Air Media Center, a popular multi-platform mobile media center, has been recently updated with support for the new Apple TV. The app now lets you stream your media collection from your computer not only to your mobile device, but also to Apple TV 4.

Air Media Center doesn’t require any syncing or copying; it will automatically transcode your music, video and photo streams when necessary to match the playback capabilities of your device, so you don’t have to worry about codecs or file conversions.

Air Media Center is a suite of 2 applications: in order to enjoy AMC on your iPhone/iPad (Android and Windows Mobile versions will be available soon) or Apple TV, you will first need to download and install a free server application on your Mac or PC. Air Media Server is available for free in the Mac App Store. PC version is also available for free from the developer’s website.

To download the app on your Apple TV simply search for “Air Media Center” on the Apple TV App Store.

The app costs $4.99.

Features:
• Retina display optimized video and photo streaming
• Authenticate using your Mac or PC user accounts
• Hide files or folders using file system permissions
• Play videos, music, photos of any form or shape
• Provides instant live transcoding if needed
• Folder, iTunes playlist and iPhoto album sharing

Supported files/formats:
AVI, DIVX, XVID, MKV, MP4, M4V, MOV, MPG, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, EyeTV MPEG2, MPEG-4, ASF, WMV, WMA, WAV, MP3, 3GP, OGG, FLAC, MPEG audio, ADTS AAC audio, Real Audio and Video, Macromedia Flash (Only embedded audio is decoded), FLV (Macromedia Flash video files), DVR-MS, WTV, CDR, ISO and more.

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

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“Take control of Apple TV” is a book by TidBITS managing editor Josh Centers that is said to answer every question you may have about the 4th generation Apple TV. It explains how to set it up and use it to watch movies and TV shows, play music, display your photos, and run all types of apps on the big screen.

Josh walks you through cables, ports, and setup, and explains how to use gestures and spoken commands with the Siri Remote—yes, you can talk to your TV! He helps you navigate and customize the Home screen, plus describes getting-started settings such as inputting your Apple ID and enabling parental controls.

In Take Control of Apple TV you’ll read about:

• The easy Siri Remote shortcut for sleeping your Apple TV
• Checking the battery level and charging your Siri Remote
• Three ways to rewind on the Siri Remote
• Alternatives to the Siri Remote
• Connecting your Apple TV to iCloud Photo Library, iCloud Photo Stream, iCloud Photo Sharing, or to photos stored on your local computer
• Beaming the display of your Mac or iPhone screen to your TV
• Making Mac or iOS audio play through your TV’s speakers
• Ripping DVDs and Blu-ray discs
• Running iTunes Home Sharing to play media from a local computer
• Using Plex Media Server to take your media library beyond iTunes
• Essential items to pack if you’ll be giving a presentation via an Apple TV
• What you can do with Conference Room Display mode
• How to tell if an iOS app includes a free copy of its Apple TV version
• How to reset or restore an Apple TV—useful for troubleshooting or for handing your device to a new owner

The second edition of the book includes What’s New in tvOS 9.2 that discusses the most importnat features of tvOS 9.2, like support for Bluetooth keyboards, Dictation, and the capability to display your iCloud Photo Library.

The book costs $15 and is available in PDF, EPUB and mobi formats from takecontrolbooks.com.

You can also get a free sample.

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

The post “Take control of Apple TV” – the ultimate guide appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

Vevo today announced its new app for Apple TV 4. The app was re-written from the ground up and it brings instant access to over 160,000 HD videos and “exclusive original programming.”

You can now easily navigate through the Vevo app to see top videos by genre; search for individual artists and videos; and select new favorite artists. Playlists and favorites will sync seamlessly among devices.

You can also add or remove artists from your favorites list on your Apple TV. These changes are then instantly updated across platforms.

In an interview with VentureBeat, Vevo product manager Mark Hall said that with the new tvOS app, the goal is to give users a choice between a more interactive experience or a more passive one: the Spotlight section autoplays “so that a user can put down the remote and instantly enjoy a stream of music videos curated to their individual tastes.”

