Here's how I envision this shaking out, with some minor tweaking along the way. Just like Jobs said for the Apple iPhone ("Making phone calls is the killer app"), but in this case - TV is the killer app for the Apple TV. Music and Photos are simply elegantly designed extras that add to the digital lifestyle and personalize the experience.
The simple part for now...Apple wants you to buy a new Mac with 802.11N built in and with lots of storage (and/or you can add your own external storage for even more capacity). This computer may reside somewhere in your house other than your living room/family room/bedroom, etc. where your TV(s) are currently located. You then buy an Apple TV (also with 802.11N built in) to stream the movies and TV shows that you purchase from iTunes.
The cool part later...is going to be when the video (movies and TV) that's streamed to the Apple TV is true VoD AND live TV coming straight from the ITMS using WiMAX! How's 200+ plus channels of entertainment sound for your viewing pleasure? Oh, but you want TiVo like functionality, no problem, don't forget that OSX Leopard already has PVR/DVR functionality buried deep into its code base (I've seen the screen shots for it before on this forum). Something I'm sure that Apple could incorporate with Front Row via the Apple TV. Under this model, Apple will compete with Telco IPTV, Cable, and Satellite, which is one reason I think they chose Apple TV as the name for this product. Apple will either find a way to use their Apple Stores as WiMAX distribution hubs (already strategically located within wealthy demographic regions across the US to access a portion of their target markets) to circumvent the phone companies IPTV DSL based offerings and cable companies to deliver TV and VoIP over the last mile (or over the last 6 miles or so to be exact according to the standard for fixed WiMAX) OR partner with the phone companies to leverage their existing/developing WiMAX footprints across the US to reach broader markets.
The Cingular/AT&T agreement could be stretched to include the WiMAX offering in the future or they may just use a wireless provider's network (AT&T, Sprint, Clearwire, etc.) to become their own MVNO (Mobile Network Virtual Operator) to provide a seamless experience to the customer. This may also be the reason Apple went with Intel. Intel plans on building WiFi and WiMAX into their portable chipsets, so theoretically, Apple could utilize these chipsets in their Apple TVs or ask for this technology to be embedded into their desktop chips as well.
SO...you end up with a complete Apple solution for your all your home or mobile entertainment/communication needs. Apple computers located somewhere in your home for storage and/or a stackable storage solution that sits on top of the Apple TV (using the USB connector already on the box), an Apple TV connected to all the TVs in your home (possibly leased or rented by Apple as part of a service agreement to lower the cost of acquisition to the end user - just like your cable, satellite and IPTV set top box is provided today), an Internet connection provided via Apple using WiMAX for the last mile or Mobile WiMAX for access while on the road (connected to your laptop or iPhone), possibly a large screen Apple 40+ inch HD LCD down the road (we've all heard these rumors for some time now), and the next rendition of the iPod HiFi connected to your Apple TV for your virtual surround sound/home theater audio experience so you can enjoy the show or listen to your music in high fidelity. Oh, and don't forget the regular iPod as well. I have to admit. This would be a pretty slick implementation if they can pull it all together.
How exciting indeed! Apple TV? Sign me up. I'll take 3! One for each HDTV in my home. Potentially another example of Apple making something that we didn't know we wanted or needed until they made it for us. Man...I'd love to be a part of this!
Sorry to include the entire post, above... but it's very possible that Apple will have an upcoming media server, much like HP's multi-terabyte home server. With this type of dedicated server for all of your entertainment options (music/photos/video...) the AppleTV could possibly be more useful... for now, it's kinda like a space shuttle with no space station to to to.
It looks to me as though the Apple TV is only capable of decoding video up to 640x480. If that's the case, why can't it be made to support legacy televisions?
Ooohh...that changed from yesterday. Yesterday it listed 720p24 in there too.
Ooohh...that changed from yesterday. Yesterday it listed 720p24 in there too.
Vinea
AppleTV is more of a piece of junk than even I thought it would be:
Quote:
Video formats supported: H.264 and protected H.264 (from iTunes Store); up to 1.5 Mbps, 640 by 480, 30 fps, LC version of Baseline Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov; up to 768 Kbps, 320 by 240, 30 fps, Baseline profile up to Level 1.3 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps; MPEG-4 up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480, 30 fps, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps.
Frankly, the iPhone demo was the only thing that saved Apple's bacon for the time being. AppleTV is almost a non-starter now... Jeez, I wonder if anyone ordering this unit really understands what they're getting? Ouch!
AppleTV is more of a piece of junk than even I thought it would be:
Or simply they wanted to hold that back because it implies iTunes selling movies at 720p24 until they actually start selling movies at 720p24 which apparently wont happen till they ship aTV.
On the plus side 720p60 and 1080i60 is more of a possibility now.
AppleTV is more of a piece of junk than even I thought it would be:
Is it necessary to carry on with the bleak, thread-devolving negativity? Or maybe I'm the only one who'd prefer discussing these topics with less dreariness?
Ooohh...that changed from yesterday. Yesterday it listed 720p24 in there too.
Vinea
Just checked again... and on the US site, 720p 24fps is still listed. But on the Canadian site it isn't. Maybe concessions are being made to appease the Canadian studio licensing administrators.
Maybe it's just that Apple Canada is engulfed in a slightly different reality distortion field than its southern counterpart.
Comments
Originally Posted by Macadacious
Here's how I envision this shaking out, with some minor tweaking along the way. Just like Jobs said for the Apple iPhone ("Making phone calls is the killer app"), but in this case - TV is the killer app for the Apple TV. Music and Photos are simply elegantly designed extras that add to the digital lifestyle and personalize the experience.
