I got Apple TV » Forum Post by Draginol

the_Monk

Join Date 01/2008

+222

I have an original Apple TV (and thanks to the limitations of the new device I'll be keeping my old one forever.....hehe).

Anyway, I love the device. Renting/buying movies and tv shows is super easy and eventhough mine has a 160GB HD installed in it, I only use the build-in HD to store my pictures and music, TV shows and Movies I stream from one of two iMac computers also on the local network.

I also run an eyeTV 250 plus device in tandem with a turbo.264 HD on one iMac and an eyeTV HD device also in tandem with another turbo.264 HD on the second iMac.

The reason for my above setup?

- eyeTV 250 plus captures video from my cable connection (analog and un-encrypted digital) and the turbo.264 HD converts it to iTunes format for streaming to my Apple TV or to my iPad.

- eyeTV HD captures video from my satellite connection and the turbo.264 on the second iMac does the same as above.

essentially, all of my digital video content can now be in the H264 format (takes about 12 minutes to convert 1 hour of MPEG2).

I can set recording from either iMac or remotely via the iPad app, and when I come home sit down in the living-room where the only component now connected to the tv (the Apple TV) allows me to browse all recorded media on either of the iMacs. It took some time to research/gather all of the required parts for my scenario but my wife absolutely LOVES the new component/clutter-free aspect of our living room (ie. no more DVD, VCR, AMP, Satellite receiver, cable-box, etc. etc. etc.) just one simple lilttle box from Apple.

The other plus to this setup is, via 3G using the iPad eyeTV app we can watch live TV from anywhere. (cottage anyone? hehe)....... I watched some of the 2010 world cup soccer while sitting on the dock with a cold beer.......thanks apple!

the Monk

EDIT: the eyeTV devices I listed above can be purchased either from the apple store or from the following website:http://www.elgato.com/

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DrJBHL

Join Date 04/2002

+4233

the_Monk... sounds really hard 'core' Apple ( ).

Puns aside, I haven't seen much about Apple TV....any data about availability?

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Philly0381

Join Date 11/2004

+844

Being a PC individual, just what does Apple TV provide that I don't all ready get from my Dish Network Satellite hookup?

I'm running a Home Theater System with Satellite hook up with a PC connected and I have a subscription to MLB TV.com. Considering the other sites that are available to get movies and other entertainment I'm not sure I would need this even if there were a PC equivalent.

More information about what Apple TV is meant to provide would be nice. Yeah I know I can go online and find the info.

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I've got the original model and like it a lot. I bought a second of that original model knowing that the new models were on the way. The second was bought for my daughter to use.

I use mine (and expect my daughter will use hers) to hold music videos, occassionally watch purchased movies and TV shows and such. Every now and then I watch some video podcasts as well. It works just fine for what I want to use it for.

The only real disappointment I have about the new model vs. the old model is that the old models can't rent TV shows (yet they could be used to rent movies?!?!) I'd rather buy the content I want any way, but I don't buy that much (other than music videos) anyway so it's not that big a deal for me.

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No, but I do have two mini's connected to two different 47" 1080p t.v.'s. Does that count?

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the_Monk

Join Date 01/2008

+222

I have many more PCs than Macs in my home and I am still much more PC-focused simply due to my business needs. However, I feel that Macs serve my family's entertainment needs much better than an equivalent PC solution

One of the Apple TV's purposes (for me) is to be the hub for all pictures and music we need to view/use. I found it an unecessary step to sync tv shows and/or movies since we watch and delete many recorded programs and having to constantly sync those changes was irritating (now we stream recorded shows to the Apple TV and have eliminated that syncing step).

Since the Apple TV is added to our iTunes account, it is frighteningly easy to rent/buy a movie or tv show (or an entire season etc.). I can't remember the last time I got into the car and drove to the local video store to rent something.

The elgato products I mentioned above were added as they facilitate the recording of and if needed the conversion of anything coming into the home via cable or satellite. Are there different ways of achieving this? Sure, but this method was used to yield the best quality (for investment) and least amount of downtime (time spent converting formats) as well as to be aesthetically pleasing.

I guess for me the point was to get the best media quality with the least amount of cables and fuss while keeping storage formats to a manageable size. The eyeTV products produce incredible recorded quality (from cable/satellite/VCR/camera/whatever you've got inputs), the Apple TV provides ease of renting/purchasing and is the most aesthetically pleasing little media center package and the H264 format is immensly storage-friendly.

I can only see that as win win win!

the Monk

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pacov

Join Date 02/2008

+183

I've been primarily a Tivo guy and have been enjoying downloading videos from amazon/netflix, etc for some time. I queue up what I want to watch from work and it will be downloaded and ready when i get home.

I'm curious, outside of integration with the itunes store, what would make this a better choice over a Tivo HD setup. Does apple TV have access to amazon video and blockbuster video?

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Island Dog

Join Date 06/2003

+1048

I have the "original" AppleTV and have been very happy with it. I will grab one once I make some room in the budget.

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next im guessing a Apple house shame it'll have no windows... just had to say that... is there anywhere apple doesn't want to sell though they do want to control the way you text... seems they are more far right of late.

though not everything is good or bad.

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Snowman

Join Date 03/2001

+343

Got a banana phone too?

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DrJBHL

Join Date 04/2002

+4233

SNOWY!!!! Great to see you! Where you been?

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gmc2

Join Date 11/2003

+296

We watch about 2 hours of TV a day.

we get unlimited netflix discs (2 at a time) per month and netflix streaming hooked through the Wii. they're expanding and am looking forward to having some more choices to choose from.

we have dish with a replay dvr attached. we paid the $250 lifetime when it first came out and that was a really good deal.

also have a 42" sony wega tv and sony home entertainment system.

apple tv?, gosh don't really think so. if one doesn't have any apple products, wouldn't this pretty expensive?

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Frogboy

Join Date 03/2001

+2416

What's nice about Apple TV is the ease of accessing all your "stuff". If it's in MPEG 4 format, it can view it.

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Philly0381

Join Date 11/2004

+844

I did some reading up on the Apple TV and Google TV and even TVs that are Internet ready. Did the normal 'scratch my head' thing and decided since my computer is hooked up with my TV and Home Theater that this would be just an unnecessary item. Am I wrong with thinking that?

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I got a WD TV Live, I like it although my remote has been giving trouble lately, but i like being able to tell my PC in the room to send movies from it's drive to the WD TV Live to play on the TV and still do other things on my PC such as play games and such without any problems.

The Apple TV does look interesting, perhaps will consider one next year.

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