cable – Apple TV Hacks

Black Friday deals for Apple TV users – Day 5

Roshan — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 00:28:48 +0000

Black Friday is still a few days away but online retailers have decided to stretch the action and are already pushing amazing deals every moment. Apple TV Hacks is also joining the fun as we will be bringing the best Apple TV related deals* everyday for the next 7 days.

Also read:

Black Friday deals on Apple TV

1. Apple TV and Amazon Basics 6.5-Feet HDMI Cable (~~$110~~ $97.99)

HDMI and digital optical audio output; connects to network via Wireless-N or Ethernet

Black Friday deals on TV Sets

1. TCL LE40FHDE5510TA 40-Inch 1080p LED TV (~~$399.99~~ $109.99)

Refresh Rate: 60Hz (Native), Clear Motion Rate 120 (Effective)
Backlight: LED (Edge-lit)
Smart Functionality: No
Dimensions (W x H x D): TV with stand: 36.0″ x 23.6″ x 2.2″
Inputs: 3 HDMI, 1 MHL, 1 USB

2. Samsung UN65HU7250 Curved 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD 120Hz Smart LED TV (~~$3299.99~~ $1997.99)

Refresh Rate: 120Hz (Native); Clear Motion Rate 960 (Effective)
Backlight: LED (Edge-Lit w/Local Dimming)
Smart Functionality: Yes – Voice Control
Dimensions (W x H x D): TV without stand: 57.1” x 33.1″ x 5.3”, TV with stand: 57.1” x 34.7” x 11.8”
Inputs: 4 HDMI, 3 USB, 1 Component In, 1 Composite In
Accessories Included: Smart Remote Control

3. Samsung UN65HU8550 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD 120Hz 3D Smart LED TV (~~$3999.99~~ $2297.99)

Refresh Rate: 120Hz (Native); Clear Motion Rate 1200 (Effective)
Backlight: LED (Edge-Lit w/Local Dimming)
Smart Functionality: Yes – Motion and Voice Control with Camera Accessory (sold separately)
Dimensions (W x H x D): TV without stand : 57.1” x 32.8” x 1.4”, TV with stand : 57.1” x 34.4” x 11.6”
Inputs: 4 HDMI 2.0, 3 USB, 1 Component, 2 Composite
Accessories Included: Smart Remote Control, 4 Pairs of 3D Active Glasses (SSG-5150GB)

4. LG Electronics 65UB9200 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD 120Hz Smart LED TV (~~$3799.99~~ $1999.00)

Refresh Rate: 120Hz (Native); Ultra Clarity Index: 1320 (Effective)
Backlight: LED (Edge-Lit w/ Local Dimming)
Smart Functionality: Yes

Black Friday deals on AirPlay Speakers for Apple TV

1. Philips DS8800W/37 Fidelio SoundCurve Wireless Speaker with AirPlay (~~$99.99~~ $59.90)

SoundCurve for superb crystal-clear sound
Precisely tuned bass pipes for deep, tight bass reproduction
Optimal acoustic volume to match speakers’ requirements
Stream music with AirPlay wireless technology
Compatible with: iPod touch, iPod touch 2nd generation, iPod touch 3rd generation, iPod touch 4th generation. Compatible with: iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4. Compatible with: iPad

2. iHome iWS2 AirPlay Wireless Stereo Speaker System – Silver (~~$199.99~~ $78.95)

Works with AirPlay wireless Audio. Wirelessly stream music from iTunes, iPad, iPhone and iPod touch via Wi-Fi
Play and charge your iPhone or iPod via USB port and included cable
SRS TruBass sound processing custom tuned to 2 speaker drivers
Easy network configuration with free iHome Connect app; Firmware upgradeable
Ethernet connectivity

3. Harman Kardon Aura Wireless Stereo Speaker System (~~$480~~ $359.95)

Six mid- to high-range 1.5″transducers deliver accurate, Omni-directional sound while a 4.5″subwoofer gives rich, powerful bass
Custom, stereo-widening DSP audio technology is engineered for room-filling, full frequency sound
Built-in Bluetooth feature streams audio from your Bluetooth devices wirelessly
Built-in Apple AirPlay system has easy set-up for use with all your Apple devices and DLNA for Windows and Android
Customized Harman Kardon Remote app allows for easy set-up and added connectivity

