Is installation of iTunes compulsory to use ATV with windows/XBMC
Hi All,
Just found this fantastic forum and hoping you can help a newbie :D (and yes.. I have tried a search on this topic but could not find an answer)
Just bought a second hand ATV 160GB which should arrive next week. I have searched loads on this site (and the net) and am looking forward to hacking it to use XMBC. I don't know what it has installed on it and whether or not it has been hacked.
My main question at the moment is, do I have to install iTunes on my Vista PC to operate/install/update/hack the ATV. I had a bad experience with iTunes a year ago when I installed it on my PC to help a friend put music on his new iPod, it insisted on putting all sorts of software on my PC and it took me ages to uninstall it and get my music/videos tagged as I wanted.:fail
Anyway, I'm hoping that I can get away without having to have iTunes on my PC again.
Also, if I can do without iTunes, if I put content on the ATV disc, will it be useable on the PC or wireless laptop. What I mean is - at the moment I have about 90GB music on my PC and play it on the PC or (laptop connected to my TV/Music system). If I move it all to the ATV, can I still get to it from my PC/laptop in windows. (Will the ATV act as a separate drive or will I have to duplicate everything)?
Another thing I'm interested in is the ability of the ATV to "learn" other remotes. If I do the patchstick hack to install XBMC etc, will that alter the abilty of the ATV to learn other remotes?
First off though, I have to get the ATV working on my non HD Plasma with component/scart. I have read all the hacks on that and think I can do it. Wish me luck.
Sorry for all the questions - Thanks all for reading and any info you can give will be great.
Stoobie
