Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, Retail, Apple TV
Is the Apple TV a dud?
Of all the products Apple has been rolling out in the past few years, the Apple TV is easily one of the most debated. While I haven't seen any specific figures from Apple on how well or poorly the device is selling, Apple's first foray into the living room seems to be getting off to at least a decent start. Jobs made another uncharacteristic move in revealing upcoming plans to support YouTube next month. But could the Apple TV be a dud? CNN Money's Brent Schlender sure thinks so. In fact, Mr. Schlender goes so far as to take a jab at the Apple TV's development: "Apple TV is so Zune-like, you'd think Jobs was so busy with the iPhone that he outsourced the Apple TV project to the folks up in Redmond." He then follows with a list of the largest complaints against the device, which includes:
- No DVD drive
- The perceived requirement of an HDTV (though we know that to be not-quite-true) even though you can't buy full HD content from the iTunes Store
- The fact that you can't shop the iTS right from the Apple TV despite its internet connection
- The annoying conundrum with only being able to use images from one computer's photo library, even though most people's pictures are probably the one batch of HD-ready media that isn't rights-managed in any way and completely sharable over a network and amongst friends or even strangers
Schlender is quick to point out, however, that the one other device everyone expected to be able to shop online via its wireless connection - Microsoft's Zune - can't do that either.
While one can only wonder as to whether the target customers of the Apple TV need what is likely yet another DVD player in their living room, I can safely say that, as an owner of an Apple TV, I have a mostly positive - though admittedly mixed - opinion on the Apple TV's future. The whole HDTV-but-no-real-HD-content thing is definitely a bad mark against its design, but I still think that, on the whole, the Apple TV is an excellent device for its intended audience: a good chunk of the 118 million users who have already positioned their media world around iTunes, or are at least on their way to doing so.
Schlender brings up some great points about the Apple TV's design flaws, but listing the missing features - such as a DVD player or a built-in digital video recorder - misses the entire point of where the Apple TV is positioned. The iTunes Store has a healthy crop of customers who clearly don't want a PVR or a DVD player - they want (or already have) all their a-la-carte media in iTunes, and the Apple TV is a direct extension of that iTunes library. It isn't meant to replace the DVD player most customers already own, know and (possibly) love - it's meant to be one of the cheapest and most streamlined tools for bringing one's digital library into the living room, and that's it.
With that specific focus in mind, I can't agree that the Apple TV is a dud, at least not yet. It's too early in the game, and Apple clearly has a unique focus on bringing even more of the digital realm - including YouTube content you don't even have in your library - into the living room. I think a bit more time and some sales figures are needed to call a shot either way for the Apple TV.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
iMatt said 1:08PM on 5-31-2007
I think it's telling the Jobs called Apple TV a "hobby" at yesterday's D5 conference.
He acknowledged that getting media from the computer to the TV was a challenge that no one had quite figured out yet, and that Apple had really just begun to work on.
So is Apple TV perfect? No, but it's an attempt to succeed where others have failed. It's better than the other potential solutions, and with further development it will get even better.
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Rob said 1:09PM on 5-31-2007
No DVD drive
> Seems like a similar thing to when Apple didn't include a floppy on the original iMac - what disaster that turned out to be like everyone predicted.
The perceived requirement of an HDTV (though we know that to be not-quite-true) even though you can't buy full HD content from the iTunes Store
> Not quite true, and not yet. The market for this is higher end customers - who probably already have HDTV rigs or will shortly.
The fact that you can't shop the iTS right from the Apple TV despite its internet connection
> I think Apple was waiting for 2.5" SATA drives to come down in price, which has started to happen. WIth larger sized drives, I think this will happen.
The annoying conundrum with only being able to use images from one computer's photo library, even though most people's pictures are probably the one batch of HD-ready media that isn't rights-managed in any way and completely sharable over a network and amongst friends or even strangers.
> Steve has nightmares of watching relatives trips slide shows in the 70's and had the annoyance of doing it as a public service
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Kokernutz said 1:28PM on 5-31-2007
No DVD drive?
The iPod doesn't have a CD player in it.
AppleTV is out to replace your DVD player.
