Netflix

If you’re the type who loves streaming instead of downloading his favorite shows, then Netflix is a great choice. While many services keep trying to catch up to it, Netflix still is the most popular streaming service to date. No matter what shows or movies you want to see, chances are that you can find them here. Even more, it seems that Netflix is greatly investing in original shows such as Orange is the new black or House of cards. So far, these homegrown shows have had massive success. Because of that, it’s obvious that Netflix is here to stay and will continue to be the king of entertainment for years to come.

Hulu

For a very long time, many people avoided Hulu because of the pesky ads it kept showing. Luckily, you can now use an ad-free Hulu on your samsung smart tv. The ad free Hulu is very affordable and has some pretty great content you can watch. In fact, Hulu’s content library is seriously one of the largest in the industry. Just make sure though that you don’t set your expectations too high, since they don’t have many movies worth watching.

Spotify

Spotify is one of the most popular music streaming services in the world and a must if you love music. It’s much like Napster, but the big difference is that Spotify has a much larger music library. As with YouTube, if you want to get rid of ads, then you need to opt for the paid version. If not, then you’ll have to get used to watching those pesky ads every time you use it.

Amazon Instant Video

In an attempt to challenge Netflix, Amazon has launched its own streaming service. They’ve also started to build a massive content library in order to compete with Netflix. What’s sets Amazon Instant Video apart is the fact you can actually download your favorite shows and watch them later. This is very rare among streaming services. Amazon Instant Video keeps striking deals with a lot of movie studios, broadcaster, and producers as well. Because of that, you can expect to see a lot more content available for streaming in the near future.

HBO GO and HBO Now

If you love shows such as The Wire, Last Week Tonight, and Game of Thrones, then you like HBO. Just keep in mind that the 2 apps, HBO Go and HBO Now are quite different. You can only access HBO Go if you have a cable subscription to it. On the other hand, HBO Now can be accessed by anybody as long as they sign up for it.

TED

You’ve probably heard of TED by now. If you didn’t, then let us tell you that this is an organization that hosts conferences worldwide where people discuss amazing ideas in their field.

The talks span from the greatest inventions to global politics. While the TED speakers usually speak for a few minutes, they do leave a lasting impact. If you want to learn new things, then you should certainly watch more TED on your samsung smart tv.

YouTube

In the past few years, YouTube has changed quite a lot. Sure, it’s still a great place you can visit if you want to watch cat videos on you samsung smart tv. However, there are now a lot of professional creators working in professional studios to produce top-notch content for their audience. If you want to use the free version, go ahead, no one will judge you for it. However, if you simply cannot stand the ads, then you can opt for the paid version to get rid of them.

Napster

Thought Napster was dead? Well, it’s not. One thing you need to know about it is that it was purchased by Best Buy. Eventually Napster merged with Rhapsody and it has a pretty great collection of music you can listen to. If you want, then you can also download content from it. If you love music and want to discover new artists, then Napster is definitely the way to go.

VUDU

Last but not least, VUDU is a great place where you can rent videos and watch them on your samsung smart tv. This service is offered by Wal-Mart. There are no monthly subscriptions available, so this means you need to pay on a per video basis. Overall, the fees are okay, but keep in mind that the rates may vary. What sets VUDU apart from other streaming services is its library. You can actually watch a lot of new movies in great quality. On top of that, it also has an amazing collection of classic and old movies, too!

All in all, these are the best samsung tv apps you should certainly have if you want to make the most of your Samsung smart TV. Download them today and start your amazing journey into the world of top quality digital content!

The post Top 9 Apps you should install on your Samsung Smart TV appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

We all know that Apple TV’s are great, and we have already taken an in-depth look at how to use a Smart DNS service to stream content that is otherwise blocked due to restrictive (and deeply unfair) licensing terms that seek to maximize copyright holder’s profits by “geo-restricting” content (only allowing viewers located in certain geographic area to access services.)

Fantastic as watching cool stuff on your Apple TV is, there are times when you want to watch shows and movies when you are using other devices. Perhaps you like to watch South Park on your iPhone as you commute to work, or maybe watch movies while at work on your MacBook.

Smart DNS

One great thing about Smart DNS is that it will work on just about any internet-enabled device. It does this by changing a devices’ DNS settings so that they point towards a Smart DNS provider’s DNS server rather than the default one supplied by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). This means that instead of your ISP performing DNS translation (converting domain names such as www.apple.com into the numerical IP addresses that computers understand e.g. 17.172.224.47), this is done by the Smart DNS provider.

