An AppleTV Experience: A Year Without Cable

[ipedro]

When I picked up an :apple:TV last year, I felt that for the first time, I had found a replacement to TV. I based that on the presumption that my TV habits could be replicated by :apple:TV and indeed add to them via my richly populated and relevant (based on star ratings) music collection. I would also be able to enjoy and showcase my photo collection to visitors.

With regards to TV, I was becoming increasingly frustrated with the nature of "news". It was difficult to flip channels without watching serious networks chattering about celebrity's lives. The current invasion of Reality TV completed the reasoning that $100 per month for cable was so not worth it. Britney, Paris and Brangelina and Tila Tequila, Bret Michaels and Flavor Flav had taken over the airwaves and I had had enough.

I sat down and reviewed what TV I was watching. My TV was left dialed into CNN most of the time with shows such as Anderson Cooper and Larry King amongst the few that could get me to sit down and actually watch intently.

Flipping through channels, reruns of Seinfeld and Friends had me put down the remote. Current programming that I watched was limited to Journeyman (cancelled :( ), Heroes and the various incarnations of CSI.

I found that I could easily replace all of the above with :apple:TV. Anderson Cooper has a daily podcast (the video quality and update schedule have recently been improved) and Larry King's best is also available via a CNN podcast.

Curiously, it was the podcast component of :apple:TV that has become the main source of programming for me. I've turned away from the major networks and discovered Revision3 and ON Networks' amateur, yet professionally produced programs. Diggnation, the DIGG Reel, Play Value and more are available in HD and for free.

There have unfortunately been downsides to cutting cable and adopting an exclusive :apple:TV relationship. The most notable has been the loss of connection with the news and programming of my city. By not watching local programming, I'm feeling disconnected from the outside world. I also noticed that sense of disconnect accompanied by loneliness, something that I hadn't felt with the "always on" aspect of cable tv as background noise.

The lack of live tv is another shortcoming, one that has become very pronounced with the Olympics going on now. Luckily, my Sharp Aquos has a digital receiver and I've been able to pick up the local CBC which broadcasts the Olympic programming in HD over the air. This is literally the first time in months that I changed the Input Source from :apple:TV to TV.

Surprisingly, I would have expected there to be an Olympic recap show offered by CBC in the iTunes store. Even more incomprehensible is that video podcasts for the Olympics are non existant also.

I live in Canada and the Canadian iTunes store's anemic offerings hasn't helped my cause to live without cable. I'm still waiting for the Daily Show to offer a season's pass similar to the US iTunes store. Currently, Canadians have to buy each show individually for $1.99.
Night shows like Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno and Letterman were also high on my wish list but so far, no luck.

With the Fall Season fast approaching, I'm praying for NBC to reconcile with Apple and offer Heroes and Conan O'Brien.

My girlfriend has been staying over quite frequently lately and she's noticed the lack of her regular programming as well.

So as I sit here, strongly considering reconnecting cable, another side of me is holding out for Fall upgrades to the iTunes Canada store.

What I'm hoping for:

- Family Guy
- Conan O'Brien w/ Multi Pass $9.99
- The Daily Show w/ Multi Pass $9.99
- Heroes
- CSI
- 24

In the meantime, I'm going to populate my :apple:TV with the Seinfeld and Friends reruns that I can't get enough of.

I'm going to try to address the lack of local connection by finding an online local radio source for that "background noise" replacement now that :apple:TV officially supports radio streams.

I'm also going to convert my DVD collection to an :apple:TV/iPhone format so that I can enjoy it (I haven't had a DVD player for years).

:apple:TV hasn't been a total disappointment though. I've truly rediscovered my music now that I have easy access to it from the couch. My photo collection also fills the screen as my :apple:TV's screensaver. I'm also spending many entertaining hours with YouTUBE and amateur podcasts.

I feel that the :apple:TV has huge potential to replace cable. For the time being, I've needed to make an effort because the current bottleneck of iTunes Canada's slim offerings doesn't include my favorite shows.

I think that with YouTUBE looking at Live broadcasts, we may see their partner, CNN offer a stream and perhaps some sports becoming available there as well. From there, its a short leap to :apple:TV since Google and Apple share such a close connection.

In short, :apple:TV is almost there, but not quite ready for the mainstream.

[Galley]

I've been satellite-free since Jan. I haven't even bothered hooking up an antenna to my HDTV. Since I got my 24" iMac a month ago, I don't even have the HDTV hooked up. :D

[gcmexico]

When I picked up an :apple:TV last year, I felt that for the first time, I had found a replacement to TV. I based that on the presumption that my TV habits could be replicated by :apple:TV and indeed add to them via my richly populated and relevant (based on star ratings) music collection. I would also be able to enjoy and showcase my photo collection to visitors.

With regards to TV, I was becoming increasingly frustrated with the nature of "news". It was difficult to flip channels without watching serious networks chattering about celebrity's lives. The current invasion of Reality TV completed the reasoning that $100 per month for cable was so not worth it. Britney, Paris and Brangelina and Tila Tequila, Bret Michaels and Flavor Flav had taken over the airwaves and I had had enough.

I sat down and reviewed what TV I was watching. My TV was left dialed into CNN most of the time with shows such as Anderson Cooper and Larry King amongst the few that could get me to sit down and actually watch intently.

Flipping through channels, reruns of Seinfeld and Friends had me put down the remote. Current programming that I watched was limited to Journeyman (cancelled :( ), Heroes and the various incarnations of CSI.

I found that I could easily replace all of the above with :apple:TV. Anderson Cooper has a daily podcast (the video quality and update schedule have recently been improved) and Larry King's best is also available via a CNN podcast.

Curiously, it was the podcast component of :apple:TV that has become the main source of programming for me. I've turned away from the major networks and discovered Revision3 and ON Networks' amateur, yet professionally produced programs. Diggnation, the DIGG Reel, Play Value and more are available in HD and for free.

There have unfortunately been downsides to cutting cable and adopting an exclusive :apple:TV relationship. The most notable has been the loss of connection with the news and programming of my city. By not watching local programming, I'm feeling disconnected from the outside world. I also noticed that sense of disconnect accompanied by loneliness, something that I hadn't felt with the "always on" aspect of cable tv as background noise.

The lack of live tv is another shortcoming, one that has become very pronounced with the Olympics going on now. Luckily, my Sharp Aquos has a digital receiver and I've been able to pick up the local CBC which broadcasts the Olympic programming in HD over the air. This is literally the first time in months that I changed the Input Source from :apple:TV to TV.

Surprisingly, I would have expected there to be an Olympic recap show offered by CBC in the iTunes store. Even more incomprehensible is that video podcasts for the Olympics are non existant also.

I live in Canada and the Canadian iTunes store's anemic offerings hasn't helped my cause to live without cable. I'm still waiting for the Daily Show to offer a season's pass similar to the US iTunes store. Currently, Canadians have to buy each show individually for $1.99.
Night shows like Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno and Letterman were also high on my wish list but so far, no luck.

