“Apple Inc has graced the public with another smooth, white, exquisitely designed gadget, this time aiming at making it easier to play iTunes movies and songs on the living-room TV set,” Peter Svensson writes for The Associated Press.
Svensson writes, “Too bad, then, that where looks really matter – in the quality of the video on the TV screen – the $299 Apple TV comes up very short. It’s as if Apple had launched an iPod that sounded like a cassette player.”
“On the TV screen, the Apple TV projects a very iPod-like interface, commendably clear and easy to use. It also looks great, especially on a high-definition TV. It uses your own pictures as an animated screensaver,” Svensson writes. “It’s surprising, then, that videos from Apple’s online iTunes store look horrible on an HDTV set. The movies and TV shows have the same nominal resolution as DVDs, but look much blurrier, approaching the look of standard-definition broadcast TV.”
“I compared the Apple TV to Microsoft Corp.’s Xbox 360 game console, which can more or less do the same things, acting like a bridge between a Windows computer and an HDTV set,” Svensson writes. “After having my eyes gently caressed by the Apple TV’s menus, the Xbox interface is like a slap in the face. It’s garish and confusing, and you have to press more buttons to get where you want to go.”
Svensson writes, “But the Xbox does your HDTV justice. Microsoft’s Xbox Live marketplace has some movies in HD, and these look absolutely stunning – better than most broadcast HD, and almost indistinguishable from HD DVD or Blu-ray discs, which provide the best video quality available to consumers right now. [But] the movies can be watched only on the Xbox, while Apple’s movies can be viewed on a computer or iPod screen as well. You only get 24 hours to watch an Xbox movie, which seems unnecessarily harsh,” Svensson writes. “The Xbox is also a bit of a brute compared to the Apple TV. It’s noisy, and its power adapter really deserves being called a ‘brick’ – it’s as large as the whole Apple TV, which doesn’t have a brick of its own.”
Svensson writes, “Of course, Apple will at some point start selling HD video through iTunes. It has to. Will that play on the current Apple TV? Probably, but I’m wary of the result. According to the company’s specifications, the Apple TV can play HD video with a resolution of 1,280 by 720 pixels, but it doesn’t actually seem that well suited to it. The hard drive is small, and the low power consumption speaks of weak processors inside. And since Apple’s standard-definition video looks so bad, I’m not confident the HD video will look good either.”
Full article here.
It’s unfortunate that one man’s opinion – an opinion that doesn’t jive with those of multiple other reviewers’ (see related articles below) – will nonetheless get picked up by hundreds of AP media outlets. Even more unfortunate is his addition of pure conjecture that when and if iTunes Store offers HD content it “won’t look good either” and that Apple TV “doesn’t actually seem that well suited to” handling HD content. Those baseless statements turn Svensson’s “review” into nothing more than a widely-disseminated hit piece.
Apple TV’s iTunes Store current content looks much better than this reviewer’s opinion leads readers to believe – as multiple other Apple TV reviews have stated (see related articles below).
It is incorrect and unfair to blame the Apple TV for iTunes Store’s lack of HD content. Blame Apple and/or the content providers for that issue; in the meantime, see: Where to get HD content for your Apple TV – March 29, 2007
Robert Scoble, former Microsoft technical evangelist and prominent blogger, April 2, 2007: Microsoft’s Mike Torres notes that Apple TV — to his eyes — doesn’t look sharp on HDTV screens (he’s not alone, several of my friends saw them in Apple stores and say they don’t look sharp). I saw one on display that wasn’t set properly. Mine came by default set to something other than 1080i. When I changed the setting to 1080i it got a TON sharper… when I put HD content on my Apple TV it looks just as sharp as stuff coming off of my Media Center/Xbox 360 setup). Full article here.
