Apple TV Delayed Until March

[Lucy Brown]

Personally, I think it's more intuitive to have the computer record and store the media, and just stream it to the TV when ready. After all, it's much easier to set up recording times on a computer screen with a mouse than a TV screen with a remote.

Now all we need is Apple to do it.

Bravo! I agree.

 

[ukmichael27@hot]

Ok, so appleTV is pushed to March 20...I understand things happen, but I think it would be nice for Apple to send an email to everyone that pre-ordered just to let them know...rather than just changing the date and assuming that people would would be fine with it (or wouldn't notice).

 

[lawclerk]

Has anyone heard if the hard drive will be replaceable with a larger one? I'd gladly buy one and stick a massive harddrive in it. I know it has a USB port, any chance of being able to hook up a external drive? What about a networked drive?

 

[Lucy Brown]

How exactly do you figure? TiVo is going into online sales/rentals with their Amazon Unbox partnership. Its the same market. Problem is, TiVo seems to be smarter than Apple in this regard, but they don't have Apple's $12 billion in reserves that could be used to bury the AppleTV with.

This is what I dont understand. Why didnt they launch this thing with movie rentals. The movie purchasing on itunes is not nearly enough to stir my interest. 15 bucks for a downloaded movie? Watch pod casts on my tv. Who cares.

 

[Lynxpro]

BTW, If you don't like it, move on. Apple's not going to change product features based on forum suggestions.

*Cough* gapless playback on iPods *cough*.


No, Apple is never interested in hearing feedback from its customers on how to improve their products. Never, because Slffl said so in an online forum...

I guess this website link is a figment of my imagination, Slffl...
http://www.apple.com/feedback/

 

[NightStorm]

How exactly do you figure? TiVo is going into online sales/rentals with their Amazon Unbox partnership. Its the same market. Problem is, TiVo seems to be smarter than Apple in this regard, but they don't have Apple's $12 billion in reserves that could be used to bury the AppleTV with.

So far this is vaporware for those of us who own Series3 Tivos. At the rate Tivo has been adding things into the S3 units, Apple will probably have established and taken over the online rental market by the time its enabled.

 

[Lynxpro]

This is what I dont understand. Why didnt they launch this thing with movie rentals. The movie purchasing on itunes is not nearly enough to stir my interest. 15 bucks for a downloaded movie? Watch pod casts on my tv. Who cares.

The reasoning is known as "hubris".

Jobs also said a couple of years back that DVRs wouldn't catch on unless they were built inside the televisions. So, uhm, where are the Apple branded LCD television screens with built-in AppleTV functionality? Hell, I bet Sony will license its "LocationFree" platform to their competitors before Apple does similarly with their tech...

At the rate Tivo has been adding things into the S3 units, Apple will probably have established and taken over the online rental market by the time its enabled.

Not at the $15 per movie price. Nor at $1.99 per TV show either. The only way this would work is if they adopted NetFlix subscription prices for a similar number of titles per month. And there's no indication that this is the plan, although if they were currently in negotiations of this, it would make sense why the AppleTV just became delayed (as I posted several hours ago here).

Then again, had Apple simply purchased TiVo, the Series3 could be based upon the MacMini platform + the CableCard technology instead of the expensive custom hardware that TiVo is shipping. Just based upon the economies-of-scale cost reductions that an Apple-owned TiVo would bring, Apple wouldn't even need to continue the subscription fees that TiVo currently relies upon. But I guess that's too intelligent for the executive team at Cupertino to grasp.

 

[freakyTaj]

cough*
1080p capability in wired mode
42 inch apple cinemaTV with hdmi 1.3 and some sweet wireless feature
mac pro octo-core
mac book pros shipping with leopard + 4gigs ram option
march 20 = geekout time
cough*

 

[NightStorm]

Not at the $15 per movie price. Nor at $1.99 per TV show either. The only way this would work is if they adopted NetFlix subscription prices for a similar number of titles per month. And there's no indication that this is the plan, although if they were currently in negotiations of this, it would make sense why the AppleTV just became delayed (as I posted several hours ago here).

Then again, had Apple simply purchased TiVo, the Series3 could be based upon the MacMini platform + the CableCard technology instead of the expensive custom hardware that TiVo is shipping. Just based upon the economies-of-scale cost reductions that an Apple-owned TiVo would bring, Apple wouldn't even need to continue the subscription fees that TiVo currently relies upon. But I guess that's too intelligent for the executive team at Cupertino to grasp.

If you read my post, I said that Apple will have established a rental system. I am pretty confident that this will happen sooner rather than later; I believe it is a much easier sell to the studios to allow for HD movies to be rented online, but not purchased. They don't want to cannibalize their HD-DVD/Bluray sales, especially so early in the product's lifecycle.

