Apple TV Take 2 is now LIVE!

[leekohler]

I love the update! Apple TV just got seriously addictive. For those of us who refuse to get cable, it's a must-have. At this point, I don't know why anyone would even bother with cable anymore. Broadcast HD looks far better than cable- and now thanks to ATV, I can watch whatever I want, when I want.

 

[bokonon]

nice

Updated last night and am streaming fine from my 5.1TB video library, across two AppleTVs. No complaints.

 

[Peace]

Visual Hub just updated their tool to enable 5.1 audio for the Apple TV. I just tried it out and it's now on my list of must-haves.


http://www.techspansion.com/visualhub/download.php

 

[Superman07]

What happens to one of these new files when you drag it from iTunes to an iPod/Touch/Phone? Will the 5.1 track be automatically converted, along with the resolution, to be compatiable with the device? Or is it using the dual track method - stereo and 5.1?

 

[NightStorm]

What happens to one of these new files when you drag it from iTunes to an iPod/Touch/Phone? Will the 5.1 track be automatically converted, along with the resolution, to be compatiable with the device? Or is it using the dual track method - stereo and 5.1?

No it's a mov container with AC3... it will not play on other devices.

 

[randyharris]

I've noticed that my "Shared TV" shows no longer show a blue dot to the left unwatched TV shows. This pretty much sucks, now there is no visual indicator relating to which shows you've watched and have not yet watched.

Are others seeing this same behavior? Any way to bring back those blue dots?

Thanks

 

[imlucid]

It did that to me when I first installed the update. If you navigate to the top of the list of shows and click the right button, it should organize by Show instead of Date (once organized by show it will separate the seasons of your shows seasons).

You don't need to scroll to the top of the list, you can change the list sorting at any time by hitting right or left arrows.

Kevin

 

[Samurai]

I love the update! Apple TV just got seriously addictive. For those of us who refuse to get cable, it's a must-have. At this point, I don't know why anyone would even bother with cable anymore. Broadcast HD looks far better than cable- and now thanks to ATV, I can watch whatever I want, when I want.

Live Sports. I need cable or satellite to get live sports. If I could get ESPN via OTA or from Apple TV I would agree that I would not need cable or satellite.

 

[Woody970]

Should I take the plunge?

In reading through the posts in this forum I found that most of the people really like there TV since the release of the new software update. So my question to all of the owners of the TV, with the current price drop and the new features just add would you recommend purchasing this unit now or wait a little bit longer?

 

[musicman0725]

You don't need to scroll to the top of the list, you can change the list sorting at any time by hitting right or left arrows.

Kevin

Thanks, I guess it's a little more convenient then I thought!

 

[johndawg1973]

I agree

Live Sports. I need cable or satellite to get live sports. If I could get ESPN via OTA or from Apple TV I would agree that I would not need cable or satellite.

Not to say that I am dissapointed, but I can't wait for the day when I can 'rent' a game while the game is happening.

i'd love to "ditch" the dish and throw comcast over the bridge with them, but I cannot leave them until I can see a real time event.

By the way... Does anyone know how often a new show like "My Name is Earl" would be made availabe to iTunes after it airs? Do we have to wait for the whole season to finish?

Thanks,

John

 

[rogerm]

Does the Harmony remote operate the apple tv?

Yes, it does.

 

[williedigital]

that

Live Sports. I need cable or satellite to get live sports. If I could get ESPN via OTA or from Apple TV I would agree that I would not need cable or satellite.

And most cable companies give you so much of a discount on your internet when you order cable TV, it distorts people's thinking. I know my overall cable bill would go from $75 to $100 by adding cable TV, and that I objectively shouldn't do it, but overall I feel totally ripped off buying internet without cable TV.

 

[rogerm]

The album art and titles pop up on your aTV screen much like they do when your running iTunes with the visualizer full screen. That is, in the bottom left hand corner. It streams from you computer library to aTV, it treats the aTV like any other airport express, which is what I have going on in my family/living room.

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be able to group multiple speakers with my airport extreme. In otherwords, my computer+aTV= OK. my computer+aTV+BOSE [the name of my airport extreme]= NO GO. It says it can't combine/do you want to switch to BOSE. I'm expecting this not to apply to multiple aTVs.

This should work. I just streamed music to my Airport Express in the Office and my Apple TV in the living room simultaneously. And they're in sync, i.e. there is no delay between the audio in the office and the audio in the living room. And I control the audio in both rooms from the living room with the remote. Now, if Apple drops the price of the Airport Express (to let's say $69?) I'll buy a few more and get music in the whole house.

 

[pdjudd]

And most cable companies give you so much of a discount on your internet when you order cable TV, it distorts people's thinking. I know my overall cable bill would go from $75 to $100 by adding cable TV, and that I objectively shouldn't do it, but overall I feel totally ripped off buying internet without cable TV.

Of course my concern is that the Monopolistic practices of the cables cos will view iTunes as a threat to their business and filter iTunes traffic if people try to cut the cable service off since HD downloads require lots of bandwidth (which is how they will justify their actions).