Because you appear to be accessing the internet from where this DNS translation occurs, and because Smart DNS providers maintain servers located in various countries around the world, Smart DNS is a great way to avoid artificial geographic limitations. And because the process is very simple (basically just matching domain names to IP addresses on a big database), and therefore requires minimal processing power, Smart DNS is very quick.

This means that you will experience the fastest possible streaming speeds, although you should be aware that since electrons can travel no faster than the speed of light (pesky e=mc2), large distances will always introduce some lag time.

VPN

Another way to geo-spoof your location is to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) service. VPN will only work on general purpose computers, smart phones, tablets (so it will work on your iOS device and Mac, but not on your Apple TV), and is slower than Smart DNS thanks to having far more computational overheads. This means that for simply unblocking and streaming media content, Smart DNS is usually a better choice than VPN.

However, VPN provides a number of distinct privacy and security advantages. Because the connection between your device and the VPN provider’s VPN server is securely encrypted, your ISP (and anyone looking over its shoulder, such as the NSA) does not have transparency on your activities on the internet.

In addition to this, because all of your internet activity appears to originate from the IP address of the VPN server, your true IP (and geo-location) is hidden from everyone on the internet. Many (but not all) VPN providers go to great lengths to ensure that they cannot know what their customers get up to when surfing the net (for example by keeping no logs, sharing IP addresses among many users etc.) This can provide meaningful levels of privacy to users.

If you can’t choose between Smart DNS and VPN, never fear. Many providers (such as IronSocket) offer both as part of their basic packages. This means that you can setup your Apple TV to stream content via Smart DNS, while at the same time affording yourself privacy while surfing the internet on your Mac. They also allow for VPN usage without encryption, which helps when streaming because there is no encryption bandwidth overhead.

Setting up SmartDNS in OS X:

1. Go so “System Preferences”
2. Select “Network” (under “Internet & Wireless”)

3. Select your current network, and then click on “Advanced”

4. Select the “DNS” tab

5. Remove existing “DNS Servers” by selecting them and clicking the “-” icon. Warning: it is definitely worth making a note of your ISP’s default DNS settings before doing this so that you can easily switch back (very useful if you like to switch between services based in different countries)

Setting up SmartDNS in iOS 8:

1. Go to “Settings”
2. Select “WiFi”
3. Select current network
4. Touch the “DNS” field and change the DNS Address numbers to those provided by your SmartDNS provider. Note: it is definitely worth making a note of your ISP’s default DNS settings before doing this, so that you can easily switch back (very useful if you like to switch between services based in different countries).
5. Return to the main menu and perform a “power cycle” (hold the Power button and Home button until the phone restarts).

Conclusion

Smart DNS is a great way to stream geo-restricted content on all your devices – not just on your Apple TV. Just remember, though, that a DNS proxy provides no additional security or privacy. If this is what you are after, then using an encrypted VPN does a great job for that.

Lastly, we are happy to announce that IronSocket has created an exclusive 40% discount coupon for all Apple TV Hacks readers to enjoy and share. Use the coupon code “APPLETVHACKSDNS” at checkout for a yearly subscription rate as low as $2.49 per month.

Be sure to follow Apple TV Hacks on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ for all the latest Apple TV-related news.

The post How to Geospoof on Any Device (Sponsored Article) appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

Showtime Anytime debuted on Apple TV back in 2014, but until now its content was available only to those with a suported cable subscription. Starting today, Showtime is available as a standalone streaming service on Apple TV and iOS devices (as well as on Roku).

The subscription costs $10.99 per month and Showtime is currently offering a free 30-day trial for new customers.

You can subscribe to Showtime via an updated app on Apple TV or by downloading the Showtime app from the App Store on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Once you sign up and create a Showtime account, you can use your account to watch the service across all supported devices, as well as online at www.showtime.com.

You can also get the Showtime service through your Hulu subscription and access the service through the Hulu app on Apple TV.

The launch of SHOWTIME through these new internet distributors coincides with the new seasons of the critically-acclaimed, hit series RAY DONOVAN, starring Liev Schreiber, and MASTERS OF SEX, starring Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan, premiering this Sunday, July 12^th.

SHOWTIME is also available to subscribers via cable, DBS and telco providers.

The service is US only.

Be sure to follow Apple TV Hacks on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ for all the latest Apple TV-related news.

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Here’s the issue: you live or are visiting a part of the world where you cannot access your favorite streaming sites. When you visit Netflix, the following shows:

Outrageous, right? There are many other examples of websites behaving this way, even Youtube will block certain videos in certain regions. As frustrating as this is, there is a fast and easy way to unblock websites like Netflix, Youtube, Hulu, Amazon Prime and hundreds more, without using a VPN.

