When there's a competitive Google/android hardware offering at $99, I'll be very interested to take a look. Until then, they're not even in the running.
For all the spying without consent, lackadaisical control over 3rd party spying, and advertising Google does, GTV should be free, but even that's too expensive for me.
Many people who dismissed AppleTV have obviously never used it.
There is a ton of valuable professional content for Free on AppleTV from iTunes.
* AppleTV provides multi-zone AV features that normally costs thousands elsewhere.
* iTunes University includes entire semesters of classes from the best universities in the US.
* US cable news and international news for free and on demand.
* Cable talk shows on politics and education and comedies for free and on demand.
* Lots children programs on demand and for free
* Tons of internet radio stations from all over the world.
* Actually all the major content providers from around the world are there for free.
What's may be next for AppleTV?
* AppleTV may replace your cable box regardless of your provider/country using Apple HLS
* AppleTV may provide controlled applications for providers like NetFlix, Verizon, AT&T etc...
* AppleTV may provide cloud based DVR functionality.
People are now discovering AppleTV and there is no stopping it. It's gonna be a big winner when combined with iADs and iTunes. Note that AppleTV is now a best seller on Amazon along side the other best selling Apple products.
Time will tell.
A good post. iTunes University is plenty good, just started looking around, but appears that it has some good scientific content, and the way its presented online is clear and well thought out.
I don't have Apple TV as I live in Australia, not sure whats available, hard to get answers from the people in the Apple shop.
I agree with you, there is a pent-up demand for Apple TV, which will only grow stronger, only Apple has the nous (proven countless times) to get this right, I don't doubt they will.
We certainly live in a most interesting time thats for sure.
Fundamentally, I don't know if I want an intelligent TV, I think the external box is a better solution, I don't want to have to go through 2 or more interfaces to watch TV. How fast is the channel switching? Can I surf the web in PIP and watch the football game on my Digital Cable box or Satellite box.
What if I get tired of using Google and want something else? I don't know if I want a TV with an Android OS when I can plug my laptop, xbox360, blu-ray player into my 60 inch one I have now.
Fundamentally, I don't know if I want an intelligent TV, I think the external box is a better solution, I don't want to have to go through 2 or more interfaces to watch TV. How fast is the channel switching? Can I surf the web in PIP and watch the football game on my Digital Cable box or Satellite box.
What if I get tired of using Google and want something else? I don't know if I want a TV with an Android OS when I can plug my laptop, xbox360, blu-ray player into my 60 inch one I have now.
That sounds exactly like the Logitech Revue w/ Google TV.
I like the Logitech Revue better. I just switched the user agent and now I can watch all the programming except ABC and Hulu. Also with the Sony TV you have to use that big ugly remote. With the Revue you have 4 options.
Can I surf the web in PIP and watch the football game on my Digital Cable box or Satellite box.
Of course you can (depending on the TV set). That's the real killer capability: You can look stuff up while watching TV.
Hey - where did we see that actor before? Call up IMDB. Watching the local news and wondering about the big storm brewing near the vacation house? Call up the remote weather website in a window during the commercial. Sports stats? Live real-time commentary from your favorite blogger? Like those Apple keynotes, but for all sorts of events?
As of now, folks watch TV with an iPad on thier laps for these sorts of things.
Well, it's no surprise that the reviewers think GTV sucks. Google has no taste and has never demonstrated any talent in UI design. It wouldn't even be newsworthy except as an example of Google's latest consumer spyware, very telescreeny.
(If you must be that guy living the perfect little iLife to the max, you might end up buying an Apple TV. Everyone else will give it a glance at most and move on.)
Considering thst it comes with 6 eneloop batteries at that price, that's actually a deceptively good product at an excellent price point you link to there. I've done my research so I know. Apple's products are like a brainy supermodel. A casual observer can make a lot of wrong assumptions about what's beyond the skin.
This is just how Google does things.... They cobble a bunch of stuff together. Barly get it to work and release it as a product. After several revisions, it starts to be stable and intutive. Then they come out with an update that add a couple of cool new features, but breaks a bunch of stuff that that was working to start with....
