I've owned the Appletv for two years (and cancelled cable for that long) and I LOVE the thing. I think the reason Apple keeps shouting "Hobby! Hobby!" is because many of its users burn their DVDs and other "grey areas". They don't want to tick off content owners. It's been rumored that Apple has sold around 6 million of these things. That's not massive, but more than many other consumer devices in the market. The Appletv also has a tricky advertising/marketing issue. Owning the Appletv basically means not having TV commercials, so can you really use tv commercials to sell it? I've only seen web ads on their homepage for stuff like Father's Day and a semi-hidden display in a retail store.
I've owned the Appletv for two years (and cancelled cable for that long) and I LOVE the thing. I think the reason Apple keeps shouting "Hobby! Hobby!" is because many of its users burn their DVDs and other "grey areas". They don't want to tick off content owners. It's been rumored that Apple has sold around 6 million of these things. That's not massive, but more than many other consumer devices in the market. The Appletv also has a tricky advertising/marketing issue. Owning the Appletv basically means not having TV commercials, so can you really use tv commercials to sell it? I've only seen web ads on their homepage for stuff like Father's Day and a semi-hidden display in a retail store.
Dude - I know it's your first post and welcome but if you read the article it's called a "Hobby" because its sales LAG.
I figure it would use iPod Touches, iPhones and iPads as their controllers. A tad on the expensive side but a lot of folks own those already.
Makes no sense.
Using touch input on iPhone/iPod touch games makes sense because you are looking at the playing screen. Using a touch-based device like the iPhone/iPod touch as an input controller while watching another screen makes zero sense.
That's why a touch-based tablet won't replace a regular computer. You can't accurate provide input commands with a touchscreen unless you're looking at the screen. You aren't going to be able to type 120 wpm on the iPad.
Lag compared to what? It's not a console and it's not a full htpc. So you have to compare it to media extenders which is a market that it does pretty well in.
If a consumer were looking to play music from his iTunes library on his laptop or desktop, to the speaker system attached to his home theatre setup, what other options exist besides the AppleTV?
This is not a joke. I really would like to know.....
Quote:
Originally Posted by TokyoJimu
Airport Express. I have one in the living room attached to my sound system there, and one in the bedroom too. I'm even thinking of adding one in the bathroom for shower audio.
Moreover, the App Store has a free Remote app that downloads to both iPhones and the iPod touch. We're running different iTunes libraries on two different computers and we have one Airport Express feeding the aux audio input on a JVC radio in the den and another for a Bose radio in the bedroom. The Remote app is registered with both computers, so we can select either iTunes library for the source audio. Sound can be directed anywhere - to any combination of computers and remote speakers. Your IPhone or touch can change iTunes playback volume, though we have to use the radio remotes to select the aux inputs, change volume on the radios or turn them on and off. (They're remotes that transmit infrared and RF and don't connect to our wireless network.)
In addition to your iTunes library, you can also play any podcasts or radio stations. I'm in the Midwest, but in the mornings I enjoy WQXR, the classical FM station in New York.
It's a cheaper approach to multi-room music than some of the new alternatives out there. Bose has a couple wireless solutions in the $500-$600 range - per room. For each room, it'll set you back $100 for an Airport Express plus the cost of a stereo mini-jack audio cord, and you can hook it up to any pair of remote speakers or a radio with an auxiliary audio input.
I don't think people spend that much time in the living room. I think Apple would hit the Auto Industry before taking over living room.
Apple TV is very hard to achieve as the Broadcasting industry is being so hard to crack.
Plus people can play iPhone and iPad in the living room, so its not all that bad.
Funny. I almost was going to post a similar reply about Apple and auto (personal transit) industry. There are so many other markets for Apple to innovate in. It doesn't need the couch potato market if it doesn't want it.
I think Apple would hit the Auto Industry before taking over living room.
On an equal measure I think the living room will be tackled first but the auto-industry would be nice, but I have my doubts about it working under the current Apple.
For starters, Apple either has to make standalone car stereo that likely fits a single DIN first and foremost, but that doesn't seem to offer much usability.