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fraserdrew said 1:42PM on 5-31-2007
AppleTV is a 1st Gen product. Think back, iPod G1, No music store. No legal way of getting music on.
It is the exact same with AppleTV. As it's popularity grows, the film industry will EVENTUALLY cotton on to the fact that this isn't a half bad idea.
just wait for the future.... It will come
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butler said 3:20PM on 5-31-2007
I'm actually pretty disappointed with Apple regarding this product. It's just too expensive considering it is an entry device into the world of buying video from iTunes. Considering most people who will invest in this thing will probably also develop an iTunes video addiction then why isn't the price more reasonable?
Another thing that really upset me is that they released a 160GB version only 60 days later. Why didn't they release both versions at once so the consumer can have a choice? Not only is it a greedy move by Apple, it also is the best explanation for why they disabled that USB port. I bought a 500GB external drive for $114 this weekend and Apple would hate it if i would plug that sucker in.
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Ricosuave said 1:35PM on 5-31-2007
Brent Schlender most likely just upgraded to a CD walkman and is willing to try these "new" DVD players everyone keeps talking about soon. He just does not get it.
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StevenP said 1:37PM on 5-31-2007
@ 1 "I think it's telling the Jobs called Apple TV a "hobby" at yesterday's D5 conference."
To me, that said it all.
I think the Apple TV (at least with this version) has already failed. It's an overpriced box with limited functionality. Sorry guys, but not everthing coming our of Apple is going to be hit. The Apple TV was DOA.
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troymccluresf said 1:36PM on 5-31-2007
I thought the requirements were pretty tough (widescreen HDTVs only) but figured that Apple would make the most of that setup, as they tend to do. Then I saw the Apple TV display at the Apple Store. Very disappointing. Even on what I would assume to be the best setup they could come up with, the picture was not much better than standard TV. And Youtube videos will look even worse, no matter how they code them, since the source video is usually crappy to begin with. I've already chalked this one up to a swing and a miss by Apple.
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Donald Burr said 1:37PM on 5-31-2007
* No DVD drive
The whole point (well, one of the major points) of the device is to drive sales of iTunes video content. They sell movies. Why would they want you to watch DVD's instead of buying the iTunes movies? Duh!
* The perceived requirement of an HDTV (though we know that to be not-quite-true) even though you can't buy full HD content from the iTunes Store
Steve is hinting that HD content may be appearing Soon(tm). I for one am glad that they haven't started with the HD content yet - we are NOT quite ready for downloadble HD. I have an Xbox360 and tried using the Microsoft Marketplace HD movies, they take frackin' FOREVER to download.
* The fact that you can't shop the iTS right from the Apple TV despite its internet connection
Ok, he's got a point there. Although, with a 40GB drive, buying stuff right from the AppleTV may have been kind of infeasible (not enough space?). Maybe now that they are putting 160GB drives in these things, this will become more feasible.
* The annoying conundrum with only being able to use images from one computer's photo library, even though most people's pictures are probably the one batch of HD-ready media that isn't rights-managed in any way and completely sharable over a network and amongst friends or even strangers
Another point. I was disappointed to find that the AppleTV does not support picture streaming, which iPhoto on the Mac does support quite well. I had to copy both mine and my girlfriend's iPhoto libraries onto the machine that I had AppleTV pointed to, in order for us to see both of our photos. A real pain.
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Doug said 3:56PM on 5-31-2007
All of the real issues can be fixed with software updates. And Apple has already admitted that feature updates will be coming. Apple TV today is nice, not the best or perfect. But it is certain to improve/evolve over the next year.
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Thayne Miller said 1:41PM on 5-31-2007
I disagree!! I have an AppleTV and I absolutely LOVE it! I love that I can just pop in movies that I download online (itunes or torrent) and play them with 5.1 audio on my new sound system. The convenience factor does it for me, and the screen saver with photos is so cool! I always add new photos to aperture and it's really fun to display them in high def on my tv each day when I have guests over! I really love the AppleTV and I think the price is just right.
The hackability is another factor. I have some automator scripts that automatically check for new TV shows, download the torrents, then move the .avi's to the appletv when they are done downloading, so each day I come home from work and my new tv shows are right there ready to watch! I think this thing is young and can only get better!