One of the most annoying aspects of this modern digital age where the internet should, in theory, make geographic differences an irrelevancy, is how media makers and distributers enforce arbitrary geographic restriction on who can access their content.

And the reason? Because lucrative licensing deals bring in more profits than treating netizens equally and fairly. This means that people in many parts of the world are only able to access content months after it is available to others (and sometimes not at all), and often only through unnecessarily highly priced channels (such a paying for a premium cable subscription, or even having to purchase DVDs).

Fortunately, getting around these geo-restrictions is easy. One way is to use VPN, but for simply accessing content from abroad, probably the best method is to use a Smart DNS service. One big advantageous favour (and unlike VPN), is that Smart DNS can be configured on any device that connects to the internet, including your Apple TV!

What is Smart DNS? The Solution.

The Domain Name System (DNS) is used to translate domain names (e.g. www.apple.com) into the numerical IP addresses that computers understand (e.g. 17.172.224.47). This translation service is usually performed by your Internet Service Provider (ISP), but it is possible to use a Smart DNS (also known as a DNS proxy) service to do this instead.

Smart DNS services run servers in different countries, and when a device is configured to connect to these, it appears to be located in that country. How many countries are supported depends on the service, but almost all have servers in the United States and the UK.

The US is a popular location as it allows access to streaming services such the Hulu and US version of Netflix (which has a larger selection of content than other regional versions of Netflix, and often makes content available to Americans before anyone else). The UK is popular for its BBC iPlayer, and 4oD streaming services.

What are the advantages of Smart DNS over VPN?

While it provides none of the security and privacy benefits of VPN (which also allows users to “spoof” their apparent location), Smart DNS is in many ways a better choice when streaming media content:

• It works with Apple TV! (as well as devices such as games consoles and “smart” TV’s)
• Less buffering issues – without the need for encryption and other computational overheads (DNS translation is almost instant), using Smart DNS results in less “lag”, so users will experience fewer buffering delays. Do note, however, that if you are streaming from the other side of the world there will still be some latency, as electrons take time to travel over large distances. Blame Einstein!
• When using a computer, only programs configured for Smart DNS will take advantage of the DNS proxy (unlike VPN, where your entire internet connection is routed through the VPN server). This means that you can configure one browser to access the geo-restricted services you want to use, while allowing you do day-today computing using another browser – providing a lower ping rate (less latency), when accessing localized services.
• Smart DNS is usually cheaper than VPN, and many traditional VPN services (such as IronSocket) throw in Smart DNS for free.

How to configure Smart DNS on your Apple TV

Note that is this just a quick summary – more detailed guides (complete with screenshots) are available here.

Apple TV (software version 5.1+)

1. Go to Settings -> General -> Network -> Wi-Fi (if using Wi-Fi) -> Configure DNS -> Manual
2. Enter the DNS settings supplied by your Smart DNS provider, and click “Done”
3. Go to Settings -> iTunes Store -> Location and choose the location you wish to access content from (this must match the location of the DNS server whose settings you entered in Step 2)
4. From the main Apple TV menu go to Settings -> Sleep now
5. Unplug you Apple TV, wait for 10 seconds, then plug it back in. You should now be good to go!

Apple TV (software version 5.0 and older)

1. Go to Settings -> General -> Network ->Configure TCP/IP -> Configure Manually
2. Change “DNS” field to the DNS settings supplied by your Smart DNS provider (leave any other settings alone unless your providers tells you otherwise). Hit “Done”.
3. Go to Settings -> iTunes Store -> Location, and choose the location you wish to access content from (this must match the location of the DNS server whose settings you entered in Step 2)
4. From the main Apple TV menu, go to Settings -> General -> Restart.

IronSocket‘s DNS Proxy service is a fast and easy way to unblock websites like Netflix, Youtube, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Pandora and hundreds more.

It supports over 200 channels and utilize a technology called “Region Switching” for multiple regional channels such as Netflix regions: Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

Right now, IronSocket is offering a 40% discount coupon for Apple TV Hacks readers: “APPLEDNS“.

Be sure to follow Apple TV Hacks on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ for all the latest Apple TV-related news.

The post Smart DNS for Apple TV [Sponsored Post] appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

At the I/O developers conference yesterday, Google unveiled their vision of the set-top box, called Android TV. Packing much more than just screen mirroring as in Chromecast, the Android TV sounds better than the recently announced Amazon Fire TV. However, for Apple TV Hacks followers, most of the features on Android TV would seem like deja vu.

