.avi & .mkv compatible alternative to AppleTV

m021478 · Mar 28, 2009, 10:55 PM

For quite some time now, I've been downloading movies online, which usually come in .avi or .mkv format, and I've been using VisualHub to convert them to .mp4 with H.264 encoding for playback on my AppleTV.

The whole process is long and tedious and is really starting to wear on my nerves, and I was hoping someone might be able to suggest an alternative to my Apple TV that would be capable of playing back .avi & .mkv files on my TV without the need for any additional conversion, transcoding, resizing, resampling, compatibili-fying or any kind...

I am hoping to find a piece of hardware capable of 'plug-and-play'-esque ease of use and simplicity.

Any suggestions?

Sky Blue · Mar 28, 2009, 11:07 PM

I agree, I like my Apple TV, but I'm looking at a refurb Mini and Plex.

Donar · Mar 29, 2009, 03:00 PM

Have a look at the Popcornhour NMT A110.

Maybe installing Boxee in the ATV would do the trick also.

entatlrg · Mar 30, 2009, 07:21 PM

you're basically looking to play back .avi files, right?

I'm new to ATV too, but here's a link I found for engadget. That may do the trick?

http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/10/h...your-apple-tv/

mastershakess · Mar 31, 2009, 02:17 PM

Sell ATV -> Buy PS3

Dimwhit · Mar 31, 2009, 02:25 PM

A question that might be related - Does Apple TV have the same playback abilities as Front Row on a Mac? I know the interface is the same. Because I can play mkv and avi files fine on Front Row. Don't have an Apple TV, though, so I don't know if it goes both ways.

mastershakess · Mar 31, 2009, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dimwhit

A question that might be related - Does Apple TV have the same playback abilities as Front Row on a Mac? I know the interface is the same. Because I can play mkv and avi files fine on Front Row. Don't have an Apple TV, though, so I don't know if it goes both ways.

Its more of a hardware issue than a software issue when its comes to .mkv, your computer has the hardware to play it and the ATV is kinda lacking

cleric · Apr 1, 2009, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donar

Have a look at the Popcornhour NMT A110.

Maybe installing Boxee in the ATV would do the trick also.

PCH is the way to go imo.

m021478 · Apr 3, 2009, 10:29 PM

Thanks for recommending the Popcorn Hour A-110... I'd honestly never even heard of this device, but based on this Cnet UK video review/demo, as well as on your recommendations of course, I think I just might have to pick myself up one of these bad boys!!

Do you know if you can connect external storage to the A-110? How about playing back VIDEO_TS rips? Can it playback those?

Thanks!

Donar · Apr 4, 2009, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m021478

Do you know if you can connect external storage to the A-110? How about playing back VIDEO_TS rips? Can it playback those?

It should play back VIDEO_TS but i never tried. For external storage you can plug a usb thumb drive or HDD to the USB ports. Personally i stream from my Synology NAS over ethernet as i like to have everything in one place.

dhd · Apr 4, 2009, 08:38 AM

I think that you don't need to re-encode avi's to mp4, as they're already in mp4 video format. You will only loose more quality (the avi's you download are already compressed). If I were you I'll download mpeg stremclip, open the avi in question with it, go to File and Save as..., in the dialog box select MOV, once the file is saved you change the extension of that MOV to mp4 if you wish.

Kind Regards

Tenorsaw · Apr 4, 2009, 03:01 PM

I second the Popcorn Hour. It plays just about anything you throw at it. I'm seriously considering selling my AppleTV and getting a Mini instead.

michael.lauden · Apr 4, 2009, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tenorsaw

I second the Popcorn Hour. It plays just about anything you throw at it. I'm seriously considering selling my AppleTV and getting a Mini instead.

you'll be happy you did

just watch processor usage/heat with loong 1080p videos

gerabbi · Apr 4, 2009, 03:46 PM

The usb patchstick should allow for more playback of differing video. If I'm not mistaken my son patched his ATV and can now play .avi and .mkv format video. Might be worth investigating.

Tenorsaw · Apr 4, 2009, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michael.lauden

you'll be happy you did

just watch processor usage/heat with loong 1080p videos

Yeah. I already have the Popcorn Hour and use it for watching high-def.

The AppleTV chokes when I try to play .mkv files using XBMC.

mfillhart · Apr 4, 2009, 05:48 PM

just install boxee and everything will play for ya, that's how it works for me anyways

m021478 · Apr 5, 2009, 01:10 AM

I've tried XMBC & Boxee via atvflash and I always ran into issues with skipping and stuttering...

I'll most likely give popcorn hour a shot and hopefully that will solve all my problems!

