What can you watch for free on an Apple TV?

prowla

I'm thinking about my TV setup and have had a glance at Apple TV, but I'm not really sure if it's what I want.

I've had a look at Apple's Apple TV website, and the services mentioned there (http://www.apple.com/uk/appletv/whats-on/) seem to be subscription or ppv based, and not particularly of interest.

So what can you get for free?

Can you get normal TV stations?

Are there sports sites (not interested in baseball!) available?

Also, I've got an iPad and it can access movies & music on my WD My Book Live. Do you know if the Apple TV can access the My Book content (ie. without involving the iPad)?

TadleyBaggie

prowla wrote: »

Can you get normal TV stations?

No, the current Apple TV is locked down tight and you can only access streams that Apple have approved. So much of the content is subscription based, i.e. Netflix, Qello etc. There are a few free streams such as Sky News but no "normal" stations, certainly no BBC, ITV etc.

[Deleted User]

Apple TV is a big waste of time IMO - i've got an ipad and aTV..

The only time I ever use it is when the kids want to see a YouTube clip on TV. Otherwise, there's very little content on it.

It doesn't even support DLNA, which makes my NAS sad

Kingsd316

If you can get a second generation Apple TV then there is a whole host of things that can be done, google is your friend with this

almillar

aTV is for:
mirroring your iPad or some MacBook Pros (showing what's on your device, on the big screen)
putting something from your iTunes library on your TV (music/photos/video)
watching YouTube clips
Renting videos - through iTunes of course, not Netflix
watching other stuff - there's an NBA channel and I think some photo sharing ones etc.
If you've got an iPad, you might find it useful if you use it as in my first line.

prowla

Hmmm - sounds like it's not really TV then.

InsideInsurance

prowla wrote: »

Hmmm - sounds like it's not really TV then.

Not yet, there is plenty of rumours of an "iTV" which will be an actual TV made by apple.

Apple TV is useful if you subscribe to the Apple ecosystem. You can hack them to make them slightly wider but you then have the usual jailbreak issues of updates etc.

If you arent an apple user there are better solutions out there.

almillar

It's TV as in it connects to your TV, not TV as in it receives broadcasts. It comes under that big 'smart' umbrella of products. The smartest of all, which can do almost anything, being a computer.
You need to decide the things you want to do, then find the device to do it with.
If iPad mirroring is a must, you'll be wanting the aTV.