New Apple TV vs New Roku XD/S

DAB

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Oct 9, 2008
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I tried the Roku thing and setting up for streaming is a royal pain in the ass. Apple TV works like a champ streaming from iTunes. Sony makes a streaming box that has built in DLNA and it just requires you setup a DLNA client on your Mac or PC. It works better than going thru all the crap for a Roku. It has most of the primary channels that Roku has too. Many of the channels on Roku is garbage.


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dualsub2006

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Nov 11, 2008
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I tried the Roku thing and setting up for streaming is a royal pain in the ass. Apple TV works like a champ streaming from iTunes.
Roku doesn't market their devices for local streaming at all. They have always only concentrated on streaming, but that's changing with their remote apps for phones.

From the apps you can stream music and photos now with video being hinted at. I've used Plex since it became available for local media. It works fine.

My primary concern for my streaming needs is better met by the Roku. Vudu, HBO Go and 13 other streaming channels make Roku perfect for me, but its not for everyone.
 

jef

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Oct 12, 2008
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Sony makes a streaming box that has built in DLNA and it just requires you setup a DLNA client on your Mac or PC. It works better than going thru all the crap for a Roku. HD

I have the Sony SMP-N200 and it works (mostly) great. The DLNA feature is the best part. It also does Netflix, Amazon Prime video, and a bunch of other services like Crackle, Vudu, etc. The only real downside is that the interface is clunky - workable, but clunky.

Unfortunately, they've discontinued it and have started marketing a box based off of Google TV (for twice the price). I haven't yet found definite evidence that it supports DLNA, though it does seem to have the Plex app which can maybe fit the bill (not sure the Plex app does DLNA or if you have to use a drive mount with it).
 

Jon

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Dec 16, 2008
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Roku would have been fine if it was even remotely available. Walked into Best Buy looking for a similar device to Roku for Apple TV. Walked out with an Apple TV which was the only thing they had in stock.

You can now get Hulu Plus on Apple TV thanks to the last update, I'm still trying to figure out what I'd use it for since I don't watch a lot of the stuff that's available there. Netflix and Apple TV rentals are good for most of my needs. Especially since Apple TV has movies available for rent the same day they're on Blu-Ray.
 

dualsub2006

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Nov 11, 2008
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Especially since Apple TV has movies available for rent the same day they're on Blu-Ray.
I rent from Vudu. Same deal, same day as disc, but their HDX picture quality is far superior to Google, Amazon and Apple HD
 

Ehilbert1

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Oct 13, 2008
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You know i was thinking about getting an Apple TV to complement my iMac. Then i found out you can't stream your ripped DVD's with it. Only what you buy in iTunes. So I said screw it. What's the point? I have a crap load of DVD's I already bought.
 

ProperModulation

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Oct 11, 2008
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Just hooked another one up yesterday as a Christmas gift. Nothing hard about it. Only took as long as necessary to plug it in and create the necessary accounts. Gonna try out Vudu based on what you guys wrote.

The Plex app has been easy as well. I installed the software on my main server and pointed it to my media. It has worked fine every time i have used it. Mainly to watch home movies and ripped DVDs.

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jef

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Oct 12, 2008
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You know i was thinking about getting an Apple TV to complement my iMac. Then i found out you can't stream your ripped DVD's with it. Only what you buy in iTunes. So I said screw it. What's the point? I have a crap load of DVD's I already bought.

Apple keeps to the side that won't anger media companies. Studios have had to be dragged kicking and screaming into this century, so as part of the deal Apple doesn't do or allow too much that would make them skittish, like making it easy to rip and watch movies.

That being said, I believe that if you can get a movie into iTunes to play, you should be able to stream it to your AppleTV using Home Sharing.
Just rip it to .m4v and you should be fine.
How do you rip DVDs and transfer the movies to an Apple TV? What audio and video formats does the original Apple TV support? What is the difference between "syncing" and "streaming"? @ EveryMac.com
Apple TV (third generation): What you need to know | Macworld
 

DAB

Mod Emeritus
Oct 9, 2008
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You know i was thinking about getting an Apple TV to complement my iMac. Then i found out you can't stream your ripped DVD's with it. Only what you buy in iTunes. So I said screw it. What's the point? I have a crap load of DVD's I already bought.

