ATV questions before purchasing

[rayward]

Also, I'm not sure if anyone's said this explicitly, but you can add files to your iTunes library without duplicating or moving the existing file. Uncheck 'Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library' (in 'Preferences' --> 'Advanced') and you can use the 'File' --> 'Add to library...' command to make a compatible file accessible via iTunes without having to copy it to iTunes' library.

You can just drag 'n' drop the file onto your iTunes movie list, and it'll add it to the list and create (if necessary) and iTunes-friendly version, without messing with the original.

When I first started ripping my DVD collection to my Mac, I nearly jammed my HDD because I didn't realise that there were two versions of each movie once I dragged the rip over to iTunes. Now I know to delete the original and empty the trash when I'm done.

 

[rayward]

For me, I have 3 Apple TVs in my home and I'm very satisfied with them. My desktop (see sig below) is on 24/7 with iTunes running in the background. It acts as the home iTunes/media server. All my media is in an iTunes-compatible format which gives me access to all the same media on our iPhones, iPods and Apple TVs. While it may not be the ideal in terms of high-fidelity, for most of my stuff its good enough and the compatibility with all my other devices (my wife, 3 kids and I have iPhones and the kids also have iPod nanos) is very, very convenient.

I have two Apple TVs, and the interface is a dream compared to using MediaLink on my PS3 (which is what I did before the ATV arrived). I do the same as you - put all my media into iTunes so that I can play it on the ATVs, iPhone, iPod etc. I rip movies using the iPhone preset in Handbrake, and find that this is a perfectly acceptable picture when played through an ATV on a big screen. It keeps the file size down but I do realise that I'm not getting the best out of it with such a low resolution rip.

I have iTunes set to open automatically, so it's always there for when I call on it through the ATVs.

 

[FortWorthMac]

You can just drag 'n' drop the file onto your iTunes movie list, and it'll add it to the list and create (if necessary) and iTunes-friendly version, without messing with the original.

Are you sure? I just tried dragging an AVI file into iTunes and it didn't work. Of course Handbrake will work though.

Thanks
David

 

[sircutbreaker]

avi's

The only way the ATV is going to play an avi is if it has been unlocked and perian has been installed on it.

 

[sircutbreaker]

Unlock

Hello all,

I'm thinking of purchasing an ATV to go with my new LCD. It's going to go on my TV in my (home) office so that I can watch video on my TV as opposed to having to watch it on my iMac.

My questions are, it does play movies on my computer correct? In other words, will in play movies and TV shows that I've downloaded and ripped myself that are not in iTunes? FrontRow does this just fine but I'd rather not put my entire library into iTunes. I envision that ATV works and looks similar to FrontRow.

Also, I understand that ATV can work wirelessly. With that being the case, I have a good wireless network and don't plan on streaming HD, why not save the money and go with the 40GB device? Or I'm I missing something?

Thanks
David

I have a library of ripped movies and TV series that I have downloaded... and the only way to do it is to have the ATV unlocked... otherwise... you are locked into using itunes.

For $50.00 you can get a program that will take you all of 15 minutes to unlock the atv and give you the freedom to have it play all of your content... streamed right from your downloads folder (since you have a good network)

 

[liamwillib]

Just read a blog post and got me thinking. I'm fairly new to Mac's so I don't know if this would work or not so please let me know.

I upgraded to Snow Leopard last night and today saw this blog post:

http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/31/mac-os-x-now-hdtv-ready-with-10-6/

My HD TV is only 5 feet from my iMac, so, would I be able to simply run a cable from my iMac to my HDMI port on the the HD then use the TV as a second monitor? I was able to do something similiar to my Windows box to my SD TV that I used to have but not sure it'll work the same way on a Mac. Advice? Comments?

Thanks

You can connect your mac to your TV in exactly the same way it sounds like you did with your windows box. I do the same using leopard and it works perfectly. I think the blog you read shows that snow leopard now has a special setting allowing it to take advantage and fill every mm/pixel of your hdtv screen. Using leopard means that I have a tiny unused border at the top and bottom of the screen, the setting in snow leopard is obviously just further optimised for hdtv.

Either way you have the option to "mirror" your display or "extend the desktop" (which is what it sounds like you want to do). The options to mirror or extend only appear in displays tab in preferences once you connect the tv. The only drawback (someone correct me if I am wrong) is that Front Row will only work if you mirror the display, you won't be able to have Front Row on the TV while being productive on your iMac screen. You will have to just drag the movie window across to the tv screen if you want it playing at the same time as being productive.

Sounds like just using a cable could be much cheaper option while you wait for apple to make the AppleTV what most of us dream for it to become. Or until you need to move your mac and tv further apart.

 

[FortWorthMac]

You can connect your mac to your TV in exactly the same way it sounds like you did with your windows box. I do the same using leopard and it works perfectly. I think the blog you read shows that snow leopard now has a special setting allowing it to take advantage and fill every mm/pixel of your hdtv screen. Using leopard means that I have a tiny unused border at the top and bottom of the screen, the setting in snow leopard is obviously just further optimised for hdtv.

Either way you have the option to "mirror" your display or "extend the desktop" (which is what it sounds like you want to do). The options to mirror or extend only appear in displays tab in preferences once you connect the tv. The only drawback (someone correct me if I am wrong) is that Front Row will only work if you mirror the display, you won't be able to have Front Row on the TV while being productive on your iMac screen. You will have to just drag the movie window across to the tv screen if you want it playing at the same time as being productive.

Sounds like just using a cable could be much cheaper option while you wait for apple to make the AppleTV what most of us dream for it to become. Or until you need to move your mac and tv further apart.

Went ahead and ordered the cable to see how it works. I figure it's a little cheaper then an ATV.

Thanks all for the assistance.

David

 

[xraydoc]

I have two Apple TVs, and the interface is a dream compared to using MediaLink on my PS3 (which is what I did before the ATV arrived). I do the same as you - put all my media into iTunes so that I can play it on the ATVs, iPhone, iPod etc. I rip movies using the iPhone preset in Handbrake, and find that this is a perfectly acceptable picture when played through an ATV on a big screen. It keeps the file size down but I do realise that I'm not getting the best out of it with such a low resolution rip.

I have iTunes set to open automatically, so it's always there for when I call on it through the ATVs.

Try the Apple Universal preset in Handbrake. The file size is larger, about 1.5GB per average DVD, but its basically what is used by Apple for the movies you buy or rent on iTunes. Very good picture quality and it'll pass through 5.1 surround via HDMI or optical.

 

[Dapness]

I have two Apple TVs, and the interface is a dream compared to using MediaLink on my PS3 (which is what I did before the ATV arrived). I do the same as you - put all my media into iTunes so that I can play it on the ATVs, iPhone, iPod etc. I rip movies using the iPhone preset in Handbrake, and find that this is a perfectly acceptable picture when played through an ATV on a big screen. It keeps the file size down but I do realise that I'm not getting the best out of it with such a low resolution rip.

I have iTunes set to open automatically, so it's always there for when I call on it through the ATVs.

When you say you have it set to open automatically, are you running Snow Leopard and using the wake on demand fuction?? I asked in another forum if you could put your Mac to sleep while not using it but when the TV needs to access it, it awakes. I'm trying to save some power over here since I'm running a Mac Pro with 4 internal drives.