Apple Announces MacBook Air Shipping, Apple TV Update Delayed

[roland.g]

Well they never should've said 'in just two weeks' if they weren't sure it was going to be two weeks. I'd say 'one or two weeks' probably means the latter (ie. another two week wait at least). It really is disappointing for customers who bought the product with the initial two week quote in mind.

It's not the end of the world and it's just tough luck to those who did purchase it, but it's hardly something Apple wants to be getting a reputation for, particularly with new customers and an already shaky product.

BTW, it is already a great product not a shaky one. As an tv owner since April last year, we use ours all the time. My wife loves watching photos on it while listening to music as well as movies and YouTube and trailers, etc. So the rentals are delayed and you just bought yours. Big deal. You should have waited till the software was available then. Or use it now and like it now.

 

[2A Batterie]

Why is everyone so grumpy about the Apple TV delay? Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it a free update??? I'd rather have something that is free delivered as a quality product in four weeks as opposed to a buggy version in two weeks.

 

[UberDuper]

1. At least they are waiting until it's right, instead of giving in to fanboy pressure and releasing a half-a$$ed patch.

You weren't thinking Leopard as you typed this? I was thinking it as I read it. Not even 3 months have gone by since it's release and sp2 is eminent. I dunno about your experience with Leopard, but mine has been terribad. If 10.5.2 doesn't resolve the stability problems I'm headed back to Tiger.

So many Apple fans are completely blinded by their lust for Apple co^H^H products. Apple can, does, and will continue to do wrong by their customers. They will continue to make promises they can't, wont, or never intended to keep because they know they can count on their fans to make their excuses for them.

UD.

 

[roland.g]

I'm not bitching or complaining, I just wish it'd be here already. It'd be nice is all. And like, I said, I hope that they can get their deadlines back on track. Seems like they've been off ever since the iPhone. I'm sure that they'll get back on track, but I just didn't see it taking this long.

It's a lose lose sitch. If they announce at MWSF and say February then everybody complains that it will be the end of the month and that it is taking forever. If they announce and say 2 weeks or so, then in 13.99999 days everybody is chomping at the bit, where is it already. But they have to use something major like MWSF to announce it.

 

[milo]

Yeah, and what besides watching rented movies, and okay this flickr thing, can't you do with an AppleTV and a PC or Mac now?

5.1 surround? People ripping their dvds are waiting on this release (along with an update to Handbrake).

I downloaded it because I wanted to see how long it'd take on my connection. Surprisingly not very long.

And you couldn't just wait and find that out when the new software shipped? You chose to rent time-limited content knowing that you wouldn't be able to watch it for at least half of the time limit. It just doesn't seem very smart to rent that early for no good reason.

 

[timothyjay2004]

It's a lose lose sitch. If they announce at MWSF and say February then everybody complains that it will be the end of the month and that it is taking forever. If they announce and say 2 weeks or so, then in 13.99999 days everybody is chomping at the bit, where is it already. But they have to use something major like MWSF to announce it.

I totally agree. There wasn't a better time to announce it than at MacWorld. And I agree that if they had said it'd be out in about a month people would be saying "wtf?". I guess that there are us who get excited and want it sooner than later. In complete honesty, I'd rather wait and have it be the best it can be, have it be a solid build. Than to have it crash or freeze or not work properly. It is a great product and I enjoy using it.

 

[sanford]

I'm not bitching or complaining, I just wish it'd be here already. It'd be nice is all. And like, I said, I hope that they can get their deadlines back on track. Seems like they've been off ever since the iPhone. I'm sure that they'll get back on track, but I just didn't see it taking this long.

This is like an illusion. How long have you used Macs? They used to announce products, say they'd be available next month, then it would be like three months before you could get one, minimum.

Leopard was delayed and so noted way in advance.
The iPhone 1.1.2 update everybody acted like it was delayed, but Jobs said "this month" and it was that month, just like the last couple days of that month.
Which other delay did you mention? Anyway two weeks announced delay for the ATV update is like some kind of miracle. They used to say "by the end of the month", and then that would come, no update, then the end of the next month, no update, and you'd be like, End of *which* month exactly?

 

[bommai]

Yeah, and what besides watching rented movies, and okay this flickr thing, can't you do with an AppleTV and a PC or Mac now? I mean, I know the interface may get a lot spiffier, and purchasing music/movies from the sofa and listening/watching right away without buying on a computer and then syncing will be nice. But you can pretty much do everything now, save watch rentals and the flickr thing, and the latter is kind of just candy, really.