RealEvil · Apr 7, 2009, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m021478

I've tried XMBC & Boxee via atvflash and I always ran into issues with skipping and stuttering...

I'll most likely give popcorn hour a shot and hopefully that will solve all my problems!

Agreed - MKVs dont play properly on a hacked Apple TV.

Also, saving a MKV as a MOV gave me issues too... I am currently using Handbrake/VH to convert them. Pain.

ajzimmerman · Feb 25, 2013, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RealEvil

Agreed - MKVs dont play properly on a hacked Apple TV.

Also, saving a MKV as a MOV gave me issues too... I am currently using Handbrake/VH to convert them. Pain.

Use mp4tools,

This is far quicker - conversion equals loss.

crazytrain · Feb 26, 2013, 03:40 AM

Western Digital TV Live (with external USB drive or hub, depending on your preference) has always worked fine for me - plays anything you can throw at it (including TS files, as you asked). I rip Blurays using makemkv so have full 1080p resolution on very large files (20-30GB each) and the WD plays them with no problems whatsoever

Braddrum · Feb 26, 2013, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RealEvil

Agreed - MKVs dont play properly on a hacked Apple TV.

Also, saving a MKV as a MOV gave me issues too... I am currently using Handbrake/VH to convert them. Pain.

My 2 x JB ATV2 plays MKV Files using XBMC without any issues at all?

NMF · Feb 26, 2013, 06:55 AM

Or you could just, you know, stop stealing your media.

orpheus1120 · Feb 26, 2013, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazytrain

Western Digital TV Live (with external USB drive or hub, depending on your preference) has always worked fine for me - plays anything you can throw at it (including TS files, as you asked). I rip Blurays using makemkv so have full 1080p resolution on very large files (20-30GB each) and the WD plays them with no problems whatsoever

No passthru for TrueHD.

I would instead suggest PopCorn Hour A-400.

wknapp0924 · Feb 26, 2013, 06:22 PM

If you have the extra money to spend why not just upgrade to a Smart TV. All my MKVs on my usb HD plugged into my Airport Extreme work perfectly and the interface is really easy to use. You will need a computer running plex, but from my experience it doesn't look like it uses the computer processor at all. I downloaded a 20gb MKV 3D movie just to try to throw such a large file at it and It did not stop or stutter one time. I do have mine hooked directly through ethernet, but it is way more reliable than XBMC IMO. If you are gonna spend that much why not get a new TV out of it?

ScousePete · Feb 26, 2013, 10:00 PM

you know this thread is almost 4 years old, right?

Mar 28, 2009, 10:55 PM	#1
m021478 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2007	.avi & .mkv compatible alternative to AppleTV For quite some time now, I've been downloading movies online, which usually come in .avi or .mkv format, and I've been using VisualHub to convert them to .mp4 with H.264 encoding for playback on my AppleTV. The whole process is long and tedious and is really starting to wear on my nerves, and I was hoping someone might be able to suggest an alternative to my Apple TV that would be capable of playing back .avi & .mkv files on my TV without the need for any additional conversion, transcoding, resizing, resampling, compatibili-fying or any kind... I am hoping to find a piece of hardware capable of 'plug-and-play'-esque ease of use and simplicity. Any suggestions?
	0

Mar 28, 2009, 11:07 PM	#2
Sky Blue macrumors 603 Join Date: Jan 2005	I agree, I like my Apple TV, but I'm looking at a refurb Mini and Plex. __________________ "The case is so square that it easily stands at attention as if begging for treats."
	0

Mar 29, 2009, 03:00 PM	#3
Donar macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Germany	Have a look at the Popcornhour NMT A110. Maybe installing Boxee in the ATV would do the trick also. __________________ iMac i7@2.8GHz/8GB RAM/SSD via Firewire - Main Rig
	0

Mar 30, 2009, 07:21 PM	#4
entatlrg macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Waterloo & Georgian Bay, Canada	you're basically looking to play back .avi files, right? I'm new to ATV too, but here's a link I found for engadget. That may do the trick? http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/10/h...your-apple-tv/ __________________ iPhone 5, iPad 4, 13" rMBP, Mac Pro Line 2 -G Nexus, HTC One X, GS III, HTC One S, Nexus 4, BB Z10 ... current HTC One and BlackBerry Q10.
	0

Mar 31, 2009, 02:17 PM	#5
mastershakess macrumors 6502 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bel Air, MD	Sell ATV -> Buy PS3 __________________ Intel C2Quad PC iPhone 5 32gb MacBook Air 13/1.8/4/128 Intel C2D Mini
	0

