Apple TV and Big Movie Archive

To stream local content iTunes must be running so your best option would either be a MacMini running 'headless' without a monitor (or maybe also connected to the TV by HDMI), or perhaps a cheap Windows netbook or other computer doing iTunes duties.

You can store the movies wherever you want but the files have to be added by reference (See iTunes Advanced Prefs about copying files to local library) to iTunes and iTunes has to be running for them to be accessibel by Home Sharing.

NAS units with 'iTunes Servers' will not work with AppleTV as they do not understand Home Sharing of ATV2 and 3 or the apirting system of ATV1.

Personally I'd have a USB or FW external drive hooked up to a Mini doing the iTunes (I do actually) rather than storing on the network - that can work fine but there is more network traffic when the files are stored on a NAS as they have to come to itunes across the network to be forwarded back across the network to AppleTV.

AC

That would be nice if Apple TV has a built-in media player to stream contents directly from a local hard drive attached to the miniUSB port.

For me, using network to stream video contents is a waste of bandwidth while contents can be made readily availaible locally.

Is there any forum at Apple where we can submit features for next firmware/generation ?

Thanh

My solution is an iPod Touch. It provides the absolute ultimate in convenience. I have the 32G version and I also use it for other purposes. The 64G version could store forty to fifty movies if it isn't used for anything else.

http://www.apple.com/feedback/appletv.html

Yes. You can enable it from the Advanced menu.

You're most welcome.

I see that your Windows question has been answered.

ThanhLoan wrote:

That would be nice if Apple TV has a built-in media player to stream contents directly from a local hard drive attached to the miniUSB port.

For me, using network to stream video contents is a waste of bandwidth while contents can be made readily availaible locally.

Is there any forum at Apple where we can submit features for next firmware/generation ?

Thanh

http://www.apple.com/feedback/appletv.html

Use that link.

I would be very surprised if they allow USB connected devices.

Yes, it would be so logical and AppleTV 1 had a normal USB port that could do just that with modified firmware.

While AppleTV1 lags behind in the power/newer features stakes, the onboard storage was great when you were going away and could just take one device and a few cables - no need for internet, an iOS device to Airplay or laptop to provide a streaming iTunes library.

I can't see them going back and adding storage and if they did chances are it would be solid state and of limited size, and no user expandability option.

AC