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Apple Anounces iTV

gizmodo.com — The new product: a box to connect to your TV to play all these iTunes Movies and iTunes TV shows on it. This box supports wireless —no stringing cables—and is the missing piece. iTV looks like a small Mac Mini. It's just an internal codename, and will be renamed later.

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  • cambrown99, on 10/12/2007, -18/+64At $299 the price is right.
    • Elektriq, on 10/12/2007, -31/+7Not 299 euros. It's so unfair for us Europeans.
    • agooga, on 10/12/2007, -35/+4How does it wirelessly connect to any tv or stereo???
    • kerby74, on 10/12/2007, -2/+34Not wirelessly to the TV or Stereo, those are wired connections, it is wireless to the computer with the video stored on it.
    • chris9902, on 10/12/2007, -42/+4I smell a lawsuit.

      http://www.itv.com/

      oops, maybe a bit more research needed before you go calling your TV product something that already exists.
    • dclowd9901, on 10/12/2007, -15/+67"I smell a lawsuit.

      http://www.itv.com/

      oops, maybe a bit more research needed before you go calling your TV product something that already exists."

      Or maybe you should read the part that says "internal codename."

      /calling people out
    • ahawks, on 10/12/2007, -37/+11$300.
      For the wireless equivalent to an HDMI cable? Neat.. sure, but priced right? Useful? I think not.

      I still can't get over what idiots pay for songs, movies, and TV shows through iTunes.
    • ellfaz, on 10/12/2007, -7/+29"It's just an internal codename, and will be renamed later."
    • laserob, on 10/12/2007, -4/+15chris9902

      I'm think they already would have thought of that. These Apple execs know what they're doing.
    • treed, on 10/12/2007, -17/+2Apple is no stranger to lawsuits over codenames. (Frinstance: Sagan^H^H^H^H^HBHA)
    • da_bradler, on 10/12/2007, -12/+1The apple.com site has pulled there front page thing, looks like there getting ready to post there next big thing up front, keep refreshing to see the goodness, lol or go out and be productive what do I care:P
    • chris9902, on 10/12/2007, -15/+2i'm aware it's a codename but they still called it that for now so that's going to be the name in the press.
    • miket019, on 10/12/2007, -17/+4I would buy it at $299, i like the idea of syncing movies, tv shows, music and podcast but what about photos? Right now, Itunes don't do photos? Does this mean itunes might do photos in the future?
    • milkmage, on 10/12/2007, -16/+4@chris9902
      itv.com - tv station in the UK
      iTV - hardware device from apple
      lawsuits only valid if the products compete
    • da_bradler, on 10/12/2007, -4/+9So will this be able to display in 1080i on my projection hdtv(like for higher res videos and pictures) also can you add videos that aren't paid for over iTunes to the list? I mean if I can't use the t.v shows I download off the internet(or capture myself for you legal nannys) this is worthless.(screw 2 bucks a pop) can it play my own ripped movies? is the only content you use going to be stuff you buy threw the apple store?
    • monkeybutler, on 10/12/2007, -5/+13What makes this better than a Mac Mini? Sure the Mac Mini is twice the price but at least youre utilizing your HDTV for more than just iTunes playback. Internet, Email, Apps and most of all you can play ANY media format.

      This isn't an attack on Apple. I'm just expecting alot more than an iTunes extender if I'm going to give up $300 and one of my precious HDMI ports. A TV/TiVo would definitely make this thing more appealing so it would make more sense for Apple to build on the Mac Mini as the living room device.
    • miket019, on 10/12/2007, -26/+9Why am i being dugg down? Apple fanboys would you please stop dugging everyone that ask question.

      How is it suppose to display photo since itunes don't do photo? anyone know?
    • FanofFilm, on 10/12/2007, -7/+15for $300 you could buy a modded XBox that does the same thing plus play games and have money left over. doesn't have hdmi out, but it's supposedly the functionality we're buying, right?
    • ErikStaats, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8"It's just an internal codename, and will be renamed later."

      That didn't stop Carl Sagan from suing Apple for the PowerMAC 7100 code name or Ford for the "Econoline" code name.
      Carl even sued Apple for libel when the code name was changed to BHA (butt head astronomer). Apple has good attorneys, though, and the judge threw the suit out, ruling that "One does not seriously attack the credibility of a scientist by using the ill-defined phrase 'Butt Head.'"
      However, I doubt Apple will be sued in this case.
    • cows, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4miket019: iTunes does photos already so you're sorted. Dunno why you got dugg down though!

