Playing avi's through Apple TV

Prophet

Prophet

Prophet

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I understand Apple TV will only play media through iTunes. Being an iTunes/Apple newbie is there another way to import existing media (avi's) into iTunes?
 
Two options here as I understand it mate:

1. Convert the AVI's to MP4's using Handbrake or similar.
2. Jailbreak the AppleTV and install XBMC, which will play the AVI's.

I'm currently working my way through #1. :D
 
Cool, thanks for the info.

I'd be happier converting the existing media as my other half would kill me if I messed with the software on her beloved Apple TV lol.
 
Panzerbjorn said:
Option 2 is the best option.
Click to expand...

In what way?

Orange Peel said:
Cool, thanks for the info.

I'd be happier converting the existing media as my other half would kill me if I messed with the software on her beloved Apple TV lol.
Click to expand...

Handbrake has a built in preset for AppleTV which I use. In fact I'm using a handy script I found to convert any AVI in a folder and subfolders to MP4. I just leave that running! Email in trust if you want more info - not sure what the rules are here for discussing converting/ripping!
 
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I agree that option 2 is the best way to go for this.
Reasons:
- Better UI with XBMC for browsing your video files
- Save time from having to convert all your files
- You can have both the apple tv original software running and then load up xbmc anytime you wish
- Very easy to jailbreak ATV2
- The gf will not have any trouble browsing through xbmc

But if ofc you have an automated process like cotton31 then keeping with itunes may not be too bad, you'd have two copies of each file though unless you go around deleting them after.
 
Vonhelmet said:
Except where you specifically don't want to mess with the software. Then it's just about the worst option.
Click to expand...

Except when it's still the best option regardless.

It's a *relatively* painless process that can't do any damage.

The risk is minuscule and the benefits are huge, so much so that you'd be stupid not to do it.

It even runs side-by-side with the standard ATV software, so it doesn't overwrite anything.

If anything the ATV is close to useless until you jailbreak it and stick XBMC on it.

cotton31 said:
In what way?
Click to expand...

  • Better support for file formats.
  • Can read from an external HDD/NAS
  • No need for iTunes to be running
  • Additional apps
  • Can read DVD rips so there's no need to convert/compress
  • What MichaelHo said
 
Bumping this thread as I am getting apple TV soon and intend on Jailbreaking it, anyone got any decent advice on how to do it?
 
As the others said, Option 2 is the best route. Jailbreaking the ATV simply adds an existing column on the ATV interface screen for extra options. So it's hard to really go wrong there.

XBMC would be miles better than recoding avi's. It also makes your ATV a much more useable device given that xbmc literally plays anything thrown at it.
 
Jailbreaking is a doddle, the only thing I struggled with was getting the thing into recovery mode. Once that was done it was all pretty straightforward.

The other small issue is because it's a hack I guess once you get past the user friendly guides and want to troubleshoot something or tweak something you get into seriously techy guides so there'll be some reading involved.

Although having said that you really don't need to go to those lengths unless you want something pretty specific.
 
http://seas0npass.com is the simplest way to Jailbreak, then you can either pay Firecore for ATVFlash or get hands dirty with some terminal cmds :) I personally use Plexapp.com on my ATV2 with plex server on my 7TB hackintosh nas, best solution i've ever had since the old XBOX & XBMC
 
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