Filed under: Software, Apple TV
Streamer turns your Apple TV into a radio

The only reason I haven't bought myself an Apple TV as of yet is my lack of an HDTV. If I had an HDTV I would pick up one of these magic boxes if only to reward Apple for making it so darned hackable. The latest addition to the long list of 'apps that make an Apple TV do things Apple never intended' is Streamer. This alpha (that's pre-beta, kids, so it isn't even feature complete yet) plugin allows you to stream internet radio over your Apple TV. It ain't pretty yet, but if you have a hankering for listening to some streamin' radio on your Apple TV you can't beat the price.

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
artifex said 8:39AM on 5-14-2007
Does the screen include some kind of saver, so it won't burn in on those older plasmas?
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Dakaix said 8:44AM on 5-14-2007
Hey, I'm Dakaix - the developer. Streamer doesnt intefere with the standard AppleTV screensaver - so after a couple of mins idle (playing a stream or otherwise), the screensaver will kick in.
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artifex said 8:58AM on 5-14-2007
Cool, thanks for the awesomely fast response. :)
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colin said 12:27PM on 5-14-2007
I went to the apple store this weekend in providence. I have to say, everything was awesome with the Apple TV until I played their demo movies. The picture quality was terrible!
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Phillip Koenig said 10:16AM on 5-14-2007
I saw the same demos, artifacts and all. But I bought one anyway. Oddly enough, watching the exact same movies (The Incredibles, and Pirates) looks a million times better when I bought them from the iTunes store at home. And my TV is larger than the 32 inch ones at the store. I got up close to the tv at home, and watched the same scenes, still much better.
Seems like the person who created the in store demo increased th compression dramatically. I'm a bit amazed apple would let that demo on into the Apple Store.
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Mikey said 10:24AM on 5-14-2007
Will this work with Sirius?
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Randy said 11:02AM on 5-14-2007
I don't have an Apple TV (yet), but couldn't you just play internet radio stations by adding the addresses to iTunes. I currently stream afew stations in iTunes and it stores the link as kind of a bookmark, then I just clcik on it and click the play button. Wouldn't those links show up on the Apple TV? What's better about this plug? If it's better, I'm open minded. Just curious.
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Dakaix said 11:13AM on 5-14-2007
Randy,
The AppleTV has (by default) no support for streaming radio at all. If you add a stream to a playlist in iTunes, then try syncing the AppleTV - it does not sync that stream to the AppleTV. Streamer allows you to enter your own stream link, and then listen through the Apple interface. Later versions will also include directory support (similar to the current Radio functionality in iTunes).
-Dakaix
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Macskeeball said 7:07PM on 5-14-2007
Nice, but Internet radio happens to be in jeopardy thanks to the RIAA increasing the rates (for Internet radio in particular) to levels that would put almost all Internet radio providers (including Pandora) out of business.
I normally do my best to ignore politics, but that industry may go extinct in 61 days if people don't complain to their representatives in Congress. Savenetradio.org if you're interested.
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David said 1:08AM on 5-15-2007
Um, I know apple says you need an HDTV... but you don't. So Scott, if you want one you can buy one.
Source:
http://www.appletvhacks.net/page/6/
second story, have fun!
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