First look: Unboxing Apple's new $99 Apple TV with streaming HD content

1234579

Comments

  • Reply 121 of 174
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by thompr View Post


    OOOOOOOOOOOH. I missed that fact earlier. Never mind then. :-)



    Given your description now, i.e. that you had an AppleTV talking to the AE (with very little contention) which was connected to (very!) high speed internet, I'm having trouble understanding why streaming the theatrical trailers was giving you so much trouble. This does remind me of an interesting topic. When I initially bought my dual-band AE and set it up, I performed all of these configuration tests and was getting no joy. Ultimately, after days of banging my head against the wall, I took the AE back to the Apple Store and got a replacement (even though they failed to identify a specific problem). Things were better instantly. But I still examined the configurations in order to maximize my use case. :-)



    Perhaps either your AE or your ATV are defective somehow?





    Thompson



    I don't think so. At times the connection is fine. I actually think it is my house and the distance from the Time Capsule to the basement ATV.. wondering if I bought an Airport Express and used it as a access point to extend and strengthen the signal maybe...
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 122 of 174
    thomprthompr Posts: 1,521member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by thompr View Post


    All-



    I just got off the phone with an employee at the Apple Store in Tucson AZ. He said that some units of AppleTV had been shipped to them and would be arriving on Friday morning. He didn't know how many units, but he said that a ton of people have called in already and expressed their intent to be there at opening time on Friday. Give your local stores a call if you are interested in picking one up. UPDATE: Just to clarify, there was no way to reserve a unit. These folks are just going there hoping to get one of the N units.



    Even with an unannounced store launch of a lower profile product, it's possible that we'll have pandemonium at the Apple Store once again.



    Thompson



    Update: My information was insufficient. The AppleTV's arrived at my local Apple Store TODAY. I am there right now picking one up.



    Thompson
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 123 of 174
    I ordered an Apple TV when they were announced and it was delivered today. It was easy to hook up, and it's working well. I hooked the HDMI up to the wall-mounted flatscreen, and an optical cable goes from the flatscreen to my audio equipment.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 124 of 174
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by John.B View Post


    Yes.



    http://www.apple.com/appletv/specs.html





    System requirements
    • Wi-Fi (802.11 a, b, g, or n) wireless network (wireless video streaming requires 802.11a, g or n) or 10/100BASE-T Ethernet network




    I'm sorry, all I see is that it does 802.11n.

    Are you saying it says it supports both 2.4 & 5Ghz variants of 802.11n?
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 125 of 174
    thomprthompr Posts: 1,521member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by yensid98 View Post


    So I should get the AppleTV so I can wait for a movie to fully download, then sync my iTunes and AppleTV before I can watch it? A process that will take 20 minutes or more. How is that a benefit when with the original AppleTV I can hit 'buy' and start watching the movie in under one minute?



    Well, now I certainly never called it a benefit. I have felt your pain. But in the grand scheme of things, waiting 20 minutes for something you will be keeping is not that big of deal. If you already have an Apple TV, then it sounds like this new one just isn't right for you.



    And, by the way, having a laptop as your main machine is probably frought with much more serious challenges than the one you posed here. I imagine that you are SOL fairly often, when someone in the family takes that thing away, or closes the lid during a sync, etc, etc, etc.



    Thompson
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 126 of 174
    docno42docno42 Posts: 3,764member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Kishan View Post


    No Netflix on legacy AppleTV



    wouldn't suprise me if they weren't allowed to implement this because the studios want absolutely no risk of people hacking the legacy ATVs to record the streaming movies? Maybe a strech, but I wouldn't put it past those SOBs!



    Often it's the simplir explanation that is true - Netflix already has a no-flash implementation for iOS, and they don't for Mac OSX, which the first gen ATV is based on. Since the first gen ATV is woefully underpowered as it is, a flash based netflix would probably suck.



    I expect my first gen ATV to pretty much be used for AirTunes. The glitchy/laggy UI drives me crazy.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 127 of 174
    john.bjohn.b Posts: 2,742member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by GregAlexander View Post


    I'm sorry, all I see is that it does 802.11n.

    Are you saying it says it supports both 2.4 & 5Ghz variants of 802.11n?



    Yes.



    As long as it supports the 5 GHz "a" band (802.11a) it will do "n" over the "a" band.



    The iPhone 4 doesn't (802.11n 2.4GHz only) because it has no 5 GHz "a" band support.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 128 of 174
    docno42docno42 Posts: 3,764member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by pt123 View Post


    People want local storage because the computer that does streaming is turned off. Apple sells more laptops than desktops so this scenario is applicable to many.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by herbapou View Post


    But the real solution, has I said, would be an itunes that run from a netdrive so its always available for anyone in the house and for any devices.



    Lala acquisition, large data center in South Carolina, connect dots...
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 129 of 174
    docno42docno42 Posts: 3,764member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by TheFatWookie View Post


    Got no problem leaving my iMac on, but do I also have to have iTunes open and running with Home share on the whole times as well to acommodate streaming to the new ATV?



    Of course. You can also hide iTunes with a command-H.



    Or do like I did for my mom - set iTunes to launch hidden in the account system preference/startup items.



    Or get an HP Windows Home Server that comes with fully functioning iTunes server out of the box (it even streams protected iTunes content). At $360 on sale and about 40 watts of power with four hard drives it's more economical than running a computer.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 130 of 174
    docno42docno42 Posts: 3,764member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Goldenclaw View Post


    Seems like Apple is missing a huge opportunity, especially for $99.