With the Fall Season fast approaching, I'm praying for NBC to reconcile with Apple and offer Heroes and Conan O'Brien.

My girlfriend has been staying over quite frequently lately and she's noticed the lack of her regular programming as well.

So as I sit here, strongly considering reconnecting cable, another side of me is holding out for Fall upgrades to the iTunes Canada store.

What I'm hoping for:

- Family Guy
- Conan O'Brien w/ Multi Pass $9.99
- The Daily Show w/ Multi Pass $9.99
- Heroes
- CSI
- 24

In the meantime, I'm going to populate my :apple:TV with the Seinfeld and Friends reruns that I can't get enough of.

I'm going to try to address the lack of local connection by finding an online local radio source for that "background noise" replacement now that :apple:TV officially supports radio streams.

I'm also going to convert my DVD collection to an :apple:TV/iPhone format so that I can enjoy it (I haven't had a DVD player for years).

:apple:TV hasn't been a total disappointment though. I've truly rediscovered my music now that I have easy access to it from the couch. My photo collection also fills the screen as my :apple:TV's screensaver. I'm also spending many entertaining hours with YouTUBE and amateur podcasts.

I feel that the :apple:TV has huge potential to replace cable. For the time being, I've needed to make an effort because the current bottleneck of iTunes Canada's slim offerings doesn't include my favorite shows.

I think that with YouTUBE looking at Live broadcasts, we may see their partner, CNN offer a stream and perhaps some sports becoming available there as well. From there, its a short leap to :apple:TV since Google and Apple share such a close connection.

In short, :apple:TV is almost there, but not quite ready for the mainstream.
*
wow you have literally explained it all, point by point of what I've gone through since canceling cable, and just going with ATV...best move I ever made

some tips

try to see if you can hook your computer to your tv...that is how I have it set up, this way you can watch whatever is on the internet on your tv...you have to go to hulu.com...they have tons of free tv shows, and current ones...that site is absolutely a must...you can also check out cbs's and nbc's websites, they now post current episodes of their shows...so you can watch the fall episodes without a problem

video podcast is the BEST...still can't believe it's free...to be honest with you I thought I would be watching less tv with out cable...but I actually watch more..it's weird...I found a site, that lets me watch PPV boxing fights for 2.99, for my girl I found a bollywood site that provides all free indian movies...it's crazy! there is just so much stuff on the internet

great post...*uck cable!:D

[ipedro]

^ Good to see a couple of :apple:TV die hard fans like me.

To be honest, it was most difficult in the beginning as I was so used to turning the TV on in the morning and leaving it on all day (I work from home). It was a friend that was always there. Once I disconnected, there was an eery silence.
The allure of cable (how easily I forgot about the crappy reality tv programming) was ever present and it took some serious resolve to stay with :apple:TV.

Analyzing what's on TV on any given day, you'd likely come up with a high percentage of re-runs, say 70% and then maybe 15% live tv such as news and sports and then only 5% of new content.

With those figures in mind, it's the 70% that you should be targeting to get on your :apple:TV to reproduce the experience of cable/satellite.

By building a large library of shows that you enjoy watching over and over – in my case, reruns of Seinfeld and Friends – and then mixing in some new content from video Podcasts and a small few season's passes to your favorite current shows, you got yourself your very own network, playing only what you like.

I already have access to a great morning show – NBC's Today – via podcast, albeit late in the day (heck, I wake up late every morning anyway!). Then I can get my fix of an ever growing collection of classic rerun shows, podcasts and YouTUBE videos for the middle of the day. Anderson Cooper and Larry King podcasts complete the late day. All I need is a good talkshow such as Conan O'Brien to top off the night.

With regards to Hulu and some of the networks' sites, their availability is limited to the USA. IP's from other countries are blocked. :(

Nonetheless, it's still early in this experience and I'm optimistic that :apple:TV will eventually leave the title of "hobby" behind as Apple's plans come together and :apple:TV's part in the grand plan comes up.

[Scarpad]

When I picked up an :apple:TV last year, I felt that for the first time, I had found a replacement to TV. I based that on the presumption that my TV habits could be replicated by :apple:TV and indeed add to them via my richly populated and relevant (based on star ratings) music collection. I would also be able to enjoy and showcase my photo collection to visitors.

With regards to TV, I was becoming increasingly frustrated with the nature of "news". It was difficult to flip channels without watching serious networks chattering about celebrity's lives. The current invasion of Reality TV completed the reasoning that $100 per month for cable was so not worth it. Britney, Paris and Brangelina and Tila Tequila, Bret Michaels and Flavor Flav had taken over the airwaves and I had had enough.

I sat down and reviewed what TV I was watching. My TV was left dialed into CNN most of the time with shows such as Anderson Cooper and Larry King amongst the few that could get me to sit down and actually watch intently.

Flipping through channels, reruns of Seinfeld and Friends had me put down the remote. Current programming that I watched was limited to Journeyman (cancelled :( ), Heroes and the various incarnations of CSI.

I found that I could easily replace all of the above with :apple:TV. Anderson Cooper has a daily podcast (the video quality and update schedule have recently been improved) and Larry King's best is also available via a CNN podcast.

Curiously, it was the podcast component of :apple:TV that has become the main source of programming for me. I've turned away from the major networks and discovered Revision3 and ON Networks' amateur, yet professionally produced programs. Diggnation, the DIGG Reel, Play Value and more are available in HD and for free.

There have unfortunately been downsides to cutting cable and adopting an exclusive :apple:TV relationship. The most notable has been the loss of connection with the news and programming of my city. By not watching local programming, I'm feeling disconnected from the outside world. I also noticed that sense of disconnect accompanied by loneliness, something that I hadn't felt with the "always on" aspect of cable tv as background noise.

The lack of live tv is another shortcoming, one that has become very pronounced with the Olympics going on now. Luckily, my Sharp Aquos has a digital receiver and I've been able to pick up the local CBC which broadcasts the Olympic programming in HD over the air. This is literally the first time in months that I changed the Input Source from :apple:TV to TV.

Surprisingly, I would have expected there to be an Olympic recap show offered by CBC in the iTunes store. Even more incomprehensible is that video podcasts for the Olympics are non existant also.

I live in Canada and the Canadian iTunes store's anemic offerings hasn't helped my cause to live without cable. I'm still waiting for the Daily Show to offer a season's pass similar to the US iTunes store. Currently, Canadians have to buy each show individually for $1.99.
Night shows like Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno and Letterman were also high on my wish list but so far, no luck.

With the Fall Season fast approaching, I'm praying for NBC to reconcile with Apple and offer Heroes and Conan O'Brien.

My girlfriend has been staying over quite frequently lately and she's noticed the lack of her regular programming as well.