      FanofFilm: "for $300 you could buy a modded XBox that does the same thing"... nah man, it won't do hdtv, optical audio, won't work with itunes, won't have wireless video streaming. Not the same thing at all.
    • stoppedcode12, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I hope Apple will release several versions of this iTV device in the future, perferrably one w/ a HDD. (standalone box)

      miket019: Maybe they'll use iPhoto?

      FanofFilm: XBMC is real nice, but it doesn't do HD or anything close to HD at all. So it's not the same thing.
    • panique, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8@miket - you're getting dugg down because you didn't rtfa you twit
    • EndrWiggin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10@ FanofFilm
      "for $300 you could buy a modded XBox that does the same thing plus play games and have money left over. doesn't have hdmi out, but it's supposedly the functionality we're buying, right?"

      Sure, you could, I could, everyone who frequents this site could. But guess what? My mother can't, my sister can't, my uncle can't, my cousins can't. We're not the target market for this device. People who don't WANT to try to figure out how to tinker with an XBox to get it to do something similar but in a much more complicated way are the market for this device.
    • LycoLoco, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1What, you mean for something I could get for just under $100 with an XBOX and XBOX Media Center? I don't think so.
    • LycoLoco, on 10/12/2007, -6/+2"@ FanofFilm
      "for $300 you could buy a modded XBox that does the same thing plus play games and have money left over. doesn't have hdmi out, but it's supposedly the functionality we're buying, right?"

      Sure, you could, I could, everyone who frequents this site could. But guess what? My mother can't, my sister can't, my uncle can't, my cousins can't. We're not the target market for this device. People who don't WANT to try to figure out how to tinker with an XBox to get it to do something similar but in a much more complicated way are the market for this device."

      Actually, it's really, really easy to mod an xbox these days. And given that you frequent this site, YOU could set it up for your mother, sister, and uncle all for the price of one of these boxes. And you wouldn't be locked into the proprietary iTunes Store files, but anything you can possibly conceive of that's findable on the net. And it'll even play DRMed WMA files, so unless your entire collection is in DRMed AAC and M4P, XBMC is the obvious better choice. Oh, and if you want to do wireless for them, it's only $50 more. That's still less than half of this iTV.
    • slickrick, on 10/12/2007, -5/+6But I don't want an Xbox nor do I want it's ugliness.
    • cleverboy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Someone forgot to tell Apple that iTV's twin was
      born last year and named "MediaLouge" by papa D-Link:
      www.digg.com/hardware/FYI_D_Link_Beat_out_Apple_s_iTV_and_Windows_Media_Center_last_year

      People should really stop the MediaCenter comments. I'm not letting Windows Media Center anywhere near my computers. Why on EARTH should I have to install another version of XP simply to have multimedia streaming capabilities? I'm not interested in hobbling jack from my XP Pro.

      I'm sure Apple's solution will roast MediaLouge in software GUI goodness and ease-of-use, but until then... Video, Photos, Music... 802.11, streaming... buy it for >$100 less than Apple's solution ($189). Be happy... unless you're on a Mac of course.
    • miket019, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Thanks to cows and stoppedcode for trying to answer my question.

      @cows: Itunes does not do photos. Itunes sync your photos to ipod but it doesn't display them on itunes. Your photos are display on your ipod only.

      @stoppedcode: I don't have iphoto, I'm running windows.

      and to
      @panique: if you don't know the answer, don't pretend you do. Grow up a little and stop being a fanboy. People like you give Apple a bad name. By the way, I rtfa with twit, the answer is not there but thanks for being a dick.



    • EndrWiggin, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3@ LycoLoco

      "Actually, it's really, really easy to mod an xbox these days. And given that you frequent this site, YOU could set it up for your mother, sister, and uncle all for the price of one of these boxes. And you wouldn't be locked into the proprietary iTunes Store files, but anything you can possibly conceive of that's findable on the net. And it'll even play DRMed WMA files, so unless your entire collection is in DRMed AAC and M4P, XBMC is the obvious better choice. Oh, and if you want to do wireless for them, it's only $50 more. That's still less than half of this iTV."

      YOU may have all the time in the world to set up an XBox for your family and friends, but I have a life, a career, and other more important things to do with my time. Personally, I don't have a problem with being "locked" into iTunes files, there's always the analog hole if it comes to that. But I have no problems using iTunes files, nor do any of my family or friends.

      And XBMC is maybe the obvious choice for you, but it's not the obvious choise for 99% percent of the consumer population. Get it through your thick geek skull, NOT EVERYONE CAN OR WANTS TO DEAL WITH TECHNOLOGY LIKE YOU CAN!!! There are people out there who barely know how to use a cell phone. Do you seriously think everyone out there is able to simply buy a modded XBox, install XMBC, tie it to their PC wirelessly, much less terrestrially, and use it in a simple and convenient manner???
    • FanofFilm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1you dont' have to mod the xbox yourself. you can buy ones already modded, with wi-fi, for less than this $300 machine. and yes, cows, it does wirelessly stream video and itunes and does display in hd. just not hdmi.
  • LogicBomB, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4Question - are the movies you download from ITunes full-resolution videos or are they made-for-ipod?

