Apple TV, Google TV, Boxee Box

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Apple TV, Google TV, Boxee Box

merve0o0

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#68937 30-Sep-2010 07:50

Since the new Apple TV was announced I was thinking about getting one as the xbox is a pain to stream media to from my iMac.

I recently saw info about the google tv and that looks interesting. I'm just wondering if anyone has seen info regarding supported formats, rrp.

Also wondering about the same info for the Boxee.

Sorry if this is the wrong forum for this.

Thanks

reven

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#386178 30-Sep-2010 09:07

until i had a VPN and could access more services, boxee was pretty much worthless and i found xbmc/plex/whatever more useful.

apple tv would require a specific file format (mp4 encoded for it, has some flexibility on encoding but wont playback mkvs/avi). for $169 its worth getting though.

boxee is us$199 i believe so you could probably get it here for around $300-$350, the remote looks amazing, only wish it had a couple more buttons and IR as well, so could use it to turn on a tv/amp and for tv/amp volume. boxee should be able to play anything you through at it, and it will be regularly updated.

dont know much about google tv, but i think its a while away let.

freitasm

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#386205 30-Sep-2010 09:40

Boxee services are mostly based on what is available in the US, so you will have to put money in a VPN and get a very good broadband connection.

Google TV is just a project, no products out yet.

Apple TV allow renting from iTunes Store, available now, so it looks the most promising...

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garvani

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#386224 30-Sep-2010 10:30

Yes the boxee services are aimed mostly at US content, being Hulu etc. They have built in vpn support into the software so you can enter your strongvpn user/pass into it and your away. Local content is where Boxee shines, with usb ports (unlike the appletv) which allows local media playback from usb devices, and the range of files supported will make it a winner (link). The walled garden approach that apple are taking with the new Atv has put me off the device, and googletv looks purely aimed at the US market.

reven

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#386236 30-Sep-2010 10:45

is strongvpn support in the current apple tv beta? i wasnt aware of that.

garvani

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#386238 30-Sep-2010 10:47

I was referring to Boxee for the vpn support. Not sure about appletv but id say no.

reven

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#386248 30-Sep-2010 11:00

i mean boxee beta for apple tv, is strong vpn support in that?

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garvani

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#386256 30-Sep-2010 11:10

Oh :) no i believe they are just implementing it for the actual boxee box..

reven

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#386275 30-Sep-2010 11:50

bugger, still have to get a extra router and install dd wrt on it then.
thanks for the info.

merve0o0

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#386361 30-Sep-2010 15:06

The google tv shows release to be fall 2010. That's what got my interest.

reven

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#386365 30-Sep-2010 15:15

sony are planning on releasing a google tv in Australia in 2011, but out of all these devices they still require text input, and the best solution for that seems to be the boxee remote.

i hate searching for things on my apple tv with the onscreen keyboard, and typing in my itunes password i have to ask everyone to leave the room.

my dream solution would be boxee + PVR (eyetv integration for mac, gbpvr for pc, myth for linux etc) and the boxee remote (extended a little with IR to control tv/amp etc)

PANiCnz

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#386446 30-Sep-2010 19:02

If you are wanting to watch local media stay away from the Apple TV its require the media to be in stupid apple formats and doesn't like normal formats like .avi and .mkv, its very much targeted at online streaming content.

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scotteffone

215 posts

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#387095 2-Oct-2010 12:33

To be honest I have ditched Apple TV and just using a media server on my ps3. Works well and as much as I like Apple products, Apple TV is far to restricted to be any fun.

mentalinc

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#387100 2-Oct-2010 12:41

What about something like a WDTV Live HD?

Stream content from windows 7 or usb drive? I dont have one my considering getting one because as noted all these devices seem to be targeted to the US market and the streaming netflix type services that as noted require a US VPN to access.

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merve0o0

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#387113 2-Oct-2010 13:21

unfortunatly im on a mac. when i was n windows i just used my xbox 360 with tversity worked perfectly but there is nothing like tversity for mac.

i am using rivet which streams to the xbox but doesn't transcode like tversity did so only the formats the xbox supports which is few

Shagy

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#392635 16-Oct-2010 16:47

try mythbuntu it works with freeview HD + satellite (with the appropriate cards)
GPU HD decoding (with the appropriate nvidia graphics card)
has epg, can stream pretty much whatever content you have aound the network music, recordings, videos, pictures
can transcode video formats
export to iphone ipad .
has both a mac back and front end