So as I sit here, strongly considering reconnecting cable, another side of me is holding out for Fall upgrades to the iTunes Canada store.

What I'm hoping for:

- Family Guy
- Conan O'Brien w/ Multi Pass $9.99
- The Daily Show w/ Multi Pass $9.99
- Heroes
- CSI
- 24

In the meantime, I'm going to populate my :apple:TV with the Seinfeld and Friends reruns that I can't get enough of.

I'm going to try to address the lack of local connection by finding an online local radio source for that "background noise" replacement now that :apple:TV officially supports radio streams.

I'm also going to convert my DVD collection to an :apple:TV/iPhone format so that I can enjoy it (I haven't had a DVD player for years).

:apple:TV hasn't been a total disappointment though. I've truly rediscovered my music now that I have easy access to it from the couch. My photo collection also fills the screen as my :apple:TV's screensaver. I'm also spending many entertaining hours with YouTUBE and amateur podcasts.

I feel that the :apple:TV has huge potential to replace cable. For the time being, I've needed to make an effort because the current bottleneck of iTunes Canada's slim offerings doesn't include my favorite shows.

I think that with YouTUBE looking at Live broadcasts, we may see their partner, CNN offer a stream and perhaps some sports becoming available there as well. From there, its a short leap to :apple:TV since Google and Apple share such a close connection.

In short, :apple:TV is almost there, but not quite ready for the mainstream.

Another option that you don't have access to unless you hack the ATV is being able to access sites like Hulu or NBC.com or other networks that stream their shows. I've considered what you are doing, cause I can certainly get tv shows from other sources but I would miss watching the Red Sox, and once you watch shows in HD it's tuff to go back to SD.

[Tilpots]

Awhile back, I believe you were against some new features being added to the :apple:TV like a DVR and TV tuner. Are you still of the same mindset, or would these additions enhance your experience?

I only ask because I really want to get one and cancel cable, but the drawbacks of the current model stil seem too great...And I really like to watch live sports. My market in America wil be the first in the country to make the DTV switch in September so I will be able to get all the local stations in HD over-the-air. If the :apple:TV had a built in TV tuner and DVR, I think I might be all set. Anything I'm missing?

Thanks for the great insight.

[mikenike192]

i can really see myself doing this in the future, just really think about out of the 100+ channel people have now how many of those channels do actually watch, I mean I know I only watch about 10 channels example: espn, comedy central, discovery, MHD, and all the local stations, ABC CBS NBC and others. But really after 2009 all your local stations will be broadcasted free in digital so you can just get an antenna to get your fix of local news and shows like the office,24 etc. So really the rest of that is on itunes so could easily save alot of money and then you could even use the money you save to build an awesome HTPC.

[ipedro]

Awhile back, I believe you were against some new features being added to the :apple:TV like a DVR and TV tuner. Are you still of the same mindset, or would these additions enhance your experience?

I only ask because I really want to get one and cancel cable, but the drawbacks of the current model stil seem too great...And I really like to watch live sports. My market in America wil be the first in the country to make the DTV switch in September so I will be able to get all the local stations in HD over-the-air. If the :apple:TV had a built in TV tuner and DVR, I think I might be all set. Anything I'm missing?

Thanks for the great insight.

Hi Tilpots. I still defend the fact that :apple:TV shouldn't (and likely won't) get a TV Tuner and DVR. That goes against the concept of paying only for the programming that you watch, rather than being fed a bunch of programming that you don't and sifting through it to find something you like.

I like the idea of iTunes offering individual programs that you can buy and I hope that it develops into something ubiquitous. The networks are gradually coming on board, as are individual producers who won't need to deal with the networks and can sell their shows directly on iTunes.

I think Apple has it figured out but while they had the element of surprise with the music industry and built the best and most popular model, this time around, some people – including the networks – know what to expect and don't want to fall into the position of being weak in negotiations with Apple. NBC is trying their best to deal with others while avoiding Apple, even going so far as to offer their programming for free.

I think this is going to drag on like HD-DVD and BluRay but eventually there will be a standard and the :apple:TV model will likely become the de-facto way of watching television in the near future.

[bacaramac]

I was enchanced cable free prior to getting ATV. I had the free basic cable that Cox in my area was offering with High Speed Internet, but they have recently changed that and started charging 21.95.

Since the only channel I will miss that I cannot get over the air is discovery, I will continue to survive cable free for now. ATV is a blessing for the myself, the kids and wife. Has already paid for itself over and over throughout the last year.

[Tilpots]

Hi Tilpots. I still defend the fact that :apple:TV shouldn't (and likely won't) get a TV Tuner and DVR. That goes against the concept of paying only for the programming that you watch, rather than being fed a bunch of programming that you don't and sifting through it to find something you like.

I like the idea of iTunes offering individual programs that you can buy and I hope that it develops into something ubiquitous. The networks are gradually coming on board, as are individual producers who won't need to deal with the networks and can sell their shows directly on iTunes.

I think Apple has it figured out but while they had the element of surprise with the music industry and built the best and most popular model, this time around, some people – including the networks – know what to expect and don't want to fall into the position of being weak in negotiations with Apple. NBC is trying their best to deal with others while avoiding Apple, even going so far as to offer their programming for free.

I think this is going to drag on like HD-DVD and BluRay but eventually there will be a standard and the :apple:TV model will likely become the de-facto way of watching television in the near future.

Thanks iPedro. I think I'm still gonna hold out for the "wishlist items", but if it doesn't happen by Christmas, I'll be at a crossroads. Yourself and several others members give great arguments for going cableless.

Curious here, what do you do with all the movies/TV shows you buy? After a year, surely your HDD is filling up. Will you just delete the shows you bought, try to resell them (don't even know if this is possible or legal) or find some way to store them indefinitely? For instance, my music collection keeps getting bigger, and I'll never delete any of it, but I usually only watch a TV show once and have never even thought about archiving shows. Even with my DVR at home, as soon as I watch, I delete. How do you manage your growing library?

[bacaramac]

Thanks iPedro. I think I'm still gonna hold out for the "wishlist items", but if it doesn't happen by Christmas, I'll be at a crossroads. Yourself and several others members give great arguments for going cableless.

Curious here, what do you do with all the movies/TV shows you buy? After a year, surely your HDD is filling up. Will you just delete the shows you bought, try to resell them (don't even know if this is possible or legal) or find some way to store them indefinitely? For instance, my music collection keeps getting bigger, and I'll never delete any of it, but I usually only watch a TV show once and have never even thought about archiving shows. Even with my DVR at home, as soon as I watch, I delete. How do you manage your growing library?

Delete? Sell? More storage is more like it :D Bigger is better:D

[gcmexico]

Awhile back, I believe you were against some new features being added to the :apple:TV like a DVR and TV tuner. Are you still of the same mindset, or would these additions enhance your experience?

