Apple TV - No computer Necessary?

Stan Fowler wrote:
Those words are on the Apple TV web page. I am wondering if you can download, play and manage content from the iTunes store exclusively with the apple TV without a computer and iTunes running on that computer. All the posts here seem to say no - but look at the marketing web page from Apple. Has something change to allow this and all the gurus just don't realize it.

Possibly.

While you could in theory connect to a wireless/wired network and enter your iTunes Store credentials, even if you could then buy/rent standalone the problem would be how to backup any purchases to a computer. Normally AppleTV would be synced to a computer, and any purchases would automatically 'sync back' to the computer to allow a backup to be made. You can't set this up later as setting up a new sync computer tends to wipe AppleTV content to give it a clean slate for media from the computer.

AppleTV never had iTunes Store integration initially and was reliant on a computer to get stuff from iTunes onto it, and you can only do that via iTunes - there's no USB transfer for example.

Now people have certainly loaded stuff onto an AppleTV, then taken it with them on holiday without a computer/internet, so in that sense it can run standalone, though I've seen several posts in recent months that say AppleTV content has disappeared when not connected to theh computer/internet for a few days - these could be user error or some kind of bizarre new ploy to try to protect media.

So, while you might be able to run an AppleTV without a computer, there are downsides and at the very least I'd want to sync it to one first so that if used standalone I could later transfer purchases back to a computer.

2nd Question:

Can the ipod remote app control the aTV without iTunes running on a Computer somewhere on the network?

Yes, but you can only play content that resides on the AppleTV (has been synced to it or purchased on it) via the remote. Other compatible ontent would normally stream from iTunes but it won't when iTunes is off.

AppleTV can't access network storage directly - iTunes feeds it all the media.

Yes, the Apple tv will work without a mac/pc and itunes, you will clearly miss some of the Apple tv's features and a lack of back up would concern me, but for integration with the itms alone there shouldn't be much difference.

The ipod/iphone will work as a remote subject to a network, although if you already have an ipod/iphone you are presumably already operating a similar device to an Apple tv without itunes.

As the others have said, yes once the ATV was updated (think was year ago, maybe two by now) it can work without a computer. It can download from the iTunes store itself (granted the ATV has to be on your network).
Thus all stuff stores local to ATV.

As mentioned, in time it will fill up and there is no option but to delete things you don't want if you want to download new stuff.

Thus having a computer you sync with is far more preferable as you can have all your stuff loaded off the ATV to your computer (or shared network drive/external drive) and still stream it when wanted.

So as Winston said, yes you can use it alone, but lack of backup and a fixed drive size is of concern. I personally don't see the point except for somebody that just wants to rent movies and maybe buy a few now and then. But in time, will fill up.

Also, yes you can use iPod/iPhone remote (granted the iPod/iPhone can be on same network).

With that said, if you have an iPod/iPhone, then the odds are you already do have a computer to sync with and thus also iTunes. So why not just have the ATV work with that computer as well?

The ATV pretty much is the iPod for the home. It is an extension of your iTunes library just like the iPod is. Your computer and the means of which you store and backup has always been your task. The devices (iPod/ATV,etc) are just synced copies and protected for the most part by the device for viewing but also maintaining copyright controls). So your library is always your library on your computer and the iPod or ATV is just a extension of that library.

For me, I have an external Terrabyte drive that my library is on and with all the movies I have now (most I will admit I did NOT get from iTunes) I am about to buy another one (a 1TB isn't all that expensive anymore).

My wife and kids have all their music and playlists on the ATV, their TV shows they like, all our movies (though yes I have it syncing with my computer so the ATV has the most recent stuff on it physically but it can stream over the network to my computer just like you would from any network drive).