Yup, if you properly rip your videos and make sure the end product is Apple-native (mp4 / mov / m4v with H.264 video and AAC / AC3 audio), it'll be playable by the ATV as well. That is, in order to use the ATV for video playback, you in no way are locked to videos purchased from the iTunes store.
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Roku CEO Calls Apple TV a 'Money Loser', Says Product is 'Essentially' an Accessory for iPad
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Yup, if you properly rip your videos and make sure the end product is Apple-native (mp4 / mov / m4v with H.264 video and AAC / AC3 audio), it'll be playable by the ATV as well. That is, in order to use the ATV for video playback, you in no way are locked to videos purchased from the iTunes store.
It's amazing the wave of animosity here anyone gets who criticizes Apple. It seems rather insecure, quite frankly.
We are an Apple household, but the Apple TV has problems that has prevented me from buying it. It only has a very limited selection of movie file formats it will play and image formats it will show, and as far as I know, they have to be in iPhoto for you to use them.
Plus, what is on Apple TV in Canada is pretty limited.
When and if Apple TV opens up to other apps (like Plex, which I find great) and allows more file formats, I will probably get it. Until then, though, I won't.
And for those criticizing the CEO for criticizing Apple, remember all the things that Steve Jobs has said about other companies and products before doing what they were doing. Hating on Roku for doing the same is extremely disingenuous.
We are an Apple household, but the Apple TV has problems that has prevented me from buying it. It only has a very limited selection of movie file formats it will play and image formats it will show, and as far as I know, they have to be in iPhoto for you to use them.
Plus, what is on Apple TV in Canada is pretty limited.
When and if Apple TV opens up to other apps (like Plex, which I find great) and allows more file formats, I will probably get it. Until then, though, I won't.
And for those criticizing the CEO for criticizing Apple, remember all the things that Steve Jobs has said about other companies and products before doing what they were doing. Hating on Roku for doing the same is extremely disingenuous.
Dunno, I don't purchase anything electronic-only - after all, BD's and DVD's are cheap enough (particularly if you shop around and, in addition to checking out amazon.com's "used" offers, also check out amazon.de, co.uk and the likes and order the cheapest one), they last long, can be ripped any number of times and the ripped content isn't DRM'ed, meaning it's not locked to a particular platform.
its just the way of doing it thats different.
For example, with the plex setup, Plex supports an extremely wide variety of filetypes and compression methods. When ripping, downloading copying or whatever, you don't have to be nearly as picky to ensure that your devices themselves support it.
For AppleTV, while yes, you can do this. You have a very specific format that Apple supports. You have to use iTunes, and you can only stream to AppleTV devices (or i-devices).
With plex. you literally drop the movie onto your drive. And Plex immediately adds it to your libary (no matter the file format, as long as it can read it), downloads and updates all meta-info for that content, and then makes it available for Syncing or streaming to any device that runs Plex. it will auto-transcode on the fly depending on the client network settings, and support for file formats.
AppleTV works best if you're already in the iTunes and Apple format camp. But I didnt start with that. I started years ago converting my DVD's, and now Bluerays and digital content to DIVX, and now h264 encoded MKV's. No matter what format they're in now, Plex will play it to all my devices.
The end devices only need to support DLNA to play. There's no ecosystem tie in, or limiting factor to what devices I can watch on this way.
I have nothing against the iTunes model. for MOST people, it probably is enough.
However, if you're not already full into the itunes model and have invested elsewhere, AppleTV is very limited in Comparison
Roku has plenty of control over the supply chain. They have been doing many hardware iterations over the years and Roku has made it clear they are making money on the hardware.
In short - with Plex - you can stream to many different devices and various formats. With iTunes - you're not as flexible. So for households that have a variety of devices - having a DLNA server is far more advantageous than iTunes.
I actually do the exact same thing - though with AppleTVs & iOS devices, i.e., rip my own physical media, store it on my own server/NAS DRM-free. While I dig conceptually on DLNA providing streaming services to things like our PS3, Xbox, etc., all our TVs have an ATVs. I also really like the consistent experience - all local content is provided with the same UI, external services the same (switching between the PS3 or TV Netflix interface and the AppleTV is a bit jarring, especially for my wife and my little girl - thats why we covered every set with an ATV, especially at refurb or used prices). Also, setting up content controls/restrictions work great, especially with properly a properly tagged source (easily accomplished, and nearly automated with Handbrake + Subler).
All that being said, a few things that would improve Apples home AV experience (these dont effect me so much, just some observations on missing features/functions for most folks):
- AirPort, TimeCapsule iTunes services
- AppleTV direct connect storage
- Improved iOS remote (this really needs to be a mirrored UI vs. a traditional remote emulation, though the direct KB entry is much appreciated)
I actually do the exact same thing - though with AppleTVs & iOS devices, i.e., rip my own physical media, store it on my own server/NAS DRM-free. While I dig conceptually on DLNA providing streaming services to things like our PS3, Xbox, etc., all our TVs have an ATVs. I also really like the consistent experience - all local content is provided with the same UI, external services the same (switching between the PS3 or TV Netflix interface and the AppleTV is a bit jarring, especially for my wife and my little girl - thats why we covered every set with an ATV, especially at refurb or used prices). Also, setting up content controls/restrictions work great, especially with properly a properly tagged source (easily accomplished, and nearly automated with Handbrake + Subler).
