Apple tv for streaming without Jailbreak - Is it possible?

Acid0

Acid0

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Hi

I have a Apple tv 3
Is it possible to stream contents from a network to the apple tv for free.
I don't like plex thus I don't want to go that route.
I know XBMC could do it but you need to jailbreak the device.

Could you suggest if it even possible to do so to stream media through the apple tv that has folders.
 
Yip, everything needs iTunes and converted to correct format iTunes supports, mp4 I think.

Those WD and other servers that "claim' to be iTunes server often don't work like they say, from the reviews I have read.

So options are pretty limited, one of the reasons I didn't get AppleTV
 
Last edited:
Acid0 said:
Hi

I have a Apple tv 3
Is it possible to stream contents from a network to the apple tv for free.
I don't like plex thus I don't want to go that route.
I know XBMC could do it but you need to jailbreak the device.

Could you suggest if it even possible to do so to stream media through the apple tv that has folders.
Click to expand...

So you have an Apple TV and no other Apple devices to stream from?
 
If you buy apple, you must live in their eco-system.
Apple, trying to create a monopoly since 1976.
 
Just use AirVideo - it converts almost any format on the fly and then you just Airplay to the Apple TV. Been using it for years - works very well.

For some reason it is 100% stable from an iPad, but flaky on an iPhone. Do not know why...
 
Nothing I consume comes from iTunes and my AppleTV plays everything I download. I do use my phone to stream it though so there are drawbacks. There is an App by the name of Airvideo which will stream anything from your media server to your phone/ipad which you can then airplay to the TV via the appletv. It works flawlessly and uses very little battery... maybe 3% for a 2 hr movie. I even watch full HD 3D movies.

There is a way to get plex by changing something on your PC to make plex play through the "Trailers" icon on the apple TV but I'm quite happy with my current setup so I haven't looked into it.
 
Acid0 said:
Hi

I have a Apple tv 3
Is it possible to stream contents from a network to the apple tv for free.
I don't like plex thus I don't want to go that route.
I know XBMC could do it but you need to jailbreak the device.

Could you suggest if it even possible to do so to stream media through the apple tv that has folders.
Click to expand...

Dead simple. If it is in iTunes, just click airplay and it will start playing on your apple tv.
If it isn't in iTunes, get an app like Beamer, drag it in, and voila, it starts playing on your apple tv.

Or you can set up home sharing, but then you have to navigate around, which I don't like
 
So in short there is nothing like the interface we have in XBMC and media portal where you actualy see folders with the contents in it..

The reason I dont like plex was due to the fact that when I imported all the media from my server it just mixed everything up and its not in the right folders.

It would have for example have the contents of 21 Jump street inside 24's folder and half of 24's contents are just gone.
But I guess that will have to be a different topic in a different thread.

So in short no app or way to bring a app like XBMC or media portal except Plex.

I will then have to play around in plex to get that right so I can use it in the atv.
 
Most TV shows are released as MP4 these days so just use iFlicks to add cover art etc and it will then add it to iTunes automatically or if you are not interested in making all your content look pretty, then just add the MP4 as is to iTunes.
 
tdk said:
Just use AirVideo - it converts almost any format on the fly and then you just Airplay to the Apple TV. Been using it for years - works very well.

For some reason it is 100% stable from an iPad, but flaky on an iPhone. Do not know why...
Click to expand...

+1, 100% stable on both my iphone and ipad... I see they have an HD version too,wanna give that a go now. Their cellphone app is a nominal fee.
 
Streaming Netflix works. Just set your dns at router level.
 
If you've used a real system like XBMC, you're seriously going to frustrate yourself with the ATV.
 
Dolby said:
If you've used a real system like XBMC, you're seriously going to frustrate yourself with the ATV.
Click to expand...

I have a HTPC in the front of the house that uses Media portal now (due to the XBMC that does not pick up my soundcard anymore)
and alongside Netflix + Hulu +

I recently started to roll out the ATV in the one bedroom and need to add three more for the other rooms.
Once done I can get rid of certain premium package that is not needed anymore.

I just thought I could stream the media contents on my server through to all the other rooms.

So is there maybe another top box like the ATV that can stream media form the server and stream online contents seamlessly ?

Regards
 
Acid0 said:
I have a HTPC in the front of the house that uses Media portal now (due to the XBMC that does not pick up my soundcard anymore)
and alongside Netflix + Hulu +

I recently started to roll out the ATV in the one bedroom and need to add three more for the other rooms.
Once done I can get rid of certain premium package that is not needed anymore.

I just thought I could stream the media contents on my server through to all the other rooms.

So is there maybe another top box like the ATV that can stream media form the server and stream online contents seamlessly ?

Regards
Click to expand...

http://www.takealot.com/wd-tv-play-wireless-streaming-media-player/PLID29430433

http://www.takealot.com/wd-tv-media-player/PLID32801459
 
Acid0 said:
So is there maybe another top box like the ATV that can stream media form the server and stream online contents seamlessly ?

Regards
Click to expand...

Yea perhaps another type.

I have both as well and function wise, there is little comparison. I bought and use my ATV only for Netflix - and it does it well I think. Smooth with a great interface.

But when it comes to adding files, it pales. It won't accept any of my music (unless I convert) and half my movies (unless I convert. I'd spend months waiting for the conversion of what I have - then I've heard there are still issue with tagging, unlike XBMC which just works.

After this process I'd need to make sure that I only get the right codec, container etc that Apple want - it's just far easier going elsewhere
 
DroidTV connected to network via wifi N or Lan could also the ALL those tricks, even got mine setup as an AirPlay receiver.
 
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