Experiences using Apple TV

I've been looking at Apple TV recently. I was pondering whether to buy one or not. As fas as I understand I can link iTunes to my TV. So I can watch movies, TV shows, pictures and listen to music. I can also download HD movies. Has anyone used Apple TV? Is it any good? I also noticed the American version is a lot cheaper. Could I buy one in the states and use it in Europe?

Thanks.

I have one at home for more than 1 year already.

In my opinion the AppleTV is worth only if you are tech savvy enough to hack it, otherwise you are stuck to playing stuff from another PC with iTunes. You can not buy HD movies in Germany at the moment, as far as I know.

After hacking my AppleTV I can do this:

- Mount a folder with movies I have in another PC (can be a NAS as well) and play them via the network
- Play DivX movies downloaded from the Internet (and stored remotely).

If you do not hack the AppleTV you will have to transcode any video you want to play on it (and it takes time) and you will have to either sync the files to the AppleTV (it takes time) of play them from the iTunes on another PC (you will need that PC to be on the whole time).

The American version of the AppleTV will work here, you just need to replace the power cable.

Be aware that you need a modern TV with either HDMI or component input (not composite).

If you need any more info, just ask.

Cheers for that. I presume I could use the American version of iTunes to download HD movies?

Maybe, maybe not. In any case your Itune account must be paid for with a US credit card to buy music from their US site over here.

Only if you continue to be registered with iTunes with your American credit card. If you switch to your German one, then you are forced to use the German store. You can switch between the two. This is a real pain, as you would expect in this day and age, you could simply choose which store you want, but it's still all a mess due to Apple and it's approach to digital rights management.

I thought I read their HD was not full HD. Only limited resolution. Probably very compressed if it is downloaded. Not the best quality...

The AppleTV can not play full HD anyway (1080p), the hardware is not robust enough.

For people with more technical background a Popcorn Hour would be better.

Have a look at the Conceptronic CFULLHDMA.

It doesn't have a built in Harddrive (You can use attach a USB HD), but to will play streaming media from the internet and from a PC.
Best of all it plays just about every video and Audio format know to man, yes even true 1080p HD without the need to hack it.

Much more features, options than the AppleTV for around the same price. The CFULLHD can even connect to iTunes storage for content.

The problem you are going to have with all those new players in the market is that they have a very shitty interface, like when you are playing music it plays only one single mp3, no support for random playing or lists, ugly interface when showing pictures, problems with subtitles fonts in some languages, forward/reward sucks, no database to tell you which files you played already (useful while watching TV episodes), plus no support of DTS (due to licensing problems), etc.

The most active media player development and community is the Syabas firmware (players based on the SMP8634/35 processor) but it is still beta software and not recommended for non technical users.

AppleTV might be weak in some areas but the user interface is quite good.

Says the person who has actually tried the AppleTV and an NMT (Networked Media Tank).

Sorry, The CFULLHD Does have a playlist option and can play music for hours even randomly.
In some cases Interfaces can be changed. Yes, there can be problems with subtitles or multi-language options
but no need to lop all players into that group as not ALL have those problems. Many of Conceptronics devices
support DTS. Even my old Pinnacle Showcenter supported DTS.

Those manufactures that don't directly license DTS for their devices usually give the enduser the option to
purchase the DTS license seperatly, thus bypassing and licensing issues. For the Old Showcenter it was like 5 Eur.

Try researching and reviewing more devices than just 2 before you lump them all together in the "They all have many problems" group.
Some players will amaze you with what they can do.

I like the look of the Conceptronic CFULLHDMA. I saw a review of the Apple TV and you could select HD movies to download on your TV and then watch them. (albeit 4 hours later). It looked simple to use. With the Conceptronic CFULLHDMA, can I download movies from the TV menu or do I have to do it on computer first?

With the AppleTV you will live in the kingdom of legality (at least if you only use it out of the box), therefore it is easy because you will pay for the movies.

In most (maybe almost) of the other players you will live in the DYI or illegality kingdom. Therefore you will have to handle all the things by yourself. Some players include a bit torrent client but it might be difficult to use for some people.

I do now own a CFULLHDMA myself, but I've owned other similar player.

You can put a bittorrent client on AppleTV too..

I was thinking of getting one but it might be worth it just to make a cheap little computer as a media server and plug it into the tv...

You can run bit torrent in the AppleTV but the client is command line and you will need some know-how about ssh-ing into the AppleTV and copying files here and there. At least this was the situation last time I checked. My current setup is pretty solid and I like it so I did not care to check for new things since months.

I would suggest you to combine the AppleTV with a NAS. And you can run your bit torrent client directly in the NAS.