Key issues and limitations with AppleTV?

[MacBlackBook22]

I agree that out of the box, the AppleTV is limited as to what it can do. However, spend $49 on ATVFlash www.atvflash.com and you can attach an external USB drive for storage, run Boxee or XBMC, use a web browser, and play ALL the media that is on your Mac. Check the website for all the other features that ATVFlash adds.

I know that people will say that ATV USB Creator is free http://code.google.com/p/atvusb-creator/ but it is limited in what it can do and mainly offers Boxee/XBMC. It allows you to SSH into the ATV but everything else has to be done by hand. ATVFlash automates everything for you. Thereofre it is worth the charge for me.

I totally agree, I have installed atvFlash and feel its well worth it. I know that there are other sites that have the free version of this type of program but that works only if you are savvy about installing. I liked that someone had done all the hard work and packaged it into a newbie user friendly program. Now my AppleTV is so much better. In fact I am using it and the Firefox app that is now installed in the Apple TV and using the wireless keyboard and mouse that is attached via the usb hub to the it as well to write this. If and when a new updated version of Apple TV comes out with all these features then I will purchase it and put in in my main home theater and move this hacked one up to the bedroom system.

 

[VirtualRain]

^^Baloney. Apple is a hardware company. They are not in competition with the movie studios, they are competition with other hardware makers. They can open their platform to any codec, container, or optical media they wish. They're just trying to bully the user to buy from iTunes and that strategy will bite them in the ass as soon as someone else comes out with a viable alternative.

Oh wait, the competitors have, and they've sold millions upon millions of units. A good portion of those PS3, Xbox, Roku, TiVo, Vudu, etc. box sales is money that should be in Apple's pocket. They've missed the boat. Let's hope they decide to set sail soon.

Also, I find it odd that the OP opens a thread to address the "key issues and limitations with the AppleTV," then defends the product at every turn.

I'm not trying to defend Apple's position, only explain it.

BTW, You contradict yourself... on one hand you claim they are merely a hardware maker yet on the other, you say they are trying to bully users into buying content from iTunes... so what are they? A hardware company or a content company? I think you made my point... they are both.

 

[Tilpots]

They're as much of a content company as Wal Mart is. They only sell content to boost hardware sales. It worked for the iPod, it's a fail for the AppleTV.

 

[dynaflash]

So you believe the AppleTV is near perfection in it's current iteration, aside from it's popping skills?

Nope, merely pointing out that when the question is posed in terms of " An iTunes Media Extender" ... doesn't things like 1080p and such become less relevant ? Last I checked iTunes doesn't offer 1080p, or .mkv, or avi etc etc.

Of course I would like the atv to be more than it currently is. However it gets kind of humorous to me to see these huge lists including blu ray , dvr, 8 core processor, play any format, have a built in 1TB drive etc. etc. It just seems to me that at this point you are way outside of the devices intent. Certainly I could see hdwre upgrades (gig ethernet, reasonably faster processor that still operates at a low enough temp among them) and would very much welcome them. But again, framed as the OP poses it " as an itunes media extender " I just think most of these ideas fall into the realm of ponies.

I really don't know what " popping skills" refers to. Again, just my .02 like everyone else.

 

[NightStorm]

I think he was referring to your previous post...

I am pissed it doesn't pop popcorn.

Dynaflash's comments pretty much sum it up... people call the AppleTV an iTunes media extender, yet they expect it to do so much more. Personally, I'd like to see a little bit more processing power (both CPU and GPU) so it could "officially" support some of the advanced x264 features and a streaming model that only has a 8-16GB SSD for OS/caching instead of the hard drive.

1080p playback would be nice, but I'd then have to encode three versions (a 1080p one for the new AppleTV, a 720p one for the old AppleTV, and a 480p one for the iPhone). I'll make a compromise and stick with 720p.

 

[Tilpots]

To be fair, the OP added "iTunes" to the "media extender" after I joined the thread and because of something I mentioned. I appreciate his and others stance of an iTunes Media Extender, and viewing the AppleTV as such, the tweaks it needs are fairly small. I don't want to beat a dead horse or to start an argument just for the sake of arguing.

