Posted on 09/28/2010 4:23:43 PM PDT by Swordmaker
Steve Jobs swung for the stands with the new Apple TV, a tiny box that plays high-definition web video on your television. Has he connected? We'll let my mom be the judge.
I've been testing the new Apple TV, and I think Apple may have a quiet hit on its hand. By quiet I mean there won't be long lines of rabid, un-showered fans camped outside Apple stores to buy the new gizmo, but Apple may slowly win people over with the new version.
The Apple TV is a small, square box that you connect to your TV; it streams music, movies, TV shows, photos, and more from the Internet and your Mac or PC to your living room. Apple introduced the first generation Apple TV in 2007 -- and for this one to succeed, Apple has to convince my mom that the device is worth $99.
My mom is an iPhone user. She makes regular trips to her local Apple store but has never heard of Apple TV. That's because the last version was so buried in stores that Indiana Jones couldn't have found it. Besides, Apple never convinced consumers that they needed an Apple TV. At $300 it was easy to ignore, but at $99 they might pay attention.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
The Apple TV is a small, square box that you connect to your TV; it streams music, movies, TV shows, photos, and more ...
More = porn.
If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.
I have two of the old AppleTVs (with the hard drives). We like them a lot. Stream movies directly from my computer to my TVs ... we’ve been able to pretty much retire my substantial DVD collection.
SnakeDoc
The AppleTV looks interesting. I have a WD TV Live device which is similar in concept, but doesn’t have very refined features. I’m assuming the AppleTv will have a more intuitive user interface, which makes it appealing for the “wife approval factor”.
One thing I’ve been curious about, but haven’t seen addressed anywhere, is if the AppleTV can stream pretty much any video from the local network? Not just the stuff you rent through iTunes. I’d like to rip my DVDs to a big network attached disk and be able to play them through the AppleTV. Can it do this? Will it support the DVD menus?
My little black box is in Hong Kong as I type!
With the new Remote app, Apple TV should rock and roll!
I rip DVDs all the time. I’m running 2 terabytes of storage for movies/TV shows alone, any of which I can play on my AppleTV with the click of a remote.
It does not support DVD menus (or at least not that I’ve figured out).
SnakeDoc
If you're using a Mac, get HandBrake, rip your DVDs to iTunes, and stream them to this new device.
That is exactly my question too. It seems certain that you can convert movies to H.264 format, import them to iTunes, and stream them from there. But can you stream a DVD or a disk image without importing into iTunes?
Will it play VOB files? If so just rip the entire DVD. Haven’t played with one yet.
Ripping is not a problem. DVD player and VLC will play VOB files. The question is: do you have to import the VOB files into iTunes to stream them wirelessly? If so, you will probably have to convert to h.264 format.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.