Apple woes

[gaz_l]

Greetings, Citizens.

Last weekend I bought myself an Apple TV (strictly, an ATV2) on a whim. I thought it might be a good gadget and as I now have quite a collection of movies stored on hard drive, I thought it might be fun to try some of this new-fangled "streaming".

First hurdle is that it is HDMI output only, which doesn't work well on the big telly in the living room that only has a DVI input. Gadget is relegated to bedroom, connects to small telly via HDMI and wireless is set up after a bit of profanity. So far so hoopy.

I can watch youtube and vimeo stuff OK, the problem comes when I try to stream from my computer. Apparently, for this I need iTunes 10.2 or later. No problemo, it's a free download.

The issue comes when I try to put this on my 'puter. My Apple is donkeys years old (Twin G5 tower) and is still running OS X 10.4 and iTunes 7. Apparently, I need OS X 10.5 to run the latest version of iTunes. I'm fairly unimpressed by this, I didn't bother upgrading from 10.4 to 10.5 as there wasn't a big reason to do so, and when I went to upgrade to 10.6 they told me I couldn't as support for the PPC architecture had been dropped, so I told them to stick it.

From the research I've done, I'm led to believe that iTunes 10.2 (the minimum version my ATV2 needs) will run under OS X 10.4, but I'm damned if I can find a copy to download. I know we have quite a large Apple using community here on MBClub, I don't suppose a kind member would have/could point me in the direction of a copy? Thanks muchly.

Cheers,

Gaz

 

[bolide]

If you run Software Update it'll take you to the latest version for the OS you're on. If that's not late enough, upgrade to 10.5 and do the same

No good complaining about support for pre-Intel processors. Time moves on. The Intel-based machines were a significant step forward and I am told the new i7-based machines are blisteringly fast. You can't move forward if the OS is shackled to obsolete hardware

Nick Froome

 

[gaz_l]

Well, I found iTunes 10.2 and that doesn't work either so I'm shafted. Pity, it looked promising.

Nick, I'm not going to upgrade as 10.5 doesn't offer any great improvement over 10.4 or I would have done it when 10.5 was released. Even if I wanted to, I can't buy it from Apple any more so it's either take my chances on eBay or forget it. I'll take the latter, I don't even use the Apple on a daily basis as I've gone back to PC hardware, albeit running Linux rather than Windows.

Cheers,

Gaz

 

[spinaltap]

Does your version of OSX facilitate 'home sharing' in iTunes preferences. If so, this what will allow streaming of movies content from your G5 tower.

 

[nigel cross]

I think that Maplins do a HDMI to Dvi converter, if its not them than it was in Curries I saw it

 

[removed]

There are a few solutions to install iTunes on Linux, so that might be an easier way for you to run the AppleTV.

 

[Spin_bowler]

I can't help per se but what I would say is persevere, I run a couple of Apple TV boxes and they are great gadgets. The one in the kids' play room is especially well used for films, you tube etc. Being able to control it all from your phone over the network is great trick as well.

 

[gaz_l]

Having played with this today, I have to say no solution has come up.

I eventually installed iTunes 10.5 on a Windows box, which worked until I tried to generate an Apple ID. All well and good until I'm faced with a demand to register a credit card! Why should I hand over my credit card details to watch legally acquired content on my own machine?

I used to be a bit of an Apple fan, and I have to admit they are still knocking out good kit - I would love an iPad - but their control freakery has pushed me completely away from the brand.

The ATV will soon be finding its way to eBay, i think..

Gaz

 

[crockers]

I think you wil find registering a credit card has o two fold purpose.
One it makes purchasing things much easier and secondly it verifies your age.

If you're going to sell the ATV try it on here first. )

 

[Swozza]

I'm a big apple fan, but the Apple TV has always been a product I've disliked for many reason, which I won't go into. Its always a good idea to research the product before buying it.

If you part with your ATV may I suggest a WD Live box.

 

[Doodle]

Unfortunately with Apple it is very much "their way, or not at all" - so if you are not one of the faithful herd, you're effectively cast out of the kingdom of Jobs.

 

[neilz]

Unfortunately with Apple it is very much "their way, or not at all" - so if you are not one of the faithful herd, you're effectively cast out of the kingdom of Jobs.

And good riddance to the cult!

 

[davidjpowell]

There is a way to register an account with no credit card. I am looking at getting an ipod for my parents thsi christmas, and was wanting to preload it with music so looked into it.

Creating an iTunes App Store account without a credit card

 

[A210AMG]

Hello

You can get a DVI to HDMI convertor so that can be sorted.

Operating system can be upgraded.

My problem with the box is unless you 'mod' it, as it comes its not that good and a big bit its so far only 720p.

I currently use a Western Digital Media player linked to a WD 1 TB drive, it plays anything and everything I put through it. A colleague has a popcorn hour media player with a built in hard drive and again will stream anything and everything to it.

I like apple gear, it does work well but I do think they havn't sorted the TV bit yet.

If I were looking now I would still get The WD media player. This is the new version of mine. I don't stream directly to the box but watch stuff either off the 1TB attached or spare USB I just stick a flash drive in..

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002LZUHMI/?tag=amazon0e9db-21

 

[A210AMG]

Hello

You can get a DVI to HDMI convertor so that can be sorted.

Operating system can be upgraded.

My problem with the box is unless you 'mod' it, as it comes its not that good and a big bit its so far only 720p.

I currently use a Western Digital Media player linked to a WD 1 TB drive, it plays anything and everything I put through it. A colleague has a popcorn hour media player with a built in hard drive and again will stream anything and everything to it.

I like apple gear, it does work well but I do think they havn't sorted the TV bit yet.

If I were looking now I would still get The WD media player. This is the new version of mine. I don't stream directly to the box but watch stuff either off the 1TB attached or spare USB I just stick a flash drive in..

Western Digital TV Live HD Media Player: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

 

[HughJarse]

I Have a Popcorn hour - absolutely fab even to the point that I have RSS streamed to it and it downloads any series im watching directly from T'internet.

 

[gaz_l]

I did have a smart idea today, in that the NAS that I use as a photo repository does all kinds of clever things I don't use.. turns out it has a built-in iTunes server too.

Having had a play tonight, it seem that this is audio only and won't stream video. Foiled again..

I only bought the ATV as it occurred to me I might be able to watch my Pinky and the Brain cartoons in bed on a Saturday morning, but it seems that's not to be.. NARF!

Cheers,

Gaz