Apple unveils new Apple TV with 1080p video output, simpler interface

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  • Reply 41 of 78
    desuserigndesuserign Posts: 1,316member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by mkral View Post


    TS, you were the one that started with the 'global' proclamations. Xanthohappy was just replying to your original post. It is not at all required that a computer remain on, with itunes running. For YOU that is the case, but you made no mention of that in your original post, you just proclaimed that it was a necessity, when it was not. If you would have originally written 'Still requires a computer on & itunes running FOR ME' then no one would have responded pointing out your inaccuracy.



    "Global Moderators" don't have to be bothered with the niceties of consistency or reason. ;-)

    Typically those endowed with the responsibly of "global moderation" lose the ability to moderate themselves. This is why most sites do not have moderators take part in forums.



    [I do however agree with TS, it's really stupid that the AppleTV needs iTunes on, etc. It's also annoying that it doesn't just download streams. if your watching a stream on a low bandwidth connection the lack of proper cashing is a PITA. Then there's the question of why the USB is disabled for off device storage, the relatively crappy and non-customizable interface, the nearly unusable remote,and a few other things. It's all very "hockey puck mouse" and un-Apple like in my opinion.]
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  • Reply 42 of 78
    pendergastpendergast Posts: 1,358member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post




    Yeah, I just watch it on my Cinema Display, connected directly to my computer. That's why I want an Apple TV solution. I personally have no reason to own a TV right now. I don't watch any modern programming and I really just want to be able to push my existing content to a larger-than-27" screen and from time to time watch the news or other potential points of interest.



    But Apple won't let me do THAT either, because they didn't take my idea for Channels and run with it.



    Yeah, but with an AppleTV and Mountain Lion, you can just use AirPlay to stream it to a TV. It's better than nothing.



    Obviously a iTunes Match for video would be ideal, but quite a ways off I'd say, given the file size. A media server/Time Capsule would make sense on paper, but that fits more with Apple's philosophy 5 years ago (the "hub" philosophy), and not Apple's cloud-centric approach.
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  • Reply 43 of 78
    2oh12oh1 Posts: 503member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Sierrajeff View Post


    Agreed. I find the ATV2 interface annoying at times, but this looks like it will be annoying in its own way -- unless you can re-organize it



    Exactly.



    It would be great if I could use my iPhone or iPad to rearrange the ATV interface. If there's no easy way to rearrange the interface, I fear it'll get annoying really fast. Hope I'm wrong though.
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  • Reply 44 of 78
    pendergastpendergast Posts: 1,358member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Shrike View Post


    It's a single core A5. In semiconductor manufacturing, you'll hear words like "yield" like it is a farm or something. Yes, you cannot develop a fab that builds every chip perfectly, with every chip meeting TDP and performance requirements. So the yield coming off a wafer is one of those hugely important parameters that determine the end of cost of the chip. The better the yield, the cheaper it is.



    So, Apple may be taking some of the rejects, those that didn't meet voltage-clock frequency or functioning req'ts, and are using them in the AppleTV!



    H.264 media uses dedicated "processing" units inside the A5, so the need for both CPUs working or even both GPUs working isn't hugely important. These chips may also run hotter than those in iPhones and iPads, and Apple's basically turned off parts of the chip to conserve power while still be viable for the AppleTV.



    If Apple ships a single core A5 in an iPod touch, this line of thought will be incorrect and they are likely taking good chips suitable for the iPhone and iPad 2 and fusing off one of the cores.



    Sounds terrible, but does it really matter? Would you ever notice? Given the amounts required, I imagine Apple is also having an actual single-core A5 produced. Also, likely the only ones being "recycled" are those where one core on a dual-core chip is faulty, and disabling said core. In the end, it would function basically the same as an actual single-core chip.
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  • Reply 45 of 78
    dfilerdfiler Posts: 3,420member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post


    Perhaps I'd watch more modern stuff if the hardware catered to my needs.



    I know I'd certainly use Netflix, but I'd like to be able to get to the stuff sitting not 40 feet away, too.



