We’ve heard through the grapevine that Apple is considering releasing the Apple TV software as a separate box / download purchase.
Take any Mac, install the Apple TV software on it, deploy the appropriate video adapter, and “Boom!” – you have an Apple TV.
We heard a range of prices: Free – US$99. We’ve also heard that the release may be limited to Macs with Mini DisplayPorts.
Our grapevine also says to prepare for the Apple TV to be opened up to a special gaming section of the App Store, where multiplayers can use their iPhones and iPod touches as controllers.
MacDailyNews Note: This is a rumor from an anonymous source, so take it with a truckload of salt.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple TV would get a lot more use and sell a lot more units if it offered more content (especially for rent). This isn’t necessarily Apple’s fault (Hollywood), but, regardless of who’s at fault, dearth of content is the main issue remaining with Apple TV. Need more input, Stephanie.
I kinda wish things would go the other direction. I wish I could get the new screensaver Leopard has on the AppleTV.
With the economy as it is, I don’t expect Apple to introduce anything really new or cool until it picks back up again.
Damn, my own chance to say “first” and I blew it. I always thought it was kinda stupid to post “first” anyway.
But here it goes “second”
How could any Mac be turned into an Apple TV with only software? How would they connect to HDTVs? There are no component or HDMI ports.
Macs have had an Apple TV built-in for years. It’s called Front Row.
If they open up the platform then that would mean there’s no need to manufacture the ATV hardware. Would this mean Mini sales would take off? Would this be an Intel Apple item only?
Guess most folks would need a pretty long DVI cable unless Apple makes a wireless TV connection to stream off your Mac.
All I want is a DVD/BLU-RAY built in an AppleTV
Tony:
Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter:
http://tinyurl.com/5ym5jb
Agreed. I love my ATV but my goodness is it slim pickins at iTunes.
or… other than one brief commercial’s run, they could’ve actually advertised for the ATV over the last two years.
sheesh.
i’ve never met anyone whom actually knew what i was talking about when i go on and on about how cool mine is. bought the day it was released.
the BIG PITA with using your mac to watch movies is that DVI doesnt send the sound. So after connecting your mini display display port-to-dvi adapter, then your extra long dvi-to-hdmi cable to your tv – youve now got a silent movie – hurrah !
Tv’s which take hdmi-in expect the sound – theres no separate audio-in, which means you need to hook the audio direct to a sound system.
With a set of pre-requisites like these, its unlikely many will bother. Im a complete tech-head with every cable and adapter imaginable to hand, and I wont.
That would be cool, though I doubt it would happen unless Apple is ready to get rid of the Apple TV. They already treat it like a step child, aka Mac Mini.
Re: “With the economy as it is, I don’t expect Apple to introduce anything really new or cool until it picks back up again.”
At economic times like these, the best place to put money is into R & D. This may not be realized as hardware immediately, esp if a new manufacturing process is required as might be the case for cool new hardware. However, this would be software. Also, this would not require a lot of work as the premise is already established.
If this is true, they just need to update Front Row, the UI is virtually identical to the Apple TV, they just need to add the iTunes store functionality.
Who would want/really use the iTunes store in front row? If you are already controlling your computer why cant you just open itunes?
That feature is definitely not worth paying for. It would just make it a bit easier to rent or buy on the fly from a remote.
I’m not interested in rental (or even purchase) through iTunes. I want DVD/Blu-Ray built-in. Until then, I’m not buying AppleTV.
I’m not interested in rental (or even purchase) through iTunes. I want DVD/Blu-Ray built-in. Until then, I’m not buying AppleTV.
@TV Head
I love my ATV but my goodness is it slim pickins at iTunes.
Then you consider this.
Isn’t that what Front Row already does? I don’t really get this. The only scenario I see is to utilize the new Mac Mini for this purpose so that the web functionality of the Mini is now also applied to the living room…
With a 1080p monitor, ATV could easily become a great casual internet browser, email and gaming rig. Surely the processor has the horsepower to run iPhone games, etc.
This software upgrade would automatically make the ATV much more interesting.
Pandora or Flycast should come preinstalled—who needs satellite radio or cable radio? Anything Apple can stick on ATV to replace cable tv functions would be great. Also simple apps like weather channel, stocks, Google earth, etc.
I still think they ought to make the thing slightly bigger so that it can use cheaper laptop drives instead of iPod drives. 40 gigs is kinda lame in 2008 for a HD client.
How about just shipping an AppleTV with a USB camera/mic, and a version of iChat that works on it? Bam, instant video phone integrated right into your home entertainment system…. Yes please.
Isn’t that just Front Row? If this turns out to be true will there even be new ATV hardware? Blu Ray for ATV 3.0? That’s really all I want.
Is there any word on that?
“Tv’s which take hdmi-in expect the sound – theres no separate audio-in, which means you need to hook the audio direct to a sound system.”
That’s not exactly true… my Sony Bravia has three HDMI inputs. One of which has an analog sound input as well. Works fine with my Mac Mini.
“Need more input, Stephanie.”
Apparently Number 5 is still alive.
I think that they ought to merge the AppleTV and the Mini into one product with a BluRay (or however you spell it) drive, a full-size HD, Firewire 800 and Nvidia chipset with MiniDisplayPort and included HDMI adaptor. Price it at $400-500, and you would have a very sweet home entertainment system. Especially if you include all of the major media streaming/download sites in the Front Row/AppleTV interface. Make sure that you include games and internet browsing, and that you can add HDTV tuning with TubeStick or El Gato. Also, include iChat and allow camera and mic input (sold separately of course). That would be the ultimate Media Hub/Digital Living Room device. They could even make a really cool MobileMe interface to push that product into wider adoption. Push email, calendar and contacts right in your living room. Sell iPod Touch with slick interface as an add-on remote control. Buy the bundle package, with AppleTV/Mini, Remote and Camera/Mic for $800-1000.
Steve, are you listening?
“Cloning” iPod Touch software on the AppleTV (or a Mini used as an HTPC), or alternatively enabling it to “mirror” your iPhone/Touch screen on your TV, would be the huge breakthrough, not more content or bluray, etc. but it would need a fundamentally different remote control.
the true problem with all the TV-computer “convergence” boxes – ATV, XBox, et al – is the user interface – their remote controls. the old style cursor & menu they all use is just clumsy, especially bad for entering any text – which is vital for fully using the web. and full keyboard remote controls – which are available for some – just don’t feel right sitting on a sofa.
using an iPhone/Touch as the sofa control via ATV instead would be fantastic. suddenly all their apps would “work” on your TV. games, the web, and the rest, and easy to use.
hope the rumor is true …
Front row on any Mac wont allow the full use of screen real estate the way Apple TV does. As for Blu Ray, there is no real incentive for Apple to offer this unless it was going to rent or sell the physical media . It’s not worth the expense for the limited demand. Sure everybody wants it but they want it for free. I’ll bet ot one person on this site would be willing to pay an extra $400 for a Blu Ray superdrive or $250 for just a player with DVD CD burner capabilities.
Yes while it is true you can get PS3 with Blu Ray capability, No one knows what kind of financial hit Sony is taking to provide their gaming units with this service because they did it to create a de-facto standard and push HDdvd out of the market.
The other kicker is content providers are going to kick in their own tax to protect their investments from piracy. As band width for high speed interned improves and Infrastructure providers loosen up the no physical media approach provided by Apple TV along with Time capsule and home servers will always provide a cheaper solution than physical burnable discs.