    Basically I'm asking whether or not video's downloaded from Itunes for the Ipod will look distorted as all hell on the big screen?
    • Antialias, on 10/12/2007, -0/+22they are 640x480, though the resolution varies for widescreen movies.
    • angelp, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10They claimed it would be near DVD quality.
    • da_bradler, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10dvd resolution for a NTSC disc is 720 × 480, while a PAL disc is 720 × 576
      but the actual quality goes up depending on the bit rate
  • bigd063, on 10/12/2007, -25/+39No thanks, I'll stick with XBMC.
    • alwaysmc2, on 10/12/2007, -14/+25I'm with you. I want to be able to record TV, not buy each episode.

      Plus, well... Media Center kinda kicks ass.
    • MasteRR, on 10/12/2007, -10/+18I agree. $120 for a used XBOX and borrowing a "special" game and memory card and you have something that is just as good, if not better (minus the wireless, which can be worked around and still be cheaper).
    • bigd063, on 10/12/2007, -29/+12Come on fellow XBMC lovers! Don't let the apple zombies digg me down!
    • teradome, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6@alwaysmc2, true, but depending on what you want out of TV you may come out ahead -- that what's I found, and that's why I started my tv/cable-less blog about it. We watched about 5 cable shows regularly which is an extreme waste of $65 for digital cable (the only way to get the channels we wanted), and on top of that the more casual watching was already being replaced by podcast content. Not to mention I like Apple a lot more than I like Cablevision.

      I do miss HBO, but hey, I already have Netflix... so what if I'm only a few months behind?
    • alwaysmc2, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4@teradome
      Yeah, of course the iTV will be fine for some people.
      Not for me, though. I want to be able to record TV. (I watch many shows)
    • jpski, on 10/12/2007, -2/+26I'm a mac user, a modded xbox user (XBMC), previous empeg user (Linux based dual harddrive linux based mp3 player), and a software engineer. It is a hassle setting up and maintaining all the infrastructure to play movies/music over the XBMC. Sure it is cheap, and sure it is versatile... but that isn't want the average technophile wants... they want a functioning product after plugging in a couple wires... and the xbox modders / Linux crowd wants to mod stuff, build stuff, and get stuff for free. That isn't profitable.

      Apple makes it easy and relatively cheap. Remeber time is $!

      Now saying that... I haven't purchased a single iTune or iTune movie. I don't like being crippled by DRM. But that is a different topic!
    • deadbaby, on 10/12/2007, -1/+14XBMC sucks at high def playback. The hardware simply isn't powerful enough. Try playing a high bitrate h624 -- it's like a slide show.
    • alwaysmc2, on 10/12/2007, -9/+3"XBMC sucks at high def playback. The hardware simply isn't powerful enough. Try playing a high bitrate h624 -- it's like a slide show."
      Is that the origonal Xbox, or the Xbox 360?
    • WolfwoodX, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3jpski,
      "It is a hassle setting up and maintaining all the infrastructure to play movies/music over the XBMC"

      Uh, Windows Media Connect.. All you do is select the folders you want XBMC to access and it's done. As for Mac, you could use xBmsx. Or for almost everything, you could use SMB. It is not hard to set up, just more involved. In any case there really isn't much to maintain if you do it correctly.
    • thatbox, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3The original Xbox isn't fast enough for high-resolution h.264 and stutters at 720p XviD - but it is most certainly fast enough for watching the fifteen-dollar 640x480 Disney movies from iTunes!

      And to the tech geek, jpski, a few posts above: setting up a Samba share is too much work?
    • OandA, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4can't play iTMS aac encoded files. Also can't do the fancy slideshows iphoto does. Also can't output HD which also covers the fact it doesn' thave HDMI.

      Xbox 360 does have HD but still doesn't have those other features or front row type interface.

      There stroke for different folks. gamers know that they won't need this. others know they don't want a gaming machine just something elegant. I think this product fits in nicely into apples pricing structure. And yes its a shame there is no way to record but if thers always bittorent for tv content.
    • MasteRR, on 10/12/2007, -3/+8"can't play iTMS aac encoded files."

      Big supprise. Something can't play a file protected with proprietry DRM. That's not a limitation of XBMC, it's a limitation of your media, IMHO.
    • jpski, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Wolfwood X:
      "It is not hard to set up, just more involved."

      That is exactly my point.

