Apple TV DVR interface revealed in patent filings - Page 3

As much as I want to see the DVR function on the AppleTv, I don't think apple will ever roll it out UNLESS the TV networks decide to pull all their shows from the apple store. This is more like Apple's back up plan in case it happens...

This is the only way I can see this working.

Are their not two movie studios now that simply offer a free download from itunes by simply putting the DVD into your computer.... that means they bought it in a store and not on itunes... hmm I don't think Apple makes money on that deal but still allow this to happen because its what the people want. Just a thought.

Actually, the movie is on the DVD itself. You don't need to download it from iTunes.

Even better. Faster than the download and doesn't slow my internet during the process. If Apple supports this in such a way that it had the head of the studio come announce it at one of their (Apple) keynote address I think it would be safe to assume that they (Apple) would not be against DVR as it is the same principle. Your taking content purchased from a regular store or taking OTA/CableCard signals and putting it in your itunes account where you can then access it from your AppleTV. If there is a BlueRay drive and or a tuner (OTA/CableCard) in the AppleTV itself one could avoid the need for doing it on ones computer keeping the AppleTV a standalone product which it appears they (Apple) are trying to accomplish. The recent trends of Apple have shown they want to give as much to people for as low of a cost as they can while still maintaining a profit margin that can maintain their company and what must be an enormous R&D Department budget. Apple is becoming a very forward thinking company and enjoy watching them as they produce better and better end user products that are elegant and simple to use.

ps I am an Apple fan what can I say

i know. getting cable to lose all encryption would be harder than getting movie studios to lose DRM.

But, the FCC already requires them to send local channels in the clear, and as such, many cable companies at least send their basic package in the clear - no help with HBO, et al, but can give you 25-30 channels + your local ATSC broadcasts just with an ATSC/QAM tuner.

This is a very interesting topic and there are lots of good ideas. Ultimately the next few years will reinvent our TV watching paradigm - growing from the switch to Digital TV, popularity of HD, PPV models, cablecard standards, and IPTV. What Apple presents (IF they present) will be either their version of the future, or their version of a bridge to the future. I think, perhaps, the existing AppleTV is more their version of the future. Anyway - whatever they do next, some of us will say "why didn't they just add X!??"

I don't know what the future will be, of course. Ignoring Apple, I wonder if all cable companies will become 100% IP based in 10 years? - could all shows be on demand, sent to a dumb box in the home? Or will the box be incredibly smart, and put together your needs from multiple sources, while offering to either charge you $1 to watch the show or let it integrate 3 minutes of targeted ads (customised not just to your demographic - but to your particular interests and needs).

I agree FTA recording would annoy the networks, as they lose their ability to make money on the content - so any solution needs to incorporate the concept that SOMEHOW money will need to go to the providers (todays 18 mins/hr of general skimmable ads, or maybe 3mins/show of targeted forced-watch ads, or a $1 rental, or subscription). There are many ways of combining choice, rental & advertising. But also, any solution needs to try to convince the networks that it'd work AND understand that a multitude of contracts exist that restrict thinking outside the current box!!

As a progressive start, I'd like
1) FTA recording (in Australia we have low payTV uptake & no shows or movies sold or rented on iTunes).
2) An option to rent TV shows.
3) I want to subscribe to HBO etc (the AppleTV could easily simulate a PVR by listing the upcoming week of movies, and we select what we want to "record").
4) Make my (downloaded) TV shows "free" by integrating Apple/Google/Network ads targeted to my interests/needs
.... I think that could largely replace cable, with the exception of live sport and news. I'm not sure how to handle sport. Apple + ABC could make an amazing interactive news system - with short stories linking to longer ones, all downloaded on demand like the movie trailers.

I wouldn't overly generalise what "everyone" thinks but certainly the people responding in this AppleTV PVR thread seem to like the idea, in general.

I think a PVR can integrate reasonably seemlessly with an AppleTV. For example - instead of buying a season pass to Lost, you can tell the AppleTV to record it every week - and then you just wait for it to appear in your list (with ads, of course). An "upcoming movies" could show every movie showing on FTA this week AND the movies about to be released on iTunes - ready to preselect.

