Apple Introduces Updated Apple TV with Netflix Integration, TV Show Rentals

[GamecockMac]

Not everyone needs to store movies on-device in 15 different formats. The lack of 1080p is regrettable but not a dealbreaker as far as I'm concerned.

Don't waste your time trying to convince Apple-hating trolls of reasons why some people might find this device useful.

Steve Jobs could have showed off a device that fits in the palm of your hand and brings every movie and TV show ever made to your TV in full 1080p, for free, and people like this would find some reason to complain about it, or tell you how much better you could do the same thing with a Microsoft/Google solution.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Steve Jobs could have showed off a device that fits in the palm of your hand and brings every movie and TV show ever made to your TV in full 1080p, for free, and people like this would find some reason to complain about it, or tell you how much better you could do the same thing with a Microsoft/Google solution.

I understand that some people want a much more fully-featured device, but a lot of people don't need all those features.

It's far from perfect but I think it's a pretty good product.

 

[lilo777]

Not everyone needs to store movies on-device in 15 different formats. The lack of 1080p is regrettable but not a dealbreaker as far as I'm concerned.

That's true but without those features ATV does not offer that much. Most people already have Netflix, Vudu, Amazon VOD (much better option than iTunes). This functionality is already included with modern TVs, so what's the point of having ATV?

 

[gugy]

AppleTV is a huge disappointment to me for few reasons:

• no 1080p (i understand the streaming bandwidth issues, but for folks that have in their libraries 1080p content (home movies/blu-ray rips))

• no external drive support via USB or have a drive connect to Airport Extreme so it can grab content that way.(I don't want my Mac on at all times and if I leave the house with my laptop my family cannot watch anything)

• Ability to play few more codecs. Specially VideoTS so I don't have to go through the huge hassle of transcoding everything (DVDs) on handbrake to play on AppleTV

Now either I go to a much more expensive and overkill route (MacMini) or will consider boxes like WDTV, Roku or Boxee. The problem with those boxes is the lack of integration between iTunes and iDevices.

 

[yoak]

I´m tempted, but as Norway probably won´t get rentals anytime soon, I´m not sure.
I do have a PS3 (that I hardly use, the noise, the inteface etc.), but I´ve tried streaming movies and pictures to it and it has always been a pain.
BD´s looks great on it however, no comparison to iTunes HD.

I have a WD HDTV to play back full HD versions of final cuts on projects I work on, I thought I would use it for pics and movies as well, but the hassel of moving a USB device back and forth has stopped me from doing so.

If the ATV would let me quickly and easily show of my latest pics on my TV that is probably reason enough for me to get one.

I´m just not sure if it´s better to get the old version as they cut the price in half this morning.

I would like to be able to rent films as my local video store just closed down

 

[lilo777]

AppleTV is a huge disappointment to me for few reasons:

• no 1080p (i understand the streaming bandwidth issues, but for folks that have in their libraries 1080p content (home movies/blu-ray rips))

• no external drive support via USB or have a drive connect to Airport Extreme so it can grab content that way.(I don't want my Mac on at all times and if I leave the house with my laptop my family cannot watch anything)

• Ability to play few more codecs. Specially VideoTS so I don't have to go through the huge hassle of transcoding everything (DVDs) on handbrake to play on AppleTV

Now either I go to a much more expensive and overkill route (MacMini) or will consider boxes like WDTV, Roku or Boxee. The problem with those boxes is the lack of integration between iTunes and iDevices.

How about Google TV?

 

[Lotusman]

I didn't say it was

I was just wondering how your current kit was setup. I mean 1 HDMI cable should not be that big of a deal to run to a proper HDMI switching AVR. The wife shouldn't complain (much)...

Dude, I need you to come have dinner with my wife and explain to her that ripping up about 18 linear feet of lath & plaster wall (and traversing 2 windows and a fireplace) in her beautifully decorated living room is something she wants to do... and is worth it so I can have 'High Definition' telly!!!!

You might want to bring a box...

 

[Lord Blackadder]

That's true but without those features ATV does not offer that much. Most people already have Netflix, Vudu, Amazon VOD (much better option than iTunes). This functionality is already included with modern TVs, so what's the point of having ATV?