MacDailyNews Note: Apple TV specs:
• Video formats supported: H.264 and protected H.264 (from iTunes Store): 640 by 480, 30 fps, LC version of Baseline Profile; 320 by 240, 30 fps, Baseline profile up to Level 1.3; 1280 by 720, 24 fps, Progressive Main Profile. MPEG-4: 640 by 480, 30 fps, Simple Profile
• Audio formats supported: AAC (16 to 320 Kbps); protected AAC (from iTunes Store); MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps); MP3 VBR; Apple Lossless; AIFF; WAV
• Photo formats supported: JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PNG
• Enhanced-definition or high-definition widescreen TVs capable of 1080i 60/50Hz, 720p 60/50Hz, 576p 50Hz (PAL format), or 480p 60Hz
Related articles:
Apple TV USB support is now enabled via hack – March 30, 2007
Digit hands-on with Apple TV: ‘simple to set up, a delight to use’ – March 29, 2007
Newsweek: Apple TV has a lot going for it – March 29, 2007
Apple overriding Apple TV hacks? – March 29, 2007
Hacking Apple TV: Joost successfully run on Apple TV – March 28, 2007
Apple TV software hints at future DVR functions? – March 28, 2007
Ten Apple TV myths – March 28, 2007
Ars Technica in-depth review: Apple TV ‘impressed all those who touched it’ – March 27, 2007
The chips inside Apple TV – March 27, 2007
Analyst: Apple TV is a platform, not a single product – March 27, 2007
Digital Trends reviews Apple TV: 7 out of 10, ‘huge phenomenon will challenge conventional thinking’ – March 26, 2007
Automatically convert video files for Apple TV with Apple’s Automator – March 26, 2007
Apple TV, iTunes, iTunes Store: BusinessWeek’s Wildstrom blows it – March 26, 2007
iLounge gives Apple TV a ‘B’ in hands-on review: ‘recommended’ – March 24, 2007
CNET reviews Apple TV: ‘Very Good’ – 7.7 out of 10 – March 24, 2007
Video: Apple TV menu and interface walkthrough – March 23, 2007
Analyst: Apple TV will change the TV business – March 23, 2007
G4’s ‘Attack of the Show’ host Olivia Munn licks Apple TV – March 23, 2007
Xvid fully functional on Apple TV – March 23, 2007
Apple TV does not require Widescreen TV or HDTV, works with standard TVs – March 23, 2007
CBS looks at Apple TV on ‘The Early Show’ (with video) – March 23, 2007
Scoble: ‘Apple TV rocks’ – March 23, 2007
Apple TV hard drive upgrade works – March 23, 2007
Apple TV dissection photos – March 22, 2007
Apple posts Apple TV User’s Guide online – March 22, 2007
Enderle: ‘Apple’s attractive and well packaged Apple TV likely to set the pace’ – March 22, 2007
David Pogue demos Apple TV in humorous NY Times’ video – March 22, 2007
PC Magazine review gives Apple TV 4 out of 5 stars – March 22, 2007
NY Times’ Pogue: ‘Apple TV offers a gracious, elegant, effortless, delightful experience’ – March 21, 2007
Mossberg hands-on with Apple TV: ‘beautiful design, easy-to-use, classic Apple: simple and elegant’ – March 21, 2007
Apple TV projected to surpass TiVo, Netflix – March 20, 2007
Former Microsoft ‘Enthusiast Evangelist’ Gartenberg looks at impact of Apple TV – March 20, 2007
Apple TV ships – March 20, 2007
Is it possible that Mac Daily News could ever be critical in any way of an Apple product? I am a huge Apple fan, and I think Apple TV is absolutely awesome, but it’s true: the picture quality of video from the iTunes store is not good. It’s not a matter of opinion, just look at it. It’s crappy. I will definitely buy one, as soon as they improve it.
He’s comparing Compressed Video to HD Video…
You know the problem with tech writers? They don’t understand technology. They went to Journalism School, they don’t have a degree in computer sciences.
To say “Compressed video does not look as sharp as HD Video…” Is like saying “A Geo Metro doesn’t go as fast as a Porsche Boxer”
Well duh.
If AppleTV had a HiDef tuner and the ability to be a DVR, the whole problem with whether iTunes Store content was or was not sufficient would be moot.
As I see it, Apple is just trying to get people tied to iTunes, which would be fine if the content they’re selling there was up to the task, but it’s not. I guess Jobs is making more money off the movie prices than he is off the song prices, cause he certainly didn’t do that with the iPod. Anywhere I can get content, at whatever quality, will play on iPod. And play excellent. This AppleTV deal seems like it’s stepping away from allowing consumers the same freedom. If it wasn’t, it would definitely have the capability to get my HDTV channels from cable (or antenna) on the device. That’s so basic now it’s ridiculous.
For the record, I like iTunes for TV shows. I’m coming close to dropping cable now, since I’d actually save money buying seasons passes on iTunes for the shows I watch, when compared to monthly cable fees and the bazillions of shows I don’t. And movie rentals (HD) from iTunes would be cool if they were only one or two bucks. Again, it’s like providing a more convenient alternative to the status quo (Blockbuster or Netflix). But I would still need something that lets me get to regular free TV and record it, no negotiation there, and iTunes would have to carry more cable TV shows than it currently does, for my dropping cable completely to work. Still, if I was Apple, that’s what I would be working to make happen for everyone.
