Comments on: ATVFlash – playing fair?

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:12:04 +0000

They can charge whatever they want to, guys…is just business at the end of the day

By: Chas

Chas — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:18:22 +0000

I am using ATVPATCH and for $20 (especially with the UK exchange rates) is quite a good deal. It enables everything I need. I do not see how ATVFLASH can charge $50 for exactly the same thing.

By: Dietbert

Dietbert — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 07:15:20 +0000

I just got a subscription on atvpatch.com (was atv4windows.com) (I think thats the same business, other people) and got my patchstickimage as download for $20 and for THAT Price is ok compared to the work I do not have with building the Stick. but $60 is toomuch for me.

By: pigumon

pigumon — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 19:29:15 +0000

Um… Has no one been to the site lately?

The reason they stopped shipping flash drive with 2.2 is that they are now doing “bring your own flash drive” and instant download version 3.0!!!

By: Bill

Bill — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 04:00:47 +0000

Well, after spending some time, with a Tiger disk, that I borrowed from a friend I now know it is not all that easy to just go and make a patchstick. First off you need the install disk from and OS you never owned. Then you borrow it, only to find that the files you need aren’t in the packages you think they are supposed to be in.

Many of us are new Apple owners and we don’t have Tiger disks, so we can’t just go out and make a patchstick. We aren’t lazy, we just need to be able to get all of the files we need, and this is impossible for us to do.

Frankly, I would rather give some guy the money for doing this, rather than have to search the net for a bunch of files that aren’t in the package that Awkward says there in.

By: vakantie

vakantie — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:17:53 +0000

I must say this is apple at its top. We “fan’s” have to pay to get the best from apple. I love the fruity computer brand, but can’t the do something for the apple community once.

By: void

void — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:31:27 +0000

Value-adding software by offering it up for as a combo of hardware/service for is ok. Many of us are not geeks with tons of time. We just want plug’n'play. If developers want in on the action, go for it and we’ll buy it from them. If not, shut up.

By: Dag68

Dag68 — Sat, 31 May 2008 04:34:37 +0000

PS: I’m thrilled that I can stop converting everything into one apple’s chosen codecs just to view it on my TV

By: Dag68

Dag68 — Sat, 31 May 2008 04:30:42 +0000

Well, I moved quickly enough, my ATV patchstick arrive today and I’ve installed it and got just about everything up and running. I’m very happy with the value for cost. Installation went without a hitch and I didn’t have to spend a week reading forum post to learn how. Any complaints I have now are with the particular pieces of software (Couch surfer – I want to change the display font or the resolution!)

I’ve hacked most every piece of hardware I’ve bought , including my iPhone, ReplayTV, Motorola Razr and several other phones, Virgin Webplayer, I-Opener, Cue Cat and god knows what else. I suck with a solder gun but have managed to build a 9v usb charger in an altoids tin, mod an old mouse into a gaming spinner and wire a Mame control panel. I’ve rarely bricked anything irrevocably but I’ve been so happy with my AppleTV that I was reluctant to attack it without some careful in depth study and I lack the time for that study. The ATV patchstick is the perfect solution and well worth the $60 idiot tax (I’d rather call it the “my life is to busy” tax.

I know that folks have spent hundreds and hundreds of hours developing these hacks but you know what, not everyone has the knowledge and/or training to do these kind of hacks unsupported and I for one think its fine for them to take the shortcut. Isn’t what we do about expanding the box (whichever box happens to be in hand) and opening it up. Why keep that from all but the “worthy” who are willing to climb a technical mountain to gain nirvanna? That sounds like BS from people who didn’t develop the hacks themselves but want to feel special because they’ve got the skills to apply them.

I understand people getting hot about the $$$ charged, but 60 bucks isn’t a lot for the value of making this easy and if it was, no one would buy. I expect they did some real work to automate the install and make it safe (ish?). If they charged $60 for you to ship your AppleTV to them and install the hacks for you, I don’t think many would find that excessive or dishonest. That should be their next business model, offered in conjunction with their hard drive upgrade service.

My only disappointment is that I may lose out on my anticipated year of upgrades that was supposed to be included in my $60. I’m sure I still qualify for upgrades, but I don’t know if any will come out. But now that I’ve got SFTP access, hopefully I can roll with the punches!

By: Warmingup

Warmingup — Sat, 31 May 2008 00:40:41 +0000

I’m chiming in a bit late …but here is my take.

I ordered promptly and mine is in transit I believe USPS to Australia. Is it good value? Not sure….But if it works as described I’ll feel that it is cost effective for me…I reckon I could do it a Geekier way but I’m 54 and I am only just realising that I may well not live forever and I should perhaps learn to prioritise my time left.

Currently I “Handbrake” and “iSquint” and “iTunes” all sorts of video content to my AppleTV. It’s time consuming and I sometimes get downstairs to watch a Vid only to find a glitch in the conversion/optimising process.

Hopefully the ATVF2 will help.

Is it stolen code? I don’t know but I’ll be very interested to find out when arrives what “Anti-Cloning” measures they have added if any to protect “their” Intellectual Property.