Comments on: What the Heck Is Going on With Apple TV?

By: Bryan

Bryan — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 03:55:58 +0000

I own one. I purchased it to stream my movies (over 400). I was tired of looking at the dvd movies and burned them to an external drive and stream them with the apple tv. I like being able to watch my favorite podcasts on my living room tv.

I hope to see a new generation apple tv, maybe with gaming intergrated.

By: New Apple TV Software is 3.0.K., But Still Needs Some Punch

New Apple TV Software is 3.0.K., But Still Needs Some Punch — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:23:45 +0000

[...] interface refresh is fine and all, but Apple will need to do something much more bold to set itself apart from the highly competitive over-the-top video space. The OTT on-demand rental [...]

By: PP

PP — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:26:02 +0000

I bought one and found it had serious bugs and couldn't authorize content over a DSL line that uses PPPoE. As a closed box, Apple customer support was helpless. I then decided to review the apple forums and found 1) they overheat and have video problems 2) network stability is a problem 3) numerous bugs and problems appear to be ignored by Apple. 4) there is no way to update the firmware via iTunes or a USB stick. 5) factory restore and reboot it make it sound like the early days of MS Windows. I would have thought they would be interested in stabilizing this product but it seems more like it is just a curiosity. Their solution in my case is a refund rather than trying to troubleshoot the problem.

After trying mythTV and experimenting with open source solutions, I was short on time and decided to go with AppleTV because I figured Apple would have their act together. Apparently they do not as far as this market goes. I will be back looking at things I can run on a solid unix platform like the low power picoITX embedded systems (no fans).

By: Por que será que a Apple está tão quetinha sobre a Apple TV? | MacMagazine

Por que será que a Apple está tão quetinha sobre a Apple TV? | MacMagazine — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 03:46:25 +0000

[...] muita gente, foi estranho não ouvir nada detalhado da Apple sobre o seu hobby de distribuir conteúdo em TVs [...]

By: Colin

Colin — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 07:20:26 +0000

I have an Apple TV and love it!

It's great to have all my movies stored on my ample computer hard drive, ready to stream wirelessly to my TV on command. No fiddling with DVD boxes or scratched discs, my favorite media from rentals to TV to movies are available on-demand at the push of a button, I can take my media with me on my iPhone and I can even use my iPhone as a remote to wirelessly control my Apple TV (great, fast way to navigate and enter text).

To me, the Apple TV is already pretty impressive, what it really needs is:

For the movie industry to pull its head out of its butt and ease up on the rental restrictions (only 24 hours to watch a movie, some movies not available to rent the same day they're available to buy, etc.).
To gain more TV shows and older movies (I'll know Apple TV made it when I can buy "Goonies").
An app store (support for services like Hulu and games).
A commercial. More people would buy the thing if they only knew it exists!

By: Apple TV Is Not As Cool As It Once Was ~ OS X Fanatics

Apple TV Is Not As Cool As It Once Was ~ OS X Fanatics — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 04:37:29 +0000

[...] I like most Apple products, but I have to admit…Apple TV is just not one of them. For me personally, I just feel like it is so far behind Roku, TiVo and a number of other media devices have made some people really rethink their desire to bother with the Apple TV appliance. [...]

By: Ashith Raj

Ashith Raj — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:46:49 +0000

Microsoft with Mediaroom IPTV offering has already captured the Living room + XBOX360 (Games on Demand, Socials) + ZuneHD Services + Netflix + Windows7 Media Center is a deadly Combo. Lot of big Service providers are rolling out Mediaroom IPTV world over like AT&T, Reliance etc.

By: Dave Bullock

Dave Bullock — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:43:56 +0000

Apple is way to smart to not get the huge win that will be had by whoever eventually owns this spot in the living room – as others have said – Apple plays down ATV because it’s underfeatured and undermanaged. I expect this is all in lead-up to a typically Apple “there just one more thing” announcement in 2010 where ATV gets totally rethunk and re-released.

By: eideard

eideard — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:17:12 +0000

And waiting for the return of GigaOM TV...

By: eideard

eideard — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:16:36 +0000

We watch 10-12 hours/week of IPTV programs via the AppleTV - on the HDTV in the living room. Compared to whole-family watching of satellite derived TV from DirecTV, that's a sizable minor percentage. It's varies according to content available.

I don't even need the model with a bigger HD because we stream 80211.n to the ATV whenever and whatever we feel like watching. Doesn't take more than a few seconds to start watching.

Then, I delete it from the AppleTV. I still have copies on my iMac in the study.

As for all formats? Unless you're mired down in some geek hobbyists tweak, anything I've ever downloaded from the Web - from a legit source - has been easy enough to show via AppleTV unless it had code designed to prevent that display.

By: Maybe Apple TV Should Be a TV | Technology News

Maybe Apple TV Should Be a TV | Technology News — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:30:45 +0000

[...] Maybe Apple TV Should Be a TV Alas, poor Apple TV. Its manufacturer likes to treat nearly everything it makes as both a technological breakthrough and sales blockbuster, but when it discusses Apple TV at all, it usually dismisses it as a “hobby.” As New TeeVee’s Chris Albrecht points out, the little white set-top box got nary a mention during Apple’s financial conference call yesterday. [...]

By: links for 2009-07-23 « Nur mein Standpunkt

links for 2009-07-23 « Nur mein Standpunkt — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:03:54 +0000

[...] What the Heck Is Going on With Apple TV? Tja. (tags: internet) [...]

By: Kfir Pravda

Kfir Pravda — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 04:47:48 +0000

I believe that Mac Mini is way better solution. You can play all formats without hacking the box. Though more expensive, it's a better solution. Somehow it seems that Apple has too much on its plate right now with laptops, desktops, mobile devices and software development.

By: Andrew Baron

Andrew Baron — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 02:24:03 +0000

@Chris. Yea, its hard to infer what is going on with all the mixed messages. I just found it interesting that they continued to wrap it in so much in the report.

Whether its a box like it is now, software, or most likely imho, an iTV which looks like a tablet - a nice way to share TV, full screen, up close, with one or two more people. All speculation at this point, but whatever it happens, the world will likely love it.

By: altrenda

altrenda — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:14:27 +0000

Everyone has there own opinion of what the ATV COULD become, but Apple seems to be more interested in pocket devices.

Why buy an ATV to run something like Boxee when you can use any old computer, or a Mini, which would give you more functionality.

the Apple TV was designed to sell content from itunes, but the growing use of streaming makes it irrelevant..

By: Maybe Apple TV Should Be a TV | Technologizer

Maybe Apple TV Should Be a TV | Technologizer — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 23:13:05 +0000

[...] See all: News Alas, poor Apple TV. Its manufacturer likes to treat nearly everything it makes as a technological breakthrough and sales blockbuster, but when it discusses Apple TV at all, it usually dismisses it as a “hobby.” As New TeeVee’s Chris Albrecht points out, the little white set-top box got nary a mention during Apple’s financial conference call yesterday. [...]