Another pleasant surprise from Apple

[saltyzoo]

I picked up an Apple TV last night. Being able to decode AC3 surround was the last hitch keeping me from getting one.

Based on my past experiences with Apple hardware, I fully expected to be "satisfied" with this purchase. I'm pretty picky about my video, but the Apple TV is not for my main theater system, so I was fully prepared to accept video that is a little "rough".

Within 20 minutes of opening the box I was shocked at how well this device works. The quality of video is much higher than I was expecting and everything is much easier and works much more fluid than I was expecting.

I criticize Apple a lot, but their products still consistently "exceed" my expectations. This is an amazing piece of hardware and turned out to fit my needs better than I expected it too.

PS> Thanks to those posting in this forum. Without you I would have never known the Apple TV could meet my needs.

 

[netdog]

Maybe you should stop wasting your time and ours criticizing Apple so much then, eh?

Enjoy the AppleTV. Despite the lack of codecs, it is a really great device. Simple like a product for the TV should be, and a really nice interface.

 

[saltyzoo]

Maybe you should stop wasting your time and ours criticizing Apple so much then, eh?

No, just because it exceeds my expectations doesn't mean there isn't flaws.

 

[cohibadad]

have to agree. TV is an excellent product. When I got mine at release I thought, wow, I can actually play all of our home movies on this. When TV2 came out, that extended to 5.1 surround and encoding all of our DVDs to have available anywhere in the house. And the rentals, if the selection expands, will probably change how I go about viewing/buying movies. The Podcast menu is an excellent upgrade and I actually love watching You Tube on it. I love the Death Note series and have the first couple of DVDs, but most of the series isn't available in English, but the entire series is available on You Tube with English subtitles so click click click and bam. Love my TV2.

 

[AppleFan360]

I agree. I like the ATV. My wife and I have already discovered how dangerous it is to have such easy access to iTunes music.

The movie selection isn't bad either but I hope it keeps getting bigger. It would be nice for the ATV to become the central movie rental point in our house.

 

[err404]

...Despite the lack of codecs, it is a really great device...

That's the biggest issue right now and it affects the uptake into the market. Long term, it wont be an issue, but Apple needs to hit a critical mass with the AppleTV before it can really take off. Unfortunately the current adopters of this kind of device are not new to the media streamer market and likely have a collection in DivX already. This has been the deal breaker for most of my friends and could lead to the long term failure of the device.

Ironically Apple only seams to be targeting the hobbyists, but it is a better product for digital media newbies who don't already have a library.

 

[peeaanuut]

I agree. I like the ATV. My wife and I have already discovered how dangerous it is to have such easy access to iTunes music.

The movie selection isn't bad either but I hope it keeps getting bigger. It would be nice for the ATV to become the central movie rental point in our house.

Im still waiting for them to release RAD.

 

[shigzeo]

i wont fail - just like aac is not failing. it will be adopted as divx supported machines nor a variety of software fail to adress one thing: they support too many different non-standard codecs. they do mp4 video - fine but with mp3 audio or something else. apple tv along with players that support h264 and aac will be the norm in the next few years, it would not make sense for anything else to follow suite. it is easier and better to stay within the same or similar bounds. divx has been useful until now, but will find its way on back stage soon - or at least i cannot imagine otherwise.

edit: i should just add that as it is just a platform for industry wide codecs now, it does not matter really how well it does - more it matters that it does merely supports a system. just like the 1st ipod, it will probably not get the best of uptake in its initial stages. ipod was big once windows users got onto it. then people began using aac and mp3 was more of a sure bet.

apple tv has only to succeed to its next form and by then, the adoption rate of mp4/hec264 and aac codec users will also be increasing - making it not only more attractive, but an older and more respected name in the great race we have of digital entertainment. i am glad of it. i don't have it nor a tv, but eventually i will have both and connect them to my hifi making for a great all in one jack of all trades sort of streaming system. i am not a cinema buff - i think those types will never go for the apple tv - seems silly. they will want the biggest projectors, tv's, dedicated amps and decoders connected to massive bluray players.

apple are catering to the mp4 generation - i think we are not quite there yet but will be.