Can I use Apple TV with my PC wireless router?

[josuff247]

Can I use Apple TV with my PC wireless router?
Do I need Airport?

My computer and wireless router is not near my tv.
Is this compatible?

[tranzparentl]

You definately don't need an Apple Airport. I havn't used Apple TV so I'm not expert but any router should work fine.

I also read that Apple TV can play other media files on your PC, not just those purchased through iTunes.

I've been looking for a good way to stream HD content from my PC to TV. Currently I use the Xbox 360 but I know the streaming definately isn't 1080p, neither is the Apple TV though.

[josuff247]

Thanks.
My TV is 720P anyway.
I may go this route.
I waste way too much money on HD DVD and Blurays that I watch only once, if at all. This can be a huge money and space saver.

[MrE]

josuff247,

3 things:

1) Do you not have Cable or an On Demand type of service?

2) If you are more interested in the streaming content aspect, you can stream unprotected media files from your PC to your PS3.

3) Why not just pay $15 a month for Netflix?

[tranzparentl]

I just bought a new 750GB HDD for that same reason.

In the upcoming months I will be trying out different methods of HD streaming.

I'm sure we're just seeing the tip of the Iceberg right now and many more devices will be coming to market with this functionality.

I want to make sure the next step is a decent PQ upgrade over the Xbox Media Center before I make the plunge.

[redfirebird2008]

Originally Posted by tranzparentl

You definately don't need an Apple Airport. I havn't used Apple TV so I'm not expert but any router should work fine.

I also read that Apple TV can play other media files on your PC, not just those purchased through iTunes.

I've been looking for a good way to stream HD content from my PC to TV. Currently I use the Xbox 360 but I know the streaming definately isn't 1080p, neither is the Apple TV though.

The other bad thing about using the XBox 360 is the fact that it has a rather ugly history of failure rates. I own one and just recently played some videos on it through an external hard drive for the first time. It's quieter than playing a 360 game, but still the fan seems to work so hard all the time that you have to wonder how stable it is. I don't do much gaming so I've probably been lucky to not get the RROD because I got mine last Christmas. One of my roommates got his this spring and he got the RROD so I do consider myself fortunate and try to be careful with it. A dedicated video set top box would eliminate this issue entirely, but like you mentioned the Apple TV is currently not 1080p although I think it will be eventually.

[josuff247]

Originally Posted by MrE

josuff247,

3 things:

1) Do you not have Cable or an On Demand type of service?

2) If you are more interested in the streaming content aspect, you can stream unprotected media files from your PC to your PS3.

3) Why not just pay $15 a month for Netflix?

Thanks for the input. I am still in the considering stage. To answer your questions.
1. Yes I have cable and on demand, but there is hardly a selection, and movies are like $7. Maybe this will change come Feb 09
2. I'd be curuios to learn more about this. Is it legal?
3. I actually do have netflix, but everything I want to see in my entire que says very long wait.

Where can you stream video from onto the PS3?
What about Music?

Oh and one last thing. I like that they have full studio support.
I am tired of all the toshiba-sony games. I just want HD.

Thanks.

[tranzparentl]

Originally Posted by josuff247

T
2. I'd be curuios to learn more about this. Is it legal?

Where can you stream video from onto the PS3?
What about Music?

Oh and one last thing. I like that they have full studio support.
I am tired of all the toshiba-sony games. I just want HD.

Thanks.

Streaming from a PC to a PS3 or Xbox 360 is pretty much the same functionality.

You can watch videos, listen to music, or look at pictures on your PC hard drive. It is completely legal to do this, it just depends where you get the content that you are streaming.

I know iTunes has a movie store where you can buy downloads and I'm sure many other sites have similar options. I store all my homemade movies on my PC and stream them to my TV when friends are over.

[MrE]

Originally Posted by josuff247

Where can you stream video from onto the PS3?
What about Music?

You have to use TwonkyMedia (or similar app) to stream content from PC to PS3/360. You can stream Movies, Music and Pictures. Only thing it can't stream is protected content, like most iTunes songs and movies.

Oh and one last thing. I like that they have full studio support.
I am tired of all the toshiba-sony games. I just want HD.

I agree, that is nice! Personally, I prefer to own movies vs renting them. Of course I'd rather rent than blind buy though.

I'd say hold off and see exactly what movie rentals are being offered on iTunes first before spending $230/$330 on the AppleTV. You may find that the selection might not be any different than On Demand.

[thunderclap]

The only thing I don't like about the Apple deal is that the movies come out 30 days after the DVD release. Why? It would be great if it came out the same day so we could rent, decide if we like the movie, then buy. Why force digital rentals to wait thirty days over the traditional rental houses?

[josuff247]

Originally Posted by thunderclap

The only thing I don't like about the Apple deal is that the movies come out 30 days after the DVD release. Why? It would be great if it came out the same day so we could rent, decide if we like the movie, then buy. Why force digital rentals to wait thirty days over the traditional rental houses?

I agree, and additionally it will hurt them.
One may be impatient and just buy the movie, and then they lost the rental (and possible re-rental)