Currently for my HTPC, I'm using my Xbox 360 and Connect360 on my Macbook Pro. My problem is I have some .mkv high def content I want to view on my HT system and don't want to always bring my down my mb pro. I can't stream this format over my network to the 360 bc it's unsupported and I haven't found a good way to convert/burn .mkv files so I can view them as a hard copy DVD. I've been thinking about getting and aTV, but had a few questions/seeking some advice.

I read using the modification atv flash (http://www.applecorellc.com/product_info.php?products_id=27) you can play .mkv files directly, but only up to 480p. It says this is a hardware limitation for aTv, why is that?

Also, I read using Visualhub, you can convert .mkv files into aTV supported formats, maintaining video quality, but losing audio quality, forcing the use of a simulated surround sound decoder like Dolby Pro Logic II. Is there anyway around this?

Lastly, any advice on whether I should get an aTV, or just use my Connect360, and suck it up with transporting the mb pro around?

Thanks,

The limitation is that no one has figured out how to use the hardware h.264 decoder on the video card, so all the processing has to be done by the CPU, which is under powered for that task. Your best best, if you want to go with the ATV is to convert your 720p MKV files with visualhub to ATV format, the audio problem is with the DTS audio.

The limitation is that no one has figured out how to use the hardware h.264 decoder on the video card, so all the processing has to be done by the CPU, which is under powered for that task. Your best best, if you want to go with the ATV is to convert your 720p MKV files with visualhub to ATV format, the audio problem is with the DTS audio.


Oh, ok. So audio that is encoded in Dolby Digital will work just fine when I convert to ATV? This problem only applies to DTS audio? And if so, out of curiosity, do you know why? And just double checking, the current ATV can only output 720p? Has apple said anything about being able to stream 1080p content?

Thanks again

That's right, visualhub will dumb the audio down to Dolby Digital 5.1 (there are some options). Not a big loss, imho.

Apple would have to completely re-do the ATV to get 1080p, leaving a lot of early adopters stranded. Seems they've chosen, like with the iPhone, to do software updates and leave the hardware processing capabilities untouched.

My personal feeling is that the difference between 1080 and 720 is surprisingly marginal. When I watched 720p MKVs (also on a MBP) on a 1080p 52" tv it looks better than any 1080i broadcast. I know 1080p MKVs would look marginally better it's certainly HD and also better 'value' in terms of archival space on hard drives.

My personal feeling is that the difference between 1080 and 720 is surprisingly marginal. When I watched 720p MKVs (also on a MBP) on a 1080p 52" tv it looks better than any 1080i broadcast. I know 1080p MKVs would look marginally better it's certainly HD and also better 'value' in terms of archival space on hard drives.

Yeah a lot of the 1080i broadcast is over compressed to the point of almost unwatchable on a large screen.

That's right, visualhub will dumb the audio down to Dolby Digital 5.1 (there are some options). Not a big loss, imho.

Apple would have to completely re-do the ATV to get 1080p, leaving a lot of early adopters stranded. Seems they've chosen, like with the iPhone, to do software updates and leave the hardware processing capabilities untouched.

My personal feeling is that the difference between 1080 and 720 is surprisingly marginal. When I watched 720p MKVs (also on a MBP) on a 1080p 52" tv it looks better than any 1080i broadcast. I know 1080p MKVs would look marginally better it's certainly HD and also better 'value' in terms of archival space on hard drives.

I def can agree that the difference between 1080p and 720p is marginal, especially at certain distances.

I converted a .mvk file to H.264 in visualhub and it came out to be like 3.31 GB (originally from around 7.2). Am I really losing that much quality. Also, since it was in H.264 format, I streamed it to my Xbox360 to see how I liked it and found the video quality to be nice, BUT....

1) My 360 had problems buffering it, so it was choppy. Would ATV do better, ie can you download most of it to the ATV internal HD and then watch it?

2) Using an optical cable, it still only output stereo audio and I had to use my Yammy's DD PL II decoder to simulate surround sound. What way in visualhub allows you to retain 5.1 DD? Will the converted .mkv->h.264 file decode/stream the DD track for ATV?

Finally, I talked to a few people I know and they suggested an ".mkv flattener" in which you can extract the video as .avi's and preserve the DD 5.1. Any suggestions on that?

Thanks SOOOO much for the help!

Yeah I find astounding little difference between 1080 v 720 on my laptop, my 30" monitor, a 52" 1080p TV and my 720p projector and 8-foot screen.

In Visualhub, when you drag a 5.1-enabled mkv you have the choice for ATV of 2.0, 5.1 or 2.0+5.1 (don't know why someone would want both - maybe for iPod also? dunno) audio options.

I have a low-to-mid range audio, so Dolby Digital 5.1 is fine for me - maybe lossless high def audio purists will miss it, but then those buy Bluray, the rest of us are fine with 720p and ATV.

Yeah I find astounding little difference between 1080 v 720 on my laptop, my 30" monitor, a 52" 1080p TV and my 720p projector and 8-foot screen.

In Visualhub, when you drag a 5.1-enabled mkv you have the choice for ATV of 2.0, 5.1 or 2.0+5.1 (don't know why someone would want both - maybe for iPod also? dunno) audio options.

I have a low-to-mid range audio, so Dolby Digital 5.1 is fine for me - maybe lossless high def audio purists will miss it, but then those buy Bluray, the rest of us are fine with 720p and ATV.

Finally found the ATV 5.1 drop down, I was looking in advanced setting and could not find it at first. haha....While on the subject of wireless media servers....

1) As stated before, I use connect360 to stream wireless from my mac through airport to my HT. I want to be able to turn off my mac and still do this. If I go with ATV, I'm assuming I'll still have to have the computer on with iTunes running to stream, but if I stream it to ATV internal HD, am I safe to assume that I can turn off the mbp and it will work? On that, I'm sure you can check what items you want to keep on the ATV internal HD, and ones you want to just link from iTunes right?

2) I plan to, as I am currently doing, keep all my media on external HDs wired through usb to my airport extreme to stream. Since I have been having problems with streaming and buffering with Connect360 (not sure if it will be the same with ATV), would it be wise to invest in an external HD that can connect through a 10/100 ethernet interface instead of usb to my airport? Basically would I benefit as far as buffering and transfer rates? I run wireless N on my airport, mbp, and soon to be ATV.

Thanks!

I don't actually have an ATV but my friend has one and I've fiddled on it with him. I don't think wifi (even N) will be a good solution for HD. I'd consider wiring in the connection, or just planning to have your 'to be watched soon' files on the built-in drive for optimal performance. I know it's probably not the answer you wanted to hear.

Thinking back to our experimenting, I think it was mostly with a G router, he only got a N router later, and I'm not sure if HD streaming worked better then. Also it's good to know that the USB attached HDD on the Extreme isn't a very good performer - I think it's more made for Time Machine backups than NAS type streaming.

I'll leave actually ATV owners to confirm or deny this view, but I'm a big believer in running wires for dropless performance.

I'll leave actually ATV owners to confirm or deny this view, but I'm a big believer in running wires for dropless performance.

I have no problem streaming HD content with wireless N, I don't know about G.

HD streaming: I had some frame drops using G (although not terrible); No issues at all using N...but
I now connect wired for other reasons, so it's been a while since I tested it...

ken