Apple Provides Sneak Peak Of Media Center

[BigHat]

I'm unsure of this 802.11G vs. N issue. Help me understand it please.

Let's assume the current airport card isn't software upgradeable. What's the worst that could happen to a Mac Pro owner? I'm thinking it would just require replacing the airport card. That's no biggie and hardly a reason to defer a computer purchase. True?

 

[peterjhill]

Why can't we buy a mid sized tower (in stereo size) which can have HDMI 1080p output? with blu-ray drive built in?

hey just asking. i know blu-ray is just getting started, but i'd like apple to be on it from the get go.

Because the price point is awesome for this.. $299, the original airport cost around that I think. Once you add a blu-ray drive, I am guessing your price will go up another $200. At that point you compete with the mac mini... and by the time this is released, perhaps we will be able to buy a mac mini with blu-ray. And the front row built into OS X 10.5 might be improved to be as good as this product..

I think that this is a typical Steve move... He does not want people to be confused about what to buy (in his mind that is). If it is hard to distinguish a mac mini from an itv, consumers might not pick either... In warcraft terms, consumer stunlock.

I am curious as to what we can do with that usb port... can we add an external drive? is it for a keyboard? Is there a hard drive in the box or did they just put in a couple of gigs of flash memory in it.

Well, brilliant move steve, this was a perfect thing to leak... it will not prevent people from buying any existing product... perhaps a few mac minis, but even then, there will be a lot of people planning on spending $299 as soon as this product is released.

 

[myca]

iSight

Just thought of this, if they stuck a firewire port on there (or made the iSight with USB2) this could be a replacement for the telephone (well sort of), it could hook up to address book and you could have video conferencing on a glorious 52" flat screen, I'm all for this iTV thing because I think it will evolve and grow, much like the iPod and most of the software Apple create.

 

[Clive At Five]

As for the h264 decoding, I do think it's more intensive that just some simple software. My G3 iBook won't do h264 smoothly at all. I hear that G4's choke on h264 as well. Supposedly, the Core Solo isn't that great with 1080p h264 material. Of course, this all depends on the quality of the encoded files, but for what we're talking about (h264 HD files), you'd want at least 720p30 and I would think that you'd need some hardware to help with that task.

Well, yes, it would obviously have to be more than just software, I mean, software won't run without a processor...

But if this thing is specialized for streaming video, they'll most likely use a processor that is the most compatible with that sort of thing. It wouldn't have to be a G4, G5, Core or any other such thing. They make processors that, as long as it receives data in a certain way, it'll chug the numbers really quickly.

Also, something to consider is that your G3 was also running an operating system, which, even if all other applications are closed, a significant portion of the processor must, at all times, be dedicated to running. If your TelePort (Until Apple tells us differently I'm sticking with that name ) was G3 pin & instruction compatible (which it isn't, I assure you) it would likely be able to crunch those numbers adequately enough.

So as long as the TelePort's OS is simple, a huge processor isn't needed.

-Clive

 

[Clive At Five]

I am curious as to what we can do with that usb port... can we add an external drive? is it for a keyboard? Is there a hard drive in the box or did they just put in a couple of gigs of flash memory in it.

I think you and Chundles have it right on.

An ext'l drive or an iPod would make a ton of sense... probably the iPod moreso than the HD (with an Ext'l HD, why not just have it connected to your Home Network at another access point... i.e. your Mac / PC?). But with an iPod, your friends could come over with a movie, granted it'd be hell for your iPod's Micro Drive.

-Clive

 

[Chundles]

I think you and Chundles have it right on.

An ext'l drive or an iPod would make a ton of sense... probably the iPod moreso than the HD (with an Ext'l HD, why not just have it connected to your Home Network at another access point... i.e. your Mac / PC?). But with an iPod, your friends could come over with a movie, granted it'd be hell for your iPod's Micro Drive.

-Clvie

Problem is fitting a USB port on it. I doubt they'd put on at the front and there's no room on the back.

There's no HDD in it either, probably just a few MB of cache (MB, not GB - you don't need to buffer the whole movie). Most of that space would be taken up by the power supply and the circuitry for the decoding/outputs.