I've had my ATV since the month they were released and I still can't figure out why so many people think they are so lacking even as they were first released. I have a Blu-ray player, so stepped-on downloadable HD content doesn't much impress me, as what I've seen via other HD downloads really looks no better than standard up-converted DVDs and little better than standard iTunes movies that my HDTV upscales with its own video processing unit. Yeah, 5.1 discrete channel digital audio support for movies will be nice, I'll give you that -- but you know most Apple TV owners are using composite audio connections, so that won't matter; they'll have to go optical or use a *real* HDMI A/V receiver -- about $1,000 for openers; the $500 models are just HDMI pass-through; they're HDMI *switches*, they don't strip and process the digital audio.

Anyway, I look forward to the update. But I've had no ATV qualms at all. It's just like any other home media-sharing device, except not so freaking complicated and it doesn't tend to stop working or "forget" its source for no reason.

While I broadly agree with your assessment, there are two factual errors.

1) "Composite cables" is not the term used for audio. Just say RCA stereo audio cables. For people using AppleTV to HDTV using HDMI, they don't need anything but HDMI cable. Still only stereo though.

2) HDMI audio processing receivers are pretty cheap now a days. About $400. Check for Sony 910, Onkyo 605, H/K 247, Yamaha 661, etc. These are low end receivers but they process multi channel audio through HDMI including PCM 5.1 (some 7.1). I prefer the H/K sound (I own a H/K 745).

 

[compuguy1088]

As a developer myself... I can tell you it ain't features. No chance, no way, no how.

I bet you anything that what happened is that they were in the final test run against the code the week of MWSF. During that run they found a 'ship-stopper' bug, one that you cannot ship the device with (something that makes the software difficult to use, crashes, etc). Once they find such a bug, they have to put off shipping, scramble to fix it, and run the final tests all over again. It takes about 1-2 weeks for something like the Apple TV in terms of complexity, and dependant on if they find any new bugs they missed in the last pass.

Now, this doesn't mean they will find every bug, or that a nasty one won't slip through unfound... but usually the developers stop shipment of an update/etc if a big one is found, even right before sending it out the door.

Agreed. It sounds like a show-stopper bug has delayed it to me as well.

 

[christopher3071]

This isn't new

Just like apple delayed Leopard's release to get the iPhone out on schedule I'm sure apple is putting more resources to get the newest update to Leopard for the Macbook Air support before people actually get their Macbook Airs or at least soon after. What good is being promised to borrow a disc drive from another computer when the OS doesn't support it yet? I'm sure apple is more worried about getting this done than making their update to appleTV. I realize at the same time that appleTV will also be very high on the priority list bringing in considerably large revenues as well but I think the issue at hand is the Leopard update first.

that's just my two cents.

 

[sanford]

5.1 surround? People ripping their dvds are waiting on this release (along with an update to Handbrake).

Milo, like real my full post, then point out what I missed.

"Yeah, 5.1 discrete channel digital audio support for movies will be nice, I'll give you that..."

Now, you do have an optical or *real* HDMI connection to a proper 5.1 A/V receiver, right? Cause if you're using composite to anything, or HDMI to your HDTV, or HDMI to one of these pass-through receivers, you'll be enjoying a lovely ProLogic II simulation, pretty much as you are now.

 

[gotohamish]

HDTV was a gift. Laptop was graduation present 3 years ago. Apple TV was a present to myself, and I work hard for my money. So, yes, $4 is a lot to a college student. Thank you for your interest into my life.

Nice answer.

 

[timothyjay2004]

And you couldn't just wait and find that out when the new software shipped? You chose to rent time-limited content knowing that you wouldn't be able to watch it for at least half of the time limit. It just doesn't seem very smart to rent that early for no good reason.

Thing is, we can all watch it anytime we want to, which was another reason I wanted to see how well it'd download. I anticipated that I'd be able to enjoy it on a larger screen. That's how I'd LIKE to view it. If it doesn't happen that way, I'll be a little disappointed. But I can still watch it on my laptop. I guess upset is the wrong word. Disappointed is more appropriate.

 

[pcorajr]

Hopefully this means that the 10.5.2 is coming out soon since the Air is shipping? Don't the update bring support for Remote Disc drive?

 

[pyramid6]

For some of us there is missing functionality in software that we use. Others there are bugs that prevent the use of features/software. Yeah, we're grumping and yes we complain. We're freakin' customers. Why shouldn't we complain. Yes, we vote stuff down. A delay no matter how valid is a negative.

The only thing that pisses me off about Apple, is the lack of communication. I would rather have bad news, than no news. So announcing the delay is actually good for Apple.

P6

 

[pyramid6]

Hopefully this means that the 10.5.2 is coming out soon since the Air is shipping? Don't the update bring support for Remote Disc drive?

Question has already been asked and answered. No, it doesn't need it.

