Apple TV - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Calgary14 · 02-09-2014, 04:26 PM

Has anyone tried Apple TV before? We are looking at ways to reduce our cable bill and this is one of the options. Not sure how hard it is to set up, what the available content is like, if all shows are in HD etc. and it's been difficult to find unbiased reviews

JBR · 02-09-2014, 04:27 PM

I have 2. Check out iTunes. You'll see a list of available programs.

JonDuke · 02-09-2014, 04:29 PM

There's quite a few threads in the tech talk. Super easy to use and set up. Very worth it, especially if you can find a second generation model.

Mean Mr. Mustard · 02-09-2014, 04:32 PM

It is good - I use it mostly for netflix and streaming content from the computer. The NHL application is pretty decent but I find that it can get choppy in terms of how fast the game moves and the camera, nothing bad but slightly noticeable.

In terms of Apple content it is in HD but it can get to be pricey in my opinion depending on how many shows you watch.

Yeah_Baby · 02-09-2014, 04:35 PM

If you don't watch a plethora of shows, and just buy season passes for the few that you do watch, I think it's worth it. My main beef right now is the NHL Gamecentre App. Much like Centre Ice, it has regional blackouts. So because I live in Alberta, even if I subscribed, I could get the Flames games. So in that sense it's not a good replacement for cable.

Calgary14 · 02-10-2014, 08:06 PM

Thanks for the info above. Does anyone know anything about "jail breaking" one and if it's even allowed?

MickMcGeough · 02-11-2014, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgary14

Thanks for the info above. Does anyone know anything about "jail breaking" one and if it's even allowed?

Things got pretty unstable for me the last time I tried but that was quite awhile back.

I prefer the Roku 3 overall, but they're both a steal.

J Diddy · 02-11-2014, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgary14

Thanks for the info above. Does anyone know anything about "jail breaking" one and if it's even allowed?

It's your device...you can do whatever you want with it... It's not illegal to jailbreak.
You need a 2nd Gen model in order to jailbreak and they now go for around $250.
Jailbreak will get you xbmc and Plex.
I too found apple TV to be unstable after jailbreak. Lots of freezing and crashing apps.
If you are going to legally pay for the shows and movies you watch then apple TV is your best option. Otherwise roku and chrome cast are options.

Yellefan · 02-11-2014, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Diddy

It's your device...you can do whatever you want with it... It's not illegal to jailbreak.
You need a 2nd Gen model in order to jailbreak and they now go for around $250.
Jailbreak will get you xbmc and Plex.
I too found apple TV to be unstable after jailbreak. Lots of freezing and crashing apps.
If you are going to legally pay for the shows and movies you watch then apple TV is your best option. Otherwise roku and chrome cast are options.

Really? $250? Looks like I'm selling my AppleTV! Wow.

Sinny Darino · 02-11-2014, 10:12 AM

Forget Apple TV, get a Chromecast $40 in the US...

I can stream about a dozen apps at the moment from my phone to my TV. I have my PC set up as a media server and have all my movies saved on that. I can also cast my "Google Chrome" internet tab from my PC to my TV.

You can pretty much find any show on TV on the web these days (global, cbc, ctv (ect)), and just cast em from your PC to your TV.

Then you do not have to deal with Apple and paying for stuff that you can get free if you do not go the apple way.

Calgary14 · 02-11-2014, 08:58 PM

What is the best option for watching live sports specifically NHL? I currently have NHL Center ice and love it

Erick Estrada · 02-12-2014, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sinny Darino

Then you do not have to deal with Apple and paying for stuff that you can get free if you do not go the apple way.

What do you mean when you say "stuff you can get for free"? Pirated? Apple only charges you for new release movies and TV series through iTunes.

Diemenz · 02-13-2014, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickMcGeough

Things got pretty unstable for me the last time I tried but that was quite awhile back.

I prefer the Roku 3 overall, but they're both a steal.

I agree with this post. I had 3 ATV's about a year ago and switched to the Roku 3, and haven't looked back.

ATV was decent but to get decent features it needed to be jailbroken. Then when jailbroken it liked to constantly crash in apps. Going without plex is just not an option for me so I needed the jailbreak. I think if more people realized what plex can do when properly setup most would be running plex.

Additionally the cross platform search on the Roku is hands down better then anything else out there. Click on search and it will check every single app (and personal media) you have installed for that media. No more looking on netflix then hulu then crackle for a movie, just search and it finds it and directs you to that app.

Russic · 02-14-2014, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diemenz

I agree with this post. I had 3 ATV's about a year ago and switched to the Roku 3, and haven't looked back.

ATV was decent but to get decent features it needed to be jailbroken. Then when jailbroken it liked to constantly crash in apps. Going without plex is just not an option for me so I needed the jailbreak. I think if more people realized what plex can do when properly setup most would be running plex.

Additionally the cross platform search on the Roku is hands down better then anything else out there. Click on search and it will check every single app (and personal media) you have installed for that media. No more looking on netflix then hulu then crackle for a movie, just search and it finds it and directs you to that app.

I agree. I held off on plex for years before just recently when I realized it can do streaming with a subscription plan. That's what I've wanted out of iCloud since it was announced. I'm engrained enough in the Apple ecosystem that it might be hard to switch out my Apple TV's, but I like having it set up on my Mac.

Calgary14 · 02-16-2014, 08:33 AM

With Apple TV does the content you want to watch depend on what you have in your iTunes account? We have a couple apple devices but none of them have much content on there because of the low storage space

J Diddy · 02-16-2014, 09:58 AM

No the content is streamed from Apple to your Apple TV.

I recommend you buy an apple TV and roku 3 from futureshop. Use them for 29 days and return the one you don't like on day 30.

Although there are rumors of an apple TV 4 being released in April if you want too wait.

Yellefan · 02-18-2014, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Diddy

It's your device...you can do whatever you want with it... It's not illegal to jailbreak.
You need a 2nd Gen model in order to jailbreak and they now go for around $250.
Jailbreak will get you xbmc and Plex.
I too found apple TV to be unstable after jailbreak. Lots of freezing and crashing apps.
If you are going to legally pay for the shows and movies you watch then apple TV is your best option. Otherwise roku and chrome cast are options.

Wow, I didn't actually believe you about it being worth around $250 but I posted it on Kijiji and had about 10 people contact me right away. Some guy just picked this up for full asking price.

DownhillGoat · 02-19-2014, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yellefan

Wow, I didn't actually believe you about it being worth around $250 but I posted it on Kijiji and had about 10 people contact me right away. Some guy just picked this up for full asking price.

Looks like mine's going up for sale!

bossy22 · 02-19-2014, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Looks like mine's going up for sale!

Same here. I have a 3 that I'll keep.

opendoor · 02-19-2014, 08:54 AM

I can't believe how many people are willing to pay hundreds of dollars for used 3-4 year old hardware. That really says a lot about how limited most of the set top box offerings are.