 

[Peace]

Problem is fitting a USB port on it. I doubt they'd put on at the front and there's no room on the back.

There's no HDD in it either, probably just a few MB of cache (MB, not GB - you don't need to buffer the whole movie). Most of that space would be taken up by the power supply and the circuitry for the decoding/outputs.

Maybe I'm confused..

Chundles the new Media Center HAS a USB port on it.Or were you talking about the iPod?

In between the power and the ethernet is a USB 2.0 port

From left to right :
power,USB,Ethernet,HDMI,Component,RCA jacks,Optical Audio.

"you can take content to your computer or iPod, but now... TV." Going by the codeword of iTV, the box looks like a flattened Mac mini -- apparently it's around half the height -- and features a built-in power supply, USB 2.0, Ethernet, 802.11 wireless, component video, optical audio and HDMI ports, plus regular ol' RCA stereo audio ports.

 

[Chundles]

Maybe I'm confused..

Chundles the new Media Center HAS a USB port on it.Or were you talking about the iPod?

Where's the USB port?

As far as I remember, across the back, from left to right:

Power: HDMI: Component Video: Analogue Audio: Optical Audio.

Have you got a picture because Steve never mentioned a USB port.

 

[Peace]

Where's the USB port?

As far as I remember, across the back, from left to right:

Power: HDMI: Component Video: Analogue Audio: Optical Audio.

Have you got a picture because Steve never mentioned a USB port.

See my above edited post.I included a pic.

 

[Chundles]

Wait, found it.

Power: USB: Ethernet: HDMI: Component Video: Analogue Audio: Optical

Right, sorted. Take back all my last posts, this thing had better do on-screen iPod menuing for all content.

Stupid Engadget and their blurry photos. Somehow they think using mobile phones to take pictures constitutes good journalism.

 

[dcranston]

Does this thread remind anyone of the original iPod thread?

"gee! an mp3 player with a HD! how original! kinda reminds me of a JUKEBOX i once knew."

vs.

"What a disappointment... I guess Apple is just trying to stave off the competition from the media capabilities of Windows Media Center and XBOX."

--

"There are already two products similar to this on the market. The Nomad Jukebox and the Archos Jukebox which can come with a 20 gig HD [4x the storage]. Apple is playing catch-up."

vs.

"When this thing surpasses the capabilities of my Windows media center and Xbox 360 combo then I will be impressed. Until then Apple is playing catch up to MCE and playing it poorly."

--

"I have a Nomad Jukebox with a 6gig hardrive and it only cost me $250. It works great and syncs fine with the computer and the transfer is relativley fast. I don't know what the big deal is. So...it works well with apple's software....big deal, anyone can do that. There is nothing there of interest."

vs.

"Yawn. How is this any different than my DSM-520 running along side my TVersity sever? It can handle just about every single codec/format I throw at it and is linked via usb 2.0 to my 500GB Western Digital MyBook. Yes Divx, TS, VOD, Pictures, Music, you name it. The D-Link was under $200...and released nearly a whole year before this locked down proprietary (you know it will definitely not be supporting the UPnP AV / DLNA standard) iTV nonesense. This is nothing new people...we've been streaming media from servers to our TVs for quite some time"

--

"Not revolutionary. Big capacity mp3 players already exist. With Creative Labs' entrance into the firewire arena, future nomads will have similar specs and better prices."

vs.

"For $300 I built a Windows MCE box that plays back 1080i content flawlessly thanks to an GeForce 6600 and Nvidia's excellent Purevideo decoder which means GPU-assisted decoding negating the need for an expensive CPU. Doesn't get any better than MCE + MyMovies right now, sorry."

--

yeah... clearly the options out there are amazing! Just go purchase a gaming console and configure the network for it, set up some streaming content from your PC and you're good to go. Nevermind the fact that the interface isn't built for this content, the setup is horrendous, the device is loud and huge, it won't stream iTunes content, and it costs the same. Better yet, build your own! Now we're talking the 90% case!

I think those that understand that folks who start subscribing to season passes, downloading content to iTunes, importing DVDs on their machines... these are the folks this device will work for. Without any extra work, it's now available on your TV. Subscribe to the daily show? $10/month and you have every episode in the living room.