The Android TV will be built on the latest version of Android, dubbed “L” and will focus mainly on entertainment and gaming. The featured movies and TV shows from Google Play will be available right from the home screen and users can even voice search to find their favorite content from different sources including GooglePlay Store and other installed third party apps, like Netflix and Hulu.

The Android TV also supports games from GooglePlay, which can be enjoyed using a controller, plus it brings Chromecast-like capabilities to “AirPlay Mirror” any Android screen to HDTV.

Google has also partnered with television makers like Sony and Sharp to built Android TV right into their television sets, starting 2015.

That is a really compelling list of features and probably the best set-top box offering we’ve seen. However, Apple is yet to show their hand. The current Apple TV model, the 3rd generation one, is over two years old now and the kind of speculations we’ve been hearing during this time is overwhelming. If rumors are to be believed, the Apple TV 4 will be a revolutionary new take on televisions, scheduled be launched sometime in Q4 this year, or early next year.

The next Apple TV is speculated to sport an iOS 8 based firmware, a completely revamped interface, a developer SDK for custom apps, a separate App Store, support for third party channels, ability to play games, compatibility with MFi controllers and more. Besides, iOS 8 features like Continuity, iCloud Family sharing and peer-to-peer AirPlay are getting integrated into Apple TV.

The Android TV is set to be launched “this fall” along with the official L release. And from the looks, it would give just enough time for Apple to reveal what they’ve been working on for the past 2 years. Just wait a couple more months and hopefully, we’ll have a worthy Apple TV 4 vs Android TV clash to look forward to and decide the fate of our living rooms.

Be sure to follow Apple TV Hacks on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ for all the latest Apple TV-related news.

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Holiday Gift Guide 2015: Best Accessories for Apple TV

Netflix, Hulu Plus and other streaming services have revolutionized the way we consume video content, changing it from from the model where the cable operators show their own scheduled content to a VOD model where we ordering what we like, when we like. And having access to thousands of movies and TV shows at a fixed and reasonable monthly rate is every movie buff’s dream come true. But the major drawback is, of course, the unavailability of some of the main streaming services in all countries. Those outside the United States (Canada and UK too, for some services) will be fed by a “Your country is not yet supported” screen and many would be craving for a bypass method. So if you’re residing outside the US or are a travelling US citizen, read on.

In this guide, I will show you how to stream Netflix, Hulu Plus, HBO Go and other US-exclusive channels on your Apple TV, in countries where it is not supported officially.

(Note: HBO GO requires an HBO subscription available through participating US TV providers; by following this guide travelling US citizens can get HBO GO working abroad.) 

PREREQUISITES

• An Apple TV, of course: the below methods support all three generations of Apple TV
• A PayPal account (recommended); or any other internationally accepted payment service; or an US-based credit card. If you don’t have any of these, you cannot proceed.

Step 1 – Setup a Virtual Credit Card

Those with US addressed credit cards can skip to Step 2.

Others need to sign up at Entropay and apply for a Virtual Credit Card. Amex, BankFreedom, ICICI and Kotak also provides similar services but Entropay is the most popular, and probably the best one.

You can transfer an amount to your VCC via PayPal and it will act as your US based credit card. Don’t worry, it is legal and safe.

Step 2 – Setup an US iTunes account

If you already have one, skip to Step 3.

This isn’t much of a trouble once you have the VCC or PayPal. Select ‘Create a new account’ on iTunes and set your country as United States. Fill up the fields with a US address (doesn’t have to be real) and use a valid US post code (find one here).

For payment details, you can enter the Entropay VCC details or use PayPal directly (latter is reported to be not working for some users). That’s all, your US account is up and running.

Step 3 – Signing in to Apple TV

On your Apple TV, make sure that you’re logged in with the above US iTunes account. In the Settings, change the region to United States, if it isn’t showing that already.

Step 4 – The tricky part

Now, we are going to make the Apple TV believe that it is indeed located in the US. And for this, I’m describing three methods, their merits and disadvantages. I will be giving you my final take on the methods but will leave the final choice to you.

I. VPN METHODS

VPN or Virtual Private Network simply put, is a service which helps us to connect via someone else’s internet connection, securely and miles away from it. It is mostly used by corporations and companies to share confidential files within one or more offices around the world.

Here, we’re going to sign up for a VPN service based in USA so that we can connect via it and force a US digital location.

Though there are many such VPN providers, we’re going to use HideMyAss, which is the most popular one. You can browse through the alternatives here.

• Method A – via VPN router

This method will require you to have a VPN Router or VPN supported modem to make the magic happen. Lets see how it’s done.

1. If you already have a VPN router, you can contact the HMA team to know if it’s compatible. Else if you are willing to buy a new one, they’ll recommend one for you too. By the way, these are the routers commonly recommended by HideMyAss.

