You can hack the AppleTV to run Hulu/Netflix, it's a pretty simple process. The current AppleTV can do everything but Applications, and more. So I think I'll be keeping mine for a while longer.
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Apple Confirms No Software Update for Original Apple TV
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You can hack the AppleTV to run Hulu/Netflix, it's a pretty simple process. The current AppleTV can do everything but Applications, and more. So I think I'll be keeping mine for a while longer.
True enough -- I did some browsing on Amazon and most titles are $1.99/$2.99 to buy for SD/HD.
I still wish the new Apple TV would let me _purchase_ a movie, stream it now, and download it to iTunes later. How hard would that have been? In fact there are already iTunes purchases I can make from iPhone, iPad or Apple TV that trigger a pending download the next time I log into the iTunes store.
It would stink to have to run to my iMac to buy something on iTunes just so I could stream it from the Apple TV which is located where I want to watch what I just purchased. Well it would not be catastrophic, but it seems a small amount of effort could make things much more convenient. Maybe I am too lazy and need the exercise anyway.
You are missing the point. If you strip away the Cocoa library (on Mac OS X ) and Cocoa Touch library ( on iOS ) there isn't much of a difference between the two. The notion that iOS is some huge complete rewrite of Mac OS X is way misguided (the actual OS not the fluff layer that end users interact with on top. Technically, that is not an OS. The Finder/Dock/Desktop are programs not an OS. ). They share the same kernel (minus a few tweaks). So if the apps on Apple TV are not leveraging the unique aspects of the Cocoa Touch library ... you won't see much of a difference if the code is a Cocoa port or a Cocoa Touch port.
I think it is a stretch to label the core "OS X" source tree that is ported to ARM always being iOS. Primarily because users very often confuse the interaction program layer with an OS.
The same issue was true when Apple TV was on Intel and whether all the Mac OS X functionality was there or not. They may use the iOS build as a starting point but that doesn't mean that was is in the Apple TV is *exactly* iOS. In order to save space they may strip off aspects that Apple TV doesn't need. One of those that is obvious is that don't need "touch" specific features. There is nothing to touch. If anything they are leveraging the keyboard and arrow key support that was ported over from Mac OS X in the first place.
Is some of iOS there. Probably so. That would ease the port of the Netflix stuff if Apple/Netflix collaborated on that functionality. Likewise there are utilities and do-dads to lift from the more general iOS market that are needed here also. However, that doesn't mean they need to port the whole thing. That would just lead to bloat.
That's your read on Gruber. I'm aligning with exactly what he said. That "iOS" is far more an implementation detail (a convenience more than a requirement.). Don't be surprised if it is not all there because they don't need it.
Jobs explicitly said in the keynote that many of the Apple TV users said they didn't want a computer (they had computers when want to use one). They just wanted to watch TV. That's it. So they made Apple TV an even more single purpose device stripping away aspects of a computer (like storage management). It is meant to watch TV with, not run apps.
Those theories are dubious. Apple TV costs $99. Apple got the costs down by stripping Apple TV down to the bone. Some iPod Shuffles used to go that price point. They have stripped out the hard drive ( so there is no large amount of extra storage). If can't afford to put hard drive how can they afford to put lots of flash memory in ( at a dramatically higher $/GB )? They can't. They probably have enough memory to run the OS, the embedded and highly tuned apps, extract/load/run upgrade packages, and cache buffer for the video streams. There isn't going to be gobs of RAM or storage space for apps to operate in. Stripped to the minimums, apps coming to Apple TV are as likely as apps coming to Airport Extreme or Time Capsule (**) . Doesn't make sense. It is a a single purpose device.
Will some hackers crack the box and put some small hack on it? Sure. Is that a viable platform application market? No.
** Will not be great surprise if later updates of AE (express at least ) and TC get A4 chips. It is at its core an ARM SoC chip. Lots of competing home routers and home NAS systems have ARM SoC in them also. It is being picked because it is a low cost , low power chip. Not because is speficially runs Apps Store apps. For Apple the A4 only gets cheaper the more they sell since they have to cover the R&D costs. So sticking them in these secondary devices and subsetting the core OS to provide web services is just a cost lowering move. The Airport Extreme might keep a 3rd party ARM implementation because there are some that intergrate the switching/routing functions onto the SoC also and that be cheaper just to buy.
I doubt it. I think you're making a point I disagree with, and you're just reiterating it and ignoring what I have to say (or simply disagreeing yourself). I don't think I'm "missing" anything.
Really. I think you have it backwards. The APIs are what unites the flavors, not what separates them.
