Apple TV 3 with WMC?

[lornaevo]

Hello all, I'm Andrew from NYC. I am a time warner cable signature home subscriber and in paying a ton load of money for dvr services. And I have a plex server running for my movies. I've been doing research and I think it's time to buy a ceton infinitv 6. The problem is, I have a couple Apple TV 3 and I don't know if I can use them with Windows Media Center. I would hate to have to spend more money than I need too. I need to share the signal between 3 rooms. Any advice?

[kingwr]

The short answer is not easily. Firstly there is NO LIVE, PROTECTED TV from an WMC HTPC to any device other than an XBox 360, Linksys DMA2X00 (I have two to sell), an old HP thingy, or a Ceton Echo. Also, while Apple TV only plays H.264 and MPEG-4 video formats, most recorded TV in WMC from a cable co. is MPEG2 in a WTV container. You would have to convert all of your recorded TV with Handbrake or other tool and have the output folder monitored by iTunes to get the videos on your Apple TVs, creating duplicate storage. This would only work for non-protected recorded TV programs. Plus, everything else (pictures, music, movies and home videos) would also need to be converted and/or cataloged in an iTunes library in addition to the Media Player library in order to have both a WMC HTPC and Apple TVs access this content. I had this setup for a couple of years, but I didn't do the recorded TV conversion. I suggest waiting for the new Tivo or see what happens with the Ceton Echo before making a decision.

[adam1991]

MCEBuddy can convert the recorded TV stuff, as can other tools, and put it somewhere else. AppleTV can be configured with XBMC, and not sure what else--but that would solve the whole "you have to use iTunes" problem.

There are ways to do this, but AppleTV was meant to work in the Apple ecosystem and nowhere else. WMC was meant to be its own ecosystem, and nothing else. Anything outside those parameters is a bunch of work and duplicated storage and whatnot.

[foxwood]

MCEBuddy can convert the recorded TV stuff, as can other tools, and put it somewhere else. AppleTV can be configured with XBMC, and not sure what else--but that would solve the whole "you have to use iTunes" problem.

The OP says he's a TWC customer, and TWC has a reputation for copy protecting everything, so conversion simply might not be an option.

The anticipated next generation of HDHomeRun Prime that will have built-in mpeg4 output and DLNA might work better with AppleTV.

[adam1991]

good catch.

So, the state of the industry right now is "um, well, hang on, we're doing that, really, just wait..."

* Ceton Echo--Android
* Tivo--stream live TV
* HDHomeRun Prime--built in MPEG-4 output

[kingwr]

and
* Apple TV 4, iTV

and possibly:
* Steve Sinofksy comes back to be CEO of Microsoft and moves Media Center back to flagship product status

[blueiedgod]

Short answer is "NO"

Time Warner Cable in NYC and surrounding area, just like CableVision not only encrypts everything, including locals, but also copyright protects everything.

Sell Apple TV junk and use the funds to get Windows 7 PC and run WMC on it, with 2 extenders to serve 3 rooms.

[lornaevo]

Short answer is "NO"

Time Warner Cable in NYC and surrounding area, just like CableVision not only encrypts everything, including locals, but also copyright protects everything.

Sell Apple TV junk and use the funds to get Windows 7 PC and run WMC on it, with 2 extenders to serve 3 rooms.

So I have 2 windows desktop and 1 xbox 360. I am going to run one of the computers with 8TB storage with a Ceton Infinitv 6 and use the other computer and xbox for the other two tvs. Does that sound like a better plan?

[adam1991]

Depends. You'll find out there are limitations to using the other computer to watch TV.

Spend the few bucks and get another XBox for the other TV. You'll be happier.

[lornaevo]

Depends. You'll find out there are limitations to using the other computer to watch TV.

Spend the few bucks and get another XBox for the other TV. You'll be happier.

I really don't have the extra cash.

[kingwr]

You can get the XBox 360 $99 or a slim for $149. The 8TB of storage will hold hundreds of hours of TV and will cost way more than an XBox 360. Is there really 100s of hours of TV worth watching? Try as I might I never came close to filling my 1TB of storage, and that was with 270 TV programs and over 200 ripped movies stored on it.

[adam1991]

"TiNO". Look it up.

My box watches TV for me. I have it watching all sorts of things I *might* be interested in.

That being said, 2TB (no ripped movies) seems to be enough, even with the kids. Although, now and then I pay close attention to it and clean things out.

[kingwr]

Tino? Is that "a man that is dropdead amazing, good looking and great personality" or "a dwarfish man who is lethal with an axe when drunk?"

[adam1991]

More like TiNO:

http://www.aoltv.com/2006/10/19/tivo-more-like-tino/