You can find more VPN routers here.

2. Once you’re sure that your VPN router will work, you can proceed to get a subscription on HideMyAss. It costs $7-$12 per month based on which bulk pricing plan you choose. Non-US card holders can use PayPal for this and even setup a recurring plan.

3. Setting up the router. This step is highly variant depending upon the client you choose and the router you own.
Basically, you’ve to enter into your Router dashboard, click on VPN Setup and fill in the fields with VPN settings and HMA credentials.

Don’t worry, once you sign up at HMA, you’ll have access to an elaborate, comprehensive and step-by-step guide on doing this, based on which modem you own. They even have an Automatic Installer for the same.

4. Once this is done, Apple servers will fetch your location as United States. You’ll be able to open and use all the apps on your home screen.

Overview

Things you’ll need: a VPN Router, HideMyAss subscription.
Total cost: $50 – $100 (one time) for the router + around $10 per month for HMA + channel subscription fees (i.e. $7.99 per month for Netflix)

Pros

• Once setup, any device connecting to your Wi-Fi network will be deemed as US device and hence can be used with any number of devices without further tweaks.
• It gives the most comfortable and flexible experience, once setup.

Cons

• The most expensive method.
• A bit difficult to setup, especially if you’re not well versed with the basics.
• It is complained to be a bit slow, but personally I din’t feel any lags.

• Method B – VPN via your PC/Mac

As you might’ve noticed, buying a VPN router just for this purpose could be a burden for many. So we’re going to eliminate that and use our household computer or laptop as a VPN router. Here, we’re actually connecting our ‘computer‘ to the VPN of HideMyAss and then making it a wired hotspot (network sharing) for the Apple TV.

1. Open a HMA Pro account.
2. Use your PC/Mac to login to your account and download the corresponding client to your computer.

3. Open the client software and log in with your HMA credentials.

4. Now, choose an American location from the drop down list and start the VPN server.

5. In order to confirm that the service in working, just open your browser and goto Netflix.com. Without VPN, this will be blocked, but now it should bring up a Getting Started page. If this happens, you’re doing great.

6. All the steps till now were similar on both PC and Mac. However, in this step, you’ve to setup network sharing on your computer, which is a little different in each:

On a PC – Windows 7

– Click on WiFi/Network icon on the right side of bottom toolbar. Take “Open network and Sharing center”

– Open Network and Sharing Center > Change Adapter Settings (left sidebar) > Right Click on your connection > Properties

– Take the Sharing tab > Check “Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s internet connection” > Select your Connection > OK. Network Sharing is now setup.

On a Mac

– System Preferences > Sharing (under Internet and Wireless)

– Check mark “Internet Sharing” > Select USB Ethernet > Start

7. Now, you can connect your Apple TV to your laptop (PC or Mac) via your Ethernet cable. In case you have a Macbook Air or any device without an in-built Ethernet port, you might need to purchase an Ethernet adapter.

8. Make sure in Settings > General > Network that you’re connected via Ethernet and not via any WiFi available.

9. Done! Apple servers will now fetch your location as US. You’ll be able to open and use all the apps from the Apple TV home screen.

Overview

Things you’ll need: subscription to HMA Pro, a laptop with Ethernet port, Ethernet cable, Ethernet adapter (optional)
Total cost: $10 per month (HMA subscription) + channel subscription fees

Pros

• Can be turned off easily with a click, which none of the other methods can do.

Cons

• Well, … it’s a dumb method. You’ll always need to have your laptop connected to your Apple TV to stream. If so, you could very well connect a HDMI cable from your laptop directly to TV and eliminate the need of an Apple TV. Also, due the large number of cables, devices and services invloved, the clarity and load speeds will be low.

II. DNS METHOD

Domain Name System (DNS) is a hierarchically arranged list of IP addresses and these IP addresses in turn, determine our locations. In this method, we’ll use a DNS service to connect to a foreign DNS server and update our IP, so that our digital location also gets changed. Much easier than it sounds!

1. Get a DNS service: Unotelly is unequivocally the best and cheapest out there with plans of under-5-bucks/month (for VPN and DNS together). HidemyAss also provides DNS services and UnblockUS is another one.

2. Once that is done, login to your account and you’ll see a screen like this.

3. As you can see, the setup is still incomplete. To complete, you’ll have to change your DNS settings and update your IP. We’re going to use our PC or Mac to do this. This is an one-time step, don’t worry.

