Culo69
join:2003-08-12
Antioch, CA
| reply to rugby
Re: It's good but not great
try using Handbrake »www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/12987
HandBrake is a GPL'd multiplatform, multithreaded DVD to MPEG-4 ripper/converter. HandBrake was originally available on the BeOS, but now has been ported over to MacOS X and to GNU/Linux.
* Supported sources:
o Any DVD-like source: VIDEO_TS folder, DVD image or real DVD (even encrypted)
o PAL or NTSC
o AC-3, LPCM or MPEG audio tracks
* Outputs:
o File format: MP4, AVI or OGM
o Video: MPEG-4 or H.264 (1 or 2 passes or constant quantizer encoding)
o Audio: AAC, MP3, Vorbis or AC-3 pass-through (supports encoding of several audio tracks)
You can copy your dvd'S on put them into your itunes and watch on your apple tv |
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alchav
join:2002-05-17
Palm Desert, CA
 ·Pacific Bell - SBC
|  reply to rugby
said by rugby  :Here's what Apple's bringing to the table: 1) your music. Got iTunes on a computer in your house? AppleTV can either sync or stream the music directly. can Tivo do that? 2) Pictures. Got iPhoto? AppleTV can sync iPhoto albums or your entire library. 3) Ease of use. No getting out the mouse to control the AppleTV. I have a windows HTPC using BeyondTV, so when I want to stream something from netflix I have to get out the mouse and hope that MS's DRM doesn't decide to lock me out (for some reason it does that with the streaming feature every now and then). 4) cross platform compatibility. Does Netflix streaming work with Macs? Does Tivo support anything advanced on Macs? I've had a Buffalo Link Theater DVD Networked Player for years that does all this with a Remote. It streams DVD quality video at 1080i from PC or Server over Ethernet. It does not play DRM protected video well, even though it does try to work with Microsoft Windows Media Connect. This unit came out years ago, and I think it is way better than AppleTV. |
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rugby
I think I know it all.
VIP
join:2000-09-26
Camby, IN
 ·Comcast
 ·Callcentric
| reply to RadioDoc
Here's what Apple's bringing to the table:
1) your music. Got iTunes on a computer in your house? AppleTV can either sync or stream the music directly. can Tivo do that?
2) Pictures. Got iPhoto? AppleTV can sync iPhoto albums or your entire library.
3) Ease of use. No getting out the mouse to control the AppleTV. I have a windows HTPC using BeyondTV, so when I want to stream something from netflix I have to get out the mouse and hope that MS's DRM doesn't decide to lock me out (for some reason it does that with the streaming feature every now and then).
4) cross platform compatibility. Does Netflix streaming work with Macs? Does Tivo support anything advanced on Macs?
I know the AppleTV isn't fully featured and I would LOVE for Apple to buy ElGato, fix up eyeTV, and integrate the entire thing into a Mini with built-in digital tuners HOWEVER, it's not happening yet.
I use my AppleTV for hours each day for pictures, music, shows, etc. Once rentals are available on it I could even see getting a movie every now and then. I have clients who have gotten rid of their Comcast because all of the shows they want to watch and record are available through iTunes. |
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Dogfather
Premium
join:2007-12-26
Laguna Hills, CA
·Cox HSI
 ·Verizon FIOS
·Cox VOIP
·ViaTalk
·RoadRunner Cable
·MegaPath
·Verizon west (ex G..
·Time Warner VOIP
1 edit | reply to RadioDoc
The question wasn't about equipment, it was about why Apple is only doing 720P content (even for non-ATV devices) and so far Amazon doesn't rent HD content. Resources and will are two different things. They certainly have the resources, but with so many SD TiVo boxes in the installed base compared to HD boxes, they likely aren't compelled to expedite HD rentals.
But everything else you mention I agree with. ATV won't be successful without something substantially more than VOD rentals and xfers |
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RadioDoc
58ef2c0
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11
·AT&T Midwest
| reply to Dogfather
The question was about 1080i/p equipment. TiVo can do that right now, and does. The content will come. You think Amazon doesn't have the resources to do that?
The Apple TV and XBOX are not DVRs, either. Apple needs to get on the ball and add that functionality (it's not that hard, but will require additional hardware) if they expect it to grow. Currently it's the bastard stepchild of the product line.
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Toolmaster of La Grange. |
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Dogfather
Premium
join:2007-12-26
Laguna Hills, CA
·Cox HSI
·Verizon FIOS
·Cox VOIP
·ViaTalk
·RoadRunner Cable
·MegaPath
·Verizon west (ex G..
·Time Warner VOIP
4 edits | reply to RadioDoc
I was unaware that Unbox movies were 1080i. I thought they were all MPEG2 SD "DVD quality" movies and there were no titles available in HD resolutions.
If Amazon doesn't offer HD titles, the only thing Apple TV is bringing that TiVo+Unbox isn't is what Microsoft already does, 720P HD rentals.
Meanwhile it's a WAY smaller step for TiVo+Amazon to offer 720P than it is for Apple to add something like CableCard support and DVR functions that TiVo already has for less than $100 more than ATV. |
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RadioDoc
58ef2c0
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11
·AT&T Midwest
| reply to Dogfather
said by Dogfather :I'm sure we'll see future ATV type devices doing 1080i or even 1080P. There already here. It's called TiVo. Apple is way late to this game. My Series 3 HD can rent movies from Amazon. What is Apple bringing to the table?
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Toolmaster of La Grange. |
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