As for Apple buying Tivo, I agree that would have been nice, but a risky move on Apple's part. Has Tivo reported a profitable year yet? Their userbase isn't really growing, and in fact, shrinking as people deactivate their Tivos and go with DVRs supplied by their cable providers and DirecTV.

 

[bpd115]

I'd be all over the AppleTV and moving all my DVDs to a media server to stream to AppleTV but there is one thing I haven't found a solution for....preserving the 5.1 audio.

 

[patrick0brien]

How exactly do you figure? TiVo is going into online sales/rentals with their Amazon Unbox partnership. Its the same market. Problem is, TiVo seems to be smarter than Apple in this regard, but they don't have Apple's $12 billion in reserves that could be used to bury the AppleTV with.

-Lynxpro

Because TV not designed for live content. If a market develops in the future, well...

Until, then, I think a gradual approach is wise.

 

[Curtis72]

For Apple to support a subcription and/or rental service, they would have to update FairPlay to handle it. I would rent a movie from iTunes, but only if the rental period lasted for 30 days. I have, unforunately, fallen into the habit of renting a Blockbuster DVD and never watch it. I think someone placed a whammie on me 5 years ago.

I WOULDN'T SUBCRIBE TO A MONTHLY RENTAL SERVICE.

So has the been any specuation that the reason for the delay isn't actually with the hardware or iTunes client but instead with the iTunes servers? I am thinking the real delay is caused by server upgrades to handle "true" 720p HD movies.

 

[Lucy Brown]

I'd be all over the AppleTV and moving all my DVDs to a media server to stream to AppleTV but there is one thing I haven't found a solution for....preserving the 5.1 audio.

Wow, I never thought of that. Thats a deal breaker. I have a nice surround system for my 42" lcd. Like I'm going to watch a 5.1 movie in 2.0.

 

[mduser63]

Ok, so appleTV is pushed to March 20...I understand things happen, but I think it would be nice for Apple to send an email to everyone that pre-ordered just to let them know...rather than just changing the date and assuming that people would would be fine with it (or wouldn't notice).

I just now (like 1 minute ago) got an email from Apple about the delay.

To Our Valued Apple Customer:


Thank you for ordering the new Apple TV, an easy to use and fun way to
wirelessly play all your favorite iTunes content from your Mac or PC on your
widescreen TV.

Wrapping up Apple TV is taking a few weeks longer than we projected, and we
now expect to begin shipments in mid-March, not in February as originally
anticipated.

You may check the status of your order any time by visiting our online order
status website at http://www.apple.com/orderstatus.

A shipment notification, with tracking information, will be emailed to you as
soon as your order is shipped. There is no need to contact us unless you
choose to change or cancel your order.

We appreciate your business and thank you for shopping at the Apple Store!

Sincerely,
The Apple Store Team

 

[Lucy Brown]

For Apple to support a subcription and/or rental service, they would have to update FairPlay to handle it. I would rent a movie from iTunes, but only if the rental period lasted for 30 days. I have, unforunately, fallen into the habit of renting a Blockbuster DVD and never watch it. I think someone placed a whammie on me 5 years ago.

I WOULDN'T SUBCRIBE TO A MONTHLY RENTAL SERVICE.

So has the been any specuation that the reason for the delay isn't actually with the hardware or iTunes client but instead with the iTunes servers? I am thinking the real delay is caused by server upgrades to handle "true" 720p HD movies.

Thats really the bottom line here for most people. I wouldnt buy a movie from itunes but I would rent one.

 

[eddyg]

Ship date not updated yet

Hi,

FYI my ship is still 28/2/2007 deliver 2/3/2007. I ordered on 11/1/2007. So I guess they are updating the orders in order of order date and haven't got to mine as yet.

Cheers, Ed.

 

[Frisco]

I only rent movies. No matter how good a movie is I can't watch it more than once. Please offer a rental service!

 

[parkds]

I also just received my email from Apple. March 20th seems to be pushing the definition of "mid March" to me though.

 

[elppa]

I just now (like 1 minute ago) got an email from Apple about the delay.

Wrapping up Apple TV is taking a few weeks longer than we projected, and we now expect to begin shipments in mid-March, not in February as originally
anticipated.

I like the way the release date now becomes an "anticipated" release date.

Nice little play with words there.

 

[Curtis72]

I only rent movies. No matter how good a movie is I can't watch it more than once. Please offer a rental service!

True. I also got into a habit of buying DVDs and never watching them. No whammie, I am just waiting to get my "ultimate" home theather system.

But I actually didn't order the Apple TV to watch TV or movies primarly, but for its on-screen music catalog browsing. I have an Apple Airport Express and I hate going back and forth from my Mac just to situation playlists or pause the damn thing. I know there are other less expensive alternatives to the Apple TV.

 

[balamw]

Hi,

FYI my ship is still 28/2/2007 deliver 2/3/2007. I ordered on 11/1/2007. So I guess they are updating the orders in order of order date and haven't got to mine as yet.

