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NBC? That's not a cable channel. It's ludicrous to require a cable subscription for a channel that is available over the air for free for most people.

Most of the shows on the NBC app are free as long as they are current. You usually need to sign in to see older episodes where normally you would use your DVR.
 
Doubly annoying when it's for channels that are "free" over the air and shouldn't even be considered "cable" channels.

Being free over the air has nothing to do with it. Because those channels are free with an antenna, they require anyone who carries them to pay a rights fee. The fee is passed on in satellite/cable bills.

Soooooo True. Apple diminishes it's "TV" value when it requires a cable subscription. Tim - if I have a set top box from my cable company, I really don't need the ATV. Get Eddy to make a better deal, otherwise you are really undermining the value proposition of the device.

Apple does not require the cable subscription. It is required by the provider. Same channels on Roku, chromecast, web browser or app is the same satellite/cable requirement.
 
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yet still no magical "all in 1" TV experience that allows you to cut the cable TV cord forever.

Apple does not require the cable subscription. It is required by the provider. Same channels on Roku, chromecast, web browser or app is the same satellite/cable requirement.

Sorry, but didn't Steve Jobs say that if it's on an Apple device than it's up to Apple to make sure the UX is 100% magical? No excuses...
 
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The lack of content is still as accurate as ever. Current 4K content is still microscopic. Just because the TV manufacturers want to sell 4K TVs doesn't mean anyone is going to make content for them. At least not anytime soon.
For all we can see, looks like this box was build 18-24 months ago and they got derailed with their contents deals.

While Apple's idea of future proofing is for you to buy the next model - I think not having 4k its a big oversight
Do we know for SURE that it doesn't support 4K? Maybe the hardware does, but the software doesn't yet?

We know the current A-series CPUs have the ability to push 4K video around. There's a good chance that in a year's time or so we'll see an update for the new Apple TV that gives it 4K video capability.

I would think the HDMI 1.4 port (hardware) points to not supporting 4k at current frame and color depth specs. Apple's own specs tout 1080p.
 
For all we can see, looks like this box was build 18-24 months ago and they got derailed with their contents deals.

While Apple's idea of future proofing is for you to buy the next model - I think not having 4k its a big oversight

That might make for the best explanation. I wonder if the ATV will downscale 4k content - pass it through at 1080p to a 4k set that will upscale it?
 
Sorry, but didn't Steve Jobs say that if it's on an Apple device than it's up to Apple to make sure the UX is 100% magical? No excuses...

Nope. Source please

That might make for the best explanation. I wonder if the ATV will downscale 4k content - pass it through at 1080p to a 4k set that will upscale it?
This unit can get a firmware update to enable 4K support
 
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-By then the 4K standard will undoubtedly change making buying a 4K tv today obsolete

Apple is smart to wait.
There are no consumer UHD TVs on sale that will be compatible with the broadcast standards coming. They fail to support 100 and 120 fps, rec.2020 to name a few features.

It will be the same debacle when HDTV launched, with many TVs not supporting HDCP.
 
So tired of this "cable provider authentication" crap...

If they want cord cutting to take off they really need to end that requirement. I couldn't even watch the baseball game Sunday night because FS1 wanted a cable provider login.

CBS is even worse than that. Its channel won't work unless you pay for it separately, even if you already have access via your cable provider. it's as if HBO offered only HBO now without offering HBO Go. Of course, HBO has a ton of great programming whereas CBS is just crap, so in the end the point is moot.

.
 
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Being free over the air has nothing to do with it. Because those channels are free with an antenna, they require anyone who carries them to pay a rights fee. The fee is passed on in satellite/cable bills.

And the free broadcast signal only gets you live TV, without a good interface and the ability to watch any episode of any program whenever you want.
 
It eliminates the need to rent extra boxes from your cable provider. Say you have a TV in your living room, bedroom, and 2 kids rooms that would be 3 extra boxes at a minimum of $5.99 each a month.

This. My girlfriend and I only have a cable box in the living the room. We have a ATV connected to both TV's, however in the bedroom, we strictly use the ATV since we're not paying another $10/month to rent an another box from Comcast.
 
Cord cutting savings are an urban myth, cut the cord all you want but you still need to get internet for this to work and the ISPs will make sure getting internet alone is more expensive than with Cable...
 
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So tired of this "cable provider authentication" crap...

If they want cord cutting to take off they really need to end that requirement. I couldn't even watch the baseball game Sunday night because FS1 wanted a cable provider login.

I agree. Why don't they sell the channel subscription as a standalone. What does the cable company have to do with this at all!?? :mad:

People will find a way to watch the TV shows without CBS through the AppleTV and where will that leave them then? CBS has it's head in last centuries butt.
 
So tired of this "cable provider authentication" crap...

If they want cord cutting to take off they really need to end that requirement. I couldn't even watch the baseball game Sunday night because FS1 wanted a cable provider login.

Pretty sure Apple doesn't give a hoot about it. The content providers want you paying for the content... obviously.

