Scarpad
macrumors 68020
Will the bolt have actual apps, Cause I have an OTA Roamio now and the DVR capability of the unit is great but the apps which rely on the opera Browser, like the plex app is substandard
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Would've been nice if they had "Antennae in"
- Thread starter chukronos
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Will the bolt have actual apps, Cause I have an OTA Roamio now and the DVR capability of the unit is great but the apps which rely on the opera Browser, like the plex app is substandard
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
I don't know but what it does have is quite impressive. If I guess, I would guess that apps- as we think about them- are probably not in the mix. Right now I wish it and the new 
TV could mate bringing what's special about both into a single box: BoltTV. 😉
I suspect we're all looking for the one set-top box to rule them all. The new Roku will be loaded. Amazon's looks interesting. Nvidia also has an interesting box.TV4. This Bolt. Etc. Just about every individual box has something(s) desirable missing from any one other box.
I wish someone would identify the best of all of these boxes and mash that into a single box. I'm confident Apple could do it if they wanted to do so. Again, focus is a powerful thing.
TV could mate bringing what's special about both into a single box: BoltTV. 😉I suspect we're all looking for the one set-top box to rule them all. The new Roku will be loaded. Amazon's looks interesting. Nvidia also has an interesting box.
TV4. This Bolt. Etc. Just about every individual box has something(s) desirable missing from any one other box.I wish someone would identify the best of all of these boxes and mash that into a single box. I'm confident Apple could do it if they wanted to do so. Again, focus is a powerful thing.
Yes. Hence, the entire point of the thread. The wish of added convenience of adding free tv to the apple TV.
Exactly. We are going to want to use the Apple TV remote, so having all of our entertainment in one box would eliminate or reduce the need for a unified remote. Or reduce the clutter of multiple remotes.
It looks like a nice device. But my problem is I bought a $40 antenna (on sale for $20) and got maybe three channels. I live about 80 miles from Atlanta and can't pick up much. This is why you will see me advocate for these broadcast signals to be streamed online instead. I hate this because it means I can't watch NFL games that aren't on ESPN.
oneMadRssn
macrumors 603
Antennas can be very finicky and particular. If one doesn't work, another might work. Also, $40 is pretty low cost and probably low end for an antenna.
80 miles is far, but not too far for a good antenna and amplifier, though good will cost you more than $40. I know people who live farther than you from their nearest towers and get good signals for all the major networks and more. For that kind of range, you generally need an exterior antenna with a solid amplifier.
If you still try an indoor one though, placement is very important as well. I love about 30 miles from the towers, and moving the antenna a few inches inch left or right or up or down affects the signal in pretty big ways.
Yeah, that's what I've been told. I knew $40 was cheap, but it was $20 that day. So I gave it a shot. Ended up being useful at work when we got an HDTV. I saw one at Target that you can stick on a window and has a 20dB signal booster for $70. Thought about it, but I'm still not sure because I don't know what works. I'm also probably coming to a point where I don't know how much longer I would get use of it. In a year I should graduate (again) from college and don't know where I'll end up. I also barely have time for anything, but watching the Falcons roll on the one Sunday I've had this semester without a lot of work to do would've been nice!
A short update on the TiVo Bolt I mentioned earlier, and not to hijack this thread. I did buy one (the only one that the local Best Buy had in stock, a 500GB version, and it wasn't even on the shelf - it was 20 feet off the floor along with overstock) on Sunday, but did not hook it up until late that day. I have an amplified Winegard HD antenna and also every channel Comcrap offers via unadvertised deal, and a 10-year-old Sony Bravia HDTV; I hooked up the Winegard first, then the cable - it's one or the other with the TiVo, but I do keep the Winegard connected to the back of the HDTV. My only gripe with my former Roamio was that OTA didn't look as good going through it as when it's connected directly to the HDTV.
Two words, and two more words: Holy crap! Get one!
The Bolt's OTA passthrough looks as good now as a direct connection to the HDTV. Comcast's programming looks so much better now - the Gaussian Blur effect is gone, and football/futbol both look really, really good! I'll connect the Bolt to one of my 4k displays next weekend if I have time and see what the picture looks like. The curated channel skipping is sweet! The Roamio will be on CL soon! 😀
Two words, and two more words: Holy crap! Get one!