Black Friday deals on Apple TV Accessories

1. Cheetah mounts (~~$159.96~~ $31.33)

Holds 44LBS
Comes with One 15′ Twisted Veins HDMI Cable
Aluminum and Steel Construction
Drywall or Stud Installation
Cable Management System and Easy Assembly

2. Inteset 4-in-1 Universal Backlit Media Center & XBox One Learning IR Remote INT-422 (~~$27.95~~ $23.95)

Pre-programmed for Apple TV, XBox One, Media Center and Roku device codes which are easily changed. Full LED Backlighting-All buttons; Channel Lock- The user can lock access to the channel changing capability in one mode such as the cable box.
Volume Lock-The user can lock the volume in all modes; ID Lock- After a valid code has been set that code can be locked.
Macro Programming-This allows the programming of a string of commands (up to 15) within a mode or mode independent.
Device Code Database- Complete worldwide database of device codes; Library Search Capability-You can search the data base for any missing codes; Learning Capability-Used to program any device that is not in the data base
Button Labels- These self-adhesive labels, as pictured, can be cut out and applied under the buttons that you program for your device functions; Key Punch Through-Allows the user to configure the same key function in one mode into any or all other modes; Warranty-One Year

More Black Friday Deals for Apple TV :

* We’ve been searching for the best Black Friday deals everywhere–including Black Friday deals other stores are planning. The fact that Amazon is price comparing makes this search much easier on us but to ensure you are getting the best deal possible, we will compare each price with that of other sites. If we find a better deal, we will post it!

Be sure to follow Apple TV Hacks on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ for all the latest Apple TV-related news.

The post Black Friday deals for Apple TV users – Day 5 appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

FCC wanting to open up cable content might turn our Apple TV dreams into reality

Roshan — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 19:28:46 +0000

We all know well that the cause of delay in the launch of next Apple TV is the fact that Apple wants to bring both online media as well as cable content to the set top box, and the talks of partnerships in this regard weren’t reaching anywhere.

Many believe, the merging of cable programs into online streams is what Steve Jobs meant when he said that he “finally cracked” the code for the ultimate television experience. Though we, cord cutting fans, would love such a set up on Apple TV, this seems to be almost impossible to achieve, as cable providers refuse to give up their monopoly over television screens.

But this may change soon.

FCC chairman, Tom Wheeler proposed a rule change by which cable companies would be mandated to open their content for sale and share it with any company that wants to be a TV provider. Wheeler says that a similar action in 1992 is what lead to the flourish of satellite providers and that the current situation demand such a rule change.

This would make all the contents available to every provider, resulting in more competitive rates and services. Also this, Wheeler hopes, would result in internet services offering small bundles of content (instead of a fixed subscription charge), so that users can view and pay for only the channels they like.

However, simple it might sound, getting this rule approved is a huge hurdle before Wheeler. It is too early to smile as this proposition is bound to attract strong opposition from cable providers.

Anyway, if such a law comes into being, users will no longer need multiple subscriptions and cumbersome login procedures to enjoy the content they love.

Besides, this will be the nitrous for internet streaming devices like Apple TV, which would be able to boast all your favorite shows ready to be streamed with just a click.

Be sure to follow Apple TV Hacks on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ for all the latest Apple TV-related news.

The post FCC wanting to open up cable content might turn our Apple TV dreams into reality appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

Watch ABC app for iOS gains AirPlay support

Roshan — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 18:56:38 +0000

The Watch ABC set of apps have done a great job in upgrading ABC Network’s on-demand and live contents from the ancient website windows to our smartphones and tablets. And today, the Watch ABC iOS app was updated to support AirPlay, whereby you can directly play full screen videos on your Apple TV, instead of using the universal screen mirroring.

What’s New in Version 3.4.0
-AirPlay streaming now available via Apple TV.

Just like before, you’ll need to sign up with a supported cable operator account to make full use of the app, though few open contents are available for non-subscribers also. You can find a list of the supported providers, their schedule and other frequently asked questions here.

The update might sound unnecessary to many because Apple TV has its own Watch ABC channel, since last December. However, the real use of this update comes in cases where you’re watching shows on someone else’s Apple TV or when you are using some third party software like AirServer or Reflector to turn your PC or Mac into AirPlay receivers.

The addition is perfectly timed to precede the upcoming fall season of TV shows and the updated app can be downloaded from here for free.

Be sure to follow Apple TV Hacks on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ for all the latest Apple TV-related news.