On a PC (Windows 7)

 – Click on Wifi/Network icon on the right side of bottom toolbar. Take “Open network and Sharing center”

– Open Network and Sharing Center > Change Adapter Settings > Right Click on your connection > Properties

– Under “Network” tab > Double click “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” > Change the option from “Obtain DNS server address automatically” to “Use the following DNS server addresses”

– Goto this link and find two servers closest to your location. Update the DNS server address on your PC with these.

On a Mac

– System Preferences >Network (under Internet and Wireless)

– Select Advanced > DNS tab

– Goto this link and find two servers closest to your location. Update the DNS server address on your Mac with these.

4. Now go back to your Unotelly account and click on ‘Update IP Address’ from the left sidebar. You’ll see a message on top that UnoDNs is active.

4. Now switch on your Apple TV. Goto Settings > General > Network > Wi-Fi > Select your connection. You’ll see this.

5. Navigate down and select Configure DNS > Manual

Go to this link and find a server closest to your location and update the DNS settings accordingly. Click Done!

6. That’s it. Apple servers will fetch your location as US.

Overview

Things you’ll need: Unotelly subscription, a PC or Mac (for one time)
Total cost: $5 per month (Unotelly) + channel subscription fees

Pros

• Easiest setup,
• cheapest service
• very stable connection

Cons

• If you have other devices, separate setup is needed for each, unlike VPN Router method which is an universal setup

Step 5 – Setting up Netflix, Hulu Plus or other services

Once the digital location and IP problem is solved (Step 4), you can use your Apple TV just like if you were in the US. The first time you launch Netflix or Hulu Plus, you’ll need to create an account and subscribe for a recurring plan via iTunes. Alternately, you can setup the Netflix account on another device using Entropay and just login here. Now, you can start streaming movies and TV shows (starting with the free first month on Netflix!). Any other US-only channels can also be setup similarly.

WRAP UP

Method A is the most elegant way, but pricey and needs a techy to be setup. It should be preferred if you already have a VPN router and you know exactly what you’re doing. It is also suitable for hotels, restaurants, tourist inns, etc., where individual setup of each device is not feasible. But VPN is notorious for being slow and if you’re one of the affected, the purchases would be a waste.

Method B is to be avoided at all costs. It is mentioned only for the sake of completion.

Method C is best of both worlds with a low tag and easy setup with good results. Personally, I have been using Unotelly for quite some time now and they work surprisingly well at a very reasonable price. Surely recommended for all home users!

Though the tutorial looks a bit lengthy, it consists of fairly simple processes and describes three separate methods. Once you know which method to follow, it takes only about half to one hour to setup. Once done, you can enjoy all US content forever without much additional maintenance processes. It is surely worth it!

Please do try this at home and let us know your results.

(This article is also available in Spanish/Este artículo también está disponible en Español)

Holiday Gift Guide 2015: Best Accessories for Apple TV

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Recently, there has been a lot of hacks to get more favourite channels to your Apple TV. Looks like they are all going to be unnecessary soon as the media giant, Time Warner, will be finding itself tied to your tiny box of joy.

Recently, Time Warners’ HBO Go was introduced directly into the Apple TV but, as it turns out, Apple has bigger plans.

As reported by Bloomberg, Apple is in the last stages of locking a deal with Time Warner to bring all their cable channels to Apple TV. And to lead the negotiations, Apple has hired Hulu‘s Senior Vice President, Pete Distad. According to the source, the tie-up will be announced officially in the coming months, once everything is in place.

Reading together from all the recent rumours, here’s what we expect. A completely redesigned iOS for Apple TV with a new SDK for developers. Partnerships with multiple media & entertainment companies. A standalone Apple television may also be released to join the party. In short, we might have a completely new way of watching TV shows in a couple of months.

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MacRumors reports that the CW network has struck a deal with Apple to bring its TV Now application to the Apple TV. Speaking from New York at the company’s annual Upfront Presentation yesterday, CW president Mark Pedowitz said the network’s content, which is currently accessible on Microsoft’s Windows 8 and Xbox 360, will also become available on Apple TV.

According to the CW, the app will function the same way the company’s mobile and Xbox apps function. The Xbox app offers free full streaming of episodes on the CW network but with limited advertising. It also comes with extra content like cast extras and previews. The company confirmed to MacRumors that Apple TV’s app will certainly be located on the home screen of Apple TV and offer full episodes of primetime shows like “The Vampire Diaries”, “Arrow”, and “The Carrie Diaries”.

“It’s a dedicated CW app that will work like our Xbox and mobile and tablet apps – no cable authentication required, full episodes of our shows available next day after air, ad-supported.”

