Apple TV Details and Specs

[EricNau]

I'm totally out of my field here, so I'll just ask...

Does the tv do any up-converting like many DVD players? Would it really make a difference? Could this possibly eliminate the need for HD movies on iTunes?

 

[Peace]

Come to think of it, I can think of very few families that have or had 5.1, and I don't have any friends with it now (but I'm a student, so that makes sense). The only people I can remember who have 5.1 were the type of blokes (they are always blokes) who get erections telling you how expensive their media set up was. And then they'd only go and watch some awful action move on it.

I am neither a bloke nor a person that gets sexually aroused by my stereo.And it has 5.1 speakers.

 

[EricNau]

Hey is the Apple trailer site down for anyone else in Front Row?

It's working fine for me.

 

[balamw]

Roughly 65% of North American theatre home owners use 5.1 surround sound, and growing.

Come to think of it, I can think of very few families that have or had 5.1, and I don't have any friends with it now (but I'm a student, so that makes sense).

Another example of how 78% of statistics are made up on the spot. I would venture to guess that far more than 35% of consumers with the appropriate HDTVs are NOT using 5.1.

For one I'm not, though I was in a previous house.

B

 

[WilliamLondon]

I wouldn't be quite so bold in my assessment... I'd say that a device LIKE the AppleTV will eventually replace all the other devices. But not necessarily the AppleTV, being realistic.

My point was the revolution has started and this marks it, just as some here have pointed out, the iPod marked the MP3 revolution. It will happen. Maybe Apple and the AppleTV will own it, maybe not, but it will happen.

 

[CoreWeb]

Come to think of it, I can think of very few families that have or had 5.1, and I don't have any friends with it now (but I'm a student, so that makes sense). The only people I can remember who have 5.1 were the type of blokes (they are always blokes) who get erections telling you how expensive their media set up was. And then they'd only go and watch some awful action move on it.

Exactly. And, thinking a bit more on it... though I have a 5.1 setup in one part of my house, I never use it. Even at movie theaters, I usually do NOT notice surround sound unless a sound SUDDENLY comes from behind, which it rarely does. So, as I am not obsessed with 5.1, I probably don't need it. The AppleTV would work well.

Now, if I were to get a home theater room (not likely, but plausible... maybe), then I would probably plug in a Mac Mini to that. So here is how I read it: for people who are not using lossless everything, high-def everything, etc., etc., the AppleTV is an product for showing media on the TV. For those that need the ultra-high quality, the Mac Mini is perfect.

 

[macinfojunkie]

Try the trailer for Eragon: H.264 Decoder, 1280 x 544, Millions
AAC, 5.1 (C L R Ls Rs LFE), 48.000 kHz

That's surround, 720p.

I checked out that trailer since I already had it downloaded. I'd not noticed that some of Apple's trailers had 5.1 AAC. As a test I exported the trailer using the ATV option in QT. Bad news is that I ended up a stereo mix, the 5.1 mix was not retained. I'm guessing this means 5.1 will not be supported for home-brew content, at least without a QT update and/or a ATV update.

 

[WilliamLondon]

general home theatre connaissieur.

General and connoisseur are contradictions - one is the target audience for this device, the other is not.

 

[EricNau]

Another example of how 78% of statistics are made up on the spot. I would venture to guess that far more than 35% of consumers with the appropriate HDTVs are NOT using 5.1.

For one I'm not, though I was in a previous house.

B

Notice how it's worded:
Roughly 65% of North American theatre home owners use 5.1 surround sound, and growing.


What exactly defines a "home theater"? Statistics are all about manipulation.

 

[FleurDuMal]

I am neither a bloke nor a person that gets sexually aroused by my stereo.And it has 5.1 speakers.

There's always the exception to prove the rule

 

[localoid]

Granted it might be even more efficient to do this in hardware and that may be in store for future iterations of AppleTV... but there's a question of what the cost impact would be versus a software transcoder.

I'm just stating that for now it is possible to facilitate it through a software update.

Cost most? Do you mean a license cost, or hardware cost? The Intel HDA chipset is already in place on all of the Apple Intel systems. I assume it's on the Apple TV's motherboard as well... I also assume there are licensing issues/costs for hardware/motherboard manufacturers to implement it, but perhaps that's the whole reason for the "play it through the Apple TV" solution is being marketed, e.g., it's potentially a multi-channel solution requiring only one license, vs. than Apple licensing Dolby Live for every computer it sells. But maybe I'm missing the some aspect of this... ?

 

[macinfojunkie]

Originally Posted by vkxonline
The AppleTV is a joke. It's clearly missing the most important features. I've outlined seven below.

1) GPS.
2) Bluetooth.
3) .art support.
4) No Power Brick.
5) 3840x2160 resolution.
6) Halo 3.
7) Widgets.

If Apple doesn't fix these seven issues by the time the already shipped items arrive in our homes, I'm going to definitely declare this device a complete flop.

Great list! You forgot the most important missing feature though. Compatibility with the 1000s of virus and malware programs that can run on Windows Media Centre. Until those are supported I'm out!......

