AT&T to Offer Internet TV on Apple TV?

wyatt23 · May 31, 2007, 02:50 PM

I just swung over to engadget and on the front page was this like about AT&T and Apple partnering for possible IPTV!

w00000t!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/31/a...le-tv-in-2008/

MacRumors · 04:17 PM

Engadget claims that AT&T is working on plans to offer IPTV (Internet Protocol TV) through the Apple TV:

Quote:

A well-connected source tells us that AT&T and Apple are working on adding IPTV capabilities to the Apple TV beginning sometime next year. (A launch window hasn't yet been determined, our source says that plans are still being worked out.)

Few details are available, but AT&T does offer a form of IPTV with its limited U-Verse service now. Whether this represents full TV programming through the Apple TV, or simply on-demand programming, remains unclear.

Apple did recently announce added functionality to the Apple TV, in the form of YouTube video support to be launched in June.

drewyboy · May 31, 2007, 03:58 PM

BOOOOO!!! I don't want to have to pay...Apple..let me hook up through the base computer to internet tv! or at least sell a antenna that connects through the usb port!

darwen · May 31, 2007, 04:00 PM

Didnt Steve just say yesterday that people are not buying into this technology?

wyatt23 · May 31, 2007, 04:04 PM

he said he didn't want to make a set-top box meaning a box like the ones you get from your cable provider. He didn't want all the various nuances like cablescards and [i can't remember the other technology he said]. It got complicated for them to develop. However, with something like IPTV it's all under their control.

Get the service, send it to the appletv. they already added support for youtube, i don't see how another firmware update couldn't allow for the addition of IPTV as well.

PLUS, microsoft is going to add IPTV to Xbox360 sometime in the near future, and they too will be through a firmware update.

i think apple may have more tricks up their sleeve.

Martin C · May 31, 2007, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darwen

Didnt Steve just say yesterday that people are not buying into this technology?

Well with the addition of YouTube to the

tv, it seems more likely now.

robertnq · May 31, 2007, 04:06 PM

tv needs DVR functions dammit!!!

then i will buy the damn thing...

chrisgeleven · May 31, 2007, 04:07 PM

You know, the one thing that holds me back from going the AppleTV route and ditching cable tv is the lack of live content. I can't do without sports (which in my area are all on cable-only channels) and local news.

Wouldn't it be great to subscribe to a limited number of "live" channels? Say ESPN, your local TV networks, NESN, etc.

If ABC.com can stream its shows in "HD" quality with almost no buffering over a cable internet connection, then there is no reason why this can't be done with AppleTV.

bayportbob · May 31, 2007, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darwen

Didnt Steve just say yesterday that people are not buying into this technology?

i thought that uverse tv needed a decoder box between the network connection and your tube which also includes a hd for tivo like functionality. why would att let an appleTV decode their proprietary packets?

dunno?

bayport

G4scott · May 31, 2007, 04:07 PM

Anything I can do to ditch my cable provider would be awesome...

slffl · May 31, 2007, 04:12 PM

I still don't get the IPTV concept. Won't we need a lot faster connections than current DSL and Cable speeds offer?

atszyman · May 31, 2007, 04:13 PM

If they're going to offer TV over the net, why not try to partner with Joost as well?

dashiel · May 31, 2007, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisgeleven

You know, the one thing that holds me back from going the AppleTV route and ditching cable tv is the lack of live content. I can't do without sports (which in my area are all on cable-only channels) and local news.

Wouldn't it be great to subscribe to a limited number of "live" channels? Say ESPN, your local TV networks, NESN, etc.

If ABC.com can stream its shows in "HD" quality with almost no buffering over a cable internet connection, then there is no reason why this can't be done with AppleTV.

i too would love sports, but sports really need to be live, and that deals with encoding. i don't know that h.264 can be encoded properly in time to broadcast live just yet.

Ha ze · May 31, 2007, 04:16 PM

This would be awesome, much better then YouTube

danielwsmithee · May 31, 2007, 04:16 PM

If you ask me there are only two things stopping the

TV from taking off. The first is the lack of HD content. When you can buy HD Movies and TV shows off iTunes that will be huge. The second is how to handle live TV, this could solve the second scenario.

I prefer not having a recorder in the Apple TV, go buy an Elgato device for your Mac and your good to go as far as that is concerned.

danielwsmithee · May 31, 2007, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dashiel

i too would love sports, but sports really need to be live, and that deals with encoding. i don't know that h.264 can be encoded properly in time to broadcast live just yet.

