube feature works pretty well too but the video quality is quite low, my 10 and 12 year old nephews can't get enough of it.

I am just running it through a 480i standard definition JVC TV through the Component Video connection. Since the signal from the ATV is HD it squeezes the wide screen 16:9 video onto the standard 4:3 screen "squishing" the video a little. It is still very watchable and will do till I find a good 37-40" LCD TV sale.

The 160Gb version may have been nice to sync additional video to, but my computer is on most of the time anyways and streaming video works quite well even on the g network. Streaming also helps keep my Podcast and TV Show history (playcounts and New episode indicators) current in iTunes without a sync which is good for the iPod and when I take the laptop on the road. I may add a larger hard drive in the future as well some of the OS hacks that are available such as adding other video support, but I think I'll keep the warranty intact for awhile.
 

kornchild2002

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I have been thinking about purchasing an Apple TV as I recently purchased a HDTV with HDMI input and I would like to have the ability to access my entire music library on my HDTV and nice speaker system. However, I have a hard time purchasing a Apple TV as I have both a PS3 and Xbox 360. I can hook my iPod up to my Xbox 360 and play all of my audio files and playlists and my PS3 will playback unprotected mpeg-4 AVC files via HDMI.

I still might pick up an Apple TV but I think that if you have any one of these gaming consoles, the need for an Apple TV decreases.
 

drakebullet

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Works for my family

It's on our main system, 55" HDTV, Denon AVR, Boston Acoustics speakers set up in 7.1 surround and zone 2 speakers (for music) in four other locations. The ATV is synched to an iMac and networked (streaming) to a macbook and 2 wintel laptops. Here's why we got it:

Navigation from the TV (iPod can't do that)
One big fat music library
Movie library
TV shows (synch'd and streamed)
YouTube - OMG it's funny watching with family

Sure the iPod can do a lot of this, but as a guy wrote earlier, my wife likes it simple and, frankly, so do I.

I'd love it if ATV could be my DVR, but life will get there.

Cheers
 

Staszek

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I really wanted Apple TV when I first heard about it, and I still love the idea. But for me its really not worth it right now. I just doesnt give me enough over the classic because of how limited the iTunes movie library is.

Apple TV will be worth it when one the iTunes movie library gets more movies, I almost own more then iTunes does, and second they actually get HD movies.
 

stevenjchang

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um

why dont people blow their $300 on filling the apple tv with video and movie contents instead of the actual apple tv.

i have both my laptop hooked up to my tv (not HD) for $8
and my ipod hooked up to my tv....

if you want a dedicated device for your TV, why not get a refurb desktop ($300) plus a 500gb HD ($100)??? i dont get it.
 

Staszek

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stevenjchang said:
um

why dont people blow their $300 on filling the apple tv with video and movie contents instead of the actual apple tv.

i have both my laptop hooked up to my tv (not HD) for $8
and my ipod hooked up to my tv....

if you want a dedicated device for your TV, why not get a refurb desktop ($300) plus a 500gb HD ($100)??? i dont get it.

For you and I that would be a great solution, but you have to remember, even though it seems like alot of people could do something like that because of these forums, many people are technically illiterate. We are such a small percentage of the overall market its not even funny.

Ask my mom or dad to do something like that and they would be like huh? But they know how to fill an ipod and order movies from on demand.

So basically having something that is plug and play into a tv is a solution that 90% of the people need because there isnt much to figure out.

Put it this way, besides marketing one of the reasons the ipod is so popular is because its simple and easy to use.

You can give an ipod to someone who has never seen an MP3 player before and without instructions they can basically figure it out.
 

Sparkee

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I have set up media PC's under both WinXP and Linux based systems all with TV tuners and wireless remotes, none come close to iTunes integration with Apples hardware. Many people do not want a big computer case with fans humming away in their living room. There is also many other media servers out there to choose from as well.

I have considered using a Mac mini connected to the livingroom TV and use it as a media server for it's small form factor and low noise level. An Apple TV is a great unit to extend the media server to another TV in the house, which I would continue to use. Along with the simple setup, all the playcounts and playback positions are also transmitted back to the server (I stream everything). All this info is synced to my iPods, AppleTV and iTunes on my computer. This lets me watch part of a movie on the AppleTV at home, then sync the iPod and pick up at the same position I left off when I get to a motel (I travel quite a bit for work). I also have quite a few TV show DVD's ripped to my external drive at home. The iTunes integration helps me keep track of what episodes of what ever shows I have played between my devices. Since I'm also a big fan of both audio and video podcasts, I can get my fix of podcasts on my TV, as well as other iPods, automatically when they are downloaded.

