06-03-2008, 09:23 PM
[quote Article Accelerator][quote Will Collier]One big stumbling block in my opinion is that the ATV itself is so content-free. Downloading or renting of movies and/or TV just isn't something that has broad acceptance right now outside of the "enthusiast" communities.
You're probably right about that. It's a shame because the Apple TV is the first device that makes the experience simple, pain-free, and enjoyable.
No problem--Apple TV is a very capable streaming client.
A mini is not suitable as a modern home theatre source--no HDMI, no HDCP, no fuss-free, automatic HDTV support. Geeks only.
BTW, Apple doesn't need to provide a "home server." That's for geeks only too. You've already got your Macs--use them and your Airport Extreme.
You're trying to have it both ways. Either you accept downloading everything from Apple (which is clearly a small niche business right now as far as movies and TV are concerned) or you have (a) the ability and (b) the storage space to rip the media you already own. The ATV gives you the first, but nobody much wants that now. Based on the picture quality of the original iTMS movies, I can understand why (although I freely admit I haven't seen any since right after the original ATV was announced). Maybe things will change, but they haven't yet. For the second, you have to have either a server or a Mac with bigger hard drives than Apple sells right now, "geek" or no geek. Home servers are going to be a very big business in the next decade, and I'd personally love to see Apple get an early foothold. A footlocker for ATV content would be a great place to start.
Regarding underpowered and proprietary, it's already been touched on in this thread: no codecs other than Quicktime, no ripping of commercial DVDs (although that's not Apple's fault), very limited storage space, no way to play Blu-Rays, etc. And you're limited to Apple's own content as far as downloading goes. That's way too limited (there's your over-sold, at least in part). Lack of DVR integration or capability is another big sticking point. There just aren't that many people out there who are willing to pay a couple of bucks for every TV show they might want to watch/record.
You're probably right about that. It's a shame because the Apple TV is the first device that makes the experience simple, pain-free, and enjoyable.
the ATV lacks the storage capacity for more than a small number of discs.
No problem--Apple TV is a very capable streaming client.
Now, an ATV (or better yet in my opinion, a Mini) plus a home server makes a pretty darn good living room appliance... but Apple doesn't have a home server option
A mini is not suitable as a modern home theatre source--no HDMI, no HDCP, no fuss-free, automatic HDTV support. Geeks only.
BTW, Apple doesn't need to provide a "home server." That's for geeks only too. You've already got your Macs--use them and your Airport Extreme.
You're trying to have it both ways. Either you accept downloading everything from Apple (which is clearly a small niche business right now as far as movies and TV are concerned) or you have (a) the ability and (b) the storage space to rip the media you already own. The ATV gives you the first, but nobody much wants that now. Based on the picture quality of the original iTMS movies, I can understand why (although I freely admit I haven't seen any since right after the original ATV was announced). Maybe things will change, but they haven't yet. For the second, you have to have either a server or a Mac with bigger hard drives than Apple sells right now, "geek" or no geek. Home servers are going to be a very big business in the next decade, and I'd personally love to see Apple get an early foothold. A footlocker for ATV content would be a great place to start.
Regarding underpowered and proprietary, it's already been touched on in this thread: no codecs other than Quicktime, no ripping of commercial DVDs (although that's not Apple's fault), very limited storage space, no way to play Blu-Rays, etc. And you're limited to Apple's own content as far as downloading goes. That's way too limited (there's your over-sold, at least in part). Lack of DVR integration or capability is another big sticking point. There just aren't that many people out there who are willing to pay a couple of bucks for every TV show they might want to watch/record.