A DVD/BluRay model can't integrate so seemlessly (of course... I'm assuming Apple does a good job integrating a PVR). Also, the AppleTV can't support the decoding requirements of BluRay at present so it'd be another cost increase. I can see the benefit of integration, just not how it fits into the ongoing development of the online model.

Just to change the subject for a moment, I hope they make the remote a bit more rugged that an iPod. Would you ever toss your iPod on the coffee table or let it fall off the sofa? TV remotes hold up to abuse.

Very good point.

Also... I have to say I don't really want ANOTHER remote for day to day use. I can program our Harmony remote to do everything (including AppleTV), so if Apple go for a full touch screen remote I hope they intend on controlling my TV settings and Amp volume (for starters).

This is what the Apple TV should have been FROM THE START.

It's definitely not too late. We haven't even switched over to the 2009 cut off for Analog TVs.

Apple isn't late to this game.

Hmmm... TiVo has more than TV guide. It searches for actors/directors in movies I don't know about. It suggests programs. I get "TivoCasts". It follows changing schedules for tv programs so I don't miss new episodes....

I would like the capabilities this patent suggests. And I like EyeTV for some items too!

So let's be patient then?

It is nice to dream though. If this were to happen and the low-end version could be had for $149, I'd buy a couple of them.

Yet another market for Apple to enter successfully. Most of today's DVRs bite the big one. Apple's getting pretty good at fixing up crappy products. Maybe they'll enter the auto industry. We could only dream, right? In my opinion, DeLorean was the Apple of the auto industry, only they were beaten down by British government. Anyways... I imagine Apple will work it's way into GPS navigation soon. Hm... what else currently sucks? The government? Steve Jobs for president? We could call his campaign "Mac US". Get it? Too cheesy? I'm sure there could be a play on "Jobs". Steve Jobs is such a good public speaker and so good at fixing things that suck, he really should be president. Come on, with friends like Al Gore and Ross Perot, he could do it. Could you imagine the campaign ads? Genius. I mean, the guy took Apple's stock from, what, $17 all the way up to about, what was it, near $200 last summer? From near death to billions in cash reserves. That's the kind of prosperity our country needs. I don't know why I'm writing this post. I'm just bored, I guess.

agreed. even conventional cable television programming guides are horrible interactive experiences.

here's an improvement:
http://www.jorgefino.com/reduction_vs_addition.html

i have a tivo hd on my verizon fios service. great stuff. i'd probably like an apple solution as well but tivo rocks.

Since most DVR's are TiVo units, I take issue with your assertion. As many others have iterated, TiVo is a great device. The interface works well and is quite intuitive. The guide interface looks a bit dated, but it does look better after the refresh a while back then it did when I first got it. It's also rock solid when it comes to stability (as opposed to my non-DVR cable box that I had to literally pull the plug on twice the other day while trying to access On Demand content).

One big issue I see is that from the pictures it looks like Apple is trying to shoehorn all the functionality of a remote into the iPod control scheme (okay, that is a step up from the really crappy Apple Remote). I can't imagine trying to browse through the TV listings that way, being forced to always scroll through the list as opposed to a regular remote where I would just type in a channel number and jump forward in the guide. Maybe if this DVR only supports OTA content where I'd imagine most people could only expect to get at most 10-15 channels (and I think even that number would be quite generous unless they have a full-sized antenna mounted on the roof). But imagine the 300+ channels of cable or satellite and having no numeric input on the remote would be inexcusable (it would be amusing to see Jobs spin the BS as he attempted to justify only supporting OTA content).

The one thing that did get me excited was the last image showing "Mallrats" available for download but not from iTunes. The source was listed as CinemaNow. If Apple actually partnered with other content providers instead of the iTunes Store being the only option, that would pique my interest. I know it would never happen, but I'd be interested in seeing Amazon's Unbox available on the device; their movie prices are often cheaper than iTunes (and even sometimes cheaper than an iTunes rental to own) plus their TV subscriptions are a flexible pay-as-you-go/stop anytime system instead of iTunes pay-everything-upfront lock-in.