It can also stream content from your computer. Personally, I am not a big fan of media devices, I think that functionality should all be integrated into your computer or TV. I don't really want another box. But Apple kept the price pretty low so it's a good option for people who DO like iTunes (and thus have a lot of content there) or don't have an HDTV that can stream netflix etc.

BTW, if anyone here thinks that people in this thread are flaming Apple, you probably haven't yet gotten a true daily dose of "Why Apple Sucks" here at Tom's Hardware...the dark center of the universe (along with Paul Thurrott) when it comes to Apple hatred. Years ago, they just chuckled at how terrible Apple was, but now that the company's marketshare and profits are rising they feel the need to explain often and at length why Apple is irrelevant and suitable only for trendy fanboys. Proper Hate.

Apple has made some junk over the years, but I don't think the Apple TV is that bad. It is a bit of a niche product, but there's nothing wrong with that.

 

[danny_w]

AppleTV is a huge disappointment to me for few reasons:

• no 1080p (i understand the streaming bandwidth issues, but for folks that have in their libraries 1080p content (home movies/blu-ray rips))

• no external drive support via USB or have a drive connect to Airport Extreme so it can grab content that way.(I don't want my Mac on at all times and if I leave the house with my laptop my family cannot watch anything)

• Ability to play few more codecs. Specially VideoTS so I don't have to go through the huge hassle of transcoding everything (DVDs) on handbrake to play on AppleTV

Now either I go to a much more expensive and overkill route (MacMini) or will consider boxes like WDTV, Roku or Boxee. The problem with those boxes is the lack of integration between iTunes and iDevices.

I tried many media players but finally settled on an ASRock ION330 box running XBMC Live. It cost more than the cheap units (WDTV, CinemaTube, etc) but considerably less than a Mac Mini and has a very nice GUI. So far the new TV hasn't convinced me that I did the wrong thing.

 

[gugy]

I tried many media players but finally settled on an ASRock ION330 box running XBMC Live. It cost more than the cheap units (WDTV, CinemaTube, etc) but considerably less than a Mac Mini and has a very nice GUI. So far the new TV hasn't convinced me that I did the wrong thing.

I will look into that.
At least the new AppleTV is cheap, so maybe I will end up buying one, but I really need a HTPC for the reasons previously described and MacMini is just too much $$$.

 

[gugy]

How about Google TV?

What about it?

 

[danny_w]

I will look into that.
At least the new AppleTV is cheap, so maybe I will end up buying one, but I really need a HTPC for the reasons previously described and MacMini is just too much $$$.

Exactly what I thought on the expense front. Mac Mini may not be too expensive for what it can do, but I only needed a media player, not a general purpose computer for other uses. It seemed to me like the ASRock was a good compromise for around $400, and the HT version which I have includes the remote, there is a Bluray version of it (or just put in your own Bluray drive and save a bit), and the video card includes hardware acceleration support in XBMC Live.

 

[gugy]

Exactly what I thought on the expense front. Mac Mini may not be too expensive for what it can do, but I only needed a media player, not a general purpose computer for other uses. It seemed to me like the ASRock was a good compromise for around $400, and the HT version which I have includes the remote, there is a Bluray version of it (or just put in your own Bluray drive and save a bit), and the video card includes hardware acceleration support in XBMC Live.

Do you have to deal with Windows at all to set up this box?
I have to say the only thing drives me towards the Mini is the whole Mac solution. I am avert to Windows. Never really use it much. Mac is my thing since I was introduced to computers.

 

[Eidorian]

BTW, if anyone here thinks that people in this thread are flaming Apple, you probably haven't yet gotten a true daily dose of "Why Apple Sucks" here at Tom's Hardware...the dark center of the universe (along with Paul Thurrott) when it comes to Apple hatred. Years ago, they just chuckled at how terrible Apple was, but now that the company's marketshare and profits are rising they feel the need to explain often and at length why Apple is irrelevant and suitable only for trendy fanboys. Proper Hate.

Apple has made some junk over the years, but I don't think the Apple TV is that bad. It is a bit of a niche product, but there's nothing wrong with that.

My eyes rolled when I heard the Thurrott bomb dropped. I headed over and found the opinions not really that different from what you see around here. The Shuffle is back from it's 1 star buttonless era and the Nano is grasping at straws to stay relevant. iTunes gets a new skin and a music only FaceBook.