The Bolt's OTA passthrough looks as good now as a direct connection to the HDTV. Comcast's programming looks so much better now - the Gaussian Blur effect is gone, and football/futbol both look really, really good! I'll connect the Bolt to one of my 4k displays next weekend if I have time and see what the picture looks like. The curated channel skipping is sweet! The Roamio will be on CL soon! 😀
You are going to have to spend more than $40 to get an antenna that will work in your location.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
That's right, 80 miles is a LONG way from the towers. Visit antennaweb.org and punch in your info to see what you can probably get where you are and what kind of antenna you need. 80 is a LONG way so there may be no option but streaming, cable or satt for you. If you want sports- especially NFL- streaming's probably not going to do the job.
If anything will work well (pulling in lots of channels) from 80 miles away, it will probably have to be a BIG antenna (measured in many feet from end to end) mounted as high as you can outside: this kind of thing...
or maybe this kind...
...depending on what works best in your area... but NOT rabbit ears in a window (you're going to have to get much closer to Atlanta to do well with those). Price will be more toward $80-$150 for what I'm guessing would be the applicable antenna, but again, antennaweb.org will be much better than people like me guessing.
If anything will work well (pulling in lots of channels) from 80 miles away, it will probably have to be a BIG antenna (measured in many feet from end to end) mounted as high as you can outside: this kind of thing...
or maybe this kind...
...depending on what works best in your area... but NOT rabbit ears in a window (you're going to have to get much closer to Atlanta to do well with those). Price will be more toward $80-$150 for what I'm guessing would be the applicable antenna, but again, antennaweb.org will be much better than people like me guessing.
Last edited:
mpainesyd
macrumors 6502a
I don't have a TV - just an "old" iMac with an EyeTV tuner that connects to a projector. I also use an ATV3 with the projector so it would be great if there was an EyeTV app for the ATV (No more swapping inputs on the projector). I have tried Airplay from the iMac and an iPad (running the EyeTV app) and both have poor audio/video quality for watching TV.
I realise I would probably need to "upgrade" to an ATV4 to run third party app but the ATV4 does not have optical audio output so I would have to find another way to connect to my hifi. Most solutions I have come across set my sound system back a decade. The hifi is on the opposite corner of the room from the projector - too far for HDMI.
MisterMe
macrumors G4
That's right, 80 miles is a LONG way from the towers. Visit antennaweb.org and punch in your info to see what you can probably get where you are and what kind of antenna you need. 80 is a LONG way so there may be no option but streaming, cable or satt for you. If you want sports- especially NFL- streaming's probably not going to do the job.
If anything will work well (pulling in lots of channels) from 80 miles away, it will probably have to be a BIG antenna (measured in many feet from end to end) mounted as high as you can outside: this kind of thing...
or maybe this kind...
...depending on what works best in your area... but NOT rabbit ears in a window (you're going to have to get much closer to Atlanta to do well with those). Price will be more toward $80-$150 for what I'm guessing would be the applicable antenna, but again, antennaweb.org will be much better than people like me guessing.
The first antenna is a good antenna if you live in 2008. Most TV stations are now UHF. If memory serves, then only 4 stations broadcast on Low-VHF (Channels 2-6). No commercial station broadcasts above Channel 50. However, that antenna is designed for Channels 2-68. The second antenna in this post looks like one of the many frauds that unscrupulous manufacturers pawn-off to buyers who don't understand antennas.
I strongly suggest that anyone wishing to receive TV over-the-air visit the TV Fool website. The site has tools that show exactly which broadcast signals are available at your location. More importantly, the site features a user forum where numerous expert users will advise you on the specific model antenna required for optimum reception for your location.
GenesisST
macrumors 68000
Not necessarily. I have an XBOX one with the USB HD tuner and with it I get access the xbox guide. My TV doesn't do that. I can just channel up/down, etc.
And in the new year, the XBOX is rumored to get a DVR for that tuner. For me, as a cord cutter, I get access to local OTA content and still use netflix/itunes/hulu for tv shows
Same configuration. I'm satisfied with the Xbox One TV tuner for my local OTA content. I get all the major broadcast networks. It took a while to get my Mohu indoor antenna to placed at a good spot. After that, it was smooth and clear.
I'm guessing Apple decided to not release a local TV streaming package. Not sure. But if they do release it with a reasonable price. I will revert to that.
mpainesyd
macrumors 6502a
Found a 10m HDMI cable with built in booster so I moved the ATV next to the hifi and run the long HDMI cable around the room to the projector. BUT I still need the optical audio link from the ATV to the Hifi. The hifi has 2-way HDMI so that a connected TV can send the audio to the hifi, while displaying the video on the TV but the ATV does not support this mode. With only one HDMI port there do not seem to be any other options for me so I will stick with the ATV3.
I've got a slightly different setup, with an old but solid amp with optical in but no HDMI to go with a different "box" that has HDMI out but no optical. I use this beasty to get video to my old HDTV and optical sound out to my amp: http://www.amazon.com/ViewHD-Extrac...p/B00LKF6CPG/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8 (that's a US link with no affiliate ties - I don't roll that way). A fix for my needs for under US$40. Check it out, maybe that will give you some ideas. Cheers!
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
mpainesyd
macrumors 6502a
OK - I will give that product a try.
It might also resolve a problem I have with video/audio out of sync when I try to play video from iMac to the projector and (TOSLINK) hifi. EyeTV is unwatchable with this configuration.
BTW - I now have an HDMI Switcher box from Jaycar Electronics and this allows me to easily switch between the ATV, iMac (mini-DVI to HMDI out) and a hifi/Blu-ray player. I am hoping that the ViewHD will allow me to send video to the projector (with HDMI) and audio to the hifi (toslink) from either the ATV or iMac. This will prepare me for an ATV4...
Last edited:
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
I did read what you wrote, it seemed to me that you were looking for simultaneous audio out or routing the audio to the desired device. The linked-to unit does that, plus several other features. I've also used the older, 1080P (not 4k) unit and that worked perfectly, actually it still does but for a friend I gifted it to - we both have some older but still-perfectly working audio hardware that can rattle the windows! Cheers, and pass on if it works out!
Snoopy4
macrumors 6502a
The correct way to do this would be to have a USB attachment where a tuner accessory could be attached. No need to blow up the size of the box.
Well, I got one that cost $70 at Target that had some 20dB (decibel, right?) signal booster. Sho nuff I'm getting many more channels. I'm still not picking up a CBS or CW channel, but I got the rest of the major ones. I picked up an NBC channel from another city that is kind of iffy, so maybe I'll have to play with positioning. But it's much better now.
The OTA picture is the best. My only beef with the TiVo is the recurring fee (after the first year). I've heard great things about the tiro and have been considering picking one of these up. It will cut my cost for a fios hd box. My big hesitation is that I don't want to pay 12.50 a month for a box if I cut the cord at the end of football season.
No offense intended, but my comment about the OTA/Bolt comparison was with a Bolt-connected HDTV and an OTA antenna-connected HDTV side-to-side. I've surmised from your comment that you don't own one yet - I bought one on Day 1. The picture's better, the sound's better, it's "faster" than the Comcrap X1 - no FIOS or other service is available here (lots of trees!). I can't see a difference between OTA and what the Bolt records or passes through, and I own one!
I have friends with an Comcast X1 and whatever FIOS is putting out there. We watched several football games last weekend, and I recorded a few others - the Bolt's picture quality is so much better than the boxes that Comcast and VZ and TiVo put out before it's almost silly. I hooked up my Roamio before wiping it to sell it - Comcast sent out letters that older units (theirs and pre-Roamio) will be cut off starting 10/24 in my market due to the video encoder switch - and the Roamio's picture almost gave me headaches. It's almost as though the Bolt has pass-through for OTA.
As to the cost, I drop twice that monthly fee on a bottle of gin or a few gallons of fuel without even thinking about it. TiVo owns most of the patents for now (another year or so), so that's the cost of doing business IMHO. I suspect that the monthly fee will come down next year after their patents expire. Or, just sell the Bolt on CL and get a new one - the price is cheap for what they provide, including regular software updates. I'm keeping my Bolt!
I wasn't saying that the OTA signal wouldn't be good through the TiVo. I was saying that OTA signal in general, is great. And, I imagine that going the signal going through the Tivo would also be phenominal. If I stick with fios, I will probably pick up a bolt and one of their mini's. Both boxes for a total of $12.50/mo is a steal. That would cut the price I pay to fios for a dvr and extra box to less than half. I really like all the features of the bolt. Did you get the 500GB or 1 TB version?