Making Sense of all the AppleTV Hacks
I am an avid Mac user but a novice hacker. I'm comfortable with modifying .plist files and such, but once I hear phrases like "SSH" my head starts spinning. That said, I've read so much about the Apple TV hacks lately that all the babble is starting to make sense to me. I do have a couple questions though.
1. Once you do the xVid hack, does that mean that all you have to do is put a QT reference movie for an AVI file into iTunes and that will sync over to the Apple TV and then play just like any other file? If you do that, does the AVI have to stay in one place on your host drive? Basically, I'm just wondering what the difference is between an alias and a reference movie.
2. Once SSH is enabled on the Apple TV, does that mean that if you wanted to install any other codecs in the future, you could just SSH in and copy the codecs over to the appropriate place without cracking the machine open?
I'm willing to crack the machine open once to enable all sorts of awesome. But after that, I want the thing to "just work." That's why I became a Mac user in the first place.
(Note: I don't own an Apple TV but may get one if all of this is relatively easy to pull off. Hopefully they'll just find a way to do all this through the damned USB port!)
1. Once you do the xVid hack, does that mean that all you have to do is put a QT reference movie for an AVI file into iTunes and that will sync over to the Apple TV and then play just like any other file? If you do that, does the AVI have to stay in one place on your host drive? Basically, I'm just wondering what the difference is between an alias and a reference movie.
2. Once SSH is enabled on the Apple TV, does that mean that if you wanted to install any other codecs in the future, you could just SSH in and copy the codecs over to the appropriate place without cracking the machine open?
I'm willing to crack the machine open once to enable all sorts of awesome. But after that, I want the thing to "just work." That's why I became a Mac user in the first place.
(Note: I don't own an Apple TV but may get one if all of this is relatively easy to pull off. Hopefully they'll just find a way to do all this through the damned USB port!)
Comments
Wait another month, you'll probably be able to put everything on a thumb drive and not ever open the case (unless you want to upgrade the drive).
Today its too soon to start poking holes in your nice shiny new bauble. Let the other guy break his 3 times until its perfected.
2. Once SSH is enabled on the Apple TV, does that mean that if you wanted to install any other codecs in the future, you could just SSH in and copy the codecs over to the appropriate place without cracking the machine open?
This one I can answer ... and the answer is yes, once ssh is enabled you'll be able to simply use ssh to move files into the correct places. (provided any other codecs pop up - and I have no doubt they will).
As for question 1... since I don't own an Apple TV (yet) I can't tell you what would be involved,
As for cracking the box open.... As others have said... Unless you're really anxious you might be better off waiting out the next week... Who knows, by then maybe somebody will find a way of not needing to crack anything open.
Dave
I am an avid Mac user but a novice hacker. I'm comfortable with modifying .plist files and such, but once I hear phrases like "SSH" my head starts spinning. That said, I've read so much about the Apple TV hacks lately that all the babble is starting to make sense to me. I do have a couple questions though.
1. Once you do the xVid hack, does that mean that all you have to do is put a QT reference movie for an AVI file into iTunes and that will sync over to the Apple TV and then play just like any other file? If you do that, does the AVI have to stay in one place on your host drive? Basically, I'm just wondering what the difference is between an alias and a reference movie.
I can answer this one as I have 'cracked' the case and put in Perian.component and enabled ssh. The answer, right now, is frustratingly NO. As far as I can tell iTunes will NOT sync ANY reference moving to ATV, even one that is to a proper ATV file. For those of us who want to continue to use iTunes with the Xvid/Dvix hack this is the current sticking point and right now, from what I see, most of the interest in those doing the heavy lifting is being directed at other hack, like using 'centerstage' instead of Apple's software and other replacements. We'll all just have to wait and see.
I'm willing to crack the machine open once to enable all sorts of awesome. But after that, I want the thing to "just work." That's why I became a Mac user in the first place.
(Note: I don't own an Apple TV but may get one if all of this is relatively easy to pull off. Hopefully they'll just find a way to do all this through the damned USB port!)
One thing that's not clear yet is whether or not you will have to 're-hack' things after Apple offers a software update (which you install).
Exciting times.
1) take 1 valid h.264/ACC .mp4 file and 1 DivX/AC3 .avi file and use QT to save as .mov files
2) the valid h.264/ACC .mov file into itunes and let it Sync with ATV
3) using ssh to login to ATV find that file in the /mnt/Media/Media Files - something like ./F05/ASDF.mov
4) sftp the DivX/AC3 .mov file into /mnt/Media/Meda Files/F05
5) mv ASDF.mov to movie1.mov
6) mv movie2.mov to ASDF.mov
At this point it still doesn't play movie2, it plays movie1
7) reboot ATV holding down the (menu+ -) on the remote.
After reboot the DivX movie plays but is still labeled movie1 in the listing.
This is far far from ideal but does isolate the problem to iTune filtering the content.
FYI Here is what I had to do to get the modified ATV to play a Divx/AC3 file.
1) take 1 valid h.264/ACC .mp4 file and 1 DivX/AC3 .avi file and use QT to save as .mov files
2) the valid h.264/ACC .mov file into itunes and let it Sync with ATV
3) using ssh to login to ATV find that file in the /mnt/Media/Media Files - something like ./F05/ASDF.mov
4) sftp the DivX/AC3 .mov file into /mnt/Media/Meda Files/F05
5) mv ASDF.mov to movie1.mov
6) mv movie2.mov to ASDF.mov
By save as .mov files do you mean self-contained or reference ? (I'm assuming self-contained).
Then can you do the same with movie2.mov being a reference file pointing to some share (assuming you mounted first some share from your ATV), ie does it works ?
I'm asking since I'm trying to check if there's a way to bypass the fact that there is no syncing of reference files between itunes and atv.. (checking before buying) I have about 1TB of avi's so reference files are my only solution.
Thanks
HD
By save as .mov files do you mean self-contained or reference ? (I'm assuming self-contained).
Then can you do the same with movie2.mov being a reference file pointing to some share (assuming you mounted first some share from your ATV), ie does it works ?
I'm asking since I'm trying to check if there's a way to bypass the fact that there is no syncing of reference files between itunes and atv.. (checking before buying) I have about 1TB of avi's so reference files are my only solution.
Thanks
HD
Yes - self contained. Ref. movies don't do anything for this process as far as I can tell.
You might want to check out http://wiki.awkwardtv.org/wiki/ATVFiles. I've installed this appliance and it works GREAT (with perian and A52 codecs in place. There are still issues (its only 0.1