A better alternative to paid cable AND renting movies? They’d make a mint!
Anyone taking anything from the AssPress seriously need to have his head examined…
Journalistic standards at the AssPress are as high as my hamster can spit!
I work at an Ad agency. I bought an TV for our office to allow wireless connectivity to our various 45″ LCD televisions and projectors. I can see us eventaully aquiring an TV for every one of our display devices. We have always encountered annoyances in connecting laptops to our displays. Technically there aren’t any problems, it’s really easy to connect but logistically there’s problems. People loose or forget their adapters, the cable to connect the laptop is too long or too short or too unsightly.
Most of our presentations to our clients involve showing them a reel of material. This presents it’s own issues. These presentations always seem to happen at the last minute. People are trying to burn DVDs of material or create Keynote presentations to organize the material and there is always some glitch that occurs (bad DVD burn, application accidentally shutting down, etc) that truns this process into caos.
For us, the TV eliminates this. It passes what ever quality material we create directly to the 45 Sony Bravia LCD TV. If we create a standard definition (SD) video we see an SD video on our TV the way an SD video looks on a 45″ LCD (like crap). If we create a High Definition (HD) video we see an HD video is superb resolution. In fact we have never been able to show our clients their HD material in it’s native glory before we received the TV. We never had an HD output device other than hooking up the TV to the DVI connector on a MacBook Pro which is always wrought with the issue mentioned above.
The TV allows us to instantly create a reel, or Playlist actaully, for viewing by our clients. We don’t even need to move the laptop from the desk or even have the indivdual who has the Playlist stop doing what they’re doing to view the material. It’s all transmitted across our office over WiFi. We just select Source on the TV and pick the user’s system that has the PlayList that we want and we’re done. It’s so much easier to drag and drop items into a Playlist than gather the material and then assemble then onto a DVD or into a Keynote. This thing simply works.
Embrace it folks. It could have a slightly better interface for our application (setting up streaming seems to be single user focused), but that’s OK. It’s current v1.0, this will change in time as Apple learns how their customers want to use the device. For $299.00 this is small change for what it does for us.
Umm…has anyone else noticed that the Apple TV is not white? Apparently this guy hasn’t.
@ Melan Parkstrider:
It’s a shame I don’t run my home like an ad agency, cause then everything you said would be completely relevant.
For most of the rest of us in consumerland, AppleTV doesn’t quite provide what’s needed. What JDog said matches my desires much more than what you’re doing at your agency. If AppleTV is supposed to be a ‘pro-sumer’ device, then so be it. But I have a feeling Apple was hoping for greater sales than that.
Unfortunately I won’t be buying until it’s more Tivo-like (not interested in subscription fees, but like the functionality). Sorry, I know that drives the RDF-addicts crazy, but that’s just what I want.
Hey Melan Parkstrider:
You can make a video Playlist and view it on your AppleTV? I’ve been frustrated by not being able to do that. Music, yes, videos no. The only videos I’ve been able to get to display in any playlist are music videos, but when one ends, it goes back to the list, instead of playing the next video. Details, please!
Short answer: No. These are the sort of issues I was referring to when I mentioned the interface could be a bit better. For now we simply create a single movie with all the spots contained within. This is done in Quickime Pro by simply copyng and pasting. Being able to create a Movie Playlist would be nice. I’m sure it will come as the product matures.
Melan
Hey Melan Parkstrider:
You can make a video Playlist and view it on your AppleTV? I’ve been frustrated by not being able to do that. Music, yes, videos no. The only videos I’ve been able to get to display in any playlist are music videos, but when one ends, it goes back to the list, instead of playing the next video. Details, please!
Thanks for the follow-up Melan Parkstrider. Glad to know that it isn’t just me, AppleTV just doesn’t yet have playlists working properly for videos. (They work just fine on a video iPod!)
I sure wish the Apple documentation could have made this clear from the beginning, I personally wasted too much time trying to troubleshoot this.
I don’t agree that that editing multiple movies together in Quicktime Pro is a “simple” solution. That involves saving the movies to a new file, doubling the amount of space that they take, and losing all the playback flexibility that a playlist offers.
I hope there isn’t a technical reason that they haven’t gotten this working yet!