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Apple Confirms No Software Update for Original Apple TV

Original apple tv is a x86 architecture under osx. The new one is an ARM architecture under iOS. I have xbmc on mine anyway which makes it much more useful.
 
I too would have appreciated adding Netflix to the current ATV I have now, but totally get that the hardware is different, which means that the 4 year old technology I have next to my TV now is finally obsolete. Somehow, I'm okay with that. I can't get socks to make it 4 years, much less technology.

I know there are several hacking options out there for it, and I think once I get some free time (hahahahahahahahahah...breathe...hahahahahah) I may actually get around to tinkering with it. Any suggestions on what to use to hack the old one?

I for one use my stock 40GB ATV relatively often - we use it to rent movies, watch funny stuff on youtube my kids found, and as a remote stereo system linkage for the macs around the house through AirTunes (AirPlay). It's been fun, and I'll honestly consider the upgrade to the new box.
 
DraziGuy said:
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.
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It could be worse, they could be releasing many versions of each device, with varying specs and features and different revisions of the OS with different GUI's all at the same time.

(Of course, that could be "better"... its all a matter of opinion... I'm of the opinion that its best the way it currently is)
 
marksman said:
The Original iPhone came out after the last AppleTV model and it is not getting any software updates any longer either.. for all intents and purposes...

So this is surprising how?
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This comparison is flawed (as all comparisons, I know). Apple stopped selling original iPhone years ago. They still sell original ATV (but no support :confused:)

Shoesy said:
Have the rentals started already? I look forward to them coming to the Uk, sounds great to me.
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They have... on Amazon VOD. Same $0.99 but the price is to buy the show (as opposed to renting for ATV)
 
Anyone who didn't see this coming needs to pay attention a little bit more.

Top 5 signs a gadget isn't going to be supported for long:

5. It's a limited purpose device
4. It doesn't have a well defined market
3. It's made by Apple
2. It's a gadget -- they all lose support eventually
1. CEO calls it a "hobby"
 
The finish on the new one seems a bit too glossy. If there will be no matte version I'll stick with the old one.
 
lilo777 said:
This comparison is flawed (as all comparisons, I know). Apple stopped selling original iPhone years ago. They still sell original ATV (but no support :confused:)
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Where are they selling the original ATV? Going to the Apple store online, all I can find is the new one.

Of course, it can't hurt trying to sell out stock (like refurb or in brick and mortar stores). Infact, I would imagine there are people that right now are trying to buy the original one so that they can retain the current set of features and hack it to run additional software.
 
Is anyone really surprised? It uses completely different hardware, and so the software is completely rewritten. While they could have gone back and at least updated the old software for rentals, they clearly aren't spending a whole lot of money on this "hobby" and so it's not a priority. The new Apple TV is them saying, "look we got it wrong (for the second time), this is what we wanted to make."

The only thing that sucks is the old Apple TV is certainly capable hardware, just marked obsolete by a simple lack of development funding.
 
For all the gripers, consider you could have bought an Android phone, brand new, two days ago, that had outdated software right out of the box and no promised upgrade path. :D
 
"Older Apple TVs will continue to work as they have been working up to this point, and they will continue to be able to purchase movies and TV shows even though the new Apple TV is rental-only."

Does this mean that existing appletvs will or will not be able to rent the .99 tv shows? I don't see how this is hardware related.
 
So

1. Previous models will still be able to rent AND purchase content unlike the new models

2. Previous models have HD storage

3. You can hack current AppleTV's to run Hulu and Netflix (http://digitalgeek.fromthecastle.com/?p=128)

4. Current AppleTV's have HDMI AND Component out

Basically, why would you want to buy $99 version of the device when the current model offers more?

This plus the ridiculous small "multi-touch" Nano (take away video, camera, and a bigger display to differentiate it from the iPod Touch to encourage sales, donné moi un break), plus the sad "Mac Pro" updates and obvious lack of interest in displays, Apple is ALL about iOS and mobile devices (I consider laptops mobile devices even though they run OS X, which will soon become iOSX).