Second, the higher-end vehicles, where Apple usually first sells to, have an integrated system. This will continue to trickle down to less expensive cars. Apple would have to work with auto-makers to make this a reality. That would be great, especially if it had WiFi you could set up that would sync with your home's main iTunes Library when you got home. Or a passenger order driving songs or movies for kids while on a trip over the car's 3G?
Of course, Apple worked with BMW to get the iPod dock connector in cars and specific playlists tie into the radio, but this is a much larger undertaking and the licensing of their OS.
I have owned an AppleTV for about 2 years, and overall I am happy with it. I have not bought a lot of movies or TV shows on iTunes, but then again I have not downloaded pirated material either. It is a good "replacement" for a DVD player, which by my experience have quality issues.
My biggest complaint about Apple's approach to AppleTV is that they should be able to do a lot more with it to get content that is "freely" available online now (like hulu) and works for computers into the living room. I'm sure that Apple has enough web savvy programers to get the Flash player working on it and I imagine develop their own "hulu" or "BBC" player that ties into the existing streams. They could probably do the same with NBC, CBS, and ABC's web sites.
Two minor annoyances are the remote and the lack of "iTunes" DVD streaming from your MAC. On the remote it would be great to be able to program my TV's volume control into it. If it really bothered me I could get a universal remote and program the AppleTV into it, but the remotes that I know of that can do that are too expensive for me to bother with at the moment.
The last thing I would like to see is less of a focus in the interface on the iTunes Store, but they addressed this to a degree in the latest UI update.
But people have to realize that Apple TV is only a 'hobby' from Apple's perspective.
Analysts say Apple may have sold around 7 million Apple TVs.
Amazon sold maybe 2-3 million Kindles, but Kindles are treated as a major 'hit' while Apple TV is a big flop.
Apple TV is small just in relation to Apple products like iPods (250 million sold) not in reference to other people.
A number of posts here mentioned Netflix and Xbox as the big winners (the great wonders of movie distribution!) but we have to keep perspective.
Netflix last quarter made net profit of 30 million dollars.
Apple as whole made 3.38 BILLION (that's 3380 million!). Of course compared to massive profits of Apple's other products Apple considers Apple TV a hobby, but to think that the other guys are raking in money in movie distribution is inaccurate.
as for Xbox, it's been a big money loser for many quarters, with a billion dollars in warranty claims. Msfts Entertainment and Devices which holds Zune, downloads and games amongst other things considers itself lucky if it doesn't lose money.
But people have to realize that Apple TV is only a 'hobby' from Apple's perspective.
The reason it is a hobby is spelled out quite clearly by Cook...
Quote:
Cook said he believes the Apple TV is an outstanding product, but there just isn't a large enough market to make the hardware worth a great deal of concentration from his company.
Digital downloads (the form AppleTV supports) is a very very small market.
People tend to be set top-phobic so I can see why the Apple TV is a hobby. It's hard to convince the mainstream to go out and buy another box to hookup to their TV and deal with connecting it to their home audio system, switching video inputs when needed, etc. It's just too much for most people when they probably already have a gaming console(s), DVD player, cable/satellite set top, etc. I suspect the Apple TV software will find its way into TVs directly and bypass the set top. The only question is if Apple will make the TV or will partner with other companies.
The AppleTV was great when it came out and has gotten better for no extra cost but it's definitely lagging behind the PS3, 360, and TiVO, as well as the Popcorn Hour and other standalone media extenders in the mix now. Any ideas how they can make it the must have home theater appliance?
I used to own a Popcorn Hour and eventually swapped it for an Apple TV. It's a technically very impressive device with fantastic codec support. However, the user interface is terrible. It's slow and ugly. Support for music was also a joke. The Popcorn Hour is a great device if you've got the time and enthusiasm to tinker with it. However, as a consumer device, it's terrible.
What I'd love to see is the Apple TV opened up to 3rd party developers. A BBC iPlayer app would be a dream come true.
Thanks for the clarity. So many people hate the Apple TV for delivering what is without a doubt a spiritless experience. However, 100% of that is directly attributable to content providers for doing what they do best--trying to find out ways of fucking consumers instead of figuring out the best way to give them what they want--content.
That is the single reason why I pirate, and I'll be happy to admit as much if some idiotic content owner were to ask me why I do so. They claim it takes away from their revenue, but I'd be happy to pay for their product and add to their revenue if they gave me what I want, how I wanted it.
I don't need silly, arbitrary constraints of content. The fact that I have 24 hours to view a rental is the most ridiculous concept known to mankind. It's like an executive got hit with a anvil upside his head, spit out this 24-hour nonsense in a moment of semi-conscisouness, and it became so.
And I can view Season 1 of TV Show X and Season 3, but not Season 2?? because...well, I could care less what the reason is. I'd pay for it if it was available, but as it stands I am firing up Vuze and downloading FREE content to my heart's content.
Wrong- AppleTv is a complete and utter failure who's time has come and passed. Apple lost the living room as Blu-ray players have skyrocketed and now come complete with WiFi , rentals, etc, etc and can be had for under $200. AppleTV choked itself by maintaining itself as strictly an iTunes Digital jukebox who's sole purpose was to pump money into the Apple media store machine. It just didn't work. Only Apple fanatics go for it.
IT's DEAD.
O
Quote:
Originally Posted by TEKSTUD
Steve doesn't want you to surf the web in your living room- afraid you might find a free movie or some porn.
O
Quote:
Originally Posted by TEKSTUD
It's called a video playlist- they will play non-stop.
Something Apple fixed like 2 years after ATV was released.
D
Quote:
Originally Posted by TEKSTUD
AppleTV is the biggest BAg of HUrt to ever occupy this planet. An additional device that consumes thermal energy- the design is so bad you can't shut it off without turning on the TV or unplugging it?
L
Quote:
Originally Posted by TEKSTUD
You left out the BIGGEST thing it lags behnd BLU_Ray which now has Wifi and rentals.
ATV was never great- EVEN when it came out.
It makes a great cheese melter though.
I
Quote:
Originally Posted by TEKSTUD
Yawn.
Where's the i7/i5 MacBook Pro chip?
F
Quote:
Originally Posted by TEKSTUD
A hand warmer?
Blu-ray has already replaced ATV in that it now has built in WiFi, rentals and comes in at under $200.
E
Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulSorensen
The Apple TV has been my primary TV-watching device since I dropped cable 4-5 months ago and it's been a lot better than I expected. I watch a lot of podcasts, and have subscribed to the 2 series that I actually want to watch.
Having said that, I agree with the posts here that predict that the ATV will become an iPhone/iPad OS device and will run many/most of the existing apps. Probably with the "preferred" controller being your iPod Touch/iPad/iPhone. The secondary device might a wii-style pointing device.
Comments
Now if they would only fix the BT on the iPhone to work properly like it should and fix the menu system with Front Row, I would be happy.
What's wrong wit the menu system on Front Row?
I've owned the Appletv for two years (and cancelled cable for that long) and I LOVE the thing. I think the reason Apple keeps shouting "Hobby! Hobby!" is because many of its users burn their DVDs and other "grey areas". They don't want to tick off content owners. It's been rumored that Apple has sold around 6 million of these things. That's not massive, but more than many other consumer devices in the market. The Appletv also has a tricky advertising/marketing issue. Owning the Appletv basically means not having TV commercials, so can you really use tv commercials to sell it? I've only seen web ads on their homepage for stuff like Father's Day and a semi-hidden display in a retail store.
Dude - I know it's your first post and welcome but if you read the article it's called a "Hobby" because its sales LAG.
I figure it would use iPod Touches, iPhones and iPads as their controllers. A tad on the expensive side but a lot of folks own those already.
Makes no sense.
Using touch input on iPhone/iPod touch games makes sense because you are looking at the playing screen. Using a touch-based device like the iPhone/iPod touch as an input controller while watching another screen makes zero sense.
That's why a touch-based tablet won't replace a regular computer. You can't accurate provide input commands with a touchscreen unless you're looking at the screen. You aren't going to be able to type 120 wpm on the iPad.
Let me throw you a layup.
If a consumer were looking to play music from his iTunes library on his laptop or desktop, to the speaker system attached to his home theatre setup, what other options exist besides the AppleTV?