      First try to teach grandma how to mod an xbox. Then try to teach grandma how to set up SMB on a Linux server (or even expose a windows share through the firewall or whatever). Then try to teach her how to adjust the audio when it is out of sync with the video via XBMC. Grandma will give up. So will joe-sixpack.

      I guarantee that Apple will do it all through rendezvous with no configuration. There may be one or two checkboxes for 'share my videos on the network' or something... but they'll make it grandma friendly. I mean my MOM and DAD (~60) figured out how to use iTunes with an airport express (broadcasting music into another room) ON THEIR OWN. They are two of the most computer illiterate people I know. Try that with XBMC and a Linux server (or Win XP). It won't happen.

    • alwaysmc2, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2"can't play iTMS aac encoded files. Also can't do the fancy slideshows iphoto does. Also can't output HD which also covers the fact it doesn' thave HDMI.

      Xbox 360 does have HD but still doesn't have those other features or front row type interface."
      Media Center Extender, people! It's made for that. And it gives quite beautiful slideshows w/ music.
  • skell, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12No mention of streaming music and pictures on this, but I think it's safe to assume that it will.

    I have a hard time believing that it can stream HD video over 802.11g though. Maybe it will use 802.11pre-n standards?

    Regardless, I'm very sold on this product.
    • AllnightChemist, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5It wouldn't really deliver on its promise if one still needed an airport express to "complete the circle" ..or whatever. Right?
    • milkmage, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4i think h264 is "HD quality" streaming content.. so 802.11 should be sufficient.. i can watch the HD trailers from the quicktime site over 802.11b..
    • izzajoker, on 10/12/2007, -6/+0I already play movies from my fileserver over 802.11g to my laptop, and that is using Windows....

      Also, I'm assuming that you will either have to have a wireless router of some type (like and airport), or setup a peer-to-peer with your computer.
    • skell, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I think some of you may be missing the point. Can I not put a DVD video in my iMac and then stream the full, uncompressed HD content to my TV?

      My answer, over 802.11g xfers is: no.

      H.264 would do the job most likely, as would xvid and the likes, but for those of us who would take advantage of the HDMI and such, are we at a loss for true HD streaming?
    • greenstork, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4According to Ars, you need about 480 Mbps to stream 720p HD:
      http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060906-7681.html

      Even 802.11n would be hard pressed to do that. I'm guessing that the content is pretty compressed HD, unfortunately.
    • etandrib, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I think they are waiting for the wireless N standard to be finalized... or if you want to take advantage of HD quality stuff without the compression and do not have the wireless N you'll have to use ethernet. Uggh.
    • cows, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2greenstork: "According to Ars, you need about 480 Mbps to stream 720p HD"

      That's uncompressed 720p, I suspect apple will be using compression (h264), which requires a lot less bandwidth.
    • jonshipman, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1you still have gigabit eth for HD, maybe wifi for sd/ed only?
  • javashakes, on 10/12/2007, -10/+10FINALLY!! I'm glad to see Apple still has the innovation boosters roaring! The wireless was a surprise – and a welcome one. Given that this is only a first look, I'm excited to see where Apple takes this tech in the coming months.
    • alwaysmc2, on 10/12/2007, -12/+12Just because Apple did something doesn't mean it's inovation. This has been avalable for Windows for at least two years.
      I'm not saying it's wrong to praise Apple for doing this, just don't praise them for doing it first.
    • MasteRR, on 10/12/2007, -6/+3Yeah. I can tell you of at least 4+ streaming media solutions that are avaiable right now. It has to be new to be innovative, not shiny.
    • apotropaic, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Has nobody here heard of these devices before?! Its not the first of its kind at all! I've been using this for a long time...

      http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=318

      D-Link DSM-320 Wireless Media Player.

      $190 Retail. $160 Street. I'd rather buy 2 of these then one "iTV".

      Also its a MS "Play for Sure" device... I am pretty against the new DRM movement, I think they got it all wrong, but I do enjoy napster right now. Anyway, you access napster, raphsody, aol music, live365 all on the player, along with your normal videos and music on your network. While the iTV I'm sure will access just your iTunes library.

      Also the new release of MythTV yesterday includes support for this decive. I love this player! :)
  • chriskzoo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9Does the iTV also process the video? For instance, if I have a Mac Mini which doesn't play HD content smoothly (at least 1080p) will the iTV process and deliver that video to my TV smoothly?
    • sockpuppets, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7Err, it would have to.
    • Dominatus, on 10/12/2007, -6/+3Uhh....no it wouldn't

      The processing could be done on the computer and the processed image sent to the iTV

      You do realize that the difficulty is in the decoding not in the presenting, right?
    • kevinrosesmom, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Ummm... yes it does. Why would they decode it on the computer and send the full video (uncompressed) over wireless? It's using your mac/pc as a fileserver more or less and streaming the file over the wireless, then decoding it on the fly.
  • samadam, on 10/12/2007, -13/+3Who will be the first to register http://itvlinux.org?

