DISQUS

adam.riggins: Apple TV: 3 Months Later

  • ifoundme · 1 year ago
    hmmm... with a bag of popcorn and cans of soda, that would be a perfect combination.

    ifoundmes last blog post..men and gum
  • ifoundme · 1 year ago
    hmmm... with a bag of popcorn and cans of soda, that would be a perfect combination.

    ifoundmes last blog post..men and gum
  • Adam · 1 year ago
    O, I do that about once a week!
  • Adam · 1 year ago
    O, I do that about once a week!
  • Phil · 1 year ago
    Adam,
    I almost bought one of those, but didn't like a few things about it. Perhaps you can enlighten me just in case I am wrong. One, to rip DVDs to MP4s lessens the quality of a DVD that is viewable on AppleTV, because the highest output it can generate is 1080i, however I don't believe that it actually "upconverts" to 1080i yet. From what I understand, the maximum output is 720p. The reason this is important to me is because I have a Blu-Ray DVD player that does upconvert non-BluRay discs to 1080i.
    Two, the AppleTV does not recognize VOB files, only MP4s.
    Lastly, I have heard that it runs very hot and kind of loud.
    I have been looking to build a "video jukebox" for a few years now to have all my movies electronically, but I obviously am a bit picky as to what I exactly want. I have found this: http://www.amazon.com/ZeeVee-ZV100-NA-ZvBox/dp/...
    and think that this is my answer. If you haven't seen it, you probably would be very interested in it; only downside is it is a bit pricey.
    I have a random question for you as well: I would like to put together my own website. Any recommendations on what to read about it and how to get it together?
    Thanks.
  • Phil · 1 year ago
    Adam,
    I almost bought one of those, but didn't like a few things about it. Perhaps you can enlighten me just in case I am wrong. One, to rip DVDs to MP4s lessens the quality of a DVD that is viewable on AppleTV, because the highest output it can generate is 1080i, however I don't believe that it actually "upconverts" to 1080i yet. From what I understand, the maximum output is 720p. The reason this is important to me is because I have a Blu-Ray DVD player that does upconvert non-BluRay discs to 1080i.
    Two, the AppleTV does not recognize VOB files, only MP4s.
    Lastly, I have heard that it runs very hot and kind of loud.
    I have been looking to build a "video jukebox" for a few years now to have all my movies electronically, but I obviously am a bit picky as to what I exactly want. I have found this: http://www.amazon.com/ZeeVee-ZV100-NA-ZvBox/dp/...
    and think that this is my answer. If you haven't seen it, you probably would be very interested in it; only downside is it is a bit pricey.
    I have a random question for you as well: I would like to put together my own website. Any recommendations on what to read about it and how to get it together?
    Thanks.
  • Adam · 1 year ago
    @(big)Phil -

    1- regular DVDs are at most 480p, so if you rip them at that, you have a perfect copy of it at roughly a third of the size of a .VOB file. As far as Blu Ray, you would have to continue to play those off of the player. They are possible to rip, but I have no idea how. But for regular DVDs, an .mp4 file with H.264 compression will give you a beautiful copy of the movie with no signs of compression if done right (say, 2500kbps). And yes, the max resolution on an AppleTV is 720p, but a regular DVD upconverted to 720p or 1080i look exactly the same.

    2 - True, it doesn't recognize .vob files, but again, when ripped as an .mp4, it won't need to read them. .mp4 saves you hard drive space and streams a LOT better than a giant .vob file.

    The ability to play my movies is half of the equation. The other half is the iTunes integration with buying/renting movies without have to go anywhere. That rules!
  • Adam · 1 year ago
    @(big)Phil -

    1- regular DVDs are at most 480p, so if you rip them at that, you have a perfect copy of it at roughly a third of the size of a .VOB file. As far as Blu Ray, you would have to continue to play those off of the player. They are possible to rip, but I have no idea how. But for regular DVDs, an .mp4 file with H.264 compression will give you a beautiful copy of the movie with no signs of compression if done right (say, 2500kbps). And yes, the max resolution on an AppleTV is 720p, but a regular DVD upconverted to 720p or 1080i look exactly the same.

    2 - True, it doesn't recognize .vob files, but again, when ripped as an .mp4, it won't need to read them. .mp4 saves you hard drive space and streams a LOT better than a giant .vob file.

    The ability to play my movies is half of the equation. The other half is the iTunes integration with buying/renting movies without have to go anywhere. That rules!