[Elect] [Merged] *DEAD/OOS* Staples: Apple TV 80$ *Sunday door crasher*

[AncasterRFD]

Actually, do buy a Pi if you want to learn. That's what they are intended for. (I just bought three!)

But I agree with your point: they are not an appliance like the ATV3.

Jailbreaking is also not for those who don't know what they are doing.

I have a (now retired) ATV1. I was amazed at how functional that tiny remote was.

BTW, Apple abandoned the ATV1 but jailbreaking extended its life. But I replaced it with something better: an Acer Revo.

Nice, I have one of those Revo's too, put an extra SSD I had into it and just installed a 5GHz card+big antenna (hack is online). Also picked up a $10 HP receiver off eBay as I have an old HP remote kicking around.
The Revo is hidden behind my Samsung LED off the VESA mount. Turned the TV into a brainiac, in terms of smart TVs, lol.
XBMC big focus is the current skin.

Re: the ATV remote, mine's in a drawer somewhere. The ATV learns remotes easily, was using my Samsung, now my Sony remote, as I moved the jb'd ATV2 to my Sony LED.

[Sgt_Strider]

I can tell Staples is really serious about selling this online. You know, I bet Apple leaked all these fake JB rumors to try and drive sales for this POS.

How were you able to get the quantity listed?

[dlhntr]

I have a jail broken Apple TV 2. If anyone is interested PM me. I'm in the Hamilton area.

[cannucklehead]

I have an ATV2 that I use every day for either xbmc or just streaming music through the iphone,etc. Ordered a Pivos Xios DS (link below) for the girlfriend as she wants xmbc (as previously mentioned there is no jailbreak right now for the current ATV). The Pivos Xios DS runs 1080p and xmbc as an app for those who are technically challanged, or can run xmbc linux (boot to xbmc and better speed, etc.) And xmbc is supported by the company so you can get the firmware, etc. from the website. They had it for $80, now $100 - but a good option for those wanting an xbmc box.

http://ncix.com/products/?sku=70955&promoid=1208

[IDStorms]

I can tell Staples is really serious about selling this online. You know, I bet Apple leaked all these fake JB rumors to try and drive sales for this POS.

I don't know why your pic is showing "1 of 999"

It should only show "1 of 1", since the purchase limit is 1

At least that's how I'm seeing it as of this morning (even when ordering 999)

How were you able to get the quantity listed?

Enter 999 as order quantity, and it will show you stock remaining.

[surrealillusion]

Has anyone successfully used a coupon on a Door crasher special online before and had it go through?

[mikalh78]

Can we PM this at Futureshop BB or Walmart?

[Gunner23]

Can we PM this at Futureshop BB or Walmart?

Sometimes you can, sometimes you can not. They usally don't price match one day sales/door crashers. It all depends on who you deal with So YMMV
I've been sucessfull 80% of the time PMing on these kinds of sale

[Talula]

ok, so let me get this straight.
1. There is no jailbreak out there for it yet.
2. I can't connect this thing to an external Hard drive to watch "downloaded movies" -- Correct me if i am wrong.
3. it costs 80 bucks - only this sunday though.

I really wanna know if i can do the point 2. Then only, i can justify spending 80 bucks on this.

You can't quite do option 2., no, but you can come close. I have a network cable running from my router to my Apple TV (I find it better for large files than just relying on wifi). I just convert my movies to MP4, throw them in the iTunes library on my PC, and play them through the Apple TV that way.

[Colin0317]

You can't quite do option 2., no, but you can come close. I have a network cable running from my router to my Apple TV (I find it better for large files than just relying on wifi). I just convert my movies to MP4, throw them in the iTunes library on my PC, and play them through the Apple TV that way.

Whats the easiest way to convert an mkv to mp4 without re-encoding the video?

[aabouelnil]

You can't quite do option 2., no, but you can come close. I have a network cable running from my router to my Apple TV (I find it better for large files than just relying on wifi). I just convert my movies to MP4, throw them in the iTunes library on my PC, and play them through the Apple TV that way.

I do the same thing all the time on my ATV2, it works great.

[aabouelnil]

Whats the easiest way to convert an mkv to mp4 without re-encoding the video?

On my macbook I use a program called iflicks. It's quick, converts the file, adds it to iTunes, deletes the original and imports all the movie/tv show information with the push of a button. I think it's only available for mac which kind of sucks

[Gunner23]

I recommend saving that $80 and putting it towards a SMART TV that can do everything that a ATV3 can do and more.
My current set up is a LG 55LM7600 and it can play any video format you through at it (MKV, H.264/MPEG 4, Divx etc)
I have a 500gb Seagate Satellite Wireless Portable Hard drive attached on my wall mount and then plugged into the TV (Hidden away). I just send videos to that hard drive wirelessly and presto… I’m watching 3D MKV files without any lag or having to convert it

[Gunner23]

On my macbook I use a program called iflicks. It's quick, converts the file, adds it to iTunes, deletes the original and imports all the movie/tv show information with the push of a button. I think it's only available for mac which kind of sucks

When you convert the video to MPEG-4 you sometimes lose the original quality of the video (depends how slow and what method you use to convert it)……Apple/Mac problems

[aabouelnil]

When you convert the video to MPEG-4 you sometimes lose the original quality of the video (depends how slow and what method you use to convert it)……Apple/Mac problems

Yeah, this may be true....I do find it downgrades the quality a little bit, I personally don't have an issue with it as it still looks good to me. I do like the idea of having a smart TV though that sounds very appealing to me. I will be looking for a bigger/better TV sometime in the future, I guess spending $80 on an ATV would be worth it if you have already have a TV at home.