Don't go on and on about what an OS is. Just get straight to the point. iOS. Is it better for small, embedded devices, and does it have a set of tools and interfaces specifically geared toward mobile connectivity and low-power usage chips like the A4? YES. So, why go on and on about how similar they are. iOS is better for the Apple TV. DONE! Why argue about it?
Well, Apple certainly cut down Mac OS X to put it on the Apple TV. They also have different firmware editions of iOS for each of their mobile devices. Apple TV will be no different. So, no argument there.
If you agree its iOS, then no one is arguing with you. So, don't invent a strawman.
Mm. We're talking past each other. I was discussing "streaming" apps NOT storing them locally (think Microsoft remote desktop client OR better yet, think a localized version of OnLive.com on a local area network). I completely agree that Apple isn't looking to "store" much of anything except bare essentials on the Apple TV.
I notice that you've managed to pretend we have different points somehow. To review: 1.) Apple TV is running iOS. 2.) Using iOS opens up lots of potential in mobile connectivity. 3.) Apple intends to have Apple TV "stream" content, not "store" content. 4.) If Apple TV ever supports apps, they will need to operate in a way that does not require them to be stored locally.
~ CB
Agreed. This was the situation with iPhones and iPad's for a while... now you can purchase ON the device itself and download.
~ CB
The question is though - can you purchase it and start to watch the show after only a few minutes? That's what the older Apple TV could do.
If you have to wait until the entire purchased movie or TV show downloads (on either a computer or iDevice) before you can stream it to the new Apple TV, that can take hours (depending on the file size and broadband speed.)
These are some of my questions as well. I can see where Netflix would be a significant change that Apple wouldn't want to add to the old Apple TV, but how about $0.99 TV rentals and AirPlay? My older Apple TV could stream audio via AirTunes, and I can I can rent movies on it now. Would these new additions be non-trivial?
But as I said before - at this point, I would be willing to just get a final release to squash the last bugs with no new additional features at all.
Well, Apple isn't preventing anyone from upgrading. As far as I know, all the cracks and hacks that worked yesterday to add more functionality still work today. They just aren't going to spend the money to port their new system to an old box. It sucks, but I get it. I probably wouldn't spend that money either. It's a consumer electronics box, not a computer.
It seems like Apple is hurting themselves by providing so many updates for their phones and iPods. People are starting to think they are ripped off if updates ever stop flowing. It wasn't too long ago that noone issued update after update for previous released items.
It seems like Apple is hurting themselves by providing so many updates for their phones and iPods. People are starting to think they are ripped off if updates ever stop flowing. It wasn't too long ago that noone issued update after update for previous released items.
No... I'd bet we're screwed on that count. It's interesting that this is basically a whole separate take on the same product. They ARE actually removing some features entirely and adding new ones. I'm not sure that would go over well with updaters, even if a pure Intel (old Apple tv) port were even possible.
~ CB
You don't understand. There's no actual work involved in making a piece of software run on two entirely different architectures. Steve Jobs just has to wave his magic fairy wand, knock his ruby slippers together, clap his hands three times and the software will magically work on both platforms. Obviously, the people who are complaining of Apple's corporate greed understand this simple fact.
No. It does not do what I bought it for.
I bought it after the launch. Steve said that we in europe "will be able to rent & buy movies" later. Wow awesome.
Now it is 3 years later, and I STILL cant rent or buy movies or tv series from iTunes. So,basically,we got pissed upon royally be stevie.
Now,I wonder where I should send myTV and claim my money back?
What´s stevies address in cupertino?
Let me make sure I understand this: you knew that this product didn't do what you wanted it to do, yet you bought it anyway. Is that what you are trying to say?
I am moving my old Apple TV to the bedroom and the new Apple TV is for my living room. Problem solved!
I am moving my old Apple TV to the bedroom and the new Apple TV is for my living room. Problem solved!
Kool-aid is good. Whatever Apple does, just send more money to Cupertino.
Next September, new Apple TV, another $199 transfer to Cupertino.
Life is good....
The new atv in my opinion is good for a household that does not have a movie rental device ie SKY VIRGIN etc. But the idea to stream your movies to your atv is just stupid why have two devices running to do what the current atv can do now? i have to get out say my mac switch it on plug in the charger cover up the infrared port to stop apple remote controlling both! to watch a movie? NO NO NO i spent 6 months ripping over 500 of my movies they now sit on a 2TB external hard drive connected to my atv i can instantly watch them at a click of a button!
How's this for an idea
1, enable the usb port in the original ATV for external storage
2, enable the micro usb port on the new ATV for external storage
simples
and for those reasons i'm out!