I only ask because I really want to get one and cancel cable, but the drawbacks of the current model stil seem too great...And I really like to watch live sports. My market in America wil be the first in the country to make the DTV switch in September so I will be able to get all the local stations in HD over-the-air. If the :apple:TV had a built in TV tuner and DVR, I think I might be all set. Anything I'm missing?

Thanks for the great insight.
*
to make the ATV perfect...it must have a tv tuner card and safari!

at first I was not up for safari on atv, but I've changed my mind... just going to hulu.com on the ATV, would be AWESOME!!!

[kugino]

i, too, have experimented with the aTV by being cable-less since january. it fulfills 90% of our (my wife and me) watching needs but there are some things that i just can't get even with podcasts and the itunes store. over-the-air HD is nice so watching network tv content isn't a problem. but as a big sports fan, i miss espn. and my wife misses various cable shows on the learning channel and other stations that do not make their content available to itunes.

a tv tuner would be nice but not entirely necessary. like others have said, though, i really would like safari on the aTV. i subscribe to the mlb season pass so i can watch live games...but it requires a web browser (and flash/silverlight)...hulu would be very nice on the aTV...and, depending on where you live, one can even watch live sports via espn360. but this also requires web access. more so than a tuner, a browser would be my first choice for an added aTV feature. though it still wouldn't reach the 100% fulfillment mark, it would get very close.

[iJED DV]

Thanks iPedro. I think I'm still gonna hold out for the "wishlist items", but if it doesn't happen by Christmas, I'll be at a crossroads. Yourself and several others members give great arguments for going cableless.

Curious here, what do you do with all the movies/TV shows you buy? After a year, surely your HDD is filling up. Will you just delete the shows you bought, try to resell them (don't even know if this is possible or legal) or find some way to store them indefinitely? For instance, my music collection keeps getting bigger, and I'll never delete any of it, but I usually only watch a TV show once and have never even thought about archiving shows. Even with my DVR at home, as soon as I watch, I delete. How do you manage your growing library?

Tilpots, there's a HUGE thread about storage solutions already. You can get some ideas from it: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=502415

[Tilpots]

Tilpots, there's a HUGE thread about storage solutions already. You can get some ideas from it: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=502415

Thanks for the link iJED DV. Some informative info.

I guess what I was really trying to get at though is: Do people planning on keeping all their TV shows indefinitely? I love TV, please don't get me wrong. I watch hours and hours everyday, I make commercials at a TV station for a living and have been in the film and TV business for a decade. But usually, once I watch a TV show, I'm done with it. Movies are different, granted, I've got some in my collection I've seen way to many times.

So, iPedro and the rest of you brave cableless souls, what is the shelf life of a TV show in your collection, how big is your library after one year, and how many times do you watch a given show?

bacaramac Quote:

Delete? Sell? More storage is more like it Bigger is better

Haha! That's what she said! bacaramac, does Discovery offer anything you can view with the :apple:TV? It's one of my favorite channels, too.

[ipedro]

I don't delete the shows that I buy. The growing TV show library contributes to the experience that I pointed out above: as your library grows, eventually you have your own TV station with only the shows that you like. You can play your own re-runs, rather than watching the ones on network TV.

Opposite to you, I watch TV shows more than once while movies often are watched just one time. I haven't been buying many movies. I mostly rent them. Only the real classics that I know I'll want to watch over and over get purchased.

[macworkerbee]

I REALLY want to ditch my cable (full of the worst brain rotting crap known to man half of the time) but I love live sports way too much to do it. I envy your freedom from the cable bill.

[TheSpaz]

Cable TV is starting to feel like (for me at least) FM radio. TV is just full of commercials and crap you don't want. On the AppleTV, it's more like my iPod. I get to have everything that I want and not what someone else decides what I want. I don't listen to FM radio EVER and I doubt I ever will again ever since I got my iPod a few years back. I know what I like and I know how to find it... so therefore a constant stream of stuff (hoping that something's on that you like) seems counter-productive to me.... and then I end up watching something that I don't like just because there's nothing better on.

[ViViDboarder]

I'm thinking about a Mac Mini instead. Then I'd just use a similar interface and can get any flash based video up there too :D

Could even put together smart playlists that last 24 hours and make my own "chanels" haha

[ipedro]

^ Well, you wouldn't get the privilege of using a "similar interface" at all. The :apple:TV UI has been upgraded significantly since Front Row was launched.

Of course, most of what :apple:TV can do, can be done through iTunes on a Mac Mini but you'd lose the convenience of a couch friendly UI. If you're ok with using a keyboard and mouse from your couch, the Mac Mini will serve you well.

[ViViDboarder]

^ Well, you wouldn't get the privilege of using a "similar interface" at all. The :apple:TV UI has been upgraded significantly since Front Row was launched.

Of course, most of what :apple:TV can do, can be done through iTunes on a Mac Mini but you'd lose the convenience of a couch friendly UI. If you're ok with using a keyboard and mouse from your couch, the Mac Mini will serve you well.

With Leopard there is a pretty nice FrontRow adition and there's not Plex or something like that (Originally XBMC for mac). My other thought was getting an :apple:TV because it's cheaper and then installing full Leopard. It could then still run Backrow (:apple:TV interface)

[BOSS10L]

Thank you for the very informative thread, iPedro! My wife and I recently considered canning DirecTV and going with just local basic cable for $12 a month. In reality, while we do watch a lot of TV, most of it is can be termed as "boredom" watching. I've been hesitant because I don't want to give up Discovery HD, Science HD and most importantly, NFL Network HD and the NFL Sunday Ticket HD (my favorite team is over 1,500 miles away).

That being said, overall, I don't feel we get our money's worth with DirecTV. I guess another part of me is hoping that by forcing our hand, we might actually watch less TV. Regardless, the thought of being able to have all of our movies available digitally over the network (and thus having discs rarely handled again by my wife or kids - my biggest reason), is reason enough for me to get an :apple:TV.

I just wish the cable companies would realize that something along the lines of the :apple:TV paired with a la carte programming is the wave of the future. I know they have issues because they want to keep that advertisement revenue pouring in, but don't they realize that (at least for us), most serious TV watching is done via DVR, and a lot just fast-forward through the commercials anyway?

[ingenious]

It seems to me that maybe [apple]tv needs a few more opportunities on the iTunes Store to become fully viable, hence the complaints about lack of live or local programming.

I've often thought that cable or satellite providers should team up with Apple to allow customers to download shows off of channels they subscribe to for a reduced price, or even freely, if some sort of revenue-sharing deal could be worked out. It would make iTunes into a sort of "virtual DVR," and would probably satisfy those calling for a DVR to be added to [apple]tv.

Partnering with those same providers, or with individual channels, to provide a streaming (or stream-to-download) service would fully eliminate those complaints.

