Updated Apple TV with 1080p Video Support to Maintain $99 Price Tag

[kagharaht]

1080p for ATV

It would be great to have 1080p for Apple TV. Having 60" screen watching standard DVDs is terrible. For Netflix and some iTunes HD content, they look pretty good for lower bit rate 720P. Although with Netflix its a crap shoot at times. At least with iTunes, HD content is constant with 720p quality.

 

[scott911]

chip swap kit to downgrade to 720p ?

I wonder if someone will come out with a chip swap kit that will let the nutty "i don't want better than 720p and neither should anyone else" crowd down-grade any apple tv 3's they are forced to buy.

I've been reading that slop since the tv 2 failed to have 1080 - and it would seem that there's a large market for a lower capability chip!

Personally, I'm most interested in the audio capabilities as that's my main use for these neat devices...

 

[Frobozz]

I bought the current generation AppleTV for my parents and they love it. They access their Netflix subscription through it, listen to internet radio stations, and occasionally rent movies. The best part, though, is it's size. They can easily pack it up and take it to Florida with them, plug it in to their television, and not have to pay for cable.

With these new additions, it's hard to argue against one for myself. I have a TiVo and a PS3 already hooked into my living room setup– so there's a lot of functional overlap. But the Apple TV is the best interface for Netflix (PS3 is also pretty good), and it's integration with iTunes makes it the better interface (versus DLNA) for streaming my owned music and movies.

 

[ck2875]

Gimmicky, yes, but maybe Apple developed a way to make the Apple TV produce and deliver 3D content and the $39 mystery is Bluetooth 4.0 glasses. Do I think this is what it is? Not really. But I randomly thought of it while making tea at work.

 

[Frobozz]

I wonder if someone will come out with a chip swap kit that will let the nutty "i don't want better than 720p and neither should anyone else" crowd down-grade any apple tv 3's they are forced to buy.

I've been reading that slop since the tv 2 failed to have 1080 - and it would seem that there's a large market for a lower capability chip!

Personally, I'm most interested in the audio capabilities as that's my main use for these neat devices...

They cost the same, so it's not like you're losing anything. If you have a 720p television, it will broadcast at 720p. If you have 1080p, you will get 1080p. And you can bet that Apple won't stream you 10800p video– costing them bandwidth– if you're using a 720p signal. So I think this is a largely transparent upgrade that just extends current capabilities.

On another note, I also use these devices for audio quite a bit. I have a nice 5-channel system–*Axiom speakers and a HK receiver. Apple TV does a pretty decent job getting good quality sound to the speakers. I'm not worried about audiophile performance, but probably prosumer grade. I will notice lost fidelity and I care when I lose it.

 

[ILikeTurtles]

That doesn't ring my bell.

 

[Frobozz]

Gimmicky, yes, but maybe Apple developed a way to make the Apple TV produce and deliver 3D content and the $39 mystery is Bluetooth 4.0 glasses. Do I think this is what it is? Not really. But I randomly thought of it while making tea at work.

This is a good point. Probably the biggest missing link for 3D is on-demand 3D– weather it be rented or purchased. I'm not sure of a good set-top box that delivers 3D yet.

Case in point– my household and my parents household have a 3D TV. If you don't have a PS3 (or 3D blu-ray player), or you don't pay extra for some 3D channels through your cable provider, you don't have much to watch.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I wonder if someone will come out with a chip swap kit that will let the nutty "i don't want better than 720p and neither should anyone else" crowd down-grade any apple tv 3's they are forced to buy.

I've been reading that slop since the tv 2 failed to have 1080 - and it would seem that there's a large market for a lower capability chip!

Personally, I'm most interested in the audio capabilities as that's my main use for these neat devices...

That's funny and I'm with you on the audio upgrade hopes. Personally, I hope for hardware that can go fully toe-to-toe with Blu Ray standards- both video & audio (but I bet we won't quite get that).

I find all of these TV threads hilarious compared to all other Apple product threads. Only in these, do you get people arguing against hardware progress. In Mac threads, people are never arguing against the latest graphics card or the latest processors. In fact, it's often just the opposite: rants against Apple for NOT building in the latest & greatest hardware... even if some of the latest & greatest may not be usable in almost any software available at the time.

Even simultaneously with this thread, you got all these people gushing about a retina display in an iPad, wanting an A6 instead of an A5X, wanting LTE instead of 3G, wanting more ram instead of the same- even though every single app in the app store works with the iPad 2's existing hardware specs and there really is NOTHING currently available that takes advantage of the cutting edge of an A6 or A5X, more ram or retina.

All our computers do everything we use them for today so perhaps Apple should not advance the hardware in new computers? Our iPhones work today for our needs so perhaps Apple should not advance the hardware in iPhones? Etc. You don't see much of that. Just lots of whining or enthusiasm revolving around advancing the hardware... wanting the future now.

But, when it comes to TV, there are so many people that argue that 720p is good enough, global bandwidth must be in place before it makes any sense, "the chart", file sizes too large, and my personal favorites:

• "I can't see the difference so you can't either" (and all its variants) and
• "99% can't see the difference" as if they've surveyed the world when, probably 99% of the time, THEY (alone) represent their survey pool.

The funniest part of all is this: for those that feel SD or 720p is "good enough" for them, better hardware will simply play their 720p or SD to its fullest quality. They lose nothing in their own experience if they get some hardware capable of a bit more than their needs (just like a new iPhone, iPad or Mac). Yet, every TV thread that mentions 1080p is always full of these people who argue against better hardware- in this one thing- in spite of the fact that it will have NO IMPACT on them whatsoever.

I used to think this was just the usual "whatever Apple thinks" cheerleading, meaning that if Apple has demonstrated that they think 720p is good enough, then it is indeed good enough for all. But last year, Apple demonstrated that even they were moving on when they put a 1080p camera in the iPhone 4s. If Apple still thought 720p is good enough, that camera would be a 720p camera in support of many of the very same reasons people sling in arguing against 1080p for TV. But even Apple moving on to 1080p didn't do it.

So I guess these people think that Apple is wrong about embracing 1080p too.

 

[superlatic]

I think 1080p is pretty much a given. As a potential UK buyer, I would like to see the following feaures.
- Apps for BBC iPlayer, ITV player, 40D & Lovefilm, to compliment youtube and netflix.
- Some kind of facetime integration in the form of a build in/add on camera

Would also like to see DLNA compatibility, support for an external HDD and maybe even support for MKV files but I think it will be a cold day in hell before we see that.

 

[scott911]

That's funny and I'm with you on the audio upgrade hopes. Personally, I hope for hardware that can go fully toe-to-toe with Blu Ray standards- both video & audio (but I bet we won't quite get that).

I find all of these TV threads hilarious compared to all other Apple product threads. Only in these, do you get people arguing against hardware progress. In Mac threads, people are never arguing against the latest graphics card or the latest processors. In fact, it's often just the opposite: rants against Apple for NOT building in the latest & greatest hardware... even if some of the latest & greatest may not be usable in almost any software available at the time.

Even simultaneously with this thread, you got all these people gushing about a retina display in an iPad, wanting an A6 instead of an A5X, wanting LTE instead of 3G, wanting more ram instead of the same- even though every single app in the app store works with the iPad 2's existing hardware specs and there really is NOTHING currently available that takes advantage of the cutting edge of an A6 or A5X, more ram or retina.

All our computers do everything we use them for today so perhaps Apple should not advance the hardware in new computers? Our iPhones work today for our needs so perhaps Apple should not advance the hardware in iPhones? Etc. You don't see much of that. Just lots of whining or enthusiasm revolving around advancing the hardware... wanting the future now.

But, when it comes to TV, there are so many people that argue that 720p is good enough, global bandwidth must be in place before it makes any sense, "the chart", file sizes too large, and my personal favorites:

• "I can't see the difference so you can't either" (and all its variants) and
• "99% can't see the difference" as if they've surveyed the world when, probably 99% of the time, THEY (alone) represent their survey pool.

The funniest part of all is this: for those that feel SD or 720p is "good enough" for them, better hardware will simply play their 720p or SD to its fullest quality. They lose nothing in their own experience if they get some hardware capable of a bit more than their needs (just like a new iPhone, iPad or Mac). Yet, every TV thread that mentions 1080p is always full of these people who argue against better hardware- in this one thing- in spite of the fact that it will have NO IMPACT on them whatsoever.

I used to think this was just the usual "whatever Apple thinks" cheerleading, meaning that if Apple has demonstrated that they think 720p is good enough, then it is indeed good enough for all. But last year, Apple demonstrated that even they were moving on when they put a 1080p camera in the iPhone 4s. If Apple still thought 720p is good enough, that camera would be a 720p camera in support of many of the very same reasons people sling in arguing against 1080p for TV. But even Apple moving on to 1080p didn't do it.

So I guess these people think that Apple is wrong about embracing 1080p too.

well said... I suspect it'd all be put to rest soon!

 

[GenesisST]

I wonder if someone will come out with a chip swap kit that will let the nutty "i don't want better than 720p and neither should anyone else" crowd down-grade any apple tv 3's they are forced to buy.

I've been reading that slop since the tv 2 failed to have 1080 - and it would seem that there's a large market for a lower capability chip!

Personally, I'm most interested in the audio capabilities as that's my main use for these neat devices...

Earlier, I mentioned that the main problem with video is compression more that the resolution. That being said, my TV supports 1080p, thus I want it!

Menus and all should be crisper, a bit like retina does on iPhone and soon iPad. If there are ever apps or a browser on the aTV, then they would benefit from 1080p, me thinks.

 

[acidfast7]

Does your favorite destinations happen to be in countries with a lower general price level, or is the general price level an important factor for you?


Okay, so you're just cheap as ****? Yeah, pennies make pounds, but counting quarters and translating it into beers during your everyday life seem a bit over the top. Especially considering the fact that you're actually spending money on things like Apple products...


Of course you don't.

1. I think it results in a different type of tourism. I'm def more of a backpack kind of guy however I seem to have accumulated colleague/friends in Seoul, Busan, Nagoya, Yokohama and Tokyo, so the next trip will be a loop from into Seoul and out of Toyko and won't be so cheap We're also looking at 3 weeks around Argentina and a week in Italy for Easter (always fun in the sun)

2. Yeah, it is slightly over the top. We saved cash for our car in cash (and made a game out it every time one of us put cash into the box.)

3. Yeah, but there is a huge social pressure to. In Stockholm, everyone left for 6 weeks (the city was empty) to their lake houses. I couldn't really work as some companies (scientific supply) stopped shipping and didn't have technicians on duty (for microscope service, etc...)

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I wonder if someone will come out with a chip swap kit that will let the nutty "i don't want better than 720p and neither should anyone else" crowd down-grade any apple tv 3's they are forced to buy.

I've been reading that slop since the tv 2 failed to have 1080 - and it would seem that there's a large market for a lower capability chip!

Personally, I'm most interested in the audio capabilities as that's my main use for these neat devices...

i'm actually interested if they can be hardware hacked because of the similar form factor (ifixit has an excellent teardown of what's inside).

----------

The funniest part of all is this: for those that feel SD or 720p is "good enough" for them, better hardware will simply play their 720p or SD to its fullest quality. They lose nothing in their own experience if they get some hardware capable of a bit more than their needs (just like a new iPhone, iPad or Mac). Yet, every TV thread that mentions 1080p is always full of these people who argue against better hardware- in this one thing- in spite of the fact that it will have NO IMPACT on them whatsoever.

1. If the price stays the same (119€).
2. If no additional fans are needed for cooing.

If 1 or 2 are not met because of 1080p capability, then it's a significant loss.

 

[hafr]

But, when it comes to TV, there are so many people that argue that 720p is good enough, global bandwidth must be in place before it makes any sense, "the chart", file sizes too large, and my personal favorites:

• "I can't see the difference so you can't either" (and all its variants) and
• "99% can't see the difference" as if they've surveyed the world when, probably 99% of the time, THEY (alone) represent their survey pool.

Not to be picky about it, but you do know that asking and getting answers from 1 000 americans is enough to make a fairly accurate prediction about what for instance the american public think? Also, you could quite easily get an approximate by looking at how big of a market TV's of a certain minimum size is in comparison to the TV/projector market itself, and taking an average viewing distance... Maybe 1 % is a good guess, maybe not. I don't know. But you sure as **** don't have to survey the whole world

 

[hafr]

3. Yeah, but there is a huge social pressure to. In Stockholm, everyone left for 6 weeks (the city was empty) to their lake houses. I couldn't really work as some companies (scientific supply) stopped shipping and didn't have technicians on duty (for microscope service, etc...)

I've spent enough summers in Stockholm to know that it might be true for you and your friends/colleagues, but there's no general pressure to go away during the vacation. Stockholm is such an amazing city during the summers, probably my favorite European summer city.

But since cheap beers is important to you, I understand if you don't agree...

 

[mwulf67]

I find all of these TV threads hilarious compared to all other Apple product threads. Only in these, do you get people arguing against hardware progress.

Still can't figure out that not caring as much as you do isn't quite the same as arguing against something....even on the morning of your "victory" you can't help chasing down those windmills, can ya...