The post Watch ABC app for iOS gains AirPlay support appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

Showtime Anytime is finally available on Apple TV

Roshan — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 18:03:47 +0000

The Showtime Anytime iOS app has been available for some time now and they have finally decided to come up with one for the Apple TV too. Hence, Showtime Anytime becomes the latest one to join the long list of Apple TV channels, just after FOX Now, CNBC and NFL Now.

Showtime Anytime is a popular cable and network provider whose contents include both live broadcast and on-demand shows. Though some free streams are available for non-subscribers, the crux of the content is only available to those who sign up with a supported cable provider and have an active subscription with Showtime Anytime.

Supported TV providers include AT&T U-Verse, Bright House Networks, Comcast Xfinity, Cox, DIRECTV, Optimum, Time Warner Cable, Verizon FiOS, and a lengthy list of regional providers as well. In addition to a TV subscription, unlocking live TV and full content also requires an active subscription to the Showtime network.

For subscribers, this means you can start streaming your favourite TV Shows like Homeland, Ray Donovan, Penny Dreadful, Masters of Sex, Shameless, Dexter, House of Lies, Nurse Jackie, Weeds, Californication and more, on your Apple TV starting today.

However, if you’re too much overwhelmed with the new channels and have unused apps on your Apple TV home screen, you can click here for our guide on How to easily hide unwanted channel icons on Apple TV.

Be sure to follow Apple TV Hacks on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ for all the latest Apple TV-related news.

The post Showtime Anytime is finally available on Apple TV appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

Opinion: Netflix, Comcast and Apple – Two different approaches

Jeff Guilfoyle — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 22:43:16 +0000

Over the weekend, the WSJ reported that Apple and Comcast are working on a deal to streamline the use of Apple TV to Comcast users, where Comcast would provide the bandwidth to the device via a different ‘channel’, allowing the Apple TV content to be protected from the buffering and quality issues that plague other video services relying on the public internet. This is in sharp contrast to the recent Netflix-Comcast deal, whereby Netflix is directly paying Comcast for bandwidth to Comcast’s customer base.

There are three fundamental issues that come into play with delivering cable television to the home, and this type of arrangement between Apple and Comcast could end up being mutually beneficial in each of these areas.

‘The Pipe’

The capabilities and options to deliver TV to the home depend largely on the infrastructure in place. The historical approach to video was to deliver an analog ‘broadband’ connection, where all TV channels are simultaneously transmitted to every home. The intelligence of which channel to display from that stream of all channels was left to the STB – set top box – that connects the TV to the cable network. In order for advanced services like time-shifting or pay-per-view to function in this type of environment, the majority of the intelligence was sitting on top of the customer television set.

As digital cable has expanded and become ubiquitous, the supporting infrastructure has evolved. In systems like AT&T’s U-Verse, the ‘full stream’ of cable channels are no longer sent to the home simultaneously. Instead, only the channels being watched or recorded are sent, down the same pipe that the home internet uses. The difference is that a portion of this bandwidth is reserved for the ‘TV’ portion of the traffic, and is protected from bittorrent, Netflix, and other internet traffic.

With Netflix using approximately 1/3 of all internet traffic, this becomes a huge sticking point for them to grow. A single Netflix HD stream uses approximately 7 Mb/s of bandwidth, and this bandwidth comes out of the customer’s ‘pool’ of bandwidth. Assuming Apple delivers similar quality, Comcast could colocate the servers delivering this content directly on their network and provide this bandwidth over their reserved ‘TV’ bandwidth, guaranteeing this bandwidth available to their customers regardless of whether or not everyone else in the neighbourhood is streaming Netflix or going crazy on bittorrent.

In order for Netflix to deliver a consistent and high-quality experience to their customers, they have decided to compensate Comcast directly for their bandwidth usage, and provide direct connections from their servers into the Comcast network, but their bandwidth is in no way guaranteed, and can and will be impacted by the number of simultaneous users and what they are doing.

This does bring up some interesting questions around net neutrality. However, it is not unreasonable to think that Comcast has an obligation to their customers to deliver a quality television experience, and providing reserved bandwidth is likely the only way to accomplish this. As long as the rest of their internet traffic isn’t filtered or prioritized in a way that unfairly punishes or rewards competitors, they may be able to steer clear of these issues since their customers are paying for television service as a separate, although bundled, service.

