Comments on: Apple aiming for TV breakthrough

Tech companies haven't had much success in the living room. Can the iPod maker do any better with its Apple TV?

[Lucky Lou]

It's just to make iPod content available to TV

Apple's not trying to compete with set-top boxes or NetFlix or
HD content or anything like that. AppleTV is just to make all that
content you're buying to watch on your iPod or computer
available to be watchable on your TV, in addition to all the other
content on your computer. You get your iPhoto, iMovies, and
iTunes content on your TV - that's all it's for. This way you don't
have to hook up your iPod or your laptop, which is do-able but
can be a pain. It's kind of like buying an iPod for your TV, really.
So don't confuse the issue here, CNET, by trying to make people
think Apple is trying to do anything more - at this point at least.
They'll surely do that soon enough!

[boywai1980]

Smart TV supported with Microsoft Media Center

TV maker started manufacturing on TV combination with PC. Which is using on video streaming and more features by Micorosft Media Center and very open to plugins and movie and tv show content and more are being added everyday.

[Samuthy]

Smart TV

What is Smart TV?

[Samuthy]

Smart TV

What is Smart TV?

[Llib Setag]

AppleTV? : Go to Apple, Inc.

http://www.apple.com/appletv

Macworld Keynote Address about AppleTV + iPhone from Steve
Jobs :
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/mwsf07/

You can play any music/music video from iTunes Library ( NOT
just from iTunes Store purchase) ripped CD's & home videos
from movie folder.

You can play slideshows of your digital photo library with music.

You can share digital content with your friend's laptop with the
SHARED access setting on your TV

SD + HD TV connections.

802.11 N standard wireless hub for entire household. FAST!

Go to the source + wait & see when AppleTV arrives (new
features?)

[MJD1001]

High def

Not interested in any downloadable content until I can get what I want in High def. When Hi-def content is ready, I will be ready. Don't care until then.

[NicDoyon]

Watch iPod videos on your TV

All you need to be able to do this is a simple iPod audio/video cable that you can find in most stores for about $20 or on eBay for around $5. It does the exact same thing only you don't have to blow hundreds of dollars on a piece of equipment that will enable you to do so.

[glen engelmann]

other appletv functionality....

...an ipod has more limited storage (appletv works with up to 5
computers so content from any computer in the house can be
viewed/listened to)
an ipod does not output in highdef.
an ipod does not have a remote control.
appletv allows you to link up to a friends laptop and view/listen to
their content too...pretty cool.
i think appletv is a great value...

[Mergatroid Mania]

Brand new and obsolete.

I know there isn't much 1080p content as yet, but it is the new HD standard.

I just bought a new 42" TV with 1080p capability. Why would I purchase something like this device that would restrict my ability to view HD though this device to 720p?

The idea for Apple TV might be sound. We'll have to wait and see. However, they should have made their product 1080p capable.

I know I won't be purchasing any TV peripherals that won't take full advantage of my TV's capabilities. What would be the point?

[glen engelmann]

1080p

my tv is also 1080p compatible. i bought it so i wouldn't have to
upgrade any time soon. right now only blu-ray and hd-dvd are
1080p. those players and discs are brand new and very expensive.
i am sure that just like regular dvd and hd-dvd ...apple will have
regular appletv and 1080p-appletv versions. right now, regular
dvd's and regular hd programming looks amazing on my tv so i
expect that appletv will also look amazing.....

[glen engelmann]

apple never claimed to replace set-top box...

apple claims only that....if it is on itunes then it is on your tv. over
time most movies will be downloads, not dvd's. appletv offers not
only an easy way to watch downloaded movies on tv, but
downloaded tv shows, music, personal pictures and home movies
as well. in addition if a friend comes over with their laptop we can
watch and listen to content on that computer wirelessly
too....pretty cool...

[Vegaman_Dan]

But it's been done... by Apple no less

I've been able to do all of this for years now with my video iPod. It's smaller, higher capacity, lightweight, portable, and can be easily used with different accessories.

If I am going to be paying all that money for a device that can play video/music/photos or even stream them from other sources, I'll just use my iPod.

[Vegaman_Dan]

But it's been done... by Apple no less

I've been able to do all of this for years now with my video iPod. It's smaller, higher capacity, lightweight, portable, and can be easily used with different accessories.

If I am going to be paying all that money for a device that can play video/music/photos or even stream them from other sources, I'll just use my iPod.

[sting7k]

microsoft already has a better way

Windows media center has been able to do this for awhile and it is just now getting better. $300 for a box that only streams itunes content is alot to ask for. I assume you can probably stream your own content as well as you can already import lots of videos and such to itunes. But $300 to get it to your tv is alot considering there is already a very good alternative.