    I was about to do it, but I figured someone else should.
  • tdkyo, on 10/12/2007, -16/+20Not related to the topic or anything, but Apple(zealots) should stop the crap about Microsoft copying elements from Apple. Microsoft had its Media Center for a while now.
    • cybermort, on 10/12/2007, -9/+27yes and this is not a media center, you smart cookie
    • EtherGnat, on 10/12/2007, -9/+6It's not Media Center, but it's almost the same exact thing (functionally) as a Media Center Extender. Contrary to popular opinion Apple isn't that much of an innovator (who is?). Where Apple shines is in interface design, user experience, and attention to detail.
    • panique, on 10/12/2007, -4/+4Media center has a video store connected with it? Yeah, didn't think so.
    • Escamillo, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5"Media center has a video store connected with it? Yeah, didn't think so."

      Media center doesn't need a particular store connected with it. It can play vids from any number of stores (CinemaNow.com, MovieLink.com, Amazon's new movie store, etc.), and these stored have higher selection that iMovies. This iTV is nothing more than a Media Center Extender that locks you into iTMS. More of Apple's lock-in strategy that they perfected with iPod/iTMS.

      And iTV is more expensive than a simple Media Center extender, and is the same price as an Xbox360 Core (and only $100 less than XBox360 Premium), which is a media center extender plus a next-gen games player. Apple is fleecing you guys that buy this thing.
    • EtherGnat, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2"Media center has a video store connected with it? Yeah, didn't think so."

      No, Media Center isn't tightly integrated with a single video store--which is either an advantage or disadvantage depending on how you look at it. I fully expect iTV to deliver tight integration with iTunes and provide a benchmark setting user experience.

      Just because Apple might do something better than anybody else doesn't make what they're doing innovative though. People like to throw that word around but it's rarely used correctly--almost everything digital is evolutionary rather than revolutionary. It doesn't make what Apple does any less important--what could be more important than user experience after all? Apple fans need to learn to lighten up a bit.
    • monkeybutler, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3"Media center has a video store connected with it? Yeah, didn't think so."

      No but it has a DVD player, TV card and hard drive.

      Seriously, as a mac fan then these mac diggers are freaking obnoxious as hell. How in the world is an overpriced lower quality video download better than a plain old DVD or divx file?
  • manumitx, on 10/12/2007, -2/+13This is a cute product for video blogs, but for normal commerical content its simply not worth the price. They would need to sell digital DVDs for 5 bucks for it to be worth it.
    • cybermort, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2i agree on the price. I would find 5 bucks for limited play times or rental days way more enticing
  • wisewaif, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10I think the smart thing about it is that it is a "dumb" box. There will be no upgrades, etc...

    Therefore the price will go down over time, and the basic spec should stay the same. They can update the software in time.

    I think this is great for the next-generation of video podcasts that want to compete with the networks. If this becomes a standard for internet distribution at a reasonable price, and with Apple's great interface, it could help bring down traditional media.
    • da_bradler, on 10/12/2007, -10/+1Whens the last time you saw the price go down on an apple product? it doesn't happen. If it comes down to it they'll just release a new version. they never let a product sit for more then 2 years and price drops are never more then 10%
    • joehobbes, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10They lower prices all the time...
    • wisewaif, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Of course the price will go down. It's not a computer, it's a device with video I/O, and will have to go down in price due to component costs. It's a "solid" product, rather than something with an upgrade path.

      Um, did you notice that the iPods went down in price today?
    • da_bradler, on 10/12/2007, -9/+2Whens the last time airport expess went down in price? or that other wacky thing that plugs into the wall and plays music wirelessly? or ipod socks went down in price? trust me this will not go down for at least 2 years although I still don't think it would go down afterwards either
    • PathDaemon, on 10/12/2007, -1/+14"Whens the last time you saw the price go down on an apple product?"

