Well, I agree with the poster who said that a Core Solo would have been preferable. I'm not interested until they put something better in there, regardless.
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Apple TV Specs?
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Well, I agree with the poster who said that a Core Solo would have been preferable. I'm not interested until they put something better in there, regardless.
Ok, some people here are being seriously narrow minded. It doesn't matter what processor is in the thing at all as long as it does the job. A slow G4 can run Frontrow with ease which is basically what this machine is for. There won't be extra software, games, hell there won't even be a "About This Mac" option.
For the idiots going on about it being a Pentium and how that's aweful, learn your facts. The Pentium M is what the Core Duo and the Core 2 Duo chips are based on. The Pentium M is the *reason* that Intel completely dropped the P4 architecture. It was meant as a side project and turned into the leading processor technology. A Core Solo is basically a Pentium M + Cache + SSE3. A Core Duo is basically a Pentium M + Cache + SSE3 + an extra core. Its a 1Ghz chip because its an ultra low power chip, this is how they can fit it into this form factor.
The specifications of the device are irrelevent as far as the end user goes, its designed to run what is basically Front Row with video up to 720p. A 1Ghz Pentium-M chip with a dedicated graphics chip can do this at ultra low power requirements and ultra low heat generation. How did you think they were going to fit something like this in half the size of a mac mini with the PSU inside?? What were you expecting, Core 2 Quads? 2 Gigs of RAM and a GeForce 8800?? Get real.
The *big* news here is the dedicated graphics. I think this points at a big likelihood of GeForce Go 7400s in the next model Mac Minis, MacBooks and base model iMacs. I'm guessing the chip was chosen due to its hardware video decoding acceleration for the AppleTV but Apple have a tendency to use common hardware across the board when possible. They're expecting to ship a bucket load of Apple TVs and putting the same chip in AppleTVs, Mac Minis and MacBooks will guarantee them the lowest cost per chip possible.
For the idiots going on about it being a Pentium and how that's aweful, learn your facts. The Pentium M is what the Core Duo and the Core 2 Duo chips are based on. The Pentium M is the *reason* that Intel completely dropped the P4 architecture. It was meant as a side project and turned into the leading processor technology. A Core Solo is basically a Pentium M + Cache + SSE3. A Core Duo is basically a Pentium M + Cache + SSE3 + an extra core. Its a 1Ghz chip because its an ultra low power chip, this is how they can fit it into this form factor.
The specifications of the device are irrelevent as far as the end user goes, its designed to run what is basically Front Row with video up to 720p. A 1Ghz Pentium-M chip with a dedicated graphics chip can do this at ultra low power requirements and ultra low heat generation. How did you think they were going to fit something like this in half the size of a mac mini with the PSU inside?? What were you expecting, Core 2 Quads? 2 Gigs of RAM and a GeForce 8800?? Get real.
The *big* news here is the dedicated graphics. I think this points at a big likelihood of GeForce Go 7400s in the next model Mac Minis, MacBooks and base model iMacs. I'm guessing the chip was chosen due to its hardware video decoding acceleration for the AppleTV but Apple have a tendency to use common hardware across the board when possible. They're expecting to ship a bucket load of Apple TVs and putting the same chip in AppleTVs, Mac Minis and MacBooks will guarantee them the lowest cost per chip possible.
I suppose you need a real GPU to handle the nice interface without hickups. The GMA950 thing in My Macbook is horrible if you're going for 3D stuff or anything that needs quick buffering. Id does handle World of Warcraft very well tho (just played around with the 10 day trial when they enabled multi-threaded OpenGL).
Front Row is a real pain on the Macbook. Why is it so terribly slow? It takes about 2 minutes to get to my movies folder from the main menu. What the hell? There's not even anything in it. I used to like the movie trailers, but it's such a horrible journey to actually to the point where you actually play the trailer you fought to access for a minutes? It just hangs there for a minute or two, then performs all the commands the angry users did on the remote while waiting at once. I re-installed OSX multiple times by the way (I mess a lot with the system as a developer and it's good to have a fresh install for testing). Didn't help.
I sure hope the Apple-TV works better. It's still gonna suck for a lot of people because Quicktime just doesn't play anything besides movie trailers from the Apple homepage or ITMS downloads. Doesn't even play my DVDs ripped with handbrake in h2.64 MOV format.
The only really good thing about quicktime is, it can handle H2.64 movies better than VLC-Player. When there are fast cuts (thus high data rates, lots of keyframes), VLC loses frames, whereas QT plays it very smoothly.
Thnking about it.
Is this processor able to handle 720p video?
My god first the iPhone is crapped out now apple tv is starting to not sound appealing after all.
I hear the sounds of past mistakes on apple part. I think we might have the first 2 flops of apples next 30 years. Unfrtunetly, but hey their the ones who decided to cripple their products their worst then microsoft sometimes.
I think i will pass. It appears no high def streams anytime soon, specially with this 1ghz pentium processor sounds so ancient .My god when was the last time we heard of 1ghz?
Is this processor able to handle 720p video?
My god first the iPhone is crapped out now apple tv is starting to not sound appealing after all.
I hear the sounds of past mistakes on apple part. I think we might have the first 2 flops of apples next 30 years. Unfrtunetly, but hey their the ones who decided to cripple their products their worst then microsoft sometimes.
