Google TV hardware delayed as the Apple TV competitor struggles - NYT

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  • Reply 61 of 63
    razorpitrazorpit Posts: 1,796member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by mytdave View Post


    1st thing - sorry for the long post, but...



    There are just some things AppleTV is no good at, like surfing on over to Hulu to watch missed TV shows.



    That can be fixed in one software update.



    Quote:

    AppleTV is thiiiiiis close to being the perfect device, but there are some major things lacking: A full web browser, no 1080p output (yes it is a big deal), no way to run regular HD 'TV' thru it (can't be a DVR), a severe (100%) lack of full HD content, and no 'screen sharing' (aka remote desktop).



    I'm with you on the browser. Seems like a logical addition in the near future. Thankfully all it would take is a software update to add Safari. I'm not to worried about 1080P content though. I have FIOS and have problems streaming 720P and 480P content during peak times. I would rather be able to watch a movie without multiple pauses (or at least minor ones) at 720P than with them at 1080P







    Quote:
    Originally Posted by iLiver View Post


    EOL? Why is that? Apple doesn't support or have no love for prior gen products?

    Maybe because Apple makes very little money from NetFlix as their CEO was named Fortune's person of the year?



    Apple is a business not a charity. Yes they will support older hardware until the product is EOL which the original Apple TV is. I never saw the appeal for the original version so I never bought one. From the numbers I don't think I was alone in that decision process. While there are probably a high number of people on this site who do own one, those percentages fall off the map drastically when you start working in the average household. Do you think it would be wise to pull engineers from iOS5, 10.6, or iWork projects so a 3 year old hobby can have Netflix, when there is a solution for those who really want it available for $99? (Not to mention the additional things it is and will be able to do very shortly.)



    I can see where you can be bummed about Apple's decision, but don't be mad about it.
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  • Reply 62 of 63
    solipsismsolipsism Posts: 25,726member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by mytdave View Post


    I don't know about all this... I think Google has the successful long term solution here, the big question is about buy-in from networks and studios. Having the Internet (and a computer of sorts) built right into the TV is a huge advantage if implemented properly.



    I thought Google?s idea of working alongside the networks, not trying usurp or avoid them completely was sound, but the networks don?t think so.



    Having your typical internet in your TV has never been a good idea and never will be. You have one display, and using it like you would for a desktop browser will never be viable.



    Quote:

    Unlike a set-top box, the Mac does all the AppleTV functions (movies, music - iTunes/Front Row), does all the TV functions plus handle input from the Wii (EyeTV), does all the Internet media functions (Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, etc. via Safari), provides my phone service (MagicJack), plays DVDs, and does what set-top boxes can't - be a full computer (pictures, presentations, video conference, etc), all on a single device. I use the Apple remote (90% of the time), and Apple Bluetooth keyboard/mouse (10%).



    That?s like saying that a Swiss army knife does more than any separate tool, but I bet you?d choose the dedicated tool if it was available. Same goes for all set top boxes. Sure, you use a ?PC? for your HEC but it?s certainly no the most ideal or convenient solution for most people.



    Quote:

    AppleTV is thiiiiiis close to being the perfect device, but there are some major things lacking: A full web browser, no 1080p output (yes it is a big deal), no way to run regular HD 'TV' thru it (can't be a DVR), a severe (100%) lack of full HD content, and no 'screen sharing' (aka remote desktop).



    ? People want a ?full web browser? yet don?t consider how this would need to be redesigned to function for an HEC. Do you want to have remote control like GoogleTV? Maybe you do, but most people don?t. Apple?s iDevices offer a potential solution with using a virtual keyboard, but I bet any solution will be more sophisticated than that. For example, find a site on your Mac or iDevices and then use AirPlay to push it to your TV. No superfluous address bar or bookmarks. Something more inline with Safari 5?s Reader option to create rich, beautiful webpages.



    ?*The I need 1080p / 720p sucks comments always ride me because they never express what is truly important: birate. You want 1080p, which you can get from YouTube even though the bitrate is lower than the 720p from iTS pushes more data per frame. You are stuck in a marketing loop, which isn?t about the best overall quality. Personally, I?d like to get 1080p, and it?s possible with the Imagination decoders, but I also want it with a bitrate that betters the experience.



    ?*It has HD content. Stop falling for silly marketing jargon.



    ? A DVR? Really? :sigh:



    ? I don?t even know where to begin in why you?d think remote desktop into your AppleTV from your Mac makes any sense for this $99 product.



    Quote:

    The AppleTV doesn't need to be a full computer to manage all the media one would like to throw at it.



    That sounds like exactly what you asked for.



    Quote:

    Right now, the AppleTV will only receive streamed iTunes media...



    Not true.
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  • Reply 63 of 63
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by solipsism View Post


    I thought Google’s idea of working alongside the networks, not trying usurp or avoid them completely was sound, but the networks don’t think so.



    Having your typical internet in your TV has never been a good idea and never will be. You have one display, and using it like you would for a desktop browser will never be viable.





    That’s like saying that a Swiss army knife does more than any separate tool, but I bet you’d choose the dedicated tool if it was available. Same goes for all set top boxes. Sure, you use a ‘PC’ for your HEC but it’s certainly no the most ideal or convenient solution for most people.





    — People want a “full web browser” yet don’t consider how this would need to be redesigned to function for an HEC. Do you want to have remote control like GoogleTV? Maybe you do, but most people don’t. Apple’s iDevices offer a potential solution with using a virtual keyboard, but I bet any solution will be more sophisticated than that. For example, find a site on your Mac or iDevices and then use AirPlay to push it to your TV. No superfluous address bar or bookmarks. Something more inline with Safari 5’s Reader option to create rich, beautiful webpages.



    —*The I need 1080p / 720p sucks comments always ride me because they never express what is truly important: birate. You want 1080p, which you can get from YouTube even though the bitrate is lower than the 720p from iTS pushes more data per frame. You are stuck in a marketing loop, which isn’t about the best overall quality. Personally, I’d like to get 1080p, and it’s possible with the Imagination decoders, but I also want it with a bitrate that betters the experience.



    —*It has HD content. Stop falling for silly marketing jargon.



    — A DVR? Really? :sigh:



    — I don’t even know where to begin in why you’d think remote desktop into your AppleTV from your Mac makes any sense for this $99 product.





    That sounds like exactly what you asked for.





    Not true.



    I repeated your entire post, but want focus on this:



    Quote:

    — People want a “full web browser” yet don’t consider how this would need to be redesigned to function for an HEC. Do you want to have remote control like GoogleTV? Maybe you do, but most people don’t. Apple’s iDevices offer a potential solution with using a virtual keyboard, but I bet any solution will be more sophisticated than that. For example, find a site on your Mac or iDevices and then use AirPlay to push it to your TV. No superfluous address bar or bookmarks. Something more inline with Safari 5’s Reader option to create rich, beautiful webpages.



    This is prescient!



    But, it may be even better than you are betting/asking for.



    It appears that an iDevice can use AirPlay to push an URL to AppleTV 2, and the AppleTV 2 can receive a stream from that URL -- as opposed to the iDevice acting as an intermediate,



    See the discussions at:



    http://www.tuaw.com/2010/12/20/airfl...rver/#comments



    If this is what I think... an app like Mobile Safari, Mobile YouTube, Mobile NetFlix, etc. could locate a URL of a http streaming server, push that URL to the AppleTV via AirPlay -- then get out of the loop -- say, continue to surf, act as an AppleTV remote, etc.
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