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Death Knell for ATV?

BoulderBum said:
It doesn't make any sense for Apple to abandon the Apple TV. If people want to stream their iTunes video form their computer to their TV, it makes much more sense to spend $230 on a TV-optimized device than $600+ on a general purpose computer that doesn't even have HDMI or component outputs.
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I'd much prefer to use a mini as my media-extender than the Apple TV. More powerful, and easier to customise/add functionality. The lack of HDMI/components is the one big drawback, though many HDTVs these days feature some kind of PC input so it may not matter that much.
 
blackpond said:
It's a solid product as is. So long as the one I have doesn't stop working I don't really care if they stop selling them... I got mine and I'm happy with it.
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This is exactly how I feel, I originally got mine to play itunes through my home stereo, the movies while not 1080p are ok. If they can get 1080p that will be great.

I now have 2, I don't get why so many think it should be like a swiss army knife and do everything under the sun.

I believe Apple does have there eye on Video content and when they do get to 1080p they will be positioned to dominate.

http://www.homemediamagazine.com/el...anelists-discuss-keeping-with-consumers-17355

'Dave Brown, senior manager, Cisco Video Solutions Marketing, said a Cisco study determined by 2013, 90% of broadband traffic will be video streaming, up from 50% in 2003. He said manufacturers that develop the simplest, most easy to use products will be those that succeed, giving the example of Apple's iPhone and iPod, which dominate the smart phone and MP3 player markets, respectively, despite not being the first products to those markets.'
 
Cave Man said:
If you have a TV and a receiver, you have to choose which one and be done. With the Apple TV, we have audio to the TV by HDMI and audio to the receiver by optical. We often don't use the receiver.
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Fair enough, in that scenario. I use my receiver all the time though (and I suspect a lot of people would either only have a TV, or would use the receiver sound exclusively) so it's not an issue for me.

I was really hoping the new mini would have HDMI though.. pity.
 
Cave Man said:
My money's on a single-core ION for a revised Apple TV. That would be the ticket and should come in at ~US$300 with 320 gb hard drive.
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You think we'll get two USB ports so we can use one for and external HDD and the other to stick an Elgato Tuner in there and turn it into a DVR?

I don't, but a guy can dream, right?
 
whooleytoo said:
Fair enough, in that scenario. I use my receiver all the time though (and I suspect a lot of people would either only have a TV, or would use the receiver sound exclusively) so it's not an issue for me.

I was really hoping the new mini would have HDMI though.. pity.
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My problem would be that I need BOTH analog and digital outputs going to my receiver. An analog signal is required for the "zone 2" feature for my remote speakers. The digital output is used for everything else. Is there a simple way to get both signals out of the combined analog/optical audio jack on the mini?
 
whooleytoo said:
I'd much prefer to use a mini as my media-extender than the Apple TV. More powerful, and easier to customise/add functionality. The lack of HDMI/components is the one big drawback, though many HDTVs these days feature some kind of PC input so it may not matter that much.
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I'll grant that it can do more, but I contend the interface isn't as streamlined for couch surfing. For one thing, I can control my Apple TV with a universal remote control, including browsing/renting/buying movies & TV shows, YouTube, streaming (not-downloaded) Video Podcasts and Flickr slide shows all through simple 6-button commands.

Front Row is relatively bare by comparison, and a lot of the other Mac functionality is built around the idea of a keyboard/mouse being handy.

I also like the "suggestions" you get at the bottom of the Apple TV screen when viewing video content (e.g. "Viewers Like You Also Purchased...").

In general, the Apple TV and Mac Mini were built around differing ideas of how you'd use them, and it shows, IMO.
 
Cave Man said:
If you have a TV and a receiver, you have to choose which one and be done. With the Apple TV, we have audio to the TV by HDMI and audio to the receiver by optical. We often don't use the receiver.
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I've got my Apple TV set up with audio to the TV via HDMI, audio to the AV Receiver via optical and audio to the hi-fi via phono.

Might as well make use of all the outputs. :D
 
I do this already with an older mac-min. How does the mini server help? Does it do it better?

Tilpots said:
Not a big fan of the AppleTV, but I wanted to throw in my .02. I don't think it's going away anytime soon because it's the perfect companion to the new Mini Server. If you have multiple TV's, you'd just set the server up to one of your TV's and hook up the AppleTV's to any other TV's you have around the house. The Mini Server would be like the base station for all the AppleTV's. Just a thought...
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rickeym said:
I do this already with an older mac-min. How does the mini server help? Does it do it better?
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No idea. I know, as you mentioned, that any Mini could handle the task, yet this new server does open up some interesting possibilities. I'm no expert on the subject, but it seems you could use it to create your own "cloud." You could be serving media not only around your home, but have access to your files out and about as well. I believe, you can do this with the regular Mini, but running the OSX Server has got to have some advantages in this department.

