40 GB Apple TV Shipping Date Slips, Leads to Speculation of Updates Next Week

[adbe]

Uh, except you don't? Maybe I'm reading your post wrong, but you don't need a PC or Mac to use AppleTV. I use mine all the time without a computer on... and I haven't opened iTunes in weeks. But I use ATV almost everyday.

No, you're just missing my earlier posts in this thread.

If you have a library that is too big for one ATV, or if you have multiple iTunes clients (PCs/Macs, ATVs, AirPort Expresses) then you need a centralized repository. Unfortunately Apple so far have required that repository to be a full fat computer.

To put it another way, sure the ATV can store a (small) library of music and video, but without a running Mac, what use is an AirPort Express? You can stream to the Express from the ATV of course, but that's the problem: the ATV is not up to the job of being a server.

A Mac Mini is overkill. A slightly beefier AEBS that can run a stripped down iTunes as a server would be ideal. It'd be a few hundred bucks cheaper than a Mini, use less power than a Mini, and would bring its own wireless access point.

It wouldn't do anything you can't currently do with your Mac, but it'd:

a) allow you to turn the Mac off.
b) allow you to take the Mac out of the house (laptop).
c) allow you mac to do whatever it is it's supposed to be doing without having to find IO bandwidth, and CPU cycles to power media terminals around your house.

 

[ChadJK]

I really want to like Apple TV...

 

[itsmenyc]

I've been holding out for an Apple TV revision for ages!

Same here! (along with the 30" monitor)

 

[brendanspah764]

YES! I really want an TV but our family TV is still a fullscreen! I hope to persuade my parents to get a goodsized widescreen, but my sister in college is taking all the money from us!

I would like to see the TV get more love so I can get them to buy it when they get a TV soon...

 

[fpnc]

I suspect that all we will see next week is a bump in the HD sizes. After all, a 40GB hard drive is probably getting pretty difficult to find today (i.e. manufacturers probably aren't making many 40GB drives and it might even be cheaper for Apple to use a higher capacity drive rather than special order something that is only 40GB).

Of course, it would be nice to get a feature-enhanced release of the Apple TV software next week but I'm not going to hold my breath on that one.

 

[bbydon]

I've hated apple for the apple tv since i bought one. Its great and all....but its the one product that just screams potential and is left unfulfilled over and over again. They have the itunes eco system, they just need to use it.

 

[igazza]

i wouldnt buy apple tv even if it come with a 40TB HDD

 

[jaw04005]

Not really.
The should enable an iPod touch or iPhone or ... as an remote.
Already have it for iTunes.

They already have. In fact, it's the same application (Apple Remote for iPhone/iPod touch). It works on both iTunes and the Apple TV. The Apple TV portion of the app actually uses gestures to navigate the screen.

http://www.apple.com/itunes/remote/

 

[Porco]

First, that could mean a few things. Second, I said nothing about a price drop. I said it needs to stay the same or become lower. And for the record, I despise the new design; the pre-slim is still the best (BTW, I think I got the best model: 80 GB, 4 USB, PS2 compatibility, card reader.)

Contrary to what others say, I think games would be crappy and not worth it. What's the controller? Your remote? Not unless you're doing Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy. What games are you going to get? IMO, the only good game platforms are Windows and the three major game consoles.

I just meant the PS3 seemed to fit your list. That's all. Maybe the price thing confused the issue.

The PS3 is why I have no interest in the AppleTV. It does everything I'd want the AppleTV to do already, and plenty more, for a similar (and in my view much better value) price. But it sounds like you already have a PS3 so I dunno what we're disagreeing about if anything (I even agree the slim is ugly in comparison to the original too)!

 

[Flynnstone]

They already have. In fact, it's the same application (Apple Remote for iPhone/iPod touch). It works on both iTunes and the Apple TV. The Apple TV portion of the app actually uses gestures to navigate the screen.

http://www.apple.com/itunes/remote/

Cool.

I don't have an AppleTV.
My favorite app on my iPhone is Apple Remote. Nothing like sitting in the backyard having a beer(s) and listening to tunes. All controlled by my iPhone.

 

[Shake 'n' Bake]

I just meant the PS3 seemed to fit your list. That's all. Maybe the price thing confused the issue.