    Perhaps the problem needs to be redefined as power consumption or background noise level. If a device can be left on without consuming power or making too much noise, it would seem to resolve all of the above issues. Would there still be an issue that I'm failing to realize?



    This is why I run a low wattage NAS for my streaming needs. When idle, it consumes about as much power as my doorbell transformer.
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  • Reply 46 of 78
    pendergastpendergast Posts: 1,358member
    I wonder if a new Remote app will display these new icons instead of a quasi-trackpad-esque interface. Since this resembles the iOS Springboard, why not use a similar interface to control the AppleTV on an iOS device?
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  • Reply 47 of 78
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Pendergast View Post


    Yeah, but with an AppleTV and Mountain Lion, you can just use AirPlay to stream it to a TV. It's better than nothing.



    I don't see how that's much different from the current setup. Still have to have a computer on.



    Ah, well.



    What about NAS' that are advertised as having an iTunes Server? Do they even exist, or is it just illegal false advertising?
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  • Reply 48 of 78
    pendergastpendergast Posts: 1,358member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post


    Perhaps I'd watch more modern stuff if the hardware catered to my needs.



    I know I'd certainly use Netflix, but I'd like to be able to get to the stuff sitting not 40 feet away, too.



    40 feet away?
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  • Reply 49 of 78
    pendergastpendergast Posts: 1,358member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post


    I don't see how that's much different from the current setup. Still have to have a computer on.



    Ah, well.



    What about NAS' that are advertised as having an iTunes Server? Do they even exist, or is it just illegal false advertising?



    It's not different, but right now to to watch it, you're currently using your computer. Which means your computer is on. If you're doing that anyway, why not watch it on a bigger screen?
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  • Reply 50 of 78
    pendergastpendergast Posts: 1,358member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post


    Very nice. Thanks, Apple. Now what about iPhoto for first-gen iPads? Ah, of course not. Of COURSE we don't get it. For ABSOLUTELY no reason.



    But say, now? what have we here, desktop iPhoto? Hints at 10.7.4 already?







    Are you sure the A4 in the original iPad would be capable of handling the image processing components? I know apps that processed images on my iPhone 4 were painfully slow compared to the 4S.
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  • Reply 51 of 78
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Pendergast View Post


    It's not different, but right now to to watch it, you're currently using your computer. Which means your computer is on. If you're doing that anyway, why not watch it on a bigger screen?



    Because that's not a solution.



    Ah, well.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Pendergast View Post


    Are you sure the A4 in the original iPad would be capable of handling the image processing components? I know apps that processed images on my iPhone 4 were painfully slow compared to the 4S.



    I can imagine it would be fine. Just like iMovie runs perfectly fine on the iPad (it does). The lack of cameras made Apple decide not to include it. Never mind that there's ZERO excuse for not having iPhoto…



    Quote:

    40 feet away?



    Yeah, my house. All this stuff is in my house. It's a small house…
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  • Reply 52 of 78
    alfiejralfiejr Posts: 1,524member
    With iTunes Match streaming all your music from iCloud to your A/V setup via Apple TV, the only time you MUST have your Mac on and iTunes running is to watch your own videos via Apple TV. i should know, i have a couple thousand of them, short ones, and do this a lot. it would be nice if they could be streamed from iCloud instead too, but they are several hundred gigs total, so i don't really expect that.



    if you don't use iTunes Match, sure you have a problem. but it's not my problem.



    and with Screen Mirroring, you can display any app that runs on your iOS device on your TV anyway via ATV. so we don't need more ATV apps that duplicate them. (except, yes, when it's not handy to use your iPhone/iPad at that moment, or for hours to watch a movie etc.) and some iOS apps - more coming - are specifically designed to take full advanatage of such a "dual screen" setup.



    if you don't have an iPad or iPhone, sure you have a problem there too. but that's not my problem either.



    the one thing i really hope to find as part of all the built-in iPad app updates Cook said are coming is a new version of the Remote App to match the new ATV UI. the old Remote app sucks, and that IS a problem for me.
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  • Reply 53 of 78
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by John.B View Post


    OK, so consider me "pleasantly surprised":



