Can I watch internet TV on AppleTV?

[rawdawg]

I love my Apple TV v2. But certain programs aren't available even though, oddly, they are available on the iTunes web store for viewing online (TopChef for example). Why is that?

More importantly, although iTunes sells it for $1.99, it's available for FREE on bravo.com. Is there a way I could connect my AppleTV to the web to view it from there?

If not should I have just bought a MacMini instead and used that for my TV?

 

[fpnc]

The Apple TV doesn't support any type of web browsing, so you can't access web sites directly from the Apple TV alone. However, Apple just released a developer beta for iOS that has enabled AirPlay video for third-party apps and the Safari browser. Thus, if you have an iPhone/iPad/iPod touch you may soon be able to stream video from web sites to the Apple TV if those web sites allow it (it is apparently an op-in for developers, they -- the web site creator -- must enable the feature). Also, the video will have to be in H.264 and embedded using HTML5 so you can forget about streaming any content that is in Adobe's Flash format (same goes for Microsoft's SilverLight).

Also, any movie or TV show that you purchase on the PC/Mac (using iTunes) can also be streamed from that same PC/Mac to the Apple TV.

Beyond this, you already have Podcast and YouTube support, which actually covers a fair cross section of the content that is web based.

 

[Panch0]

I love my Apple TV v2. But certain programs aren't available even though, oddly, they are available on the iTunes web store for viewing online (TopChef for example). Why is that?

More importantly, although iTunes sells it for $1.99, it's available for FREE on bravo.com. Is there a way I could connect my AppleTV to the web to view it from there?

If not should I have just bought a MacMini instead and used that for my TV?

Apple hasn't been able to get rights for rentals from all content providers, so some shows are available for purchase through iTunes, but not for rental on AppleTV.

I think that at some point in the future, there will be more Content apps available for the AppleTV in addition to Netflix, and probably an AppStore that will bring more content to the device.

In the mean time, check out atvFlash from FireCore. It's currently in Beta, but they are working on JailBreaking the AppleTV 2 and opening up more features that might include web browsing. Personally, I think I'm going to wait for official support, but it's interesting to see that the platform can support more.

 

[rawdawg]

great info. Love the AppleTV but was starting to think I should have just gotten a MacMini. Hopefully something will come out to help us do this.

 

[BigDukeSix]

I am wanting to go the Mac Mini route for the reasons listed, however neither SBMC or PLEX is completely user friendly and has everything already included for all video sources.

 

[junker]

I recently returned my Apple TV for exactly this reason. I think that the apple tv is silly, isolated and functionally myopic, overtly consumer-centric crap. People waiting for more functionality are essentially waiting for a mini.

I disconnected cable, use my 10mbit internet to wirelessly stream and I now just hook up my macbook with mini dvi - hdmi input also use a a 1/8th inch cable out of headphones jack into the 1/8th input on the tv (Samsung Led Backlit 46")

Now I pretty much watch anything - perfectly.

I'll probably get a mac mini one day so don't have to constantly hook and unhook my old macbook.

I recently added bluetooth mouse and keyboard for "remote control" from my chair - perfectly seductive!

This is what I would recommend. Good luck!

 

[BigDukeSix]

I recently returned my Apple TV for exactly this reason. I think that the apple tv is silly, isolated and functionally myopic, overtly consumer-centric crap. People waiting for more functionality are essentially waiting for a mini.

I disconnected cable, use my 10mbit internet to wirelessly stream and I now just hook up my macbook with mini dvi - hdmi input also use a a 1/8th inch cable out of headphones jack into the 1/8th input on the tv (Samsung Led Backlit 46")

Now I pretty much watch anything - perfectly.

I'll probably get a mac mini one day so don't have to constantly hook and unhook my old macbook.

I recently added bluetooth mouse and keyboard for "remote control" from my chair - perfectly seductive!

This is what I would recommend. Good luck!

That is what I have been doing, and also want to get a used Mini for this purpose. What make/model of Bluetooth mouse and keyboard do you have?

 

[junker]

That is what I have been doing, and also want to get a used Mini for this purpose. What make/model of Bluetooth mouse and keyboard do you have?

Not sure about the keyboard (older apple version - maybe 3-4 yrs old - not chicklet keys) But the mouse is from my recent imac purchase (27 inch i3). So, I guess a magic mouse. I didn't use it with the imac, 'cause on my desktop I prefer a logitech USB Marble mouse.

Off topic: I also tried the magic pad (with my iMac) but found the ergonomics to be horrible for me. Maybe I would've gotten used to it eventually, but I found myself hovering too much thus adding strain to my wrist. WHereas my marble mouse fits inside my palm, and the center, forward roller ball is perfectly oriented to then use the birdie finger for manipulation. the magic pad might actually prove better for this mac/tv hook up since I am usually using the mouse on the armchair arm...scooting it around is tricky on a curved concave surface. Maybe I will re-purchase it and test. DOH!

 

[kas23]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2 like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C134 Safari/6533.18.5)

I would love to watch videos that are available on websites too, but most, if not all, are still Flash. I'll eventually breakdown n buy a Mini (tax return?), but I don't think I'll return my Apple TV. Sure, it's uses are severely restrained (actually, besides renting iTunes, it's pretty much useless), but it's a fun gadget. As someone else pointed out, it's fun to watch to see what jailbreakers will do with it or what Apple will eventually allow. And we may be able to watch Flash through it eventually with Skyfire (or jailbreaking).