Anyone have any insight into whether Apple TV is a one-shot deal or whether there's been any talk of an update at some point? Is it useful or just a novelty? Thinking about it just not totally sold on the idea yet.
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Apple TV: will it ever be updated?
- Thread starter MowingDevil
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If we see an update, we'll know it wasn't a one-off.
It CERTAINLY has far more potential for an update than anything else that Apple one-offed, since it's been around for two years.
The Cube was never updated, nor was the iPod Hi-Fi.
I think we'll see an Apple TV update once they find some hardware that can decode 1080p while not melting the existing case.
It CERTAINLY has far more potential for an update than anything else that Apple one-offed, since it's been around for two years.
The Cube was never updated, nor was the iPod Hi-Fi.
I think we'll see an Apple TV update once they find some hardware that can decode 1080p while not melting the existing case.
Really, I think it just depends on your setup at home. If you watch a lot of iTunes movies or TV shows, then yeah it is probably worth it to have a dedicated box connected to your tv. If you only watch the occasional stuff, you are probably just better off getting an adapter and hooking your laptop up to your tv. I would say get an apple tv if you plan on watching a lot of iTunes stuff, or if you want to watch iTunes stuff but only have a desktop computer and not a laptop.
If they do decide to update it they will probably add more storage, other than that maybe a DVR, but if you already have a tivo or similar, no need to wait for apple tv to update.
I personally think it's more novelty than anything else, but I don't really buy shows off of iTunes. Hulu + Netflix + Tivo is more than I need for my movie and tv watching needs. Just my .02
I personally hope it's updated ... and that they add remote desktop, bluetooth for a keyboard/mouse, faster processor and a bigger harddrive.
Did I mention I was a dreamer?!?
Did I mention I was a dreamer?!?
I love my apple tv. All my DVDs are on a 2tb drive meaning all the discs are nicely packed away instead of being sprawled all over the lounge floor. I hope they do update sometime. It just had a FW update so they haven't forgotton about it.
Tallest (lack of) skil: They most certainly did update the G4 Cube.
I've noticed tallest skil is often wrong (but quick to berate others). Is there a way of adjusting my personal prefs so it simply blocks out all of tallest skils' posts?
The ATV doesn't appear to be high on Apple's priority list. Its really been rather ignored since 2.0 came out. That being said, there are indications that Apple is finally devoting more resources to the ATV (new hires...etc).
No one has any idea what kind of update there will be. Could be minor, could be something massive (like a media center). If we don't hear anything in Sept, it most likely won't see an update till 2010.
My own personal opinion, is if Apple doesn't do something with the ATV this fall, whether they like it or not, they will be forever beat and behind in the living room, and will either drop it entirely, or be forced to drop it years down the road.
No one has any idea what kind of update there will be. Could be minor, could be something massive (like a media center). If we don't hear anything in Sept, it most likely won't see an update till 2010.
My own personal opinion, is if Apple doesn't do something with the ATV this fall, whether they like it or not, they will be forever beat and behind in the living room, and will either drop it entirely, or be forced to drop it years down the road.
There sure is. Just click his name to the left of one of his posts and view his profile. There should be a link that says 'Add Tallest Skil to Your Ignore List'
I've considered this myself.
MR will become a helpful and polite place once again!
I've thought for ages that MR needs a yellow/red card system. Instead of ring banned, the user gets a yellow card ( which sits next to their name for all to see). Two yellows and you only have one more chance before you get a red and get banned.
Surely that would encourage politeness and helpfulness?
I've thought for ages that MR needs a yellow/red card system. Instead of ring banned, the user gets a yellow card ( which sits next to their name for all to see). Two yellows and you only have one more chance before you get a red and get banned.
Surely that would encourage politeness and helpfulness?
A faster processor and bluetooth for a keyboard is about all I can think of. I think it does a wonderful job. All of my movies and music steam beautifully. If I want to rent a movie, click, there it is. I've almost completed getting my 700+ DVD collection onto my external hard drive. I think it's perfect, trying to make it too much more isn't really necessary IMO.