The simple part for now...Apple wants you to buy a new Mac with 802.11N built in and with lots of storage (and/or you can add your own external storage for even more capacity). This computer may reside somewhere in your house other than your living room/family room/bedroom, etc. where your TV(s) are currently located. You then buy an Apple TV (also with 802.11N built in) to stream the movies and TV shows that you purchase from iTunes.
The cool part later...is going to be when the video (movies and TV) that's streamed to the Apple TV is true VoD AND live TV coming straight from the ITMS using WiMAX! How's 200+ plus channels of entertainment sound for your viewing pleasure? Oh, but you want TiVo like functionality, no problem, don't forget that OSX Leopard already has PVR/DVR functionality buried deep into its code base (I've seen the screen shots for it before on this forum). Something I'm sure that Apple could incorporate with Front Row via the Apple TV. Under this model, Apple will compete with Telco IPTV, Cable, and Satellite, which is one reason I think they chose Apple TV as the name for this product. Apple will either find a way to use their Apple Stores as WiMAX distribution hubs (already strategically located within wealthy demographic regions across the US to access a portion of their target markets) to circumvent the phone companies IPTV DSL based offerings and cable companies to deliver TV and VoIP over the last mile (or over the last 6 miles or so to be exact according to the standard for fixed WiMAX) OR partner with the phone companies to leverage their existing/developing WiMAX footprints across the US to reach broader markets.
The Cingular/AT&T agreement could be stretched to include the WiMAX offering in the future or they may just use a wireless provider's network (AT&T, Sprint, Clearwire, etc.) to become their own MVNO (Mobile Network Virtual Operator) to provide a seamless experience to the customer. This may also be the reason Apple went with Intel. Intel plans on building WiFi and WiMAX into their portable chipsets, so theoretically, Apple could utilize these chipsets in their Apple TVs or ask for this technology to be embedded into their desktop chips as well.
SO...you end up with a complete Apple solution for your all your home or mobile entertainment/communication needs. Apple computers located somewhere in your home for storage and/or a stackable storage solution that sits on top of the Apple TV (using the USB connector already on the box), an Apple TV connected to all the TVs in your home (possibly leased or rented by Apple as part of a service agreement to lower the cost of acquisition to the end user - just like your cable, satellite and IPTV set top box is provided today), an Internet connection provided via Apple using WiMAX for the last mile or Mobile WiMAX for access while on the road (connected to your laptop or iPhone), possibly a large screen Apple 40+ inch HD LCD down the road (we've all heard these rumors for some time now), and the next rendition of the iPod HiFi connected to your Apple TV for your virtual surround sound/home theater audio experience so you can enjoy the show or listen to your music in high fidelity. Oh, and don't forget the regular iPod as well. I have to admit. This would be a pretty slick implementation if they can pull it all together.
How exciting indeed! Apple TV? Sign me up. I'll take 3! One for each HDTV in my home. Potentially another example of Apple making something that we didn't know we wanted or needed until they made it for us. Man...I'd love to be a part of this!
Sorry to include the entire post, above... but it's very possible that Apple will have an upcoming media server, much like HP's multi-terabyte home server. With this type of dedicated server for all of your entertainment options (music/photos/video...) the AppleTV could possibly be more useful... for now, it's kinda like a space shuttle with no space station to to to.
Has anybody else noticed this tidbit from the Apple TV technical specs page:
http://www.apple.com/ca/appletv/specs.html
It looks to me as though the Apple TV is only capable of decoding video up to 640x480. If that's the case, why can't it be made to support legacy televisions?
Ooohh...that changed from yesterday. Yesterday it listed 720p24 in there too.
Vinea
Ooohh...that changed from yesterday. Yesterday it listed 720p24 in there too.
Vinea
AppleTV is more of a piece of junk than even I thought it would be:
Video formats supported: H.264 and protected H.264 (from iTunes Store); up to 1.5 Mbps, 640 by 480, 30 fps, LC version of Baseline Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov; up to 768 Kbps, 320 by 240, 30 fps, Baseline profile up to Level 1.3 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps; MPEG-4 up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480, 30 fps, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps.
Ooohh...that changed from yesterday. Yesterday it listed 720p24 in there too.
Vinea
Unfortunate. Also, don't forget (according to briefed Apple staff on the showroom floor)
that photos are getting squished to 720 horizontal lines -- the fuzzification was obvious
on the 40-42" (Sony) 1080p TVs there. If a photo buff wants to see all 1080 lines on a
big-investment HDTV screen, use the DVI->HDMI cable solution
from a modern MacBook (or MBP, or Mini) using Front Row.
AppleTV is more of a piece of junk than even I thought it would be:
Or simply they wanted to hold that back because it implies iTunes selling movies at 720p24 until they actually start selling movies at 720p24 which apparently wont happen till they ship aTV.
On the plus side 720p60 and 1080i60 is more of a possibility now.
Vinea
AppleTV is more of a piece of junk than even I thought it would be:
Is it necessary to carry on with the bleak, thread-devolving negativity? Or maybe I'm the only one who'd prefer discussing these topics with less dreariness?
Ooohh...that changed from yesterday. Yesterday it listed 720p24 in there too.
Vinea
Just checked again... and on the US site, 720p 24fps is still listed. But on the Canadian site it isn't. Maybe concessions are being made to appease the Canadian studio licensing administrators.
Maybe it's just that Apple Canada is engulfed in a slightly different reality distortion field than its southern counterpart.
I buy an occasional TV show; right now it's my poor man's DVR. When I miss an episode, I go to iTunes and buy it.
Why on earth would you pay for a show through iTunes that you've already paid for via your cable/satellite bill?
Why on earth would you pay for a show through iTunes that you've already paid for via your cable/satellite bill?
Who still subscribes to cable?
Apple TV + iTunes Season Passes to the two or three shows you watch is way, way cheaper than Cable + TiVo.