I think i will pass. It appears no high def streams anytime soon, specially with this 1ghz pentium processor sounds so ancient .My god when was the last time we heard of 1ghz?
The fabled Mini tower may come yet, as m3
the Mac Mini page is due for a refresh soon.
Maybe they will create the "Mac Mini Module" M^3
if they update the mini to work as a component in the 3M system (Mac Media Module) then it will be the brains in the apple tv/airport media hub. They could stack on top of one-another or "Dock" some how. the Mini could be the next iPod you know
Ha! now all we need is a "graphics blade" and we will have a semi mobile pc gaming media center
the Mac Mini page is due for a refresh soon.
Maybe they will create the "Mac Mini Module" M^3
if they update the mini to work as a component in the 3M system (Mac Media Module) then it will be the brains in the apple tv/airport media hub. They could stack on top of one-another or "Dock" some how. the Mini could be the next iPod you know
Ha! now all we need is a "graphics blade" and we will have a semi mobile pc gaming media center
A 1GHz Pentium M is plenty fast for 720p...and for all you know there are dedicated chips for HD playback as well. Stop crying.
Haha! I think you summed up my post in one line! Some people here really are narrow minded!! I love it.
Well, you know how the cycle goes:
Apple releases, people whine and cry, Apple updates, it's not good enough (more whining and crying), people finally stop whining long enough to buy the product, love it, and shut up. Repeat at the next expo.
I find the interesting thing with these specs is the fact its superior to the hardware of something like a nintendo wii. If Apple released a software SDK for this thing then its value may really show. Can somebody say Game Console?
Pentium M not really a "Pentium"
People, the Pentium M was a whole new architecture completely separate from any Pentiums that came before it. It was drastic improvement in design. The Core processors are its immediate descendents. It's actually a terrific processor. For low voltage in particular.
People, the Pentium M was a whole new architecture completely separate from any Pentiums that came before it. It was drastic improvement in design. The Core processors are its immediate descendents. It's actually a terrific processor. For low voltage in particular.
Digital audio?
So, can the digital audio signal be transmitted over the airport? How does one ensure that I'd be able to take a dvd, put it on mac in a format itunes can read and still enjoy full 5.1 surround or THX or those fancy audio options I have when I plop in a DVD?
So, can the digital audio signal be transmitted over the airport? How does one ensure that I'd be able to take a dvd, put it on mac in a format itunes can read and still enjoy full 5.1 surround or THX or those fancy audio options I have when I plop in a DVD?
What I wonder is if the contents of the HDD can be copied over to a bigger HDD and then replace the smaller one in the machine itself. If the machine allows that then it'd certainly be something I'd do (if there was a good walkthrough online).
On the processor note, these are still just rumors right, no one has actually checked yet anyway so you can't be sure. However I am sure it's plenty fast enough for what it needs to do, I wouldn't be worried.
Do you think though that the machine will let you store and play non-protected movies in your iTunes library. Not being able to download iTunes movies and TV shows in Australia right now isn't a huge issue, but if I can't play these things that I download elsewhere, and Apple can't provide me a way to get my hands on them any other way, I wouldn't be keen to get the product.
On the processor note, these are still just rumors right, no one has actually checked yet anyway so you can't be sure. However I am sure it's plenty fast enough for what it needs to do, I wouldn't be worried.
Do you think though that the machine will let you store and play non-protected movies in your iTunes library. Not being able to download iTunes movies and TV shows in Australia right now isn't a huge issue, but if I can't play these things that I download elsewhere, and Apple can't provide me a way to get my hands on them any other way, I wouldn't be keen to get the product.
I wonder if, on inserting a DVD into your mac, it can be streamed to the device for playback on your TV and sound system. That'd take a lot of bandwidth but would be a really cool feature.
From this statement you would appear to know something about microprocessor architecture so, of course, you realize that the Pentium M is a pentium in name only, right?
From what I remember about the Intel architectures, the Pentium M chip they use is the same architecture as the CD that ships in the Mac Mini right now.
ARGH!!!
I see Pentium!
The dreaded name of crappy computers!
Please Apple, make this not so. Put in a low power core architecture chip.
The day that Apple uses Pentium chips is a dark one.
I don't care how well it does the job, it's the priciple of the matter. Even a Pentium M is a dark remnant of a philosophy and needs to die. The poor AppleTV! It must be in constant pain.
I see Pentium!
The dreaded name of crappy computers!
Please Apple, make this not so. Put in a low power core architecture chip.
The day that Apple uses Pentium chips is a dark one.
I don't care how well it does the job, it's the priciple of the matter. Even a Pentium M is a dark remnant of a philosophy and needs to die. The poor AppleTV! It must be in constant pain.
Actually, Pentium M is a Pentium. It's based on the Pentium III, which itself is based on the Pentium Pro. Pentium 4 had nothing to do with "Pentium"
The Core Architecture, as mentioned previously, is based on the Pentium M.
Regardless, even if AppleTV had a G3, and it worked as Apple liked, it shouldn't matter to anyone. (well, except for hackers maybe)
Why?
The TV is not a battery powered device anyway. Besides your Core is closer to the Pentium M than you'd want to believe...
Please, please, PLEASE read the comments. This has been answered, many times already. Your wish was granted.
Oh, how I wish Intel had retroactively named this chip the "Core Beta" so this grousing could have been avoided.