What is Digg?196 Comments
- dclowd9901, on 10/12/2007, -15/+68"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 - cambrown99, on 10/12/2007, -18/+64At $299 the price is right.
- 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.
- 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! - Antialias, on 10/12/2007, -0/+22they are 640x480, though the resolution varies for widescreen movies.
- ellfaz, on 10/12/2007, -7/+29"It's just an internal codename, and will be renamed later."
- cybermort, on 10/12/2007, -9/+27yes and this is not a media center, you smart cookie
- inactive, 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. - sockpuppets, on 10/12/2007, -0/+15My guess is a huge nerd will.
- bigd063, on 10/12/2007, -25/+39No thanks, I'll stick with XBMC.
- 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.
- 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... - shamblett, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12So, microwaving popcorn will pause the movie for you.... ;)
- 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. - inactive, 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.
- 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. - 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. - 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. - 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 - 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?
- joehobbes, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10They lower prices all the time...
- 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. - FanofFilm, on 10/12/2007, -6/+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?
- 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).
- 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. - 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. - angelp, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10They claimed it would be near DVD quality.
- B111, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8No DVR functionality, no thanks.
- 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.
- Quix, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Or you could just go buy a 5.8 ghz phone like I did...
- panique, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8@miket - you're getting dugg down because you didn't rtfa you twit
- AllnightChemist, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6iVeg
- 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. - streetstealth, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Fake! It's just a Mac Mini with some Photoshopped-on video connectors!
Oh, wait... - 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.
- 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. - 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!
- 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? - 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.
- 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.
- 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! - 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?
- ubergmr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4apple makes a lot more off an iTunes download than a BluRay disk
- 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 ?
- RobFrosty, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4For all the people saying, "Old News!", "There are tons of other products like this!", "I can mod my Xbox360 to do all this AND make genetic carbon copies of kittens faster than you can make a half stack of pancakes!": you are missing the point by miles if not lightyears.
For all the uber-geeks on digg, these other alternatives were and are fine if not better. But I hate to break it to you, the majority if the world just figured out what a serial port is. I question wether Apple will ever come out with anything new. But I know for a fact that, when they make a product, they will make it easier to use than a pair of scissors.
This is precisely why those other companies failed where Apple will not. I, and the majority of the people who Apple markets to, do not want to have to go into a program's settings a thousand times, mess with IP addresses, and eventually have whatever it is collapse when the power goes out or someone sneezes. Apple makes products that you plug in and, there you go, they work (sometimes you have to check a box). This is why this is new. This is why this will work.
Yes, there are plenty of, probably, better alternatives. Buy them. They are aimed at you. Apple's products? They are, for the most part, aimed at people who do not want to ever have to think about how a product works or how to fix it if/when it shuts off for no reason. Simple as that. Now you can get back to telling us how your $75 Xbox360 mod shows movies that haven't even been made yet. In full 3D. While massaging your back. And all it took was 15 different orders from 15 different websites and 37 hours of set-up. Followed by 2 hours of troubleshooting every 9 days. - 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).
- AllnightChemist, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4You're forgetting that the "average consumer" pays money in lieu of extra steps (e.g. MPG conversion)...
- 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?
- 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.
- sockpuppets, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7Err, it would have to.
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