Got AppleTV, does atv flash change interface or lose anything?

[andyloc]

I recently got an AppleTV, it's syncing with iTunes and streaming movies and music etc, and playing of it's HDD ok.

However (I knew this when I bought this), it only plays files in H264 format. I have bought quite a few movies off iTunes already an obviously play fine, but I have lots of stuff in DivX, Xvid etc.

I have started converting stuff using Handbrake and Apple Universal preset fine but takes ages for everything.

Now I've heard of ATV flash (and free ones to) that allow you to play DivX,Xvid, enable USB HDD to be connected.

But my question is my wife and kids are starting to use it and the interface is nice and simple to use. Does ATV flash change anything interface wise, do you play movies in the same way via My Movies or Shared Movies. Does it keep the whole look of the original AppleTV v3 interface?

Does it remove any features? I read somewhere about if ATV flash is installed then it removes some Hardware HD encoding/engine or something.

So my dilema is keep stock AppleTV and reconvert everything to H264, or get ATV flash and have to reconvert everything.

Also I read that it doesn't void warranty, as I just bought it, do you just do a factory reset and then it's as bought off shelf? Can Apple not detect it's ever had ATV flash on?

Cheers

 

[nnsa]

ATV & ATV Flash

ATV Flash does not change your interface. It will extend the existing ATV interface. You'll only get some extra menu's. NitoTV will sattisfy you.

So buy ATV flash and used it. I'm a satisfied user of ATV Flash. Take some time for the configuration of the settings and enjoy it !

 

[jzuena]

The interface will look the same, but will have extra menu categories, each with multiple menu items. Nothing is removed.

Performing a factory reset will erase the patchstick files from the drive and return the menus to stock. Performing an upgrade from 2.x to 3.0 will also erase the patchstick files, so determine if you will run 2.x or 3.x and get to the correct software rev before running a patchstick.

I can't vouch for the ATV Flash, but the free methods for creating a patchstick work fine for both 2.x and 3.x.

 

[tom1971]

AppleTV patching

Here's a free tool that you can use to patch your AppleTV.
Besides all the functions of ATVFlash, patchstick.ca offers twitter, opnevpn, bittorrent integration and the possibility to integrate own scripts if required.

It is a good starting point from where you can either use the paid version or continue the patching yourself (for free).

 

[andyloc]

So how do I play my movies? At the moment I goto My Movies for ones on the HDD, and shared movies for streaming ones.

What I don't want to have to do is then goto NinoTV what you say to play avis's/DivX etc in another menu.

So do you have to play iTunes movies in normal movie menu, shared H264 in shared movies and avi's in another app? It has to be "wife friendly". I don't want to have to say....if it's this type do this etc. I also have iTunes bought movies.

Will it still sync with iTunes and stream as a normal AppleTV with aTV flash on? I've read a little on the free way, but think I would go the aTV flash paid way for ease of use

cheers

 

[jzuena]

So how do I play my movies? At the moment I goto My Movies for ones on the HDD, and shared movies for streaming ones.

What I don't want to have to do is then goto NinoTV what you say to play avis's/DivX etc in another menu.

So do you have to play iTunes movies in normal movie menu, shared H264 in shared movies and avi's in another app? It has to be "wife friendly". I don't want to have to say....if it's this type do this etc. I also have iTunes bought movies.

Will it still sync with iTunes and stream as a normal AppleTV with aTV flash on? I've read a little on the free way, but think I would go the aTV flash paid way for ease of use

cheers

Are all of your DivX movies in your iTunes library? Because that is all that you will see under My Movies. I haven't tried putting non-m4v files into my iTunes library, so I don't know if it will work. Unfortunately, I do use another app to play avi movies (I use Sapphire, but there are several options). You could get creative and try adding NitoTV/Sapphire/XBMC/whatever into the Movies drop-down menu instead of having its own menu and rename it something like "Additional Movies" so it almost looks like it is part of the original Movies menu. Moving menu items around is definitely not beginner-level, though.

The AppleTV will still sync and work as normal, only with additional functionality.

 

[MrMister111]

No they are not in the iTunes library as it says when trying to add, this movie cannot play in iTunes or something similar.

Ah so it has to be another app on the menu for the DivX movies? what about the apple movies? ie can I see all the movies I want DivX, H264, Apple bought ones, in one place off the menu?

I bought the Apple TV for my TV upstairs, and went AppleTV route for the interface and ease of use for my wife and kids.

What I dont want to do is turn it into something that becomes more complicated to use, ie if its a H264 Apple bought movie, play it from this app/menu, if its another type in this app/menu, if its a streamed Apple converted movie, in shared etc.