Apple TV in the Car

Question

Apple TV in the Car

Heaven help me, but after the birth of our third son, we a looking to buy a minivan...

They all seem to come with DVD/TVs in them. DVDs are so '90s. I want to install an AppleTV. Park in the garage and synch up via wifi.

Anyone done this? Questions:

1) Anyone know of a 12-Volt car power supply for ATV? I can use an inverter.
2) Does the remote need a clear line-line-of sight or will is work if the ATV is enclosed.

Anything I am missing here? Several vans are pre-wired to support gaming systems. Why not an ATV?

G5 1.8 Dual, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Nov 21, 2007 7:52 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 21, 2007 2:26 PM in response to Matthew Wiseman

1) Anyone know of a 12-Volt car power supply for ATV? I can use an inverter.

You will need an inverter, the tv only needs 48W so the inverter would be fairly cheap

2) Does the remote need a clear line-line-of sight or will is work if the ATV is enclosed.

Don't enclose the tv, not just because the remote won't work but because it is likely to overheat.

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Answer 2

Nov 26, 2007 10:36 AM in response to Matthew Wiseman

Just thought of one snag which is do the inputs in the van include component or hdmi?

I understand the heat concerns for operating temps... I wonder about heat from being in a vehicle. Laptops and ipod seem to hold up okay. It can get sauna-like in a vehicle here in Florida in the summer.

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Answer 3

Dan White

Level 6

9,446 points

Nov 29, 2007 12:08 PM in response to Matthew Wiseman

I have a 2005 Saturn Relay with a DVD/Video system. It has the classic 3-RCA connections (red/white/yellow) for an external video source -- like a video game. My kids have Game Cube and it has a car power plug.

Anyway, I have played video out of my iPod into it and it works great.

Good luck

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Answer 4

Feb 8, 2008 7:12 PM in response to Dan White

Final conclusion on apple video in my van.... Give the five year old my 30gb video iPod and an rca cable. While it lacks the elegance of a wireless connection that syncs up in the garage, it also plugs right in to the connections on our new Honda Odyssey. Plus, I get a new iPod touch.

FWIW, there are only three minivans to consider: Honda, Toyota and Hyundai. Honda seems to be the best in terms of cost, fit/ride and features. Hyundai is feature-packed for a little less, but the fit and ride don't compare. Toyota is more money and comparable to the Honda. Honda is best rated by consumer reports. In any case, since we got the van and the boys are not seated three across in car seats in the back of an SUV, the screams of "stop touching me" have been replaced by dull staring at a 7-inch LCD screen. Mom can take as long as she wants in the grocery store. The boys are watching "The Incredibles".

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