Yes it does. The price thing did throw me off. The only thing I like more about the PS3 slim is the new Dolby stuff and Bravia Sync. Although, I prefer purpose-built systems, i.e. a Blu-Ray player for BDs, not a game console doing double duty (But the PS3 is one of the best BD players out there, and is priced pretty reasonably).

 

[Tampa Tom]

Here's what I want from Apple

A lot of people are posting their wants, like this:

What I want:

Here's what I want:

1. I want my MTV
2. Money for nothing.
3. And my chicks for free

 

[jettredmont]

I don't know why people care about the size of ATV. Just stream it! WIth wireless 'N' it shouldn't be a problem. Even with 'G'. I hope they aren't focusing on raising the storage. That would be a rip-off and waste of time.

Hmm. Some of us would rather have a little ATV sitting on under our TV sipping 30W of power than have the G5 server guzzling 250W 24/7.

Streaming may be great for some, but I'd never buy a set-top box which required my main music/movie server to be on all day every day to serve it.

 

[jettredmont]

Streaming is great (I like Hulu) but I love my EyeTV DVR too. High-definition that beats typical streaming quality, no ads (because easily skipped), no delay in keeping up with my favorite shows, no use of my bandwidth if I happen to be downloading or something... and... the programming is free! (Rabbit ears. I get about a dozen stations. Which isn't like cable... but cable doesn't have nearly enough quality programming to be worth the cost. Online streaming still doesn't offer everything either. So streaming plus DVR is a nice combination.)

True, but the downsides for DVR are significant too:

1. Many people don't get a dozen digital stations where they live. I happen to get exactly one reliably, two if I'm willing to live with the likelihood that the signal will cut out at random times. I live within 20 miles of a major urban area (Sacramento, CA).
2. You have to know what you want to watch before it is on, and deal with only being able to stream one show at a time (unless they give us two tuners, but even then...)

Overall, neither is the best solution, alone. Having both streaming and DVR would be nice. IMHO, though, I'd get a lot more use out of a streaming solution than the DVR solution, and the DVR solution would add a hell of a lot more to the cost of the device than the streaming solution.

 

[netdoc66]

I'd like to see ATV evolve the following features within the current architecture

1. Activation of the USB port for external storage.

2. The creation of on the fly playlist that play uninterrupted.

3. Social widget integration, maybe an "Apps" store with apps that can create a pseudo DVR experience. perhaps live streaming of news outlets. I'd kill cable tomorrow.

4. Ability to rate movies to feed a movie genius.

5. Network passes, or all you can eat rental ala netflix roku styled delivery.

6. Better interface, the current one is BLACK like the vacuum of space and I can't even see the stars :*(

Apple's got to kill the Big Brother thing. It's not a good look when Mircro$hard is in the process of getting their act together. ::finger crossed::

 

[trip1ex]

Hard drives have become alot cheaper so Apple will bump the 40gb model up to 80-160gb. Top model will go up to 320gb (maybe 250gb.)

Not sure new hardware is needed unless ATV can't display a 1080p compressed file with the current hardware. Of course new chips get faster, and use less power at the same price so wouldn't be surprised if hardware is upgraded.

New hardware could also mean the ATV will play games. Seems like a no-brainer given the success of the success of games in the app store. ATV's innards could be made compatible with iPHone/touch if they aren't already. NOthing to lose for Apple. The only missing ingredient is a controller which keeps me from saying 100% that the next ATV will play games.

But the time is ripe. MS, Sony and NIntendo will find it difficult to drop retail ties. Apple doesn't have those ties when it comes to selling games. And that could be a major competitive advantage given how much cheaper digital distribution is.

ATV could use new remote too. Nothing too complicated, but a few more functions than the current remote which has next to nothing. Or make it compatible with the cheap multi-function remotes if it isn't already.

I don't think they do DVR at all. Too many compatibility hassles with set-top boxes to deal with. If they wanted to do a DVR they would just buy Tivo for the tech. And even Tivo doesn't make a box for Satellite providers any longer. NOt to mention Tivo has never made much if any money doing the DVR. Lastly your competition aka the cable and satellite companies, provide DVRs for free to their consumers. NOt a good business to get into.

 

[David29]

Wow, why does anyone still care what these Financial Analysts say?

Amazing.

Frankly any of us geeks could note the slip in the shipping times for an Apple product and come to the same conclusion.

These Analysts were the same brilliant minds that said Apple was going to fold years ago.

