What to do- return Apple TV 3 or keep....?

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › What to do- return Apple TV 3 or keep....?

Musclesnz

40 posts

Geek

#105288 1-Jul-2012 11:02

Hi everyone, hope you are all keeping warm. I have seen a few posts on and around this subject, so I hope I am not annoying anyone by asking for some specific thoughts and opinions.

I currently have a Time capsule (2TB) , ATV3, macbook pro, other apple devices, connected up to my home theatre network.

I have just bought the ATV and time capsule as I needed to back up the macbook, plus I was hoping to store movies and video on the capsule with the apple tv accessing it. I now realize I can only do that if I jailbreak it and it looks like the ATV3 may never be jailbroken after doing a search on google.

My question is- I have 2 weeks to return the ATV3 if its not worth keeping with a view to buy a ATV2 on trade me etc. I have got (now) a US iTunes account, using my one smart card to pay for content, and I would like to setup a netflix connection once i sort out the whole vodafone/unblock us , open VPN issue. Or should I stay with the ATV3 and wait for a jailbreak, or be happy with the content without jailbreak.

I currently have vodafone internet and my sky- discount and with the possibility of Igloo, I am looking at getting Igloo, changing to Orcon or similar, increasing the broadband cap and stream netflix and/or buy tv of iTunes(us)

Long winded.....I know. Just be really good to see what other people have done. I did look into getting a static IP from Vodafone, but an extra 20 bucks a month.... Vodafone- thats crazy!?

khull

1245 posts

Uber Geek

#648964 1-Jul-2012 11:39

the guys at firecore claim the ATV3 flash black will be released 'soon'

http://firecore.com/atvflash-black

I have both the ATV2 and ATV3 and switch between the content I'm playing.

The only benefit of holding on to an ATV3 is to have the blobs saved in preparation for a jailbreak. How useful this is will only be determined with time

Ventura

109 posts

Master Geek

#648967 1-Jul-2012 11:43

I have just downloaded Air video ($4.99 from itunes store) on my iphone and installed the server app onto my windows laptop.
My ATV is a 3 and not jailbroken. I can now access any of my movies on my network (including media player) and play them on my ATV by way of the server app. It encodes the files on the fly for play on the ATV.
You just fire up the app on the phone or iPad find the server on the network, then the file you want to play. It takes a few seconds to start up then display it from the app to the ATV via airplay. Once started you can control the movie from the app or leave it and do something else on your phone without interrupting the movie as now the connection is between the server and ATV.
So far no problems.
Have a look here- http://www.iphonewzealand.co.nz/2011/all/stream-any-video-file-type-to-your-apple-tv-2-without-jailbreaking/

Musclesnz

40 posts

Geek

#648969 1-Jul-2012 11:44

Yeah thanks, saw that post as well, but also saw that the exploit to jailbreak is pretty tight on ATV3 so time is the key here isn't it.
Pretty happy with the ATV so far, its great. I don't understand why there isn't an app store. I'd be happy to pay for content and Apple would make more money. Shame really isn't it.

Thanks for the reply.

Musclesnz

40 posts

Geek

#648978 1-Jul-2012 11:51

Ventura: I have just downloaded Air video ($4.99 from itunes store) on my iphone and installed the server app onto my windows laptop.
My ATV is a 3 and not jailbroken. I can now access any of my movies on my network (including media player) and play them on my ATV by way of the server app. It encodes the files on the fly for play on the ATV.
You just fire up the app on the phone or iPad find the server on the network, then the file you want to play. It takes a few seconds to start up then display it from the app to the ATV via airplay. Once started you can control the movie from the app or leave it and do something else on your phone without interrupting the movie as now the connection is between the server and ATV.
So far no problems.
Have a look here- http://www.iphonewzealand.co.nz/2011/all/stream-any-video-file-type-to-your-apple-tv-2-without-jailbreaking/

Yeah thanks, I also have Air video, but had forgotten I could use it. Thanks! The problem is I would like to remove the middle man, having the ATV3 access files from the Time capsule without having to convert through a macbook pro. I think thats possible with xbmc, so will have to wait for a JB I guess.

davidcole

6034 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#649212 1-Jul-2012 20:09

I do the same as your air video, but with plex on IOS (iphone) gives a "nicer" way of looking at things and then you air video to the ATV.

Then the bonus, is when the JB comes, plex can be locally installed. I say WHEN!! I've got an Jailbroken ATV2 though as well.

Also with an ATV3 you can use itunes - itunes US is great, and add a netflix subscription, and oh boy, locally stored content become less important....

Previously known as psycik

Home Assistant: Gigabyte AMD A8 Brix, Home Assistant with Aeotech ZWave Controller, Raspberry PI, Wemos D1 Mini, Zwave, Shelly Humidity and Temperature sensors
Media:Chromecast v2, ATV4 4k, ATV4, HDHomeRun Dual
Server Host Plex Server 3x3TB, 4x4TB using MergerFS, Samsung 850 evo 512 GB SSD, Proxmox Server with 1xW10, 2xUbuntu 22.04 LTS, Backblaze Backups, usenetprime.com fastmail.com Sharesies Trakt.TV Sharesight