Filed under: Macworld, Accessories, Apple TV
Apple announces Apple TV (formerly 'iTV')
Apple has just officially announced the Apple TV, formerly the iTV, for both Mac and PC. We knew it was coming, but now we have the details It is coming out next month and it can:
- wireless transfer to Apple TV
- HDMI output
- support for 720p
- includes 40gb drive
- includes 802.11 a/b/g/n (yes, n)
- stream from up to 5 machines
- can sync iTunes library
What formats does it support, straight from the specs: Video formats supported:
- H.264 and protected H.264 (from iTunes Store): 640 by 480, 30 fps, LC version of Baseline Profile
- 320 by 240, 30 fps, Baseline profile up to Level 1.3
- 1280 by 720, 24 fps, Progressive Main Profile.
- MPEG-4: 640 by 480, 30 fps, Simple Profile
- AAC (16 to 320 Kbps)
- protected AAC (from iTunes Store)
- MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps)
- MP3 VBR
- Apple Lossless
- AIFF
- WAV
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
john said 2:38PM on 1-09-2007
it's kind of disapointing that it will only support HDTV's.
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Owain said 2:39PM on 1-09-2007
Of course, Apple TV is largely pointless in the UK ATM since we can't get films or TV shows from the iTunes store yet.
...and it seems I'm not the only person who realises this. Apple's UK homepage is still featuring the Core 2 Duo Macbooks.
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Jose Rocoa said 2:52PM on 1-09-2007
future keynote url:
http://www.apple.com/iphone/keynote/
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vikking said 2:55PM on 1-09-2007
Did someone see this yet?
http://www.apple.com/airportextreme/
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Fraser Drew said 2:53PM on 1-09-2007
I think Uk movies must be soon, His steveness did say 2007. O well, i won't be picking one up anytime soon... mainly because our TV just broke, and we now have a nice 14" one (not even LCD!)
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Nik said 2:55PM on 1-09-2007
What? No DVD/Blueray/HD-DVD drive? I would love to hook it up but I don't want to go into another room to load a DVD. How is iTunes DivX support coming along anyways? I was really looking forward to how iTV could be better than having a Mac Mini connected. For now it seems perhaps I'll go with a Mini. :-)
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Christiaan W. Lustig said 2:54PM on 1-09-2007
The Dutch Apple Store has it online right now: € 299. I wonder, though, if the tv is an HD recorder, too.
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Welcher said 2:58PM on 1-09-2007
So, how long until an xVid to H264 "Progressive Main Profile" real time converter/streamer comes along?
And how long after I buy this will the 1080p Apple TV come out?
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avixe said 4:23PM on 1-09-2007
#1, Looks like it does support EDTVs (standard-def with progressive). You don't need an HDTV, just component-in for 480p.
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sam said 3:04PM on 1-09-2007
it's not only for HD sets is it? As long as your tv has component, no?
the stupidest thing about this is formats it supports. with frontRow at least if you have the codecs for QT you can watch avi and wmv... with this thing... nope...
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Adam Rice said 3:28PM on 1-09-2007
I look forward to the device being hacked to play other video formats. Until then, I can't use it.
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Jasen said 3:09PM on 1-09-2007
I agree on the mini vs aTV. Limited media formats. No tuner. No DVR functionality. Does it even work like an Airport Express and let you use it as a WiFi bridge? I'm going to guess it runs some stripped down version of OS X - just enough to run Front Row. It will be interesting to see what happens when the hacker community gets their hands on it; they may be able to unlock a lot more power.
Looks like El Gato will stay in business for now. It would be nice to use the aTV to program shows to be recorded by an eyeTV.
- Jasen.
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Parthito said 3:07PM on 1-09-2007
How come it cannot record TV shows? Now i should deal with a dvr AND an iTV? Why? Why? Why?
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Mike said 3:09PM on 1-09-2007
just got my confirmation email back...the ship by date is Feb 28th and the deliver by date is Mar 6th.
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TC said 3:10PM on 1-09-2007
C-
Interesting but not sure I know anybody that will buy one here in the UK. For a start we can buy TV or movies in iTunes here, and even if we could I wouldny buy much. I pay a TV licence and I want to watch and record TV.
I have been using a Tivo series 1 for years and I want to upgrade. I would love to have 1 box under my TV that acts as a PVR, plays my music collection, and plays/streams my divx/mpegs. It would have also have been great to have a wifi remote like the sonos.
Now it looks like I will have to use the only alternative apart from Sky +, Windows Media Centre! I think I will buy a intel mac mini and use bootcamp to install vista on that seeing as I get vista free from work. Trouble is wmc is poor for music, so I may have to buy a Sonos too, or just stick with my xbox running xbmc.
The Apple TV just does offor much to me. Now the iPhone, that sems cool. Shame it has no 3G and 3rd party widget support though :(
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Jason said 3:18PM on 1-09-2007
The more I look, I don't get this. You say 720p. But, the AppleTV webpage on apple.com clearly lists 1080i as an output option. Also, anyone have a scoop on which intel chip is in it?
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aron t said 3:12PM on 1-09-2007
so let's be realistic... is this going to stream and/or sync the movies i download with bittorrent
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Sren stergaard said 3:18PM on 1-09-2007
purchased:
Item Number Product Description Quantity Price Est Build time
000010 MA711SZ/A APPLE TV-NRD 1 1,839.20 February
Total: 1,839.20
Shipping Cost:
Discount (Incl. in Total): 0.00
VAT @ 25.00% : 459.80
Order Total: 2,299.00
Currency: DKK
Payment Method: Credit Card Visa/MCard
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Jay said 3:14PM on 1-09-2007
So the Apple TV won't natively support Divx/Xvid formats?
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g said 3:19PM on 1-09-2007
I have the same question as sam - if I have a regular ol' non-HD tv set (you know, the ones that make football fields look like swimming pools of green instead of crisp blades of grass)...can I still use this thing?
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