Apple TV

[amitksingh2003]

Was wondering if anybody here has used Apple TV for media streaming. I am currently using a WDTV Live Plus and satisfied with the performance for my movie requirements. But recently I encountered the requirement of streaming video directly from my iPhone 4s to my LCD. wdtv doesn't offer that connectivity, whereas Apple TV has inbuilt connectivity mechanism for all the iOS devices through 'Airplay'. Now that I am going to buy a macbook pro as well, I think a combination of Apple Time Capsule and Apple TV makes sense in my setup.

The doubts I have in mind about different file format support by Apple TV. WDTV is supporting almost all sort if file format and I never got a chance of complaint. Apple is known to limit format support on other devices but not sure about this. Also, how would be performance compared to WDTV.

I would be interested in first hand experience from members who have actually used it.

 

[Viki]

I use an Apple TV to stream from iPhone, iPad or my Laptop using AirParrot. Works great ! Nice free add-ones : Internet Radio, Photostream etc.

 

[anm]

buy the new 3rd gen, it can play @ 1080p.
Rest all requirements it can handle. You can buy extra software to make your appletv even more powerful, from Home | FireCore

 

[Ashutosh78]

Currently using apple tv for streaming music and youtube as well as internet radio.

As for formatsbapple tv is very restrictive . Doesnot support formats other than mp4.

Also u cannot connect hd or usb directly.

So as a media player not so gr8 but for airplay very good.

Infact if u want to get more from the apple tv buy the 2 nd generation and jailbreak it to get more format support

 

[amitksingh2003]

I was sure of finding Apple TV owners on this forum when writing this

Thanks guys for quick response.

@viki have you tried comparing performance with WDTV?

 

[amitksingh2003]

Currently using apple tv for streaming music and youtube as well as internet radio.

As for formatsbapple tv is very restrictive . Doesnot support formats other than mp4.

Also u cannot connect hd or usb directly.

So as a media player not so gr8 but for airplay very good.

Infact if u want to get more from the apple tv buy the 2 nd generation and jailbreak it to get more format support

Thanks Ashutosh for the info. I think problem of attaching external HD can be solved by buying an Apple Time Capsule with it. However, that's a costiler option and my current Belkin wireless router will have to go to give space to time capsule.

 

[aakashr]

no mkv support..........or have they now fixed that

 

[Amarendra]

Hi,

Just wanted to check that if I wanted to use the appletv just for streaming audio on my iPad to the stereo, di I have to switch on my lcd tv ? Coz I just want to buy either an appletv or airport express for audio streaming through AirPlay and was wondering if appletv or airport express would be better.

Thanks

 

[Ashutosh78]

Just for streaming music to speakers airport express is a better bet

 

[Ashutosh78]

no mkv support..........or have they now fixed that

No mkv support

 

[ashishkesarwani]

It does support MKV playback as well as almost all available video and audio formats after jailbreaking it, which is a piece of cake after following step by step instructions on this website I.e Home | FireCore

Among the latest generations of media player I find apple TV the best.

 

[gilfredpaul]

Since you have iphone & macbook go blindly for apple tv. Apart from airplay you can rent or purchase movies from itunes(based on your internet connection). I personally feel streaming music from ios device to avr via apple tv was not that good. so i stream music directly to my airplay AVR.

 

[amitksingh2003]

personally feel streaming music from ios device to avr via apple tv was not that good. so i stream music directly to my airplay AVR.

Airplay AVR? Which one?

 

[gilfredpaul]

Airplay AVR? Which one?

denon 1912

 

[Viki]

I also prefer AirPlay to AVR (Marantz AV 7005) if it's just music. But for video, photos or presentations, I prefer the apple TV.

 

[amitksingh2003]

Can you guys throw some more light on airplay. How it is connected. Wireless enabled media player to receiver?

 

[gilfredpaul]

Hope this link help you in understanding about AirPlay

Apple - iTunes - AirPlay

 

[Amarendra]

Another point that I read was that audio from appletv is at 48 kHz while airport express retains the cd quality at 44.1. Hence it is said that airport express is better if u just want AirPlay for audio..

 

[amitksingh2003]

Current price for 3rd generation Apple Tv with 1 year warranty at eBay India is around Rs. 8000/-
Has anybody tried importing from US? Or a better deal in India itself?

 

[Ashutosh78]

Current price for 3rd generation Apple Tv with 1 year warranty at eBay India is around Rs. 8000/-
Has anybody tried importing from US? Or a better deal in India itself?

best to buy from ebay but if you want more format support by jailbreaking go for second generation ATV as the 3rd gen cannot be jail broken