I'll take 4. One for the living room, one for the bedroom and one for each of the kids rooms (and maybe even one for Grandma's room for when she comes to visit...... and a second mortgage please! And here is to not only hoping that this will see the light of day (preferably soon!!), but that when it does that recordings and movies can be shared between units in household with more than one! And possibly an option to record two shows at the same time (but I imagine figuring that one out for universal compatibility with all cable and satellite TV systems would be next to impossible!!)

I have been very reluctant to buy an AppleTV, but it wouldn't take me very long before I ordered at least a few of these (if I could afford more than 1). Add a DVD or better yet a blueray player for already purchased discs and a recorder option (to back up purchased movies), full HD (2.1 megapixel) 16:9 video output, surround sound, a remote that lets me skip scenes and as a 30 sec skip option, a hard drive big enough to hold two weeks worth of TV shows and a lot of my movies that I would finally buy from Apple or an external HD option, and some good games, and I'll sell mine and my wife's organs to get it!!! Well, definitely the mother-in-laws organs!

I agree with the scrolling through channels to find what to watch or record would be a poor implementation, maybe it will have a good search option and let us scroll through the alphabet for typing! That would be faster than the left, right, up down arrow option that most DVRs make you use now. A number pad would still be nice!

That's true! Keep the dream alive!! If it does happen, I hope we get the programming guide in Canada too!! Then I will jump all over it!

Actually, I don't think that's true. Most DVRs are supplied by cable or satellite TV companies. Comcast has licensed the TiVo software, but have only just started rolling it out in a very small area (and I believe they charge extra for it and it's not the exact same as regular TiVo...missing a few features).

So yes, most DVRs suck...with the exception of the minority that are TiVos.

do it Apple, do it!

DVR would be NICE!

If Apple did require you to scroll through, would you really jump through 300 channels? I'm reasonably sure that in the best of times, I wouldn't need more than 30 channels of favourites. In terms of direct channel numbers I gave up on individual channel numbers after my paytv provider changed the channel numbers again for the 3rd time.

Once we get to 5000 channels (or absolute interactivity) it won't be an issue of course. Still, for now, I agree that some people want to use a remote to change to specific channels. And if Apple doesn't significantly reinvent how they watch the TV in a way they like, those people won't buy it.

(I'm not sure how you jump from scrolling through 300+ channel, to Steve Jobs justifying only having OTA content. Are you saying that Apple would choose to just support FTA simply because their remote can't handle 300+ channels?)

Oh, sweet Jesus, please let Apple make this glorious device. Throw in a multi channel cable card (hey, my HOA "gives" me cable, so i use it) so I can record 2 HD shows at once, and gigabit ethernet so I can connect to my NAS and we're set! I've been putting off buying a TiVo HD (the DVR from my cable co sucks) hoping this very thing would come along. Apple, please don't make me wait any longer!!! I wouldn't even mind paying a monthly fee for the service/guide info.

My only thing is that the current ATV still doesn't have an optical drive. I would expect that ATV 3 would include a BluRay player with in 2 years, but if this were to be another software update, I would be surprised if they called it 3.0.

Yes, I know, BR drives are still pricy, even though the HDDVD vs. BluRay battle is over, but with in 2 years development, I would expect the prices to have fallen by then.

The only other thing is that when the first ATV was released it didn't even sport a DVD drive - something I was expecting. Even with Take 2, I was in hopes that they would've included a DVD drive for the new models, while retaining a free download for the first models.

If it's all about "Movies, Movies, Movies" then why can't we have a DVD drive? or the ability to rip DVDs into the Library? (aside from all the legal hassle)

Just my $0.02

My guess is that Apple never will put an optical drive in the AppleTV.

My solution, buy a PS3 along with my Wii

(I don't do drugs and I don't do Microsoft)

Never say "Never."

