Poll: DVR Apple TV Would You Buy??

[Santa Rosa]

Lots of differing views in this which is good to read. Not being from America I don't quite understand the whole cable tv DVR argument, not in I don't agree with what you are saying way, just not sure how it works out there.

In the UK freeview has taken hold now, obviously due to the digital switchover. Having apple tv act as a DVR freeview box idea would be extremely appealing on a different level to what is already being discussed.

Basically freeview boxes generally suck with nasty user interfaces and dodgy software. Apple releasing a DVR version of apple tv would be such a joy to use in comparison while at the same time also giving you iTunes movie access and music etc etc.

I'm not sure about the technicalitys of what I'm talking about but I'm sure people understand what I'm getting at!!

 

[QuarterSwede]

Basically freeview boxes generally suck with nasty user interfaces and dodgy software. Apple releasing a DVR version of apple tv would be such a joy to use in comparison while at the same time also giving you iTunes movie access and music etc etc.

I'm basically going with what you said only with DirecTV (if they allowed an Apple DVR). I love the DVR's functionality but the software is buggy and the UI can be hard to use which makes it a pain to use.

 

[Yvan256]

I couldn't vote since there was no "I already own an TV and don't need DVR functionality" option.

I fully agree, up here in Canada, TV basically sucks - when I had cable, I paid about 45 bucks per month, but I would only watch 2 or 3 channels. Much of the animation and documentaries I used to watch is available on iTunes.
So I am extremely pleased with my new gadget and I definitely do not need any PVR functionality for Canadian television.

I agree with you, I ditched cable about 9 months ago and haven't looked back. The price they charge us, not to mention the forced bundles of channels, is just too much for what's really worth watching.

Now, if only the encoding of TV shows on the iTunes Store didn't suffer from terrible interlacing problems, I would be interested. And we still don't have monthly/season passes, so it's still too expensive at 2$/show.

 

[tominco]

Lack of recording ability is why I never considered the AppleTV. I'd be thrilled for them to have something, just don't require me to pay a fee to make recordings off of TV (cable/dish/OTA). I'd be quite happy to program it like I do a VCR, not with TIVOs swill.

 

[CWallace]

I love my TivoHD and it just keeps getting better (i.e. - the YouTube add-on), so I'm content to keep it for the moment.

But the tv adding DVR functionality could boost it's appeal to me, depending on how it's implemented.

 

[EricNau]

Yes, if that's the route Apple chose to take, I'd jump right on board.

However, I've always felt that Apple would take a different approach. That is, I believe Apple will keep the Apple TV by and large as it is now, while adding the DVR to the Mac itself. Properly incorporated with iTunes, the Mac could control all TV recording and organizing, while simply syncing with the Apple TV, just like the current model.

There's no reason to make the Apple TV handle extensive processes such as recording and encoding when you've got a computer many times more powerful. Besides, it's much easier to set/select recording times with a keyboard and mouse, rather than a remote.

 

[cecil444]

It would have to have a big hard drive. If they want people to start using these things seriously they have to give you enough memory to store your movies on. If you can only store 10 movies on there then it's not worth it in my opinion.

 

[godslabrat]

I almost voted "Yes! Gimme Gimme Gimme!" but then I realized I would need to qualify that, so I changed my answer to "Would consider very strongly". I would love to have an AppleTV DVR, but I would hope the following would be true:

1) No monthly fee. (I already have a Tivo, and if I'm gonna pay per month, I'll just get a second one of those).

2) The price should not increase drastically compared to what Apple offers now. I'd easily pay $50 more for the DVR option, $100 is feasible but is pushing my limits.

3) I'd still need to account for my need to have an optical drive, even if it isn't part of the AppleTV itself.

So, yes, I'd be very, very attracted to a PVR unit, but they'd have to make it a decent deal for me.