      er... Today. On, you know, all the iPods...
  • maiku00, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2well.. I personally wouldnt adobt at the moment. But its nice to see the steps being taken- I can definatly see this in almost all homes in the future (or something like it). Apple is probobly the only company with the influence and power to help push the revolution of digital content use and computer interactivity, and its nice to see them at work.
    • Boondoggle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Well you're in luck, you won't have to adobt until next year.
  • felchdonkey, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4When there's a Netflix version, I'm there.
  • Arkonnan, on 10/12/2007, -7/+4Great, so when the cordless phone rings, my tv will go out along with my internet connection!
    • Quix, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Or you could just go buy a 5.8 ghz phone like I did...
    • shamblett, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12So, microwaving popcorn will pause the movie for you.... ;)
    • corsa, on 10/12/2007, -3/+0Who uses a cordless phone anymore? :)
  • joebob2406, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Has anyone found a link to a website on apple.com talking about the iTV?
  • SpacemanSpiff01, on 10/12/2007, -6/+1Apple's frontpage is currently down. All you see is the tabs across the top. Hmmm.....
    check it out at http://www.apple.com
    • brianez21, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I see it...
      Shows a picture of the iPod Video with Pirates on it.
  • Sithlrd, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1What's a Tivo? :)

  • SandraDee, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0Anyone know what shows are going to be available...cuz I agree that it's cool...but if my only choices are Lost, 24 and The Office...$299 seems a bit much.
  • ehensley, on 10/12/2007, -9/+4Much to do about nothin. Myth Tv, Snap stream, and etc already a far better product.

    How much is apple paying you guys to pump this stuff?
    • joebob2406, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6How do u say that those products are better? You haven't even tried iTV yet. And its still in prototype. Who knows what will happen to it by march?
    • AllnightChemist, on 10/12/2007, -7/+3Fanboys are in it for the cred, not the dollas.
    • milkmage, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3far better? look at the screenshots from the show.. iTV supports HDMI out... something is brewing.
    • dignon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I have a MythTV setup and the Apple iTV looks like the perfect compliment... I've been looking for a reasonable "front-end" only for a second TV, and this looks like a perfect fit. I already have a mac that can run the MythTV frontend and (hopefully) send that to the iTV -- and its cheaper, quieter, smaller and better looking than the low-end PC I was considering getting for this task. Looks good to me!
  • joebob2406, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Well don't complain about your show selection. I live in Canada and can't get any of the shows.
  • moracity, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8I think people are missing the point with iTV. I don't see anything about it being limited to streaming iTS movies. THAT is what's brilliant about it. This is THE device that makes all the impending movie downloading services work for the average consumer. Most people don't wnat to watch movies on iPods or computers - they want them on their TV. As soon as Netflix has their sh*t together, I'll never mail another DVD again.
  • mobilehavoc, on 10/12/2007, -8/+1And the Apple dupes have officially begun...

    http://www.digg.com/apple/APPLE_One_last_thing_REAL_surprise_Apple_Attacks_Multimedia_TV_Market
  • Onezaft, on 10/12/2007, -5/+0ITV is channel 3 in UK and the biggest commercial channel here. What was Apple thinking?
    • AllnightChemist, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3They were thinking you can't sue someone over an internal codename. If they ship "iTV" boxes..that's another story, I'm sure.
  • zeeeej, on 10/12/2007, -4/+0Except for decrypt DRM, this doesn't do anything that a TiVo plus a wireless USB adapter plus free MPG conversion software (Videora) doesn't do already. In fact, it does far, far less.
    • AllnightChemist, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4You're forgetting that the "average consumer" pays money in lieu of extra steps (e.g. MPG conversion)...
    • shaggtastic, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4It does that in HD quality (or it's at least implied that it will), unlike an affordable Tivo (which I love, but can't dream of paying $800 + $13/month).
    • zeeeej, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1@shaggtastic: Do we know that it will support HD? I don't see confirmation of that in the linked post. And see skell's comments above regarding streaming HD.

      I also think the Internet is a terrible way to distribute HD content. What are we talking about here - 15 or 20GB files? Larger? By way of example, the 2:55, 1020p trailer for United 93 on apple.com is 174 MB.

      And ... the Tivo Series 3 price will come down significantly in a year or so. Save your money for a product you'll really love.
    • Boondoggle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@zeeg:

      When I do this thing called MATH, I get about 5 Gig for a 90 minute movie if the rate is 175MB for 3 minutes.

      I don't think 5 Gig is too big if you've got a fat pipe.
    • zeeeej, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@boondoggie: My mistake. My math was completely wrong. Still, we're talking about a 7 GB file for a 2 hour movie, which I think is more realistic.
  • BrianDawe, on 10/12/2007, -16/+2Well done apple two and a half years behind microsoft and at twice the price.... You've really got all the bases covered

    lol

    apple innovate don't imitate (and for anyone in the know most of the features in OS X that people say MS have ripped off with vista were ORIGINALLY annouced for vista (longhorn) and then ripped off by apple)......

    OS X over 5 years will cost more than even the ultimate version of vista will cost. Apple can churn out OS's so fast because their user base is small enought to dump on.....

    MS runs 95% of the worlds desktops and at least they try to keep them all still running after an OS upgrade.....