Yes it can, just not by a typical computer. It would not be that difficult to create a dedicated FPGA or ASIC to perform live encodes of H.264.

wyatt23 · May 31, 2007, 04:21 PM

DVR, while pretty awesome, isn't the killer feature. live tv is. though, i do have xbox, so when that comes out, i will absolutely buy iptv. though, i'm a fanboy and anti-MS, so i'd rather go with the "just works" mentality over the "we'll spend any amount of money to get your money" mentality.

with that said, i still love my 360.

~Shard~ · May 31, 2007, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slffl

I still don't get the IPTV concept. Won't we need a lot faster connections than current DSL and Cable speeds offer?

Nope. I work for the Service Provider here and we've been running our IPTV service for 5 years now - we were the first in Canada and one of the first in North America to launch our service - we were also the first company in the world to deliver HD over copper over a completely IP-based network (no ATM).

So it is completely possible and feasible - many providers are now taking our lead and developing similar services.

ADSL 2+ technology is adequate enough to offer HD over copper and this fall we're implementing VDSL2 with dual access into the home over 800m loop lengths to deliver 40 Mbps to the customer - plenty of bandwidth for a couple HD sets, other TVs and your High Speed connection. You do require at least ADSL 2+ for HD though - prior to that we were driving 8 Mbps to the home for basic TV and High Speed via ADSL and 1.5 km loop lengths.

In short, IPTV is great and it works!

droz · May 31, 2007, 04:25 PM

are you seriously quoting an engadget rumor again? come on!!! Engadget is a total joke. I wouldn't read any truth into anything they say anymore.

wyatt23 · May 31, 2007, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~Shard~

Nope. I work for the Service Provider here and we've been running our IPTV service for 5 years now - we were the first in Canada and one of the first in North America to launch our service - we were also the first company in the world to deliver HD over copper over a completely IP-based network (no ATM).

So it is completely possible and feasible - many providers are now taking our lead and developing similar services.

ADSL 2+ technology is adequate enough to offer HD over copper and this fall we're implementing VDSL2 with dual access into the home over 800m loop lengths to deliver 40 Mbps to the customer - plenty of bandwidth for a couple HD sets, other TVs and your High Speed connection. You do require at least ADSL 2+ for HD though - prior to that we were driving 8 Mbps to the home for basic TV and High Speed via ADSL and 1.5 km loop lengths.

In short, IPTV is great and it works!

what kind of box do you need with your service? do you know any of the inner workings of the device, and connections? i.e. ethernet in -> composite-, s-video-, dvi-, out

~Shard~ · May 31, 2007, 04:26 PM

I've said it in other threads, but I wonder if Apple will explore other options as well such as Joost....

alec · May 31, 2007, 04:29 PM

Wow, perfection addition for the iTV. But I'm not trusting engadget, or any other blog for that matter, until they prove to do something right.

~Shard~ · May 31, 2007, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyatt23

what kind of box do you need with your service? do you know any of the inner workings of the device, and connections? i.e. ethernet in -> composite-, s-video-, dvi-, out

We provide our customers with Motorola VIP boxes currently (non-PVR, but that will change this summer) with component, composite and HDMI connections. Yes, it is Ethernet in. CAT5 is required for the 10/100 network although in our new developments as well as fibre we're starting to run CAT7 as well - it only make sense.

milhous · May 31, 2007, 04:30 PM

Great news.

There's also AT&T Broadband TV that's offered through MobiTV despite it's limited channel lineup. I gave it a shot back when it first launched because I don't have cable and wanted to be able to watch live news. I canceled it a day later.

bdj21ya · May 31, 2007, 04:32 PM

Sounds exciting to me. I'd love to cut my cable bill if someone could offer a reasonable replacement.

May 31, 2007, 02:50 PM	#1
wyatt23 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ronkonkoma, NY	Apple to add IPTV to AppleTV I just swung over to engadget and on the front page was this like about AT&T and Apple partnering for possible IPTV! w00000t! http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/31/a...le-tv-in-2008/ __________________ al macbook 320gb 4gb ram imac g4 1.25 80gbhd 1.25gbram w/ 500gbexthd

May 31, 2007, 03:58 PM	#3
drewyboy macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2005	BOOOOO!!! I don't want to have to pay...Apple..let me hook up through the base computer to internet tv! or at least sell a antenna that connects through the usb port! __________________ iBook G4 1.33Ghz Macbook 1.8 Ghz - Wife's MacPro - hackintosh '09 Mac mini You will forever be remembered Multimedia

May 31, 2007, 04:00 PM	#4
darwen macrumors 6502a Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: California, US	Didnt Steve just say yesterday that people are not buying into this technology? __________________ Darwen

