Official: The New Apple TV

[Duffinator]

My iMac has 4 cores. I'm not constantly complaining about nothing being available that seems to max them out.

From the beginning the current TV had 720p hardware, but there wasn't constant complaints about no 720p content in the iTunes store.

Today, Jobs rolled out 99 cent programs, packaging it as some sources that are playing ball and others who are not. He could just as easily rolled out 1080p hardware and mentioned 1080 camcorder home movies look great, several podcast videos are available in 1080p, youtube 1080p is available etc. "We are ready to offer 1080i/p content as soon as any studio wants to add it to the iTunes store. In the meantime, all of our movies and TV shows are now 720p..."

That would have shifted the complaints to the Studios, because Apple would have covered the part they have control over.

And my money would already be spent. And I'd be gushing positives about "finally...", etc.



You seem to perceive that a hardware announcement today would have forced everyone to start dealing with the "problems" associated with 1080p file sizes. Those with limited storage could download 720p or smaller files. Those with limited bandwidth could download 720p or smaller files. Etc.

A simple message on screen could educate the buyer/renter that the 1080p version are very large files and will take a long time to download on slower broadband connections. Those that want to anyway could still get what they want. That would be much preferable to Apple deciding for us.

A 1080p chip set wouldn't have to affect anyone who doesn't want to deal with the negatives of file sizes, download speed, thinner broadband pipes, etc. The whole iTunes world could keep choosing 720p or SD video... and it would play to the max on hardware capable of better than those standards.

But it doesn't work the other way.

You've got it right. The world has moved forward from 720P and so should Apple. There's no point in debating 720P merits as it's no longer the standard.

 

[n2arkitektur]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_0_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/532.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0.5 Mobile/8A400 Safari/6531.22.7)

How many times do people on average watch their bought DVDs? Because for me the average is probably less than 3 meaning I'd be better off renting than buying.

+1

The only drawback I see with the new Apple TV is no iOS, so no apps. That would have been a game-changer. I have to agree with some who are asking why this is better.

My only question is will there be an app to control the new Apple TV with my iPod Touch? I get there's this Airplay thing, but what if I want to dump the supplied remote and use my iPod Touch for control?

 

[paduck]

+1

The only drawback I see with the new Apple TV is no iOS, so no apps. That would have been a game-changer. I have to agree with some who are asking why this is better.

My only question is will there be an app to control the new Apple TV with my iPod Touch? I get there's this Airplay thing, but what if I want to dump the supplied remote and use my iPod Touch for control?

There's already a remote for your iPod Touch from Apple. It's called Remote. It's been around for awhile. Let's you control iTunes or your AppleTV via wifi. It's also on the description page of the new AppleTV.

 

[brianfast]

The A4 chip probably cannot do 1080p.

 

[Mach1.8]

You've got it right. The world has moved forward from 720P and so should Apple. There's no point in debating 720P merits as it's no longer the standard.

Umm...every TV show you watch is either 720p or 1080i. You could make the argument that the movie standard is 1080p thanks to BR, but unless you watch way more movies than TV, 720p is still a viable resolution. I agree, since they started slapping 1080p stickers on TVs (in order to sell more of them, I'm sure) it has become the de facto standard in consumer electronics and I would like to have seen it in the new ATV. However, let's not confuse resolution with picture quality. A well mastered, high bitrate, 720p movie will look stunning on a 1080p TV.

 

[ctakim]

My guess is that we will see more streaming apps added over time, like Hulu, Pandora and the like. But I don't understand those who expected the full iOS on a TV screen?? How would you manage a touchscreen interface with a little Apple remote?? And don't suggest an iPhone or iPod touch because then you have to buy multiple devices. Remember Apples new non techie consumer philosophy! My grandmother has to be able to pull this out of the box and start using it.

 

[alvse]

+1

The only drawback I see with the new Apple TV is no iOS, so no apps. That would have been a game-changer. I have to agree with some who are asking why this is better.

My only question is will there be an app to control the new Apple TV with my iPod Touch? I get there's this Airplay thing, but what if I want to dump the supplied remote and use my iPod Touch for control?

Some people may be disappointed that the new Apple TV doesn't seem to be iOS based. But I was thinking of it like this.....

What if! Instead of having your app store and all you apps stored on the apple TV (which you can't anyways, cause it has no storage) you "stream" your apps to the Apple TV. Just like in the demo for "Up", when the iPad streamed the video and audio to the Apple TV, the iPad became the remote, the possibilities for this in games would be amazing. Your iOS device would become the remote/gamepad/keyboard, while you watch and listen to the action from the TV via the Apple TV and AirPlay! Tied in with game centre, you could even go multiplayer.

Maybe we will never see this, but I think it would be a very sweet feature. There are millions of iOS devices out there now right? Could this be a not yet revealed feature of iOS 4.2? Oh how I hope so.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[n2arkitektur]

There's already a remote for your iPod Touch from Apple. It's called Remote. It's been around for awhile. Let's you control iTunes or your AppleTV via wifi. It's also on the description page of the new AppleTV.

