Apple tv box - what does it do?

barriejohn69

Hi, my friend has won one in his work and asked if I wanted to buy it. My question is basically does it act as a media player that will stream avi files?
I currently use ps3 media server to do this via my xbox and air video on my iPad so just wondering if it could be done on the apple box. I very rarely get things from iTunes so have no idea if the box is restricted to iTunes.
I probably can't mention jb'ing it but I'd do it if it meant I could use it how I wanted.

Thanks

almillar

You would need to be very technically minded to jailbreak at the moment so I wouldn't advise it.
Basically streams whatever is in iTunes on your computer, including whatever films are there. Anything on your computer that you want to view/hear on aTV, you need to import into iTunes.
Also rent movies and stream them, view YouTube videos, Picasa photos and a few others, and some other stuff I can't remember! Definately not as versitile as a PS3, but possibly easier to use, especially on the music side of things.
If you're not on iTunes, not very useful basically.

Mic2904

More or less what almillar says.

I am looking for one, btw ;-)

barriejohn69

Thanks both, I have an Itunes account but none of my films are stored there. The are all on an external hard drive and I stream them through my laptop. Don't think it'll do what I want then.

Mic2904

I am still trying to find out, but the new Itunes version has HOME SHARING, so basicly everything can be played from every APple device over the same network (WIFI).

If you would upload your movies to Itunes, you should be able to watch them on your tv.

scottishblondie

barriejohn69 wrote: »

Thanks both, I have an Itunes account but none of my films are stored there. The are all on an external hard drive and I stream them through my laptop. Don't think it'll do what I want then.

You could convert them to a suitable format, add them to your iTunes library and then use the Apple TV to stream them, if you want to. To be fair, converting all your movies will probably take a while tho!

BillTrac

And if you have a Touch you can remotely control your films/music etc.

I use mine to rent films, listen to music from my Touch.

I can waste lots of time just looking at the latest movie trailers....:o

cooldaz

I love my Apple TV i find it much more reliable than streaming via my PS3. Im in the process of converting all my DVDs to iTunes so all my movie library is in one place then I can pack the DVDs into a box and shove into the loft as I have a few hundred of them. Handbrake is a good program for converting and is available on both PC and Mac

diable

Tell your mate its !!!!!! and you'll do him a favour and give him £20 to help him out.............

KillerWatt

It's an overpriced media player that is crippled beyond belief to the point where it barely deserves the accolade of being deemed what it is.
There is far superior kit out there costing nowhere near the money that Apple seem to quite sucessfully extract from some idiots, and they WILL play ANYTHING without requiring you to install bloatware on your PC or get your wallet out to pay for the latest "whatever" needed to play your chosen media.

thescouselander

I agree with KillerWatt. Apple TV is seriously constrained by Apples proprietary standards requiring you to use their software and only standards which they approve of.


There are plenty of better devices around.