The xbox 360 does this function and for $300 (or $400) you can do this same function with no work and play games, dvds, music cds on the xbox 360 as well. All you need is the new zune software, go to options and set to share with xbox 360's on your home network. Then go to your xbox 360 and tell it to find PC's on your network, in about 10 seconds it will find any pc's with the software and connect. You are now able to stream anything that you can play on your PC with the zune software on your TV by streaming through the xbox 360. I have about 25gb music, few GB of photos, and another 30GB or so of TV shows and a few movies i have downloaded for free or ripped off of dvds that i own. And all for the same price as this apple TV.

In the fall microsoft will begin some type of ondemand TV service through xbox live i am not sure of the details though and they already have a bunch of TV shows and movies you can dl and rent through xbox live and many are in HD (720p).

[eldernorm]

Hmmmmm

While using an XBox 360 will work, most people have not bought an XBox. So I see this as a "If you have this, its neat, otherwise......"

But consider if you have a Mac or a PC (any kind - even a media center pc) then you can get your movies, music, and possibly even games to the TV.

Again, Apple is going for the whole market, not just those that buy ONLY Microsoft goods.

Just a thought. :-)

[xnowimcoolx]

proprietary formats

I use a mac, and I have a 360 ... i don't know about the Zune software thing mentioned earlier but my xbox 360 will only stream WMV format videos, which is a pain (cause convertering takes a while!) but this proprietary formatting is the same for Apple's apple TV.

The industry (apple, microsoft, and everyone else) needs to set a standard!

Can a computer with XP and media center stream ANY format (avi, DivX, WMV etc...) to TV using the 360? (and no Zune) because to my knowledge it won't...

[Thomas, David]

Oh Please Read

This morning, the room-mates kid was wailing away, and their
dog won't stop wining, and I get to read lots of stupid, yes
stupid, remarks from people with less than remarkable
knowledge.

So lets fan this crap some more.
1. ANYONE who actually believe a typical PC, and worse yet, one
with a Microsoft operating system, is actually one of the better
choices one can make is illustrating nothing less than a
complete lack of hardware/software engineering knowledge.
Without that knowledge you should just shut the hell up, and
realize you have nothing to really base your subjective statement
(s) on.
2. ANYONE with that knowledge, claiming Microsoft windows is
a better choice, is an idiot. That person can usually be found at
the BACK of any class.
3. ANYONE blaming ANY company about the content they offer
in their on-line stores is EQUALLY less deserving of air on this
planet. Those companies, Apple, Microsoft, eBay, etc, DO NOT
CREATE THE CONTENT NOR DICTATE THE RULES THEY MUST
ADHERE TO. The only one who constant tries to fudge the
system is Microsoft (ya know, bribes). SO SHUT THE #$%^ UP
ABOUT THEIR DRM. THEY LEGALLY HAVE TO HAVE IT. F--ING
IDIOTS.

You know who you are. Did'nt like to go to class. You think that
Devry degree places you on the same level as a 4-yr grad. Hell,
most of you are probably still in HS

[Thomas, David]

DRM

"Steve Jobs" isn't trying to bargain with anyone over DRM. It's
was not a ploy, or anything deceptive. He knows, LIKE EVERY
PERSON WITH A BRAIN ON A PLANET, that once you make the
designs of lock public, the lock is useless.

Apples DRM solution works, that is why it is under fire. Yeah,
DVDJ breaks the DRM from time to time. But guess what, since
there is a single distribution point, the holes are always plugged.
This simply would be impossible to do with an "open" DRM
system.

[thedreaming]

Nothing new

Media extenders have been around for some time, allowing people to display pictures, videos and play music wired and wirelessly from their home pcs to their living rooms. Appletv is merely Apple's version of such a device.

Just from the coolness factor, they will sell and they'll make a profit.

[mb26701]

Dolby Digital Audio Concern

With all the creeping expansion of internet to television delivery systems, I'm not seeing much in the way of a product that also delivers the quality audio that an HD viewer would likely demand- Dolby Digital, DTS, etc.

The biggest reason I don't order pay per view movies through my cable company is that I'm stuck with receiving the audio in Dolby Pro Logic, or some other form inferior to true 5.1.

If Apple, or others would provide this (does Xbox 360?) I would be on board.

[Llib Setag]

APPLETV has Optical Audio Port

Optical Audio Out port on back of AppleTV.

http://www.apple.com/appletv

Mac OSX Core Audio Info + optical audio

http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/coreaudio/

[Orion Blastar]

We already have these features

in Tivo, the XBox 360, and many other systems that already have existed for years.

