seamless streaming via drobo(share) + appletv?

[ggrabner]

hi,

i've been reading this and other forums for the past 2 days, but can't really get an answer to my question:

i like to stream my media files/itunes over the network to various clients (laptop PC + mac) and my appleTV. key is, that i don't want another computer(mac mini, etc) in between.

i was thinking to get the drobo + droboshare and connect via firefly to my appletv.
drobo -> (droboshare ->) appletv

anybody got insights whether this works without problems?
media management via firefly?
connecting issues with drobo(share) to appletv?
streaming quality?

thankful for any help,
g

 

[grozier]

I do not have a Drobo, but I'm pretty sure that your only option would be to stream music using Firefly. It would show up on the ApplyTV as a shared library. However Firefly does not stream video content, unless there has been some new development that I am unaware of.

In order to stream movies & TV shows, the AppleTV needs to connect to iTunes. If you don't want to run iTunes on your computer all the time, then you would need a NAS or media server capable or running iTunes. This is one of the reasons I went with the HP MediaSmart server. It runs Windows Home Server, so you can install iTunes on it.

 

[ggrabner]

but isn't that done with firefly itself? ... since it is an itunes compatible media server, the appletv should recognize the drobo as a NAS running itunes ... at least i hope it does.

the HP MediaSmart server is my second choice, due to the "complex" RAID setup. but probably the most comfortable out of the box media center ou there.

 

[grozier]

Firefly is fine for music only. You'll need another option if you want to stream video. Also, for what it's worth, Firefly shows up as a shared library, not the synced one.

 

[ggrabner]

Firefly is fine for music only. You'll need another option if you want to stream video.

ah, thanks ... i thought they fixed that in the meantime!
ok, this cancels out drobo for me ....

are you happy with your HP MediaSmart server? noise level ok if online 24/7?

 

[Chris Rogers]

Hack and connect drobo via USB and you're good to go!

Or install Boxee and connect Drobo to an airport extreme base station via USB for wireless streaming over your network. (assuming you have wifi)

 

[ggrabner]

Hack and connect drobo via USB and you're good to go!

thx for the hint ... i assume you've experience in that and it works
any details on which hack and how-tos?

i guess you then won't need the droboshare but connect drobo via USB to appletv ... then connect the apple TV to WIFI router for streaming?

 

[JonHimself]

thx for the hint ... i assume you've experience in that and it works
any details on which hack and how-tos?

i guess you then won't need the droboshare but connect drobo via USB to appletv ... then connect the apple TV to WIFI router for streaming?

Kind of, I think you've got it a bit mixed up. Assuming you hack your Apple TV you could do two things:

1) Connect your Drobo to your router via USB and it will act as a shared drive on the network. Use Boxee or XBMC (and I think ATVFiles or something like that) and then you can access the Drobo over the network

2) Use ATVFiles (again, I've never used anything other than Boxee so I'm not sure, but whatever program that allows you to access the USB port on the Apple TV) then connect the Drobo directly to the Apple TV and access the files without having to use the network.

I'm not sure if that's entirely how it works. I use the first option but instead of a Drobo I have a DNS-323 connected to my router over ethernet.

 

[Chris Rogers]

Kind of, I think you've got it a bit mixed up. Assuming you hack your Apple TV you could do two things:

1) Connect your Drobo to your router via USB and it will act as a shared drive on the network. Use Boxee or XBMC (and I think ATVFiles or something like that) and then you can access the Drobo over the network

2) Use ATVFiles (again, I've never used anything other than Boxee so I'm not sure, but whatever program that allows you to access the USB port on the Apple TV) then connect the Drobo directly to the Apple TV and access the files without having to use the network.

I'm not sure if that's entirely how it works. I use the first option but instead of a Drobo I have a DNS-323 connected to my router over ethernet.

Option 1 is how I had it set up (w/ a 1TB external HD). I didn't really like streaming wirelssly due to an occasional stutter/freeze while watching a movie. I have since gotten a mini and drobo. I now use the 1TB HD for time machine.


I've also read that the Drobo Share is insanely slow! (you'll go insane waiting). Does anyone have any experience with it?

 

[ascender]

What I've not understood about running iTunes as a server is, how do you go about synching your iPods/iPhones as you can't do that to a shared library the last time I checked?

 

[adbe]

What I've not understood about running iTunes as a server is, how do you go about synching your iPods/iPhones as you can't do that to a shared library the last time I checked?

You don't. Which is why the current iTunes model is broken.

Apple still see iTunes as a single user, single system solution.

As soon as you have two or more computers in the house, trying to have all your media in one place yet have it all play nicely with iPhones and Touches gets to be a real nuisance.

Additionally, even true iTunes share clients such as Expresses or ATVs are a pain since they require you to have an always on box.

Couple that with the minor irritations like not being able to edit meta data for shared libraries, and the iTunes ecosystem falls a long way short of its potential.