Apple TV: Thoughts? - Page 3 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

FanIn80 · 08-31-2008, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antithesis

You guys are all mentioning ripping your DVDs using Apple TV as if it's a function of the hardware itself - is this process easy? I'd love to get rid of my shelf of DVDs (or at least downsize). Am I reading wrong? I've been eyeing an Apple TV for a while now ...

Have to do it on a PC/Mac and then import the videos into your iTunes on your PC (or Mac). Then you can either stream the movies from the computer, or sync them to the Apple TV hard drive.

Russic · 08-31-2008, 09:45 AM

That's an interesting idea that I for some reason hadn't thought of. How big would a ripped dvd in full quality be?

FanIn80 · 08-31-2008, 10:13 AM

Depending on quality settings, around 2.5GB

dennisdahl3 · 08-31-2008, 12:37 PM

I don't have an Apple TV.... yet.

From what I understand one has to use 3rd party software to rip a dvd into a format that can then be put into iTunes.

Then whatever is in iTunes can be played on a TV via Apple TV. I've read though that iTunes can play some formats that Apple TV can't.

FanIn80 · 08-31-2008, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dennisdahl3

I don't have an Apple TV.... yet.

From what I understand one has to use 3rd party software to rip a dvd into a format that can then be put into iTunes.

Then whatever is in iTunes can be played on a TV via Apple TV. I've read though that iTunes can play some formats that Apple TV can't.

Th object of the game is to rip your DVDs into the Apple TV native format.

Google Handbrake. (though you'll also need something like DVD Decrypter (or the newest Mac the Ripper for Mac users) to rip the DVD into an iso)

ps: nested parentheses rule

Russic · 10-10-2008, 10:41 AM

Well thanks to the gentle persuasion of FanIn80 I'm the newest member of the apple tv family. The downside of having your birthday on Oct 9 is that every year you have to watch the Flames get absolutely incinerated, but the upside is that losses are much easier to take when you get a nerdy gift shortly afterwards.

I cannot get over how quick and easy everything was set up. Within 5 minutes of setting it up I was able to start watching tv shows from my computer, browsing photos in slideshow mode and watching youtube videos. Having my computer and Tv hooked up wirelessly is just golden now. Especially useful if you don't tape any show on a Thursday night because you're busy watching your team fall ass-backwards over their own ineptitude!

I was also shocked that it played avi files! I was working under the assumption that for some reason i had to convert all my videos before watching them. I guess the next step for me is grabbing that US Itunes account that Fan speaks so highly of. Don't get me wrong, I love the CBC as much as the next guy ... but ... I guess I just prefer good tv.

dennisdahl3 · 10-10-2008, 11:32 AM

I had gotten an Apple TV and yes, it is very easy to setup and runs beautifully.

Unfortunately it does not do the one and only thing I bought it for, that is to play music videos continuously.

It will play a movie to the end then, stops and to play another or repeat you have to tell it to.

I want my music videos to play during parties just like iTunes audio does.

So I took it back, got a refund and bought a really sweet maxed out iMac G4 “lampshade” model for less money. Gave that to my wife, took back my TiBook I was letting her use and I’ll set that up to play to the TV. All round a much better and cheaper solution. Plus I can play DVDs, surf and anything else cuz I am just using my TV as a Mac computer screen.

sclitheroe · 10-10-2008, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dennisdahl3

I had gotten an Apple TV and yes, it is very easy to setup and runs beautifully.

Unfortunately it does not do the one and only thing I bought it for, that is to play music videos continuously.

It will play a movie to the end then, stops and to play another or repeat you have to tell it to.

I want my music videos to play during parties just like iTunes audio does.

So I took it back, got a refund and bought a really sweet maxed out iMac G4 “lampshade” model for less money. Gave that to my wife, took back my TiBook I was letting her use and I’ll set that up to play to the TV. All round a much better and cheaper solution. Plus I can play DVDs, surf and anything else cuz I am just using my TV as a Mac computer screen.

