Apple TV

[Kadarin]

The idea that you will be able to rent standard definition and HD movies through iTunes directly from the Apple TV now appears to make this device a palatable alternative to the local video store, to collecting dvds and BDs, and to Netflix (maybe? I don't use NF, so can't say for sure.) Once rented, you have 30 days to start watching the movie, and once started, there's a time window of 24hrs to watch it as many times as you want.

It looks like they haven't actually updated the hardware, but it also doesn't look like they really needed to.

IIRC they should have most movies available to rent by the end of Feb.

One drawback: Only 720p, max.

Any thoughts?

 

[Kmax82]

My main problem with the AppleTV is their lack of high quality TV shows. I would probably jump on this device, but it doesn't allow you to get HD TV Shows, something which Xbox Live has offered for a while now. Plus with the coming of IPTV (hopefully sooner, rather than later), I'm not really all that intrigued in the AppleTV. I'll keep my Xbox360 and wait for the next version to see if they can't somehow improve it a bit more.

Also, 720p will definitely need to be updated in the next year or so.. hopefully with the start of faster internet connections we will see the coming of 1080p.

 

[KeithP]

I would be concerned about what level of compression they are using and the effect it will have on image quality. Also, on the ATV spec page is says that not all HD movies will contain 5.1 audio which certainly isn't good news. Basically, Apple is asking people to pay $200+ to rent movies from them. Frankly, I rather just go out and buy an HD-DVD player for $130 and get rentals from Netflix or Blockbuster online. If the ATV came with 20 free movie rentals I might be interested but as it is, I will pass. Now, if they add a BD drive, 1080P upsampling for SD content and expanded CODEC support, I would be willing to pay a lot more but I don't think such features are coming anytime soon.

-KeithP

 

[Kmax82]

Yea.. at this rate all ATV is is a nice looking UI for your iTunes content, but honestly, iTunes content is outdated! I would pay an extra $1 per episode if they offered them in HD, or even just offer them in WIDESCREEN! I mean c'mon, all Macs come with widescreen displays now, so offer that support. It's inane, and ridiculous. Ugh.. maybe one day.

And like KeithP, add DivX/Xvid support, and actually make the system something worthwhile.

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: Kmax82
Yea.. at this rate all ATV is is a nice looking UI for your iTunes content, but honestly, iTunes content is outdated! I would pay an extra $1 per episode if they offered them in HD, or even just offer them in WIDESCREEN! I mean c'mon, all Macs come with widescreen displays now, so offer that support. It's inane, and ridiculous. Ugh.. maybe one day.

And like KeithP, add DivX/Xvid support, and actually make the system something worthwhile.

itunes video content IS in widescreen. It's up the the studio as to how to encode it. It baffles to me as why LOST is not in widescreen, given how big of a show that is. BSG was encoded terribly.

Apple needs to set some ground rules for how stuff gets on there. I don't mind not having HD, but at least give me DVD quality. And the ability to just play a file off a usb stick.. or just to play xvid/divx off the shelf.

 

[Heller]

Perhaps Im naive, but it looks like a glorified xbox 360 :/

 

[jhu]

Originally posted by: Heller
Perhaps Im naive, but it looks like a glorified xbox 360 :/

except you can install linux on it

 

[TheStu]

And is cheaper. And for those that don't like to play games... that is the way to go. It also probably doesn't sound like a vacuum cleaner quartet when on either. In fact, I know that it doesn't. So, if you want cheaper, quieter, and more base storage, as well as connectivity with Macs and PCs out of the box... AppleTV.

I however am in the XBox360+Connect360 camp, that would be my preferred setup.

 

[Kmax82]

Originally posted by: randomlinh

itunes video content IS in widescreen. It's up the the studio as to how to encode it. It baffles to me as why LOST is not in widescreen, given how big of a show that is. BSG was encoded terribly.

Apple needs to set some ground rules for how stuff gets on there. I don't mind not having HD, but at least give me DVD quality. And the ability to just play a file off a usb stick.. or just to play xvid/divx off the shelf.

Ok, well I downloaded, what is apparently, the worst representation of the iTunes TV store selection then. I got an episode of BSG and Lost and they were horrible quality so I've never bothered to buy any others.

I do agree that I would buy more if there were DVD quality, which is what they should be. They should at least give you an option. Have a $1 version which is 352x for the iPod, $2 version for DVD quality, and a $3 version for HD (720/1080p quality). This of course will probably never happen, but that's what I'd prefer. Also, if you buy the $3 version, you should have the option of downloading, or converting, to one of the lower versions for free.

 

[aphex]

has anyone come across a way to stream sirius to it? Or find a way to connect it to a slimserver (which can sling Sirius)?

 

[Tegeril]

I really wish this thing got a hardware update as well

I was ready to push it some 1080p h.264 goodness.

5Mbit/s 1280x720 @24fps max is a bit weak in my mind. But what can you expect from a 7300 and a 1GHz Dothan.

 

[Heller]

Originally posted by: TheStu
And is cheaper. And for those that don't like to play games... that is the way to go. It also probably doesn't sound like a vacuum cleaner quartet when on either. In fact, I know that it doesn't. So, if you want cheaper, quieter, and more base storage, as well as connectivity with Macs and PCs out of the box... AppleTV.

I however am in the XBox360+Connect360 camp, that would be my preferred setup.

