Meh... I'll just keep my Core 2 Quad Hackintosh as my media center with support for all video codecs and containers... streaming from my Synology NAS.
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Apple Updates Apple TV to Version 5.0.1
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No, to record (like a TiVO does).
Why buy shows from a store when you can have them automatically recorded for free (without ads)?
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No, for recording. I think this is why I got the lowest-rated comment... major misunderstanding.
Of course, your TV cannot record shows for you. Also, my TVs are old and can't use the current air system.
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What would that do to achieve show recording on the Apple TV?
Well, fine, but it's a good deal more expensive than $99, isn't it?
Also, I'm not sure why there should be support for mkv, avi, etc. Oh, unless you're downloading from Pirate Bay.
Um no. Learn about containers before accusing someone of pirating. MKV was primarily used by Handbrake for encoding DTS, but current Handbrake encodes now support DTS in MP4 containers.
I spent a year digitizing all my DVD's (SD and Blu-Ray), and spent 6 months learning every aspect I could in order to create as lossless as possible encodes for my media system. Unfortunately Apple has limited support, doesn't even support DTS surround sound and the iTunes 1080P files are not nearly as good as my encodes.
So no, I do not pirate, and I do not appreciate the derogatory and ignorant assumption that the only reason for using those codecs and a Mac Mini for a HTMC is for pirating. You would benefit from learning about various containers, differentiation between L3.1, L4.1, etc, and the limitations of the A5 Apple TV system.
(might want to start at my comment at #129)
Um no. Learn about containers before accusing someone of pirating. MKV was primarily used by Handbrake for encoding DTS, but current Handbrake encodes now support DTS in MP4 containers.
I spent a year digitizing all my DVD's (SD and Blu-Ray), and spent 6 months learning every aspect I could in order to create as lossless as possible encodes for my media system. Unfortunately Apple has limited support, doesn't even support DTS surround sound and the iTunes 1080P files are not nearly as good as my encodes.
So no, I do not pirate, and I do not appreciate the derogatory and ignorant assumption that the only reason for using those codecs and a Mac Mini for a HTMC is for pirating. You would benefit from learning about various containers, differentiation between L3.1, L4.1, etc, and the limitations of the A5 Apple TV system.
(might want to start at my comment at #129)
You wouldn't mind sharing your encode profile, would you?
Still no iTunes album extra support like Gen1 units have? I'll have to try this upgrade out on my Gen2 unit. I've had problems with it losing connection to Home Sharing over time which requires restarting iTunes (while my Gen1 units have no issues).
VideoDrive for ATV
I look forward to improved home sharing reliability. Every freaking time I want to watch something I have to go upstairs to restart iTunes.
BTW: A great way to add videos to your ATV is Videodrive, I've been using it for a while now. On sale at mupromo.com. It doesn't require jailbreaking, so clearly you have to go the conversion route. At first I refused to do that, but the image quality and speed are fine.
Still hoping iTunes 11 will bring a new UI. In any case, all my videos are in iTunes and ATV so I'm ready
I look forward to improved home sharing reliability. Every freaking time I want to watch something I have to go upstairs to restart iTunes.
BTW: A great way to add videos to your ATV is Videodrive, I've been using it for a while now. On sale at mupromo.com. It doesn't require jailbreaking, so clearly you have to go the conversion route. At first I refused to do that, but the image quality and speed are fine.
Still hoping iTunes 11 will bring a new UI. In any case, all my videos are in iTunes and ATV so I'm ready
This update does not fix the file sharing problem that has had over 100,000 views and 56 pages of replies on the Apple forums https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2776955?start=0&tstart=0
After ATV sleeps for a while it cannot connect to home sharing.
Bug ever since the 5.0 update.
After ATV sleeps for a while it cannot connect to home sharing.
Bug ever since the 5.0 update.
Not at all.
I've shared it many times, and I have many differing Handbrake profiles. Some have stated my Blu-Ray profile is a bit over the top in the "Advanced Settings" but as I have a 12-Core current gen Mac Pro with 10GB's RAM, I'd rather use it to its full advantage to get as lossless a Blu-Ray encode as possible (and now with MP4 supporting DTS, no need for MKV containers).
Here is my string for Blu-Ray (I always use anamorphic Loose with modulus 8 for 1920x1080, some question it but having worked with handbrake guys and many others for advice, this has been the best):
NOTE: the "rd-lookahead=50: psy-" should not have a space between the 50: psy but it reads as
if I don't space it.Again, that is for Blu-Ray, my SD encodes are much different. There is definitely a noticeable difference, and I gain about 4-5 GBs of space through compression with that string.
As for my other settings, which I keep across encodes:
Video:
Video Codec: H.264 (x264)
FPS: Same as source
Variable Framerate
Video Quality:
Constant Quality RF: varies between 20-18 depending on source
Anamorphic: Loose w/ either modulus 16 (usually for SD encodes) or 8 (Blu-Ray) Keeps the image from being cropped and sized well no matter the media ratio
Audio:
This is a big area for me as I play my media through various devices. iDevices default to the first audio track, the next track I use for my main system, and I may include other tracks such as commentaries.