That's unfortunate, that you returned it...the just released software update allows exactly what you want, creating a playlist of music videos or mixed music/videos

Russic · 10-10-2008, 01:25 PM

Does anybody use their iphone or itouch as a remote? I briefly looked at it last night but didn't see how it worked.

edit: Does that only work for playing music?

edit 2: I see it does apparently only work for music. Move along, nothing to see here.

sclitheroe · 10-10-2008, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russic

Does anybody use their iphone or itouch as a remote? I briefly looked at it last night but didn't see how it worked.

edit: Does that only work for playing music?

edit 2: I see it does apparently only work for music. Move along, nothing to see here.

n/m

FanIn80 · 10-10-2008, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russic

Does anybody use their iphone or itouch as a remote? I briefly looked at it last night but didn't see how it worked.

edit: Does that only work for playing music?

edit 2: I see it does apparently only work for music. Move along, nothing to see here.

Err...?

If you're talking about the Remote app for the iPhone, it works on your Apple TV with music, movies, TV shows... and... searching.

sclitheroe · 10-10-2008, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Err...?

If you're talking about the Remote app for the iPhone, it works on your Apple TV with music, movies, TV shows... and... searching.

I was pretty certain about that too, but didn't want to post until I had a chance to check when I got home...lots of fun turning off the kids movie from the garage

FanIn80 · 10-10-2008, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

I was pretty certain about that too, but didn't want to post until I had a chance to check when I got home...lots of fun turning off the kids movie from the garage

Haha, yes I bet.

Russic · 10-15-2008, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Err...?

If you're talking about the Remote app for the iPhone, it works on your Apple TV with music, movies, TV shows... and... searching.

Sigh. I was hoping I wouldn't have to ask this:

How?

I can access my itunes, but I can't seem to gain access of the atv. There must be something super straightforward that I'm missing.

FanIn80 · 10-16-2008, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russic

Sigh. I was hoping I wouldn't have to ask this:

How?

I can access my itunes, but I can't seem to gain access of the atv. There must be something super straightforward that I'm missing.

Oh... I can't remember the exact menu options, but it's in settings. Go to the same place you would to link your remote. I think it's Settings -> Remotes, even. There's an option in there to add an iPhone or iPod Touch remote.

Russic · 10-16-2008, 09:46 AM

oh sweet. Thanks! I'll give that a go tonight.

Russic · 03-19-2009, 06:38 PM

Big bump for Apple releasing HD movies for purchase! I've been waiting for this and frankly did not expect it for a long while.

Jedi Ninja · 03-19-2009, 08:26 PM

Can a person feasibly replace their cable subscription with Apple TV, and if so, how much would it cost a person?

Rathji · 03-19-2009, 08:55 PM

I am confused about what you are asking. Apple TV takes content that you have purchased or "liberated from the grasp of copyright" and plays it on your TV. It isn't like Shaw, where you get TV signals incoming.

You purchase, or rent shows from itunes and watch them on yout TV. You can accomplish the same thing with a computer hooked to your TV.

If you want cable from Apple, the answer is no.

If you want a digital movie player that hooks up to your TV to let you watch movies, lets you download movies etc then the answer is yes.

FanIn80 · 03-20-2009, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rathji

I am confused about what you are asking. Apple TV takes content that you have purchased or "liberated from the grasp of copyright" and plays it on your TV. It isn't like Shaw, where you get TV signals incoming.

You purchase, or rent shows from itunes and watch them on yout TV. You can accomplish the same thing with a computer hooked to your TV.

If you want cable from Apple, the answer is no.

If you want a digital movie player that hooks up to your TV to let you watch movies, lets you download movies etc then the answer is yes.

Actually, the real answer to his question is "Yes." - if he's like me and only watches select shows.

Other than live sports, the only TV shows I watch are House, Weeds, 24 and Californication... all 4 are available in HD and commercial free on the AppleTV.

If I wasn't a sports nut, I could very easily get by without cable - using only my AppleTV.