‘The Smarts’

With the cable companies acting like the slow-moving behemothly monopolistic utilities they are, companies like TiVo came to help give the end user a more intelligent and capable experience. This was a requirement in the old days of analog cable and over-the-air television, and has largely remained in place today. Even in the case of smarter television systems, the hard drive storing the buffered television usually sits in the STB. Really advanced systems can share this hard drive between different receivers, but the intelligence is still contained in the home.

This is not an ideal situation for anyone for many, many reasons. Hard drives fail, people don’t provide a clean, temperature-stable environment for the hardware, and the traditional vendors haven’t always prioritized end-user experience, or even been able to spell end-user experience, leading to a very frustrating customer experience.

For Comcast, the concept of having their end-user experience defined by Apple may be appealing. Apple has created a device that is inexpensive at $99, and that could conceivably provide a much better user experience than what exists today. The biggest problem with the Apple model is that it relies on a very intelligent cloud to deliver the content, and the cable companies have historically operated on the exact opposite of this model.

For Comcast to replace their user experience with Apple TV, they would have to create a very significant internal server infrastructure to deliver live content to millions of users. Luckily, the migration to digital and intelligent television has already accomplished a significant amount of this upgrade, but the DVR/time-shifting capabilities still primarily exist in the home today, and this capability would have to be moved to Comcast’s data centers.

When looking at the infrastructure Apple has been investing in for their content delivery networks, a reasonable theory to consider is that they may be preparing either a reference infrastructure for the cable companies or even preparing to host a significant amount of the infrastructure themselves, and just put in a pipe to the cable providers’ networks.

‘The Content’

Most of the recent rumors and discussions on Apple’s difficulties in entering the home TV market have centered around content contractual issues, and with good reason. The cable companies have used every legal option at their disposal to maintain their stranglehold monopoly over their users. One of the most effective ways of doing this is to “own” the content and channel broadcast rights for their user base. These contractual ties are so tight that as many content providers have created iOS, Apple TV, and Android apps, they are only available with full functionality to cable subscribers.

While this is likely not a viable long-term strategy to stop the ‘cord-cutters’, it certainly is a significant impediment to going cable-free in the short term. If you enjoy broadcast television, premium cable, or nearly any sporting events, you must have a subscription to cable TV to legally view the content through the network’s own applications.

By partnering with the cable companies, Apple sidesteps this issue for the time being. If Comcast is ‘just another app’ on the Apple TV, THEY are responsible for the contractual obligations, and they already likely have all of the necessary rights. Nothing in the Apple TV ecosystem is fundamentally that different from how cable content is delivered today, and will likely fall within the current contracts or require minimal changes.

Long-term, it is likely the content providers will move more ‘upstream’ and the premium channels will market directly to their consumers like Netflix does today, but that is many years and many contract renegotiations away. Today, cable is the in the driver’s seat.

The Biggest Winner: Everyone

Comcast wins because their customers get a better user experience, and they are paid whether the user is watching their cable content, a movie on Netflix, or buying a movie on iTunes.

Apple wins because they own the living room, which is all they really want in the first place.

Netflix wins because every home with an Apple TV installed, they have another device with their app available.

This may be the wave of the future, and the biggest losers would be the current STB providers. Based on how terrible their products are, will anyone care?

Also read:

The post Opinion: Netflix, Comcast and Apple – Two different approaches appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

Holiday Gift Guide: Apple TV Accessories

umOuch — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 19:57:51 +0000

Black Friday is now in the rearview mirror, and we are all left wondering where we will find those great deals for accessories and extras for our Apple TV‘s. Well, fear not good people. We at Apple TV Hacks have scoured the web once again to find you the best deals on new hardware including mounts, stands, speakers, remotes, cables, new Bluetooth goodies, and more. So, grab a cup of Eggnog, relax and let’s get shopping.

Apple TV 1

The box that started it all! We all have fond memories of this silver box, and for some (myself included) we still find them a vital part of our entertainment system.

160G HD New – As low as $174.99
160G HD Used – As low as $128.16
40G HD New – As low as $300
40G HD Used – As low as $100

Apple TV 2

Though the Apple TV 1 started it all, the Apple TV 2 is the best Apple television connected product out there. Considering the fact that there is still no jailbreak for the Apple TV 3, the 2^nd gen puck offers all the goods along with the ability to have XBMC installed on top of it!