    WOW New colours for your nano... great...... that makes my music sound better.....
    • bufbarnaby, on 10/12/2007, -7/+3They could name their new wireless device iCopy ? lol Apple seems even more lame to me after the "showtime" fiasco.
  • luigi, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4It would be cool if I could pop in a DVD on my iMac and then iTV (I like MacTV more...) would be be able to detect it and play it.

    Anyway, I smell a bluff with the "Q1 2007" thing. The Intel migration was supposed to start in Q3 of this year and it really happened in Q1, and never does Apple talk about a product this far in advance. I'm thinking in early November, Steve will hit the stage once again...

  • exxon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4What is the USB port on the iTV for can I remotly synch my Ipod ? Or is it for audio devices ?
    • PathDaemon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Here's my idea: Apple USB TV tuner, works with iTV and Macs.
    • ElectroBot, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Possibly a USB port for TV Tuner, etc.

      But more likely a port that you can plug your iPod into and use the device as a streaming player (from computer), an A/V dock for the Video iPod and a Audio/charge dock for the iPod Nano.
    • darthtrevino, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1How about a Blu-Ray drive via USB a-la the Xbox 360's HD-DVD drive?

      It makes sense, the user could choose a high-def DVD format of their choice at their leisure and hook it straight in.
    • soundboy64, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Maybe it's for an external hard drive, Rip your DVD's and throw them on there and you won't have to worry about streaming from your Mac
  • tipdog32, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3i will be buying this, maybe more than one
  • Hyprtime, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I would've preferred a Mac Mini AV, but this is the next best thing.
  • mcrosby, on 10/12/2007, -7/+6I'll still stay with my xbox with xbox media center thank you! :-)
    • aaryn, on 10/12/2007, -8/+5Jeez you guys my clicking finger is sore from blocking all the trolls....
  • B111, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8No DVR functionality, no thanks.
    • GhengisKhan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1It's not going to be called iTV on release..way too boring for Apple. Furthermore, I think there's going to be more to this thing than we know so far. The UI is so-so which is not like Apple. I do agree with certain posters here that the content has to get way better for this to be worth spending the money. If Apple can do that then this may do well.

  • brianez21, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Is the iTV an actual computer? Or is it some sort of streaming set-top box that is a companion to a computer? And can you put a TV capture card on it...

    Sorry for sounding dumb, just curious!
  • 24boards, on 10/12/2007, -4/+0Why is gizmodo the only one with this scoop? You'd think it'd be everywhere by now.
  • phpfreak, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2If this thing's got HDMI... how much you wanna bet we'll be seeing HD tv and movie downloads @ Macworld SF.
    • panique, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3HD is a bit of a ways off IMO. The bandwidth (and storage) requirements exceed what most people have available.
  • lerinlas, on 10/12/2007, -5/+2I was expecting a rip DVD or burn DVD announcement for iTunes 7 not a $300 wireless device. So disappointed... :-(
  • _skin_, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Window and Mac!!! I love it. Windows people using apple products. It is great.
  • iwa87, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4For those sceptics who wanna know more about the product can view the Keynote here: http://events.apple.com.edgesuite.net/sep_2006/event/index.html
  • ubergmr, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2Wow apple is smart, this is the one piece that would make buying downloading movies for $13.99 worth it, unlike some other online video services. This type of model will wind against both HD-DVD and BluRay.
    Sadly apple is putting this out, it wont be long before apple is makeing profit on all sold media, and no matter what way you look at it, thats a bad thing.
    • darthtrevino, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Apple's on the Blu-Ray consortium. It wouldn't make sense for them to try to undermine it.
    • ubergmr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4apple makes a lot more off an iTunes download than a BluRay disk
  • u2wedge, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5For the record, the product is not called iTV'. That is what the people blogging back from the event temporarily coined it. They said that the official name had yet to be developed and it will be launched in Q1 2007.
  • WankerWeasel, on 10/12/2007, -1/+17Wow, all I hear is a bunch of crying babies. No matter what Apple releases you have such high expectations, because you've bought into all the rumors, that Apple could never satisfy you. There's a reason they're called "rumors". And it happens every time Apple releases new products.

    First you wanted video iPods. Apple releases video iPods. Then you complain the screen is too small. If they do release larger screen video iPods there will be more complaints that the screen still isn't big enough, or they aren't HD, or they don't have wireless, or they don't play DivX. Like the kid at christmas that didn't get every single present on his list.