Until ISP's will be able to allow people to download 1080p movies without causing traffic chaos then I don't think it'll see a major upgrade.
The Apple TV really is still a hobby. It isn't for anyone who doesn't know about encoding videos. Fair enough you can use it to rent movies on iTunes etc, but the real use is to store all your TV shows and movies (ripped DVD's or by other means) and have them all playable at your finger tips.
I know it has been battled to death, but if Apple were to buy Elgato and whack in a TV tuner along with an Apple style optimised EyeTV software, then we'd be making progress.
The Apple TV really is still a hobby. It isn't for anyone who doesn't know about encoding videos. Fair enough you can use it to rent movies on iTunes etc, but the real use is to store all your TV shows and movies (ripped DVD's or by other means) and have them all playable at your finger tips.
I know it has been battled to death, but if Apple were to buy Elgato and whack in a TV tuner along with an Apple style optimised EyeTV software, then we'd be making progress.
I'm thinking 1080p videos provided by iTS is a long time away. However, that's not a good enough reason (in my book) to limit the aTV to 720p. Loads of folks are going HD with their camcorders. iMovie can "edit" AVCHD footage (typically shot at 1080i/p) and folks would like to watch their home videos in the best possible resolution.
Doing the 540p route that Apple suggests is a non-starter in my book. If I'm going through the trouble and expense of shooting in 1080, then I want my final product in 1080 as well.
Otherwise, I'm just buying a mini ... which will do 1080p easily.
ft
I want to see the Apple TV opened to App developers, with an SDK like the iPhone, I think the next killer app, like the MLB would rule on an Apple TV.
It's just Stevie's little "hobby"! But seriously, it's a great product that is seriously underdeveloped and underrated.
I could see this freaking taking off...... Something like this for the AppleTV.. Oh yeah...
No. There was one revision, and then they killed it. Notice that the word "skill" is not in my name, nor does it have any connotation with my name.
I've noticed that no one else ever predicts anything. Pathetic.
Enjoy. I don't care.
It's good at what it does. Just what it does is a little limited and boring. The hackers at boxee did a pretty good job of integrating things like hulu/bbc iplayer.
Just their implementation didn't always wake up from sleep and i didn't like how it was an app and didn't feel integrated into the base UI.
The worst crime commited with the design was the ickle remote which is so damn hard to use, you'll want to bin it after 20 mins. I use a harmony one remote which works much better.
I think it's sort of in maintenance mode at the moment, getting minor tweaks here and there whilst Apple waits for a number of technologies to mature. Hence it's designation as a hobby project, ie. it's out there just so Apple has a foot in the door. It's not like anyone else's implementation of a media player/streamer is any better. Yeah i've played with the 360 and PS3 and a linksys media streamer, they are all slightly cack.
There's a ton of patents that Apple has filed that relate to a potential future AppleTV. Things like information overlays whilst you're watching something, wii like gesture based remote controls, coverflow, video conferencing etc etc.
Currently the hardware is too damn expensive, markup is supposedly next to nowt and it's flippin hot.
I suspect and it's only me at this point that PA-Semi's project to develop an ARM SoC will extend from a lowly iPod up to a tablet at some point with the AppleTV in between. Once they have a standardized embedded ARM platform powerful enough to drive an HD movie, with the iPhone OS X variant onboard and multiple input methods we'll be golden.
At the moment AppleTV's OS is an old Intel Tiger OS X with front row like shell. That means it's not feeling all the love of the new Core library goodness in Leopard, let alone Snow leopard. Bit of an OS orphan if you ask me.
With a single ARM SoC with say 2 cores plus PA-Semi's power mgmt voodoo. ie. it can run single core, dual core and modulate the core speeds independantly. You have a platform lightweight enough not to kill an iPod battery, yet powerful enough to do the HD and as it's a single SKU Apple will be ordering them in the millions. So it will be dirt cheap by comparison to a Intel Dothan + nvidia GPU, probably ordered in 10K batches.