The new app is now available to download on the Apple TV App Store.

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

The post VEVO unveils new tvOS app appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

One of the best features of the recently released Apple TV 4 is its ability to connect with headphones and speakers via Bluetooth. So instead of hearing sound from whatever TV show or movie you are watching, you will be able to hear it from your Bluetooth enabled speaker or headphone. This added function therefore allows us to listen to whatever we want, without disturbing the people around us.

Below is a list of some of the best Black Friday deals on Bluetooth speakers for your new Apple TV.

Harman Kardon Onyx Studio Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

The Harman Kardon Wireless Speaker is premium speaker with amazing audio performance and deep bass. The speaker allows you to take the gift of great sound with you wherever you go. The speaker features four dual passive radiators that deliver rich, dynamic audio. You can connect this speaker to any Bluetooth enabled device.

Get it now from Amazon for $139.95 and save about $260.04.

Yamaha Sound Bar with Bluetooth

The Yamaha ATS-1030-R Sound Bar has Bluetooth compatibility, operation from an app and wireless convenience. All this and more in a one-body unit with built-in subwoofer that offers high sound quality and exhilarating surround sound.

Get in now for just $139.99 (53% off).

Jawbone BIG JAMBOX Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

When you feel like unplugging, sharing music with your friends or you just want to take your speaker with you without having to worry about wires then you need to get yourself the Jawbone BIG JAMBOX Wireless Bluetooth Speaker. This speaker has a powerful battery that lasts up to 15 hours even with active, continuous play. This speaker is small and compact so you can put it in your bag and off you go.

The speaker normally costs $299.99, but you can buy it now from Amazon for $159.99.

AEDILYS Bluetooth Speaker

The AEDILYS Bluetooth speaker is an all in one 2.1 channel sound system with 3D surround sound. The speaker has a long lasting battery that can withstand up to 8 hours of playtime.

Since it is a high-quality, extremely well-built speaker, it costs $199.99, but you can buy it now for $43.99 from Amazon.

UE BOOM Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

If you are searching for versatility, clear sounds and portability then you need to consider the UE BOOM Wireless Bluetooth Speaker. This speaker was designed to provide users with crystal clear stereo sound for any occasion. The speaker also features a powerful in-built battery that can last up to 15 hours, and you can still pick you call or control your music from 50 feet away.

Buy it now for just $99.99 and save $100.00.

SHARKK Boombox Bluetooth Speaker

If you are looking for a high-quality Bluetooth speaker with a battery that can last up to 18 hours then you should consider the SHARKK Boombox Bluetooth Speaker. This speaker is just as clear as Jambox and Beats at half the price. The speaker also allows for hands free phone calls.

Buy it now for just $59.95 and save $30.04.

Denon HEOS 1 Wireless Speaker

You will be amazed by the big and the high-quality sounds produced by the Denon HEOS 1 Speaker. The speaker allows you to stream your favorite music services such as iHearRadio, SiriusXM, Spotify and Pandora using the free HEOS app for Kindle, Android or iOS. This wireless speaker is also highly portable, giving you the freedom to take studio-mastered sound wherever you go.

The speaker normally retails for $199.99, but you can get it now from Amazon for $149.00.

OontZ Angle 3 Bluetooth Portable Speaker

The OontZ Angle 3 Bluetooth Portable Speaker is specifically engineered and designed to deliver the critical features you’re looking for in a portable speaker. The speaker features 2 precision acoustic drivers that deliver 10 watts of enhanced bass and excellent, crystal clear stereo sound. The speaker is also splashproof, rainproof, waterproof, dustproof, and sandproof, making it the best speaker for both outdoor and indoor activities. Its lightweight sturdy design allows it to easily fit in a bag.

It normally costs $99.99, but you can get it now from Amazon for $27.99.

Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Speaker

If you love music and you would like to take it with you everywhere you go then you need to get yourself the Bose SoundLink Color Bluetooth Speaker. This powerful speaker produces, clear, high-quality sounds. It is also simple to use, durable and small enough to fit into your bag or suitcase. The speaker has a 30 feet range, so you won’t have to be restricted by wires.

