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Next-Generation Apple TV Renamed 'iTV', Utilizes Apps, Lacks 1080p?
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Dosn't that already exist? Isn't it called the iPod Touch, video connector cable and blue tooth keyboard?
i think he was being sarcastic and therefore proving the point that if that tiny increase can be noticed so can a 720p to 1080p resolution!
No 1080P would be asinine. Regardless how you feel about 720P vs. 1080P, many people, myself included, can absolutely see the difference when you're watching on a 50+" TV.
On top of that, the current, stale, Apple TV has support for 1080P with the latest firmware, so removing that ability for a brand new device would be a step backwards for sure. $99 for a 720P version is great, but if that's the case there needs to be a 1080P model for those who want it. I'd happily pay up to $199 for it and I know I'm not alone.
On top of that, the current, stale, Apple TV has support for 1080P with the latest firmware, so removing that ability for a brand new device would be a step backwards for sure. $99 for a 720P version is great, but if that's the case there needs to be a 1080P model for those who want it. I'd happily pay up to $199 for it and I know I'm not alone.
I'm starting to feel this way too.
Can't make a freakin OSX-capable tablet to be creative on, but can make a tablet, a phone, an ipod, a website, and a low-res TV, so you can buy the same ready-made, prepackaged, DRM'd mainstream crap at the same price as the physical media currently rotting in great heaps across the country. Whoopee.
iWant-my-damn-content-creation-innovation already!
You paid $400 for a $229 device, and never sold it, even though you hated it? Troll fail.
My TV can do 1920x1080P...can your HDer TV do more? 720P is damn good, 1080P is only marginally better and barely perceptible.
Actually, I think you are on to something there... hmmm
But, I like having a stationary (kids can't lose) device that hopefully has wired ethernet so it can stream from my server.
j
Ota?
If this thing had an OTA receiver, and a DVR, I'd snap one up instantly. I only watch OTA broadcasts (no cable), and have no way to record anything. There is only one OTA DVR right now on the market (that I've seen), and it's way expensive.
I know that I'm in a cable-less minority, but it's a growing minority... I've met quite a few people in the same boat. There's enough OTA content locally to keep me happy... the only thing I miss are certain sports (have to go to the local bar for that).
For movies, I get netflix... 2/month plan, which is all I have time for anyway. I'd be happy renting additional movies from iTunes, but it's expensive right now (and the viewing terms suck - 24hrs once you hit the play button? come on!).
If this thing had an OTA receiver, and a DVR, I'd snap one up instantly. I only watch OTA broadcasts (no cable), and have no way to record anything. There is only one OTA DVR right now on the market (that I've seen), and it's way expensive.
I know that I'm in a cable-less minority, but it's a growing minority... I've met quite a few people in the same boat. There's enough OTA content locally to keep me happy... the only thing I miss are certain sports (have to go to the local bar for that).
For movies, I get netflix... 2/month plan, which is all I have time for anyway. I'd be happy renting additional movies from iTunes, but it's expensive right now (and the viewing terms suck - 24hrs once you hit the play button? come on!).
I agree.
However, Surly our biggest concern is the fact that the CHIP we paid hundreds of dollars/pounds for that is inside our new iPhone4 CAN'T do what the old 3GS can CPU could do?
This is unbelievable?.. i feel cheated? No wonder some of my apps run worse on the iPhone 4...
I am pretty sure the data rates for streaming 1080p are going to be the problem as well - that is A LOT of data - myself, when I want 1080p - I just put in the blu-ray player. I mean, I can rip a blu-ray and compress it down to 4GB's, so while I am at a _resolution_ of 1080p - my data rate (arguably a good indicator of quality) will be similar to DVD. most likely a design trade-off - we engineers do this all of the time.
j
j
Gotta agree with you there. This is a case of "didn't do the research": if it's real, Apple are gonna have a fight on their hands in the UK (see ITV's wiki page). They own itv.com, the brand has been there for a good 40 years - they'll have to change the name in the UK (and therefore probably universally) due to the similarities, ie the same letters.
It's dead easy in an A/B comparison and there's a helluvalot more people who can tell that difference, than there are people who can tell 128k AAC from 256k AAC. That certainly didn't stop Apple from going with iTunes Plus, so please stop it with the "1080p is overkill" argument and call it what it is: Cutting corners.
As an early HDTV adopter, I have one of those professional Panasonic panels that sports 720p and 1080i, but lacks 1080p.
For every single device I own, I run it at 720p. Interlaced content sucks, period. Perhaps if you're looking at still photographs with no movement, but anything other than that, leave interlacing behind as the remnant of 1950's technology it is.
So that brings us to 1080p? Sure, the number is awesome. But I've yet to see any setup that produces an image worth the cost of upgrading to a display with the same specs as mine, but 1080p capable. I just don't watch enough Blu-Rays -- the only tech that is really utilizing 1080p, save for on-demand here and there -- for it to be worthwhile.
Given what a small fraction of the market Blu-Ray is in the first place, I don't see other people caring that much either. Most people are more than happy with the HD they get from their cable or satellite provider.
Experience, content, and price are what matters for a device like this. 1080p fetishism is the same as the "HDMI-out is a vital phone feature" harping. Neat for geek checklists, little impact in real world use.
Show me a $99 device that runs 720p, runs apps, and has access to a cheap (i.e., Netflix-competitive) video store? I'll be in. So will most people.
For every single device I own, I run it at 720p. Interlaced content sucks, period. Perhaps if you're looking at still photographs with no movement, but anything other than that, leave interlacing behind as the remnant of 1950's technology it is.
So that brings us to 1080p? Sure, the number is awesome. But I've yet to see any setup that produces an image worth the cost of upgrading to a display with the same specs as mine, but 1080p capable. I just don't watch enough Blu-Rays -- the only tech that is really utilizing 1080p, save for on-demand here and there -- for it to be worthwhile.
Given what a small fraction of the market Blu-Ray is in the first place, I don't see other people caring that much either. Most people are more than happy with the HD they get from their cable or satellite provider.
Experience, content, and price are what matters for a device like this. 1080p fetishism is the same as the "HDMI-out is a vital phone feature" harping. Neat for geek checklists, little impact in real world use.
Show me a $99 device that runs 720p, runs apps, and has access to a cheap (i.e., Netflix-competitive) video store? I'll be in. So will most people.
The solution for your problem is Windows Media Center. You can connect as may OTA tuners as you want and WMC has excellent DVR (with free TV guide).
They can get upset.
They are a TV station not a hardware device by Apple, sort of hard to get confused with either.
now if they sold a device called a iTV then they have every right to get upset, but they do not.
but that wont stop them from trying anyway.
Those are that same group of people who lack the fundamental capacity to understand why Apple's lack of Blu-Ray is actually a big deal [to people who care about an immersive movie experience].
This isn't at all suprising. It's an iTV, not an iMovie. Apple has made it clear that they are never going to target movie enthusiasts (no Blu-Ray, no high quality iTunes movies), so there's no real need to support 1080p on this device. Watching television shows on small screens (<60") doesn't really need 1080p.
And if you can afford a nice large screen and care about high quality movies, you're not the target audience for a $99 device anyway. My home theater cost over $10k (movies excluded). My ideal device would be an Apple HTPC with DVR and Blu-Ray capability, and I'd pay $1-2k for that.
This device targets an audience who will be completely satisfied by 720p. And the price point sounds impressive for what it might be capable of.
For all the people crying about 720p don't you know 720p is better than 1080i. Yes I know 1080p is better than 720p but I don't see any of you guys bitching that you can watch regular TV in 1080p.