Where to put iTunes and imported movies for Apple TV?

[davidg4781]

What's the best way to put all my purchased movies together? This is coming from those bought through iTunes and those ripped through DVDs (or blu-rays in the future). Right now if I want to watch those I have to go through the Computer app on Apple TV and hope my mini is turned on. I can watch all the iTunes movies through the TV or movies app.

The main reason I started thinking of this is I currently have 2 Apple TVs (1 3rd gen and mainly for Netflix) and a mini. I'm looking to upgrade the mini's HDD to SDD, but it'll be a smaller size. Most of my storage now is in media and I see that growing in the future. I also may get a MacBook and will have a smaller storage, so I'm kind of preparing that now and planning for an external drive.

Would this be something Plex does? I'd like to just go to one place to view all paid for movies.

 

[d21mike]

Would this be something Plex does? I'd like to just go to one place to view all paid for movies.

PLEX works well but you have to remove the DRM from your iTunes downloads. The other option is to put everything under iTunes. In either case you have to download the iTunes Movies to have them all in one place. You can of course use an external drive for iTunes Content or PLEX. PLEX also runs on some NAS boxes but make sure to not get one that is under powered.

 

[davidg4781]

The ripped DVDs are in iTunes but don't show unless I go to Computers in ATV. I can see all the movies and TV shows in iTunes this way, but I was hoping to maybe remove the ones purchased through iTunes from my storage to free some up.

Maybe I should just go another way. I only have 5 movies in storage. 4 I have DVDs to, 1's a VHS transfer. And really DVDs don't upscale that well to 1080p... or later even 4K.

The only on that's somewhat important is the VHS, it's The D.I. It's available in iTunes to purchase but is cropped to go from 4:3 to 16:9.

 

[d21mike]

Years ago I converted 180 DVD's and it took a long time and hard to maintain (for me). Once I got the Apple TV 3 I decided to abandon that process. Of the 180 movies I really only watched about 10 over and over (maybe more). So decided to re-buy 10 top movies in HD on iTunes. Most were only about $10 since old movies. Then over time I continued to buy some older movies and some new moves. I now have about 170 iTunes Movies in HD. And now some to them will get a FREE Upgrade to 4K. So, I think my decision has turned out to be a good one for me. Also, really nice to easily download to iPad and iPhone as needed for travel. Also, I only have Apple TV's connected to my TV's. I have 8. Planning to buy 2 Apple TV 4K's since I currently have 1 4K TV but will get a second one later this year.

 

[davidg4781]

That's what I'm thinking I'll do. I originally was leaning towards Blu-ray with digital downloads since the Blu-ray is supposed to be higher quality. With 4K HDR coming from iTunes, I don't think that'll be a big issue soon. I don't have a 4K TV but didn't see the point in buying lesser quality media for the same price.

I don't like that some movies aren't on iTunes, like the older animated movies of Transformers and G.I. Joe. They're available on Blu-ray though.

So going this way I don't even have to worry about download them, correct? Is there still an issue with Apple removing movies from there servers? Or is it best to still keep a backup?

 

[d21mike]

That's what I'm thinking I'll do. I originally was leaning towards Blu-ray with digital downloads since the Blu-ray is supposed to be higher quality. With 4K HDR coming from iTunes, I don't think that'll be a big issue soon. I don't have a 4K TV but didn't see the point in buying lesser quality media for the same price.

I don't like that some movies aren't on iTunes, like the older animated movies of Transformers and G.I. Joe. They're available on Blu-ray though.

So going this way I don't even have to worry about download them, correct? Is there still an issue with Apple removing movies from there servers? Or is it best to still keep a backup?

Some people feel you need to keep a backup because they either have lost a movie or heard you can loose a movie. I personally have not lost any movies (that I know of) and if I lost one it might not be a big deal "to me". Again, I only watch a subset of my moves over and over still. At one time I did have extra space on my laptop so just downloaded them. I do not have that space available now. And with 4K the movies are going to get much larger.

 

[davidg4781]

Thanks.

I'm really not a big movie watcher. But I'm starting to get some of the bigger ones like Star Wars or Marvel stuff, or if they go on sale (I got Rocky I-Balboa for $25). Overtime, this is not going to get smaller.

I wish Apple would have something like iTunes Match but for movies. VUDU does it. I'd even pay for it, just to make life easier.

 

[d21mike]

Thanks.

I'm really not a big movie watcher. But I'm starting to get some of the bigger ones like Star Wars or Marvel stuff, or if they go on sale (I got Rocky I-Balboa for $25). Overtime, this is not going to get smaller.

I wish Apple would have something like iTunes Match but for movies. VUDU does it. I'd even pay for it, just to make life easier.

I do watch a lot of movies. My son keeps say why can't we RENT to BUY. You should get some credit for Renting a movie first. Also, never buy TV Series since I only watch them once and can not see having to buy.

 

[Rigby]

It's a shame that the TV app does not support local Home Sharing content. That would be an easy way to bring everything under one roof ...

 

[davidg4781]

I do watch a lot of movies. My son keeps say why can't we RENT to BUY. You should get some credit for Renting a movie first. Also, never buy TV Series since I only watch them once and can not see having to buy.

Right on about the tv series. But sometimes you can't find them anywhere else.

I almost bought Star Wars Rebels but ended up subscribing to DirecTV Now for $10/month for a couple of months. This let me watch all the episodes through Disney XD app.

I think Night Court is only available on iTunes. I doubt I'd pay for it but if I was a bigger fan that would be the only way to watch it.