To find a used apple tv and hack it so I can use boxee.tv or XBMC


The purpose?
Cut costs by getting rid of comcast cable

Have you guys done this yet?



Please keep the microsoft/apple bashing out of this thread.

 

That sounds interesting. I never followed the Apple TV stuff, is what you described common place?

 

can you explain what this would allow on top of regular usage of apple tv.

 

so cal has a thread about something using thier PS3

i dont know what it is or have a clue

 

no thanks...

it's gonna be like pandora on tv...

and i dont like pandora on my computer.

i like network tv as it is, with their HDTV and everything.

 

Yes.

Boxee is an open-source media center which plays media from your computer and other devices in your home network, as well as connects you to various Internet sources that allow you to stream or download movies, TV shows, music and photos.
http://wiki.boxee.tv/About_Boxee

Basically what it will do is take RSS feeds from various sites ie hulu.com and stream them to your TV.

see also
http://forum.boxee.tv/showthread.php?t=6486
http://forum.boxee.tv/showthread.php?t=6488

 

You can put XBMC on an AppleTV now?? That's frickin' sweet. I've been running it on modded first-gen Xbox systems for like 6 years now and it'd be nice to get it on some more reliable hardware.

 

So you can only get stuff online, not actual broadcasts?

 

If you have a modern HDTV or go buy an HD receiver/antenna, you get basically all the major networks in HD for free. Just point it tward SF.

All you have to pay for is internet then. Buy The Netflix box, if you want movies from time to time.

 

wait, so you dont pay for cable at all? how many channels do you get exactly by doing this. 50 bucks a month for cable tv is getting really annoying

 

You get about 15-20 channels all in HD.

About 11-12 of those are good HD channels with most of the shows I watch on TV.

An HD Antenna receiver is about $80 at Radio Shack.

You can set up a computer to your tv to record just like DVR, so you get this feature as well. Only thing you miss is the nice channel menu along with 200 useless channels.