    Apple is being cautious and testing the waters before jumping into a market that already has several big players (TiVo, cable and satellite DVRs, etc). If they are even attempting to create a PVR unit. They are also trying to keep the pricing down. Apple can't include a HDMI input at this point because they cannot maintain HDCP compliance unless their hardware product does not allow the user to modify the operating software. I don't think they are trying to replace your TiVo or DVR. Instead they are giving you a simple way to stream video from your iTunes collection to you TV. Plain and simple. Why would they release a product that would allow you to record your South Park when they can sell it to you on iTunes instead?

    Quit your bitchin' and be happy for what they have given you. It's life, you don't always get everything you want. Suck it up and quit complaining every time Apple doesn't release the a product that isn't exactly what you wanted. And quit listening to all the rumors! You get let down EVERY TIME.
    • JohnnySoftware, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I think you are right about the goals/purpose of the product.

      Apple already provides streaming digital audio of music/books/whatever played in iTunes - via the AirTunes feature of Airport Express, an expensive yet powerful 802.11g WAP for Macs - and MS-Windows PCs.

      The existing Airport Express "AirTunes" is great for people who have all their music in iTunes, organized by rating and playlist and artist and mood and so forth.

      It lets them play it on the awesome sound system of their home theater in their living room or den, instead of the great sound system of their Mac+iSub in their bedroom or study.

      Faster wireless for the home is on the horizon and Apple currently cannot stream video from their Macs to the TV set, except with 3rd party products and probably not HD wirelessly even with those.

      Apple's TV gizmo next year will make it more convenient to play movies from their Mac. It will be the entertainment "hub" of the house; a super smart info/entertainment media "hub" of the home.

      Just imagine how people could use something like this in a business/office/institution/retail environment. Nobody talks about that. It could be equally awesome.

      Apple does not have to duplicate products. They invent them.
  • Lazyboy0172, on 10/12/2007, -8/+5300? I hope it really isnt introduced next year. for 300 now anyone in the world could have a xbox360 and a free copy of vista rc1 to have Media Center without restrictions of what is purchased or not purchased. in HD

    oh yeah, it plays games too.
    • deadbaby, on 10/12/2007, -2/+41) I don't use Windows. I don't think Media Center Extender would work very well for me.

      2) The xbox 360 is huge.

      3) Windows Media DRM files have DRM.

      4) You can't play divx/xvid/h264/etc. Maybe the iTV will.
  • ceralor, on 10/12/2007, -6/+2Twice on the same homepage under different names, dear god fanboys!
  • haggie, on 10/12/2007, -9/+1This product will have so much ***** DRM built into it that it will know when you have guests over and will shut down the movie so your "criminal" friends can't "pirate" a movie by sitting on your couch and watching it with you.

    I'll stick with SageTV. No DRM, no flags, no *****.
  • iohc, on 10/12/2007, -3/+0There has to be more than just a streamming device!! I mean there are devices like that already available on the markey such as Tivo...but there might be some other special features....like the program library monster ( I think??) its a program where you scan your dvds and CDs BARCODE and the program searches databases on the internet and gets the info on the items you own, well...here it goes...MAYBE Apple adapted this and allows the user to own their items VIRTUALLY so that if they lost the original copy they can still have it streamed on the internet!! But then its just AN IDEA of what one of the feature iTV may be!
  • electrolytextc, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I hate to say it, but Apple is a little late on this front. D-Link has been making these for a year already. The new one, D-Link DSM 520, is only $230. I've had the 320 for almost a year and it works great. The upside is that it plays XVID, the only downside is that it doesn't play quicktime.
  • enivrats, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1iTV should included a DVD player. Then, I can pop a DVD in, while watching it, have iTV stream it back to my Mac to make a backup at the same time...
    • Adamesq, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1ABSOLUTELY! Now I'm confused! I've been considering a mac mini for doing NOW what iTV WILL do in 2007 but without the ability to play DVDs??? The reeks of an attempt to get people to buy movies they already have instead. Apple wouldn't do that, would they? Hmmmm....digg downs predicted.
  • dummersack, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1Who cares about ITV?
    Where the F..... is the APPLE CELL PHONE?
  • ebmnoize, on 10/12/2007, -7/+3did apple buy digg.com?
  • Bronstone, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1As long as it can play any of my video and audio media directly to my Home Entertainment System I'm game. Something tells me there's going to be more to this device than we heard today.
  • ravenpen, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Ya know I was thinking how great Apple's iTV would go with Elgato's EyeTV (no pun intended).

    http://www.elgato.com/index.php?file=products_eyetv250

    But it looks like Elgato already has something that appears pretty well identical:

    http://www.elgato.com/index.php?file=products_eyehome


    • Bronstone, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Idea is similar but Apple will do it better.
  • ACE1906, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Hands on photos from Engadget

    http://engadget.com/2006/09/12/hands-on-with-the-apple-itv-prototype/
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