Anyone smarter than me want to chime in? I'd love to know more about the possibilities of the Server Mini as a "personal cloud" and how it would differ from what HP is offering with their devices.
 
You'll hear the bells chiming as soon as the mini gets a blu ray drive.

yes yes, bag of hurt etc etc.
 
i really hope we see an update next year, if anything just a 1080i/p version. I really love my appletv.
 
iZac said:
You'll hear the bells chiming as soon as the mini gets a blu ray drive.

yes yes, bag of hurt etc etc.
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I wouldn't hold my breath. Apple wants you to get all your media via the iTunes store. They don't want you to the competing distribution format known as Blu-ray.


Lethal
 
Cave Man said:
I really doubt that will ever happen. The ATV is an iPod for TV.
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This is exactly how I look at it, running my music through my home and bedroom stereos. I ripped over 400 cds into itunes (apple lossless) in the last month and am quite content with my 2 atvs.

I really like the addition they made with the internet radio.

Even if they come up with another one I will not be an early adopter for it:rolleyes:

I have a Pioneer bluray player and a Blockbuster or Netflix at this time is a better option with their through the mail delivery.

At this time being the key words:cool:
 
iZac said:
You'll hear the bells chiming as soon as the mini gets a blu ray drive.
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Apple has been really holding back on the adoption of Blu-ray. I figure they can hold out at least another couple of years. Once there is no real price differentiation between regular DVD and Blu-ray, they'll add a new "Super Dooper Drive" to their product line.

I'm pretty sure that Apple marketing has found that Blu-ray isn't a feature people are screaming for or one that a lack of makes Macs look inferior.

There was an article somewhere about Big New Apple Products that listed key features. The one that really stuck with me was that "it will be missing a feature that everyone considers essential." Which is generally true, but, as the article noted, the product usually sells like hotcakes. I guess the AppleTV is the exception to that.
 
paduck said:
I'm pretty sure that Apple marketing has found that Blu-ray isn't a feature people are screaming for or one that a lack of makes Macs look inferior.
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There is logic to what you say, but since Apple is the preferred platform for people working in the video production industry, I can't imagine their reluctance to support BluRay. Despite anything the future might bring, BD is currently the industry standard in delivering prerecorded HD content. Why make it difficult for small-time video pros to put their work onto disc for a client, or for themselves?

It would be as if this were 1997, and Apple said "MP3s are so popular, we don't need to support CD-R drives. CD-R is a bag of hurt." Sure, a lot of people might have agreed with it, but Apple would have still been shafting a huge chunk of their clientèle.
 
It would be as if this were 1997, and Apple said "MP3s are so popular, we don't need to support CD-R drives. CD-R is a bag of hurt." Sure, a lot of people might have agreed with it, but Apple would have still been shafting a huge chunk of their clientèle.
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But in 1997 CD's weren't a bag of hurt. If, in 2001 (a closer analogue for our purposes, I think) CD's required special cables, intrusive DRM, expensive hardware and high royalties, they might very well have ditched the CD drive for their iPod.
 
Thanatoast said:
But in 1997 CD's weren't a bag of hurt. If, in 2001 (a closer analogue for our purposes, I think) CD's required special cables, intrusive DRM, expensive hardware and high royalties, they might very well have ditched the CD drive for their iPod.
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I admit my comparison was less than perfect, but I stand by my overall point. By refusing to offer support for BD, Apple is basically telling video professionals to convert back to Windows.
 
godslabrat said:
Despite anything the future might bring, BD is currently the industry standard in delivering prerecorded HD content. Why make it difficult for small-time video pros to put their work onto disc for a client, or for themselves?
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There are a lot of professional industry standards that don't come pre-configured on Macs. I don't recall ever seeing DLT drives come with a Mac Pro for DVD mastering (sorry, but mastering to a DVD-R for replication is not professional). Correct me if I'm wrong, but any "professional" could simply add an external BD drive if it was required for the project. Or, they could whine about it on MacRumors until Apple finally shipped with blu-ray... but clients may not want to wait that long.

My point is... this isn't a problem for professional content producers. Now, for folks who want to watch blu-ray titles on an iMac or Macbook, that's a different story. Your guess is as good as mine as to why this hasn't happened yet.
 
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