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Apple TV Details and Specs

Jimmdean said:
The Apple TV is designed to be at least DVD quality. It remains to be seen how typical iTunes content will look, but the stuff you can make yourself could/would be that good with Handbrake or such. Basically, it's a lot better than analog cable (or even the digital channels), which is what you're describing.
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Thanks a lot...so I will be buying an AppleTV soon...its simplicity is just awesome...and it's gonna be the key to its success...

Besides, I really wonder now how useful it is to rip DVDs and stream them from the Mac, when you have the DVD player in front of you...:rolleyes:
 
NightStorm said:
Why would you want to stream a DVD from your Mac to an AppleTV? Why not just put it in your already existing DVD player and play it right there? Am I missing something? I dont know why this continues to come up... :confused:
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This is a revolution in media consumption happening now. The issue of whether it will stream a DVD or not will be moot very soon, as the end of the DVD (hard little disc) is nearing, just as the floppy is dead. I'm a huge supporter of this device but don't see the importance of streaming a DVD - why do that? My computer is upstairs - the more logical thing would be to rip the DVD to your computer and stream it from the hard drive, and since it'd be on your hard drive it'd be always available for viewing forever after, like a great big DVD juke box.
 
Support for 1080i

The specs now say that the :apple:TV supports high-definition widescreen TVs capable of 1080i 60/50Hz... Previously I thought they only mentioned 720p. This is important for me as my Pana plasma accepts 1080i input but not 720p.

Any idea how this would look with the input being 1080i even though the max supported H.264 resolution is 1280x720? Any forseen problems as it would be showing a progressive format as interlaced?
 
Waiting for my ATV

Currently waiting for my Apple TV to arrive (hopefully tomorrow) but was hoping I could get some knowledgable help here.

In the past week I have bought a Samsung 42 inch Plasma (comes with 2 HDMI Jacks) --- and I want to hook up my Apple TV (HDMI), Comcast Digital Cable Box (HDMI), and Phillips Home Thearte system (HDMI) ---

http://reviews.cnet.com/Philips_HTS6...6.html?tag=sub

So I have three devices with HDMI capability but only 2 HDMI ports on my Samsung HD TV. To complicate things, I want the audio from the actual TV, and Apple TV to come out of the Phillips system all the time, NOT the standard Samsung TV speakers.

What is the best way to accomplish this?

Thanks guys
 
Stella said:
Really?

Once again , the OP:
"Sorry, but this product doesn't appeal to me. Why would I want to download movies from iTunes for just a few bucks less than the DVD costs and not even get 1080i quality? I mean, I didn't spend a few grand on a 50-inch HD plasma to watch anything less than HD quality movies."
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Are you guys continue the pissing contest, or can we get back on topic here? Thanks a lot.
 
Jury is out...

For me, I've been waiting for a decent solution to this problem for a while. I picked up a Pinnacle media center thingy that presumably would have solved my problem but it was terribly flaky. It stuttered a lot and would just fail all together for no apparent reason. I've taken to ripping a number of my DVD's and archiving them in the hopes that some day I'll be able to just pull up movies on my TV and not have to go digging for a disc.

The problem I personally have with AppleTV as it now stands is that it doesn't support old school analog televisions. I haven't hopped on the HDTV wagon, though I'm likely to in the next year or so. So once I do that, I might consider it. Fortunately I ripped all my movies for viewing on my ipod, so the format will work, and I believe I did it at a high enough quality level that even on an HD screen it should look decent.

It seems like a good first step, but the killer app for this would be the ability to download new shows, movies, etc, in near real time from your couch. If they can turn the ITunes store into a replacement for my cable's on demand service, I'd be thrilled.
 
