Filed under: Video, Apple, Apple TV
Get the right HDTV for your Apple TV
I tend to think of Apple TV as an accessory for your TV (though Apple is billing it as a 'DVD player for the 21st century'). Apple TV is designed to work with a widescreen HDTV (though it will work with a standard def TV). Since the world of HDTVs is scary and confusing to many people (including yours truly) I thought I would point everyone to Jonathan Seff's great write up on picking the right HDTV for your Apple TV. You're bound to learn something about HDTVs, even if you're not getting an Apple TV anytime soon.If you want to learn even more about HDTVs, and related technology, be sure to check out our sister blog EngadgetHD. Those guys and gals are crazy about HD.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mitchell Moss said 8:25AM on 3-21-2007
I'm not so sure it can work on Standard def TVs. Do you have a source for that, because everything I've read has pointed to the fact that if you don't have 480p, you don't get support.
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Darnell said 8:31AM on 3-21-2007
Your TV has to be at least enhanced definition (480p), not standard definition (480i).
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tevetorbes said 8:53AM on 3-21-2007
I, not being an expert, mind you, would think that as long as your tv has component video inputs (many standard defs do), you'll be ok.
However, I must ask the question that apparently many people are asking- why in the HELL would you want to watch iTunes' crappy-resoultion offerings on an HDTV?
I must've missed the Reality Distortion Field this time around- I just don't get it.
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Trey Snyder said 9:12AM on 3-21-2007
For a more technical explanation about that odd 1366-by-768 resolution, check out this article:
http://hd1080i.blogspot.com/2006/12/1080i-on-1366x768-resolution-problems.html
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edmund said 9:35AM on 3-21-2007
@tevetorbes:
I agree! I cannot, for the life of me, understand anyone's excitement for AppleTV. iTMS content is SDTV/640x480, or if I am mistaken, at most DVD 720x480; watching that content on a widescreen 1366x768 (or 1920x1080) display would be pointless without an upscaler. Why Apple is REQUIRING an HDTV is beyond me; current iTMS content would look STUNNING on an SDTV.
the iTMS has to be releasing HD content soon, or the AppleTV is the biggest waste of $300. Just spend another $3-400 and get a MacMini, which can be a DVR, has a better hard drive, processor, OS, etc.
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Mikey said 10:15AM on 3-21-2007
I guess they're not aware that there are HDTV's out there that are less than $1,000.
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mingistech said 10:59AM on 3-21-2007
Re: edmund
There is TONS of 720p video online you can download to your Mac or PC for playback on the AppleTV.
I have over 50 HD-DVD and BluRay rips ready for my AppleTV.
I've been using the latest beta of VisualHub for conversion. It has a built-in profile for the AppleTV.
Interestingly my Playstation 3 plays back these HD rips encoded for the AppleTV natively.
If anyone is interested in getting into the HD scene I suggest HDBits.org it's an amazing site.
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Roberto Felgueiras said 11:01AM on 3-21-2007
@ Mikey
Cheap WS TVs aren't really the point. The point is if I am not in the market for a new tv (as I'm not, I have a buying cycle for it and I am two years away) but want the features of streaming content from my macs to me tv (as I am), then why should I spend a grand (at least) on a still kinda sub-par Widescreen + cables (100 bucks) and if you want to do it right, a wall mount ($250). So that's $1,650 PLUS tax (here in canada brings the total to a stunning $1,881) just to run a $300 item. I have no problems what so ever with this product, i just think working in standard def should have been a given. I also think it's asinine to suggest that everyone should go out a buy a new tv because of a $300 product's lack of compatibility with what the majority have in their living-rooms currently.
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drphred said 11:30AM on 3-21-2007
>I, not being an expert, mind you, would think that as long as your tv has component video inputs (many standard defs do), you'll be ok.
Nope, you won't 480i and 480P are very different signals. If your set expects a 480i signal and you give it a 480P signal, it WILL NOT SYNC. No picture.
It might even DAMAGE your TV.
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Mike Krus said 11:36AM on 3-21-2007
I agree, I would love having an Apple TV, but having to pay at least £600 in addition to the price of the box to get a TV to replace the one I got 2 years ago is completely nuts.
I think it's way to early for this kind of product to be HDTV only. And how much could it have cost to add a composite SDTV output at the back?
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william schroeder said 11:39AM on 3-21-2007
The assumption that HD is coming to iTMS has to be correct. Has anyone noted the unbelievably fast downloads from the iTMS lately? The speed has jumped more than 10 fold. Apple is clearly ramping services towards video downloads.
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edmund said 11:52AM on 3-21-2007
@mingistech:
Right, but they have to be re-encoded via QT for AppleTV playback, no? At the very least, they have to be imported into iTunes.
And, even if neither of those things are true, AppleTV SHOULD be compatible with SDTVs. The resolutions they sell would look fine on such a TV; there is no reason to limit the outputs to HD-only.
IF A-TV can stream ANYTHING i've downloaded / ripped from ANYWHERE, then it is a good thing. This is better than and Xbox360, which (natively) can only stream .wmv video files. Still, it's a better investment to go with a Mini, which can stream anything, and you can have Handbrake right there to back up all of your DVDs.
I'll pass on A-TV, and save up for a MacMini-based Media Center.
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Woody Sabran said 2:42PM on 3-21-2007
Yeah give a Mac mini over an Apple TV anyday!
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Devilstower said 5:03PM on 3-21-2007
So why does the recommendation include a Vizio that's a couple of models behind their current offering? You can get their 47" 1080p LCD or a 50" plasma for $1699. Heck, you can get a 42" plasma or LCD for $1000.
I know there are other brands just as good or better in this price range, but we nabbed one of the Vizio 37" LCDs for just $700 (with coupon), and I've been so happy with it I'm going back for the 47".
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Bruce Garlock said 9:01PM on 3-21-2007
I have component IN on my TV, but it only does 480i. I have been told the Apple TV will not work on my TV, which is kind of strange, since I hook my video iPod up to it all the time, and play movies that I have ripped or purchased from iTunes, so I don't understand the HD requirement.
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