It's a done deal, then.

The $99 price tag is a game-changer. I didn't mean to neglect that point, either.

 

[8CoreWhore]

WTF $99 in the USA... £99 in the UK CMON APPLE GIVE US A BREAK!!!

Its disgusting!

Chill out - you guys have free healthcare.

 

[Duffinator]

I agree, since they started slapping 1080p stickers on TVs (in order to sell more of them, I'm sure) it has become the de facto standard in consumer electronics and I would like to have seen it in the new ATV. However, let's not confuse resolution with picture quality. A well mastered, high bitrate, 720p movie will look stunning on a 1080p TV.

I'm talking about hardware, never said anything about picture quality, and the world has moved to 1080P. All you have to do is go to any store selling electronics and look at what's available and my point will be proven. Regardless I'm keeping my two ATV's and won't be downgrading to the new ATV. Netflix is a yawner, I already have two devices capable of streaming Netflix and I don't need a third.

 

[Duffinator]

The $99 price tag is a game-changer. I didn't mean to neglect that point, either.

Really? iOS would have been a game changer but not this price point. I like the price point but a game changer??? Shoot you can buy a current model ATV with a 160 gb hdd for $149 on the Apple Store.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

The A4 chip probably cannot do 1080p.

How about a coprocessor then? Something dedicated to the task. Lots of other little boxes sold for under $100 have 1080p chipsets. I know Apple can buy those same chips if they want to do so.

 

[n2arkitektur]

Some people may be disappointed that the new Apple TV doesn't seem to be iOS based. But I was thinking of it like this.....

What if! Instead of having your app store and all you apps stored on the apple TV (which you can't anyways, cause it has no storage) you "stream" your apps to the Apple TV. Just like in the demo for "Up", when the iPad streamed the video and audio to the Apple TV, the iPad became the remote, the possibilities for this in games would be amazing. Your iOS device would become the remote/gamepad/keyboard, while you watch and listen to the action from the TV via the Apple TV and AirPlay! Tied in with game centre, you could even go multiplayer.

Maybe we will never see this, but I think it would be a very sweet feature. There are millions of iOS devices out there now right? Could this be a not yet revealed feature of iOS 4.2? Oh how I hope so.

Just my 2 cents.

Um, yeah. I'm not sure what the technical implications and limitations on what your suggesting, but that would likely serve the same purpose. And, of course, once the iTunes Cloud comes online, they could do an update to this new Apple TV and roll out apps at a later date. I have little doubt that's why they didn't announce apps on the new Apple TV; they weren't ready to announce the Cloud.

 

[8CoreWhore]

Fail!!!!!
4 years without an update then this. Apple does not want to be in the home theater buisness. All you people buying this are ultimate fanboys.
There are tons of devices that does everything this does that have been out for years. It will only play .m4v, .mp4, and .mov formats. Are you kidding me. Everything I have is .mkv. Stop being so controlling apple. No 1080P. This was bad in 2006, now its almost criminal to charge for a 720p device. You can no longer buy movies. who would ever want to rent a movie for 4.99? Redbox rents blurays for 1.50. They are 1080P with HD sound.

hahahahahahaha

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

A well mastered, high bitrate, 720p movie will look stunning on a 1080p TV.

No doubt at all. But that same 720p movie would look just as good pumped through a 1080p chip. Better hardware can max out lighter software. It just doesn't work the other way.

Cover the base on the hardware and all pro 720p arguments about quality are both right and fully implemented by 1080p hardware. But that hardware would also futureproof the device, let those of us that render stuff like 1080i/p movies use our master copy rather than the lighter 720p or 960x540 version, and, best of all, it would shut us all up about this.

1080p is the max consumer standard for a long time to come. It's here now and been here for a few years now. It will be THE max consumer standard for many years ahead. It's accessible, cheap (hardware wise), and can fully delight every "720p is good enough" believer by playing your 720p content to it's fullest potential. It won't make the TV cost more. You won't be forced to download only 1080p content. You don't have to clog your broadband pipes with 1080p files. You don't have to buy a server farm to store a lot of 1080p content. Everything you believe about 720p would still be fully realized on better hardware too.

However, those of us that want a little more would get what we want as well. Trying to make us like something less than what we want is fruitless. Even if Apple says "720p is good enough".

 

[n2arkitektur]

Really? iOS would have been a game changer but not this price point. I like the price point but a game changer??? Shoot you can buy a current model ATV with a 160 gb hdd for $149 on the Apple Store.

They dropped the price on the now old model Apple TV to $149 in order to blow out their stock. As of yesterday, it was still at full retail at $229. They have cut the retail price on the new model Apple TV by 57% from the now old model. You don't think cutting the price by more than half is a game-changer? That puts something that was out of the reach of many consumers well within the reach of those consumers. People who previously couldn't justify the price, now, can. Game-changer.

