1st Gen Apple TV = usable or trash?

[California]

Can I still use my stock 1st Gen Apple TV without jailbreaking it...

in other words, is it usable to surf, playback movies etc? Haven't had it hooked up in a while, so I don't know.

 

[Longkeg]

I moved my 1st gen ATV to the bedroom when I got an ATV3. The 1st gen can't handle the full HD resolutions that the ATV3 can so I had to keep 2 copies of everything, 1 formatted for the ATV3 and another for the ATV1. Also the ATV1 can't do Netflix or AirPlay and now no YouTube either. I can't quite bring myself to toss the ATV1 but I don't use it either. My iMac is in the bedroom so I just ran a long HDMI cable from it to the TV and mirror it. I'm much happier with that arrangement.

 

[Aldaris]

You could use it as a spare. It's limited compared to today's model, but still usable for 720p content I believe.

Many have turned it into a Mac mini "lite" although thats as messy as a jail break to accomplish.

Without Jailbreaking it, think of it as an headless iPod classic.

 

[Longkeg]

You could use it as a spare. It's limited compared to today's model, but still usable for 720p content I believe.

Many have turned it into a Mac mini "lite" although thats as messy as a jail break to accomplish.

Without Jailbreaking it, think of it as an headless iPod classic.

I can't disagree. Still, anyone who has used an ATV3 will find going back to a 1st gen ATV a limiting and frustrating experience.

 

[pjh]

Can I still use my stock 1st Gen Apple TV without jailbreaking it...

in other words, is it usable to surf, playback movies etc? Haven't had it hooked up in a while, so I don't know.

I still use mine and it's great. I love the fact that I can sync programs to it. My internet is a bit flaky at peak times, so it's great being able to call up a locally stored show for my son without having to bother streaming from my laptop. While streaming locally is easy enough, if any problem occurs the wife will just give up. If it keeps her happy, it keeps me happy. It keeps the living room nice and warm too!

 

[Aldaris]

I think it would be great for the kids, then you can control whats on their tv. Don't need them running through all my content.

No netflix of course, but all the winnie the pooh and spongebob that can fit on it, save the thrillers, horror, and mature comedies for myself.

 

[California]

I think it would be great for the kids, then you can control whats on their tv. Don't need them running through all my content.

No netflix of course, but all the winnie the pooh and spongebob that can fit on it, save the thrillers, horror, and mature comedies for myself.

Can my ATV1st still hook up to iTunes etc? Can I download my own DVDs or purchased movies to it?

I never used it much except when I first bought it and cannot remember even the basics with it. But I did buy a 320gb PATA hard drive when my 40GB gives up the ghost.

 

[Longkeg]

Can my ATV1st still hook up to iTunes etc? Can I download my own DVDs or purchased movies to it?

I never used it much except when I first bought it and cannot remember even the basics with it. But I did buy a 320gb PATA hard drive when my 40GB gives up the ghost.

iTunes will work as will any music or video you bought or rented from there. Movies purchased elsewhere will probably have to be converted to a format that ATV1 can handle. No ATV in its original state knows what to do with the video in a VIDEO_TS folder on a DVD. You would have to rip and convert them.

As for the 320gb HD... what exactly are you planning to do with it? The USB on an unjailbroken ATV is only for diagnostics. It will not support an external device of any kind. If you wait for the 40gb drive to die then you've waited too long as you will have lost the OS. Good luck finding a replacement. You would have to open the box, remove the (still functional) 40 gb and somehow clone the 320gb and install it, assuming it would fit.

Judging from your follow up questions I think the answer to your original question is that the ATV1 is ready for the trash... better yet it's ready for a new owner on eBay or Craig's List. There IS a market for them. There are lots Mad Scientist hacker types out there who love to take them apart and make them do things that Apple never intended them to do.

 

[California]

iTunes will work as will any music or video you bought or rented from there. Movies purchased elsewhere will probably have to be converted to a format that ATV1 can handle. No ATV in its original state knows what to do with the video in a VIDEO_TS folder on a DVD. You would have to rip and convert them.

As for the 320gb HD... what exactly are you planning to do with it? The USB on an unjailbroken ATV is only for diagnostics. It will not support an external device of any kind. If you wait for the 40gb drive to die then you've waited too long as you will have lost the OS. Good luck finding a replacement. You would have to open the box, remove the (still functional) 40 gb and somehow clone the 320gb and install it, assuming it would fit.

Judging from your follow up questions I think the answer to your original question is that the ATV1 is ready for the trash... better yet it's ready for a new owner on eBay or Craig's List. There IS a market for them. There are lots Mad Scientist hacker types out there who love to take them apart and make them do things that Apple never intended them to do.

I don't understand jailbreaking. But I guess it's time to learn. I know how to clone the original drive outside the box; that's why I bought it. And I guess I'll have to buy the broadcom wifi chip thingie everyone recommends for the ATV1.

 

[Longkeg]

I don't understand jailbreaking. But I guess it's time to learn. I know how to clone the original drive outside the box; that's why I bought it. And I guess I'll have to buy the broadcom wifi chip thingie everyone recommends for the ATV1.

By the time you've done all that; what with parts, time and jail breaking software (check out firecore.com) you will have way more in to this thing than the $69 it would cost to buy a new ATV3.

 

[TurnerMartin]

...

Many have turned it into a Mac mini "lite" although thats as messy as a jail break to accomplish.

Any ideas on how you can do this? The links I found on Google are broken