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This sounds great however it is not a competitor to Google TV because Google's idea is to deliver content from multiple sources (some free) to people's TVs. Google is able to do this because they have no worries of losing money because they don't have a media store such as iTunes. Apple on the other hand, would not allow you to (easily) access free media because of the need to protect iTunes' sales.
 
This sounds great however it is not a competitor to Google TV because Google's idea is to deliver content from multiple sources (some free) to people's TVs. Google is able to do this because they have no worries of losing money because they don't have a media store such as iTunes. Apple on the other hand, would not allow you to (easily) access free media because of the need to protect iTunes' sales.

Excellent point.
 
Think of the possibilities if it has an app platform. Netflix and ABC could make an ATV App. Aswell as all the other networks.

Not NBC Universal. They own Hulu, and refuse to allow Hulu on Boxee or anything TV-related because they think that it will undermine their traditional business model. Until the studios get over this, an ATV will be useless. I'd rather hook up a Mac Mini.
 
thats retarded. if it wasnt also a dvr that could turn me away.


i also hope that i can at least get 30 gigs.

What's retarded? That Apple wouldn't want to sell you a product below cost? What do you think the latest Tivo system costs to make? CableCard has not been plug and play as the cable cos only support it because they were forced. DVR's don't work with DirecTV or Dish, unless made specifically for them.

Does any of this sound like Apple's MO?
 
Yes, unfortunately I know this, which is why I have to *hack* my ATV to play stuff not sanctioned by the big media monstrosities. I'm pretty sure if the content partners didn't have such control, Apple wouldn't be so controlling in this device.

I agree the limits for supported formats is a direct result of Apple's content distribution business and nothing to do with any sort of fundamental hardware limitations.

With that said, I don't really care. I purchase all my digital content and the digital copies I have of CD/DVD's have all been done in iTunes compatible formats. For folks like yourself who have MKV files all I can say is that's a hazard of ripping copyrighted material. Also, if Apple's tight control on supported formats doesn't fit your needs then there are other options from companies who do not have such close relationships with content producers and therefore support a wider variety of formats.
 
This sounds great however it is not a competitor to Google TV because Google's idea is to deliver content from multiple sources (some free) to people's TVs. Google is able to do this because they have no worries of losing money because they don't have a media store such as iTunes. Apple on the other hand, would not allow you to (easily) access free media because of the need to protect iTunes' sales.


Which begs the question: How is Google making money with GTV?

If your answer is advertising, don't forget iAds.
 
I still think the best route for a home media center is the Mac Mini with an EyeTV (or other) usb device for capturing off-air or cable. Apple just needs to integrate this function into the Mini and use the h.264 hardware for compression. It wouldn't be $99, but it sure would be a capable and dependable media device with full OS X. I keep wondering if it is copyright and contracts that keeps Apple from integrating this capability right into one of their units?
 
Yes, but that is exactly my point. They are hardly going to stream a 10GB file.

Wrong! Where are you getting 10-15 GB for 1 hour from. If you are talking about ATSC, it is actually about 9 GB in MPEG2. If you use a very optimized encoder and it encodes in H.264 (MPEG4 Part 10), then you can easily get the size down to 2-3GB for a 1 hour show.

Still, no comparison to the 1080p bluray, but no slouch either.
 
Not NBC Universal. They own Hulu, and refuse to allow Hulu on Boxee or anything TV-related because they think that it will undermine their traditional business model. Until the studios get over this, an ATV will be useless. I'd rather hook up a Mac Mini.

It's also highly likely Hulu will find a way to block GoogleTV. As a product ONLY to be used in conjunction with a TV and cable/satellite box, the Google product will violate Hulu's position on streaming directly to televisions in competition of traditional TV viewing.
 
Not NBC Universal. They own Hulu, and refuse to allow Hulu on Boxee or anything TV-related because they think that it will undermine their traditional business model. Until the studios get over this, an ATV will be useless. I'd rather hook up a Mac Mini.

If Hulu introduces as subscription option at 10 dollars a month, they might consider it.
 
For folks like yourself who have MKV files all I can say is that's a hazard of ripping copyrighted material. Also, if Apple's tight control on supported formats doesn't fit your needs then there are other options from companies who do not have such close relationships with content producers and therefore support a wider variety of formats.

Now I think we're moving into a philosophical discussion (which is great, believe me!) regarding what is appropriate material re: copyright. Happy to have that, but not sure this is something you signed on to in this discussion. ;-)

Re: MKV files, no, I have none, because they don't run on the ATV unfortunately. I have a PS3 and set up a PS3 media server but everything (even the test MKV files) paled in comparison to a simple and small AVI file on the ATV. Possibly I've set up the setting incorrectly on the PS3 media server, but I don't like the fact it is transcoding it on my iMac and sending graphical data, rather than sending file data and letting the device handle the transcoding.
 
That is very reasonable speculation. You'd expect it then.

As a long-time AppleTV user, I'm eager to see the direction Apple takes with the platform.

If nothing else, this shows us the real potential of the 4th-gen iPhone. Wow - 1080P out.