The speaker costs $119.00 at Amazon and you get to save $10.00.

DKnight Magicbox II Ultra Portable Wireless speaker

The DKnightMagicBox II Ultra Portable Bluetooth speaker is a high-quality speaker that offers high-quality sound using the latest Bluetooth 4.0 tech. The speaker features 2 powerful 40mm acoustic drivers for crystal clear sound. It also features an ultra compact design that allows it to easily fit into a travelling bag, suitcase or backpack. Its powerful built-in battery will provide you with up to 10-12 hours of playtime. This speaker is ideal for picnics, personal use and indoor or outdoor BBQ.

Get it now for just $32.99 and save $97.00.

More Black Friday deals:

• Best deals on AirPlay speakers for Apple TV (2nd, 3rd and 4th gen.)
• Best deals on skins/stickers for Apple TV (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th gen.)
• Best deals on Bluetooth keyboards for Apple TV 2 & 3
• TotalMount Pro for Apple TV (2nd, 3rd and 4th gen.) now 33% off

Also read:

• Apple TV 4 hacked to run a web browser
• New Apple TV hacked to enable app folders
• MAME emulator running on Apple TV 4
• AirParrot 2: the ultimate companion app for Apple TV 4
• Official Plex app for Apple TV released
• How Apple is fixing what’s wrong with console gaming today

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

The post Black Friday: best deals on Bluetooth speakers for Apple TV 4 appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

If you’re listening to music on the Apple TV but don’t want it to play on the television’s subpar speakers, or if you’re watching a movie but would like the audio to play from another speaker, you can redirect the audio from Apple TV to any AirPlay speakers (check out: How to send audio from Apple TV to AirPlay speakers).

Below is a list of some of the best Black Friday deals on AirPlay speakers.

Hame Dreamsound Wifi Hifi Speaker

The Hame Dreamsound is a one of a kind third-party speaker that supports BDPlay, QPlay, AirPlay and DLNA making it perfect for both Apple and Android users. The high-end speaker is made of wood and offers high-quality, crystal clear sound.

The speaker is available at Amazon for just $139.99 (38% off!)

Wren V5AP WiFi AirPlay Wireless Speaker

The Wren V5AP is another highly-priced speaker, but for good reasons. It allows for streaming of apps and music with AirPlay and with 25 watts of power, you should expect crystal clear sounds. The speaker’s body features bamboo wood veneer that’s placed over the rigid MDF body.

The V5AP normally costs $399.00, but you can get it today from Amazon for $239.00.

Doss AirPlay Speaker

While it’s a bit overpriced, the Doss AirPlay Speaker is one of the best AirPlay speakers out there, featuring one-touch access to your music with six personalized presets. The Doss easily connects directly to your office/home’s Wi-Fi network and offers you the power to control your music with the free Doss app on your iPod, iPhone or iPad. The rechargeable battery can withstand up to 16 hours of playtime.

The speaker costs about $149.99, but you can get it for $99 at Amazon.

GGMM M4 Leather Wireless Digital Speaker

The GGMM M4 is a state-of-the-art leather wireless digital speaker that allows you to directly control your music using the GGMM music app that is available both on Google Play and the App Store. The speaker features a powerful built-in battery, withstanding up to 8 hours of playtime.

The M4 normally costs $399.99, but you can get it now for $199.99 from Amazon.

Bowers & Wilkins Z2 Speaker

The Bowers & Wilkins Z2 is a high-quality speaker, with amazing sound. The Z2 features a lightning connector, effortless wireless streaming with AirPlay and a design that allows it to fit almost anywhere. It also comes with custom drivers that are creatively crafted to provide natural sound that disperses smoothly throughout any room.

The Z2 goes for $372.39 at Amazon (15% off).

