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Post by PapaJac on Sept 1, 2010 19:37:10 GMT -5
What do you think about the new Apple TV? www.apple.com/appletv/Im considering this for music in conjuction with the XDA-1... Plus can be controlled the library via the Ipad, Itouch and Iphone Your thoughts are welcome... ;D |
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Chris
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Post by Chris on Sept 1, 2010 20:00:11 GMT -5
What do you think about the new Apple TV? www.apple.com/appletv/Im considering this for music in conjuction with the XDA-1... Plus can be controlled the library via the Ipad, Itouch and Iphone Your thoughts are welcome... ;D Using your words as your main purpose, "considering this for music", I think there are other, possibly better products. I for one am a huge fan of the Logitech Squeezebox line of music players. Again if you are really a music fan I think these devices excel compared to the what Apple is providing. I am thinking about support for FLAC, high resolution audio (96k/24b) in the case of the Touch, and no need to connect a monitor or TV to use. These are just a few of the reasons a music lover would want the Squeezebox over the Apple product. You can buy a Squeezebox Touch if you shop carefully for about $200. The continued walled garden that is Apple's mantra continues to limit and concern me. This is from a person who owns several Apple PCs but is not a full time Apple user. I own about a dozen PCs most of which run Windows or Linux so I am not particularly partisan although I do have some historical employment allegiance to the boys of Redmond. -CB |
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Post by dreadpiratemarc on Sept 1, 2010 23:47:07 GMT -5
I currently use iTunes running on an HTPC for music, controlled remotely by an iPhone. I think it works pretty well, including for high-resolution files (24-bit Apple Lossless). If I didn't already have an HTPC as part of my set-up, I would be looking at the new Apple TV for that purpose. I'd want to read the fine print to make sure that the on-board sound card can output high-rez audio over optical without downgrading it. And if I was thinking about running it without a display, I'd want to double-check that that's possible. But for only $99, I think it's about the cheapest streaming option now, so you'd be crazy not to consider it.
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Erwin.BE
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It's the room, stupid!
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Post by Erwin.BE on Sept 2, 2010 2:58:16 GMT -5
It's an Airport Express with added video capacity. That it no longer has a HD makes that you cannot use it without a running Mac anymore. for me, the 160 GB was to small anyway so I simply use the AE. I will replace it some day with this Apple TV for the iTunes library control function and the photo streaming on our TV.
The AE sound is limited to ALAC. I don't suppose the ATV will be different. No HiRes!
From what I read, the Squeezebox is a pain to setup with Mac if you don't went to MIT. I never tried it.
Airplay will now be able to stream music direct (without ATV) to certain (network) enabled devices, such as Denon & Marantz AVR's. Still not a multi-room system like Sonos that let's you play anything in any room. Only something in any room, I guess.
My conclusion is that the new ATV is perfect for the money, but it has it's limits.
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Post by PapaJac on Sept 2, 2010 5:26:31 GMT -5
These are the audio formats it can play.
HE-AAC (V1), AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV; Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound pass-through
Not bad at all...
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Post by bd8802 on Sept 2, 2010 8:38:53 GMT -5
Using an AirPort Express right now, it works perfectly. I'm 100% Apple at home, so the tight integration to iTunes makes it a better solution than a squeezebox product. Will probably get a new Apple TV at some point and move the AirPort Express to another room.
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Erwin.BE
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It's the room, stupid!
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Post by Erwin.BE on Sept 2, 2010 11:52:38 GMT -5
These are the audio formats it can play. HE-AAC (V1), AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV; Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound pass-through Not bad at all... Doesn't the Airtunes/Airplay convert to ALAC on the fly? |
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Post by GreenKiwi on Sept 3, 2010 3:03:33 GMT -5
One question that I haven't found out that is a big one for me is whether or not it will stream any compatible video from iTunes or only those that have been "purchased"? I'm a little worried they might have done that to satisfy the TV/Movie companies... but who knows. The wording on the page is just a bit suspect. Guess I'll be calling apple tomorrow to ask about it.
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Erwin.BE
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Post by Erwin.BE on Sept 3, 2010 3:50:28 GMT -5
One question that I haven't found out that is a big one for me is whether or not it will stream any compatible video from iTunes or only those that have been "purchased"? I'm a little worried they might have done that to satisfy the TV/Movie companies... but who knows. The wording on the page is just a bit suspect. Guess I'll be calling apple tomorrow to ask about it. I assume it plays anything that iTunes can throw at it. I am still not convinced that it plays back better than ALAC. If you play a WAV or AIFF track in iTunes and send it out via an Apple Express, iTunes converts to ALAC on the fly to prevent hickups. |
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Post by PapaJac on Sept 3, 2010 16:27:29 GMT -5
One question that I haven't found out that is a big one for me is whether or not it will stream any compatible video from iTunes or only those that have been "purchased"? I'm a little worried they might have done that to satisfy the TV/Movie companies... but who knows. The wording on the page is just a bit suspect. Guess I'll be calling apple tomorrow to ask about it. I assume it plays anything that iTunes can throw at it. I am still not convinced that it plays back better than ALAC. If you play a WAV or AIFF track in iTunes and send it out via an Apple Express, iTunes converts to ALAC on the fly to prevent hickups. We need to find out if the new apple tv do that too. Hope not, just send AIFF for example without any convertion. If anybody find this information please post. Although still a good buy for $99. |
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stiehl11
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Post by stiehl11 on Sept 4, 2010 2:06:21 GMT -5
Has anyone heard of the Patriot Box Office? I've been on the fence about getting that for my system. It retails for $99 but I've seen it on Amazon and eBay for less. What I would like it (or anything similar) to be able to do is stream video and music from the web. I'm thinking that a SFF PC would likely be a better investment for what I want to do, though. And no, I don't play video games unless my daughter is here and we play the Wii.  |
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Post by PapaJac on Sept 5, 2010 10:57:08 GMT -5
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on Sept 5, 2010 11:37:07 GMT -5
That is an excellent (and completely valid) explanation. |
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Post by GreenKiwi on Sept 5, 2010 12:00:42 GMT -5
Well, my pre-order is in. If it doesn't play non-protected video it will be going back to the apple store.
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Post by Nemesis.ie on Sept 7, 2010 7:36:47 GMT -5
These are the audio formats it can play. HE-AAC (V1), AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV; Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound pass-through Not bad at all... For the same or less money you can get devices from other folks which (probably) have less restrictions, will it play back media you have ripped/compressed yourself using your preferred codec is probably the key point as discussed above. IMO, no MKV container = FAIL, no WMV or VC1 = FAIL Does it support those? Even if only interested in audio, why not get something that supports all (most) of the video formats too? The WD TV HD+ gets good reviews, the AC Ryan devices are very stable, Syabas products are getting there and have some extra features. Some of those allow web-control too, so should work with any smart phone. YMMV of course.  |
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Post by morgain on Sept 7, 2010 8:20:39 GMT -5
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