All that being said, a few things that would improve Apples home AV experience (these dont effect me so much, just some observations on missing features/functions for most folks):
- AirPort, TimeCapsule iTunes services
- AppleTV direct connect storage
- Improved iOS remote (this really needs to be a mirrored UI vs. a traditional remote emulation, though the direct KB entry is much appreciated)
My BIGGEST complaint about Apple TV is it's horrible A-Z menuing. I have over 700 movies in iTunes and unless I use a keyboard or another device - there is no SEARCH or way to jump to any letter. You HAVE to scroll.
Seriously?
I should add that to my list, totally agree. That’s _kind_ of what I meant by remote mirroring, it should be an optimized, iOS style UI vs. a replacement for stock remote.
Basically like you’re using AirPlay from iOS, but it’s really driving the ATV directly.
To your point: *and* that should be carried through to the native ATV UI.
All I'm saying is that Apple pay less than Roku pays for their CPUs and other components. Obviously nothing is free.
just another reason why I am so madly in love with plex.
I love using the plexapp on my phone, or tablet, or even heck, has a web browser, to be able to easily navigate my library locally on the screen of my device, then press a single button to "fling" the streaming to any device that runs the plex client.
This includes Roku's, Android TV boxes, many smart TV's, and the ChromeCast.
have to though, Cause admittingly, the Roku interface itself sucks. If AppleTV wasn't so locked down, and could allow Plex. I'd be allover it, since I wouldn't mind Airplay.
I don't mind the simplicity of the ATV remote. But iOS for ATV needs an easy way to get between the letters of a-z.
I mean it's a fine UI if you rent movies all the time. But for those wanting to use it as a media hub, it's less than stellar in this department.
An accessory for the iPad would mean that you can't use it with the iPad. And as you point out, you can.
Which Roku do you have? I have the 3 and I have no real complaints about the UI. I find it better than ATVs...
And yes - Plex rocks. I have Plex on one of my Apple TV2s (jailbroken) and it works decently - but I still prefer the implementation on Roku.
Plus - I can't lie. I bought, on the cheap, a 32gb usb key that is tiny. I have been know to just transfer 5-10 movies to that and plug it into the Roku for playback because then my wifi isn't touched.
"Apple is losing money on the AppleTV" would be a very strange thing to say if Roku was actually doing well. Due to economies of scale as well as in-house CPU design, Apple pay less than any competitor, certainly less than Roku for its components. Than there is iTunes for a continuing revenue stream for every AppleTV sold, which Roku can't match. It seems to me that Roku is losing money (or making next to nothing) and projecting on Apple.
It’s definitely time for a ground up UI redesign. The box has plenty of CPU power, people are compiling lots of media, and heck, I think the product has grown beyond a “hobby”.
... and while they’re at it: SDK, Apps, controller support
It's an oversight I do not understand. The elements of the UI are already there. They already have an onscreen "keyboard" so you can enter your user names and passwords.
Why then, can you not have a onscreen keyboard available on the screen that shows your video library.
It's really mind boggling and obvious to most people.
One of the roku 2 variants. Don't know if the 3 has updated the linear / left and right navigation model. But having to go through long lists one by one. For example, add the Rev3 games channel and look for the reviews section. You'll be pressing right a few dozen times.
Ahh. I guess most of the content I use is a few button presses away.
I'll have to check that one out to see what you mean.
An iPad accessory?!!! Haha.
I've had every version of the
TV and it has never been an accessory to my iPads or iPhones. I use Airplay every so often and sometimes use my iPhone as a remote when I can't find mine or am doing something to where I don't want to grab it and my phone is in my pocket.
For me theTV has always been a connection to stream my media from iTunes as well as rent movies. I used to use netflix (no longer subscribed) and I do watch some ESPN plus other apps on it. The last thing it is, however, is an accessory for my iOS devices.
I've had every version of the
TV and it has never been an accessory to my iPads or iPhones. I use Airplay every so often and sometimes use my iPhone as a remote when I can't find mine or am doing something to where I don't want to grab it and my phone is in my pocket.For me the
TV has always been a connection to stream my media from iTunes as well as rent movies. I used to use netflix (no longer subscribed) and I do watch some ESPN plus other apps on it. The last thing it is, however, is an accessory for my iOS devices.
Besides Plex, my favorite feature of the Roku is the ability to plug in a USB drive into the Roku and play the video from the USB drive (no WIFI needed). Most smart TVs have this feature but it's great if you don't have a smart TV and a WIFI connection (traveling).
The comparison was to an unnamed Android tablet. Nowhere did Schiller state anything to the effect that "this is a Nexus 7" and here are its shortcomings in relation to the iPad. There's clearly a difference between saying, in a generic way, "our competitors' products lack XYZ," to saying "Apple TV is a money loser and basically can only be used as an accessory for the iPad."
They may not have directly said the words "nexus 7"
but they clearly were showing a nexus 7 on the screen and heavily implied that they were comparing to a N7.
you can move the goal posts all you'd like. Apple historically still is as guilty of calling out the competitors, as the competitors calling Apple out.
Neither IMHO are justified in it. I've said it in the past, but it was one of my biggest pet peeves with Steve Jobs. He Regularly bad mouthed competitors on stage.