Feed your Apple TV with Archive.org

The Internet Archive offers many treats to its visitors. These range from the WaybackMachine web page archive to a 38-thousand-plus live concert recordings collection to its nearly 200,000 eTexts, and that doesn't even touch videos. Archive.org's Moving Image archive is chock full of video already compressed to MP4 that you can load to your iTunes library and sync to your Apple TV without any further conversion or data massaging.

Yes, sure, the quality isn't great--but it's free, it's historical and a lot of the material is just plain fun. Expect a data rate around 350 kbps (more or less) and you won't be too disappointed by the results. For comparison, consider that a standard iTunes video runs at 1500-2000 kbps and a new High Def Apple TV video runs at closer to 4000 kbps.

Animations like Betty Boop, Looney Tunes and Felix the Cat are plentiful. Other standout items include old timey newsreel fodder and full-length features like My Man Godfrey.

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Source: http://www.archive.org/

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Video iTunes Apple TV

The Internet Archive offers many treats to its visitors. These range from the WaybackMachine web page archive to a 38-thousand-plus live...

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Derek F.

Try out some of the public domain movies (like "His Girl Friday" or "Meet John Doe") - they're great movies. Plus the "Why We Fight" series detailing the U.S.'s entry into WWII is really interesting.

April 07 2007 at 8:46 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Bob S.

While overall the quality of the Moving Images section does vary greatly, the Prelinger Archives and the unfortunately named AV Geeks section both have mostly high-quality transfers of educational, industrial training, and government propaganda shorts that deserve a night (or even a festival). Those sections are also popular with remix artists and fuel the annual Stockstock competition.

April 06 2007 at 7:33 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Erica Sadun

Jason: That's the "Export to Apple TV" rate from QuickTime Pro. It syncs to iTunes and Apple TV and looks fab.

April 06 2007 at 5:54 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

jason

where do you see new high def itunes content, and how would you know its 4000 kbps?

April 06 2007 at 5:50 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Ahmad

mmmmm..... data massaging

April 06 2007 at 3:15 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply