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Ars Technica hands-on with Apple’s new iPods, Apple TV

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 · 9:00 pm · 15 Comments

“The new Apple TV is incredibly small compared to its predecessor… it’s practically the same size as an iPhone 4, but a different shape,” Jacqui Cheng reports for Ars Technica.

Advertisement: The all-new Apple TV is just $99. You know you want one. Free shipping.

“We confirmed with an Apple spokesperson that the maximum HD resolution of the Apple TV is 720p, consistent with recent rumors,” Cheng reports. “Additionally, there will be no software update to bring the new features to older Apple TVs.”

Cheng reports, “Older Apple TVs will continue to work as they have been working up to this point, and they will continue to be able to purchase movies and TV shows even though the new Apple TV is rental-only.”

There’s much more in the full article, including info and photos of Apple TV, iPod nano, iPod shuffle, and iPod touch, here.

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Comment Feed

15 Comments

Jim

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 - 9:04 pm · Reply

The iPods will be good.

But PING???? Come on Jobs why didn’t you call it POOGLE or PAHOO????

Apple TV still DOA (I’ll keep my xbox360 thank you)
MacUser1986

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 - 9:17 pm · Reply

I miss my Xbox360 …I wonder if anyone will make a RROD app for my new AppleTV?
ReggaeKarl

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 - 9:29 pm · Reply

FIrst time posting on MDN.
I am a recent convert to apple. Thanks to the iPad. Now I understand why we don’t need all those extra outlets on the iPhone/iPad. The apple tv will stream the content wirelessly. I think it’s beautiful. I have a ps3 and almost bought a software to stream my pics, movies etc from my mbp to the ps3. I’m glad I waited. I think the apple tv will fill that role nicely. Plus having the ability to stream from any iPhone, iPod touch etc is very nice. If I want 1080p I’ll turn on the ps3. I’m also thinking I may not need to get an airport express after all if I connect my tv’s audio out to my stereo receiver.
Very interesting news today. Can’t wait to see one in person.
ericdano

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 - 9:46 pm · Reply

Which is why we have Boxee on Apple TV
R2

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 - 10:23 pm · Reply

Apple really fscked the iPod nano up. I didn’t think it could get any worse than the 3rdGen but they’ve proven me wrong. I’d take a 3rdGen nano over that any day.

What kind of game are they playing with the nano/shuffle? They make drastic changes only to backtrack two generations, confirming that they had no business toying with the formula. Lol, the 7thGen nano will probably be the 5thGen. We’ll briefly rejoice, but be puzzled as to why they again removed the buttons from the 5thGen shuffle.
@R2

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 - 10:34 pm · Reply

Unlike you, Apple and Steve live in reality. Steve said it clearly- the iPod touch, even tho more expensive than the nano, is the biggest seller by far. So why waste money jamming a video camera in the nano, when they can make something smaller and cooler without a camera, and plow any savings into upping the specs of the touch?

Yeah, Steve is crazy- like a fox. For 50 bucks more than the high end nano, you can get a touch with far more features.

By the way- plenty of people complained when the last shuffle went buttonless.

You are an extremely vocal minority. Shocker.
Nerd Beautiful

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 - 10:57 pm · Reply

Why’d they change the nano? Easy. They sold all they’re going to sell of the previous form. To get more sales, or keep up sales after so long you gotta change the form.
bizlaw

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 - 11:16 pm · Reply

The new nano form factor is cool. It’s so portable you almost won’t notice it’s clipped on you. Great workout device; no need to spend $30-$50 on an armband for your new iPod. You’ve basically got a screen with a clip.

This also distinguishes the nano from the touch. It really fills a different category than the touch, but is also very different from the shuffle because of the touch screen.

Most people have cameras on their mobile phones these days, so having one on your nano was really not necessary. The nano wasn’t going to get FaceTime, so better to reduce size and remove the camera.
KingMel

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 - 11:27 pm · Reply

The clip Shuffle with buttons was the best, and is now the best again. Focused, inexpensive at $49, and highly functional. And, at that price, you won’t be overly bummed if you lose it or break it.

The nano design is an interesting experiment. My personal opinion is that the previous two nano models were not all that attractive in comparison to the iPod touch. More portable, perhaps, but much less display space and functionality. The new nano is, in my opinion, a more versatile version of the last generation Shuffle. The touch display offers a way to interact with the device and opens up some options for broader functionality.

The new iPod touch is virtually everything everyone wanted or expected except an increase in memory capacity. I am very interested in the release of the next generation iPad because I expect many features/functions to flow into the iPad design in addition to the iOS updates. My wallet is ready.

Does anyone else have such an attractive array of devices ranging from dedicated music player to handheld computer with multiple sensors to the iPhone 4 that combined that handheld computer with a cell phone to the first popular tablet computer? All of these devices work from the same iTunes online marketplace and software, and Apple is leveraging the A4 and iOS for several devices on the high end. Brilliant and effective.
TheConfuzed1

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 - 11:34 pm · Reply

I was hoping for a very different Apple TV.

To subtract local storage and purchasing, in my opinion, is a step backwards.

I think a Mac Mini still makes a better media server.

Hell, this thing doesn’t even know how to serve!

I’ve been thinking about getting an Apple TV, and I waited for this version to see if it was worth it.

I think I’ll probably just get a Mac Mini, and connec it via HDMI. it’s a much better value, and it can host my iTunes library.
ChrissyOne

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 - 11:59 pm · Reply

@ TheConfused1

I once thought the same thing, until I started using AirVideo to stream everything from my main desktop machine. Now copying everything (or even some things) to a dedicated media center machine seems pointless. Someone brought up the fact that the main machine has to be on…. Well yeah, mine always is. But that mini would have to be on too.
I’m rethinking my storage strategy. Looks like the best thing to do is invest in some big external storage for my desktop instead of a bunch of dedicated servers. I still have a mini that serves ChrissyOne.com so as not to expose my production machine to the world… But on the LAN, the desktop will be handling everything else.
CandTsmac

Thursday, September 2, 2010 - 12:24 am · Reply

This is bad for me and i will be purchasing a few old AppleTV’s, just on case. In my house, old stucco, there is a lot of metal in the walls and as such even with a new AirPort Extreme Dual Band I can’t reliably stream 720p from Mac to TV. For HD I need Sync. Might be OK for rentals as the AE is in the same room as the AppleTV but…..

Lame for me, good for TV networks and Movie studios. No storage, less piracy? Some crap like that maybe. Well cheaper i guess.
Antoine

Thursday, September 2, 2010 - 8:25 am · Reply

I would like to know if you would be able to connect an external hard drive via the USB port on the new apple tv?
Warren Shaw

Thursday, September 2, 2010 - 9:04 am · Reply

CandTsmac, If there is the potential for wireless interference, you can use the ethernet port and hard wires. That is a faster, more reliable connection technique anyway. I spent a little money and established ethernet ports in my home a while ago. It works like a charm from room to room. Within room, wireless is a charm.
T

Thursday, September 2, 2010 - 10:42 am · Reply

Look, everyone carries a cell phone these days, be it an iPhone or other brand. These have camera’s, shoot video’s. Do more and more. Functions overlap. People are not going to carry an iPod and a cell phone of other brand anymore, unless… like the new nano it’s small and doesn’t get in the way. Apple is great in having figured out that the old nano, while small, was getting in the way of being pushed by multi usage phones. What if people decide to just fill up their other branded phones with music? So a clip on iPod nano so tiny means people will still use iPods and carry other brand phone. It’s as simple as that. It’s a win win.