 

[rockinrocker]

If they do add DVR functionality, I hope it doesn't increase the cost of the device (or if it does, that they maintain a non-DVR version). There's not enough on TV to warrant paying for it, in my opinion. I do all my watching of stuff I've downloaded or bought on DVD, so a DVR AppleTV really wouldn't address any sort of missing functionality.

the analyst quoted at appleinsider seemed to think the difference in cost would be marginal....(for what it's worth)

personally, i'd get one in a second if it was also a dvr (and stayed the same price). if this were the case, i'd be able to watch whatever shows i wanted *when* i wanted to (regardless of whether or not they're on itunes, thank-you-very-much nbc). i'd also go through the hassle of ripping all my dvd's on my computer so i could pass them back and forth at my leisure....

they should also make it so content could be passed back and forth directly between the atv and a touch/iphone, wirelessly. (it'd also be way cool to be able to use touch/phone as a remote)

this does not go against the itunes store purchase/rental model, but rather complements it. if i already owned an atv, i'd rent movies from itunes for sure, but i'm not going to buy an atv just to rent/buy from itunes....

i agree that if apple does this they will come to dominate this market at it'll be another multi billion dollar component of their business.

plus it'd be sweet!

oh yeah, and they should add safari to it, (if they could work out the UI that is) so that it could be used to watch streaming video from any where, not just you tube.

 

[VideoFreek]

So, somebody help me understand the logic of adding DVR to the Apple TV. Today, it is a global product--the same box is sold around the world; only the power cord and documentation are localized.

To pull this off, Apple would need to

1) negotiate with cable and satellite providers around the world to enable the Apple TV to work with their systems, then

2a) build in technology to deal with the vast array of standards around the world (whilst of course keeping the price within $50 of where it is today, else everyone will scream that "Apple are ripping us off,"

- OR -

2b) produce localized versions for each region/ country, which would increase complexity in their supply chain and inevitably lead to complaints such as "waaaaaah...the Apple TV I bought in New York won't work here in London--this isn't FAIR,"

- OR -

2c) say "the heck with it" and add DVR for North America only (ala Tivo), in which case everyone outside of North America will moan that "Apple only cares about Americans."

So, HOW are they supposed to do this, exactly?

 

[rockinrocker]

So, somebody help me understand the logic of adding DVR to the Apple TV. Today, it is a global product--the same box is sold around the world; only the power cord and documentation are localized.

To pull this off, Apple would need to

1) negotiate with cable and satellite providers around the world to enable the Apple TV to work with their systems, then

2a) build in technology to deal with the vast array of standards around the world (whilst of course keeping the price within $50 of where it is today, else everyone will scream that "Apple are ripping us off,"

- OR -

2b) produce localized versions for each region/ country, which would increase complexity in their supply chain and inevitably lead to complaints such as "waaaaaah...the Apple TV I bought in New York won't work here in London--this isn't FAIR,"

- OR -

2c) say "the heck with it" and add DVR for North America only (ala Tivo), in which case everyone outside of North America will moan that "Apple only cares about Americans."

So, HOW are they supposed to do this, exactly?

i think you're making the whole thing way way more complicated than it needs to be.

the whole thing could be as simple as finding a third party (similar to the touch/iphone wireless locater dealy) to manage regional cable provider schedules..... or something along those lines. doesn't sound like that big of a deal to me.....

 

[mallbritton]

So, somebody help me understand the logic of adding DVR to the Apple TV. Today, it is a global product--the same box is sold around the world; only the power cord and documentation are localized.

To pull this off, Apple would need to

1) negotiate with cable and satellite providers around the world to enable the Apple TV to work with their systems, then

2a) build in technology to deal with the vast array of standards around the world (whilst of course keeping the price within $50 of where it is today, else everyone will scream that "Apple are ripping us off,"

- OR -

2b) produce localized versions for each region/ country, which would increase complexity in their supply chain and inevitably lead to complaints such as "waaaaaah...the Apple TV I bought in New York won't work here in London--this isn't FAIR,"

- OR -

2c) say "the heck with it" and add DVR for North America only (ala Tivo), in which case everyone outside of North America will moan that "Apple only cares about Americans."

So, HOW are they supposed to do this, exactly?

