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ATV Flash - any good?

What happens with ATV Flash when the AppleTV software is updated? I assume you have to reinstall it, but are you able to do that without having to pay the $50 again?

Probably a dumb question, but I want to make sure before I consider spending $50.
 
$50 gets you the software. As long as you have the software stored on your mac, you'll always be able to prepare a patchstick. If apple does an update, just reinstall the patch stick

So far i think atvflash is sweet. i now can play avi movie files and ripped dvd's

I've also been able to watch and record live tv using my old miglia Tvmini HD box
 
Another question - if you pay the $50 for ATV Flash, can you install it on as many AppleTVs as you have, or just one?

Thanks.
 
No tsreaming TV via Internet app or Firefox

I am sure whether I am in the right forum after the comments I have read but just wanted to give my comment and ask for feedback after buying ATVFlash.
I had no problem installing it on ATV (incl all the different player plugins). I also can use the Internet application (Couch Surfer). Nevertheless ATV Finder reboots every time when I am trying to watch a live stream (f.e.http://mediathek-video.br-online.de/o16/br/b7/player/public/b7mediathek.html?bccode=bfs)
When using the Firefox application from ATVFlash the window first opens but after some time the Finder reboots also (Apple Logo appears).
It seems that there is a problem with the players (probably windows) which are used by the streaming providers. The players (plugins) I have installed with ATV Flash where QT, Flip4Mac, Flash, VLC an mplayer.

Does anyone has solved this issue?
Regards, Axel

EDIT: I have posted this issue some days ago at the aTV Flash forum (http://forum.atvflash.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1901)

EDIT 10/14: I just tried (to figure out witch player does not work) to watch videos on youtube using aTV's Couch Surfer. These videos also cannot be played. Thank's to Apple they have a Youtube feature integrated in their AppleTV - maybe THEY should also make their box Internet (streaming) ready...
 
Support from aTV

TuckBodi said:
For $50 they don't include customer support?! :eek:
Click to expand...

Thanks Bodi - I now used the support form on their page :cool:

aTVFlash also answered to my post in their forum:
Adobe Flash may not have been properly enabled. There is a guide for doing this here: http://wiki.atvflash.com/index.php?title=Enable_Flash
The guide refers to OSX Tiger and a file I should own (CoreAudioKit.framework). I am running OSX10.6.1... I keep you up on the Tech Support reply.
 
TuckBodi said:
That's kinda a slap in the face to all the plug-in dev's who make up a majority of what these patchsticks do, on top of the guy who created the Bootloader, which all these patchsticks have to use to work in the first place (who also happens to have created the best and FREE patchstick out there, ATVUSB-Creator)).

I've said this a thousand times, it amazes me that there's something out there which is the best patchstick available, AND is blessed by all the ATV plugin dev's, AND is from the creator of the Bootloader all patchsticks use, AND is from one of the main dev's working on the incredible XBMC (of which Boxee and Plex are forks) AND is FREE.

If there's something ATVFlash and Patchstick.ca can do that ATVUSB-Creator can't do, please let me know.
Click to expand...


I'll bump this thread now, since I'm also about to decide how to proceed in this matter.

I'd really love to save those $50 by installing everything my self, and I do believe I'm capable of it.. So, what I'm really curious about is if atvflash offers more software than ATVUSB-Creator does?


On atvflash's website they list the following:

Supported Media Formats:
- .avi, .divx, .eyetv, flv, .m4v, .mkv, .mp4, .mov, .mpeg, .mpg, .ogg, .ogm, .rm, .rmvb, .wmv, .xvid
- Up to 5 Mbps, maximum resolution 1280x720 @ 24fps, 960x540 @ 30fps
- DVD files: VIDEO_TS/VOB and ISO
- Audio support for: AAC, AC3, DTS, FLAC, MPEG3, MPEG4, VBR MP3, and WMA
- Subtitle support for SSA and SRT

Included Software:
- FTP/SFTP/SSH Access - Transfer files to and from your AppleTV
- NitoTV - Play DVD files, enable USB storage and much more
- Couch Surfer Pro - Powerful Safari based web browser
- Sapphire - Play and organize media using IMDB database
- ATVFiles - Browse and play stored media
- Overflow - Combine multiple menu items into a single menu
- AirControl beta - Use the Loop™ Pointer from Hillcrest Labs on AppleTV
- XBMC - A fully customizable media center software
- Boxee beta - Watch and share media with your friends
- Maintenance - Manage installed plugins, and install additional features
- All Available Video Codecs (Perian, A52, Mplayer + more)


On http://code.google.com/p/atvusb-creator/ they simply tell you this.