That is absolutely not true. I have a library of over 200 movies that I used DVDFab to rip them into a backup copy for streaming. What format did you rip them into?


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DAB

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Oct 9, 2008
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I rent from Vudu. Same deal, same day as disc, but their HDX picture quality is far superior to Google, Amazon and Apple HD

I agree with you though they are more expensive by a buck and if you do not have a premo Internet connection it will rebuffer. The Sony player and Roku now support Vudu. You can also take DVD's or Blu-rays to Walmart and for an up charge they will make them available in you Vudu library.


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Ehilbert1

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Oct 13, 2008
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Apple keeps to the side that won't anger media companies. Studios have had to be dragged kicking and screaming into this century, so as part of the deal Apple doesn't do or allow too much that would make them skittish, like making it easy to rip and watch movies.

That being said, I believe that if you can get a movie into iTunes to play, you should be able to stream it to your AppleTV using Home Sharing.
Just rip it to .m4v and you should be fine.
How do you rip DVDs and transfer the movies to an Apple TV? What audio and video formats does the original Apple TV support? What is the difference between "syncing" and "streaming"? @ EveryMac.com
Apple TV (third generation): What you need to know | Macworld

Thanks again for the info!!

That is absolutely not true. I have a library of over 200 movies that I used DVDFab to rip them into a backup copy for streaming. What format did you rip them into?


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MP4 format. I was just going on what all I have read. I read that you can do it on a 2nd gen Apple TV that's been jailbroken.

You and Jef know your shit! If you guys say it's so then I believe it! Thanks again guys!
 

DAB

Mod Emeritus
Oct 9, 2008
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Thanks again for the info!!

MP4 format. I was just going on what all I have read. I read that you can do it on a 2nd gen Apple TV that's been jailbroken.

You and Jef know your shit! If you guys say it's so then I believe it! Thanks again guys!

I have a ATV 2 and ATV3 streaming via iTunes or a shared library absolutely works, no jailbreak required. Probably would need to jailbreak if you want to stream non supported file types.

Your format should be good. I am now ripping Blu-rays in HD that stream great too.

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jef

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Oct 12, 2008
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Probably would need to jailbreak if you want to stream non supported file types.

This is generally the case - AppleTV sucks if you happen to stumble across DiVX or MKV files, but mp4/m4v is prefectly fine.

Have fun with your vids Ehilbert1 :)
 

TX WJ

Intelligent Donkey
Oct 15, 2008
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One of the gifts for my boys this year was a 32 inch LCD TV for the playroom. No Directv ran there, but there is a DVD Player , a Wii and a Apple TV.

My kids love Apple TV, Netflix interface is awesome. They also love to stream their games on the TV from the iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad.

I love the Podcasts, and You Tube Integration. Plus the fact that my 60 Gig Music Libarry is there. I can browse my iMac, pictures and videos.
 

DAB

Mod Emeritus
Oct 9, 2008
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This is generally the case - AppleTV sucks if you happen to stumble across DiVX or MKV files, but mp4/m4v is prefectly fine.

I know there are reasons that folks use those other formats, but I have never found using anything other than M4V. The good news is that all the Android devices I've used also play this format without any issues. The key is just making sure you use the correct format and you'll be set.

My kids love Apple TV, Netflix interface is awesome. They also love to stream their games on the TV from the iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad.

I love the Podcasts, and You Tube Integration. Plus the fact that my 60 Gig Music Libarry is there. I can browse my iMac, pictures and videos.

Yeah I use mine often for streaming from my other iOS devices. I also use airplay so much for streaming music to my various speaker systems. There is a big void when I don't have access to airplay. On Christmas Day while I was at my sisters visiting I had loaded some family videos on my iPad Mini. While we were sitting around, I logged into her wireless network and we were able to view those videos on their big screen TV because they have an Apple TV. Everyone really enjoyed seeing those old movies, which I had converted to digital format.