Padriac said:
Assuming you live in America, it seems like 95% of the population would at least potentially buy this product. Seems like a potential success to me.
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To be honest, a large percentage of that population would also need to buy a new TV. And probably a Mac as well. I'm just saying. :)

Edit: I take that last claim back. I forgot AppleTV works with Windows PCs also.
 
no DIVX, not for me

I like the interface, but the lack of DIVX support is a deal breaker for me. I use an elGato Eyehome with my mac to stream Divx to my 50" plasma and it works great. The aTV is a nicer interface and probably eliminates the occasional networking hiccoughs that the EyeHome has, but come on. Lots of people download Divx TV through Bittorrent. If they added this support, they would sell one to every mac using college student, which is a lot of kids.
 
No surround sound: This is 2007. Apple TV should not be limited to stereo sound. Your home theater may be stereo today but you may be upgrading it to full blown surround sound.

DiVX/XViD: DiVX and XViD are commonly used for illegal video sharing. But then again, MP3 was commonly used for illegal audio sharing. You can rip your own DVDs to H.264 or MPEG-4, much like you ripped CD to MP3 or AAC. But ripping DVD to DiVX or XViD will let you include Dolby Digital (AC-3) track for true discrete surround sound experience.

Videos from iTunes Store: Stereo sound, below DVD video quality, no subtitles, no rental pricing.
 
Padriac said:
Here is a really simple Apple TV checklist.

If any of the following is true...

1) You don't live in America and you would not pay $300 to get access to your digital music collection through your home theater set-up

2) You are one of the .01% of the population that has tons of illegal DivX/XviD content that you are not willing to re-encode

3) You already have a computer hooked up to your TV and you don't feel like you'd rather have a more simple solution

...then you do not want to an AppleTV. You don't need to look at specs, you don't need to debate: this product is not intended for you at all.

Assuming you live in America, it seems like 95% of the population would at least potentially buy this product. Seems like a potential success to me.
Click to expand...

I live in Germany, I ordered the Apple TV for the following reasons:

  • Ability to watch my EyeTV recordings
  • Show my pictures
  • play Music
  • convert DVDs that don't "need" Dolby Digital or DTS to be good. That includes mainly older movies
  • The iTunes Store in Germany will eventually offer movies
  • I want to buy a Canon HD Camera this year, so I will be able to watch my own films on my Widescreen Philips TV HD Ready (720p and 1080i)
 
Apple has sent out emails saying that the :apple: TV will be available in stores this weekend... Just got this in my inbox...

429652824_c90680bc06_o.png
 
CJD2112 said:
Sorry, but I [personally] do not view the point in spending $299 to add another piece equipment ontop of my AVR, DVD/CD Player, Cable Box and surge box just so I can buy movies online through iTunes.
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Save that post, and in the future when that little $299 box has replaced your AVR, DVD/CD, Cable box and surge box you'll laugh and think how myopic we all were and how visionary Apple was.
 
BRLawyer said:
Thanks a lot...so I will be buying an AppleTV soon...its simplicity is just awesome...and it's gonna be the key to its success...

Besides, I really wonder now how useful it is to rip DVDs and stream them from the Mac, when you have the DVD player in front of you...:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Well, my 2-year old has a lot of Baby-Einstein/Dora/Diego/Spongebob DVDs. Honestly, I'm getting tired of changing them, not to mention having to re-burn them everytime he decides to scratch them all up.

Apple TV should alleviate that issue for me...
 
Jimmdean said:
Well, my 2-year old has a lot of Baby-Einstein/Dora/Diego/Spongebob DVDs. Honestly, I'm getting tired of changing them, not to mention having to re-burn them everytime he decides to scratch them all up.

Apple TV should alleviate that issue for me...
Click to expand...

Well, at least kids don't care about multi-channel audio :rolleyes:
 
petvas said:
I don't understand most of you people. Can't you just read the specs page on http://www.apple.com/appletv/specs.html ???

Instead of posting questions about the formats supported you could just take the time and read the apple web site! Why do most people want to complain all the time???