Google obviously has some talanted designers.... The just need a few more engineers and product managers to clean up the crap from the designers so that it is a main stream product....
Many people who dismissed AppleTV have obviously never used it.
There is a ton of valuable professional content for Free on AppleTV from iTunes.
* AppleTV provides multi-zone AV features that normally costs thousands elsewhere.
* iTunes University includes entire semesters of classes from the best universities in the US.
* US cable news and international news for free and on demand.
* Cable talk shows on politics and education and comedies for free and on demand.
* Lots children programs on demand and for free
* Tons of internet radio stations from all over the world.
* Actually all the major content providers from around the world are there for free.
I have an AppleTV, and I'm not sure how to get to half of that stuff. How do I do it? I know it has my iTunes library on there and photos, and surfing the movies and tv store is obvious, but how do I get to radio stations and the free kids stuff, news, etc.
BTW, I really enjoy the ATV. The interface is nice, the movies are very crisp -- even the SD movies look amazing on the HD set, unlike the SD movies that get pushed through the cable box.
Prices are about equal to other places. I like the Tomato Meter and Reviews, though wish I could see more of them (you only see the top 3 or 4, and only the first line or two of the reviews).
My wife and I were enjoying some YouTube content the other day. We like the screen saver that shows our photos.
To rent from iTunes I was looking at a $50 adapter to connect the MBP to the tv. That was when I realized that for $50 more I could have a dedicated box. So far, I'm glad I did it. Partly because I know they'll keep improving.
Comments
When there's a competitive Google/android hardware offering at $99, I'll be very interested to take a look. Until then, they're not even in the running.
For all the spying without consent, lackadaisical control over 3rd party spying, and advertising Google does, GTV should be free, but even that's too expensive for me.
Many people who dismissed AppleTV have obviously never used it.
There is a ton of valuable professional content for Free on AppleTV from iTunes.
* AppleTV provides multi-zone AV features that normally costs thousands elsewhere.
* iTunes University includes entire semesters of classes from the best universities in the US.
* US cable news and international news for free and on demand.
* Cable talk shows on politics and education and comedies for free and on demand.
* Lots children programs on demand and for free
* Tons of internet radio stations from all over the world.
* Actually all the major content providers from around the world are there for free.
What's may be next for AppleTV?
* AppleTV may replace your cable box regardless of your provider/country using Apple HLS
* AppleTV may provide controlled applications for providers like NetFlix, Verizon, AT&T etc...
* AppleTV may provide cloud based DVR functionality.
People are now discovering AppleTV and there is no stopping it. It's gonna be a big winner when combined with iADs and iTunes. Note that AppleTV is now a best seller on Amazon along side the other best selling Apple products.
Time will tell.
A good post. iTunes University is plenty good, just started looking around, but appears that it has some good scientific content, and the way its presented online is clear and well thought out.
I don't have Apple TV as I live in Australia, not sure whats available, hard to get answers from the people in the Apple shop.
I agree with you, there is a pent-up demand for Apple TV, which will only grow stronger, only Apple has the nous (proven countless times) to get this right, I don't doubt they will.
We certainly live in a most interesting time thats for sure.
Users are used to long load times, "missing plug-in" errors, and choppy videos on the Web, ]
Huh? Maybe 5 years ago. These days, videos load almost instantly and play smoothly. Missing Plug-in errors? Huh?
Apple tv is all about your content. Period.And when the apps for the Apple tv start rolling in Google tv will get its a** kicked!
Apple TV is not about apps.
Apple tv is all about your content. Period
I propose a week of honest article names on AI! It doesn't matter if you can't mention Apple, just be honest. For this article I suggest:
David Pogue and Walter Mossberg think Google TV is shit...
and we think it's funny because Google stole Apple's iPhone ideas
Love it!!!!!!
What if I get tired of using Google and want something else? I don't know if I want a TV with an Android OS when I can plug my laptop, xbox360, blu-ray player into my 60 inch one I have now.
Many people who dismissed AppleTV have obviously never used it.