As for the networks, I don't know. It's so crazy that NBC is still in a pricing dispute with Apple. I mean, seriously, their content is available for free in HD over the air! It'd be nice for them to follow the same model as above, but I don't see that happening. Ever. :rolleyes:

[imacdaddy]

Its funny to read some saying they feel lonely and disconnected from the outside world without their cable/satellite. It just shows us how much people rely on watching or even just hearing the television in the background as part of our everyday lives and how much time is wasted sitting on the couch and watching crappy programs.

Its good to give your mind a rest without the audio/visual distractions from TV and find your inner peace. If you feel disconnected from the outside world, just read the newspaper or read your local online news.

[gcmexico]

I think the original poster is just pointing out to the fact of how addicted we are to TV, not that he's lonely...he's absolutely right when you get rid of tv, it just feels different, it's weird how tv is so embedded into our mind frame and culture...I mean before I got rid of cable I was reading newspapers, that's how I stay informed...but once I got rid of the cable and knew it was gone, I was like WO something is totally different...but I'm so glad I did

[ipedro]

^ Absolutely. I would compare it to living with your kids all your life and all of a sudden they go away to college and the house is quiet.

"Always on" TV is just something that's there. It creates an atmosphere. It gives the impression that there's somebody else in your home. The person on TV is "talking directly to you", so it's no surprise that when that's gone, something just seems really off.

Regardless, I can say that I no longer feel that sense of something missing. I've become used to listening to music on :apple:TV around the clock instead.

I do, however still feel disconnected from my local reality to an extent. Despite reading the local newspaper, I'm missing some locally produced shows that aren't available on iTunes/podcasts.

With regards to live broadcasts, I think we'll get there eventually. :apple:TV is a broadband internet device, the technology is there, Apple just needs to make the deals, secure the broadcast rights and implement it.

They could sell a different type of TV show in the iTunes Store: a live TV show. You could, for example buy a live baseball game for $1.99. When the show is about to come on, your :apple:TV would display a message with a countdown where you can opt to watch the show immediately or play it when you're ready in a "delayed live" mode.

[Indohottie]

wow.. i never even thought of this.. rather then paying for cable just purchase what I want to watch and use the apple TV to display it... pretty slick idea...

[godslabrat]

I don't see myself ever giving up cable, but I can't help but try to play devil's advocate. So, a few questions:

1) Certain members of the household enjoy shows such as "The Biggest Loser" and "America's Got Talent". These shows are not (AFAIK) on iTunes, and aren't offered on DVD as they have very little replay value. Is there a workaround for this if I don't get cable? An antenna is not an option for me.

2) For those who gave up cable, did you give up basic, basic+digital, or the whole mega-movies-sports-porno-plus package?

[gcmexico]

I don't see myself ever giving up cable, but I can't help but try to play devil's advocate. So, a few questions:

1) Certain members of the household enjoy shows such as "The Biggest Loser" and "America's Got Talent". These shows are not (AFAIK) on iTunes, and aren't offered on DVD as they have very little replay value. Is there a workaround for this if I don't get cable? An antenna is not an option for me.

2) For those who gave up cable, did you give up basic, basic+digital, or the whole mega-movies-sports-porno-plus package?
*
regarding shows that aren't on itunes, you have to search the net to see if they are posted anywhere to watch...hulu.com is a great site...best bet is to go to the shows website, most channels today show the current episode on the web, nbc has episodes of the office, heroes, etc...

I gave up the whole thing!!

but I must say...my set up is different, I have the ATV and my computer hooked up to my flat screen TV on the wall...I have my TV basically as a second display monitor...I have safari, skype and ichat opened on that screen so I do video calls from my TV, have a web cam set up under the TV, and surf safari for tv shows...I love my set up (wish I had a bigger tv though!)...I don't know if I would be able to give up cable if I had to sit in front of my computer to watch shows online

That's why I'm now for ATV to come with safari and a tv tuner...just for local channels

[rjg001]

I'm seriously considering dumping DirecTV in the fall and going with an OTA HD antenna and AppleTV. I love DirecTV - had it for years and no serious complaints at all. I love the HD channels. But there is just so much crap on and I just don't feel I watch enough of the good stuff for what I'm paying (or that there even is enough good stuff).

Only problem will be my Cardinals baseball games. Most are on Fox Sports Midwest. It will be very hard to let go of those.

[Keebler]

^ Good to see a couple of :apple:TV die hard fans like me.

To be honest, it was most difficult in the beginning as I was so used to turning the TV on in the morning and leaving it on all day (I work from home). It was a friend that was always there. Once I disconnected, there was an eery silence.
The allure of cable (how easily I forgot about the crappy reality tv programming) was ever present and it took some serious resolve to stay with :apple:TV.

Analyzing what's on TV on any given day, you'd likely come up with a high percentage of re-runs, say 70% and then maybe 15% live tv such as news and sports and then only 5% of new content.

With those figures in mind, it's the 70% that you should be targeting to get on your :apple:TV to reproduce the experience of cable/satellite.

By building a large library of shows that you enjoy watching over and over – in my case, reruns of Seinfeld and Friends – and then mixing in some new content from video Podcasts and a small few season's passes to your favorite current shows, you got yourself your very own network, playing only what you like.

I already have access to a great morning show – NBC's Today – via podcast, albeit late in the day (heck, I wake up late every morning anyway!). Then I can get my fix of an ever growing collection of classic rerun shows, podcasts and YouTUBE videos for the middle of the day. Anderson Cooper and Larry King podcasts complete the late day. All I need is a good talkshow such as Conan O'Brien to top off the night.

With regards to Hulu and some of the networks' sites, their availability is limited to the USA. IP's from other countries are blocked. :(

Nonetheless, it's still early in this experience and I'm optimistic that :apple:TV will eventually leave the title of "hobby" behind as Apple's plans come together and :apple:TV's part in the grand plan comes up.

pedro, sidereel.com is another site for watching tv shows that I watch all the time here in the great white north. :) works well. I watched the entire first 2 seasons of dexter on it. (I had missed quite a few episodes)

[Superman07]

For those that have done this, how many of your are using torrents to get HD content? If so, I feel like this is cheating and actually defeats the purpose.

As I've said in other threads, I'll echo comments by those that would like to see access to Hulu and network HD feeds (e.g. ABC).

[gcmexico]

For those that have done this, how many of your are using torrents to get HD content? If so, I feel like this is cheating and actually defeats the purpose.

As I've said in other threads, I'll echo comments by those that would like to see access to Hulu and network HD feeds (e.g. ABC).
*
don't use torrents here...just hulu, network sites, and itunes

[mikenike192]

well torrents can be a great source for content if you know what you are doing for instinse i have a program called TVSHOWS which automatically downloads new episodes of shows in a quality of your choosing when they become available which is usually 2 hours after air time. Then I have an automator script that automatically converts it to h.264 apple tv format in visual hub then from there its only a matter of tagging it when I wake up which isnt necessary but i just like it then I have new episodes for the next day.