But this, for me, is part of it's largest problems. By tying it firmly to iTunes, I think some of the true media extension aspects are lost. I don't think the AppleTV should walk on water, pop popcorn , or solve the US's Healthcare crisis. I think it should be more inclusive with it's sources of material. The hardware they sell shouldn't be limited by what their store sells, nor designed as a storefront. It makes the hardware much more useful to be open and thus more appealing to a wider variety of users. Best comparison I can think of is if Company X built a car that could only be fueled by Company X's gas. It's inconvenient. You close the loophole too small, and you force your customers out. Maybe not the best example, but I hope you understand what I'm trying to say.

 

[dynaflash]

Maybe not the best example, but I hope you understand what I'm trying to say.

Fair enough. Like most things everyone sees something different in it. What I see described in many of these " I want everything in an ATV " threads is basically a mac mini (though tbh even the mac mini doesn't have a dvr or blu ray player, but again I digress), which of course the appleTV is not ( among many of the differences is price of course). Personally I tend to view it and use it as a super iPod for my tv, which may be how apple is looking at it. But there again who knows. We shall wait and see I guess.

Apologies to the OP if I went too far off track for this thread.

 

[VirtualRain]

No appologies necessary.

I think its a fruitful and interesting debate and a worthy departure from the original intent of this thread. It's important for key stakeholders (eg. us) to discuss and understand Apple's intent behind this device and also some of the constraints Apple faces (being a content distributor as well as a hardware company) in order to better set expectations about what might be enhanced and what kinds of things will never see the light of day.

The next release, assuming there is one, will tell us a lot about Apples intended direction.

 

[kiranmk2]

Is the appletv an iTunes extender? That's what it launched as but then apple admitted they got it wrong when they announced take 2. Now the appletv operates without iTunes and lets you buy and rent video and music, use YouTube, flickr and view trailers. You have to assume apple are watching the likes of netflix to see how they get on and if they were to use the arm processor (or 2) from the iPhone 3gs to enable fullhd and use common parts across the iPod/phone/tv line. Should save money and run cooler and use less power. It could simply be that apple wanted to debutthe chips in their flagship iPhone and hold off on a new appletv until they had a stockpile of chips.

 

[dynaflash]

Is the appletv an iTunes extender? That's what it launched as but then apple admitted they got it wrong when they announced take 2. Now the appletv operates without iTunes and lets you buy and rent video and music, use YouTube, flickr and view trailers.

Agreed, however still via whats offered via the iTunes Store. YouTube is probably the exception. There are probably only about 10 people that really know, the rest is all FUD.

 

[rogervzv]

It would be really nice if a future version of the ATV would allow the user to add an external USB drive to it. I have two ATVs, one for my main TV and one for my boat. When we take the boat cruising, obviously you are stuck with whatever films are on the 160GB HDD. That is a lot of content, but obviously you could cheaply double or triple this capacity with a USB external HDD. Given that these HDDs are now only around a hundred bucks for a LOT of storage (one of mine is 1/2 terabytes) being able to use one would significantly enhance the ATV for long trips.

 

[Winnterpeg]

2 things, well, 1 really

All I want is:
1) access my iTunes library on my NAS directly (without having to have my computer on and iTunes software running... why can't the Apple TV unit run iTunes?)
2) HD movies available for purchase in Canada, but this might be more of a studio issue (then BR is obsolete).

I think 720p is fine, it is still HD. I really don't think the human eye can resolve 1080 vs 720 lines of resolution from 10 ft away.

 

[Winnterpeg]

Purchase HD Movies in Canada

Yeah! Wish # 2 has been granted. I now only want my AppleTV to access my iTunes library on my network without having my PC powered up first.

 

[jaw04005]

Honestly, at this point I just want it to stop randomly rebooting, stuttering while trying to playback content, losing its connection with iTunes and lagging every time I click on an item (click button on the remote … Apple TV spends 10 seconds doing nothing then BEEP BEEP BEEP).

Sigh.

Does anyone at Apple even use this thing? The Apple TV product group has to get made fun of at Cupertino. I would love for an analyst or reporter to ask Apple’s management if they even use one at home.

The only reason I keep it is because of the gorgeous interface, iTunes DRM compatibility and iPhone remote compatibility. The concept has so much potential. It just needs some love by senior management.

Apple TV is the only consumer product in Apple’s line-up that I wouldn’t give to my mother, grandma, brother, etc. OK, maybe it and the new buttonless iPod shuffle, which I have a personal vendetta against.

It’s for geeks (and people with a lot of patience) only.