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iTV To Go 'Beyond Streaming'?

So long as iTV can reliably pull all of our media content from our PC/Mac, without it overloading iTunes/iPhoto, we'll be happy.

It may just be what's needed for us to finally replace our decaying 19inch TV for a widescreen 26inch LCD TV. :)

Since our DVD player's pretty knackered too, I was thinking it'd be nice to stick a DVD in my MacPro and have iTV stream it to the front room, one less box to worry about. Built-in DVR would be sweet, no more VHS machine, but it'd need a Canadian TV-Guide.
 
i think you will be able to purchase stuff directly off itv and i am hoping you will be able to use some sort of wifi to sync it to the next generation ipod with wifi - i really want to be able to share songs between iPods and although the zune only lets you do it 3 times wifi needs to happen.

iTV has a small form factor and i hope they will keep it that way too - looks like a neat idea.

Peace - Anthony
 
Apple's iTV strategy is iChat on steroids

According to Bob Cringley:

http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/2006/pulpit_20060922_000979.html

"Now what about that USB port on the back of each iTV box? Giving his tour of the gizmo last week, Jobs rushed right past the USB port. What could that port be for? It's not for a USB hard drive, that's for sure, because the key brain in this system is back in your Mac or PC and its very large hard drive. Nor will Apple (immediately) enable the iTV to act as a digital video recorder, because that might step on TV network toes before Apple is ready to do so. The USB port is clearly intended for an Apple iSight camera, a webcam to go with your HDTV."
 
I would just hope they would have video streaming like the slingbox so you can access all of your content from where ever you may be around the globe.
 
LostPacket said:
I don't care what extra features it has, as long as Apple designs a decent remote for it. Something full-sized with a click-wheel. I'd love to fast-forward through a movie using the click-wheel. The 4X, 8X etc on my current PVR just doesn't do it for me.
Click to expand...

They previewed the remote control when they previewed the iTV. I assume that they'll stick with that elegant and simple control. 5 buttons instead of 100+ buttons for the M$ Media Center nightmare.

Apple Rox
 
I would say some obvious features that were not shown in the iTV demo but might make it onto the final product would include:

- Web browsing
- iPod games
- E-mail
- iChat/VOIP
- iPod/iTunes music/video purchasing and sync (via wireless iPod or iPod cradle?)
- Wireless N router

There may be more functions that are related to Leopard or future Apple devices. Will it stream content to an iPhone like a Slingbox or Orb on the PC? Will it sync with a video iPod?

It really depends on how Apple intends to position this device, either as a standalone wireless hub for media content or an accessory to other Macs.
 
drkstar said:
According to Bob Cringley:

"…The USB port is clearly intended for an Apple iSight camera, a webcam to go with your HDTV."
Click to expand...
Cringely comes up with some interesting thoughts, I'll say that :) There are much more mundane possibilities, like a keyboard to facilitate content purchases or iPod connectivity.
 
MattG said:
For the love of god Steve, you need to come out with a TiVo/Media Center PC KILLER. I would love to see that.
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Yep, cause the media center PCs are selling hand over fist and Tivo is making more money than they know what do do with. Oh, wait...
 
Remote Desktop

I think iTV will include 'remote desktop' functionality - if you have a BT mouse and keyboard then you will be able to operate your Mac that is in another room via iTV. Want to surf google Earth on your TV? No problems! Want to watch Live TV via eyeTV? No problems! Want to buy off iTunes? No problems! Add then with the press of a button, you are back to Front Row 2.0

This will make media cente really look out of place - your living room doesn't need a computer, it just needs iTV
 
i dont know i might buy an itv if i buy a tv lol

i dont have one right now. my macbook is my tv/computer/gf lol
 
im sure theyve got something secret up their sleeve for the itv, just cant wait to see what hte final product is like
 
Carl Spackler said:
Yes, support for more formats and codecs than iTunes currently plays friendly with would be welcome.
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You know I originally thought that, but I kind of like the way it works now. I would much rather have a few codecs that work very well. Then play everything under the sun just not very well.
 
I don't know, I would have to think Apple has some ace up its sleeve with iTV, since streaming music and video to televisions really isn't all that new or interesting. Tivo does it, Xbox does it, Media Center PC's do it. Apple has to be bringing something pretty compelling and different to the table. I know that their software experience will be superior than to anything current, but I would hope that Apple can offer significantly more reason to buy one than what we've seen offered in the same sector.
 
cwoloszynski said:
They previewed the remote control when they previewed the iTV. I assume that they'll stick with that elegant and simple control. 5 buttons instead of 100+ buttons for the M$ Media Center nightmare.
Click to expand...

I agree about the 100+ buttons, but I think the Front Row remote is just a little too simple for the power user. Searching and slow-mo within a video clip is a little too clumsy for me. Adding scroll-type functionality that the click-wheel offers would really stream line the interface. For example, while paused you could move forward and back frame-by-frame at any speed using a click-wheel. It would also help for scrolling through long song/movie/trailer lists.

The only reason why I suggested a full-size remote is because a click-wheel won't fit on the current one. Unless they can add touch-sensitivity to the four circular buttons of the Front Row remote.
 
TheBobcat said:
With HDMI, they'd have to be shooting higher than 480p. I'd say they'd go all out with 1080p, why not?
Click to expand...

I was pleased and surprised to see no s-video out. They're clearly aiming for a product that's designed to stick around for a while. If we're going to see blu-ray Macs, and how can we not, iTV will have to be able to handle 1080p content.
 
Carl Spackler said:
Its outputs are HDMI and component video. It is designed for HD content.

I learned to drive on a '79 RX-7. Brilliant automobile.
Click to expand...

Would be cool if it could upscale streaming video to 1080i at least. I may forgo the iTV if there's ever a solution to stream vid from the Mac to the XBox 360 though. I must say, the 360 is a great piece of hardware at it's current price point. As others have pointed out, would be nice if the iTV supported 1080p over HDMI.

I loved my first car--'79 RX7 and have had several since. My current one is a heavily modified '91 Turbo II. Hopefully we'll see a 4th gen 7 some day.

B
 
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