atvpatch is now free leaves

The site atvpatch.com want's money for it, where did you find it free?

All I want to add is the ability to see a NAS and the ATV would be perfect. Ideal for the files converted by Beyond TV

blueroomelectro,

just to be clear, once I get a US iTunes gift card, how do I go about telling my Apple TV to use the US store? I think I entered my canadian account information when I set it up.

If I want to access US content, do I just go back to where you enter account info and plug in the code from the iTunes card? And once that is done, do you need to create another account or does the Apple TV just use the amount available on the card little by little?

Is there a tutorial somewhere on how to do this? I've been wanting to do this for a while, especially since purchasing an AppleTV, but I'm still somewhat confused...

PokerChip:

Sign out of iTunes on you computer. Go to the iTunes Store and at the bottom select US Store. Then Redeem your code - upper Right of iTunes Store. Use a DIFFERENT email address when you create this NEW account. Works like a charm. No need to change the ATV account info unless you want to buy/Rent on it directly. If so, once you've done the above, simply change your login info in ATV and your new balance will be available. I do this - it is flawless.

TVJunkie:

Google search iHome. They have what you might want.

Danno100:

Properly formatted MP4 files should work. If they import into iTunes, they *should* work on ATV. DVR MS is a PROPRIETARY formay created by MS. It is not compatible with anything other than MS products and any vendor willing to pay them for access. This is MS fault not Apple. Apple uses MP4 and OPEN format. MP4 is FAr superior to divx et al.

Faston:

The YouTube works in Canada on ATV.

Some other notes from reading here:

The Canadian iTunes store has less movies than the US Store - but it is not that great a difference and the gap is closing. TV is another matter entirely. This is the fault of the Canadian networks and the rights they have to rebroadcast US content and simsub it in Canada. Not sure how they'll ever work that one out... But I know Apple is trying to facilitate this.

The AppleTV and OTA combo is really quite amazing IMO. A little supplementing with programming form both the Us and Canadian iTunes sotre and we are very happy campers at my house. We have 2 ATV's and love them.

Stu

tenstu,

for the time being, I would like to use the US gift card ONLY on ATV to rent directly. Do this still work? Can you redeem a certificate straight from ATV? Or do I need to set up the separate account on my Mac, and then log into that account from ATV to access the funds on the card?

Or does it work either way?

Thanks!!!

You must set the account up initially through iTunes to redeem the code. After that, all purchasing can be done through the ATV.

I found a free code which allowed me to create a US account and download a few free songs. Once I get a US iTunes gft card, can I just logout, click redeem, anter the code and then log into the US account previously created?

If this works, how do I check my balance (obviously the account is created with no credit card on file son only way to rent is to have a positive balance)?

Okay, I'm just about sold on this and ready to go out and pick one up, but I have just a few nagging questions about the operation of ATV that I still can't find an answer too:

1) After purchasing a bunch of movies, that 40/160 Gig will seem pretty small. After downloading, can the movie be moved from the ATV device to my network storage device (DNS-323)?

2) Will the patchstick allow ATV to see my network storage without my PC on and running itunes? I know "out of the box" Apple TV does not.

Phage,

Nobody I know stores their movies on the ATV. It is not necessary. My entire iTunes library - including movies - is stored on a 1TB external Hard Drive attached to my main computer - which is always on anyway. As such, I only ever suggest buying the 40GB ATV. The streaming, wirelessly or wired, is flawless. If you buy/rent a few movies on ATV, there is plenty of room to store them. When you next sync it with your iTunes, the purchased movies are copied to your library proper and removed from the ATV. (Renatls stay only on ATV until they expire)

I have no experience with hacking the ATV and to be honest, do not ever recommend this approach. Give in to the Force, Luke. If you take some time to do things Apple's way, one day you'll wake up and think "Doh! I get it now!!" Plus, you won't potentially brick it.

DO NOT buy one until after Tuesday (Sept 30/08). There are odd rumblings that an update to ATV might be on the horizon this week or as late as October 14. I would NOT wait until the 14th - but time it so that you are still within your 14 day return window leading up to October 14. Nothing worse than being out of date within 3 weeks!

Stu

http://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/27/rumor-is-the-apple-tv-being-replaced/

Yep - that's the source of the rumour. Nothing wrong with waiting 2 days to find out - I know I would. Personally, I am not sure what to make of it. I just added ATV number 2 6 weeks ago and will be a bit bummed if a new one comes out with new features not software upgradeable on mine.

Well, lots of progress on my US iTunes account front.

All this was a lot easier than I thought. My appleTV is now pointing to the US store, which has A LOT more selection, not so much in movies, but definitely in music and in TV shows.

But the best part about it, which I found out over the weekend, is that the iTunes gift cards for the US Store can be bought at a fraction of their actual value on eBay.

I bought 2 cards, totalling $300 US in value for $122 CDN!!! The codes were emailed to me and the $300 balance is now sitting in my account, ready to be utlilized.

If I were to use the CDN store, an HD movie rental, as an example, would cost me $5. But because the American store is $1 cheaper and because I'm paying 40 cents onthe dollar for the gift cards, I'm actually paying about $1.75. We're talking 3 movies for the price of one. I'm so happy about this I could fly.

A full season pass for a show such as Mad Men is $20 on the store, but I'm actually disbursing $8 out of pocket to get it. I think this is a fantastic way of doing things.

I've got a fair amount of Canadian iTunes dollars from my Airmiles redemption. And yes it's really easy to switch to the US iTunes store. Even on the ATV (signin using the iPhone, much better than the onscreen keyboard) :)

Now if only the ATV supported shared folders...

Looks like ATVPatch has received a "Seize And Desist".

(signin using the iPhone, much better than the onscreen keyboard) :)


How the heck does that work? I would love to use my Touch or iPhone as a keyboard, but I never knew it was possible!

You need to download the Remote (free) app for the iTouch or iPhone. Whenever the ATV has a keyboard onscreen the Remote app uses the touchscreen keypad. You add it like binding another remote, the ATV will even display an iTouch graphic in the settings. Also lets you control the music with coverart.

Great tip, thank-you!

Firmware v2.2 is out. Added Genius function and HD television episodes.

Full release note of AppleTV 2.2 is here (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3187).

Rented iTunes movies do NOt have DD5.1, unless they are rented as HD on the Apple Tv...

However, you CAN hook up a macbook/Pro/Mini to your HDTV via the DVI slot. I have done this many many times and the picture quality is amazing. You can even put a mini toslink cable into the headphones jack and it turns into an optical digital output. Very cool. Tell your receiver to output Dolby Pro Logic or PL2x and the sound is very good for most uses.

Do you have a link for the mini Toslink thing? I'm not sure I understand how this works.