I understand the use and necessity of DVRs at the current moment in time, but the concept exists only due to a restriction from the existing state of media. 300+ channels, all scheduled out by 30-minute time slots? This is a relic of an old era. I have a TiVO and I love it, but I can see the future is away from this, and this device puts apple right there ready for it.

 

[Mr. Pippin]

Wait, found it.

Power: USB: Ethernet: HDMI: Component Video: Analogue Audio: Optical

Right, sorted. Take back all my last posts, this thing had better do on-screen iPod menuing for all content.

Stupid Engadget and their blurry photos. Somehow they think using mobile phones to take pictures constitutes good journalism.

I'm sure it will be the same navigation it will use for remote iTunes music access. That assumes it will, though I would be dumbfounded if it did not support local iPod connectivity to the unit.

Again, sure wish it had firewire. It would be handy to be able to use the simplicity of this product to view home movies (camcorder) without having to load them onto the PC first.

 

[malibux]

USB 2.0 port what for?

Hmm...What sense does the usb port have? I guess that maybe you can attach an (updated)-isight camera in this port.

Wouldn´t it be cool to use the introduced video conferencing features from Leopard at iTV?

 

[Peace]

Hmm...What sense does the usb port have? I guess that maybe you can attach an (updated)-isight camera in this port.

Wouldn´t it be cool to use the introduced video conferencing features from Leopard at iTV?

Hard Drives or another stackable component

 

[malibux]

Hard Drives or another stackable component

yeah, a harddrive would also be cool...

Set up an NFS Server and connect my Nokia dbox (a satellite receiver here in europe, where you can install linux on it) to it -> DVR problem solved

 

[Peace]

WIFI works 2 ways..

My HD Satellite receiver has USB 2.0 and ethernet on it.

Hook it up to the Media Center and stream it to my computer in my room

Remember the new EyeTV program has Front Row integration with TV.you can switch from TV right to Front Row and back to TV.

 

[luispedromota]

iTV? So What?

Contrary to several others comments I've already read, the really only piece of the show that have disapointed me was iTV. Mainly because I think that the product doesn't justify breaking Apple's golden rule of not showing products until they are ready to ship. No optical drive? No internal storage? No tuner? Just a media streamer? I dont like Windows MCE, I'm no fan of Microsoft, but I think that unfortunately, they have the lead now on the living room. And for me, just as it is, iTV wont change that in the near future.

 

[gugy]

Does this thread remind anyone of the original iPod thread?

yeah... clearly the options out there are amazing! Just go purchase a gaming console and configure the network for it, set up some streaming content from your PC and you're good to go. Nevermind the fact that the interface isn't built for this content, the setup is horrendous, the device is loud and huge, it won't stream iTunes content, and it costs the same. Better yet, build your own! Now we're talking the 90% case!

I think those that understand that folks who start subscribing to season passes, downloading content to iTunes, importing DVDs on their machines... these are the folks this device will work for. Without any extra work, it's now available on your TV. Subscribe to the daily show? $10/month and you have every episode in the living room.

I understand the use and necessity of DVRs at the current moment in time, but the concept exists only due to a restriction from the existing state of media. 300+ channels, all scheduled out by 30-minute time slots? This is a relic of an old era. I have a TiVO and I love it, but I can see the future is away from this, and this device puts apple right there ready for it.

Ditto!
People just can't think beyond. Resist to change. That's why Steve is so valuable for Apple.

Yes, I am with you I love my DVR, but in the future I think the ITV idea will be the one to go after. You buy what you want to watch and nothing else. With so much crap TV out there this will make the content creators more aware and start doing better work to grab attention, easy a bit the crazy channel surfing, etc. I do believe TV will stay as is, but will live with digital downloads. Just like CDs are with Itunes.
This is where and why Apple is positioning themselves to be the driving force.
Think different!