P6

 

[KingPumpkin]

Well, I am kind of upset about the delay. I bought the TV the new price point 2 weeks ago. I also rented a movie the next day in anticipation of being able to watch it on my HD TV yesterday. I have about 2 weeks left to watch it and I sure as hell hope that they release the update before the rental expires. I'll be upset if I have to watch it on a small screen verses my HD TV. I am a little disappointed that they haven't been meeting announced deadlines lately. Leopard, AppleTV update, and there is something else I am missing but I can't remember what. I hope that this isn't what the future holds for them. I don't want them to end up like M$ and keep pushing back more and more projects and release dates. I really hope that this update comes by this time next week...

I was under the impression that if you rented a movie on your computer that you would not be able to move it to the Apple TV. I thought the only way to get a movie rental on the Apple TV was via the Apple TV interface. I could be wrong, though.

 

[UberDuper]

Milo, like real my full post, then point out what I missed.

"Yeah, 5.1 discrete channel digital audio support for movies will be nice, I'll give you that..."

Now, you do have an optical or *real* HDMI connection to a proper 5.1 A/V receiver, right? Cause if you're using composite to anything, or HDMI to your HDTV, or HDMI to one of these pass-through receivers, you'll be enjoying a lovely ProLogic II simulation, pretty much as you are now.

I think those of us that care about this are hoping the AppleTV will realtime convert to ac3 just like the 360 does. The AppleTV does currently realtime convert to DPLII. If Apple switches containers on us so they can include an ac3 stream in rentals... well that will suck.
Does anyone not have a dolby digital receiver these days?

UD.

 

[milo]

Just like apple delayed Leopard's release to get the iPhone out on schedule I'm sure apple is putting more resources to get the newest update to Leopard for the Macbook Air support before people actually get their Macbook Airs or at least soon after. What good is being promised to borrow a disc drive from another computer when the OS doesn't support it yet?

You don't need 10.5.2 to share optical drives, the MBA comes with an install disk with that driver (mac and PC). And the two products have completely different teams working on them, it would make no sense to try and steal resources (other than just testers), especially for only a couple weeks.

 

[MacAddict1978]

i was under the impression that the MBAs needed 10.5.2 with air disc or whatever it's called... does this mean that apple is going to release 10.5.2 today?

MBA has its own software for its various functions, as do pretty much other models of MACS.

I think this is just wishful thinking on everyone's part.

The MBA is also the only Mac that will have the functionality of booting from another computers optical drive. I think people are confusing that with Airport Disk Mode that we all hoped to see in 10.5.2. (and rumored not be there.)

Still.... I hope it launches today!

 

[milo]

Now, you do have an optical or *real* HDMI connection to a proper 5.1 A/V receiver, right?

Yes, optical. And it does sound damn good.

As I said, not only is the 5.1 thing an issue for watching movies, it's making people wait on ripping their movies (and the developers of handbrake and other ripping apps). Not only is the feature not available yet, but people can't analyze how it works and format content for it.

I was under the impression that if you rented a movie on your computer that you would not be able to move it to the Apple TV. I thought the only way to get a movie rental on the Apple TV was via the Apple TV interface. I could be wrong, though.

You can go from computer to aTV, just not the other way around. I bet a major reason is because they'll be selling movies via aTV that have an ac3 track for the surround sound.

 

[AppleMojo]

If the update was so crucial to your use of a new aTV, why didn't you just wait until the update was out before buying the hardware?

I agree with you; all of the whiners in here in total amount to not much... but they sure can make it seem like there are a lot more of them than there really is. The loud minority...

It was pretty silly to throw down cash on a PR presentation comment about an update being available in a few weeks. Then, not take responsibility and blame Apple.

Then again, I am really not that surprised.

However, there are some who did buy it after the keynote, that aren't whining and are waiting patiently for the update.

 

[Vorst]

I feeling a bit like a fool answer on this thread but I do it anyway.
If seems that some people loosing complete the reality of what is acceptable. If somebody tells me I had to wait 1 years to get this promised solution had fully accept but if somebody cries that he had to wait another 2 weeks and lost 4$ dollars because of it!!!! You can say whatever you want on a forum and I'm the first one to keep it that way but I feel this is way over the edge in my mind.
Who is buying a red iPod to help the people who really need it? Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa.
These guys most probably have to wait way longer to get some help from our sticky rich countries and they will accepted those delays with a smile.

 

[christopher3071]

You don't need 10.5.2 to share optical drives, the MBA comes with an install disk with that driver (mac and PC). And the two products have completely different teams working on them, it would make no sense to try and steal resources (other than just testers), especially for only a couple weeks.

I wasn't aware it shipped with a driver disk. My mistake.

 

[twoodcc]

wow. another delay? come on apple. you know we don't like delays.

at least the Air is shipping. in stores friday?