Klipsch G-17 Air Wireless Sound System

The Klipsch G-17  features a stunning appearance that complements a variety of settings and it also delivers high-quality sound that the brand is known for. Never settling for “average” the G-17 is actually one of the best AirPlay speakers in terms of sound, style and technology.

It costs $285.00 at Amazon (regular price: $549.00)

JBL Soundfly AP AirPlay Plug-In Speaker

The JBL Soundfly AP speaker is a fairly priced speaker that uses AirPlay technology to provide high-quality music. The speaker uses a revolutionary plug-in design that allows the speaker to plug into any AC wall outlet. You no longer have to have shelf space or deal with messy wires. Control all your music using a free downloadable iOS app.

Buy the Soundfly from Amazon for $89.00, which is $150.95 less the actual selling price.

Philips AD7000W/37 Wireless Speaker with AirPlay

The Philips AD7000W/37 Wireless Speaker with AirPlay is a worthwhile third-party AirPlay speaker for homes that demand premium sound from iOS devices. This speaker is compatible with a variety of Apple products. Expect high-quality sound from the renowned brand.

Buy the speaker now from Amazon for $86.99 and save $133.00!

iHome iW3

The iHome iW3 is an AirPlay speaker that uses Wi-Fi network to connect and control your iTunes library for wireless audio anywhere in the home. The iW3 supports USB charging and its affordable price and modest price makes it an ideal solution for multiple room placements.

Embrace exceptional audio experience and wireless living for just $49.95 at Amazon, saving you 100 bucks.

Sugr Cube Compact Smart Wifi Speaker

The Sugr Cube Compact Speaker looks more like your ordinary Bluetootth speaker, but it’s not. This Sugr product adopts a Northern European minimalism design, so you won’t see a screw or push button on it. The speaker is made of natural wood from the North American region, and you can be sure each cube is special and unique in its own way. It also wirelessly streams music and supports Apple AirPlay and Spotify Connect. The speaker can also store up to 500 songs on its 4GB built-in flash memory. The rechargeable battery can withstand up to 24 hours of playtime.

Get it now from Amazon for $229.00 (35% off).

More Black Friday deals: Best deals on skins/stickers for Apple TV (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th gen.)

Also read: Best budget AirPlay speakers for Apple TV to buy in 2015

Also read:

• Apple TV 4 hacked to run a web browser
• New Apple TV hacked to enable app folders
• MAME emulator running on Apple TV 4
• AirParrot 2: the ultimate companion app for Apple TV 4
• Official Plex app for Apple TV released
• How Apple is fixing what’s wrong with console gaming today

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

The post Black Friday: best deals on AirPlay speakers for Apple TV (2nd, 3rd and 4th gen.) appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

Apple sells iOS devices that come in 16GB, 32GB, 64GB and 128GB, but what about the Apple TV 4? Why only 32GB and 64GB? Apple figures most Apple TV customers will just stream content via DLNA/UPnP or use home sharing for content we purchased on iTunes. So the internal storage is to just store apps and data.

I don’t think Apple would imagine that people may want to download media to the Apple TV hard drive so that we can use the Apple TV in the car, like i did (check out: Apple TV 4 in The Car detailed) or bring their Apple TV to a friend’s house.

However, there is an app that allows you to do just that. Save your collection of movies, tv shows and music right on the Apple TV hard drive itself.

In my video (below) i give you an overview of all the media apps i use on my Apple TV and if you skip to 7:05 you will see the app that allows you to download media to the Apple TV for offline use.

I don’t want to mention the name of the app in the article. So Apple, you will just have to watch the video to find out! But please don’t pull it from the App Store.

Also check out:

• Infuse 4 for Apple TV 4: first look (video)
• Plex on Apple TV 4 explained (video)

You can find more videos on my YouTube channel AskUncleDave.

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

The post How to save media files to your Apple TV 4 ‘hard drive’ for offline viewing (video) appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

After a very long wait, the official Plex app is now available on the Apple TV. Plex for tvOS organizes all of your video, music, TV, and photo collections, and streams them to the Apple TV. With the free Plex Media Server on your home computer and Plex for tvOS, you can watch and listen to all of your personal media on your HDTV.