Video formats supported
H.264 and protected H.264 (from iTunes Store): Up to 5 Mbps, Progressive Main Profile (CAVLC) with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps (maximum resolution: 1280 by 720 pixels at 24 fps, 960 by 540 pixels at 30 fps)
iTunes Store purchased video: 320 by 240 pixels or 640 by 480 pixels
MPEG-4: Up to 3 Mbps, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps (maximum resolution: 720 by 432 pixels at 30 fps)


And for those of you that ask what changed on the specs page since last time, the answer is very simple: Before we didn't have any infos about Bitrates supported and the 960x540 Resolution!
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These specs confuse me though, as I've used Quicktime Pros 'Export to AppleTV' feature and ended up with HD files that have a larger bitrate than the maximum shown (~5500 if I remember correctly).
 
I'm a bit confused by the frame rates quoted. 24fps is usually the frame rate for film and video.

I thought the minimum HD spec was 720p which is 720 lines per frame at 60 fps. 1080i is 540 interlaced lines per frame at 60fps and generates 1080 line complete frames at 30fps. Full 1080p is 1080 lines per frame at 60 fps.

The 720 lines at 24fps is not even at the minimum HD spec. Does anyone know the details on how the 24 fps is converted to 30 or 60 for output to the TV monitor or is most of this handled under the HDMI spec internally in the TV.
 
I am just trying the export option, so I will know in a couple of hours!
If thats the case, then you are right!

Does the export option creates a 720p file? My source was an MPEG2 EyeTV recording...
 
NightStorm said:
These specs confuse me though, as I've used Quicktime Pros 'Export to AppleTV' feature and ended up with HD files that have a larger bitrate than the maximum shown (~5500 if I remember correctly).
Click to expand...

I believe they deal in averages, but the rate read afterwards is not always correct (after all, how can it tell you the average bitrate after-the-fact). I wouldn't trust the number it gives back to you - I'm sure it will play fine...
 
nutmac said:
No surround sound: This is 2007. Apple TV should not be limited to stereo sound. Your home theater may be stereo today but you may be upgrading it to full blown surround sound.

DiVX/XViD: DiVX and XViD are commonly used for illegal video sharing. But then again, MP3 was commonly used for illegal audio sharing. You can rip your own DVDs to H.264 or MPEG-4, much like you ripped CD to MP3 or AAC. But ripping DVD to DiVX or XViD will let you include Dolby Digital (AC-3) track for true discrete surround sound experience.

Videos from iTunes Store: Stereo sound, below DVD video quality, no subtitles, no rental pricing.
Click to expand...

AGAIN! I'm pretty sure there is surround sound capability. If I am wrong, please correct me. AAC-LC supports up to 48 channels, I believe. Apple is also likely to start offering 720p downloads. They will probably also allow surround sound.

The hardware itself does not appear to be limited to stereo. It does, after all, have an optical out, and support AAC-LC.
 
petvas said:
I am just trying the export option, so I will know in a couple of hours!
If thats the case, then you are right!

Does the export option creates a 720p file? My source was an MPEG2 EyeTV recording...
Click to expand...
If the source file is 1080i, or 720p with a framerate higher than 24, you'll likely end up with a 960x540p file.
 
CoreWeb said:
AGAIN! I'm pretty sure there is surround sound capability. If I am wrong, please correct me. AAC-LC supports up to 48 channels, I believe. Apple is also likely to start offering 720p downloads. They will probably also allow surround sound.

The hardware itself does not appear to be limited to stereo. It does, after all, have an optical out, and support AAC-LC.
Click to expand...

Yeah but it has a 160kbps limitation for the audio. Unless this is for each channel this will hardly suffice.

And the 24fps limitation doesn't make HD content very likely either.

Without multi-channel audio AND without HD content this looks worse than I thought. :(
 
I've started transcoding all my pirated videos. I only have all the episodes of Dead Like Me, Star Trek TNG, Star Trek Voyager, Futurama, Family Guy, Battlestar Galactica, CSI: Miami, The Simpsons, Stargate SG1, Stargate Atlantis, Star Trek TOS, Star Trek DS9, Star Trek Enterprise, .... and a few more.

This will only take me about 4 months. It's almost 730gb total.

They are all Xvid and Divx, with a few weird mkv files or something, I think it's just another MPEG-4 container.

I wish this thing could play these files straight up. :mad:
 
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