This is not a joke. I really would like to know.....
Airport Express. I have one in the living room attached to my sound system there, and one in the bedroom too. I'm even thinking of adding one in the bathroom for shower audio.
See http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/
Moreover, the App Store has a free Remote app that downloads to both iPhones and the iPod touch. We're running different iTunes libraries on two different computers and we have one Airport Express feeding the aux audio input on a JVC radio in the den and another for a Bose radio in the bedroom. The Remote app is registered with both computers, so we can select either iTunes library for the source audio. Sound can be directed anywhere - to any combination of computers and remote speakers. Your IPhone or touch can change iTunes playback volume, though we have to use the radio remotes to select the aux inputs, change volume on the radios or turn them on and off. (They're remotes that transmit infrared and RF and don't connect to our wireless network.)
In addition to your iTunes library, you can also play any podcasts or radio stations. I'm in the Midwest, but in the mornings I enjoy WQXR, the classical FM station in New York.
It's a cheaper approach to multi-room music than some of the new alternatives out there. Bose has a couple wireless solutions in the $500-$600 range - per room. For each room, it'll set you back $100 for an Airport Express plus the cost of a stereo mini-jack audio cord, and you can hook it up to any pair of remote speakers or a radio with an auxiliary audio input.
I don't think people spend that much time in the living room. I think Apple would hit the Auto Industry before taking over living room.
Apple TV is very hard to achieve as the Broadcasting industry is being so hard to crack.
Plus people can play iPhone and iPad in the living room, so its not all that bad.
Funny. I almost was going to post a similar reply about Apple and auto (personal transit) industry. There are so many other markets for Apple to innovate in. It doesn't need the couch potato market if it doesn't want it.
Linux does the same.
Which one?
philip
I think Apple would hit the Auto Industry before taking over living room.
On an equal measure I think the living room will be tackled first but the auto-industry would be nice, but I have my doubts about it working under the current Apple.
For starters, Apple either has to make standalone car stereo that likely fits a single DIN first and foremost, but that doesn't seem to offer much usability.
Second, the higher-end vehicles, where Apple usually first sells to, have an integrated system. This will continue to trickle down to less expensive cars. Apple would have to work with auto-makers to make this a reality. That would be great, especially if it had WiFi you could set up that would sync with your home's main iTunes Library when you got home. Or a passenger order driving songs or movies for kids while on a trip over the car's 3G?
Of course, Apple worked with BMW to get the iPod dock connector in cars and specific playlists tie into the radio, but this is a much larger undertaking and the licensing of their OS.
My biggest complaint about Apple's approach to AppleTV is that they should be able to do a lot more with it to get content that is "freely" available online now (like hulu) and works for computers into the living room. I'm sure that Apple has enough web savvy programers to get the Flash player working on it and I imagine develop their own "hulu" or "BBC" player that ties into the existing streams. They could probably do the same with NBC, CBS, and ABC's web sites.
Two minor annoyances are the remote and the lack of "iTunes" DVD streaming from your MAC. On the remote it would be great to be able to program my TV's volume control into it. If it really bothered me I could get a universal remote and program the AppleTV into it, but the remotes that I know of that can do that are too expensive for me to bother with at the moment.
The last thing I would like to see is less of a focus in the interface on the iTunes Store, but they addressed this to a degree in the latest UI update.
But people have to realize that Apple TV is only a 'hobby' from Apple's perspective.
Analysts say Apple may have sold around 7 million Apple TVs.
Amazon sold maybe 2-3 million Kindles, but Kindles are treated as a major 'hit' while Apple TV is a big flop.
Apple TV is small just in relation to Apple products like iPods (250 million sold) not in reference to other people.
A number of posts here mentioned Netflix and Xbox as the big winners (the great wonders of movie distribution!) but we have to keep perspective.
Netflix last quarter made net profit of 30 million dollars.
Apple as whole made 3.38 BILLION (that's 3380 million!). Of course compared to massive profits of Apple's other products Apple considers Apple TV a hobby, but to think that the other guys are raking in money in movie distribution is inaccurate.
as for Xbox, it's been a big money loser for many quarters, with a billion dollars in warranty claims. Msfts Entertainment and Devices which holds Zune, downloads and games amongst other things considers itself lucky if it doesn't lose money.
