[sps1013]

Dear all,

I guess this has probably been hammered to death but I am in a dilemma about what to purchase.

Currently have iPhone 4s and iPad.

Our TV is a 50" Lg plasma (3 years old) but we are looking at our options; do we buy a new Smart TV to enable access to you tube, iplayer etc or do we purchase an apple TV which will also enable you tube and through the iPhone and iPad we could stream iplayer, itv player etc using airplay.

Like I said I know its probably been covered but just trying to canvass opinion.

Many thanks.

[sps1013]

Anybody?

[koantemplation]

I haven't used AppleTV but Smart TV is over rated as far as I'm concerned.

It's like using a ZX81 to view the web. The youtube app is good but you can stream from a computer or use a laptop via HDMI for better results.

With a separate box at least you can upgrade if you need to.

[sps1013]

Thanks for that. Have drawn up a list of pros and cons and to be honest for £99 the Apple TV seems far more useful to me.

[ironjade]

I have a so-called Smart TV and the internet features are a waste of time, apart from iPlayer.

[David (2)]

connect a pc using hdmi instead.

[Matt D]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sps1013

Dear all,

I guess this has probably been hammered to death but I am in a dilemma about what to purchase.

Currently have iPhone 4s and iPad.

Our TV is a 50" Lg plasma (3 years old) but we are looking at our options; do we buy a new Smart TV to enable access to you tube, iplayer etc or do we purchase an apple TV which will also enable you tube and through the iPhone and iPad we could stream iplayer, itv player etc using airplay.

Like I said I know its probably been covered but just trying to canvass opinion.

Many thanks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sps1013

Thanks for that. Have drawn up a list of pros and cons and to be honest for £99 the Apple TV seems far more useful to me.

The currently available Apple TV is the 3, not the 2.

I definitely agree that the Apple TV would be more useful for you, given that you have an iPhone and iPad.

AirPlay is an excellent feature.

[steveOooo]

+ ps3 - excellent video playback inc bluray and DVD upscaler - it also records freeview and upscales it. You can also easily install harddrives up to 1tb - so can store lots of hd films
The only thing the ps3 does badly is YouTube

I personally would wait until jan 2013 - strong rumours of apple making a (v expensive!) HDTV

[gavo360]

If you have ios devices then apple tv is a very good companion.

[Matt D]

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveOooo

+ ps3 - excellent video playback inc bluray and DVD upscaler - it also records freeview and upscales it. You can also easily install harddrives up to 1tb - so can store lots of hd films
The only thing the ps3 does badly is YouTube

I personally would wait until jan 2013 - strong rumours of apple making a (v expensive!) HDTV

The PS3 is great for media. BDs, DVDs, divx/xvid, Netflix, etc.

Freeview recording is not standard though, as your post appears to imply. It requires the Play TV add-on, which is still quite pricey (relatively) and not as easy to get hold of as it used to be. Given that and the lack of support, I wonder whether Sony has actually discontinued it.

[teacup9095]

I have a ATV (Version 1) which has been jailbreak with XBMC (http://xbmc.org). If you have a PC available to act as a server I would go for the ATV. BTW I have a Panasonic SMART TV and apart from BBC iPlayer I cant find anything else of use.

The ATV2 can be hacked for XMBC as well

[teacup9095]

Another option worth considering would be a Humax HDR-FOX-T2 with the customised firmware installed.

http://hummy.tv/forum/forums/hd-hdr-...d-firmware.28/

[sps1013]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt D

The currently available Apple TV is the 3, not the 2.
.

Yes I realise that!!

[niall campbell]

you can use your iphone and ipad to control SMART TVs

download a free app called mediaconnect and try it out with your PC

the phone/ipad will stream off your PC all day long , and your better off buying a NAS and store your media on there

all you need is docking stations to stream music from your NAS dotted throughout your house to listen to your music or MP4 films on your ipad as well

my iphone with mediaconnect will tell my SMART Tv what film to play from the NAS

[jacksonpive]

Although I love Apple, I don't think they're really that great with TVs. I see the convenience in being able to stream wirelessly with the same Apple product but lot of smart TVs now have that feature as well. For example, LG recently teamed up with Intel to get WiDi on their 3D smart TVs so now you can wirelessly stream HD and 3D contents. I know Apple has great design and they used to have one of the best specs but now they're falling behind.. You should just look into smart TVs.

[sps1013]

Just an update...

Purchased an ATV 3 from Argos. Initially it seemed ok but then it refused to update to the latest software. I keep getting a pop up saying new software is available but it initiates the download then says that the download failed, try later. It has been doing that since day one.

Secondly, the home sharing function keeps losing connection. My Mac is permanently on with sharing activated but the ATV 3 often drops the connection then the only way I can get it to work is to go into iTunes and deselect, then reselect home sharing!

Anybody else having these problems?

Think I may return it for a refund as it is not fit for purpose.

Ta.

[Matt D]

I've not had any problems like that with my Apple TV 3. It updated to 5.0.1 and recently 5.0.2 without issue, and has never had any connection drops that I know of.

[sps1013]

My box is stuck on software 5.0 and build 5.0.

Although it says updates available it downloads them (I think as the progress bar completes) then the screen goes blank and it says the update failed.

[Matt D]

Is that via WiFi or Ethernet?

If via WiFi, can you try via Ethernet instead?


Still, as you've only just bought it, I think your earlier idea of getting a refund may be a good idea! Or try your luck with a replacement... You may just be unlucky. As I said, I've not had issues, and others I know with the ATV3 haven't either.

[sps1013]

Have tried via both connections but to no avail.

Have just done a full reset but nothing.

[Matt D]

Must be faulty then.

Refund or replacement

I think it's a great bit of kit, so I'd go the replacement route. If the replacement still has issues for some strange reason, then get a refund and find another solution.

[sps1013]

Can't see why it wouldnt work. My iMac talks to my iPhone and iPad perfectly well!

[finbaar]

I have an ATV2 which cost a bit more these days compared to the ATV3s. Why? Because they can be jailbroken to run XBMC and the ATV3 cant (yet). I must admit I never use the Apple stuff but XBMC allows me to have all the TV catch up services plus lots of other good stuff - FlashSports Streams and 1channel being my favourites. Of course all the normal ATV stuff is still available.

[terryfc81]

"The decision is always yours but if I were you I would go with the smart tv.
I recently checked out a lg smart tv at my friends house. I used to think that tv is tv, that they are all the same but I was proven wrong. The 3d view was the same from the movie theater, the remote controller was so easy to get use, and the design was top notch
(my opinion better than apple tv)."

[terryfc81]