Mar 31, 2009, 02:25 PM	#6
Dimwhit macrumors 68000 Join Date: Apr 2007	A question that might be related - Does Apple TV have the same playback abilities as Front Row on a Mac? I know the interface is the same. Because I can play mkv and avi files fine on Front Row. Don't have an Apple TV, though, so I don't know if it goes both ways. __________________ iMac 2.8GHz/4GB RAM; Mac Mini 1.83GHz/1 GB RAM; iPhone 3G; MBP 2.33GHz/2GB RAM (work)
	0

Apr 3, 2009, 10:29 PM	#9
m021478 Thread Starter macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2007	Thanks for recommending the Popcorn Hour A-110... I'd honestly never even heard of this device, but based on this Cnet UK video review/demo, as well as on your recommendations of course, I think I just might have to pick myself up one of these bad boys!! Do you know if you can connect external storage to the A-110? How about playing back VIDEO_TS rips? Can it playback those? Thanks!
	0

Apr 4, 2009, 08:38 AM	#11
dhd macrumors member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Hamster-Dam	I think that you don't need to re-encode avi's to mp4, as they're already in mp4 video format. You will only loose more quality (the avi's you download are already compressed). If I were you I'll download mpeg stremclip, open the avi in question with it, go to File and Save as..., in the dialog box select MOV, once the file is saved you change the extension of that MOV to mp4 if you wish. Kind Regards __________________ www.youtube.com/davidhernandezdeniz MBP 2.2 GHz SR
	0

Apr 4, 2009, 03:01 PM	#12
Tenorsaw macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2008	I second the Popcorn Hour. It plays just about anything you throw at it. I'm seriously considering selling my AppleTV and getting a Mini instead. __________________ 13" MacBook Pro, 64GB Black iPhone 5, 64GB LTE iPad, 32GB LTE iPad Mini
	0

Apr 4, 2009, 03:46 PM	#14
gerabbi macrumors regular Join Date: Feb 2009	The usb patchstick should allow for more playback of differing video. If I'm not mistaken my son patched his ATV and can now play .avi and .mkv format video. Might be worth investigating.
	0

Apr 4, 2009, 05:48 PM	#16
mfillhart macrumors member Join Date: Apr 2009	boxee just install boxee and everything will play for ya, that's how it works for me anyways
	0

Apr 5, 2009, 01:10 AM	#17
m021478 Thread Starter macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2007	I've tried XMBC & Boxee via atvflash and I always ran into issues with skipping and stuttering... I'll most likely give popcorn hour a shot and hopefully that will solve all my problems!
	0

Feb 26, 2013, 03:40 AM	#20
crazytrain macrumors member Join Date: Sep 2009	Western Digital TV Live (with external USB drive or hub, depending on your preference) has always worked fine for me - plays anything you can throw at it (including TS files, as you asked). I rip Blurays using makemkv so have full 1080p resolution on very large files (20-30GB each) and the WD plays them with no problems whatsoever
	0

Feb 26, 2013, 06:55 AM	#22
NMF macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2011	Or you could just, you know, stop stealing your media. __________________ MacBook Pro 13" (2012) \| Core i7 @ 2.9 GHz \| 256 GB Samsung 830 SSD \| 16 GB Corsair RAM Thunderbolt Display iPad mini 32 GB WiFi iPhone 5 32 GB Apple TV 3
	2

Feb 26, 2013, 06:22 PM	#24
wknapp0924 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Honolulu, HI	If you have the extra money to spend why not just upgrade to a Smart TV. All my MKVs on my usb HD plugged into my Airport Extreme work perfectly and the interface is really easy to use. You will need a computer running plex, but from my experience it doesn't look like it uses the computer processor at all. I downloaded a 20gb MKV 3D movie just to try to throw such a large file at it and It did not stop or stutter one time. I do have mine hooked directly through ethernet, but it is way more reliable than XBMC IMO. If you are gonna spend that much why not get a new TV out of it?
	0

Feb 26, 2013, 10:00 PM	#25
ScousePete macrumors newbie Join Date: Sep 2012	you know this thread is almost 4 years old, right?
	0

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Best way to convert AVI's and MKV's to AppleTV format?	Sparky9292	Apple TV and Home Theater	0	Oct 11, 2011 10:07 AM
Best way to convert avi & mkv for Apple TV	PaulMoore	Apple TV and Home Theater	1	Sep 4, 2010 12:50 AM
avi & mkv ?	s3o0d	iPad Hacks	1	Aug 24, 2010 05:51 AM
Alternative to AppleTV?	CMD is me	Digital Video	0	Aug 17, 2008 01:54 PM