Would Apple TV suit my set-up...

[C8XY]

I have a TB drive with lots of media on, connected to a Time Capsule (via USB) which I can access from both my Macs.

Question is, if I get an ATV, can I plug my TB drive in to it to watch on the TV and still access it as I do at the moment from my Macs?
That would leave the ATV disk for iTunes downloads etc?

I really have no idea how the ATV works, is it basically a hard disk with built in iTunes? Does it require sync'ing with my iMac itunes as a slave device?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Proposed set up:
[router]--bridged--[Time Capsule]--ethernet--[ATV]--usb--[TB drive]
Both macs to access devices through TC (ethernet and wireless)

 

[tom1971]

I really have no idea how the ATV works, is it basically a hard disk with built in iTunes?

I suggest this

 

[musicman0725]

I have a TB drive with lots of media on, connected to a Time Capsule (via USB) which I can access from both my Macs.

Question is, if I get an ATV, can I plug my TB drive in to it to watch on the TV and still access it as I do at the moment from my Macs?
That would leave the ATV disk for iTunes downloads etc?

I really have no idea how the ATV works, is it basically a hard disk with built in iTunes? Does it require sync'ing with my iMac itunes as a slave device?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Proposed set up:
[router]--bridged--[Time Capsule]--ethernet--[ATV]--usb--[TB drive]
Both macs to access devices through TC (ethernet and wireless)

Basically the Apple TV works by pairing with your iTunes library on your Macs. You can choose either to sync a library or stream it. If you choose sync, you can also have it stream whatever isn't synced. With one machine you will want to choose sync and select custom sync to limit the content that gets stored on the Apple TVs internal hard drive.

You can not hook up your external drive to the Apple TV directly. With that said, you would want to hook up your 1TB External drive so that at least one of your Macs iTunes library's always has access to it. This would give the Apple TV access to the content on that drive. Regardless of the content you choose to sync, you'll have access to the rest of the content on the drive because the Mac that's set up to sync allows everything else in its library that's not synced to be streamed.

The Apple TV will also allow you to see your iPhoto collection from your Macs on your TV (and this feature looks stunning). It will give you access to the entire iTunes store and more. There are many more movies available for rent in HD on the Apple TV that aren't available on your Mac. Once you rent a movie, (even in HD), you can start watching it pretty much instantly. Finally, you can get content from YouTube, Flickr, MobileMe, etc...and if you have an iPhone you can use it to control the AppleTV instead of the remote that it comes with.

People talk a lot of crap about the Apple TV and its limitations (no hulu, netflix streaming, 1080p etc.), but its definitely one of the coolest Apple devices I own. I've never once had someone come over, see it, and not be impressed with it.

I also have an Xbox 360 that I've used as a media center, but the quality of netflix streaming is underwhelming (the selection sucks and most content isn't HD...what is doesn't look very good). Microsoft's video store is very limited and takes much longer to download content.

Overall, I would say Apple TV is the best option for sharing your media content with your living room and is the only real solution for anyone with content purchased off iTunes.

 

[C8XY]

I suggest this

Thanks, had no idea apple had there own website and everything!

Basically the Apple TV works by pairing with your iTunes library on your Macs. You can choose either to sync a library or stream it. If you choose sync, you can also have it stream whatever isn't synced. With one machine you will want to choose sync and select custom sync to limit the content that gets stored on the Apple TVs internal hard drive.

You can not hook up your external drive to the Apple TV directly. With that said, you would want to hook up your 1TB External drive so that at least one of your Macs iTunes library's always has access to it. This would give the Apple TV access to the content on that drive. Regardless of the content you choose to sync, you'll have access to the rest of the content on the drive because the Mac that's set up to sync allows everything else in its library that's not synced to be streamed.

The Apple TV will also allow you to see your iPhoto collection from your Macs on your TV (and this feature looks stunning). It will give you access to the entire iTunes store and more. There are many more movies available for rent in HD on the Apple TV that aren't available on your Mac. Once you rent a movie, (even in HD), you can start watching it pretty much instantly. Finally, you can get content from YouTube, Flickr, MobileMe, etc...and if you have an iPhone you can use it to control the AppleTV instead of the remote that it comes with.

People talk a lot of crap about the Apple TV and its limitations (no hulu, netflix streaming, 1080p etc.), but its definitely one of the coolest Apple devices I own. I've never once had someone come over, see it, and not be impressed with it.

I also have an Xbox 360 that I've used as a media center, but the quality of netflix streaming is underwhelming (the selection sucks and most content isn't HD...what is doesn't look very good). Microsoft's video store is very limited and takes much longer to download content.

Overall, I would say Apple TV is the best option for sharing your media content with your living room and is the only real solution for anyone with content purchased off iTunes.

Thanks, I couldn't find much info about using the USB on the back for external drives, for some reason apple limits its use, but a hack is available.
I've tried the 360 as a media center but it just doesn't do it for me.
Currently I access the drive through front row, what would I need to do to access it through iTunes? (in order for it to show on ATV)

 

[musicman0725]

Thanks, had no idea apple had there own website and everything!



Thanks, I couldn't find much info about using the USB on the back for external drives, for some reason apple limits its use, but a hack is available.
I've tried the 360 as a media center but it just doesn't do it for me.
Currently I access the drive through front row, what would I need to do to access it through iTunes? (in order for it to show on ATV)

As long as the content on the external drive is added to your itunes library, the Apple TV will have access to it (for both streaming and syncing). I keep all my content on an extra internal drive in my Mac Pro, but its the same concept with an external drive. As long as the drive is connected and the content is in added to the library, the Apple TV will have access to it (Just make sure you have that option "copy to iTunes music folder" turned off when you add the content to your library, otherwise you'll have copies of it on your internal and external drive!)

 

[ntrigue]

If your iTunes can see the media iTunes can play the media (disclaimer: H264) the drive cannot be accessed through the USB as it's a useless hole.

What's the distance between your electronics? Ideally you'd have CAT6 to the computer and AppleTV.