What if we could run IOS music apps on the AppleTV?

[elektro80]

http://www.macrumors.com/2012/01/01/apple-tv-hacked-to-run-ios-apps-at-full-screen/


Please Apple.. turn the AppleTV into a true IOS device and let us run music apps on it!!

[DES]

My kids bought te ATV for me for Christmas. I haven't set it up yet. They had asked me what I wanted and I said something that will allow me to stream audio from the iPad to the stereo system.

Is this possible with the ATV? While it would be cool if the app graphics showed up, I really don't mind if they don't as long as audio does.. Supposedly the kids asked the Apple salesman and he said it would work....

[elektro80]

ATV2 doesn't have analog audio out. Only digital audio out. You'll need a DAC.
ATV2 works as a destination for audio and video from iTunes on any device that can run a fairly new version of iTunes. Basically the only video format it supports is m4v h264 with AAC audio. I'm using the ATV2 myself and I'm a big fan.
The device can also connect to shared iTunes libraries and you can use the remote for selecting media. However the best way to control media playback on the ATV2 is using the IOS remote app ( iPod Touch, iPad & iPhone).

[DES]

Yea, this oe has optical out and HDMI video out which isn't a problem. Also comes with a tiny remote.

So do I understand correctly that application audio won't transmit to this?

[elektro80]

The IOS API that handles audio send to the ATV2 is available to all developers I think... not just Apple branded apps. A friend of mine made an internet radio app that can send audio just fine. However, it seems that a limited number of apps are actually using this. I haven´t yet seen any instrument apps that supports audio out to ATV2.
However, as long as you send audio from iTunes this works just fine.
I have ripped all my CDs and have them all in Apple Lossless format on a Mediasonic Raid cab attached to a mac min which is my media server in the living room.

[elektro80]

I do think there are OS X apps that can send any audio signal, both application and system audio, to the ATV2. Could be there are some Windows apps out there that does this too.

[elektro80]

http://www.tested.com/news/how-to-send-any-audio-and-video-stream-to-airplay-devices/2608/

[DES]

Thanks for the link....the first app seem interesting. I'll have to try the free version and see how it works. I could get a bluetooth-to-FM adaptor and use it ( works great running iPad thru the car stereo) but was hoping for something a little more solid.

[EdisonRex]

I have an ATV 1. The ones that run OSX instead. I went looking for jailbreaking instructions and found much more, it's almost a mac mini now, except for the HDMI interface and lack of a keyboard (although a mouse now works). But it's been a lot of tweaking, and getting used to weird ssh terminal incantations to do things like stop the LED blinking (osputil is my friend).

ATV 3 would be a nice way to do video, I think, with music, but the interface is still a bit troublesome. If I had really thought it out that ATV is a vehicle you pay for in order to pay for rentals from iTunes Store, I'd have found some other way, like using a Mac Mini.

[elektro80]

I considered the ATV1, but went for a mac mini instead. Then later added the ATV2 and a 6TB raid5 for the Mac Mini ( + an UPS ). This way I can have the mini and raid box stowed away somewhere else.. and the ATV2 is in the living room. Remote control works fine with Remote on the iPhone and iPad.

The ATV2 interface is a bit simplistic and not well thought out. If this is their new Apple TV then Apple is a dodo. But.. I do like the ATV2 for what it does.

Obviously music apps for the ATV2 would have to be designed for it in order to make any sense at all. It could be a nice platform though.