This version is comes with ssh, bin tools, and two plugins (XBMC/Boxee Installer/Launcher and SoftwareMenu). That's right, two full blown OSX applications with their own AppleTV plugin to launch AND get updates

Therefore I'm curious about if there's anything in that "software list" that's also in the atvusb-creator install through the XBMC/Boxee software, even though it doesn't say so.. Eg. the possibility to unlock the usb drive for hdd's etc..

Or do I have to install each and every one of them if I chose to save my $50 not go for the atvflash option..



Hopefully someone had enogh time to read through my thread.. sorry bout the lenght of it..

Andreas
 
Well, I supose I wont cost me anything but time to give the atvusb-creator a try before spending a $50 on atvflash.

And I guess all those Supported Media Formats I pasted above, from flash atv's list, come with XBMC & Boxee right?

Or will I have to install codecs for that separately too?
 
Right now I have a 2TB external attached to my iMac that contains just my iTunes library. Is it a good idea to have a second 2TB drive attached to my Apple TV downstairs acting as the "primary storage" using ATV Flash option as it's backup?

If I lost my data can I access that second drive's files if it's connected to a computer or is that not possible? If so that save me from backing up the conventional way and I can copy what's downstairs if something ever happened.
 
Easier surely to use the second drive to back up the iTunes library on your computer (and therefore have 3 copies).
If the worst comes to the worst with your current setup, you can mount the external ATV drive on a Mac and reimport everything.
 
Regarding my first post in this thread I could simply tell you that, yes, it is indeed quite possible to manage this setup by yourself.

But it IS time consuming and I've found it quite frustrating sometimes, as you need to do factory reset every now and then.
Mostly when somethings gone wrong and you dont know how to get control of the situation again.

I've spent the entire day with this and probably done 3 factory resets already before I finally (and hopefully) got it right.
Although I still got a couple small compatibility issues, causing me to NOT being able to install a certain plugin.
:confused:

I AM still trying though, but right now I'm mostly interested in how you "others" make your day with the hacked ATV.

Since I dont use iTunes on my mac, and instead store all my media contents on an Debian server that's sharing through
both AFP & SMB, I'm now interested in the BEST way of sharing movies & music to the ATV.

Or, maybe I should rather say the best way of making them available through the ATV, does one really need to use Boxee or XBMC to organize it neatly, or could I use the default "menu options" such as "Movies" & "Music" to sort my media content and watch it?

Need to make everything as easy as possible for my wife to be able to use it.
Otherwise she will never stop accusing me for spending my/our money on some new tech she cant even use...
:(
 
hardkoreprawn said:
Easier surely to use the second drive to back up the iTunes library on your computer (and therefore have 3 copies).
If the worst comes to the worst with your current setup, you can mount the external ATV drive on a Mac and reimport everything.
Click to expand...

Adding a third 2TB drive to the mix it begins to get expensive. Rather use that cash on getting more storage on my iPad. If it's possible to still mount it then that sounds good to me.

Just wondered if anyone else does this. I know there's a chance that you turn on your Mac that drive is dead and then you turn on the Apple TV and it says please restore.

I've got 4 old 500GB drives full of crap I could probably format. Music on one, TV shows on another then A-L and M-Z Movies divided.
 
I think it's worth it

Hello all!
I got my Apple TV in December and almost right away I got Patchstick.ca solution for 39.99
I previously tried with ATV USB creator. I learned a while ago to SSH and mess with the System entrails of the original iPhone, before it was so easy to Jailbreak it and stuff. I thought it would be easy but after a few fails and frustration that took over 3 hours I decided to just enjoy the new gadget and got Patchstick. I think it has been a good decision overall and payed itself already since I could recover 2 entire seasons of TopGear and Clone Wars that I purchased over the Apple TV but couldn't Sync back to iTunes because of a known bug that several people have experienced. In all forums I looked the appointed solution was SSHing into the Apple TV and recovering the files.

Now after a few months using it a deciding to delete my Music collection from the Apple TV to have space for movies, I think that ATVFlash is a better solution because:

- It includes NitoTV in the original install.
- It includes Couch Surfer Pro in the original install
- It EASYLY allows you to use an external HardDrive ALONG the internal hard drive. It also lets you switch between using an external Hard Drive as primary storage (where all your rents and purchases from iTunes get stored) or the internal hard drive as primary storage.

For me, THIS alone, makes it well worth the 10 extra dollars. The interface and install script seems more polished, more plug and play. There are no scripts, SSH, FTP or anything to start enjoying the solution.

Now, I HAVE NOT purchased ATVFlash just yet. I need to ask over at Patchstick if you can make that change that will allow me to use both, the internal HD and an external HD simultaneously on my Apple TV. As far as the Wiki page from Patchstick states, you can just run a script to make the external hard drive your primary storage.

I hope this helps those willing to pay for the solution decide which one works better for them.
 
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