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Last I checked the Apple TV is NOT a video game device. If it were to become one it will use the app store. most of the games in the app store are one player games.

Most games are single-player because the iPod/iPhone/iPad is suited to single-player games. If Apple brought the store to the TV, multiplayer games would be more feasible.
 
I will probably buy this for the OS, the ability to use iphone apps on a hdtv screen (Hopefully) but as media player it sounds poor compared to things such as the WD TV HD live. I would also be dissapointed over the fact it hasn't got much internal memory and it seems it won't be getting a usb port of hdmi. Hopfully this is just a fake rumour.
 
This $99 price rumor is pretty ridiculous. It's more likely that a touch-sensitive remote to control the device would be $99 itself let alone the entire Apple TV unit.

Let's look at some of the components that a rumored A4-based Apple TV would include (taken from iSuppli's cost estimate on the 16GB iPad):

A4 processor and DRAM: $26.80
16GB flash memory: $29.50
WiFi & Bluetooth chip: $8.05
Audio chip: $1.20
Case and electromechanical: $35.30
----------------------------------------
Total: $100.85

That charge for case and electromechanical does not include the iPad's screen or battery or even anything for a power supply. A new Apple TV might save a few dollars with a smaller/simplified case but that would be more than offset by the power supply, remote control (IR?), and external connectors needed on an Apple TV. In any case, the aluminum case on the iPad is estimated to cost $10.50 (so deduct a portion of that if you wish).

Now apply at least a 2X factor to cover packaging, marketing, shipping, and typical retail markup and you come to a grand total of $201.70 (probably too low, since we're not even including everything in our approximately $100 bill of materials).

Thus, it's pretty easy to see that a new 16GB Apple TV based upon the A4 processor would costs just as much as today's version (frankly, a pretty good deal at $229).
 
This $99 price rumor is pretty ridiculous. It's more likely that a touch-sensitive remote to control the device would be $99 itself let alone the entire Apple TV unit.

Let's look at some of the components that a rumored A4-based Apple TV would include (taken from iSuppli's cost estimate on the 16GB iPad):

A4 processor and DRAM: $26.80
16GB flash memory: $29.50
WiFi & Bluetooth chip: $8.05
Audio chip: $1.20
Case and electromechanical: $35.30
----------------------------------------
Total: $100.85

That charge for case and electromechanical does not include the iPad's screen or battery or even anything for a power supply. A new Apple TV might save a few dollars with a smaller/simplified case but that would be more than offset by the power supply, remote control (IR?), and external connectors needed on an Apple TV. In any case, the aluminum case on the iPad is estimated to cost $10.50 (so deduct a portion of that if you wish).

Now apply at least a 2X factor to cover packaging, marketing, shipping, and typical retail markup and you come to a grand total of $201.70 (probably too low, since we're not even including everything in our approximately $100 bill of materials).

Thus, it's pretty easy to see that a new 16GB Apple TV based upon the A4 processor would costs just as much as today's version (frankly, a pretty good deal at $229).

What if this device is designed as an accessory to a larger device?
TV manufacture join the Made for iPod program integrate a dock like connector into their products. Consumer buys TV and then the new AppleTVpod that goes in the slot. Like and other iPod docks in feeds the pod power. Controls the pod via it's own remote and gets feed a video and audio signal which is then processors.

That wouldn't need Apple to sell a remote in the price. You'd have to buy an iPod like dock seperately if you want to use it standalone. But it migh not just be TV's that come with the special dock but the full range of devices that already have iPod docks.

Interesting this model would require wireless syncing.
 
What if this device is designed as an accessory to a larger device?...That wouldn't need Apple to sell a remote in the price...
Even if you omit all of the case and electromechanical costs and remote you still can't meet the rumored $99 price. If this is really going to be an A4-based device with 16GBs of flash memory it will have to sell for more than $100. Based upon the iSuppli estimates for the iPad, I'd guess that the absolute lowest retail cost would be about $150. Frankly, the rumored $99 price is so low that it makes me doubt the veracity of this report. What I mean is that if the $99 price point is so unsupportable why should we believe any part of this rumor? True, we can probably expect to see a new Apple TV before the end of the year but it may be nothing like this rumor suggests.

The use of the A4 and the iPhone OS makes sense as does the focus on streaming (no crystal ball or inside information needed for that), but all other details from this rumor could be pure fantasy.
 
Last I checked the Apple TV is NOT a video game device. If it were to become one it will use the app store. most of the games in the app store are one player games.

Thats like saying the iPad had or will have no apps (prior to its release) because the app store was only for the iPhone/iPod Touch. If the TV can handle games and the app store will be open for them then developers will port multi-player games for it. Its a no brainer if the device can handle it.
 
Thats like saying the iPad had or will have no apps (prior to its release) because the app store was only for the iPhone/iPod Touch. If the TV can handle games and the app store will be open for them then developers will port multi-player games for it. Its a no brainer if the device can handle it.

That is an interesting proposition buy a 99 dollar AppleTV then turn around and have to buy at least 1 199 dollar iPod Touch to use as a controller. (of course this is assuming one doesn't already have one or an iPhone)

With the replacement controllers being so expensive, I don't see it taking over the Wii...
 
That is an interesting proposition buy a 99 dollar AppleTV then turn around and have to buy at least 1 199 dollar iPod Touch to use as a controller. (of course this is assuming one doesn't already have one or an iPhone)

With the replacement controllers being so expensive, I don't see it taking over the Wii...

True, or perhaps they come out w/ dedicated wireless controllers/remotes that don't serve any other purpose to keep costs lower. ...sold separately so people who just want the TV function don't have to bother and can use the little remote it comes with.
 
Consumer wins.

Really? What if you want to move away from Apple technology? Now I'm assuming that Apple will not offer access from GoogleOS or Windows platforms.