Why? $99 WDTV does it. I'm sure it doesn't have an A4
 
Wrong! Where are you getting 10-15 GB for 1 hour from. If you are talking about ATSC, it is actually about 9 GB in MPEG2. If you use a very optimized encoder and it encodes in H.264 (MPEG4 Part 10), then you can easily get the size down to 2-3GB for a 1 hour show.

Still, no comparison to the 1080p bluray, but no slouch either.

Wow does nobody read the original posts I am replying to?!?

The other person said 10-15GB. Not me. Good grief!

9 GB is still to big to stream.

2-3 MAY work streaming - but I've not seen much of this content out there - usually it comes in smaller and as far as comparison to straight HD over cable it looks like crap. I'm not even comparing to BluRay.

AND Again - this was simply my reply to Why does anyone want a DVR. I said why *I* want a DVR. How can I be wrong about MY own motivations.
 
Apple TV not going to be Ipod like... Going to be an Ipod!

Steve Jobs always looks to simplify and be as minimalist as possible. Why have an Ipod/Iphone like product when you can just use the real thing. Apple TV will simply be an app for their existing product line. Their margins will be huge and they can scale it out globally with the click of a button. I personally think this would be pretty sweet. Now if they could just allow us to stream the video signal to the TV without having to plug in our device. Can't wait to see this one pan out.

-MikeG
 
Without Netflix or Hulu, it will stay a hobby. Very few people buy downloadable movies. Torrent crowd does not care about user experience that much, so they would rather go with WDTV or a laptop hooked to TV.
 
Not NBC Universal. They own Hulu, and refuse to allow Hulu on Boxee or anything TV-related because they think that it will undermine their traditional business model. Until the studios get over this, an ATV will be useless. I'd rather hook up a Mac Mini.

NBC only has a partial share in Hulu.



Type Joint venture
Founded March 2007
Headquarters Los Angeles, California, US
Area served United States
Key people Jason Kilar,[1] CEO
Eric Feng,[2] CTO
Owner
NBC Universal (32%)[3]
Fox Entertainment Group (32%)
ABC, Inc (27%)
Providence Equity Partners
Hulu Employees
 
I agree the limits for supported formats is a direct result of Apple's content distribution business and nothing to do with any sort of fundamental hardware limitations.

With that said, I don't really care. I purchase all my digital content and the digital copies I have of CD/DVD's have all been done in iTunes compatible formats. For folks like yourself who have MKV files all I can say is that's a hazard of ripping copyrighted material. Also, if Apple's tight control on supported formats doesn't fit your needs then there are other options from companies who do not have such close relationships with content producers and therefore support a wider variety of formats.

And this is precisely why this thing will bomb just as hard as Apple TV.

Now if they created some kind of affordable subscription model for TV shows and movies a la Netflix/Zune Pass, this will be an INSTANT buy for me (if available in Canada).
 
And this is precisely why this thing will bomb just as hard as Apple TV.

Now if they created some kind of affordable subscription model for TV shows and movies a la Netflix/Zune Pass, this will be an INSTANT buy for me (if available in Canada).

Zune is a bigger "flop" than the Apple TV.
 
Zune is a bigger "flop" than the Apple TV.

Zune Pass was an example of an online "all you can eat" subscription service. What does the Zune have to do with anything I said? Or is that just more random MS bashing by another mindless drone?
 
+ 1.

Plus I think I would still like a model with local storage for music capability - without having to have any other network device turned on.

Silly to rant against Apple for a rumored product they haven't announced. That said, this thing needs an ethernet port. I have terrible wifi signal near the tv due to a fireplace/chimney. I've got it wired with gigabit already for PS3 and mac mini.

Has to have a USB port for an external hard drive. Cable modem can go down, my laptop could be out of the house, etc. Incidentally, I like the itunes sync of the apple TV for music, hate having to manually push new music to the mac mini I have. For video, I don't want it on my laptop, so I'd just want to push it.

I'd love if podcast viewing data was synced over mobile me. I may have a podcast, even in different resolutions, on iPhone, laptop, apple tv, etc. If I watch on one device and/or delete, be nice for that to happen on all devices. (with preference setting to turn off)

Time capsule stores critical information and is not very robust. Bad idea to turn it into a media streamer. If it had a software raid 1 and I could add a USB drive that it backed up to automatically, then fine. As it stands the failure rate of TC is high, so I'm glad the hard drive on it is spun down 95+% of the time.
 
my WWDC predictions.

new iphone with 512mb ram w/ stuff we already seen
iTunes X cloud service( most likely at september event. but ill say coming soon)
mentions of mac pro and macbook air (no release)
new ATV device mention w/release at september event
iPad beta os 4.0
new ATV beta os 4.0 (reports saying it will run os 4)
 
Streaming only? What the...? My TV already supports streaming by itself. Most modern TV's have this built in. Mine is connected wireless to my router.

Why would I need a special device like the Apple TV? I mean, it doesn't even have a USB connection! The only reason why I would need a special media player hooked up to my TV is to be able to play directly from a USB drive.
 
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