Netflix on old Apple TV

The old Apple TV allows for sharing movies ( i.e. streamed viewing) on as many computers as available on its owner's LAN, once their library has been authorized for access.

The only caveat is that they have to be a in a format that Quick Time understands , typically MPEG4.

So, it should be relatively trivial for the old ATV to offer NetFlix streaming as SOON as Apple DECIDES NOT TO ORPHAN that product.

You are comparing Apples to Oranges (no pun intended).

Netflix is not streaming over a local LAN. It is streaming over the net with a different file format that requires a decoder.

If it was easy to stream Netflix on the ATV V1... Boxee or XBMC would have done it a longgggggg time ago.

Sorry, but I don't see the relevance for streaming over a LAN vs. WAN or the Internet.

If the issue is a decoder, it is simply software. And since ATV and the Intel Mac share the same processor and that you CAN USE NETFLIX on a MAC, it is just a question of willingness to do it.

I stand by my previous position and would not waste time with Boxee or XBMC trying to break into a "closed" software environment dependably.

Once again I will repeat the part of my post that you ignored.

If it could have been done XBMC OR BOXEE WOULD HAVE OFFERED IT ALREADY!

I don't care if you would use it or not, that is not the point. The point is that if it could be done without issues... it would have been done.

We are not going anywhere here with this dialogue.

Your argument about a couple of fringe players who "could have done" something that you seem not to technically grasp, leaves me unimpressed. If it is a codec that is missing to stream NetFlix video, that can be easily provided for in the next ATV release, if Apple has the incentives to do it. That is a still a big IF...

At this point in time, offering Netflix on the newer ATV is just an "insurance" against Logitech's Google TV and not anything more profound. Apple's most serious competition now is Google as manifested by Android and other "open platform" initiatives. As Android Smartphones continue to grow, watch Apple modify their strategy and be more "inclusive" of others, including Adobe, Netflix etc...

ok... fringe player is a bit off on the description of users of XBMC and Boxee.

The newer ATV is a completely different chipset and CPU. Much faster than a 1Ghz intel core CPU.

It is in part a codec issue. The codec issue reaches further than just including the codec, you also need the hardware to be able to run the codec to view the media content.

Try playing a high bitrate .mkv file on an old computer (p4, intel core 1Ghz or less)over a network and you might grasp what I am trying to explain. The codec to decompress a high bitrate mkv makes the video stutter and the sudio cut in and out.

Do you realize that the original Apple TV has a very respectable NVIDIA graphics chipset in addition to a Pentium M based Intel Dothan core??

The only limitation would be on-board memory to add a new codec ; but, if you can do You Tube ( a subsequent addition) I need to be proven you can't stream NetFlix.

I am not convinced you comprehend the details of the argument.

Do me a favor. Stop insulting me and try what I am suggesting so that you might grasp what is going on.

Peace.

I still think it is doable if Apple chooses to do it. Question is the "business rationale" of who should pay to evolve the old Apple TV which is now clearly abandoned.

Ironically, this is a boone for hacking outfits like the ones you mentioned to seize the opportunity of a "frozen" OS on the Apple TV and offer a solution to recieve NetFlix, for a fee. I would personally pay up to $20 for it.

D0GG wrote:
It is in part a codec issue. The codec issue reaches further than just including the codec, you also need the hardware to be able to run the codec to view the media content.

Can I ask where you know this? I haven't heard or read anywhere about any claims that this is a hardware issue that prevents an update to include Netflix streaming. All Apple has said that I've noticed is that they will not be adding new features to the old ATV. It's hard to believe that the old ATV would not support Netflix but if indeed it is a hardware issue, then Apple truly did mean it when they called ATV a "hobby" because they certainly didn't have enough foresight to allow for flexibility - the way Microsoft has for their XBOX and Sony has for their PS3. I have to fathom that Nintendo never thought of streaming movies to their Wii but yet even they have Netflix streaming. However, I don't believe Apple didn't have the foresight. I really believe it's because they want to orphan the old ATV in favor of the new one. Apple hasn't given me any other reason to believe otherwise unfortunately. That is why I'm asking where your source for your info is because that would at least make me feel better about my 160GB paperweight.

I think I mentioned it before in this thread.

Go look at the FAQs at ATV flash (they are a company that sells the software hack to add a bunch of features to AppleTV (Boxee, XBMC and a bunch of other stuff)). The FAQ generally comments that the system does not have the processing power to run silverlight (I think it is silverlight... might be flash) to decode the Netflix streaming.

Why would you view your 1st gen Apple TV a paperweight if all it is missing is Netflix?

Using a hack I have XBMC and Boxee added to 3 Apple TVs. I use that to stream TV episodes and Movies that are stored on a NAS. Plus you can also use the standard Apple TV features (Rent movies, Buy Movies, Rent TV episodes, buy TV episodes, play stored or stream audio over your network (from iTunes on your network), view photos over the network)

I guess I just see so much value from what the 1st gen can do. I really don't miss not having netflix on them. I am kind of Lucky, my BlueRay player has Netflix streaming on it so I just use that when I want to stream it.

On a closing note... I have searched all over the web to find a way to add Netflix to my older Apple TVs... I have found nothing.

Message was edited by: D0GG

Go check the Boxee forum for appletv. First sticky explains why AppleTV cannot run Netflix see http://forums.boxee.tv/showthread.php?t=4586&page=11

Basically Netflix needs 1Gb memory and Apple TV only has 256Mb also processor is too slow. Bottom line old Apple TV is just not man enough for Netflix

winston,I heard that the new atv isn't hard driven either and just streaming and itunes acess? I liked the fact that it had some storage capability.It's so convenient they came out with a new one.well I'll have sit and wait some more for the new tv's with the hard drive in it,lets face thats where it's all going.

Ok, I feel somewhat less bothered with it apparently being a hardware thing. I know I'm fickle but I needed to know that it couldn't be done rather than it wouldn't be done by Apple.

I probably shouldn't characterize it as a paperweight but it's more or less what it has become and I was hoping that Netflix would revive it a little. I never grew fond of having to stream from a computer that's turned on - so it became a paperweight for me more or less with the occasional rental.

That being said - with the hardware limitations - I'm a little surprised that they didn't consider maybe streaming Netflix from the computer as well like they do with the Shared stuff from iTunes. This way, you work around the hardware limitations. BUT, that wouldn't satisfy me not wanting to stream with the computer as a middleman.

Since when Apple cares about their users? All they want is your $$$, and lots of it!!!! You only have the right to buy and upgrade as they see fit. It's impressive how the "BEST product ever" (as they always introduce it) only works for no more than 4-years... My 2-years-old boy waches Netflix from a Dell Inspiron 5100 (9-years-old / worth $30) and I cannot use my 1 1/2 year-old AppleTV that I paid $300!
I was only waiting them blaming it on Microsoft, since they depend on Silverlight to stream Netflix content, like they blame Adobe for the "unstable" Flash content...