When Apple gets the streaming service up and running that might be your solution, for the channels they're able to pick up.
 
<Reads> "As of today, NBC, CBS All Access"

<Gets on phone with Cox>

"Hi, I hate you guys so I'd like to cancel my cable please.."

Cox: "Please hold"

<Finishes reading> "Cable authentication is required for some features"

Cox: "Thank you for holding sir, are you still there?.. Sir?.."

I have an HD "over the air" antenna near my AppleTV already so I can switch to the local channels that include NBC, CBS, etc. So I get free beautiful Hi-Def feeds that looked better than my old cable subscriber feeds.

With AppleTV and my HD antenna I could care less about the dinosaur networks and their "all ads, all the time" cable snakes.

They (the networks) don't want cord cutting to take off.

Too late. That ship has long sailed. I'm going on 4 years since I cut the cord and I've found a way to get everything I want to see at a lower price. iTunes for TV and movies, plus Netflix, Hulu Plus, Youtube, Vimeo, etc…all on AppleTV. Throw in music through my hi def tv system and now the forthcoming apps. Networks are dinosaurs stuck sinking and dying in the tar pits.

P.S. I am not a sports channel watcher, but watch games through local over the air channels.
 
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What would stop Apple from creating their own TV shows and movies like Netflix and Amazon are doing. Oh wait, they already are developing that approach (Apple bid on the British TOP GEAR guys but lost the bid to Amazon)!

Bye, bye sad slow turtle networks…or should I say good riddance.
 
Until Daddy becomes a cord cutter too.... D'OH!

Doubt that will happen any time soon. That generation is really stuck in the past when it comes to these types of models. I didn't mean to come across as some punk kid either. I've been out of college for years and have a wife, kid, career, house, etc. Since getting my first job at 16 I was expected to buy my own clothes, pay for my own car, etc. I even loaned my mom money to pay the electric bill. Today they're doing well financially and so I use their subscription maybe once or twice per month. Usually Netflix, Hulu, Amazon and YouTube are enough to entertain me.

How do you feel about pirating apps, songs, movies, etc? I don't ask that with snark. I ask out of genuine curiosity. Do you think there's a difference between the two situations? I'd hesitate to ask this question of a lot of this forum, but your answers tend to actually have thought behind them.

This is an interesting question for me. I think it's wrong, but it's more complicated than that. As a kid we grew up lower middle class and couldn't afford expensive software for me to just play with and learn. I pirated a lot of creative/design software. I learned that software. I grew up to do that for a living and now pay for that software with multiple licenses: One for my freelance business, and one that my work pays for. So for things like that, I don't think it's wrong for kids to pirate certain software to learn it and expand their skill—as long as they're not using it to make money at the same time. The companies benefit when there are more professionals using their software post-graduation.

As for using my parent's login credentials: I don't have cable. I'm willing to pay to stream the channels I enjoy. They won't take my money. I'm not going to spend a ridiculous amount on a cable package that I'll only use 5% of. Besides—Netflix, Hulu, Amazon and YouTube easily account for 90-95% of our viewing. The other thing is that where I live, most of the local channels don't come in (I kind of live in a valley on the north side of town, and many of the stations are well south of town). People told me the channels used to cover everywhere before the switch to digital. Now I can't even pick them up with a fancy Leaf digital antenna. Don't see anything wrong with trying to get local channels that are normally free anyway.

That's not cutting the cord, it's stealing the cord.

I'll pay for certain channels when they offer it to me in streaming. Where I live the cable company has a horrible monopoly (honestly, where aren't they?) so good luck getting any competitive pricing. Not gonna pay for a package that I'll only use 5% of (and get locked into a contract!). As I mentioned above, it's rare that I actually need to use the login anyway. Netflix, Hulu, Amazon and YouTube usually cover it. I'll pick up a few things on iTunes too. But honestly I only really watch a lot of TV when it's cold out. Otherwise in my free-time I'm usually outside building crap, playing video games, or building a website. I could just as easily not use the login and still be a happy cord cutter. Their content is becoming irrelevant anyway compared to the new streaming companies.
 
Too late. That ship has long sailed. I'm going on 4 years since I cut the cord and I've found a way to get everything I want to see at a lower price. iTunes for TV and movies, plus Netflix, Hulu Plus, Youtube, Vimeo, etc…all on AppleTV. Throw in music through my hi def tv system and now the forthcoming apps. Networks are dinosaurs stuck sinking and dying in the tar pits.

The ship hasn't left the port as of yet. Just under .005% of pay tv providers have left. That is an extremely slow trickle.

When Apple gets the streaming service up and running that might be your solution, for the channels they're able to pick up.

And relying on any streaming service, including Apple's, is still subscribing to a pay TV service. You are still paying the same rate that each channel provider charges. Yes it is a stripped down version of pay tv but can't be considered "cutting the cable". Apple streaming service and Dish's sling subs will be counted as a pay TV subscriber.
 
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