The goveremnt neeeds to enforce net neutrality and implement laws to make sure ISP's cannot implememnt a toll on internet usage and require them to keep rates in check. Of course I don't see this happening anytime soon.

 

[Peace]

Of course my concern is that the Monopolistic practices of the cables cos will view iTunes as a threat to their business and filter iTunes traffic if people try to cut the cable service off since HD downloads require lots of bandwidth (which is how they will justify their actions).

The goveremnt neeeds to enforce net neutrality and implement laws to make sure ISP's cannot implememnt a toll on internet usage and require them to keep rates in check. Of course I don't see this happening anytime soon.

Interestingly Comcast increased their rates a week before the Apple TV 2.0 came out..



just saying..

 

[randyharris]

As long as it's being discussed in depth, I'll mention that I dropped Cable TV several months ago, bought a TivoHD and use an antenna to record ATSC (dual ATSC tuners in the TivoHD). This gives me all the broadcast in great HD quality and even a pretty decent amount of sports. Then the AppleTV brings me what an antenna doesn't. Granted I'm not a huge stick and ball sports fan so I can live without ESPN. But it's a pretty slick setup, I pay far less than my Cable bill used to cost me and I dont' suffer at all for programming.

 

[pdjudd]

Interestingly Comcast increased their rates a week before the Apple TV 2.0 came out..



just saying..

Well Comcast is the ISP I was thinking about and it doesn't surprise me that they raised their rates again.

 

[EagerDragon]

I rented 300 last night in HD. I have 7 MB Cox Cable, pretty good download speeds even at peak, which it was when I downloaded it. It took 4 minutes for it to buffer enough to watch. Not bad at all! Hell it took me longer to grab snacks and the Wife. It was also quicker then running to Blockbuster and I did not have to change out of my comfy PJs. Oh also I won't have to run back to Blockbuster and pay the darn late fees cause I ALWAYS forget to return the movies.


Side note... is it me or is 300 REALLY boring. About an hour and a half into the 3 hour movie both my wife and I were falling asleep.

I loved the movie. For 300 warriors to be able to hold the Army against them for so long was something else. It is also very sad and there is plenty of action.

Differnet people like different things I guess.

Anyone with FIOS? How long does it takes to download a movie to AppleTV over FIOS service?

 

[natasha69]

I loved the movie. For 300 warriors to be able to hold the Army against them for so long was something else. It is also very sad and there is plenty of action.

Differnet people like different things I guess.

Anyone with FIOS? How long does it takes to download a movie to AppleTV over FIOS service?

I have comcast cable, and my dsl reports speed test shows me at anywhere between 16 and 20. Which are past the low FIOS speeds (depends which FIOS package you pay for, my friend has 15/2).

With an ethernet cable attached (i have another post asking specifically about this), i was seeing an HD movie (chuck and larry) download at about 1% per 30 to 60 seconds. At 2% it said I was good to go to start watching.

 

[gotohamish]

I'd love to see Remote disc added to the Apple TV.

Watch DVDs from your MBP in the next room...

Cool..

That is #1 on my want-list too.

 

[sood]

Hey guys,

Long time lurker, first time poster here. I usually get answers by browsing, but this appears to be an isolated issue:

Our apple tv and only flat screen are in our country house, which only has extremely slow dial-up...pretty much impossible to download the update from there. We have DSL in our apartment but I would have to navigate through the menus blindly in order to get to the update...not very practical and likely only to work after multiple tries. I'm downloading the dmg update file on my mbp as we speak...anyone know of a way I can point the apple tv to my laptop as the update server? If not...any other ideas?

Thanks in advance.

P.S. I realize the main purpose of this update is rentals which require highspeed...but frankly my biggest issue for a looooong time (since I updated iPhoto) has been lack of support for iPhoto events. This update is the answer to my little prayer.

 

[erzeszut]

Question, can you watch any video you import into itunes on appletv?

Yes. Once a movie is imported into iTunes, you can right-click it and "Convert to AppleTV."

I've been converting all of our home movies for the AppleTV. I can drag the iMovie project files directly into iTunes, then let iTunes convert them into tv-compatible .MOVs. Works great!

 

[retiarius]

Still looking for an example of actual HD rental file size

1.73 GB

This is the file size for an iTunes purchase of Dead Man's Chest,
which is 640 pixels wide. 1.73GB / 9,040 seconds yields 1.537 mbps,
consistent with the rate for standard definition fare.

What is the filesize for a 720p HD Apple TV rental title?

Since I've seen no answers yet, I'll assume this is not displayed
and we must wait for the Apple TV hackers to reveal such info.

Filesize / duration is the only reliable way to get an
accurate encoded data rate.

 

[Bryank]

Composite output still works with take 2..

Quick note some might find useful - the composite output switch/bluff method still works on Take 2

Using unmodified Apple TV with my Sony Trinitron CRT 32" widescreen via composite output no problems at all!

And hats off to 'imlucid' whatever your involvement

- there are some subtle touches in v2 - Active backgrounds on main menu screen, remote menu button switches etc

Cheers,

Bryan