This deal seals the first of Apple’s app partnerships with television networks. Apple TV has been offering apps and digital content from Hulu and Netflix, but not from television networks. Even before this, though, CW content has been available for sale at the iTunes store.

The CW network is a joint venture between Warner Brothers Entertainment and CBS, one of the largest broadcast networks in the U.S. The partnership does not shed light on Apple’s intentions, though there are speculations it could be part of a larger initiative to have more apps on Apple TV.

The exact date for the release was not given but according to the CW, it will be launched in the coming weeks.

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It does not matter weather you have cut-the-cable entirely, are a part-time streamer, or hide in the back-bedroom during the holidays to get your Hulu fix, everyone wants to watch Christmas content during the holidays! Well, we wanted to take a look into the top 3 streaming options available right now, on your Apple TV, and find out what options exist amongst Hulu, Netflix and iTunes. For me, and my family, A Charlie Brown Christmas is a holiday must. So let’s start with that!

HULU

A Charlie Brown Christmas

In the digitally-remastered 1965 special, Charlie Brown complains about the overwhelming materialism that he sees everywhere during the Christmas Season.

Year’s End

Oliver discovers that after he and his father went missing, Moira and Thea stopped celebrating Christmas. Determined to make up for lost time and restore a sense of normalcy to the Queen household, Oliver decides to throw the family a Christmas party.

25 Most Hilarious Holiday TV Moments

Take a look back at the funniest holiday moments from Seinfeld, The Simpsons, A Christmas Story, Friends, The Golden Girls, and more with TV Guide.

Secret Santa

While Castle and Beckett celebrate their first Christmas together, the team investigates a case involving a dead Santa in Central Park.

The Kid

The silent film star’s first foray into filmmaking is a tale of a down-and-out Tramp (Chaplin) and his inseparable sidekick, a young ragamuffin taken under the Tramp’s wing.

Michael Buble: Home for the Holidays

It’s a Bublé Christmas, every body! Michael Bublé celebrates the holidays with special guests Rod Stewart, Blake Shelton, Elmo, and Carly Rae Jepsen.

Prep and Landing

An elite unit of elves ensures that homes around the world are properly prepared for a visit from Santa Claus each Christmas Eve.

In Search of Santa

Sisters Hilary and Haylie Duff lend their voices to this animated Christmas story. They play two princess penguins who unexpectedly encounter one of Santa’s sleigh bells.

iTUNES

Miracle On 34th Street (1947) $12.99

The holiday season is in full swing when a cultured gentlemen with twinkling eyes, and ample belly, and a snowy beard is hired as Macy’s department store Santa. He claims his name is Kris Kringle, and soon fills everyone with Christmas spirit – except for his boss, Doris Walker, who’s raising her daughter Susan to not believe in Santa but when Kris is declared insane and put on trail everyone’s faith is put to the test as old and young alike face the age old question: Do you believe in Santa Claus?

The Overbrook Brothers $14.99

Over the course of a ridiculously awkward Christmas reunion, two bitter, arch rival brothers discover they’re adopted, and the revelation sends the two adversaries on a hilarious, and sometimes bizarre, cross-country journey in search of their biological parents.

This Christmas $7.99

A Christmastime drama centered around the Whitfield family’s first holiday together in four years.

When Harry Met Sally $9.99

Rob Reiner’s romantic comedy documents a very unusual couple. There’s never been a friendship quite like Harry and Sally’s. From faking an orgasm at the corner deli, to debating the odds of having great sex with a guy named “Sheldon”, there’s nothing Harry and Sally don’t do together.

A Christmas Story $9.99

Ralphie has to convince his parents, teachers, and Santa that a Red Ryder B.B. gun really is the perfect gift for the 1940s.

Christmas On Mars $9.99

As much about bleak isolation as it is about exaggerated colorful optimism, the long awaited feature film by The Flaming Lips is set in outer space on the surface of Mars. The double failures of a clunky old oxygen generator and an exotic, but finicky, gravity control pod have conspired to weaken the resolve and psychological judgment of the crew and the film’s protagonist, Major Syrtis.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation $9.99

The Griswold family’s plans for a big family Christmas predictably turn into a big disaster.

The Nightmare Before Christmas $14.99

Jack Skellington, king of Halloweentown, discovers Christmas Town, but doesn’t quite understand the concept.

It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie $9.99

On Christmas Eve, an angel petitions God to send help for Kermit the Frog who has lost all hope after losing the Muppet Theatre.

NETFLIX

Home Alone 1-3

In this smash trilogy classic, Kevin McCallister accidentally finds himself Home Alone while his family have travelled to a far off locations. Watch as the Kevin is forced to defend himself, his home, and his holidays!

