[selowitch]

I successfully installed Boxee and XBMC on my AppleTV using the USB patchstick method. Now what I don't really understand is how to get files on to my AppleTV for use with those programs. I assume I can't use iTunes for this purpose, so do I have to FTP to my AppleTV to make the transfers? Does this require me to SSH-enable my AppleTV? Is there a good basic tutorial on how to use this alternative media players? I find the Boxee and XBMC websites too difficult to penetrate and I'm getting kind of tired. I need some straightforward info and it's a little hard to come by.

[turtle777]

Yes, SSH needs to be enabled. There are also some installs that let you mount the ATV HD on your Mac.

I don't have links, I just remember that from reading about it when I did my first patchstick attempts. I have since then stopped it, it just cost me so much time, and I got too many issues with my ATV.

-t

[Wiskedjak]

Boxee and XMBC on my AppleTV both see all the content synchronized to my AppleTV from iTunes. Also, I have both systems set to read from shared folders on my computer. Next step will be to set up an NAS so I don't need to have the computer turned on.

[selowitch]

Originally Posted by Wiskedjak 

Boxee and XMBC on my AppleTV both see all the content synchronized to my AppleTV from iTunes.

But I can't get iTunes to recognize, say, AVI containers so I must have to do something else to get this over so Boxee can read it on my AppleTV, right?

Is there a way to enable SSH easily, without opening the AppleTV case and without having to install a full copy of Mac OS X to a USB drive (I don't have one right now)?

[Cold Warrior]

SSH is enabled when you ran the patchstick. Just do

frontrow@appletv.local and password is frontrow. Using SSH we should be able to move AVI files from our local Mac to the correct ATV path (somewhere like 'Movies' on the ATV). I'm not so good with the command line so maybe someone knows an idiot-proof command.

I'd like to do the same as you, except with the added feature of getting the Perian component installed/moved in the right path so that the built-in ATV player can read it natively.

[Wiskedjak]

Originally Posted by selowitch 

But I can't get iTunes to recognize, say, AVI containers so I must have to do something else to get this over so Boxee can read it on my AppleTV, right?

When I first ran Boxee, I could navigate to shared folders, but couldn't see any of the AVI files. The second time I opened Boxee, I could, but I don't think I did anything. I'm certainly not SSHing anything right now; just shared folders. Boxee seems to scan the contents of the folders it's pointed at. Perhaps it needs to scan the folder before it displays the contents?

[selowitch]

While we're doing wishlists, does anybody know an easy way to download and watch BitTorrent content on AppleTV (i.e., without having to first find it using your Mac, d/l it using Transmission or some other BT client, and then sync it to AppleTV)?

UPDATE: This is odd. I entered:

code:

ssh -1 frontrow@appletv.local

and got this response:

code:

Protocol major versions differ: 1 vs. 2

What's up with that? Is my AppleTV using a different version of SSH than my Mac?

'NUTHA UPDATE: Never mind. I figured it out. Had to first do:

code:

ssh-keygen

Now I think I can just do a bunch of

code:

mv

commands and I'll be set.

YET A 'NUTHA UPDATE: AppleTV wants my password to do the mv command. I don't think I know what it is -- is this supposed to be my admin password for the ATV's install of Mac OS X? In that case, I have no idea what it would be.

Also, anybody know how to make the ATV's hard drive show up on my desktop?

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by selowitch 

YET A 'NUTHA UPDATE: AppleTV wants my password to do the mv command. I don't think I know what it is -- is this supposed to be my admin password for the ATV's install of Mac OS X? In that case, I have no idea what it would be.

I had this before. I think hat I had to do was use cp, and then delete the original.
There might be something else that can be done though. I just don't remember.

-t

[selowitch]

Originally Posted by turtle777 

I had this before. I think hat I had to do was use cp, and then delete the original.
There might be something else that can be done though. I just don't remember.

-t

How the heck do you upload files to the ATV?? I'm sure someone has figured out how to mount the AppleTV HD on the desktop, but I can't frickin' find that info! Ugh!!!

UPDATE (RESOLVED): I have found a "life is too short" solution: I downloaded the freeware tool ffmpegX and converted the AVI files to .mp4 using H.264 encoding. iTunes now recognizes it and it syncs with my AppleTV automagically now. This requires less effort and the results are decently watchable.