Quote:
Originally Posted by DeaPeaJay 
True.
However, It wasn't *just* macworld that got me excited about the Apple TV. I had been wanting something like that for a while. It gets kind of old plugging in a DVI cable to my computer every time I want to watch something on the TV. I just assumed my TV would work with it. We only got it a year ago, but it doesn't have component video on it.
True.However, It wasn't *just* macworld that got me excited about the Apple TV. I had been wanting something like that for a while. It gets kind of old plugging in a DVI cable to my computer every time I want to watch something on the TV. I just assumed my TV would work with it. We only got it a year ago, but it doesn't have component video on it.
So you have DVI on your TV then? Well, all you need is a DVI-to-HDMI adapter. I found the cheapest place was on Amazon. It was $6 for the adapter and few more dollars for shipping; about $10 altogether.
In case you don't know...
DVI and HDMI use the same exact digital video signal, the difference are that they use different plugs and that HDMI also sends 5.1 audio information.
Quote:
Originally Posted by purpleshorts
The phrase "near DVD quality" is an ominous one. As I understand it, this phrase applies not to the Apple TV, but to the iTunes movies it will play... so perhaps it is all about bandwidth and codecs. Still...
Instead of a step up to Blue Ray HD DVD, we are TOLD that this is a step down! And, for convenience sake, many will take the step down.
It has happened before, but not so blatantly. Cell phones have didn't claim "near land line quality;" Early digital cameras didn't claim "near film quality;" iTunes didn't say "near CD quality." (Wait, maybe they did...) And while a landline never dropped a call on me, a film camera never refused to shoot the shot I asked, and a CD never had watery-sounding cymbals, still I bought them all for the convenience they provided. Each of these was a step UP in convenience, but a step DOWN in quality. Perhaps we are acclimatized to this pattern, but I wonder what emboldened Apple to claim a drop in quality as a selling point? Odd.
Remember the Suave commercial "Ours does what theirs does for less than half the price?" I guess today's version would be "Ours costs more and does not do as good a job, but is easy to use."
The "near DVD quality" phrase proclaims that the audio you hear and the images you see will not be even as good as your old DVDs. It may make users consider the other advantages of DVDs that iTunes movies will be missing: DVDs take up no hard drive space, you already have a player, DVDs have behind-the-scenes extras and commentary, they provide instant hard copy backup and lend-ability. In the brave new (inevitable) iTunes world, I will particularly miss the behind-the-scenes and commentary.
The phrase "near DVD quality" is an ominous one. As I understand it, this phrase applies not to the Apple TV, but to the iTunes movies it will play... so perhaps it is all about bandwidth and codecs. Still...
Instead of a step up to Blue Ray HD DVD, we are TOLD that this is a step down! And, for convenience sake, many will take the step down.
It has happened before, but not so blatantly. Cell phones have didn't claim "near land line quality;" Early digital cameras didn't claim "near film quality;" iTunes didn't say "near CD quality." (Wait, maybe they did...) And while a landline never dropped a call on me, a film camera never refused to shoot the shot I asked, and a CD never had watery-sounding cymbals, still I bought them all for the convenience they provided. Each of these was a step UP in convenience, but a step DOWN in quality. Perhaps we are acclimatized to this pattern, but I wonder what emboldened Apple to claim a drop in quality as a selling point? Odd.
Remember the Suave commercial "Ours does what theirs does for less than half the price?" I guess today's version would be "Ours costs more and does not do as good a job, but is easy to use."
The "near DVD quality" phrase proclaims that the audio you hear and the images you see will not be even as good as your old DVDs. It may make users consider the other advantages of DVDs that iTunes movies will be missing: DVDs take up no hard drive space, you already have a player, DVDs have behind-the-scenes extras and commentary, they provide instant hard copy backup and lend-ability. In the brave new (inevitable) iTunes world, I will particularly miss the behind-the-scenes and commentary.
iTunes video content is the only culprit here. AppleTV picture quality can look as good as any cable or satellite HD channel.
You have a good point about these other technologies. I hadn't thought of it before but the world has connected with convenience--and to an extent status--despite being worse quality--and often priceier--than the current tech.
Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"
Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"
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... for 4:3 aspect ratio "old skool" non-widescreen stuff for the non-widescreen iPod video... eg. podcasts.mtv.com.