Jingle All The Way

A desperate dad must match wits with a sleazy Santa, a stressed-out mailman and a horde of parents to procure a hot new toy on Christmas Eve. And since disappointing his son isn’t an option, he’s determined to get it by any means possible.

Elf

Buddy the Elf doesn’t feel like he fits in amongst the elves of the North Pole. But this Christmas, when he learns that he’s adopted, he journeys to New York to save his real father from the naughty list … and maybe spread a little Christmas cheer.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Jim Carey)

Dr. Seuss’s much-loved story about the real meaning of Christmas finally makes it to the big screen in live-action form, with Jim Carrey starring in the titular role of the green-faced villain who plots to rob Whoville of the holiday celebration.

The Polar Express

A young boy’s faith in the holiday spirit is revived after he makes his way by train to the North Pole on Christmas Eve in this warm-hearted computer-animated tale inspired by Chris Van Allsburg’s award-winning children’s book.

It is important to note that all of these sources have MUCH MORE Christmas content to offer you! Hulu for example has a unique webpage you can visit every day, located at www.hulu.com/holidays. If you are wanting television episodes that are soaking with Holiday Spirit, Hulu or Hulu Prime is where you want to be. For the cost of a few iTunes episodes, Hulu Prime offers you 90% of the content you could want/need from Fox, NBC, ABC, and many more.

We pray that you all have a Happy Holiday & from all of us at Apple TV Hacks – Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

The post Tis The Season To Be Streaming! Top Movies to Watch on Apple TV over the Holidays appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

Rumors have been swirling for nigh on a year now about what would come to pass when Apple finally delivers its television. Not that the Apple TV is any slouch mind you, but visions of a fully integrated Apple HDTV have had experts and fanboys alike drooling. News about a possible release schedule and what could be expected of this hardware has been slow to nonexistent in recent months leaving many people filling that informational void with speculation. One particularly juicy daydream was just delivered by our friend over at The Verge and we simply had to pass it on. So here is one die-hard’s dream of the perfect Apple TV.

The goal is to explore what would be possible if the software manufacturers and the cable providers could hold hands and work together. After all, the HDTV technology today has plenty of punch behind it, but 2K or 3K resolutions wouldn’t mean a thing unless there was a way for subscription-focused live internet streaming to link without limitations to Apple’s superior content delivery system. So the Apple TV would seamlessly integrate with all of our mobile devices, while maintaining a more friendly relationship with non-apple products as well.

When it comes to hardware, it’s obvious what should go on the ‘must’ list. You’ve got to have Bluetooth and AirPlay, as well as integrated WiFi technology that passes muster. That beautiful HD quality FaceTime camera and software should make an appearance, as well as 3D technology if they can get it right (which means losing the terrible glasses, of course). Resolution should bottom out at 1080p, and outputs should include USB, Optical Audio, HDMI and Apple’s new Thunderbolt. That will allow for an expanded hard drive, though inclusion of a DVR with at least 1TB of storage should be in the conversation.

Of course, FaceTime won’t be the only iOS App to make an appearance. What would be perfect is a fullscreen App store, where you could buy and utilize many of the apps that make the iPhone, iPod and iPad so fantastic. But you would also be able to download one-click access to the various players you most frequently use (Hulu Plus, VUDU, Netflix, etc.) AND to purchase subscriptions to pay cable networks. Ideally you’d be able to pick a monthly or yearly subscription to ShowTime or AMC, while also paying for membership to HBO Go or one of the other fantastic cable streaming sites.

As with your other Apple hardware, the Apple TV would certainly utilize Spotlight for searching. But in our ideal device it would be able to search not only your library’s content, but anything available on iTunes, within an app Store, or upcoming in a TV guide listing. That way you’d immediately see any free and paid options. If Siri was integrated to help remind you of subscribed shows or TV Guide alerts, that would just be the icing on the cake.

And as far as that TV guide is concerned, the closer the resemblance to our app screen the better. All the channels could be listed vertically, with click-through descriptions. The guide would cleanly integrate with iTunes, so you could see all upcoming releases the same way. Previews would be available for all movies (as on Apple Trailers), and anything you bring to the party through an external drive would upload to the same guide and be visually cataloged.

Is all of this probable, or even possible? Who really knows. This is the Apple TV that will live in our dreams until we are given one in real life. It’s going to take Apple becoming more willing to accept non-Apple products, and the cable providers choosing the joy of the user over maximizing advertising profits. If you think it’s probably not going to happen, you can dream at least. It’s what Steve Jobs would have wanted.

The post Visions of the new Apple TV: Hardware, UI and OS Concept appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.