While i didn't mean to offend anybody, perhaps i should of re-worded my sentence.

For one that has a 360 already, it would not be wise to purchase a appletv.

 

[jpeyton]

There is one huge downside:

All new release movies will be available 30 days after their DVD release.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
There is one huge downside:

All new release movies will be available 30 days after their DVD release.

Which kinda does suck, as my cable typically released its HD On-Demand a little before the dvd's are released...

 

[Parasitic]

iTunes store rental is too expensive. At $3 a rental how are they going to compete with NetFlix? For $13/mo for 2-at-a-time even if you only did 1 exchange that's 4 discs, or $3/title.

And no one does that few exchanges.

 

[Tegeril]

It beats Comcast hardcore in many areas though.

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: Parasitic
iTunes store rental is too expensive. At $3 a rental how are they going to compete with NetFlix? For $13/mo for 2-at-a-time even if you only did 1 exchange that's 4 discs, or $3/title.

And no one does that few exchanges.

Nah, especially not for the infrequent user. The restrictions are the same as pay-per-view on satellite/cable, except you can transfer these to your iPod. And you have the option of some HD content which you may not get with your provider...

The updated AppleTV is great. I'd like to see the price just a tad lower (maybe $199?) but I think Rev 2 is going to be a big hit.

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: Heller

Originally posted by: TheStu
And is cheaper. And for those that don't like to play games... that is the way to go. It also probably doesn't sound like a vacuum cleaner quartet when on either. In fact, I know that it doesn't. So, if you want cheaper, quieter, and more base storage, as well as connectivity with Macs and PCs out of the box... AppleTV.

I however am in the XBox360+Connect360 camp, that would be my preferred setup.

While i didn't mean to offend anybody, perhaps i should of re-worded my sentence.

For one that has a 360 already, it would not be wise to purchase a appletv.

Sorry if I gave the impression that you had offended anyone I was mostly ust saying that if one is choosing between an 360 and an AppleTV, the AppleTV has a lot going for it.

Sure, the 360 can play DVDs... but who (that is contemplating either purchase) doesn't already have a DVD player?

 

[her34]

for apple tv to matter it needs to be a compelling alternative to netflix.

the current version of apple tv is not competitive to netflix for many reasons: hardware costs, rental costs, a/v quality, features, time restraints, portability

 

[nippyjun]

For me getting video podcasts without having to use the computer is the killer app with the new software upgrade.

 

[Ultima200]

Apple TV Take 2 is a certainly a weak evolution of the Apple TV, in fact, I wouldn't even consider it an evolution, rather it is just a simple update. The whole rental thing is another story that I dont even want to begin discussing now because there are so many little catches to the service that I would never use it under the current format. $4 for an HD rental for 24 hours???? Only available in 720p??? Only available on Apple TV??? Extremely limited selection??? No thanks!


I guess my expectations for Apple TV were/are way too high...I want DVR capability, 1080p HD content....



What it really boils down to is the fact that Apple is attempting to do what it did with the music industry to the movie industry...the problem is that the movie/teevision studios clearly see this not at all in a friendly way....because of this, Aple TV will remain Steve's toy....

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Ultima200
Apple TV Take 2 is a certainly a weak evolution of the Apple TV, in fact, I wouldn't even consider it an evolution, rather it is just a simple update. The whole rental thing is another story that I dont even want to begin discussing now because there are so many little catches to the service that I would never use it under the current format. $4 for an HD rental for 24 hours???? Only available in 720p??? Only available on Apple TV??? Extremely limited selection??? No thanks!


I guess my expectations for Apple TV were/are way too high...I want DVR capability, 1080p HD content....



What it really boils down to is the fact that Apple is attempting to do what it did with the music industry to the movie industry...the problem is that the movie/teevision studios clearly see this not at all in a friendly way....because of this, Aple TV will remain Steve's toy....

Apple will never release a DVR. They sell TV shows...recording TV shows for free would be a conflict of interest for their product line.

The AppleTV will never take off to the degree that Apple wants because of Netflix. Every home in the United States has a DVD player. DVD players sell for $30 nowadays. Everyone understands how to use DVDs. Netflix costs $10 - $20 a month for unlimited rentals. If you want a show right now, tonight, then Blockbuster is around the corner. AppleTV, on the other hand, is over $200. And it's more technical than a DVD. And has more limitations. And two or three rentals can pay for an entire month of Netflix.

The AppleTV is aimed at Apple consumers, which is 95% of their userbase - consumers who like style and who like "easy". The AppleTV fits into many Mac user's lives and that works. For most of America, Netflix and Blockbuster will remain king. For geeks like us, torrents, DVRs, HTPCs, and the like will reign supreme. It's just a question of markets. The AppleTV and the MacBook Air are not oriented towards the geek communities.

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: nippyjun
For me getting video podcasts without having to use the computer is the killer app with the new software upgrade.

Agreed. Take 2 is a nice upgrade.

 

[erikistired]

i still wish the price for movie rentals would come down a little. i pay about 8 bucks a month for netflix and usually get 4-5 movies. 4-5 bucks for a 24 hr rental just seems too much, i dunno.

 

[Pabster]

It's all about convenience, fisher. I understand your argument vis-a-vi price, but there's a price to pay for convenience. Netflix is fine, but for someone like me who doesn't watch a lot of movies, but wants them at my fingertips WHEN I want them, AppleTV is fantastic.