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Shawn said 1:44PM on 5-31-2007
I think what would assist the AppleTV is the ability to connect and view content like MLB.TV and other online material. I canceled my DirecTV when I knew I could subscribe to all the games, pay less than the DirecTV package price, and not have to pay the $49/a month or higher just to have the regular DirecTV package. I have hooked up my MacBook Pro to my HD and watched games. Sure, it's not the quality of DirecTV's picture, but I would rather watch games this way and save $600+ a year.
I believe Setanta Sports will do something similar with Premier League Soccer from England in the Fall.
YouTube will be low-quality on a HD screen and I have a hard time thinking the family will gather around the screen to watch the idiot du jour.
What Apple TV should do is get associated with JOOST and these other content providers who are envisioning the Internet as a way to deliver programs on-demand to customers.
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Fred said 1:44PM on 5-31-2007
I think "dud" is a little strong but it could definately be better, I think the boost in harddrive space helped a lot. I'd like to see it be more of a dvr replacement, and possibly they could have a sort of subscription model for renting movies? I dunno. Anyway, not a dud, yet.
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WillGonz said 1:44PM on 5-31-2007
My take is this:
It is a device that brings iTunes to a HDTV. That is what it does. The lack of S-Video has kept me from buying one. I don't own a HDTV but if I did, I would buy an Apple TV.
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Jamus said 2:08PM on 5-31-2007
I would LOVE it if it had a DVD player. I, like many others, do not have the space for a lot of extra devices around my tv. Give the Apple TV a dvd drive and I can seriously consider it because I will be able to ditch my DVD player and free up some space.
More space, less clutter, & fewer remotes.
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J Henley said 2:26PM on 5-31-2007
What Thayne said. So convenient, so brainless to use. I use it with Aperture and I use it for shows that I've missed on TV. I have it in my office and it's great for catching up on video podcasts. I am firmly on the lovin' it side of the fence.
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Fornya said 2:00PM on 5-31-2007
I still want something that will hook up to the cable box and allow me to take recorded programs from the cable box dvr to the Apple TV, up to my Mac mini, and onto my iPod. This would be handy for dealing with shows not available on iTunes (House until recently) when traveling. Something like TivoToGo, but with an Apple on top.
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Dave Chartier said 2:02PM on 5-31-2007
How is an Apple TV overpriced when its competition - media center PCs - cost hundreds or thousands more? Granted a full-blown media center TV solves some of the Apple TV's issues like having a DVD player and sometimes a PVR built right in, but at what cost? The cheapest Media Center I can find online at Best Buy is $949 - nevermind the fact that its bulky design has no place in most people's living rooms.
The Apple TV takes a completely new perspective at bringing your digital content into the living room. I think it's going to take some time for people to wrap their head around it, and for Apple to work out some of the kinks, much like the iPod took time to catch.
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PatrickBateman said 2:12PM on 5-31-2007
I don't know about you guys, but I love my AppleTV. I use it for music more than anything, and it is a great way to finally get all my tunes into the living room without having to run over to my iPod every time I want to change a song. I don't really care much about the lack of HD because DVD quality is good enough and storage for all that HD would cost a fortune. I think that movie rentals would turn this product into the next iPod. That is the killer function that they need to push this over the edge. I would love to just flip through an online movie selection from my couch and rent a video for 3.99 that allowed for a certain number of viewings before it disappeared and cleared up room on the hard drive. Lets be honest, you can listen to the same album 1000 times, but you are only going to watch most movies once. I don't want them taking up all my money and my storage space.
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Johnny said 2:14PM on 5-31-2007
I've kinda come around to the idea of AppleTV over time, but I do not want one yet. I will require the HD content.
I look at it like a new format (ie, Blu-Ray, HD-DVD, or even DVD when it was first introduced). Who doesn't see the benefit of eventually eliminating ALL forms of physical media if all the appropriate devices can access them (via iTunes in this case)? I could write another long post about the benefits of elminating physical media. However, no one wants to jump on the band wagon for lack of HD and the simple fact that they don't own the player or movies, yet, so they don't want to have to buy all the stuff over again. Eventually, be it AppleTV or some other form of computer, this IS the future of digital entertainment. This aTV is only the beginning.
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