Since downloading a TV show torrent is still IMO nothing worse than recording a show on your DVR or even on VHS and not watching commercials

[belunos]

I've seen some hints here that some people assume the DTV switchover = automatic HD, and that's not the case. If you have a local that is standard definition when the switchover happens, it will still be standard definition. The DTV switchover is about how the channels are broadcast, not their resolution.

Regarding the subject of the thread, I'm not even close to giving up my precious directv. I kind of assumed that most people that use ATV were already users of a DVR of some flavor, but it honestly doesn't sound that way. I know there's crap on tv, but I haven't watched any of it since I got my first Series II Tivo. I watch a lot of shows spread over a lot of channels, and it's a breeze to just set up series links and let my DVR handle the filtering of all the other garbage on TV.

Just my $.02

[gcmexico]

well torrents can be a great source for content if you know what you are doing for instinse i have a program called TVSHOWS which automatically downloads new episodes of shows in a quality of your choosing when they become available which is usually 2 hours after air time. Then I have an automator script that automatically converts it to h.264 apple tv format in visual hub then from there its only a matter of tagging it when I wake up which isnt necessary but i just like it then I have new episodes for the next day.

Since downloading a TV show torrent is still IMO nothing worse than recording a show on your DVR or even on VHS and not watching commercials
*
is torrents a site? does it have xfiles?

[Chris Rogers]

I'm thinking about doing the same thing but how do you watch live sports?

[fivepoint]

^ Absolutely. I would compare it to living with your kids all your life and all of a sudden they go away to college and the house is quiet.

"Always on" TV is just something that's there. It creates an atmosphere. It gives the impression that there's somebody else in your home. The person on TV is "talking directly to you", so it's no surprise that when that's gone, something just seems really off.

Regardless, I can say that I no longer feel that sense of something missing. I've become used to listening to music on :apple:TV around the clock instead.

I do, however still feel disconnected from my local reality to an extent. Despite reading the local newspaper, I'm missing some locally produced shows that aren't available on iTunes/podcasts.

With regards to live broadcasts, I think we'll get there eventually. :apple:TV is a broadband internet device, the technology is there, Apple just needs to make the deals, secure the broadcast rights and implement it.

They could sell a different type of TV show in the iTunes Store: a live TV show. You could, for example buy a live baseball game for $1.99. When the show is about to come on, your :apple:TV would display a message with a countdown where you can opt to watch the show immediately or play it when you're ready in a "delayed live" mode.

I don't see myself ever giving up cable, but I can't help but try to play devil's advocate. So, a few questions:

1) Certain members of the household enjoy shows such as "The Biggest Loser" and "America's Got Talent". These shows are not (AFAIK) on iTunes, and aren't offered on DVD as they have very little replay value. Is there a workaround for this if I don't get cable? An antenna is not an option for me.

2) For those who gave up cable, did you give up basic, basic+digital, or the whole mega-movies-sports-porno-plus package?

I DO NOT understand how antennas receiving OTA transmissions could not be an option for you guys. They are like $15, the size of a small picture frame, and you can leave them inside of your console. Are you thinking of the huge old-fashioned metal ones that go on top of the roof?

There ARE alternatives. I get over 10 HD stations (not to mention SD) over my local FREE OTA. I get this through a $15 rabbit-ear type antenna.

[fivepoint]

I've seen some hints here that some people assume the DTV switchover = automatic HD, and that's not the case. If you have a local that is standard definition when the switchover happens, it will still be standard definition. The DTV switchover is about how the channels are broadcast, not their resolution.

Regarding the subject of the thread, I'm not even close to giving up my precious directv. I kind of assumed that most people that use ATV were already users of a DVR of some flavor, but it honestly doesn't sound that way. I know there's crap on tv, but I haven't watched any of it since I got my first Series II Tivo. I watch a lot of shows spread over a lot of channels, and it's a breeze to just set up series links and let my DVR handle the filtering of all the other garbage on TV.

Just my $.02

Here is what I did:

My wife and I made a list of every single show we watch. We both ended up with a list of about 10 shows.
Of those 20 shows, we subtracted the ones that were available via local stations (can still get that content via OTA Antenna) which was about half.
Of the 10 remaining shows, we subtracted the ones that were available via AppleTV, which was about half again.
So, out of the 20 shows we "watch" there were about 5 that we couldn't get through AppleTV or OTA.


Unfortunately, those 5 shows were some biggies. And even though we could probably find a way to get those over the web, we decided to let the technology mature a little before we took the jump. When we do (I'm guessing a year or two) (or maybe tomorrow depending on Apple's announcements) I think we'll save quite a bit of money. We spend about $70/month now... which adds up to be around $800 per year. That is a decent amount of cash!

Here's to hoping Apple gets additional content... and soon.

[Chris Rogers]

for those that have "made the switch" how soon is an episode available from iTunes?
Let's say a new episode of Heroes airs tonight how soon would I be able to get it?
Not free, correct? What about reality shows like So You Think You Can Dance?

The way my gf have been doing it for the past few years is taping everything when it airs and just watch when we feel like it.

Is there a solution for sporting events? I gotta have HD sporting events and Sports Center daily.

I'm guessing I can go with a combo of regular TV and ATV (I store things on my PC and connect via HDMI to my HDTV) but ideally I'd like to have everything in the same place if you know what I mean.

I'd love to save $100/mo (Internet plus HD Cable - no premium) but only if I don't have to do so much work with different systems.

[badmac78]

I recently made the switch also (in another post)

I got tired of recording a show and having the signal so bad that the recorded show is messed up. Also for the # of shows I watch I felt like I could get them online (legally) or through ATV. The only one is Foodnetwork where we watch all the shows.

I applaud anyone who decides to "kill their TV" if you will and make a conscious effort to be deliberate about what they pay for vs. what they watch.

[ozarkchoir]

I did the Mac Mini hooked up to the living room tv thing. Got the Apple TV in our bedroom. We are still not satellite free yet...but getting closer. (I'm hoping within the year)...

But right now it's the sports. Football is a necessity in our house...the whole high def thing has made sports amazing. Not sure I can get rid of that.

However for movies, and most of our TV shows we do everything through the computer set up and I love it. I took some serious time to rip all of our movies in the household, and most of our TV Shows (it just takes forever). But still paying $50 a month for satellite just for sports is a bit much.

Here's to hoping that eventually I'll be free from the chain of Dish Network.