Sure you can easily set another computer as a media server, but you can't beat how iTunes syncs everything together between multiple devices. I spent the coin on the AppleTV and more than that amount on content, my 500GB drive is full and I'm looking for another. Apple still does not sell video here in Canada, so I have to rip everything from DVD. I wouldn't hesitate to get another ATV to connect another TV in my house to my media library.

If all you want is to watch the occasional video or movie on a TV, I would look at Sansa's TakeTV. Plug it into your computer like a USB thumbdrive, transfer a movie file, connect it to the TV and watch the movie. Much cheaper and way easier to set up than a dedicated media PC.
 

ejsjrnc

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I'd been debating on the purchase of an Apple TV for quite some time. I have a pretty substantial media library that is already in mp4/H264 format viewable on the iPod or in iTunes on my PC.

I was happy with the option of connecting my iPod to the TV using a converter cable until recently. I just got tired of not having the ability to navigate the content or FF or REW from my couch without a VERY long converter cable. I was also starting to be unhappy with the picture quality on my 57" HDTV.

The decision was made for me when I received a 40GB AppleTV for xmas. I used it "as-is" for about the first 2 weeks while investigating the different ways to mod or hack it. There is a ton of information out there with quite a few newbie guides. I've also got the added convenience of working for a company supporting numerous MacBook Pro's that I've got access to, so creating the "patchstick" to enable the extra functionality was a breeze. This also made my decision to hack it easier since I could always restore it to factory state if anything got bunged up. If you don't have access to an Intel-based mac, the hacks are a little bit more challenging, but still possible.

Now, I've got a 250GB capacity AppleTV (thanks awkwardtv.org and appletvhacks.net) due to the USB drive hack plus the ability to play divx and avi files using Perian and Sapphire. I also have the ability to sync a large portion of my music/tv show/movie library thanks to the upgraded drive.

The added bonus to the AppleTV is that my wife and daughter can pick up the remote, navigate to the content they want to see and it just works. No having to constantly fiddle with it to get the functionality they want (which is pretty much plug and play). No having to explain to them how to use the device. It's very intuitive, but has the ability to be geeky enough for me to be happy to play with it outside of it's intended use.

I'm the technogeek in my house, not my wife so she was sold on how easy and convenient it was to just be able to ask me to sync a particular movie or TV show to the Apple TV and she could sit down and watch it with little to no delay.

As has been stated before, unless you are OK with using iTunes pretty much exclusively for your media content, an Apple TV out of the box is not the best choice for a media center device. but if you don't mind getting your hands a little dirty and are reasonably tech proficient, and willing to research it, hacking it is one of the easier things to do. If you don't have an HDTV or at minimum a TV with composite inputs, it may also not be the best solution.

I just recently convinced a buddy to consider an AppleTV as a media center for his newly purchased 42" LCD HDTV. He was looking at building himself a media center pc running XP Media Center edition and could not find a solution that he was happy with for less than $1K. When I showed him what I'd done with my AppleTV and how it does pretty much everything he was looking for, he immediately started shopping for one and has made me promise to help him hack it once he gets it.
 

Wilder_K_Wight

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And now you don't need to use the computer at all to get your TV or movies from iTunes. The Take 2 upgrade is just what Apple TV needed.


Of course, TV + large hard drive on your computer = great DVD archive

Right now I'm in the course of converting my own DVDs into MP4 files for use on the TV. When I'm done, I'll be able to watch any video in my DVD library just by queuing it up and pressing 'Play' -- Since I'm rocking the 160GB Apple TV, I can fit a LOT of movies on it locally, too.

I plan on getting a Mac mini or some old Mac with a large hard drive, and then using that as a dedicated iTunes / Apple TV server. I'd be happy just using my main computer, but it's a MacBook and my spouse might want to watch a movie that's not on the Apple TV while I have the MacBook out with me... So I need a dedicated computer for iTunes.

I'd use her computer, but it's an old CRT iMac and it's pretty slow. I don't know if I'd trust it as an iTunes server.

However, these days you can pick up a 700MHz G4 iMac for a few hundred, at most. It would be a perfect server for a home entertainment setup... And it could even replace her computer if she wanted (she's pretty attached to that G3 iMac, though).

I canceled my DirecTV, and I only subscribe to Basic cable ($15 a month) for local channels and a few others (TBS, WGN). I figured out that I'm not watching enough shows to justify paying for a hundred channels I never watch. I just subscribe to the shows I do watch, and rely on free content for 'channel surfing' replacements. There's plenty to watch in YouTube and the free video podcasts.

Best part? I'm almost forgetting what a television commercial is.