Tivo and Pay-Per-View is cheaper than the Apple TV system per movie, if you don't mind waiting for the Pay-Per-View movie to come on for Tivo to record it. Unlike Apple TV, Tivo does not limit you from having a limited time or number of times to view a movie, nor does Tivo prevent you from recording the movie to a video tape or DVD, as Apple TV does.

The XBox 360 and I think the original XBox have always had an option to network up with a Windows XP Media Center machine to stream video and music from. Unlike the Apple TV, they have other uses such as playing video games and DVDs.

Many Cable and Satellite companies have their own set top boxes and DVRs that they basically give away for free with a one year or more contract.

[ALPICH]

Apple TV or Mac Mini

Her is my problem. I want an Apple TV but for what it does for
its price tag of $450 Aus I could spend just an extra $150 on a
second hand Mac Mini and do so much more including play
DivX, AVI, Ogg Vorbis etc. Plus it would have a built in DVD
player. So what is better to hook up to my new 32" LCD screen
which has both HDMI and DVI connector. A limited function
Apple TV or a full computer like the Mac Mini with Frontrow, the
potential of HDTV with EyeTV, a full web browser, word
processor, and can also be booted in to windows with boot camp
to play windows games on my new 32". Strangely while I think
the answer is the Mac Mini hands down... I am fairly confident
that I will end up with an Apple TV if only because my wife will
be able to understand it more easy than trying to understand the
Mac Mini... that and who really wants to try to run games on
integrated Intel graphics chips.

[technewsjunkie]

Not an Either OR Situation! I'm not "dumping" cable TV.

This is not an either/or proposition, nor is it Apple's intention
directly or indirectly to compete with "Direct TV" or cable!
It's about SIMPLIFYING the PC to TV connection - to enable Apple
to sell hardware and get a percentage of downloads.

The either/or assertion is fallacious.

What about all the content being put up onthe Internet (besides
iTunes music, movies, podcasts, and audiobooks)?? There is a
TON, and it's growing exponentially.

[woofs_a_lot]

Higher purpose for AppleTV

As mobile broadband becomes pervasive with metro wiFi and
WiMax coverage mobile computing will be reduced to the size of
an Apple iPhone. What Apple is doing here, besides addressing
the IPTV market, is producing a wireless display device that
automatically syncs to a mobile computing device in its vicinity
thereby eliminating the problem of small form factor screen on
the mobile computing device.

This is the future of almost all personal computing. Personalized
I/O will be auto-syncing wireless and fit the local environment.
Rooms will have a viewing screen or wall. Data entry will be by
voice or some other inventive device.

Apple is setting the stage for another revolution in personal
computing with the function of this box.

[Llib Setag]

APPLE TV IS SHIPPING TODAY

ORDERS TO ARRIVE IN 3 DAYS.

[00rb]

For $299 I get vidoes and Halo 3...

Xbox 360 will have competitive features this fall with the ablity to dvr up to 4 shows simultanously.

Why pay $299 for just video when you can get a "next gen" game console with HD video content and top of the line games?

Seems like a waste to me.

[RShea78]

I don't get it?

Apple comes out with- Apple TV -but where is the darn TV at?

I mean think about it, it isn't a TV at all, now is it?

Did someone fall asleep at the FTC? I think nothing should not be able to be called what it "clearly" isn't.

[LuvThatCO2]

Hauppauge beat them by several years

I've been watching video from my PC on my TV with a $99 MediaMVP for several years now. So I wouldnt say this is a 'breakthrough'. It certainly looks like a nice product, but its really just a step or two up from an MediaMVP.

I'm sure all the Apple fanboys will go out and buy it, thinking they're on the cutting edge, so it will sell very well.

[Vegaman_Dan]

It's out and available!

Fantastic news! It's finally now shipping and you should be able to buy it in your local stores in only a matter of days.

Reviewers have their samples in hand and seem to have reached a common conscensus regarding this system.

"Huh?"

It's a 40Gb system that uses iTunes content exclusively and can stream content from up to five other computers assuming your network connection is fast enough. If you have an HDTV or any TV that can do 408p, then you're all set. If you have a normal TV set like the rest of the world, then you'll have to wait because there currently isn't any way to hook it up to your TV. It plays in widescreen mode only, so your best bet is a wide screen LCD or Plasma TV. If you don't already own one, go out and buy one now since you can't use this device on your TV set currently.

It's going to be a very interesting device. A same it still doesn't do even a fraction of the things even the lowest price competitor does, but it does come in an attractive case.

Oh, it doesn't synch with your iPod. Sorry, you'll have to use a computer to do that. It would have been seriously cool to have a docking connection on it, but it doesn't. There is a USB port, but that is used only for servicing and is not user-accessable.

Check it out- but only if you already have a HDTV or 408p compatibiity. For the rest of the world with normal TV sets, you're out of luck.