New Apple TV better home entertainment center?

[jimmy1984]

So with the release of the new Mac Mini, what are the thoughts on the Apple TV?

With folks on both side of the isle in regards to the release of the new mini, I was curious if there are any rumors going around about the update to the Apple TV I realize something will have to be done to keep it relative to emerging devices (netflix, boxee, etc).

Any thoughts? Possibly the ability to run Hulu, CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, and other programs on Apple TV without reformatting it?

 

[tmofee]

the problem with updating apple tv significantly is the price hike. at the present it's a good price to compete with the ps3 ... making the mac mini the new apple tv doubles the price and ruins the whole point of apple tv in the first place.

i really hope that they do some more work on the software, but judging by steve's comments at that expo its not going to be anything too huge...

 

[Dan--]

Well, I don't think it's dead just yet.

Just a couple weeks ago there was the rumor of the $99 ATV on a screenless A4 driven iPod touch sized cloud based device (that was a mouthful), and the associated Macrumors thread about it.

Also, you can't put the new Mini in the same boat as the ATV. one is $700, the other just over $200. It's like saying - "That new BMW 7 series is awesome. It looks like no one's gonna get a Civic anymore."

I DO hope they make both a mini (streaming only) ATV and a drive based "iTunes server" model.

As far as Hulu, don't get your hopes up. Hulu is doing everything they can to keep themselves off your actual TV. The others may make apps, but you almost definitely won't see Flash support.

On the other hand, an upgraded ATV, if hacked, should be powerful enough to support them all.

-Dan​

From the Make your perfect AppleTV 2 thread where we imagined what the product would be if we were product manager...

Yup, I'm the product manager , and we'll be doing the following. It's a lot like what many of you are already asking:

1. 2 Primary Models: Server/Streaming, and Streaming only
2. Hard drives in Server/Streaming model: 320GB and 1TB (SATA)
3. Storage in Streaming only model: 16GB SSD (SATA)
4. Server Model can sync with a desktop or laptop, and then stream to other Apple TVs without the original computers available.
5. Fully 1080p capable
6. HDMI 1.4, 3D support
7. Safari (Note: I specified Flash support, but that got killed at much higher levels of management.)
8. Visualizer
9. External hard drives supported via USB
10. Network drives supported (via Bonjour)
11. External input and expansion for third party USB hardware. (Note we do not wish to add a hardwired input other than ethernet.)
12. Bluetooth support for input devices
13. App store
14. Wireless controller for apps, or use iPod Touch or iPhone
15. Wireless HDMI input
    

 

[CWallace]

With the Mini adding some HTPC features like HDMI, I am inclined to think that anew tv running iOS 4 and being able to use iOS4 apps and games without a HDD (so streamed content, only) has moved from "possible" to "probable" at the September iPod event.

The Mac Mini, while expensive, would provide maximum flexibility since it is a general purpose computer so you can run apps like Plex or XBMC and play content not encoded/transcoded specifically for the tv.

I'm waiting till the iPod event to see what happens. If they do release a new tv, I shall compare it to the Mini and make my decision then.