There is a ton of valuable professional content for Free on AppleTV from iTunes.
* AppleTV provides multi-zone AV features that normally costs thousands elsewhere.
* iTunes University includes entire semesters of classes from the best universities in the US.
* US cable news and international news for free and on demand.
* Cable talk shows on politics and education and comedies for free and on demand.
* Lots children programs on demand and for free
* Tons of internet radio stations from all over the world.
* Actually all the major content providers from around the world are there for free.
Can you surf through all that? Or do you need to scroll and scroll and scroll through lists of text?
Fundamentally, I don't know if I want an intelligent TV, I think the external box is a better solution, I don't want to have to go through 2 or more interfaces to watch TV. How fast is the channel switching? Can I surf the web in PIP and watch the football game on my Digital Cable box or Satellite box.
What if I get tired of using Google and want something else? I don't know if I want a TV with an Android OS when I can plug my laptop, xbox360, blu-ray player into my 60 inch one I have now.
That sounds exactly like the Logitech Revue w/ Google TV.
- Included Keyboard
- Mini Controller
- Mobile device (iOS/Android)
- Any Harmony Remote
Can I surf the web in PIP and watch the football game on my Digital Cable box or Satellite box.
Of course you can (depending on the TV set). That's the real killer capability: You can look stuff up while watching TV.
Hey - where did we see that actor before? Call up IMDB. Watching the local news and wondering about the big storm brewing near the vacation house? Call up the remote weather website in a window during the commercial. Sports stats? Live real-time commentary from your favorite blogger? Like those Apple keynotes, but for all sorts of events?
As of now, folks watch TV with an iPad on thier laps for these sorts of things.
I think I have just figured out how to best summarize my thoughts on Apple TV.
Apple TV is as groundbreaking and necessary as this recent Apple product:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC...co=MTY3ODQ5OTY
(If you must be that guy living the perfect little iLife to the max, you might end up buying an Apple TV. Everyone else will give it a glance at most and move on.)
Considering thst it comes with 6 eneloop batteries at that price, that's actually a deceptively good product at an excellent price point you link to there. I've done my research so I know. Apple's products are like a brainy supermodel. A casual observer can make a lot of wrong assumptions about what's beyond the skin.
Google obviously has some talanted designers.... The just need a few more engineers and product managers to clean up the crap from the designers so that it is a main stream product....
It is just my opinion of course....
Many people who dismissed AppleTV have obviously never used it.
There is a ton of valuable professional content for Free on AppleTV from iTunes.
* AppleTV provides multi-zone AV features that normally costs thousands elsewhere.
* iTunes University includes entire semesters of classes from the best universities in the US.
* US cable news and international news for free and on demand.
* Cable talk shows on politics and education and comedies for free and on demand.
* Lots children programs on demand and for free
* Tons of internet radio stations from all over the world.
* Actually all the major content providers from around the world are there for free.
I have an AppleTV, and I'm not sure how to get to half of that stuff. How do I do it? I know it has my iTunes library on there and photos, and surfing the movies and tv store is obvious, but how do I get to radio stations and the free kids stuff, news, etc.
BTW, I really enjoy the ATV. The interface is nice, the movies are very crisp -- even the SD movies look amazing on the HD set, unlike the SD movies that get pushed through the cable box.
Prices are about equal to other places. I like the Tomato Meter and Reviews, though wish I could see more of them (you only see the top 3 or 4, and only the first line or two of the reviews).
My wife and I were enjoying some YouTube content the other day. We like the screen saver that shows our photos.
To rent from iTunes I was looking at a $50 adapter to connect the MBP to the tv. That was when I realized that for $50 more I could have a dedicated box. So far, I'm glad I did it. Partly because I know they'll keep improving.
Apple is simple.
Google is complex.
Apple is for the consumer.
Google is for the nerds.
Just an example... I've tried to explain Google Voice to my parents several times, and they still don't know what it is.
Nothing like summarizing bad reviews of Apple alternatives to get the fanbois all fired up. It's almost too easy...
You said it! Those Google/Android fans are rabid here today!