 

[acidfast7]

I've spent enough summers in Stockholm to know that it might be true for you and your friends/colleagues, but there's no general pressure to go away during the vacation. Stockholm is such an amazing city during the summers, probably my favorite European summer city.

But since cheap beers is important to you, I understand if you don't agree...

And, so says the guy who doesn't even live there year-round.

Every Stockholmer that I worked with left town (every one that lived there full-time).

Under tre år bodde jag på Norr Mälarstrand, så jag vet!

 

[Woodcrest64]

1080p support is nice but I think Apple should improve the overall quality of the video with less compression. I use my classic Apple TV all the time to rent movies but I have notice compression artifacts with color gradients in very dark scenes that have a high contrast of light source, i.e. flash light in the dark.

Correct me if I am wrong but I believe the average 720p video right now from Apple is 2.7gb in size. If they there was an option to select a video size of 5gb file size that would be wonderful. I don't know if that is enough to eliminate the majority of compression artifacts or not.

 

[Dr McKay]

$39.99 Optional Controller..... BAM!!!!!!!! MEGA BOMB.... Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft just lost the console wars..

$4.99 console quality games on the Apple TV

Yea with the black hole of suck that is Gamecenter. No platform on which you can chat to friends while you game with them.

As for $4.99 "console" quality games? 9/10 of them are direct rip offs from Gameloft, and have the looks and charm of a PS1-2 game.

 

[hafr]

And, so says the guy who doesn't even live there year-round.

Every Stockholmer that I worked with left town (every one that lived there full-time).

Under tre år bodde jag på Norr Mälarstrand, så jag vet!

That's true, I don't. But I did - for about twenty years. Of course, things might have changed during the last decade or so.

 

[iSayuSay]

OMG, maybe because no one cares about Uncharted as he can fight Locusts? Physical medias are dead, whether they are called CDs, DVDs or Blureys, got it?

OMG
..not anytime soon
/OMG

 

[Lepton]

Needs an HDMI Input

Still hoping for an HDMI input. Instead of sticking the current ATV on a second input to your TV as you do now, this could be a pass-through arrangement which lets you put it in line between your cable box and TV. It could pass through cable programming while sleeping, but could take over the TV when you send AirPlay to it, without you having to switch the TV to a second input. It would also allow the ATV to overlay information on top of the passed through TV signal.

And the $39 accessory? A Bluetooth 4.0 remote control. Simple like the current one, but with a microphone so you can talk to Siri inside the Apple TV!

 

[acidfast7]

That's true, I don't. But I did - for about twenty years. Of course, things might have changed during the last decade or so.

Most of the Swedes I know don't like the "new Stockholm," isn't doesn't mesh with Jantelagen so well.

Too much money (the Norrlands Guld commercials are correct), but in the last two years, I think the city has really struggled (just check out the whole Sergels Torg area).

 

[carlgo]

The new ATV then may be the first phase of introducing the new TV thing because it is surely going to have more than 720p resolution. Its a 1080 world anyway.

----------

Still hoping for an HDMI input. Instead of sticking the current ATV on a second input to your TV as you do now, this could be a pass-through arrangement which lets you put it in line between your cable box and TV. It could pass through cable programming while sleeping, but could take over the TV when you send AirPlay to it, without you having to switch the TV to a second input. It would also allow the ATV to overlay information on top of the passed through TV signal.

This is a good and practical idea for the most of us who aren't going to live off of endless spinning wheel downloads and apps alone.

 

[jumanji]

Still hoping for an HDMI input. Instead of sticking the current ATV on a second input to your TV as you do now, this could be a pass-through arrangement which lets you put it in line between your cable box and TV. It could pass through cable programming while sleeping, but could take over the TV when you send AirPlay to it, without you having to switch the TV to a second input. It would also allow the ATV to overlay information on top of the passed through TV signal.

And the $39 accessory? A Bluetooth 4.0 remote control. Simple like the current one, but with a microphone so you can talk to Siri inside the Apple TV!

that's an interesting idea. i don't think it happens but it is very interesting.

 

[ftaok]

Still hoping for an HDMI input. Instead of sticking the current ATV on a second input to your TV as you do now, this could be a pass-through arrangement which lets you put it in line between your cable box and TV. It could pass through cable programming while sleeping, but could take over the TV when you send AirPlay to it, without you having to switch the TV to a second input. It would also allow the ATV to overlay information on top of the passed through TV signal.

Hey, that was my idea (Post #268). Great minds think alike.