Apple TV, is it as good as they say?
Discussion
Well, the only things I have connected to my TV are an Apple TV 2, and my laptop at times.
If you have an ios device, and use airplay a lot, or will do, then it is superb. I stream all my movies, TV shows, youtube, UK TV and so on to my TV with ease. I've tried XMBC previously, but it seems like a bit of a hassle when it can be done far easier from my ios device and a computer.
I think they are well worth the money, but YMMV.
If you have an ios device, and use airplay a lot, or will do, then it is superb. I stream all my movies, TV shows, youtube, UK TV and so on to my TV with ease. I've tried XMBC previously, but it seems like a bit of a hassle when it can be done far easier from my ios device and a computer.
I think they are well worth the money, but YMMV.
Mr Pies said:
So can I can stream boxing matches etc in HD to my Apple TV?
Depends entirely on what you are using. I use various apps in order to get UK TV on my apple TV. Filmon being one of them. The resolution will entirely depend on the quality of the stream you are sending to it. Alternatively, you could just connect a laptop to the Tv, and watch through that. I have done that in the past and used a 'remote' on my ipad to control it, be it a mouse, file manager, etc.
TheHeretic said:
Depends entirely on what you are using. I use various apps in order to get UK TV on my apple TV. Filmon being one of them. The resolution will entirely depend on the quality of the stream you are sending to it.
Alternatively, you could just connect a laptop to the Tv, and watch through that. I have done that in the past and used a 'remote' on my ipad to control it, be it a mouse, file manager, etc.
Would you mind if I drop you a pm tonight with a few questions?Alternatively, you could just connect a laptop to the Tv, and watch through that. I have done that in the past and used a 'remote' on my ipad to control it, be it a mouse, file manager, etc.
Another option aside of an ATV is a Raspberry Pi running Raspbmc. Simplicity itself to set up (download the installer, run it on a PC to prep the SD card, put the SD card in the Pi to boot and update itself) and with stuff like 1Channel (as mentioned above), it provides plenty of TV choice.
They only cost a few quid too - certainly less than £100 all said and done with cabling etc, if you have an Android phone, the Yatze control app is amazing, if not - I'm sure there are iOS solutions available as well.
They only cost a few quid too - certainly less than £100 all said and done with cabling etc, if you have an Android phone, the Yatze control app is amazing, if not - I'm sure there are iOS solutions available as well.
I've got an atv 1. The advantage of that one is that it has a hard drive, meaning you don't have to stream films from your pc. It will also do this, but it isn't necessary as it is with the later ones. I love my atv, and did have it jailbroken. However something went wrong, so I had to factory restore it. My bro will jailbreak it again for me soon.
When it was jail broken you could have something called flash sports, or something like that. It was 40 quid for the year and you could see any of the events on sky on it (footie, boxing, etc). It is quite complicated to do, but is possible!
When it was jail broken you could have something called flash sports, or something like that. It was 40 quid for the year and you could see any of the events on sky on it (footie, boxing, etc). It is quite complicated to do, but is possible!
Bullett said:
I have one, it hardly ever gets used. I think it's a very cool, slick and easy to use piece of kit but it's way too tied into the Apple world for my liking. That's fine if you are in that area already but for me I found it limiting.
They make sense especially if you have an iOS device of some description. That is as far as you need go with regards to 'tied into'. iTunes not required in that regard, nor are you limited to iTunes content, or stuff from their store. 90% of my content is from 'elsewhere' and in a format that iTunes or Apple TV doesn't use. Apps such as air video happily stream to the Apple TV and sort out any format issues. I have movies and TV shows in .avi, MKV, etc, and I don't bother encoding them at all. I can sit there with my iPad, and send any video I want to the Apple TV, which means I don't have to sit there, with an app on the Apple TV using the awful input device they have. I can stream youtube to the machine, which makes it easy, and any stuff I have streamed to my computer in html5 can be streamed directly to the Apple TV.
It takes almost zero setup, and works straight out of the box. All for about 80 quid.
Also remember that many folks can just plug their laptop to their TV. Simple solution for the price of a HDMI cable. I'd do both.
Edited by TheHeretic on Monday 22 July 09:59
Bullett said:
I have one, it hardly ever gets used. I think it's a very cool, slick and easy to use piece of kit but it's way too tied into the Apple world for my liking. That's fine if you are in that area already but for me I found it limiting.
+1 I just use mine for netflix and occasionally stream some radio.TheHeretic said:
Apps such as air video happily stream to the Apple TV and sort out any format issues. I have movies and TV shows in .avi, MKV, etc, and I don't bother encoding them at all. I can sit there with my iPad, and send any video I want to the Apple TV, which means I don't have to sit there, with an app on the Apple TV using the awful input device they have. I can stream youtube to the machine, which makes it easy, and any stuff I have streamed to my computer in html5 can be streamed directly to the Apple TV.
It takes almost zero setup, and works straight out of the box. All for about 80 quid.
The formats supported by the ATV are limited, to have the (non apple)content directly accessible you do need a machine running itunes somewhere and the files in the right format. It takes almost zero setup, and works straight out of the box. All for about 80 quid.
Airplay/air video is brilliant and you have found a way round those restrictions. Transcoding is happening somewhere and you need a second device to actually deliver the content. It's a workaround at best.
Airplay works on the xbmc. If that's the majority of the use why not buy an even cheaper device that supports it. I appreciate it may not be so user friendly.
Ultimately, I decided that the ATV is too restricted for my needs. It works for you and that's fine. Should they move away from the current fixed applications model to an app store model I will be the first to sign up.
Bullett said:
The formats supported by the ATV are limited, to have the (non apple)content directly accessible you do need a machine running itunes somewhere and the files in the right format.
Airplay/air video is brilliant and you have found a way round those restrictions. Transcoding is happening somewhere and you need a second device to actually deliver the content. It's a workaround at best.
Airplay works on the xbmc. If that's the majority of the use why not buy an even cheaper device that supports it. I appreciate it may not be so user friendly.
Ultimately, I decided that the ATV is too restricted for my needs. It works for you and that's fine. Should they move away from the current fixed applications model to an app store model I will be the first to sign up.
The point is that you are no more tied into apple using an Apple TV as with anything else. The addition of an app and a server on your computer completely bypasses any need for iTunes at all, or their format controls, (those format controls simply being mpeg4 which lets face it, is better than avi anyway). Airplay/air video is brilliant and you have found a way round those restrictions. Transcoding is happening somewhere and you need a second device to actually deliver the content. It's a workaround at best.
Airplay works on the xbmc. If that's the majority of the use why not buy an even cheaper device that supports it. I appreciate it may not be so user friendly.
Ultimately, I decided that the ATV is too restricted for my needs. It works for you and that's fine. Should they move away from the current fixed applications model to an app store model I will be the first to sign up.
Of folks want to get a raspberry pi, they are more than welcome to, I haven't suggested otherwise.
RobDickinson said:
There are some good alternatives
Western digital live TV and roku 3 etc.
Western digital live TV and roku 3 etc.
If you don't already have rooms full of Apple stuff these are better (and cheaper) solutions. They're a lot more versatile. Apple TV is primarily designed for people who already have (or intend to get) Apple kit to use with it (in which case, it's rather good).
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