If i had to guess, i'd say we'll see something by the fall of next year. PA-Semi's work will take 18 months to come to fruition which is this coming winter, factor in integration and that a Jan release may not look so good, i reckon it'll be in tandem with the 2010 iPod refresh.
M.
Just their implementation didn't always wake up from sleep and i didn't like how it was an app and didn't feel integrated into the base UI.
The worst crime commited with the design was the ickle remote which is so damn hard to use, you'll want to bin it after 20 mins. I use a harmony one remote which works much better.
I think it's sort of in maintenance mode at the moment, getting minor tweaks here and there whilst Apple waits for a number of technologies to mature. Hence it's designation as a hobby project, ie. it's out there just so Apple has a foot in the door. It's not like anyone else's implementation of a media player/streamer is any better. Yeah i've played with the 360 and PS3 and a linksys media streamer, they are all slightly cack.
There's a ton of patents that Apple has filed that relate to a potential future AppleTV. Things like information overlays whilst you're watching something, wii like gesture based remote controls, coverflow, video conferencing etc etc.
Currently the hardware is too damn expensive, markup is supposedly next to nowt and it's flippin hot.
I suspect and it's only me at this point that PA-Semi's project to develop an ARM SoC will extend from a lowly iPod up to a tablet at some point with the AppleTV in between. Once they have a standardized embedded ARM platform powerful enough to drive an HD movie, with the iPhone OS X variant onboard and multiple input methods we'll be golden.
At the moment AppleTV's OS is an old Intel Tiger OS X with front row like shell. That means it's not feeling all the love of the new Core library goodness in Leopard, let alone Snow leopard. Bit of an OS orphan if you ask me.
With a single ARM SoC with say 2 cores plus PA-Semi's power mgmt voodoo. ie. it can run single core, dual core and modulate the core speeds independantly. You have a platform lightweight enough not to kill an iPod battery, yet powerful enough to do the HD and as it's a single SKU Apple will be ordering them in the millions. So it will be dirt cheap by comparison to a Intel Dothan + nvidia GPU, probably ordered in 10K batches.
If i had to guess, i'd say we'll see something by the fall of next year. PA-Semi's work will take 18 months to come to fruition which is this coming winter, factor in integration and that a Jan release may not look so good, i reckon it'll be in tandem with the 2010 iPod refresh.
M.
I personally hope it's updated ... and that they add remote desktop, bluetooth for a keyboard/mouse, faster processor and a bigger harddrive.
Did I mention I was a dreamer?!?
cough mac mini cough couch
I do have a mini (my media server) also, but the front row interface is lacking, especially for slide show but also for my movies. Make the apple tv the 'front row' on the mini accessing itunes/iphoto .... hmmmmmm.
Mac Mini Remote
With the Apple TV, they recently upgraded the iPhone remote app, which works amazingly well. They also allow you to program a universal remote to work with the IR sensor.
Can you use either of those features with Front Row on a Mac Mini?
I currently have the Apple TV, but I think a Mac Mini would be more functional for my media room. Apple TV you are pretty much limited to Apple content or handbrake ripped content. With a Mac Mini I could access Netflix online, HULU, and other video content.
I really thought
TV would have progressed a bit more by now.
With the Apple TV, they recently upgraded the iPhone remote app, which works amazingly well. They also allow you to program a universal remote to work with the IR sensor.
Can you use either of those features with Front Row on a Mac Mini?
I currently have the Apple TV, but I think a Mac Mini would be more functional for my media room. Apple TV you are pretty much limited to Apple content or handbrake ripped content. With a Mac Mini I could access Netflix online, HULU, and other video content.
I really thought
TV would have progressed a bit more by now.
Hey... Tallest Skil definitely generally has good arguments, and not everyone can be correct al the time.
But, OT: I wish we could get an TV with 1080p handling and a Blu Ray player.
But, OT: I wish we could get an TV with 1080p handling and a Blu Ray player.
Never happen because it'll knife the iTunes rental business. Although I'd like to see it happen to clean up the mess Elgato is.