Speculation: TVPredictions sez RIP AppleTV

I pre-ordered one of these, only because I had a wifi network already setup in my home and just got an HDTV...so it seemed a natural fit. I was surprised at how well executed it was and how much I enjoy it.

I think it's saving grace won't be it's features or it base of user, but the fact that regular broadcast and cable television is so bad these days, almost anything is better. With view on demand music, television, movies, podcasts, not to mention photography collections, it makes the HDTV the central entertainment unit in the home and also allows the user to determine what is on, instead of the big networks. If the content on iTunes keeps growing, it is bound to be a big hit for Apple as time goes by.

The Apple TV is based on Wayne Gretzky's winning hockey strategy: skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it's at. The ATV is about where the video market is headed, not where it's at today. It's all about on-demand HD video delivery via the internet, which is in its infancy, taking over for today's predominant broadcast video and DVD delivery. That's why it doesn't have a DVR capability or DVD drive. They are old technologies that are being replaced by the new business model that ATV supports. This is similar to how the iPod and the iTunes store is taking a big bite out of FM radio and CD sales which is a documented fact. Apple understands this and is committed for the long term as this transition plays out. They will continue to add features and tweak the business model as the broadband network improves to handle faster file transfers. The iTunes store will offer virtually all manner of HD video from movies and TV programs for purchase and rental to free programming which is already on the way with their recently announced YouTube support. Mainstream gaming, internet access, etc, will be added over time. Be patient, the Apple TV will be very successful in the coming years. In 10-15 years we'll laugh at the idea of DVDs and broadcast video as we fire up our 5th generation Apple TV box and no longer subscribe to cable or satellite service.

Man, people are short-sighted. I am expecting huge things from this box in the near future. For those who find that it isn't all that flexible, well I think the hackers would dispute you on this. The fact of the matter is that there will be huge software upgrades to this machine as it is just an OS X box. I am certain that we will soon be able to get HD content directly from iTunes. I think the product was launched to get a foot in the door while Apple is still getting all its ducks in a row over content. I like the analogy to the 1st generation iPod, which took a while to catch on. I think that Apple will be patient.

I recently got one and have been impressed so far. 720p content looks great.

It's been dead since it was announced. It's just not a product people want. 99.9% of the videos on my computer would look horrible when enlarged enough to play on a 20" TV.

OK, I'll admit that I wouldn't give Grandma an aTV but for us it's just too cool. We've watched more movies (which I have to rip and that's what would stop Grandma) and even ordered a series from iTunes (Heroes).

If you look at the other offerings in the *video extender* market, the Netgear is in the same price range but requires a silly Viiv PC (recommended actually).

Linksys isn't really in the space and DLink's unit s are also in the same price range (although they do have a dvd model).

In reality it works for me, I don't want to buy an xbox 360 just to watch movies and we already have a wii.

If _you_ want an Xbox or PS3, go for it but recognize that others might not. But it would seem to be a waste to buy the 360 just to watch movies.

In the end we have different uses for our living rooms. The aTV fits well with what I'm doing and I'm sure others have their own preferences.

hmmmmm... apple tv having no DVD drive is a real minus for my needs: I have quite a few DVDs full of videos I have downloaded over the years and I hate yet another box that does one specific thing but no other. Why would I need a separate box to just view DVDs when they could nicely be merged into one? iPhone is all the rage because of its convergence of 3 devices into 1 (I don't think it's so revolutionary btw), why does apple tv go the other way? Why mess with streaming stuff from my G5 to my apple tv and not have it download them directly? Why make a box so limited?

I'm afraid for the moment, the easiest solution to my needs will not be apple tv (although it could be done with a DVD drive + a larger HD) but... a modded cheapo Xbox with XBMC on. And I'll be able to run tons of Emulators on that too lol.

It seems it's an idea that came too soon and if it's backed up by a v.2 apple tv with the missing features it could go ahead. But I'm afraid we're looking at a project about to be axed...