 

[Mitch1984]

So it seems from the coverage that the device has no optical drive, and no internal mass storage? Is that correct? And also that it is not itself a DVR? Don't get me wrong -- I'm reserving judgment. I just want to understand at this point. It sounds as if the basic purpose of the device is to draw high quality AV off a computer and onto a home entertainment system, sort of as the Roku SoundBridge did for the iPod's audio, but in a very Apple sort of way? In other words, it follows the computer-centric sort of model where a desktop or notebook Mac on the network is the "server"?

It's like around 5 months till spring you guys are acting like it's the final product that's ready to be released.

 

[DrFrankTM]

Is it just me or does the iTV look very stackable? My guess is that eventually you will have a Hard Drive, Optical Drive and the iTV all separate. This way you can upgrade to a BlueRay from a DVD drive or a 500Gig HD from a 250.

Do you think Im way off?

No, I would think that you are right on the money. Of course, since all your iTVs and Macs will be networked wirelessly, you can put a BlueRay drive in the living room, a DVD drive in the kitchen, and attach your ElGato tuner and hard drive to the iMac in your bedroom if you want.

In terms of surface, is it larger than the Mini, or does it just *look* larger because it's much less thick? Does anyone know the exact dimensions of the thing?

 

[Mitch1984]

Just because Microsoft have done something doesn't mean Apple can't do it.
Microsoft get a flak for copying, because they don't innovate, they impersonate.
Yes I know they are gonna have a go at doing their own Music Device but that is my point; Microsoft, think "Hmm Google/Apple are making money on this or that, let's do one too."
Apple think, yes something's been done before but it's not practical/functional enough as it could be.
We have an idea, how we can make it easier/simpler/better, let's do it.

EG: Jonathan Ive & Steve Jobs have always criticised Mobile Phone Design in some way. So my guess is, is that they want to address that.
Yes my example (at then bottom) was based on my opinion based on two interviews and rumors circulation about an iPhone.

 

[Drew4884]

Future of iTv

I love it! The orginal iPod thread is funny to read, all the #itching about how its just a dumb mp3 player....i got a good laugh....

Imagine 4 years from now....what do you see iTv doing?

Just throw out some ideas on what you think it could evolve into:

 

[BillHarrison]

yeah... clearly the options out there are amazing! Just go purchase a gaming console and configure the network for it, set up some streaming content from your PC and you're good to go. Nevermind the fact that the interface isn't built for this content, the setup is horrendous, the device is loud and huge, it won't stream iTunes content, and it costs the same. Better yet, build your own! Now we're talking the 90% case!

Dude, its very simple.

A: Network config is automatic, and very simple. Plug the xbox in, and its all set.

B: Setting up the streaming content from the pc is no different than setting it up on the mac, ie, requires you to do it. SO how is this a difference?

C: Interface not built for the content? Huh? MCE IS A MEDIA interface. How is it not built for it?

D: Setup horrendous? Takes around 30 seconds, first time around. Ya, thats tough!

E: Loud and huge? My 360 is roughly the size of my dvd player, and only a hair louder when playing games, and almost silent when in media center mode.

F: Wont stream iTunes, well, i guess to some thats a negative, but its really neither here nor there, ipods cant use the new unbox from amazon, but my mce can. Who knows here.

G: Costs the same: Perhaps, but when you get your iTV, how about you and I meet online for a game of Gears of WAR and do some online battling. Oh, wait, you can't. The iTV doesn't play games

 

[BillHarrison]

I love it! The orginal iPod thread is funny to read, all the #itching about how its just a dumb mp3 player....i got a good laugh....

Imagine 4 years from now....what do you see iTv doing?

Just throw out some ideas on what you think it could evolve into:

Just because Apple hit a home run with that one, does not turn this into one. How about the "Apple" Digicam, it was just another digicam, what made it better?

How is that doing these days?

 

[macdragonfl]

This is a great add on for existing mac users

I think that what so great about this product and it's potential for sales is to existing mac customers, who I expect will buy in groves. It saves you from another computer to play content you already have, and at a lower price point than a mac mini. You can already have a dvr with eyetv and the such and keep the hardware hidden somewhere else in your house. It is also it good for the studios to see the product which will end up in more content by the time it ships. It was not what I expected but when I thought about it ITV makes a lot of sense.