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Sell a PS3 owner on ATV2

Metsfan7450

Metsfan7450

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 2, 2008
249
0
I'm a devoted Apple fan (Macbook, iPad, iPhone, etc), but haven't found the need to get Apple TV since I owned a PS3. I wouldn't use Netflix and other movie rental apps, wouldn't need the MLB app, etc. I am interested in learning more about the Airvideo/Airplay features. I searched the forums and found the list of compatible Airplay apps, but haven't heard anything about actually mirroring your iPhone/iPad screen so we don't have to mess with all those wires. Any selling points for a PS3 owner would be much appreciated!
 
Metsfan7450 said:
I'm a devoted Apple fan (Macbook, iPad, iPhone, etc), but haven't found the need to get Apple TV since I owned a PS3. I wouldn't use Netflix and other movie rental apps, wouldn't need the MLB app, etc. I am interested in learning more about the Airvideo/Airplay features. I searched the forums and found the list of compatible Airplay apps, but haven't heard anything about actually mirroring your iPhone/iPad screen so we don't have to mess with all those wires. Any selling points for a PS3 owner would be much appreciated!
Click to expand...

Gonna be a tuff sell. I have both. In separate rooms mind you. I keep wanting to put an ATV2 in the same room as the PS3. The PS3 does almost everything the ATV2 does. Well except airplay. We stream to both devices- PS3 uses PS3 Media Server and ATV2 iTunes library and external HD loaded w/ kids shows. ATV2 (jailbroken) also offers lots more than Apple intended. XBMC is great to have with its various plug-ins that enable network TV show and movie streaming all in HD and all pretty current. My PS3 runs kinda hot (Original 60g "Fat" PS3) so my fans are always spinning up real loud which makes it a lil tough to watch a movie w/o blasting the volume. My PS3 is LOUD. I think I'm gonna add an ATV2 to the same room as PS3 before summer starts. As far as airplay I dont use it too much but it can come in handy--again w/ jailbroken devices you will get more usage out of them. Hope this helps.
 
I use both as well. I use the PS3 for Hulu and Netflix, and use the Apple TV for renting shows/movies and streaming music. With both, I have pretty much everything covered.
 
I have two of the old fat 60GB PS3s. The fan is too loud to really want to use it for music. Also, I wanted something to work directly with the Remote app so that I could select music with my iPad.

Airplay is the main reason I wanted an ATV2. I got one for Christmas for the living room and just bought another one (which is in my bedroom right now). It gives it a huge advantage for music over the PS3. As an example, I can send it any audio signal from my iPad, so I can play music from Rhapsody, XM, iHeart Radio, etc.. I listen to a lot of music, so this alone makes it a worthy addition to my household.

The airplay video is just now starting to have apps that work with it. However, this will only get better. EyeTv just added airplay to its app. This gives you the ability to hook up an ATV2 to any computer monitor and watch live TV or a movie that was recorded. There is also a browser that will allow you to save compatible files and stream them to your ATV2 ( I think the browser is called Stash, but I could be wrong).

Airvideo is also great for streaming most other formats, but it is currently only in stereo, so you have an advantage using Tversity with PS3 if you do not jailbreak.

I also like the Podcast section of the ATV2 that you rarely read about. It has tons of video and audio podcasts that you can watch.

Finally, the ATV2 works with my harmony remote for everything and the ATV2 is less than $100. Needless to say, I am a big fan. Although, I admit that if I did not own airplay iOS devices it would be less appealing.
 
LunarFalcon said:
I use both as well. I use the PS3 for Hulu and Netflix, and use the Apple TV for renting shows/movies and streaming music. With both, I have pretty much everything covered.
Click to expand...

wait is there a hulu app for the ps3. Is it free ? I would like that see the picture quality on the ps3.
 
I have a ps3 and apple tv in my room. The apple tv is simpler to use. If you purchase a lot from itunes then the apple tv is a great buy. Plus that airplay feature is a great tool. Looking up something on your iphone on youtube and then airplay it to your tv. :cool:

p.s. Netflix looks better on the apple tv also. IMO.

p.p.s I like the ps3 for bluerays, & gaming.
 
I have both a PS3 and an Apple TV. I use the Apple TV mostly for Netflix and for AirPlay and iTunes Home Sharing. I have a NAS where I store movies (DivX and home encoded rips) which gets served up via the PS3.

AirPlay/iTunes Home Sharing: Because I'm not into renting movies or TV shows from iTunes, so I buy the shows I'm interested in and watch via iTunes on my Mac. It's also cool to be able to flip around YouTube on my iPad and send it to the big screen for everyone to watch.

Netflix: I probably use the PS3 and the Apple TV equally for Netflix, and both have their pros and cons. However, I would say Apple TV is easier, especially for someone who's not used to tech (say, my mother). Sometimes Netflix will refuse to load on the PS3 because I need to go over to the far right on the XMB and click "Sign In" to PS3 network in order to accept some new agreement change or if the PS3 is trying to force me to perform a software update. None of that on the Apple TV.
 
notjustjay said:
I have both a PS3 and an Apple TV. I use the Apple TV mostly for Netflix and for AirPlay and iTunes Home Sharing. I have a NAS where I store movies (DivX and home encoded rips) which gets served up via the PS3.