They may yet bring apps to the new Apple TV via the iTunes Cloud, so the new Apple TV may be a real contender in the marketplace rather than a hobby.

Of course, the real game-changer, the paradigm shift, will come when Apple release a TV, a 40" LED LCD HD CinemaDisplay with integrated Apple TV, slot-load Blu-Ray player, Cable Card slot, and iOS gui. They're still at least a year away from that.

 

[Duffinator]

You don't think cutting the price by more than half is a game-changer?

No. Some new tech added to it like Apps yes, dropping the price is not a game changer. There are several other devices that do basically the same thing as the new ATV at a similar price point so how is that changing the game??? Just because Apple did it? No.

 

[gkarris]

They may yet bring apps to the new Apple TV via the iTunes Cloud, so the new Apple TV may be a real contender in the marketplace rather than a hobby.

I bought the AppleTV a couple of months after it first came out and all you can do was play music, video, and photos and YouTube.

After a major firmware update, you had the iTunes store - a game changer for me as it was awesome to make purchases from the couch.

With the new one, Apple just released it as-is for the holiday season.

Since it's now iOS/A4 based, they can add the App store when more time permits - probably next year after it has an established base.

 

[jaw04005]

Exactly backwards. It makes 100% sense for Apple to roll out better hardware and then have the "software" follow it.

Who’s to say the new Apple TV can’t support 1080p? No one thought the current Apple TV would be able to handle 720p video sufficiently enough for Apple to release HD content, but an update was released and it has so for years.

 

[AVonGauss]

Deleted.

 

[Shanpdx]

is the old model Apple TV at $149 better than $99 current one? (as of today)?

eventually went ahead and ordered one, hoping it is useful for $99.

 

[jaw04005]

Why do many keep assuming that the unit is not running iOS? Think about, they switched to the A4 chip - which one is easier, port OS X to Arm or write a front-end application (a la Front Row) to implement (mimic) the Apple TV interface?

It’s running iOS, at least according to Gruber. We’ll know for sure when it ships.

 

[maestrokev]

Umm...every TV show you watch is either 720p or 1080i. You could make the argument that the movie standard is 1080p thanks to BR, but unless you watch way more movies than TV, 720p is still a viable resolution. I agree, since they started slapping 1080p stickers on TVs (in order to sell more of them, I'm sure) it has become the de facto standard in consumer electronics and I would like to have seen it in the new ATV. However, let's not confuse resolution with picture quality. A well mastered, high bitrate, 720p movie will look stunning on a 1080p TV.

Every mid-level consumer camcorder supports 1080p now. People are generating their own 1080p content.

I support giving customers the 1080p option, push the envelope for those who have faster internet connections.

It's like the MacRumors group, these are not the "average" Apple consumer, these are people who want cutting edge, and I think there's enough people like that who would pay a bit more for a better product. For now, I'll have to keep my WDTV Live when I would have been happy to pay that extra cost to Apple for a more superior product.

 

[8CoreWhore]

Tell that to all the Apple customers that own or are going to buy a new 1080P TV.

Those people are only getting 1080P from bluray discs... no where else. The data is too fat to broadcast or stream... HUGE. The costs outway the benefits.

No streaming or TV is above 720P (1080i... is 540 lines at a time..).

 

[zedsdead]

The A4 chip probably cannot do 1080p.

It can. The iPhone 3gs was tested with 1080p playback, and it was fine. The A4 is faster than what was used in the 3gs. This is Apple crippling the device for no reason. I am happy with 720p for the most part, but there is no reason Apple couldn't unlock this. When the 1st Apple TV shipped, Apple had nothing really in HD but some trailers. It took a year for iTunes to catch up with it, so doing that again wouldn't be a stretch for Apple. At least it goes up to 30fps, the 720/24fps MAX on the last model was annoying.

I have been a huge Apple TV fan, and while I welcome the update, it is disappointing. The lack of a purchasing OPTION is stupid (done because adding enough memory to the device would push the price over $99).

I am not sure if I will like the 1.0 style streaming where you have to go into a separate menu for that. I use the Apple TV with a several TB Drobo, and hopefully the streaming (especially HD) is greatly improved.

The menus should be much quicker, which was my biggest complaint. I want no lag.

How is the screen saver going to work? I like how it uses my photos. If iTunes isn't open, that won't happen I guess. This is another issue, although not major.

Netflix is a nice addition, where's pandora?

Apps would have been better with USB support. EyeTV would be able to do something really nice with that. Then again, just an EyeTV app that can connect to my iMac would be good.

The best news is that Apple is at least giving some attention to the Apple TV. It is actually a main item on their homepage. It is in rotation for the big top spot with the other iPods. It's back in the iTunes Store right at the top. Apple is at least paying attention to the device, and if it sells better than before (which is should given the new price point), they will only make it better.

In a year or two, iOS will be fully on it (it will be interesting to see if the software is based on iOS or Frontrow).