    Apple - Press Info - Apple Brings 1080p High Definition to New Apple TV











    I see the requirements are 1080P or 720P. I bought the ATV2 when it came out but it could not connect properly with my old TV that is 1080i. It produced wavy lines. Any idea if it will work with 1080i?
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  • Reply 54 of 78
    dacloodacloo Posts: 890member
    I want to stream stuff from my NAS. Firecore.com has great software, but it just doesn't feel right - the need to jailbreak a device to make it do something it should by default.
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  • Reply 55 of 78
    wyolincwyolinc Posts: 7member
    this box i imagine will be in most household living rooms. many living rooms are owned by families. thus, why not have this box pull from more than one iCloud account for photos and videos? turn media management into an event apple. i don't get why it's limited to only one iCloud account when the box is designed to sit in the central hub of your house.
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  • Reply 56 of 78
    tjwaltjwal Posts: 404member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post


    I don't see how that's much different from the current setup. Still have to have a computer on.



    Ah, well.



    What about NAS' that are advertised as having an iTunes Server? Do they even exist, or is it just illegal false advertising?



    I have a Dlink DNS-323 NAS which is supposed to have an itunes server built in. If it does it was certainly beyond my capability to get it to work. With FileBrowser I can pull videos off the NAS to my iPad without having to use itunes at all.
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  • Reply 57 of 78
    ronsterronster Posts: 153member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by tjwal View Post


    I've found access to itunes hit and miss but itunes running on a PC might be the problem.

    I have an ATV2 but will watch what the jailbreakers do before deciding on an ATV3. I'm currently running xmbc on a mac mini and can also access lots of TV shows through safari. If the ATV3 could do that out of the box, the decision would be easy.



    Ya I have XBMC / Boxee on my ATV1 right now but i'm debating getting a ATV3 for my main LCD in the loft and move the ATV1 to the bedroom or living room. Either have to port my local video content into iTunes for the ATV3 to see it or need to jailbreak the ATV3 / load XBMC, similar to ATV2....hmmm.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by tjwal View Post


    I have a Dlink DNS-323 NAS which is supposed to have an itunes server built in. If it does it was certainly beyond my capability to get it to work. With FileBrowser I can pull videos off the NAS to my iPad without having to use itunes at all.



    My FreeNAS box has iTunes Server built in the code...still trying to get it to work with my ATV1 consistently...it's pretty buggy.
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  • Reply 58 of 78
    So will the ATV3 look better in all aspects? Menus, photos, etc.? Or is it only for 1080p video sources?
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  • Reply 59 of 78
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by mkral View Post


    TS, you were the one that started with the 'global' proclamations.



    Apologies, "Still requires a computer on and iTunes open to actually view any of the stuff you might have on your computer, meaning most of the stuff anyone might have" is more accurate; you're right.



    I suppose if you want to pay Apple $25 a year to access stuff you already legally own and is sitting in your house not 40 feet away, that's your choice.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by DESuserIGN View Post


    "Global Moderators" don't have to be bothered with the niceties of consistency or reason. ;-)



    Where was I inconsistent? If anything, I was simply too vague.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by slatemass View Post


    I see the requirements are 1080P or 720P. I bought the ATV2 when it came out but it could not connect properly with my old TV that is 1080i. It produced wavy lines. Any idea if it will work with 1080i?



    What? Our Apple TV Take 2 works perfectly well with a TV that only does 1080i. I'd imagine this one would work, too.
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  • Reply 60 of 78
    john.bjohn.b Posts: 2,742member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by slatemass View Post


    I see the requirements are 1080P or 720P. I bought the ATV2 when it came out but it could not connect properly with my old TV that is 1080i. It produced wavy lines. Any idea if it will work with 1080i?



    I don't think we'll know for certain how the ATV3 will handle this until March 16th, when they go on sale.



    Most TVs that support 1080p and/or 1080i will also do 720p, which is what I've done with the Sony Bravia I have connected to my ATV2. Like most newer TVs, the inputs are manually configurable for 1080p/1080i/720p/480p/480i, depending on maximum capabilities of the input sources.



    Maybe when my ATV3 arrives, I'll set one of the HDMI inputs to 1080i and see what happens.
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