Apple needs to rent movies over Apple TV. Plain and simple. I have it, and I love it, but I use it for music more than anything. However, if they rented movies I would never go to Blockbuster again.

Second, the problem with the HD content is due to the iPod, not the Apple TV. Apple has to sell movies that work on BOTH the iPod and the Apple TV, otherwise they would have to have 2 versions of each movie, possibly different pricing levels, and people would get confused and angry that they had to pay $9.99+ twice in order to watch Pirates on the couch and on the train. Until the iPod gets a bigger had drive and the ability to handle 720p content, there will not be HD on iTunes.

AppleTV might not be dead, but it needs to step up to the plate and do more, soon! There are 2 devices that are less expensive or a better value than AppleTV. The first is TiVo, and the second Xbox360

1-TiVo-The TiVo series 2 is only $30 for the dual tuner configuration, and the Series 3 in HD is $400 after rebate from Amazon. TiVo is first an foremost a DVR, but it does waht AppleTV does and more. I can download movies from Amazon and transfer them to my TiVo and watch them. While technically TiVo doesn't stream as long as you have a strong broadband connection you can download faster than you can watch so it is as good as streaming. If you don't have a strong broadband connection you probably aren't getting movies anyway. I can also DL those movies for rent or purchase, something I can't do with iTunes. I can take my recorded shows and transfer them to my computer and then to my iPod. So I don't need to go onto iTunes and buy the entire season of The Office each week I transfer it to my computer and onto my iPod. Overall it doesn't do the transfer of movies as seemlessly as AppleTV but does it very well and why have the extra box? I can also order the movie from work, and it will be on my TiVO when I get home with no need to even turn my computer on.

2-Xbox360-Someone I work with said the 360 is "Microsofts Trojan Horse into you living room" and I never thought about it, but it is. The 360 Elite is $459 only $160 more than AppleTV and is a DVD player, a Game Console, part of my home network, I can download HD movies, transfer music from my computer to it. It does everything AppleTV does but it does more. For another $199 I can add on a HDDVD player. I need to spend atleast $250 to add another box if I have AppleTV since that would need to be an extra piece of hardware. I know somepeople have it in their computer, but if you are watching HD movies on your computer and hooking it up to you TV do you really need an AppleTV? Like Microsoft or not, they know how to make money. They are creating the 360 as the one stop for all your entertainment. HDDVD, video games, downloaded movies. It does what AppleTV does any more, I can get HD and can do it without my computer at all, I don't even need to own a computer. Becareful, Microsoft has a way of forcing their products everywhere, and the 360 will be exception unless someone creates alternatives that are in the same price range (I mean you PS3). When I say this to people, they say to me, "What if Blu-Ray wins?" then Microsoft will sell a Blu-Ray add on drive, if dual devices win, then they will sell that. If HD-DVD win, Sony is screwed. There is a reason Microsoft has net profits in 2006 of over 12 Billion, when there are tech companies who would love to reach 2 billion. They have an amazing 28% new profit of revenue. That is unheard of in any industry outside of banking which has very little overhead(no products, production cost, R&D ect).

I ordered an AppleTV when they announced the larger hard disk version.

From my point of view (with no video on iTunes Australia) it will be perfect for the my dvd collection (ripped to raid), EyeTV content thats automatically dumped to AppleTV, music and photo's. All of this content is normally locked up in my office/study and the DVD's are getting trashed by the tribe of kids we have...

I'm actually thinking of getting a second one for the presentation of photo's to clients... it's a good excuse to have another big LCD in the house. :D

The best way to turn the AppleTV into a success is to release, in Europe, TV shows that never aired... That would get LOADS of people hooked to it. But I doubt it is feasable.

More feasable would be to give the rest of the world, outside the US, some video content. So at least you can see how well it might sell there (I'm not talking about releasing the entire catalogue, but some movies, tv shows, SOMETHING).