But now I'm getting back to Monday Night Football ESPNHD... it's hard to beat. :-)

[FightTheFuture]

thought i would chime in on this conversation - i've been unemployed since June and killed the digital basic cable but kept the cable modem. i am picking up tiny freelance jobs here and there so high speed is important to keep.

not only did i kill cable, but i stopped TiVo as well - so it's a double whammy for me. there was a recent survey that most people couldn't live without their DVR - i was a TiVo fiend. but cutting the cable has definitely added perspective. i don't own an :apple:TV but i do have a 23" cinema display :) like you mentioned before, CNN has free podcasts - but so does MSNBC, which is probably not in your area. it also forces you to search for other content. G4 also has a podcast for most of their shows and i've been exploring podcasts in things i'm interested in, self improvement, lowering your carbon footprint, etc. etc.

as for the tv, well i have a big dvd library, close to 400 discs. it's rather nice going back and watching them again. i knew there was a reason i bought all those seasons of Lost! if you need a diversion from when your eyes start watering from working at photoshop too long, fire up the ps3 and terrorize liberty city.

as for hockey season? well, what better way to help me beat my introversion than to force myself to walk across the street and watch the wings pound on the leafs at the sports pub. maybe it'll help me get over being a shut in.

i guess i'm saying that i see where your coming from and every time i see a new picture posted on a blog of a wheatpaste that banksy put up in front of a CCTV camera, a little part of me feels that i've separated myself from the marketing barrage.

[thechris.prince]

I wanted to drop in my thoughts for those of you thinking about ditching cable. I hate hate hate Comcast just on basic principal. Nashville, it's all we got.

It's a little weird at first, but adjustment to selecting what you want when you want happens fairly quick. The amount of amazing Podcast content really makes up for the junk that's being pumped into our houses. I NEVER watched a podcast before, but now I'm addicted to quite a few. Moblogic is outstanding. I've ended up looking forward to daily updates to podcasts over a new episode of a show once a week. Well, minus a few exceptions of course. There are things to miss for sure. Sports are difficult to come by, but I hit up a local pub and enjoy the atmosphere anyways.

HD movie rentals look pretty good. I'm sure you've seen it's not Blu-ray, but much better than SD. The amount of TV shows hitting HD will grow, and NBC is back!

If you have an iPhone our Touch the Remote app is brilliant. To sum it all up, if your on the fence pick up the :apple:tv and keep the cable for a month. Really try to go a few days or weeks at a time on only the :apple:tv. Ease into it I guess. Me, I just picked an antenna for local HD programming and won't be giving Comcast any more of my money. Oh and check out appletvjunkie.com for a great resource on what's available. Those guys are a great tool for someone without a "program guide."

Hope that helps!

[ipedro]

... So my girlfriend moved in and I got to observe a complete "digital distribution virgin" discover :apple:tv.

At first I didn't tell her that she could watch HD Over-the-Air live TV by hitting the Input button because I wanted her to make the effort to understand the :apple:tv concept. She didn't quite figure out how you could watch any show you want, at any time and that it comes out cheaper to just pay for your favorite shows, rather than full cable but with a little bit of explanation she got it.

I showed her my previous cable bills and we calculated that per year, I was spending $1500 on cable TV!! :O That works out to 750 episodes of TV shows on iTunes! I doubt I'd watch that much TV. But if I kept my same cable budget available for iTunes purchases, that would allow me to buy 2 shows per every single day of the year. Not bad.

Now the problem became apparent when she realized she couldn't watch her favorite shows. We're in Canada and the iTunes store here is quite bare with regards to TV shows.

I created a clandestine US iTunes account and I was just amazed at all the available content. I was like a kid in a candy shop! If I'm able to live without cable with just podcasts and bit torrent downloaded shows, Americans have it easy!

I browsed through all the shows by network and added those that I liked to my favorites. What resulted was a screen with a nice wide selection of only the shows that I like (and my girlfriend's too). At any point when I feel like watching TV, I go to my TV favorites screen and pick one. There's always something on :D

[badmac78]

So I posted on a different thread, but I'll give updates here.

I was paying $140/month (model + HD cable)
now just cable modem = $60
I have a mini arriving tomorrow that will be the iTunes hub that will have an eyeTV attached to pull in TV (OTA) and move it to iTunes (yay!)

so if I say I'm saving 480 thats 24 complete seasons of shows (for the year)assuming that each show-season is $40 . . (80 x12) / 40.

We also have netflix (3 movies at a time $19.95/mo)
I have the entire series of Torchwood, Dexter, etc on the list so that I get to watch when I want.

Neilson is going to have to some up with a new way to get ratings info to the networks . . .

FYI - I have a feeling that I will be selling all of my dvd's on craig's list or ebay once I complete the conversion. If anyone is interested I can provide a listing.

[ipedro]

My (over a) year long experiment continues and I'm very pleased with the selection of TV shows on the US iTunes store. I got a $100 iTunes card and I'm using it for when I just want to sit down and watch TV without thinking too much.

I also went ahead with my original plan of picking up an EyeTV which makes recording shows available in HD free OTA and then transferring them to :apple:tv very easy and convenient.

The problem is that I have a MacBook Pro and it won't always be connected to the EyeTV. I'll also run out of HDD space soon (I installed a 320GB in the MBP). I'm thinking of getting a Mac Mini for the purpose of running as an entertainment hub for all my media (movies, tv, music, photos) which would feed my MacBook Pro and :apple:tv.

Knowing that the a Mac Mini upgrade is either immanent or it'll be scrapped, I'm finding it hard to buy a new one. For the purpose that I'll be using it, I really don't need anything powerful. The EyeTV 250 Plus that I got has on board video processing.

What do you guys think of me picking up a G4 box? Either a Mac Mini or an iMac?

[badmac78]

Get the mini . . .

My mini is installing all the udpates as we speak.

I have a macbook and came to the same conclusion that I would not be able to keep the eyetv attached to the laptop. The only concern I have now with turning the mini into a media server is that I sync my iphone to the laptop.

I am concerned that I won't be able to sync my phone as I have in the past moving the iTunes library file over to the mini. Can the laptop and the mini share the same library file? Can they share the same Library and have different library files?

[Alfie]

I started weaning myself from cable tv tonight. I gave up my dvr supplied by the cable company, and with that I said goodbye to HBO and some HD channels. I still have traditional non-hd cable.

I was watching all that stuff and recording things so rarely, I decided to try life without it. I will be saving about $260/year. With that money I plan to buy season passes to Heroes, Smallville, and Supernatural, three shows that I really try to watch each week. Even after buying those shows, I am still over $100 ahead, and now have the added benefit of watching the shows on both tv's in my house (two apple tv's), or my computer, or my ipods. I'm not stuck to the tv that has the dvr hooked to it.

I don't think I'll regret the move at all.

[ipedro]

Good for you! :)

The :apple:tv is proving to be very valuable in this shift away from cable.

I was initially regretting having bought the EyeTV after discovering all the amazing content on the iTunes US store. It is in fact convenient and pretty affordable to buy only the shows that I watch so the EyeTV was seeming redundant and unnecessary.

After playing with it for a couple of days, I'm finding a good use for it that fits within the system as a complement to iTunes. The EyeTV records the shows that I watch only if I get a chance to – casual TV watching – while the US iTunes card that I bought will be for tv series with high production value that I plan on watching over and over.