 

[djchuckc27]

they have to connect everything eventually ... MobileMe on TV .. somehow they'll figure it out, lol. but seriously, they have time capsule tide into the mix of the mac, iphone, and ipod touch... the "TV" is next to fall into place. (ehm, home server)

either way, i can't wait. esp for the tablet

 

[djchuckc27]

.

 

[FreeState]

they have to connect everything eventually ... MobileMe on TV .. somehow they'll figure it out, lol. but seriously, they have time capsule tide into the mix of the mac, iphone, and ipod touch... the "TV" is next to fall into place. (ehm, home server)

either way, i can't wait. esp for the tablet

There are already localized strings in the current iTunes that say:

""4309.083" = "The Apple*TV “^1” contains new voice memos. Would you like to move these voice memos to your iTunes library?";
"4309.084" = "Moving voice memos to your iTunes library…"

Not that we haven't seen meaningless strings there before...

Also parts of MobileMe is already on AppleTV (Photos).

 

[donlphi]

I'm hoping that us early adopters get the 3.0 update Free

C'mon.... how many things can you name from 2007 that you are still getting free updates for? I'm right there with you. I bought very early. I got the upgrade that changed the menu a bit. I was expecting to pay for the upgrade we got a year after purchase, so that was a bonus.

I'm just saying, don't get your hopes up too high if you already have an AppleTV.

I'm seeing a new product, something more along the lines of casual gaming system meets dvr. Probably a competitor with the Wii.

When you look at the Wii, it's is missing out on all of the great "family" interaction stuff. You can't watch a movie on it (not even a DVD). You can't really look at pictures unless you dump them on a card. No social networking.

Imagine the Wii with ATV features added to it. I think it would be a home run.

iPod Touches or iPhones could be the remote controls. Friends just bring their iPods and you have extra controllers.

 

[jaw04005]

C'mon.... how many things can you name from 2007 that you are still getting free updates for? I'm right there with you. I bought very early. I got the upgrade that changed the menu a bit. I was expecting to pay for the upgrade we got a year after purchase, so that was a bonus.

I'm just saying, don't get your hopes up too high if you already have an AppleTV.

The new 3.0 firmware will in all likelihood work on the current models. Apple specifically accounts for both the iPhone and Apple TV as subscription accounting on their financial statements for one reason --- so they can ship new firmware updates to those products. They repeated this fact over and over during their conference calls.

"Similar to iPhone, we plan to periodically provide new software features and enhancements at no charge to our Apple TV customers. We will also recognize the revenue and product cost of goods sold associated with Apple TV on a straight line basis over 24 months. This will be included in the other music-related products and services in the data summary we provide you each quarter. Additionally, we will provide you with a schedule each quarter in our earnings release that indicates the total deferred revenue, including the combined amounts related to the iPhone and Apple TV."

Peter Oppenheimer, Apple CFO, March 2007

http://seekingalpha.com/article/33539-apple-f2q07-qtr-end-3-31-07-earnings-call-transcript

What hasn't been mentioned much in this thread is the 160GB is shipping within 24 hours. It's just the 40GB that's on backorder. So, that sounds like the 160GB will become the new baseline model with a higher-end model coming.

And I'm continuously amazed at the amount of people who don't know you can use your iPhone as a remote for the Apple TV. Seriously, try it!

 

[TAPelicious.com]

It would be cool if apple adds the following to apple tv:

• Internet browsing support
• HDTV Tuner with PVR capabilities
• FULL HD content in iTunes and playable on the apple tv
• 1 TB HDD

 

[pika2000]

Apple really needs to open up Apple TV. Make it so it can play anything from anywhere, not just iTunes content. Currently, I have Mac mini + XBMC/boxee streaming videos stored on my Windows Home Server. I would love to get the Apple TV if it has better format support (avi and matroska support out of the box) and being able to stream from any networked drive.

 

[marcre]

I'm doubting there will be any significant changes to it. Only the 40gb model is experiencing the delayed shipping. You'd think if there was major changes that both would have the same ship dates.

I've been debating purchasing one of these and was holding out for a refresh, but to be honest I'm not sure I want or need one. The idea of ATV has so much potential and as it is today, it has barely scratched the surface. What it does is cool, but to me it's almost gimmicky. It's almost cooler to explain what it is to people when they come over and see it sitting there.