iPod Will AppleTV play rm,rmvb,avi,mpeg,etc?

[dogeye]

I am wondering if Apple TV will play all kinds of video format, or it only works with the ones downloaded from itune.

Thanks

 

[tyr2]

From: http://www.apple.com/appletv/specs.html

Video formats supported: H.264 and protected H.264 (from iTunes Store): 640 by 480, 30 fps, LC version of Baseline Profile; 320 by 240, 30 fps, Baseline profile up to Level 1.3; 1280 by 720, 24 fps, Progressive Main Profile. MPEG-4: 640 by 480, 30 fps, Simple Profile

Other than that it's a maybe. It won't be playing Real Media at the like. Basically if it plays in iTunes then there's a decent chance it'll work in AppleTV. Time will tell.

 

[killmoms]

Basically if it plays in iTunes then there's a decent chance it'll work in AppleTV. Time will tell.

If it plays in iTunes WITHOUT INSTALLING ADDITIONAL CODECS, it will play on the AppleTV. Unless enterprising people figure out how to hack codecs into the AppleTV, you'll be stuck with H.264 or MPEG-4 SP only for video.

 

[mkrishnan]

Looks like we have another winner of the "I need to just get a Mac Mini instead" competition?

 

[MarkCollette]

So, divx files won't work?

 

[balamw]

If it plays in iTunes WITHOUT INSTALLING ADDITIONAL CODECS, it will play on the AppleTV. Unless enterprising people figure out how to hack codecs into the AppleTV, you'll be stuck with H.264 or MPEG-4 SP only for video.

That's not what the specs say, as iTunes has no problem playing MPEG-1 or Sorenson encoded material, MJPEG, etc... without additional codecs. What the specs say is more that: if it'll play on the iPod 5.5G it'll work on Apple TV, plus it'll also support 720p.

Video formats supported: H.264 and protected H.264 (from iTunes Store): 640 by 480, 30 fps, LC version of Baseline Profile; 320 by 240, 30 fps, Baseline profile up to Level 1.3; 1280 by 720, 24 fps, Progressive Main Profile. MPEG-4: 640 by 480, 30 fps, Simple Profile

Compare that to the iPod http://www.apple.com/ipod/specs.html

Video formats supported: H.264 video, up to 1.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per sec., Low-Complexity version of the H.264 Baseline Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48 kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; H.264 video, up to 768 Kbps, 320 by 240 pixels, 30 frames per sec., Baseline Profile up to Level 1.3 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48 kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per sec., Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48 kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats

B

 

[dogeye]

Oh.....so basically, it's kind of useless, isn't it?

 

[Suprami X]

Oh.....so basically, it's kind of useless, isn't it?

Damn Skippy

 

[Counterfit]

Even if someone does hack it (which would be cool), I doubt it will ever play any time of RealMedia.

 

[MarkCollette]

Hmm, without divx, I don't think I'd be interested. If there was some way to install codecs, or to use the host computer's Quicktime to decode it, then it might be worthwhile.

 

[benpatient]

it's worth mentioning that there's no 720p/24 fps content on the planet.

Broadcast HD (TV shows) is shot 720p/30fps or 1080i/60fps

Film HD is one of those, or more commonly 1080p/24fps.


so maybe that (and other things) are typos?

 

[bibimbap]

Okay, this Apple TV keeps getting less and less interesting.

For a company with such emphasis on usability, they've really picked a slim market for this product. Basically, it only works on widescreen, progressive scan TVs - and only works with iTunes' limited codecs.

Even Front Row recognizes divx; if they were smart they'd have included everyone.

Guess I'll keep plugging my damn laptop into the TV... rrggh.

 

[aristobrat]

Okay, this Apple TV keeps getting less and less interesting.

I agree.

And to mkrishnan's point a few posts back, my Mac mini is getting more and more interesting now that it has the Perian codec on it that lets Front Row play just about everything.

 

[MarkCollette]

I agree.

And to mkrishnan's point a few posts back, my Mac mini is getting more and more interesting now that it has the Perian codec on it that lets Front Row play just about everything.

Thanks for mentionning Perian - I hadn't heard of it before. Personally I just use VLC, but at least now I can use Quicktime without having to install a bazillion separate codecs.