Cheers, Ed.

For the unwashed Americans who write dates backwards that's January 11 and February 28.

Hope your date is still valid.

B

 

[Lucy Brown]

I only rent movies. No matter how good a movie is I can't watch it more than once. Please offer a rental service!

I was into collecting dvds when they 1st came out, then I came to my senses.
I have about a dozen dvds now. Mainly box sets of trilogy type movies or directors cuts like Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, etc. Stuff that doesnt really wear out for me. I may buy one movie a year now. Renting is a different story. Thats the pot of gold at the end of this rainbow

 

[Lynxpro]

As for Apple buying Tivo, I agree that would have been nice, but a risky move on Apple's part. Has Tivo reported a profitable year yet? Their userbase isn't really growing, and in fact, shrinking as people deactivate their Tivos and go with DVRs supplied by their cable providers and DirecTV.

TiVo has had one profitable quarter. The reason why they aren't profitable is because their hardware costs are expensive because they can't command lower prices like Apple does due to Apple's economies-of-scale. IF Apple purchased TiVo, TiVo's business model would be profitable because of the lower hardware costs. As I stated in my prior post.

As for DVR growth, it isn't TiVo's fault that Echostar/DISH Network stole their intellectual property and the court case continues to drag on due to appeals. As for DirecTV, TiVo lost out because pig-headed Rupert Murdoch strong-armed DirecTV to ditch TiVo in favor of shoring up Murdoch's investment in the failure known as NDS Corp. which since then has made (and massively delayed each time) the DirecTV DVR models under contract. Now that Murdoch has sold out his (ie. "News Corp") 33% stake in DirecTV to John Malone, things might revert back in favor of TiVo. Malone is a pragmatist, and he probably has noticed that Comcast, CableVision, and other cablecos are lining up to license the TiVo software to run atop their Motorola DVRs they've stockpiled. If you think the cableco set-top boxes are a threat to TiVo, then you should also consider them a threat to the AppleTV since some of them also can do audio and video streaming, just not iTunes content.

There was no risk on Apple's part to buy TiVo, and much to gain. Gaining a complementing brand, a compatible user base, and all that intellectual property to boot.

 

[donlphi]

Let's see... how can I put a positive spin on this...

It's all a part of their master plan.

or

They are probably going to release the new full screen iPODS at the same time.

or

They wanted to be able to release it with the new Apple Hi-Fi II

or

They wanted to incorporate a new broadcast feature so you can watch your movies wirelessly on your iPhone or other handheld device... maybe that's why we don't have a lot of HD space on the iPhone - Introducing APPLE SLINGBOX (Kinda like Slingbox, but with Apple before it).

no surprise on the delay though...

 

[donlphi]

TiVo has had one profitable quarter. The reason why they aren't profitable is because their hardware costs are expensive because they can't command lower prices like Apple does due to Apple's economies-of-scale. IF Apple purchased TiVo, TiVo's business model would be profitable because of the lower hardware costs. As I stated in my prior post.

As for DVR growth, it isn't TiVo's fault that Echostar/DISH Network stole their intellectual property and the court case continues to drag on due to appeals. As for DirecTV, TiVo lost out because pig-headed Rupert Murdoch strong-armed DirecTV to ditch TiVo in favor of shoring up Murdoch's investment in the failure known as NDS Corp. which since then has made (and massively delayed each time) the DirecTV DVR models under contract. Now that Murdoch has sold out his (ie. "News Corp") 33% stake in DirecTV to John Malone, things might revert back in favor of TiVo. Malone is a pragmatist, and he probably has noticed that Comcast, CableVision, and other cablecos are lining up to license the TiVo software to run atop their Motorola DVRs they've stockpiled. If you think the cableco set-top boxes are a threat to TiVo, then you should also consider them a threat to the AppleTV since some of them also can do audio and video streaming, just not iTunes content.

There was no risk on Apple's part to buy TiVo, and much to gain. Gaining a complementing brand, a compatible user base, and all that intellectual property to boot.

I think Comcast is way on top when it comes to features and on demand selections. Pair that up with a Slingbox Pro and you have WAY more than you will ever get with an TV.

I can watch the same old paramount or disney movies for free on comcast anytime I want. I can access them from anywhere I want with my laptop and EV-DO Broadband Card or my work computer or my Pocket PC. Apple TV is missing that key ingredient. I can also watch my saved shows. I can set my DVR to record things when I realize I can't get home on time.

No additional cost. Technically, you would be able to hook up your TV too, but for what?

I really don't care about the TiVo or Comcast thing, I have comcast and I'm sure TiVo works nicely, but I had to put in a plug for Slingbox if you haven't ever paired it up with your DVR. Definitely worth the $179 (AV) - $225 (pro). Biggest downer... it doesn't work with PALM OS yet and no REAL zoom features.