The Touch is a strong contender against the iPhone 4 and the Apple TV, while niche, is super cheap.

http://community.winsupersite.com/blogs/paul/archive/2010/09/01/apple-s-2010-music-event-meh.aspx

I guess 50/50 is a "meh" on the Thurrot scale? If you'll call that proper hate. Tom's Hardware was much more harsh. Now to find one of those old 5G Nanos on fire sale. The Shuffle and Nano are very mature products. It's getting tough, even for Apple, to find something new to add to those old MP3 players.

I'm surprised to see the iPhone and Touch get there so fast as well. Speed bumps abound.

 

[Apple!Fre@k]

OK, so I bought the new Apple TV yesterday, but saw that Apple already charged my card for the full amount. What gives? Why is Apple charging me a full MONTH before they are evening shipping the product?

 

[danny_w]

Do you have to deal with Windows at all to set up this box?
I have to say the only thing drives me towards the Mini is the whole Mac solution. I am avert to Windows. Never really use it much. Mac is my thing since I was introduced to computers.

The version that I ordered had Windows 7 installed (just in case I ever wanted it), but I wiped the drive, created an XBMC Live CD on my iMac, and installed it on the ASRock simply by booting the CD and telling it to install. Most everything worked for me from the start, but you can enable ssh/telnet on the box so that you can add extra packages and otherwise customize the experience via a terminal session from the Mac; the only thing not working exactly right is sleep mode, but I just leave it on and it blanks the display anyway and doesn't draw much power). Certainly no harder than hacking the original TV, and no Windows required!

 

[anthony11]

That's true but without those features ATV does not offer that much. Most people already have Netflix, Vudu, Amazon VOD (much better option than iTunes).

No, most people don't, for conventional values of "most". If most people did, there weren't be advertising. Most of the people who use the above services are doing so on laptop/desktop computers. I can shut down Lightroom on my laptop, disconnect the disks, schlub it two stories upstairs and fish around for the four cables required to connect it to my TV for display .... or for the price of two meals out I can buy a thing I can connect permanently. That's a friggin' no-brainer right there.

This functionality is already included with modern TVs, so what's the point of having ATV?

That word, I donna think it means what you think it means.

Netflix (et al) network streaming support started showing up on TV's that people actually buy what, early this year or late last?

I have a 61" TV that works great that I bought in 2005. Samsung's cluelessness wrt remote codes is not justification to throw away this $4500 purchase <5 years later, and neither is the lack of integration of a given streaming vendor's tech.

 

[anthony11]

OK, so I bought the new Apple TV yesterday, but saw that Apple already charged my card for the full amount. What gives? Why is Apple charging me a full MONTH before they are evening shipping the product?

Maybe it's legal to do so in your country, but since you don't want us to know where that is, it's hard to say.

 

[gugy]

The version that I ordered had Windows 7 installed (just in case I ever wanted it), but I wiped the drive, created an XBMC Live CD on my iMac, and installed it on the ASRock simply by booting the CD and telling it to install. Most everything worked for me from the start, but you can enable ssh/telnet on the box so that you can add extra packages and otherwise customize the experience via a terminal session from the Mac; the only thing not working exactly right is sleep mode, but I just leave it on and it blanks the display anyway and doesn't draw much power). Certainly no harder than hacking the original TV, and no Windows required!

Thanks!

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

How about Google TV?

There you go. Instead of proactively crushing Google TV, Apple may have handed this opportunity to them. It's pretty easy to imagine Google capitalizing on the fundamental tangible shortcomings so easily addressable with just a few minor changes to this version.

It's a shame. Apple should own this. It's so much theirs for the taking. The Apple UI is so intuitive, "grandma proof", etc.

I would bet huge that Google will at least roll out 1080p hardware. The hardware platform will probably be reasonably solid. The UI will probably be a bit lacking. How well it can interface with iTunes media/playlists/etc could really make it. (yes I know that DRM stuff will fail).

I wish Apple would just really flex and take this space. They could do it the best. They've got so many of the pieces already in place.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

I guess 50/50 is a "meh" on the Thurrot scale? If you'll call that proper hate. Tom's Hardware was much more harsh. Now to find one of those old 5G Nanos on fire sale. The Shuffle and Nano are very mature products. It's getting tough, even for Apple, to find something new to add to those old MP3 players.