In short, if I'm reluctant to pay for a show on iTunes, I'll schedule it to record on EyeTV instead and have it in my list on my :apple:tv for moments when I sit down and just want to watch something without giving it all my attention.

Here's what I'm watching now, and which system I'm getting it from:

EyeTV:
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Letterman
Local newscast
SNL
Family Guy
Seinfeld
Friends

iTunes:
Heroes
Smallville
Knight Rider
Grey's Anatomy
24

[BrianDavid0523]

I just cancelled my cable service yesterday.

I'm using AppleTV, EyeTV and NetFlix. So far I'm impressed with the EyeTV - however, I need to hone-in the reception issues I'm having which has everything to do with the HD antenna I'm using.

One thing that was most surprising to me is, my "over the air" reception of HD was a much better picture than the HD from my cable provider!

[JeepGuy]

I have been Cable free for 15 years now, I was relying on movie rentals and downloaded content. I can't stand Regular TV at all, the few times that I have watched it in hotels or my brother's place, it just reaffirms that I made the right decision, there is just to many commercials, that otherwise ruin perfectly good shows. Many of my friends have also gone the cable-less route, and in fact it's a growing tread.

It's also amazing how much more free time you have for other things.

[badmac78]

As I get ready to buy an EyeTV - what would be a good HD Antenna to buy?

[Superman07]

While I agree that OTA tends to be better than cable/sat, I'd suggest the following quality issues:

Netflix - stream now is clearly not better than HD (or dvd). If you wait for dvd, you're waiting a long time. Also, if it's streaming there is no surround.

You can't access Hulu and network sites from the ATV. Even if you can you're losing surround sound.

EyeTV does not support encoding of 5.1, so you're losing surround sound (or am I wrong on this one)?

iTunes HD encondes are probably on part with regular cable/sat, but certainly not HD feeds.

Maybe I'm being picky, but I just don't feel like the level of quality I expect is there from other sources, even if they are available through the ATV. Especially in half of these instance where you take 5.1 out of the equation. To me, that's half of what the experience is about!

[LouisBlack]

I think in the US I can really see the :apple:TV being a genuine replacement for cable TV. I was over in the states in June and trying to watch anything on TV was really annoying due to their being an ad break every few minutes. Add to that the fact that the US has a really comprehensive selection of TV shows and Movies (for much cheaper than the UK and Canada) on the iTunes Store and you end up with a great reason to cancel cable and buy what you want to watch on the :apple:TV.

In the UK (and I'm sure it's the same in many other non US countries) this option is less desirable due to a worse (although getting much better) selection of TV shows. An easy solution to this in the UK would be BBC iPlayer functionality.

[Tilpots]

As I get ready to buy an EyeTV - what would be a good HD Antenna to buy?

There's no such thing as an HD antenna. It's either UHF, VHF or both. I'd check with the local stations in your area to see what digital channels they're broadcasting on and make sure they plan to stay on after February's switch. Some stations broadcasting on UHF now will revert to VHF after the switch. The station will let you know for sure. Most, but not all, will be on the UHF spectrum. Depending on how far away you are from each station's broadcast tower will determine the size and height you need for the antenna.

[fivepoint]

I think this website will prove to be uniquely relevant to our conversation:
http://www.cancelcable.com/

[cantthinkofone]

All of these apple symbols are making me sick.....

Can there be a limited number of times that icon can be used per post? Like....2.

[phas3]

question about apple tv, for season like THe Office i know that they just started season five how fast do they get the new episodes in once it shows on TV?

[FightTheFuture]

how fast do they get the new episodes in once it shows on TV?usually it comes up overnight. you would think it would be immediately after it airs - even stretching it by PST...

[Sijmen]

I don't understand how you people put up with US cable television in the first place.

Every time I watch an American show on television here, every few minutes the host announces the next commercial (like "we'll be right back"). Luckily, here most of them are skipped and there's just the outro and intro of the program and no ads. But if there would have been commercials as every such break I would give up watching TV instantly.

You must be getting more commercials than content, for SO much money each month!

And if you leave the TV on all day with so much advertising, doesn't it drive you crazy to no end? Especially since TV ads tend to be quite loud.

[badmac78]

so I'm not the only one who notices that the commercials are so much louder than the show. It's extremely annoying.


I'm wondering if there should be a completely separate topic about going "cable-less" on macrumors. Since it's a combination of ATV other software/hardware. I'm very interested in understanding others setups

[Bwa]

Netflix - stream now is clearly not better than HD (or dvd). If you wait for dvd, you're waiting a long time. Also, if it's streaming there is no surround.


I just put together a cheap (~$600, but I splurged and got a $230 Lian Li HTPC case) HTPC with Vista for NetFlix & Hulu.

The NetFlix streaming looks better to me than upscaled DVDs on my Samsung player and my 55" Sony (720p TV, though). I am really really happy with the video quality. Hulu is noticeably pixelated, but for stuff like Jon Stewart, I don't care. It's fine for the price.

I've never paid for cable TV, never has been worth it for me. (I do have cable internet.)

[pagansoul]

I've been without cable (Comcast) for over a year. I do have High Speed Internet in my house and get all my TV viewing on my MacPro via either Hulu or directly from the channels, ABC/NBC/CBS/FOX. What I miss most has always been the Sci-Fi Channel, BBC and Home & Garden. I'm about half way through ripping my favorite TV series from DVD and watch them on my aTV but lately been thinking about hooking up a mini because I'm one of those people who love to play music with Visualization. I don't do any purchasing off itunes because I prefer owning my movies and stream my ripped DVDs which is my main use for aTV.

[fkntotalkaos]

*
regarding shows that aren't on itunes, you have to search the net to see if they are posted anywhere to watch...hulu.com is a great site...best bet is to go to the shows website, most channels today show the current episode on the web, nbc has episodes of the office, heroes, etc...

I gave up the whole thing!!

but I must say...my set up is different, I have the ATV and my computer hooked up to my flat screen TV on the wall...I have my TV basically as a second display monitor...I have safari, skype and ichat opened on that screen so I do video calls from my TV, have a web cam set up under the TV, and surf safari for tv shows...I love my set up (wish I had a bigger tv though!)...I don't know if I would be able to give up cable if I had to sit in front of my computer to watch shows online

That's why I'm now for ATV to come with safari and a tv tuner...just for local channels

Why can't ESPN Sports center be a podcast or something to Download in HDTV format, or any format for that matter. Imagine being able down load to apple TV to watch in the AM as you take a shower or take with you on an iphone to watch on the sub, train, or commute. The damn thing replays over and over again every hour for 6 hours.
https://www.mynewsatellite.tv/?n=az&aff=29464&nsrc=az2&click_hash=2117Kzzb

[fkntotalkaos]

I'm thinking about doing the same thing but how do you watch live sports?

http://broadband.espn.go.com/espn360/index_nonaff