Thinking of buying an Apple TV, few questions

[kolax]

I'm confused as to how this works - whether my movies and TV shows have to be within iTunes or if it scans my Movies folder for content?

Basically I use Front Row on my MBP - and I'm after the exact same compatibility with Apple TV. Anything that works on Front Row will work with Apple TV I assume?

 

[Mindflux]

I'm confused as to how this works - whether my movies and TV shows have to be within iTunes or if it scans my Movies folder for content?

Basically I use Front Row on my MBP - and I'm after the exact same compatibility with Apple TV. Anything that works on Front Row will work with Apple TV I assume?

You can sync or stream your music from your computer/Mac to your AppleTV. Either syncing (think like putting music on your iPod), or streaming (which requires your PC/Mac to be on).. but yes they have to be in the iTunes library for either to take place unless you 'hack' your AppleTV.

 

[kolax]

I've tried sticking things into iTunes before - like TV shows etc, but doesn't like them.

What is the hacking options? What does that enable me to do?

Cheers,

 

[nick.hobbie]

awkwardtv.org will tell you about the hacks and such.

 

[MikeL]

I've tried sticking things into iTunes before - like TV shows etc, but doesn't like them.

They have to be in the appropriate format. I encode everything in h.264 now. I use Handbrake to do my DVDs (just got a bunch of new ones from gifts!), and VisualHub to transcode anything else I want.

 

[Virgil-TB2]

I'm confused as to how this works - whether my movies and TV shows have to be within iTunes or if it scans my Movies folder for content?

Basically I use Front Row on my MBP - and I'm after the exact same compatibility with Apple TV. Anything that works on Front Row will work with Apple TV I assume?

Also, to avoid being killed at the cash register ...

Wait a week or two as it's rumoured there will be new AppleTV versions announced at MacWorld.