Apple may surprise us all - I never thought that Apple would make an ultra-thin notebook, I thought that having 3 different notebook lines wouldn't play favor to Apple, but here I sit, still amazed that the MBA is 3 lbs and is less than an inch thick at it's thickest part.

Apple could just take the Mac Mini box, gut it, install a 250GB SATA, DVD SATA, and internals from the ATV.

If Apple REALLY wants to create an All-in-One-Do-Everything-Access-Point device, they'll bundle it with a Time Capsule

"All-in-One-Do-Everything-Access-Point device"

That's the key. Apple is NOT trying to have that. They are trying to have an access point for THEIR PRODUCT REVENUE.

They are not interested in a DVD or BlueRay player in AppleTV because they do not sell DVDs or BlueRay discs.

True. I wonder if one could hook up the external MBAs SuperDrive to the ATV...

I want...

If you stream recorded dvr between Apple TV units or to your iphone / itouch... that would be even better.

DirectTV is going with TIVO with a new tivo box and / or tivo software on there boxes.

Since we've found out that the MBA SuperDrive does not require any special power requirements beyond what USB specs can offer, it is possible. All we need to do is add the appropriate drives, frameworks (perhaps) and the DVD app to make it work. This may also require a change to BackRow so it functions more like FrontRow, but Boxee has shown us that it's not an impossibility to make this work... at least n theory.

SInce the MBA's Suprdrive is external, making it a thicker drive that is tray loading would reduce costs considerably over the the foolishly desired 12.7mm slot-loading BRDs in $1000 Mac notebooks, much less the eemingly impossible 9.5mm drives that at least one AI poster here claims can be had for as low as $150 despite it's lack of existence.

Too bad we there isn't a CD/DVD or CD/DVD/BRD player that would compliment the AppleTV's look and footprint exactly by sitting underneath it. Despite my complete lack of optical media usage I can see how this would benefit many users and increase the AppleTV sales.

An external drive that worked with the AppleTV, even if it was a hack would help spur more AppleTV sales, garnish more iTS video sales from the 'good enough"-bitrate convenience of Apple's 720p content and keep other HW vendors from selling their Blu-ray products. But can the AppleTV's CPU, GPU and RAM handle the load? Can the officially speced 720p be made to output high-profile 1080p with a SW update?

PS: As for a DVR, that is a completely different issue that would be a bad idea, IMO, even as a 3rd-party option considering the power of the AppleTV when in use by its other functions. Using a tried and true option like EyeTV on your Mac seems to be a a much better soltuion in that respect.



Straming is not the most viable option for shows your DVRed, in most cased. I think the AppleTV would compress it as H.264 first and then copy it to your iDevice via iTunes.

But there are still many issues with Apple supplying a DVR to your AppleTV that would ruin the iTS video business model and piss off most, if not all, of their content rpoviders. What I hope happens is that Hulu et al. take a note from YouTube and offer H.264 options for playing their video on internet capable iDevices that don't have Flash (or a decent version of Flash, which is all phones). The embedded commercials appear to be making Hulu a success, and aren't that big of a deal to get the content you want when you want it.

I know use it for many shows I miss instead of using [I]other means[/I[ for shows such as "Daily Show" and "Colbert Report" which are usually posted well before I wake up in the morning and before by other methods would have finished downloaded the files.

PS: With so many US TV shows being available for streaming via sites like Hulu, South Park, Daily Show, and Colbert Report, a change to make streams QT(H.264)-compliant would pretty eradicate the need for moving to the archaic-seeming TV-capable smartphones the Japanese market seems so found of. All Hulu would have to do is offer what it did last week with the presidential election and offer more realtime streaming of video. This method seems to be more reliable, more future-forward as HSPA+ can achieve theoretical bandwidth speeds of 42Mbps, all while using current cell technology already in phones while not needed to include additional HW that is more prone to interference of it's outdated system requirements.*

Note: The talk of the Japanese having TV access on their devices led me to believe that they access UHF/VHF-type singles and are not using UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA to get streaming TV via their carrier. If this is incorrect, plese ignore my last paragraph and explain me how it works. Thanks.