    Why are you assuming that the way it is now is all it will ever be?
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 131 of 174
    docno42docno42 Posts: 3,764member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by anantksundaram View Post


    Go to http://www.apple.com/appletv/. Scroll down to "All Streaming. No Hassle." Read.



    Thanks for pointing that out. It's the single biggest thing I am looking forward to. I take lots of pictures, and only being able to show the ones that had synced was maddening! I was constantly having to juggle for space, and if I had someone over that I wanted to show something that wasn't on my ATV I was either SOL, or I had to pick what I wanted, press that $!%#ing syc button and wait... And wait... And wait...



    Finally! My entire Aperture library at my fingertips! A photographers wet dream...
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 132 of 174
    docno42docno42 Posts: 3,764member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by ranger_one View Post


    That's far from ideal, and my wife and kids won't even attempt it. It's just way too messy. Very uncharacteristic of Apple.



    That's probably why with this ATV it dosen't work that way. That's an obvious and glaring UI deficiency, and even if Apple were trying to force people to rentals i can't see them not addressing it. Not that I think Apple gives two whits about renting vs buying - I'm sure they are working within the constraints of the idiot content providers.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 133 of 174
    docno42docno42 Posts: 3,764member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by GregAlexander View Post


    and the photo background my parents love has to go via MobileMe



    Can we please stop spreading this false information? Anything in you iTunes, including pictures, will stream.



    I want it more for my content that I already have (including video podcasts) than anything else.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 134 of 174
    docno42docno42 Posts: 3,764member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by TheFatWookie View Post


    I don't think so. At times the connection is fine. I actually think it is my house and the distance from the Time Capsule to the basement ATV.. wondering if I bought an Airport Express and used it as a access point to extend and strengthen the signal maybe...



    WDS will extend your network, but it halvs your bandwidth



    If you can't run Ethernet cable easily, look at systems that run over the power line. Can be double to triple N speeds.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 135 of 174
    too bad windows media center houses apple tv in every category.



    can't win them all, steve-o.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 136 of 174
    john.bjohn.b Posts: 2,742member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by DocNo42 View Post


    Lala acquisition, large data center in South Carolina, connect dots...



    And yet... We are still waiting...
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 137 of 174
    docno42docno42 Posts: 3,764member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by John.B View Post


    And yet... We are still waiting...



    1) Rome wasn't built in a day



    2) no one else has anything but vapor either. Actually, Apple is shipping solutions today. They may not be perfect, but they are shpping. That's better than the majority of their "competitors".
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 138 of 174
    docno42docno42 Posts: 3,764member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by rtm135 View Post


    too bad windows media center houses apple tv in every category.



    Except for connecting to the iTunes universe. And seamlessly offering all the media on my computer (Windows or Mac). Don't get me wrong, if I didn't have a Tivo already, I would pick Media Center. Then again, with Netflix, Apple, Amazon, Hulu, etc. my DVR days are (thankfully) coming to an end. I never wanted a DVR - I wanted my shows available to watch when I wanted to watch them, and without ads. That's almost a reality. Poor MS - finally perfecting a tech as it (once again) is obsoleted. They keep getting "Zuned". They still haven't learned to "skate where the puck will be". It must be frustrating to be an Apple competitor - just as you think you have a handle on a market, they go off and re-define it!



    Quote:

    can't win them all, steve-o.



    Or in MS and Google's case you can win one and then leverage the cash cow to subsidize unprofitable ventures and claim "victory" via marketshare gained by no profit bundling, two for one specials or creative accounting (*cough*"xboxprofit"*cough*)



    At least for a little while, anyway. Eventually even cash cows move on to different pastures. Google really pissed in their mess kit by screwing with Apple on the iPhone. Google's next biggest growth market for advertising was portable devices, and now as they look forward instead of seeing new and open territory, Apple is standing there staring right back at them. I have no doubt Apple will do in mobile advertising what they have done everywhere else - forgo raw market share for the majority of the profit, leaving the dregs for everyone to scrap over. So much for Google's over-inflated stock. A few quarters of flat or reversing growth will start a negative chain reaction.



    And what if Apple decides to leverage iAd beyond the mobile market? It won't happen right away, but if they do....



    Live by the market, die by the market. I hope Google employees are enjoying their perks while they last - it's going to be the dot bomb all over again. Even if their stock flatlines like MS they are toast - the reason good people have been flocking to them, like MS of old, was the stock options.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 139 of 174
    antkm1antkm1 Posts: 1,441member
    There is an optical Audio Out jack on the back...see photos from post. Thankfully, my new Denon Reciever has two of these on it. Otherwise i'd be pretty pissed about this change to the ATV, since my Blu-Ray uses optical audio. Now I'm not sure of this, but I though the newer HDMI jacks support Audio as well as video??? Anyone tried this?

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by ajb723 View Post


    I just sold my old Apple TV in prep for new model. However, I note there are no audio output jacks on the new model. How do I get my iTunes music to play on my audio system? I use to take the audio output and plug it into my preamp/processor>



     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 140 of 174
    antkm1antkm1 Posts: 1,441member
    I have a similar question about that...I'm wondering how much the new ATV can store in the event that Apple updates the iOS on this to support Apps. Anyone know if this will be possible on this device? I'm wondering because if/when I get one of these, I'd like to NOT have to upgrade when Apple does update the iOS. I hate having to buy new hardware every 3 years and would love to avoid this...

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Alfiejr View Post


    how much flash storage memory and on-board RAM does it have? that will determine how much can be done via jailbreak. has anyone opened it up and looked yet?



     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
Sign In or Register to comment.