How's this for an idea
1, enable the usb port in the original ATV for external storage
2, enable the micro usb port on the new ATV for external storage
simples
and for those reasons i'm out!
You can pair or block the remote control with your Apple TV or Mac so it doesn't control the wrong device.
It's in System Preferences/Security/General on the Mac and Settings/General/Remotes on the Apple TV.
Easily done with the old Apple TV.
You can pair or block the remote control with your Apple TV or Mac so it doesn't control the wrong device.
It's in System Preferences/Security/General on the Mac and Settings/General/Remotes on the Apple TV.
Easily done with the old Apple TV.
Thanks for the remote tip
sorry should have said i mean Apple should enable the usb port we shouldn't have to hack it
You don't understand. There's no actual work involved in making a piece of software run on two entirely different architectures. Steve Jobs just has to wave his magic fairy wand, knock his ruby slippers together, clap his hands three times and the software will magically work on both platforms. Obviously, the people who are complaining of Apple's corporate greed understand this simple fact.
Yeah, it's REALLY hard to recompile for a different CPU and the same operating system. I wonder just how they do it in the Linux World or even in the Mac world with PPC (just HOW do I get all these software updates for Firefox, iTunes, etc. when they're running on my totally different PPC architecture?), especially for a company that showed it's capable of even emulating the PPC platform in near real world time (Rosetta), let alone recompiling software that runs on any developer Mac on the planet already. I'm sure it was MIGHTY difficult for them to port the existing ATV interface to this A4 thing because Apple has no experience in working with A4. They only use it in all their iOS devices.
I'll fix this for you:
especially for a company that showed it's capable of licensing software from a third party (Transitive) to emulate the PPC platform in near real world time (Rosetta)
Apple did not create Rosetta - but they did coin a cute marketing name for it..
It's only fitting seeing as they stole the whole GUI design from Xerox at the beginning and founded the entire company on money they got from building/selling blue box phone equipment that stole long distance calls among other things. Bill Gates stole MS-Dos from CPM more or less. It's so ironic that two of the biggest anti-pirate companies on the planet got their start stealing other people's ideas and/or profits.
Low grade? People have gotten the Intel version of Tiger to run under the old Apple TV.
Using Apple TV for a high-def deluxe slideshow
Your idea is a good one. Can I use an iTouch as you imply, instead of an iPad (which I don't own) to stream to the new ATV? That would be great (my computer is a desktop--not exactly portable.) My high-def iPhoto slideshow (which is as much superior to "300 slides of some vacation" as your computer skills no doubt are compared to a novice's, and includes fancy effects and embedded movie clips) is an HD movie in iTunes, which could be synched to the old Apple TV from there.
BUT When I explored synching my slideshow to my iTouch I get a warning that "this will wipe out all my songs and movies will be removed and replaced with the synched movie". This sounds as if it threatens to delete my entire iTouch music library?? Not exactly the flexibility I was seeking.
P.S. "burning this slide show movie onto a DVD and just plopping that into a player at the remote side is just too low tech" You are dead right there--DVD loses the HD needed to get the most out of these top-quality photos. Even then it only shows a fraction of their detail--about 1MB, not 12. And no, I don't show to just 1 or 2 people--more like 10 to 100.
Your idea is a good one. Can I use an iTouch as you imply, instead of an iPad (which I don't own) to stream to the new ATV? That would be great (my computer is a desktop--not exactly portable.) My high-def iPhoto slideshow (which is as much superior to "300 slides of some vacation" as your computer skills no doubt are compared to a novice's, and includes fancy effects and embedded movie clips) is an HD movie in iTunes, which could be synched to the old Apple TV from there.
BUT When I explored synching my slideshow to my iTouch I get a warning that "this will wipe out all my songs and movies will be removed and replaced with the synched movie". This sounds as if it threatens to delete my entire iTouch music library?? Not exactly the flexibility I was seeking.
P.S. "burning this slide show movie onto a DVD and just plopping that into a player at the remote side is just too low tech" You are dead right there--DVD loses the HD needed to get the most out of these top-quality photos. Even then it only shows a fraction of their detail--about 1MB, not 12. And no, I don't show to just 1 or 2 people--more like 10 to 100.
Yeah, ARM processors really beat the hell out of Core 2 Duo
I take it you didn't notice the new Apple TV can't do 1080p.
Yeah, ARM processors really beat the hell out of Core 2 Duo
I take it you didn't notice the new Apple TV can't do 1080p.
A4 is an entirely new instruction set, nothing to do with performance