May 31, 2007, 04:04 PM	#5
wyatt23 Thread Starter macrumors 6502a Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ronkonkoma, NY	he said he didn't want to make a set-top box meaning a box like the ones you get from your cable provider. He didn't want all the various nuances like cablescards and [i can't remember the other technology he said]. It got complicated for them to develop. However, with something like IPTV it's all under their control. Get the service, send it to the appletv. they already added support for youtube, i don't see how another firmware update couldn't allow for the addition of IPTV as well. PLUS, microsoft is going to add IPTV to Xbox360 sometime in the near future, and they too will be through a firmware update. i think apple may have more tricks up their sleeve. __________________ al macbook 320gb 4gb ram imac g4 1.25 80gbhd 1.25gbram w/ 500gbexthd

May 31, 2007, 04:06 PM	#7
robertnq macrumors newbie Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: San Francisco	Dvr!!! tv needs DVR functions dammit!!! then i will buy the damn thing...

May 31, 2007, 04:07 PM	#8
chrisgeleven macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manchester, NH	You know, the one thing that holds me back from going the AppleTV route and ditching cable tv is the lack of live content. I can't do without sports (which in my area are all on cable-only channels) and local news. Wouldn't it be great to subscribe to a limited number of "live" channels? Say ESPN, your local TV networks, NESN, etc. If ABC.com can stream its shows in "HD" quality with almost no buffering over a cable internet connection, then there is no reason why this can't be done with AppleTV.

May 31, 2007, 04:07 PM	#10
G4scott macrumors 68020 Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Austin, TX	Anything I can do to ditch my cable provider would be awesome... __________________ Hook 'em Horns!

May 31, 2007, 04:12 PM	#11
slffl macrumors 6502a Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Salt Lake City, UT	I still don't get the IPTV concept. Won't we need a lot faster connections than current DSL and Cable speeds offer? __________________ Why waste your time posting how much you hate Apple products?

May 31, 2007, 04:13 PM	#12
atszyman macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: The Dallas 'burbs	If they're going to offer TV over the net, why not try to partner with Joost as well? __________________ "I don't want kids who are thinking about going into mathematics to think that they have to take drugs to succeed." - Paul Erdös Every little bit helps, put your spare CPU cycles to good use, join the MacRumors Folding@Home team! Get the widget

May 31, 2007, 04:16 PM	#14
Ha ze macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2006	This would be awesome, much better then YouTube

May 31, 2007, 04:16 PM	#15
danielwsmithee macrumors 6502 Join Date: Mar 2005	If you ask me there are only two things stopping the TV from taking off. The first is the lack of HD content. When you can buy HD Movies and TV shows off iTunes that will be huge. The second is how to handle live TV, this could solve the second scenario. I prefer not having a recorder in the Apple TV, go buy an Elgato device for your Mac and your good to go as far as that is concerned.

May 31, 2007, 04:21 PM	#17
wyatt23 Thread Starter macrumors 6502a Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ronkonkoma, NY	DVR, while pretty awesome, isn't the killer feature. live tv is. though, i do have xbox, so when that comes out, i will absolutely buy iptv. though, i'm a fanboy and anti-MS, so i'd rather go with the "just works" mentality over the "we'll spend any amount of money to get your money" mentality. with that said, i still love my 360. __________________ al macbook 320gb 4gb ram imac g4 1.25 80gbhd 1.25gbram w/ 500gbexthd

May 31, 2007, 04:25 PM	#19
droz macrumors member Join Date: Apr 2007	are you seriously quoting an engadget rumor again? come on!!! Engadget is a total joke. I wouldn't read any truth into anything they say anymore. __________________ MacBook Pro 15", 2.33GHz Core 2 Duo, 2GB RAM, 120GB HD iBook 12" Airport Extreme Base Station Cinema Display 30"

May 31, 2007, 04:26 PM	#21
~Shard~ macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: 1123.6536.5321	I've said it in other threads, but I wonder if Apple will explore other options as well such as Joost.... __________________ My riches consist not in the extent of my possessions, but in the fewness of my wants. - J. Brotherton

May 31, 2007, 04:29 PM	#22
alec macrumors regular Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Washington DC	Wow, perfection addition for the iTV. But I'm not trusting engadget, or any other blog for that matter, until they prove to do something right. __________________ Help Me Work In Burma: Do Your Holiday Shopping On Amazon!

May 31, 2007, 04:30 PM	#24
milhous macrumors newbie Join Date: May 2007	Great news. There's also AT&T Broadband TV that's offered through MobiTV despite it's limited channel lineup. I gave it a shot back when it first launched because I don't have cable and wanted to be able to watch live news. I canceled it a day later.

May 31, 2007, 04:32 PM	#25
bdj21ya macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2006	Sounds exciting to me. I'd love to cut my cable bill if someone could offer a reasonable replacement.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode