Apple TV Unboxing and Hands on Video with Streaming and Netflix

[newagemac]

My initial impression is that in some ways this is a step backward.

If you have movies, music, tv shows or photos, they are not as easily accessible as the 1.0 version. You have to go to the "Computers" menu and look there and then the organization is not great.

For example, previously when you were in the TV shows menu there was a "My TV Shows" item and it would show both the ones on the computer and the ones available to buy. Now it only shows the ones available to rent unless you go over to the computer menu.

I'm not impressed so far.

But what about when there is more than one person in your household? The menus in 1.0 weren't optimal because it didn't cleanly separate each library and treat them all equally. Yes, my wife could sync her computer and see her shows under My TV Shows but then if I clicked on "My TV Shows", I wouldn't actually see mine. Only one library would show up that way.

This way, if I wanted to watch or listen to my content, I just go directly to my own library. When my wife wants to use her content, she goes directly to her library. Same thing for the kids. The main section is all content streamed from the internet instead of locally streamed. Everyone has their own section and no one's content is promoted above someone else's plus there is a separation between content streamed from your own local network and content streamed over the internet.

I think it's simpler and more intuitive that way. If you live alone I could understand but it's not that big of a deal. You just now get the separation between locally streamed and streamed over the internet. This might become more important as they start filling out the internet streaming category. Before there were only two items there.

 

[jonnysods]

Man, I love my ATV. If they just updated the software to 3.2 to give me Netflix I would stick with the lineup. I like having local storage on my ATV. And I don't like the way they bury the files of computer that you are syncing to get movies etc from. I prefer the 'current' My Movies, My TV section where everything is mixed in.

The only lag I get from my ATV is at the very start if I unplug and plug it back in and it plays the intro. Apart from that the machine is stellar.

I have a license of ATV Flash - guess I could just get Netflix working through that somehow.

Still tempted by this new ATV though. Cooler temps would be nice.

 

[Scarpad]

So still no Idea when I can walk into my Aplle Store and Buy one?

 

[Neodym]

Hmmm.

Airplay + iPad + App store = default Apple gaming console? Before you scoff, remember no one thought the Touch was a gaming machine when set next to a DS or PSP.

... even more so, as cloud gaming seems to be next big hype. Basically with cloud gaming you have all the 3D calculations being done on server side and get only the screen content streamed to your computer.

While online games like WoW still require your local computer to do heavy (graphic) calculation, with cloud gaming all you need is a streaming-capable device with 2D capability. It's like remote controlling another computer e.g. via VNC - you don't need much computing power locally and for 2D even the crappy integrated Intel GMA 950 is suitable.

One example is Onlive.com - they promise latencies around 80ms and games like Assassin's Creed or Prince of Persia, e.g. not only el cheapo games, but real blockbusters.

With that scenario, in theory you could play most game titles on your AppleTV or iPad (or even iPod touch). All you would need are a good internet connection with at least 1.5MBps downstream speed (for "SD" quality) and a "game app" that takes care of keyboard and mouse activities and coordinates them with the server and voilá: you can play on your 50 inch+ TV in Dolby Surround with only a tiny box standing unobtrusively one the shelf.

I'm convinced this model will gain great popularity in the long run, because on user side you don't need the expensive and hot high-end graphic boards anymore, you can play nearly everywhere you want without driver and compatibility hassles (especially the latter will appeal to Apple, together with the chance to build even thinner and smaller devices).

On producer side you only need to support one defined hardware configuration centrally, you run less risk of pirated copies and you have more control in general.

So it looks like a win-win situation and both sides will push for following that road...

 

[renegad3]

w00t!

mine just arrived!!!

 

[3282868]

Yes, the new and old TVs have NO PROBLEM at all displaying SD content at it's fullest. Use Handbrake to do a good conversion, don't skimp on compression settings for file sizes, and you probably won't be able to see any difference.

If you have a Mac Pro with a Blu-Ray drive (or any Mac with an external Blu-Ray drive), you can rip Blu-Ray media (I use "Mac Bluray Ripper Pro" $19.95), then search for one file from the Blu-Ray disc media copied to your computer which is the main movie file - the largest file in the video folder (it makes a full backup copy of the Blu-Ray disc if you intend on burning it or if the original disc is lost/damaged).

*Handbrake is a free ripper but I prefer the "Mac Bluray Ripper Pro, it's much better than handbrake for ripping and is extremely simple to use, no need for selecting options, etc.

After you rip, you need to convert only one video file to HD (such as .mp4) or any format of your choosing and you would now have an HD Blu-Ray movie on your system playable on a new and old AppleTV, Mac OS X, iPad, etc depending on the file format you choose.

*VLC is a free application that can convert the Blu-Ray video file. However, I use "iSkysoft iMedia Converter $49" which a great GUI converter program that converts your DVD or Blu-Ray media once ripped to ANY format as it supports pretty much EVERY codec for conversion.

Great options for DVD/Blu-Ray movie streaming.

Another question re:iOS hacked new AppleTV:

As the new aTV is OSi4.1 based (the IPSW has already been released and hackers are checking it out now), I'm 99% certain it will be hackable and hacked in no time (I believe they already have hacked it to some extent as they found the key string, etc.) So the new model will most likely support external HDD's, HID's etc via the micro-USB connection. For $99, a hacked aTV is now tempting.

 

[i5pro]

so let me get this straight....

if I add my movies to Itunes (convert using Handbrake), I can pick and choose what movie i want to watch via the ATV interface easily, and essentially no longer have to search for the DVD I want and load up the DVD player?

I want something that would allow easy access of my movie library, assuming my main PC is running.

If this is the case, I might end up with one these gadgets.

 

[OllyW]

so let me get this straight....

if I add my movies to Itunes (convert using Handbrake), I can pick and choose what movie i want to watch via the ATV interface easily, and essentially no longer have to search for the DVD I want and load up the DVD player?

I want something that would allow easy access of my movie library, assuming my main PC is running.

If this is the case, I might end up with one these gadgets.

Correct!

Get one ordered now.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

If you have a Mac Pro with a Blu-Ray drive, you can rip Blu-Ray media (I use "Mac Bluray Ripper Pro"), then search for one file from the Blu-Ray disc media copied to your computer which is the main movie file - the largest file in the video folder (it makes a full backup copy of the Blu-Ray Movie if you intend on burning it or if the original disc is lost/damaged). After you rip, you need to convert only one video file to HD (such as .mp4) or any format of your choosing and you would now have a HD Blu-Ray movie on your system, playable on AppleTV, Mac OS X, iPad, etc depending on the file format you choose.

Yes, with the right software & hardware you can also rip BD and HD-DVD movies and render a version playable on TV. However, to be clear, the BD or HD-DVD source is 1920 x 1080, which is beyond what the new TV can playback. So you have to down-convert such 1080HD video to a format that can play on TV (720p30fps MAX).

Mac OS X, Quicktime, iMovie, iTunes can all work with full 1080 content, and it will play back in iTunes just fine. But the iDevices- including this new TV- are limited to 720p30fps (1280 X 720) at best.

So, as I said, SD quality video like DVD, old VHS, SD Camcorder footage, etc are all able to be played back in a full & rich way on TV hardware. Anything you have that is above 1280 x 720 (BD, HD-DVD, 1080Camcorder footage, etc) all has to be down converted.

The original question was will it look just as good as the DVD. Yes, it will look just as good as the DVD. If we adapt the question to: will it look just as good as the 1080i/p source; no, it cannot look as good because it's not a cross-conversion but a down-conversion. That said, HD sourced content will look very good- better than DVD- even at TV's 720p level, but I share the above to be complete, rather than implying that better-than-720p content sources like BD quality will also play and look just as good as the original version on disc. It won't because it can't.

 

[i5pro]

Correct!

Get one ordered now.

I'm on it!

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Relative to a DVD movie jukebox, CD music jukebox, photo slide projector or photo albums, TV will wow you. All your DVD movies & TV shows, all your CD music, all your photos, etc... all your media converted into the right format (Handbrake is your friend) and stored in iTunes will be available in organized lists on demand via TV.

In the not too distant past, I paid a lot more than $99 for a 100+ disc CD jukebox player, more than $99 for a 100+disc DVD jukebox, and photo albums or slide projectors are never convenient. All of this- and more- are far more convenient in richer access ways via TV. Even the old version at $229+ was a relative bargain for just about any ONE of those applications.

If you've never had an TV before, it will wow you with these kinds of applications. I've enjoyed 2 of them for 4 years now... and pretty much never bought or rented a thing from iTunes. We've converted all of our home movies from old VHS, DVDs and camcorder formats for Apple TV, and it is great having all that readily available on demand... much better than trying to locate an old tape or DVD, or trying to hook the camcorder to the TV and then finding the right video, etc.

 

[dodger99]

Just got mine!! Delivered two days early! Fedex rocks!!!!!!!!!!

 

[bockfu]

itunes server?

I like the ATV, but it is not clear to me how itunes & ATV will work together.

I configured my Infrant ReadyNAS to be an iTunes Server and was unhappy with the features. For example, songs were available to the client but all the playlists were not.

Does anyone know what the features of ATV 2 are with regard to iTunes playback? Who is the DJ (what UI are tracks/playlists selected from)? ATV, the client streaming to ATV? Are both of these modes supported?

I'm sure the features will become clear in the upcoming days, but right now I expect the ATV/iTunes interaction will leave me unsatisfied as I want to browse all playlists via ATV (and have the iTunes server or client machine out of sight).


-bockfu

 

[finalcut]

true, this is a micr-usb, not a real usb port. So impossible to add a HDD. This port os for service repair

 

[williedigital]

Dude spend the $99 and buy one and check it out. If you does not work, they your library is too big.

The A4 chip and IOS 4.1 is way faster than the old AppleTV. And IOS 4.2 is even faster...

Dude,

1. FedEx has mine for the timebeing
2. How big of a library is too big? Sure wish that was listed in the product specs...
3. How do you know the A4 is faster than the first AppleTV? Seems like the differences between architecture and programming between the two devices would make this hard to measure, especially since you've not used the new one.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I like the ATV, but it is not clear to me how itunes & ATV will work together.

I configured my Infrant ReadyNAS to be an iTunes Server and was unhappy with the features. For example, songs were available to the client but all the playlists were not.

Does anyone know what the features of ATV 2 are with regard to iTunes playback? Who is the DJ (what UI are tracks/playlists selected from)? ATV, the client streaming to ATV? Are both of these modes supported?

I'm sure the features will become clear in the upcoming days, but right now I expect the ATV/iTunes interaction will leave me unsatisfied as I want to browse all playlists via ATV (and have the iTunes server or client machine out of sight).

If it works like the current one, there is a tight integration between iTunes and TV, meaning you can choose to browse by song, artist, album, etc and you can also see up to all of your own custom playlists and easily go into them play anything, shuffle, repeat, etc.

As to where such things appear in the new version, it appears that Music is now moved inside of the "Computers" menu.

 

[newagemac]

so let me get this straight....

if I add my movies to Itunes (convert using Handbrake), I can pick and choose what movie i want to watch via the ATV interface easily, and essentially no longer have to search for the DVD I want and load up the DVD player?

I want something that would allow easy access of my movie library, assuming my main PC is running.

If this is the case, I might end up with one these gadgets.

Absolutely and with no hacking involved. It still befuddles me that most people have never realized you could do this. For some reason, people thought you could only play content purchased from iTunes. Even the old Apple TV could play your own ripped content, torrents and downloads, or stuff you shot or recorded with your own camera. The new one is even more capable in this regard.

I guess people are finally starting to figure this out.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

true, this is a micr-usb, not a real usb port. So impossible to add a HDD. This port os for service repair

Why is it impossible?

• Because Apple hasn't put the software in place to let it connect?
• Because the hackers haven't been able to yet play with one so they could duplicate what they did for the old version?
• Because you think micro-USB can't connect to external storage?

I know the third one is not true.

I bet the second one is the best bet for those hoping for a return of local storage for this little box.

I hope the first one comes to pass though, as an officially-endorsed solution is much preferable to a third-party hack. Besides if Apple would normalize that USB port AND roll out an app store, some third party might come up with a hardware-software combo to extend functionality beyond what could be done in app software alone (Elgato for example).

 

[newagemac]

I like the ATV, but it is not clear to me how itunes & ATV will work together.

I configured my Infrant ReadyNAS to be an iTunes Server and was unhappy with the features. For example, songs were available to the client but all the playlists were not.

Does anyone know what the features of ATV 2 are with regard to iTunes playback? Who is the DJ (what UI are tracks/playlists selected from)? ATV, the client streaming to ATV? Are both of these modes supported?

I'm sure the features will become clear in the upcoming days, but right now I expect the ATV/iTunes interaction will leave me unsatisfied as I want to browse all playlists via ATV (and have the iTunes server or client machine out of sight).


-bockfu

Whatever Playlists, tracks, etc. you have in iTunes will be on the Apple TV. That's the beauty of the Apple TV. Everything is integrated in because it's all made by Apple. If you have your content in iTunes (no matter where it originally came from) in an Apple TV playable format then you will be amazed at the integration and UI on the Apple TV. It's absolutely perfect for music. For video, the only downside is 1080p content requires conversion to 720p but that's ok for me because I decided long ago that 1080p takes up too much storage space to be worth it when 720p HD looks amazing on my 60" tv so I store all my HD video content in 720p anyway.

Also, any .mkv or .avi files need conversion to .m4v but Handbrake (and many other free video conversion tools) handles that easily. Plus there is a good chance that Airplay will solve any format compatibility problems with apps like Air Video that convert on the fly on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. You can play the .mkv file on your iPhone and Airplay it to the Apple TV without having to do any conversion at all. The live conversion actually happens on your computer and your iPhone gets the compatible stream. I don't see why that same compatible stream wouldn't Airplay to the Apple TV like any other.

 

[funlad]

Shipment Delayed....

Has anyone else had this message on Apples' Shipment Status page?

Current Delivery Status: In Transit to Customer - Shipment Delayed.

Delayed!? Why? For how long?! Im in the UK, and delivery is by TNT - their website says it left Hong Kong 33 hours ago - with no update since! Estimated delivery date is still 4th Oct according to Apple. Gutted that other peoples are arriving already. My card hasn't even been charged yet, and I ordered it immediately it was available.

Any other UK residents have the same 'delayed' message?

 

[bockfu]

Whatever Playlists, tracks, etc. you have in iTunes will be on the Apple TV. That's the beauty of the Apple TV.

Having the playlists available in the ATV UI is the key for usability. It sounds like this is the case and probably an AirPlay feature missing from iTunes Server.

ATV2 is brining the apple product stack one step closer to the cloud. Today my iTunes library is on my laptop...tomorrow (a few years I imagine) it is in the cloud.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

ATV2 is brining the apple product stack one step closer to the cloud. Today my iTunes library is on my laptop...tomorrow (a few years I imagine) it is in the cloud.

Maybe storing our local content in the cloud will be cool, but I would think mostly our broadband providers will think so, especially if they bill in tiers. Streaming everything eats bandwidth at home and on the road. If you have bandwidth to burn, no big problem. If you are billed for bandwidth usage, the dream clashes with the nightmare when that future bill(s) arrives.

Hopefully, the dream of the cloud isn't realized at the expense of local (home) storage, and capacity on cloud iDevices to still sync and take home content with you. Otherwise, Comcast, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, etc will all love to bill for all that cloud access as we upload and download our own content over and over.

 

[skeep5]

oh yeah that is reeeaallll niiiicce.

 

[vladzaharia]

Why is it impossible?

• Because Apple hasn't put the software in place to let it connect?
• Because the hackers haven't been able to yet play with one so they could duplicate what they did for the old version?
• Because you think micro-USB can't connect to external storage?

I know the third one is not true.

I bet the second one is the best bet for those hoping for a return of local storage for this little box.

I hope the first one comes to pass though, as an officially-endorsed solution is much preferable to a third-party hack. Besides if Apple would normalize that USB port AND roll out an app store, some third party might come up with a hardware-software combo to extend functionality beyond what could be done in app software alone (Elgato for example).

It is completely different here. The original ATV used OSX as the base, so adding USB drivers was as simple as loading the USB drivers for 10.4 and enabling them. There are no iOS USB Drivers to allow you to read from other sources, AFAIK, so it will be so much harder for #2 to work.

#1 is the only option at this point.

 

[garethpauljones]

Has anyone else had this message on Apples' Shipment Status page?

Current Delivery Status: In Transit to Customer - Shipment Delayed.

Delayed!? Why? For how long?! Im in the UK, and delivery is by TNT - their website says it left Hong Kong 33 hours ago - with no update since! Estimated delivery date is still 4th Oct according to Apple. Gutted that other peoples are arriving already. My card hasn't even been charged yet, and I ordered it immediately it was available.

Any other UK residents have the same 'delayed' message?

Same here. Mine is also scheduled for 4th October delivery but is also showing as delayed.