I hate ads. They ruin the flow of my shows!
 

GatorDeb

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I am in love with my new Apple TV. I got the 160 gig for $282 shipped and already upgraded the software.

I'll be renting HD in the future but not yet. What I use it for now is HD podcasts. The quality is amazing, and they're all free! And there's some interesting stuff out there. I also have 5.8 hours of Happy Tree Friends :D


The one thing that the Apple TV is missing is the ability to play all episodes of a podcast sequentially. I'd love to just sit and watch HTF without having to keep pressing play with each new episode. Hopefully this is an easy software upgrade.

I'm surprised there's so little talk about the Apple TV on this site.

Other cool video podcasts are university classes and lectures, along with learning languages (this guy did a learning French podcast with PDF handouts, audio, and video). Just amazing. And I haven't even begun to convert my videos/DVDs yet. I love love love it :D
 

GatorDeb

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Hacked it and now I have Perian :D

What other cool hacks are there?

I wanted to do the web browser and I have the download, but what exactly do I copy to the frontrow folder in the Apple TV?

Watching a Divx movie as we speak :D This is so awesome. I guess now I can do the external harddrive also.
 
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ejsjrnc

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the usb port can be enabled as your primary storage for itunes/appletv or just to add an external disk and access files from there using a file browser like ATVfiles, Sapphire, or NitoTV.
 

dhoward

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I am or at least was planning on buying an Apple TV as a Christmas gift. Then I read the article, Part 1 View on the Iphone or ITouch, on the home page of ILounge. To my surprise in Part 1, page 44, of this article I read the following:

"Having been downplayed by Apple, yet not replaced in time for the
2008 holiday season, Apple TV seems at high risk of replacement or
discontinuation in 2009. We wouldn’t shed a tear, but for hard-core
iTunes video fans, the current model is a fun toy to connect to an HDTV."

I posted a question regarding this in the Apple web forum. To my surprise the Apple moderator deleted it as based on speculation. The above quote worries me as I do not want to gift this to someone and then see it become one of Apple's orphans. I feel the moderator was within his rights based on the Terms of Service but if it is alright for Apple to hide a product that might be on its last legs then it is in my right as a purchaser to be aware of the possibility. Anyway since the article is part of this site I would welcome any thoughts regarding the discontinuation. Should I buy it or not? Is this article right or just speculation? If it is replaced by another model that would not bother me as that is a normal process. I am just worried that it will go away and no more updates or support will provided.
 

drakebullet

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ATV works in my house

dhoward said:
I am or at least was planning on buying an Apple TV as a Christmas gift.

"... We wouldn’t shed a tear, but for hard-core
iTunes video fans, the current model is a fun toy to connect to an HDTV."
Apple TVs (we have 2) gets a lot of use in my house as:

Music library viewable and playable thru home AV systems
Movie viewing: buy, rent, rip
Photo slides shows (off iPhoto)
Occassionally we look at movie previews or YouTube.

ATV gets use equal to the DirecTV HD DVRs.

The only reason the ATV isn't red hot is that video licensing is contentious, meaning content is expensive and not plentiful. Combine NetFlix and ATV and kah-boom!
 

Germansuplex

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I have contemplated buying one, but at the end of the day I don't think I would use it enough to justify the price. I have a laptop with an HDMI output and that may be better. I would love the convenience Apple TV offers, but spending that much money for something that can't stream certain files is a bit much when TVersity is free and WMP allows me to rip a DVD and stream it, no converting involved.
 

Sparkee

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Personally I believe Apple will hang on to the Apple TV for now. It is a unique device that could eventually lead to profits when "IP TV" takes off (I believe it's coming). I have been holding off getting my second unit holding out for an update but I don't see one coming soon since it is not that popular and the current down fall in the economy. Since Steve Jobs claimed recently that the ATV is still and will remain a "hobby" I hope it will stick around for awhile. Apple is still sitting pretty good financially and I don't anticipate any real big cuts yet. In a recent interview Apple also sloughed off blue ray claiming they have HD covered with iTunes Store which would include the ATV. I believe it will hang around simply because it is still selling some media.

Even if Apple discontinued production I'm sure you will still be able to use it with iTunes Store for video purchases and rentals. The ATV also works great as a media extender for your iTunes media library which will still be around for awhile even if they discontinued it. I will be ordering my second unit soon to extend my media to another TV since I don't think they will up grade it due to the recent economic down fall. Even if it is discontinued this will give me a back up for a great device I intend on using for awhile with my TV Show and movie collection I have ripped from DVDs. Apple can't take this away from you even if they quit making it.
 
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