.
Click to expand...

how do you do that. That's the add on to my setup that i would like to try. and what NAS do you use ?
 
gdeusthewhizkid said:
how do you do that. That's the add on to my setup that i would like to try. and what NAS do you use ?
Click to expand...

I have a D-Link DNS-323, which has built in sharing support for iTunes, DLNA, etc. I like it, but the drive seems a little slow when trying to dump files from my Mac to the NAS (probably a combination of the network speed, plus a relatively slow WD "Green" series hard drive).

With the D-Link you just dump your files (mp3's, movies, etc.) into a folder on the drive and configure it to share everything out of that folder (including all subfolders). The movies and mp3s and photos show up in my PS3, and the mp3s show up in iTunes sharing too which is pretty nice. And, finally, the mp3s show up in my SONOS music network, which is also pretty awesome (though not cheap).

The system would be perfect if (a) the PS3 could play the Apple DRM'ed video or (b) if the Apple TV could see the media from my NAS via DLNA. I guess I could hack something, but in the meantime, both devices coexist.
 
gdeusthewhizkid said:
wait is there a hulu app for the ps3. Is it free ? I would like that see the picture quality on the ps3.
Click to expand...

No, you need to use Hulu Plus, but the quality is rather good...my current screen is only a 720p, but its worth it for me for 8 dollars a month between iPhone, iPad, Mac and PS3.
 
johnnyturbouk said:
i wish i could stream directly from my time capsule to my APTV2
this would really make me switch from my ps3 to aptv for streaming movies
Click to expand...

you can if you jailbreak your apple tv and have the movies in the right format. Or almost any format now i think. you could use XBMC or the new media player in Firecores atv flash black. have fun.


firecore.com
 
I own both a PS3 and ATV2 setup in the same room. Ever since I got the ATV2 I only use the PS3 for the occasional PS3 game or Blu Ray disc. The ATV2 is better for Netflix streaming and basically any other type of streaming.

One problem with using the PS3 for Netflix is that it is too loud and too power hungry to keep powered on all day. So when you want to watch Netflix you have to wait a while for it to power on, sign in, and the when it accesses Netflix there is quite a long wait before you can actually browse the content. The ATV2 on the other hand is "instant on" just like other iOS devices. Furthermore, when you click on Netflix it jumps to the content almost immediately. There isn't really a Netflix loading screen like you get with other devices. Quality is similar if not slightly better on the ATV2. The ATV2 is significantly better at catching onto the highest quality HD feed better and holding onto it throughout the stream. On the PS3, I notice it downgrading to a lower quality sometimes for short periods and it definitely takes longer to initially lock onto the HD stream.

Airplay is just awesome. I use it all the time with various apps including Vevo, Air Video, PBS, CNN, Youtube, EyeTV, iMovie, Photos, Safari, Photos and iPod apps, Pandora, and others. If you own an iOS device this is worth the $99 all by itself. Gives you more value out of the stuff you already have.

The other features about Apple TV that I enjoy are the easy access to all your movies, tv shows, music, iTunes U, and podcasts. All your content in iTunes is available on your tv and with Airplay, Home Sharing, and the free Apple Remote app you can access it all on your iOS device and even switch it back and forth between your mobile screen and any of the ATV connected TVs in the house at will with just the tap of a button. And no matter where you rent or buy iTunes content (iOS device, ATV2 itself, Mac, or PC) you can always watch it on your big screen TV with the ATV2. And of course you can rip your DVDs and Blu Rays and play them on the ATV2 too using iTunes Home Sharing. Handbrake is your friend. ;-)

Also, actually playing the content on the ATV2 just plain works far better than the DLNA solutions you have to use with the PS3 and I have tried them all. The stability, rewinding, fast forwarding, metadata support, playback controls, and user interface are all simply superior on the ATV2 compared to using DLNA on the PS3.

But like I said earlier, the PS3 is still awesome for full console games and playing Blu Rays from Netflix. Together they make a great combination. Each device does excellent what the other does not do well or is not capable of.
 
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I have both, and they both do a similar excellent. If I lived on my own I would just use the PS3, but because I have a wife and two young children, the ease of the ATV interface wins. I just open iTunes before I leave for work, and they can please themselves.
 
Sold! This is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks so much for all the GREAT input.
 
Wanted to chime in with my thanks as well, some good advice in this thread. :)
Bought an AppleTV today, despite already owning (and loving) my PS3. Each device will meet different needs. ATV provides slicker access to my iTunes media and playlists, so that was enough to justify it for me, plus AirPlay is really cool!

Personally I find the Netflix quality better on the ps3, but the interface is a little nicer on ATV, and still very watchable. Not having to sign into PSN everytime is a plus.

With the winters we have up here, ya can't have too many media options.

Cheers!
 
I use my PS3 for Blu-ray and games.
I use My Apple TV2 for renting movies, very rarely. But mostly I use it for AirPlay/ iTunes Home Sharing and Netflix.... I prefer the Netflix menu system on the Apple TV.
 
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