Starbuck II

Q: Apple TV & Networked Storage

I have a large number of my movies on a Networked storage device that provides for a Samba Share.  I do not wish to have a secondary computer running itunes with Home sharing engaged.Can Apple TV Gen 3 read network drives directly without a secondary machine running itunes?  It seems hugely inefficient to route the movies from storage, to a computer, then to ATV then to the display.  That just doesn't seem like a reasonable way to work efficiently.  I would like to move all my purchased movies from the cloud to also reside on local Networked storage.  Please advise how I

AppleTV 2

Posted on Jun 27, 2016 5:30 PM

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Q: Apple TV & Networked Storage

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  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Jun 27, 2016 5:36 PM in response to Starbuck II
    Level 10 (103,375 points)
    Apple TV
    Jun 27, 2016 5:36 PM in response to Starbuck II

    The only way to play content on the Apple TV 3 is with Homesharing and iTunes on a computer.

  • by Diana.McCall,

    Diana.McCall Diana.McCall Jun 27, 2016 5:42 PM in response to Starbuck II
    Level 4 (2,942 points)
    Apple TV
    Jun 27, 2016 5:42 PM in response to Starbuck II

    Are you certain you have Apple TV 3rd generation, see Identify your Apple TV model - Apple Support? If you do, I think you're out of luck. ATV relies on a server, not just a filesystem, and the iTunes program provides that server. Some folks use a Mac Mini as an iTunes server. Of course, it's your choice to use networked storage, or a filesystem local to a computer.

    If you're prepared to go to the current ATV 4, your options are much better, because you can install apps. The VLC app can directly access networked and cloud storage of many different types. There are doubtless other apps as well.

  • by Starbuck II,

    Starbuck II Starbuck II Jun 27, 2016 6:46 PM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple TV
    Jun 27, 2016 6:46 PM in response to Winston Churchill

    Thanks..  That was what I was afraid of.  The only option is to jailbreak it.  a NAS running a samba server is a server, not just a file system.  It's really too bad that one has to dedicate an entire computer to run 24/7 & then have to run that PILE of CRAP iTunes.  Probably the single worst software app Apple has ever developed.

  • by Starbuck II,

    Starbuck II Starbuck II Jun 27, 2016 6:51 PM in response to Diana.McCall
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple TV
    Jun 27, 2016 6:51 PM in response to Diana.McCall

    Thanks, but that means tossing a perfectly good ATV, then being forced to use an app that doesn't provide the interface that atv provides.  So instead I get a file listing.  It is really pathetic that Apple is so married to iTunes.  It is just frankly the worst media tool I have ever owned.  ATV should just natively be able to access files anywhere on the network or in the cloud, even if it's not iCloud.  Seems like hacking my appleTV is the only real option that doesn't involve spending $200 all over again.  Before long I am just going to stop buying Apple products when they favor strike that mandate use of internal crap applications like iTunes & home sharing.  Both of which are needless layers in the networking.