Just kidding, TNT have mine in the mail

 

[WilliamLondon]

Reeeeoooowwww. Meeeooooowww!!! hiss hiss

BTW, I didn't say how jealous I was of 1080p, but I try not to think about it and just enjoy my new 32" 1080i telly (which is 5" bigger than my last and I thought a HUGE increase). They just recently (Sony that is) released a 40" 1080p telly here in the UK, and with such limited content, why unless you've got 1) oodles of money and/or 2) oodles of space, would you buy one? If you have one I suppose it's a privileged position to be in, but a rare one nonetheless and it's a bit silly to require every device to support 1080p right now just because you might own a 1080p telly.

 

[3282872]

General and connoisseur are contradictions - one is the target audience for this device, the other is not.

you're cracking me up. Used TOGETHER they are not as there are mainstream home theatre connoisseurs. There is no "target" audience for TV, I don't recall Steve Jobs stating it was only for people who watch video's in stereo sound at 720p. Now, stop detracting from the discussion by nitpicking my comments , as entertaining as it is

bit silly to require every device to support 1080p right now just because you might own a 1080p telly.

Just as it was a bit silly for Apple to go after the limited MP3 market with the introduction to the iPod in 2000, right?

 

[3282872]

Another example of how 78% of statistics are made up on the spot. I would venture to guess that far more than 35% of consumers with the appropriate HDTVs are NOT using 5.1.

For one I'm not, though I was in a previous house.

B

Show me the statistics were it states that most people with HDTV do NOT use 5.1 surround sound...

 

[jsw]

Just as it was a bit silly for Apple to go after the limited MP3 market with the introduction to the iPod in 2000, right?

Um, what?

A small percentage of sets support 1080p, few broadcasts are 1080p, and, more importantly, most people can't distinguish between 1080 and 720 at the distance they tend to view their TVs. You're seriously arguing that lack of 1080 support is going to reduce sales of this device, esp. after arguing that anyone serious about video would never buy it in the first place?

It's fine to argue it's not for you. But it's rediculous to argue it won't sell well and that there's no decent target audience.

 

[FleurDuMal]

Show me the statistics were it states that most people with HDTV do NOT use 5.1 surround sound...

Show us where it says that most do.

All stats are misleading. I imagine whoever conducts such a survey would have quite an incentive to make out that every loves 5.1.

 

[3282872]

BTW, I didn't say how jealous I was of 1080p, but I try not to think about it and just enjoy my new 32" 1080i telly (which is 5" bigger than my last and I thought a HUGE increase). They just recently (Sony that is) released a 40" 1080p telly here in the UK, and with such limited content, why unless you've got 1) oodles of money and/or 2) oodles of space, would you buy one? If you have one I suppose it's a privileged position to be in, but a rare one nonetheless and it's a bit silly to require every device to support 1080p right now just because you might own a 1080p telly.

My point wasn't that you are "jealous", but how your comments are very passive-aggressive and borderline demeaning towards others. There is a strong sense of snobbery and entitlement to your tone, that's all.

 

[gugy]

Then you and the other 2 people that have 1080p and think it's the bee's knees can forget about it together and bitch about how Apple missed the mark on this one. The rest of us will enjoy this lovely new device.

two other people that have 1080p? you must be kidding!
Yes, still a niche, but pretty soon this will change.
Besides, I am enjoying 1080p now on my 30" Cinema display. So don't you worry.
I love AppleTV concept, but is not there yet for me. If you like it, buy it and stop being a jerk.

 

[WilliamLondon]

There is no "target" audience for TV, I don't recall Steve Jobs stating it was only for people who watch video's in stereo sound at 720p. Now, stop detracting from the discussion by nitpicking my comments , as entertaining as it is

Yes, you're right, I'm sure they haven't done their market research and are flying blind.

 

[Peace]

Actually almost ALL HDTV's come with built-in 5.1 speakers.

 

[gugy]

My point wasn't that you are "jealous", but how your comments are very passive-aggressive and borderline demeaning towards others. There is a strong sense of snobbery and entitlement to your tone, that's all.

man you said it all!

 

[3282872]

Show us where it says that most do.

All stats are misleading. I imagine whoever conducts such a survey would have quite an incentive to make out that every loves 5.1.

As someone who has been through a MA in social organizational psych, statistical analysis is a very tricky situation. Many researchers may go into a study with an unconscious desire to prove a point the researcher feels are more valid, hence the need for numerous studies and methods of analysis to determine validity. My point was, there is no way to determine how popular or unpopular 5.1 or greater surround sound usage is in home theatres. However, as most new AVR's have 5.1 or great surround sound capabilities and as most DVD's have 5.1 surround sound, why buy into a product that does not and generally links to purchased material that is sub-DVD quality?

 

[WilliamLondon]

As someone who has been through a MA in social organizational psych, statistical analysis is a very tricky situation.

And I was going to accuse you of being a 1st year psych student but thought that would be silly to point out...

My point wasn't that you are "jealous", but how your comments are very passive-aggressive and borderline demeaning towards others. There is a strong sense of snobbery and entitlement to your tone, that's all.

Trying to escalate the argument here? Or personalise it? Or both? You missed the point and I'm out.

 

[CoreWeb]

Actually almost ALL HDTV's come with built-in 5.1 speakers.

HDTVs only have two speakers though, so the most that they can do is SIMULATE 5.1.