AppleTV + DVD possibility...

Posted:
in iPod + iTunes + AppleTV edited January 2014
One of the more common criticisms of the AppleTV is that it doesn't include a DVD player.



Welllll... Apple just announced a sweet little $99 USB SuperDrive for the MacBook Air, did they not?



While it states on the webpage that it requires an MBA, I'm going to assume that this is a software issue, and not a hardware one. Which means that the AppleTV should be hackable to use it.



It bumps the price to $319, but it offers an option we hadn't had before.



Edit: It has been pointed out elsewhere that the apparent reason for MBA-only is that the SD pulls more power through the USB than most USB ports can supply. I've been looking for tech specs for the AppleTV and MBA-SD that give the max/needed power, but can't find that detail yet - any one else have better google fu?

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 17
    brussellbrussell Posts: 9,812member
    Why not just plug a DVD player into your TV directly if you're going to do that?
  • Reply 2 of 17
    kickahakickaha Posts: 8,760member
    One less device? Hell, I dunno, but with so many people whining that it doesn't come with a DVD player, I figured this was a gimme.
  • Reply 3 of 17
    banchobancho Posts: 1,517member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by BRussell View Post


    Why not just plug a DVD player into your TV directly if you're going to do that?



    Name one other DVD player that shares that form factor.



    Had Apple integrated that one item I'd have a much different opinion of the aTV.



    (it doesn't have to be anything except a playback device. A superdrive is overkill)
  • Reply 4 of 17
    dave k.dave k. Posts: 1,306member
    Not another "the Apple TV needs a DVD" thread...
  • Reply 5 of 17
    banchobancho Posts: 1,517member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Dave K. View Post


    Not another "the Apple TV needs a DVD" thread...



    It's not. This thread is about using the external drive option from the Macbook Air in conjunction with the aTV. You can relax now...
  • Reply 6 of 17
    dave k.dave k. Posts: 1,306member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Bancho View Post


    It's not. This thread is about using the external drive option from the Macbook Air in conjunction with the aTV. You can relax now...



    It is another thread. An optional external DVD drive for the Apple TV has been discussed before. Its not going to happen.



    DVD represents old technology in Apple's eyes. Apple doesn't care about old technology nor are they concerned with backwards compatibility (that's your problem).



    I personally have always thought that Apple should figure a way to stream a DVD from a Mac to the Apple TV to solve the whole DVD mess.



    Dave
  • Reply 7 of 17
    banchobancho Posts: 1,517member
    Old, maybe.



    Prevalent? Yes.



    This isn't like when Apple forced people's hands with regard to floppy discs in the first iMacs. If my entertainment center has room for a single extra device beyond a cable box it's going to be a DVD player.



    Apple's the one trying to intro the new tech. They need to make it appealing to get people interested enough to try it. That have failed *hard* so far and the jury's out on last years aTV with this years software upgrade.
  • Reply 8 of 17
    irelandireland Posts: 17,798member
    Or Apple could just add the bloomin' thing themselves. I'd pay an extra amount to get it too, as would everyone who wants that feature.
  • Reply 9 of 17
    brussellbrussell Posts: 9,812member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Ireland View Post


    Or Apple could just add the bloomin' thing themselves. I'd pay an extra amount to get it too, as would everyone who wants that feature.



    Which, given that almost everyone already has a DVD player, is almost no one.
  • Reply 10 of 17
    brussellbrussell Posts: 9,812member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Kickaha View Post


    One less device? Hell, I dunno, but with so many people whining that it doesn't come with a DVD player, I figured this was a gimme.



    But it's not one less device - it's just a matter of where you plug it in, the AppleTV or the TV itself.
  • Reply 11 of 17
    irelandireland Posts: 17,798member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by BRussell View Post


    Which, given that almost everyone already has a DVD player, is almost no one.



    Having a computer doesn't mean you can't get a Mac.
  • Reply 12 of 17
    MarvinMarvin Posts: 15,309moderator
    I wonder if the software they use on the MBA that lets you use another computer's optical drive could work on the Apple TV. This way if you had a computer, you don't need to buy another drive, just put the DVD in your computer and stream the data. It's not all that useful if the computer is in another room though but it's fine if you have a MB or MBP. 802.11n should be fast enough to stream 10Mbits/s DVD video.
  • Reply 13 of 17
    kickahakickaha Posts: 8,760member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by BRussell View Post


    But it's not one less device - it's just a matter of where you plug it in, the AppleTV or the TV itself.



    It eliminates another used input, it eliminates another remote, it's small... I can totally see why folks would want it.



    *I* don't particularly care, it's not a feature that I thought the AppleTV was particularly missing in the first place. Dave K, read that again. I'm not suggesting the AppleTV needs a DVD player. I was only pointing out the possibility that this is an option that Apple *may* utilize, and *may* point to for those who have been asking for it. It's obvious to me that Apple is ditching physical media as best they can, so I don't see them adding it to the main unit. However, they have to know that there are numerous folks out there who, in the same way they missed the significance of the iMac losing the floppy, will never consider the AppleTV a viable option until they can play a DVD through it *somehow*. Silly? Sure. But giving the users a way of adding it on as an afterthought of producing another major product? Eh, not so silly.



    Twas just a thought.
  • Reply 14 of 17
    I read a few days ago the a plugin for the AppleTV called NitoTV allows the use of an external usb dvd drive on the Apple TV. This could be a solution to your problem. It was a couple of days ago so I'm not sure where I read it. Does anybody have the NitoTV plugin to give it a shot or let us know if it works. Thanks.
  • Reply 15 of 17
    adjeiadjei Posts: 738member
    I think Apple needs to find a way to introduce the remote disc feature on the Apple TV enabling people to watch their dvd on the Apple TV, this could eliminate the need for dvd players, if Apple can't do it maybe a 3rd party.
  • Reply 16 of 17
    areseearesee Posts: 776member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Adjei View Post


    I think Apple needs to find a way to introduce the remote disc feature on the Apple TV enabling people to watch their dvd on the Apple TV, this could eliminate the need for dvd players, if Apple can't do it maybe a 3rd party.



    Unfortunately it is being reported that playing DVDs via Remote Disk does not even work with the Macbook Air. So don't get your hopes up about the AppleTV.
  • Reply 17 of 17
    banchobancho Posts: 1,517member
    Yep, it's looking like remote disc is strictly a solution for loading data/programs to the MBA.
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