Cloud based computing, in this form is just like DRM, drives up the market barriers for rivals to poach customers or new competitors to enter the market. The cost to the user (ie me and you) becomes prohibitably expensive over time so this means you will not be able to move.

The government needs to review this area and place a framework in place to allow free movement to users thus protecting consumer rights.

This assumes a digital ownership model. If Apple is going for a digital leasing model (pay per view/play) then this is a moot point but at the prices being asked has to drop to compete with existing on-demand services.

My last point comes down to bandwidth to the home. In the UK we're still in the range of 2MB/sec to 8MB/sec if you're lucky. Some users have 20-50MB/sec but they're rare. Now 1080p take a serious chunk of bandwidth to stream. The broadband/cable providers also cap the capacity per month and the majority of limits are in the range of 2GB/20GB/50GB. Streaming 1080p is going to cut into that heavily.
So the total price of operation would have to include the additional cost of the user having to increase the monthly cost for a higher cap limit along with the additional speed required for streaming.
 
...If Apple is going for a digital leasing model (pay per view/play) then this is a moot point but at the prices being asked has to drop to compete with existing on-demand services...
Well, at least here in the U.S. the costs of iTunes rentals is the same as for other on-demand services. The same is true for most movie purchases (check Amazon VOD, VUDU, etc.).
 
excuse my late reply :( its been a busy week

Okay, I looked at those links and frankly they don't seem conclusive (thanks, however, for providing them). In fact, there are a few sections from those links which seem to place some doubt on your claim that the Apple TV's GPU could easily handle H.264 encoded, 1080p video. For example, that second link was from a user who was having problems with 1080p playback until he upgraded his Core 2 Duo PC system to use a multi-threaded player and upped the CPU clock to 2.33GHz (he was still having some problems when the CPU was running at only 1.86GHz).
the links i posted aren't completely sound, as i said - but they do indicate that with the aid of the GPU - 1080p playback might be possible. unfortunately, with further analysis, it looks like the P4 will not be powerful enough to support the GPU.

In any case, your links do suggest the following about the GPU in the Apple TV (NVIDIA GeForce 7300 Go):

1.) It should be able to handle MPEG2-encoded 1080p content (which would include MPEG2-encoded Blu-ray discs).
actually, as i said before, VP-1 cannot decode BD discs (no) - they never added the functionality :( but MPEG2 rips should be possible.

2.) Systems using NVIDIA VP1-enabled GPUs (same general family and generation of processor as in the 7300 Go) can handle H.264-encoded HD content when they are paired with dual-core Intel processors. That may even include the ability to decode some H.264 1080p content.
it would most definitely seem that way - only for Core2Duo Intel chips though it seems. the 7900Go chip CAN decode full h264 1080p content, i know that much haha :) the 7300Go is a bit iffy.

Other than that, I think it's still an open question as to whether the Apple TV (as a system) could handle 1080p content. In any case, I'd be happy if Apple updated the current Apple TV to allow 720p30 which has already been demonstrated to work when you hack the system to allow the transfer of such content to the Apple TV.
id be fine with that. no need to implement 1080i, as its virtually the same as 720p anyway :)rolleyes:). the contributing factor more seems to be the bitrate rather then the resolution, it would be interesting to see how the 7300Go performs in those instances.

if the rumors are true and an ARM based CPU does surface, i think that 1080p content would be possible. ~10mb/s @1080p content is possible on the ipad currently - no doubt apple will develop a dual core variant in the near future :) i envision using my ipad to play games on my :apple:TV in the near future. :)
 
Apple TV

I cant wait for this product. Although it has its pros and cons I think this is revolutionary for people around the world. Technology is rising and it is doing a fantastic job!
 
The actual price point for the new AppleTV will be..

$0.00

But there will be a media subscription package.

This is a guess, but it tallies with what Jobs is saying. Customers don't want to pay for additional boxes. But a free box that is packaged with a service could become very popular (if the price is right and the service is attractive).

C.
 
$0.00

But there will be a media subscription package.

This is a guess, but it tallies with what Jobs is saying. Customers don't want to pay for additional boxes. But a free box that is packaged with a service could become very popular (if the price is right and the service is attractive).

C.

If only eh? :rolleyes: its apple, so i don't think that it will happen. :(
 
"free" lol. you end up paying for it some how. idk about you but i wouldnt wanna be on a plan for my :apple:TV!

I am using the term free to mean a retail price of $0.00 to the customer who signs a contract for a service.

A subscription TV package could easily subsidise the hardware described above.

C.
 
that above link doesnt work for people outside the UKL btw :(

I am using the term free to mean a retail price of $0.00 to the customer who signs a contract for a service.

A subscription TV package could easily subsidise the hardware described above.

C.

can you point me to any existing packages where all of the services are a "pay as you watch" service where the device itself is free (and not on a contract of sorts).
 
I can very easily see a subsidised streaming box from Apple. Although, I don't think Apple has ever done this by themselves, sure they have bundles (like discount on MobileMe on the purchase of any Mac) but a subscription service. However, they keep on boasting about their 150 million credit cards. All we need now is some form of alliance between ISP's in download limited places (looks at Australia) for unmetered usage and I'll prob buy into it.
 
I can very easily see a subsidised streaming box from Apple. Although, I don't think Apple has ever done this by themselves, sure they have bundles (like discount on MobileMe on the purchase of any Mac) but a subscription service. However, they keep on boasting about their 150 million credit cards. All we need now is some form of alliance between ISP's in download limited places (looks at Australia) for unmetered usage and I'll prob buy into it.

that would be nice, but yea the download limits here in australia and other places really limit what we can actually download. the speed massively limits as well, i dont think many users are >8mbps in australia.
 
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