“But it has to be said, the Apple TV is a great way to take advantage of your large, high-def, widescreen TV. The old Front Row-style interface has been phased out in favour of a far more appealing look in the free version 3.0, which is available through a software update from the Apple TV menu,” EMOIZ.com reports. “The 160GB hard drive is still a little pokey for the average film buff and there’s no DVD or Blu-ray drive. There’s no web browser to speak of either. In short, it’s limited. So why not just get a Mac mini, pimp that up and use Front Row as the front end? The mini lacks none of these limitations.”
EMOIZ.com reports, “There are other alternatives, too. It’s possible you already have a set-top box that can double as a media player: a games console… The Apple TV [also] has set-top box competitors, of course. However, they almost always have a fatal flaw… The Apple TV, like the Mac, is designed for everyone to be able to use, easily, and works equally well with Windows and Macs. The new Apple TV 3.0 software is far easier to use, and integrates content from linked computers far more simply. The ability to rent and buy from the iTunes Store directly from the Apple TV is the main draw, as is its ability to play content already on your Mac. If a powerful media centre is what you want, the Apple TV isn’t it. But if you want a very good media centre that everyone can use and which matches the Apple aesthetic, the Apple TV is the one for you.”
There’s much more in the full article here.
I love my Apple TV use it all the time.
@imaki
It’s the other way around. Apple makes money off the harware and uses iTunes to drive more hardware sales.
Looking at Apple’s balance sheet I think they are making money both ways. We love our TV BTW. Just the 40 model but that is just fine for us.
If it had either dvd or blu-ray i’d buy one today.
i’m from canada – and i have an apple tv and i love it!!!!! its simple to use (my 8 year old can rent a movie and play content, etc). i’m not interested in searching the internet for content or running another application or giving my credit card out to yet another company, etc. i get all i need from itunes.
I have an Apple TV, but for the life of me I don’t know why Apple has dumbed it down so much. It SHOULD be an iPod Touch for your HDTV big screen. Games and other specialized widgets would look fine on the flat screen. Think App store for Apple TV. What a missed opportunity!
What is Apple’s justification for dumbing it down so much? No other Apple product is as tightly locked down to the iTunes store. Except for Youtube and Flickr, you can’t get to internet media. But you CAN on every other device Apple makes, including the upcoming iPad.
I opted for a Mac Mini so I could get two for one.
The HDTV is hooked up to it on one port in the living room. A 1920×1280 LCD monitor hooked up to the other port in the adjacent. They are separated by a dividing wall.
I can play movies on the HDTV. Music via the surround system. Watch any type of content including Netflix, HULU etc if I want to. I have a large drive connected that stores all my iTunes content.
With the monitor in the other room, I have a wireless keyboard and mouse. I use it as a computer when I need to. My daughter can do her homework etc.
So for the price of a Mac Mini ($479), monitor ($150) and a few cables ($50), I have an AppleTV, a fully functional computer, home server that is expandable and will last for years.
Sure it costs more than an Apple TV but it does a lot more and has room to growth.
You folks miss the point. Apple TV is just a hobby and so will never amount to much. Steve said it himself.
I still don’t get what the appleTV thing actually does? On one tv I use a Western Digital Live TV plugged into a 1Tb hd. Not as elegant but does the job.
In another room I have a mac mini + another 1Tb hd, stripped of all the guff applications and just use it for watching movies/TV with front row.
My VCRs are on their last legs and don’t really record analog converted digital signals very well. Even though the same converted signals look better on my old analog TV than analog signals ever did, VCR recordings look much worse.
I had considered a Tivo, but when I checked the unit I would need to do what I wanted to do most (time-shift OTA HD programs), I realized can get Mac Mini with an ElGato unit for less money.
In addition, I can watch DVDs, web surf, email, and do a bunch of other stuff that a Tivo (and Apple TV) can’t do.
It’s a no brainer.
I have an TV, and it’s almost the only way I watch TV. I’m sure it could be improved, and I’m sure Apple will improve it, but the way it is right now suits me fine.
When Steve said the TV was a hobby, he meant it was a technological foot in the door for something that is coming later. It has been in the product line for a long time, and that is not insignificant.
The Apple TV is overpriced and outdated.
If you only watch stuff from iTunes or just SD stuff, it’s fine, but even with aTV hack, it chokes like a chicken on True Full HD content.
No gracias. Sold mine and I love my WD TV Live for now.
The best part of the AppleTV is the iPhone/iPod Touch Remote Control app which allows visual access to the iTunes content including album art. You can control the AppleTV anywhere within wireless range. This makes it a great choice for multiroom systems.
Wait til the iPad version adds remote video playback over wireless and eventually cellular network.
Frequent crashes aside, I am happy with my Apple TV. Overloading it with features is not the way to go; this is supposed to be device that anyone in the family can use. Better to improve the library of content on the iTunes Store.
I know three people who have bought AppleTVs. Two years later none still use them citing; lack of movie titles, lack of Blu-Ray, lack of codec support. Conversely, they seem to use their PS3s a lot.
I love my Apple TV. I’ve had it since shortly after they were introduced. Renting movies–in HD with true discrete 5.1 sound–is about as convenient as it gets and has been totally glitch-free for us.
I wonder if Apple will replace the underpowered Intel chip in the ATV for the new Apple A4 chip….
Sol says: “I am happy with my Apple TV. Overloading it with features is not the way to go”
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Haha, how about Loading it with a few features first. It’s almost luddite in its minimalism right now. Apple could at least bring AppleTV up to the 21st century without coming close to overloading the thing.
I will buy Apple TV when they enable USB to link to external HDDs, when they standardise the form factor for it and the Airport Extrme BS to match the Mac Mini.
And when they open it up to whatever formats I have in my library of media.
There is no reason Apple can’t make every Mac Mini an AppleTV as well. Toss in some game software and a free game controller! Make it a configuration choice when you buy your Mac Mini.
I predict.
😀
Looks great.Really, there are other more powerful ways to get HD video, all your audio and your pictures onto your TV from the unit and from other computers in the area, and rent movies.Mario Games