Hardware upgrades soon?

[LucasLand]

With this new take 2 upgrade , I'm now sold on apple tv. I want to buy one and the price drop is making me want to run down to apple store or call macmall.

I'm hesitant because I know the current versions (40gb & 160gb) have been around a while.

I'd hate to buy the 40gb, just to see them come out with new models.

macrumors buyer's guide does not list the apple tv. Why? I usually follow the guide.

Anyone think a hardware upgrade is coming soon?

 

[MikieMikie]

With this new take 2 upgrade , I'm now sold on apple tv. I want to buy one and the price drop is making me want to run down to apple store or call macmall.

I'm hesitant because I know the current versions (40gb & 160gb) have been around a while.

I'd hate to buy the 40gb, just to see them come out with new models.

macrumors buyer's guide does not list the apple tv. Why? I usually follow the guide.

Anyone think a hardware upgrade is coming soon?

I don't think anyone believes there will be a hardware upgrade.

Too many things need to happen in order for Apple to justify new hardware. When this product wasn't selling, it thad less to do with the software than with some misconceived goals.

 

[Koola]

I also can't see a hardware upgrade in the near future as the TV as it stands does what Apple wants; put rental content purchased through iTunes on your HDTVs.

The only time I can see Apple upgrading the hardware would be to support HD content greater than 720P as the current CPU just can't handle anything more or if a significant change in the HDMI spec occurs.

 

[ipoddin]

If there was going to be a hardware upgrade, don't you think they would have announced that along with Take 2?

 

[davidwarren]

I wouldn't be concerned about just a larger hard drive upgrade, all you really need stored on your atv are your photos, everything else can stream from another computer. The hard drive is really used to store rentals on, so if you only do a few rentals at a time you will more than likely never run into a problem. As said above, the only real upgrade would be a faster processor for better video, but I don't think that will happen for a while.

 

[Cave Man]

The only time I can see Apple upgrading the hardware would be to support HD content greater than 720P as the current CPU just can't handle anything more or if a significant change in the HDMI spec occurs.

It's pretty evident that the ATV uses the gpu and not the cpu for decoding video, since it has built-in H.264 decoding. It can also drive 1920x1200 video, but it's not clear if it can do so at 24 fps while also decoding video. I suspect the cpu is really only there to manage the OS.

 

[bbydon]

I've been trying to figure this out too...
I came to the conclusion that there really is no need.
Or none that i can see... except to change it to make it cheaper to produce.
The CPU is underclocked.

They really didn't have to upgrade hardware for take 2...it was all there.

If they did upgrade it it would be earliest the fall but i doubt it then and maybe only the hardrive.

Thats just my guess.

 

[minik]

Don't they have a pile of Apple TV in stock? If Apple upgraded the hardware, millions of original Apple TV will become junk.

I decided to buy the 40GB model, however walked out with the 160GB model.

If Apple really want the upgrade the hardware, what's about cooling?

 

[zedsdead]

They are not likely to upgrade the hardware for a while. The product itself is not a major focus of Apple's (more so now, but still nothing compared to the Macs, iPods, and iPhone) so I imagine this update is going to last the year. Maybe a hard drive bump toward the christmas season (and maybe some new software features), but that's it.

Next year maybe something new. I really would like the iPhone/Touch to be able to be a remote for the device (and stream content from them as well). Or, maybe Apple could make some for of Click-wheel style remote.