Apple TV gets beat up by all the critics.
But people have to realize that Apple TV is only a 'hobby' from Apple's perspective.
The reason it is a hobby is spelled out quite clearly by Cook...
Cook said he believes the Apple TV is an outstanding product, but there just isn't a large enough market to make the hardware worth a great deal of concentration from his company.
Digital downloads (the form AppleTV supports) is a very very small market.
Which one?
philip
I have a dog called Linus?
.................. no wait
he was talking about Linux
................... wasn't he?
The AppleTV was great when it came out and has gotten better for no extra cost but it's definitely lagging behind the PS3, 360, and TiVO, as well as the Popcorn Hour and other standalone media extenders in the mix now. Any ideas how they can make it the must have home theater appliance?
I used to own a Popcorn Hour and eventually swapped it for an Apple TV. It's a technically very impressive device with fantastic codec support. However, the user interface is terrible. It's slow and ugly. Support for music was also a joke. The Popcorn Hour is a great device if you've got the time and enthusiasm to tinker with it. However, as a consumer device, it's terrible.
What I'd love to see is the Apple TV opened up to 3rd party developers. A BBC iPlayer app would be a dream come true.
Thanks for the clarity. So many people hate the Apple TV for delivering what is without a doubt a spiritless experience. However, 100% of that is directly attributable to content providers for doing what they do best--trying to find out ways of fucking consumers instead of figuring out the best way to give them what they want--content.
That is the single reason why I pirate, and I'll be happy to admit as much if some idiotic content owner were to ask me why I do so. They claim it takes away from their revenue, but I'd be happy to pay for their product and add to their revenue if they gave me what I want, how I wanted it.
I don't need silly, arbitrary constraints of content. The fact that I have 24 hours to view a rental is the most ridiculous concept known to mankind. It's like an executive got hit with a anvil upside his head, spit out this 24-hour nonsense in a moment of semi-conscisouness, and it became so.
And I can view Season 1 of TV Show X and Season 3, but not Season 2?? because...well, I could care less what the reason is. I'd pay for it if it was available, but as it stands I am firing up Vuze and downloading FREE content to my heart's content.
a thief calling others names
really now
los gatos zero
'world one
>>
Mr Tim Cook Rocks
The part about the touch was very cool .
Wrong- AppleTv is a complete and utter failure who's time has come and passed. Apple lost the living room as Blu-ray players have skyrocketed and now come complete with WiFi , rentals, etc, etc and can be had for under $200. AppleTV choked itself by maintaining itself as strictly an iTunes Digital jukebox who's sole purpose was to pump money into the Apple media store machine. It just didn't work. Only Apple fanatics go for it.
IT's DEAD.
O
Steve doesn't want you to surf the web in your living room- afraid you might find a free movie or some porn.
O
It's called a video playlist- they will play non-stop.
Something Apple fixed like 2 years after ATV was released.
D
AppleTV is the biggest BAg of HUrt to ever occupy this planet. An additional device that consumes thermal energy- the design is so bad you can't shut it off without turning on the TV or unplugging it?
L
You left out the BIGGEST thing it lags behnd BLU_Ray which now has Wifi and rentals.
ATV was never great- EVEN when it came out.
It makes a great cheese melter though.
I
Yawn.
Where's the i7/i5 MacBook Pro chip?
F
A hand warmer?
Blu-ray has already replaced ATV in that it now has built in WiFi, rentals and comes in at under $200.
E
The Apple TV has been my primary TV-watching device since I dropped cable 4-5 months ago and it's been a lot better than I expected. I watch a lot of podcasts, and have subscribed to the 2 series that I actually want to watch.
Having said that, I agree with the posts here that predict that the ATV will become an iPhone/iPad OS device and will run many/most of the existing apps. Probably with the "preferred" controller being your iPod Touch/iPad/iPhone. The secondary device might a wii-style pointing device.
Sounds Good to me .
Maybe the IPAD will BECOME a MOBILE ATV ??