The app is free in the Apple TV App Store and requires the latest media server (note: you may need to download and install the very latest server manually for now on certain NAS devices).

There truly isn’t any other platform we’ve wanted to be on for as long as we have the Apple TV. Today’s the day, and we’re celebrating.

The instant the fourth generation Apple TV was announced with an app store, we here at Plex pumped our fists in the air with excitement, as we raced to download the new Xcode and read the developer documentation. Our immediate goal was to be on the platform at launch, which means we didn’t have much time. What we did have was a clean modern iOS codebase for our new app.

We formed a small team which combined a handful of engineers and designers across four countries and as many timezones, who literally worked around the clock (thanks, round planet!).

Here is how Plex describes the technical details of their tvOS app:

We had some tough choices to make. The new platform allowed for two very different ways to build apps, each with distinct advantages and disadvantages. The easiest was TVML, which is a custom markup language evolved from the earlier version present on previous generations of the device. TVML is a markup language for media interfaces, meaning that it’s incredibly easy to make the beautiful screens you’re accustomed to seeing in the Apple apps. On the other hand, they allowed running full native code, which was obviously essential for games, and provided the highest level of control.

We timeboxed two days of prototyping using both technologies, and quickly realized that a beautiful native-looking UI build with the native SDK would take much longer than using TVML. On the other hand, the limitations around the TVML media players led us to want to use our native code from the iOS app.

Fortunately, Apple makes it incredibly easy to bridge between the TVML/Javascript world, and the native world. So we worked hard to combine the best parts of both into the nascent app.

The other important decision to make was how we would generate the TV Markup Language. After a bit of experimentation, we settled on a clever mechanism whereby we’d request XML from the media server, and then transform it using XSLT into TVML. Said with fewer acronyms and more gesticulating, we essentially transform the output from a Plex Media Server directly into the beautiful screens you see on the Apple TV. (And yes, we had to make a few small tweaks to the API, which is why we require a brand new media server for the new app.)

Note that DRM-protected content (such as video from the iTunes store), ISO disc images, and VIDEO_TS folders are not supported in Plex for Apple TV.

Also available in the Apple TV App Store is Simple X – a third party client for Plex Media Server. It can browse and play videos from Plex servers both on the local network and remotely. However, it does not currently support Mucis or Photo sections in Plex.

Related articles:

• Pangea releases five tvOS games with support for 3DTV
• MAME emulator running on Apple TV 4
• VLC coming to the new Apple TV
• tvOS not coming to Apple TV 2 and Apple TV 3
• How Apple is fixing what’s wrong with console gaming today

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

The post Today’s the day: official Plex app for Apple TV released appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

Back in September Plex confirmed that the official Plex app for the new Apple TV was in the works. However, they didn’t say a word on when they were going to relese it. Now, it looks that we will be able to enjoy the app from day one.

@reneritchie Count us in on the Apple TV launch

— Plex (@plex) October 21, 2015

But if you are a developer who was lucky enough to get the Apple TV Developer Kit, you can already check out a POC standalone Plex Client for tvOS written by Plex Forums user Eric Yanush (it is basically PlexConnect written in javascript, which generates TVML).

Also check out: How to get Plex working on Apple TV 3

The new Apple TV is coming next week – orders start on Monday, Oct. 26, with the device shipping later that week.

Giveaway: Win a brand new Apple TV 4!

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

The post Official Plex app for Apple TV 4 available from day one appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

Admit it, you’re not necessarily a fan of all Apple’s products. Some are life changers for sure – you’ll have to pry my iPhone out of my cold, dead hands. Others are maybe more, ‘meh’. iTunes falls into that latter category for a lot of people. While it was groundbreaking back in the day, these days it is more of an unkempt warehouse for Apple to cram things into. So how do you maintain your love for your Apple TV, while hating iTunes and not using it?