Apple, Inc. should become Apple Mobile, Inc.
 
tkatz said:
Where are they selling the original ATV? Going to the Apple store online, all I can find is the new one.

Of course, it can't hurt trying to sell out stock (like refurb or in brick and mortar stores). Infact, I would imagine there are people that right now are trying to buy the original one so that they can retain the current set of features and hack it to run additional software.
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do a search or look under clearance section, old ATV is selling for $149 if you prefer.

for me, i ordered new one $99 - not so understanding the consequence - definitely not going to rent tvshows or movies - even if i did not many - occassional usuage only.
 
tkatz said:
Where are they selling the original ATV? Going to the Apple store online, all I can find is the new one.

Of course, it can't hurt trying to sell out stock (like refurb or in brick and mortar stores). Infact, I would imagine there are people that right now are trying to buy the original one so that they can retain the current set of features and hack it to run additional software.
Click to expand...

OK, they were still selling it two days ago. But if you really want one, it's available on Mac Mall for $150.
 
lilo777 said:
This comparison is flawed (as all comparisons, I know). Apple stopped selling original iPhone years ago. They still sell original ATV (but no support :confused:)
Click to expand...

Please get your facts straight for goodness sake, it's quite annoying. Do you purposely try to make Apple the bad guy in every one of your posts? Where has Apple said they are actually dropping support for the previous ATV? They are just not implementing the new UI and features of the new model. :rolleyes:
 
Here's my beef with the new Apple TV:
* Power consumption - Everyone complained about the lack of effective sleep mode on the original ATV. Now, the power consumption of the ATV may be lower, but you'll have to leave your desktop computer on and out of sleep mode in order to use it. Fail.
* No 1080p - my Blu-Ray player has this, why not the Apple TV?
* Streaming only - given network congestion, I would want a buffer of at least 500 MB in order to rely on a streaming connection all the time. I'm not aware of any device with a dedicated buffer that large.

Honestly, when I read the rumors about the next-generation being streaming only and not having 1080p, I thought it was one of the intentional, incorrect leaks that Apple does to under-promise and over-deliver, like claiming that the original iPhone would have two batteries.
 
I'm pretty sure just about everyone with current ATV's are going to rather keep using their old ones than this new one. As long as you can purchasing, downloading and syncing. We'll just have to grin and bear netflix and hulu on other boxes.

ATV2 is a no sale for me until it becomes MUCH more compelling. It could be. Apple are kings of this...release a subpar 1st gen product and then slowly add the compelling features later. Just look at iphone. Ipod Touch just NOW started to get compelling...

If apple eventually releases an app store...i might bite...bite much like the iPad...i'll be waiting for the more compelling, advanced versions and let the dumb money but the 1st gen products...
 
segfaultdotorg said:
Here's my beef with the new Apple TV:
* Power consumption - Everyone complained about the lack of effective sleep mode on the original ATV. Now, the power consumption of the ATV may be lower, but you'll have to leave your desktop computer on and out of sleep mode in order to use it. Fail.
* No 1080p - my Blu-Ray player has this, why not the Apple TV?
* Streaming only - given network congestion, I would want a buffer of at least 500 MB in order to rely on a streaming connection all the time. I'm not aware of any device with a dedicated buffer that large.

Honestly, when I read the rumors about the next-generation being streaming only and not having 1080p, I thought it was one of the intentional, incorrect leaks that Apple does to under-promise and over-deliver, like claiming that the original iPhone would have two batteries.
Click to expand...

Indeed, they have UNDER-delivered on this new ATV.
 
lilo777 said:
OK, they were still selling it two days ago. But if you really want one, it's available on Mac Mall for $150.
Click to expand...

Again, can't get your facts straight, you can still get one on Apple's website. :rolleyes:
 
I may very well get a new appletv and keep my 40gig version to store my music and a rotating selection of synced video for immediate access.
My problem with streaming from my Mac is that my family uses multiple user login on the Mac and you can only stream from the active logged in session.
 
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