Some critics love to use a strawman argument against Apple products i.e. if it isn't the sexiest, most innovative product ever, than it's a failure. Which is unfair, because you don't see them using the same metric when reviewing other brands. Also, sites like Tom's care almost exclusively about benchmark performance and feature content (with a heavy emphasis on the bleeding edge) so they essentially reject Apple's design philosophy. Making it no surprise that they dislike Apple.

I remember back when the iPod was introduced, Tom's was too busy getting all orgasmic about Pentiums overclocked with liquid nitrogen to notice.

 

[anthony11]

Going to pass on this one, my xbox 360 can do more then this.

Cool, send it on over.

1) stream your exisiting content from iTunes
2) NetFlix streaming
3) youtube streaming
4) occassional Movie Rental

Sweet. Four things my TV can't do on its own.

do not think it is going to replace my or anyone else's cable boxes yet.

It's not going to replace my refrigerator either. OBTW, what cable box is that? Not everyone has or needs one. If I paid Comlast the price of the new ATV each and every month, they'd lend me a box that would show me a hundred channels of sports, disco, country, and shopping for ugly shoes. Woooo I'm just dyin' to shell out for that.

one thing i want to know whether we can go safari directly with a wireless keyboard with it?

What exactly does it mean to "go safari"? Is it akin to the days when Long John Silver's rebranded tai chi as "going fish"?

 

[Eidorian]

Some critics love to use a strawman argument against Apple products i.e. if it isn't the sexiest, most innovative product ever, than it's a failure. Which is unfair, because you don't see them using the same metric when reviewing other brands. Also, sites like Tom's care almost exclusively about benchmark performance and feature content (with a heavy emphasis on the bleeding edge) so they essentially reject Apple's design philosophy. Making it no surprise that they dislike Apple.

Tom's, while harsher, did manage to stay on point. The Shuffle and Nano don't standout. The Nano could have easily made a drop to $99/129 for 8/16 GB with the same features otherwise. We instead get some awkward iOS knockoff and a tiny touch screen vs. the venerable clickwheel, video playback, and video camera.

Why did Apple decide to reinvent the wheel for the Nano? What drove them to go to the buttonless gimmick route on the Shuffle only to do an about face yesterday?

Next up, we dropped the price on the Nano and we brought the clickwheel back. R & D down the drain, sheesh.

I remember back when the iPod was introduced, Tom's was too busy getting all orgasmic about Pentiums overclocked with liquid nitrogen to notice.

Just another MP3 player snowballed into something else. Now Apple has effectively made the Shuffle and Nano throwaway devices (except the price) with the Touch being what you really want to buy. Everything else rides on being trapped in the iTunes ecosystem.

 

[diamond.g]

Dude, I need you to come have dinner with my wife and explain to her that ripping up about 18 linear feet of lath & plaster wall (and traversing 2 windows and a fireplace) in her beautifully decorated living room is something she wants to do... and is worth it so I can have 'High Definition' telly!!!!

You might want to bring a box...

Baseboards my friend, baseboards. Run the cable in that space, when you have to traverse up a wall to get to the tv you can poke one hole and fish for it. Or at least that was my plan.

If that doesn't work...

 

[SeanMcg]

Apple's done an about-face on iPod design more than once. Nothing new in that respect. For all their success, the people at Apple are human after all. They just have the resources to fail now.

And by "fail," I do not mean "I don't like it, so it must be no good, because I am the arbiter of all design and marketing and personal choice for all people, but I don't know what arbiter means so I'll just make inane use of the word fail."

No I mean that the product fell significantly short of Apple's goals for sales and/or quality. They are in a much better position to absorb that now. Although, even if a form factor changes, that doesn't mean underlying technology will be thrown out.

As for the TV : It has probably been written in this long thread that the presence of the A4 chip, and presumably iOS, may provide for simple updates, assuming they can be accomplished as apps. I don't consider this a typical second generation product. I look at this as a 1st gen product, and will wait to see if Apple truly does intend to improve on their hobby device. (Besides, I still need to get an HD TV )