The big problem is that your Apple TV requires you to fully incorporate all your media (music, photos and video) into your iTunes catalog, if you want to connect that media to your Apple TV. This is easy if you’re buying all your stuff in iTunes. But if you’re like a lot of people, your media comes from a lot of different places – ripped CDs/DVDs, downloads from Amazon, friends, etc. Not all this is quickly or cleanly imported into iTunes, ignoring that many of us just don’t remember to do it all the time.

younity makes it easy to use your Apple TV for all your media, even if it is not in iTunes. When you install younity on your computer, it indexes your hard drive for all your video, music and photos. When it discovers all of it, it reads the file metadata (stuff like the artist name, album, song, movie title, etc.). If your content is in iTunes, younity will have all your library categorization, like your playlists; but for all your media not in iTunes, younity will automatically organize it into the same type of sections for Artist, Album, Songs, etc.

younity turns your computer into a personal media server, so you can stream all your video, music and photos to your iPhone or iPad without having to sync. This means you can carry all your digital content around with you, without taking up any storage on your mobile devices. When you want to access something, younity streams it from your computer to your mobile device.

Of course, younity also uses AirPlay, which means that you can stream everything on any of your computers directly to your Apple TV – with or without using iTunes. You can still browse your music library by Artist, Album, Playlist, etc., because younity will read all your media’s metadata and recreate those lists for you – no importing required.

You can also use younity to access all your computers at once , instead of one at a time, to stream any of your content to your Apple TV.

Click here to learn more about younity.

Throughout our series on hacking your Apple TV with younity we’re giving away FIVE Apple TV 4s! Enter below until 10/31 for your chance to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

younity is a simple easy and free app that enables your computer to work like a home media server, giving you access to all your media files on your computer from your iPhone or iPad.

The post How to love your Apple TV and hate iTunes, successfully (and Apple TV 4 giveaway!) appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

At one point or another, we’ve all been visiting family or friends and wish we could watch a movie stored back on our home computer while we’re at their house. Or listen to a favorite playlist at someone else’s backyard party, or show off our latest GoPro video on a friend’s big screen.

While the Apple TV lets you stream video, music, and photos from your computer to your TV, what about when you want to stream stuff from your computer to someone else’s Apple TV?

This has previously been impossible because the Apple TV only connects to a computer on the same WiFi network – if your computer was back at home (on another network), it was off limits.

With younity you can take all your media with you to stream to any Apple TV, or even share your media with friends for them to stream on-demand when you’re not around. younity turns every computer you install it on into a personal media server, similar to Plex. It’s easy to set up and free.

How to install younity:

1. Install younity on each computer you want to access and let it index that content (about 5-30 minutes, depending on how much stuff you have).
2. Install the iOS app on your iPhone or iPad.

If you install younity on more than one computer, it will unify all of your files into a single list within the younity iOS app.

Not only does younity let you connect to all your computers at once, it lets you stream all your video, music and photos to your iPhone or iPad no matter where you are in the world. This means that the next time you’re at your friend’s house you can easily stream anything you have at home to their Apple TV using AirPlay.

How to stream a video to your friend’s Apple TV:

1. Start playing avideo in younity
2. Pull up the Apple menu from the bottom of your iPhone. If an Airplay-enabled device is nearby then the AirPlay option will appear.
3. Click on AirPlay
4. Select the device you want to connect to, and your video will stream.

You can also share videos, photos, and music with friends or family through the younity app. Just find what you want to share and choose your friend’s email address of Facebook account and they’ll be allowed to stream your content from your computer to their mobile device or Apple TV.

Whether it’s taking your media with you or sharing it with friends for them to watch on their TV, younity is a simple, unlimited and free way to always have access to your stuff.

Click here to learn more about younity.

Throughout our series on hacking your Apple TV with younity we’re giving away FIVE Apple TV 4s! Enter below until 10/31 for your chance to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

younity is a simple easy and free app that enables your computer to work like a home media server, giving you access to all your media files on your computer from your iPhone or iPad.

The post How to stream your content to your friend’s Apple TV (and Apple TV 4 giveaway!) appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.