I believe you've nailed the major problems Apple would encounter while trying to enter the DVR market on an international scale. In my opinion it simply wouldn't be in Apple's interest to add DVR functionality to TV.

Regards,
Michael

 

[Santa Rosa]

So, somebody help me understand the logic of adding DVR to the Apple TV. Today, it is a global product--the same box is sold around the world; only the power cord and documentation are localized.

To pull this off, Apple would need to

1) negotiate with cable and satellite providers around the world to enable the Apple TV to work with their systems, then

2a) build in technology to deal with the vast array of standards around the world (whilst of course keeping the price within $50 of where it is today, else everyone will scream that "Apple are ripping us off,"

- OR -

2b) produce localized versions for each region/ country, which would increase complexity in their supply chain and inevitably lead to complaints such as "waaaaaah...the Apple TV I bought in New York won't work here in London--this isn't FAIR,"

- OR -

2c) say "the heck with it" and add DVR for North America only (ala Tivo), in which case everyone outside of North America will moan that "Apple only cares about Americans."

So, HOW are they supposed to do this, exactly?

Well there has been this one apple product...... (racking brains to remember what it is that relatively fits into the description) awww.... the iPhone!!!

Silly me

 

[/"\/oo\/"\]

throw in a cable card slot or two and I'm there

 

[VideoFreek]

Well there has been this one apple product...... (racking brains to remember what it is that relatively fits into the description) awww.... the iPhone!!!

Silly me

Poor example. The underlying technology in the iPhone is the same worldwide--GSM/Edge/GPRS. The phone is "localized" to each carrier via subsidy locks and software customization, just like every other mobile phone in the world.

throw in a cable card slot or two and I'm there

Good example of what I'm talking about--Cable Card is a US-only technology--nobody outside of the US will care. For the UK, you'll need a smartcard slot to handle Sky's system; for Germany, something else to work with Premiere's satelite service, and on and on.

 

[Santa Rosa]

Poor example. The underlying technology in the iPhone is the same worldwide--GSM/Edge/GPRS. The phone is "localized" to each carrier via subsidy locks and software customization, just like every other mobile phone in the world.

That would be wrong, you are correct to an extent but its certainly not true worldwide.

It is possible to do, also why would apple have to do it worldwide. At the moment the iPhone, which is not a poor example, is only available in a few countries, all apple have to do is concentrate on the economies of scale. They could do two versions, one with and one without. There's nothing stopping them, few hardware/software modifications and your away.

 

[Mac In School]

I would definitely consider it, but be a bit skeptical. After having TiVo, ReplayTV, Comcast DVR and DirecTV DVR, I'm convinced that TiVo is the only one doing it right. I hear good things about the Dish Network one, but I've never tried it. Of those I have tried, TiVo is the only one that doesn't blow.

 

[jbellanca]

If it were HD 1080p with a DirecTV tunes, yes definitely. Otherwise no. Wait - unless it had component input 1080p and an IR blaster to control my DirecTV HD Receiver, then yes.

 

[slate1]

Good. glad you're happy. Has it occurred to you that maybe other people would prefer a different setup? Most people (those of us who are not sheep) prefer options. Tivo gives us options. A DVR ATV would give us options. The cable company does NOT give us options.

First off - the irony of someone going by the moniker "MacFanBoy" calling me a sheep will provide me with a chuckle for months to come... I thank you for that.

I understand where you're coming from - but these have to be viable options - and with the way most cable companies and satellite providers work it would be next to impossible to cleanly incorporate DVR capability. While I understand the enthusiasm on behalf of some for this - the realistic market is minimal and something I really can't see Apple undertaking regardless of the patent filing (filings by Apple for technology not currently being considered for implementation are not unusual, by the way.)

 

[aross99]

I have a Pioneer DVR (non-TIVO) and use it like a digital VCR. I time shift the shows I want to watch, and keep the ones I am interested in on the 160GB Hard drive. I don't want the TIVO monthly fee. I know what I want to watch, and when it is on. Add this to the Apple TV, and I could eliminate one piece of equipment...