Track 1: AAC Stereo w/ 192 or 256 Bitrate (for iDevices and stereo only media)
Track 2: Auto Passthru (very important) DTS when available or AC3
Remaining tracks depending on commentaries, etc
Subtitles:
I normally don't use subtitles as they can FUBAR some devices, but feel free to insert an srt file if ya got em and need em
Otherwise, that's about it. I studied, asked many questions with Handbrake developers/experts/etc regarding my advanced settings string, and although some may believe it to be overkill for Blu-Ray encodes, I have the power in my Mac Pro and I'd rather play it safe than regret it.
My advice, study up on the differing settings, read the Handbrake documentation and have some patience if you're new to it as it definitely pays off in the end. Make various encodes of the same file, compare them to the original on your devices, and always save the profile in Handbrake as you work. I digitized about 200 DVD's, copied them over to my NAS and chucked my physical discs. I'll still buy Blu-Ray's as nothing quite compares to them yet, but having encoded copies is a smart decision.
Hope this helps and sorry for the long post.
Exactly. I don't know why some are voting down your comments and other comments in the same vein. People have different preferences, the aTV may work for them, and a more powerful system may work better for others. Doesn't mean either party if wrong (unless you make an erroneous assumption that those using anything other than an aTV are "pirating", which blows my mind).
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bedifferent, this is WONDERFUL info, thanks so much. You just saved me a massive amount of time
Glad I can help, and PM me any time if you have any questions.
Exactly. I don't know why some are voting down your comments and other comments in the same vein. People have different preferences, the aTV may work for them, and a more powerful system may work better for others. Doesn't mean either party if wrong (unless you make an erroneous assumption that those using anything other than an aTV are "pirating", which blows my mind).
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Glad I can help, and PM me any time if you have any questions.
I just may take you up on that sir, and thank you again.
I was hoping that the Podcast watched indicator would be updated automatically like two versions ago. It knows when you've partially watched a Favorite Podcast, but as soon as you finish, it's marked as unwatched again.
Not at all.
I've shared it many times, and I have many differing Handbrake profiles. Some have stated my Blu-Ray profile is a bit over the top in the "Advanced Settings" but as I have a 12-Core current gen Mac Pro with 10GB's RAM, I'd rather use it to its full advantage to get as lossless a Blu-Ray encode as possible (and now with MP4 supporting DTS, no need for MKV containers).
Here is my string for Blu-Ray (I always use anamorphic Loose with modulus 8 for 1920x1080, some question it but having worked with handbrake guys and many others for advice, this has been the best):
NOTE: the "rd-lookahead=50: psy-" should not have a space between the 50: psy but it reads as
Again, that is for Blu-Ray, my SD encodes are much different. There is definitely a noticeable difference, and I gain about 4-5 GBs of space through compression with that string.
As for my other settings, which I keep across encodes:
Video:
Video Codec: H.264 (x264)
FPS: Same as source
Variable Framerate
Video Quality:
Constant Quality RF: varies between 20-18 depending on source
Anamorphic: Loose w/ either modulus 16 (usually for SD encodes) or 8 (Blu-Ray) Keeps the image from being cropped and sized well no matter the media ratio
Audio:
This is a big area for me as I play my media through various devices. iDevices default to the first audio track, the next track I use for my main system, and I may include other tracks such as commentaries.
Track 1: AAC Stereo w/ 192 or 256 Bitrate (for iDevices and stereo only media)
Track 2: Auto Passthru (very important) DTS when available or AC3
Remaining tracks depending on commentaries, etc
Subtitles:
I normally don't use subtitles as they can FUBAR some devices, but feel free to insert an srt file if ya got em and need em
Otherwise, that's about it. I studied, asked many questions with Handbrake developers/experts/etc regarding my advanced settings string, and although some may believe it to be overkill for Blu-Ray encodes, I have the power in my Mac Pro and I'd rather play it safe than regret it.
My advice, study up on the differing settings, read the Handbrake documentation and have some patience if you're new to it as it definitely pays off in the end. Make various encodes of the same file, compare them to the original on your devices, and always save the profile in Handbrake as you work. I digitized about 200 DVD's, copied them over to my NAS and chucked my physical discs. I'll still buy Blu-Ray's as nothing quite compares to them yet, but having encoded copies is a smart decision.
Hope this helps and sorry for the long post.
You mentioned blu-ray. What would you recommend for DVD rips? I have my own profile saved, and 80% of the time it churns out pristine files, but the other 20% are totally worthless.
iTunes Match is snappier!
Yup it's vastly quicker on mine too...the genius mixes would take about 2 minutes to come up...it's now about 5 seconds!!
I'm still getting odd random reboots/restarts during Netflix, listening to podcasts, or streaming movies. Quite annoying tbh.
I updated both my ATV2 and ATV3 and still have the same issue where my podcasts, badge icons do not change after I've watched them. Every week the number grows higher even though I've watched every one of them.
Still having the issue where the ATV wakes up every ~5 minutes for no reason. This was introduced in iOS 5...