“As the New York Times reported yesterday, Google is working with partners including Intel, Sony, and Logitech to bring a Google TV experience into the living room. This is, of course, where the Apple TV resides. And Apple would be foolish to simply cede any ground it does have to its new favorite rival just because it’s focused on other things (*cough* iPad *cough*),” Siegler reports. “That’s a Microsoft move.”
“Google TV would be based around the Android platform. This means that the key idea is likely to have third-party developers work on it to make applications built for a television set. That’s easier said than done, but Android’s open nature should yield some interesting results rather quickly,” Siegler reports. “Apple, meanwhile, is of course anything but open with regard to their devices. In fact, the Apple TV is entirely closed right now, as only Apple is able to modify its software (without hacking it, of course). I suspect that will change, following this revelation.”
Full article here.
Nick Bilton reports for The New York Times, “Google and Intel have teamed with Sony to develop a platform called Google TV to bring the Web into the living room through a new generation of televisions and set-top boxes.”
“The partners envision technology that will make it as easy for TV users to navigate Web applications, like the Twitter social network and the Picasa photo site, as it is to change the channel,” Bilton reports. “Google is expected to deliver a toolkit to outside programmers within the next couple of months, and products based on the software could appear as soon as this summer. The three companies have tapped Logitech, which specializes in remote controls and computer speakers, for peripheral devices, including a remote with a tiny keyboard.”
“‘Google wants to be everywhere the Internet is so they can put ads there,’ said one of the people with knowledge of the project,” Bilton reports. “Based on Google’s Android operating system, the TV technology runs on Intel’s Atom chips. Google has built a prototype set-top box, but the technology may be incorporated directly into TVs or other devices.”
“The Google TV software will present users with a new interface for TVs that lets them perform Internet functions like search while also pulling down Web programming like YouTube videos or TV shows from Hulu.com. The technology will also allow downloadable Web applications, like games and social networks, to run on the devices,” Bilton reports. “A person with knowledge of the project said that Google TV would use a version of Google’s Chrome Web browser, which currently does not work on Android phones.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Somehow we highly doubt that Eric T. Mole recused himself from Apple TV discussions. That said, at this point, as happy Apple TV owners who’d nonetheless like to see Apple focus quite a bit more on the device, we welcome anything that forces Apple to stop treating Apple TV like a red-headed stepchild.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Lynn W.” for the heads up.]
“Advertising psychology” is horseshit invented by advertising firms and marketing departments to make themselves seem vastly more important than they actually are.
The whole advertising profession is really just one big random crapshoot with little more importance than making people aware of a product’s existence. The real skill lies in distracting from this fact.
Anyway, Nexus One obviously didn’t teach Google a damn thing. Slapping their name on some device isn’t enough to make it sell. If anything, it’s the kiss of death.
My Roku Digital Player already does everything I need in my living room.
I love my AppleTV. And Logitech is known for making flimsy crap that falls apart one day after the warranty ends. And Google is a successful spammer. I forgot that Sony used to make TV sets, since Samsung has taken over their role. I hope it spurs Apple to add more features to the AppleTV, but it does what I need already.
I came closer than I ever have to buying an AppleTV in the last few weeks, but when it came down to it, I just couldn’t pull the trigger. My primary problem with it is how few video formats it supports. I want a system that plays DivX/XviD videos. If the PS3 can play these formats, why can’t AppleTV?
The second issue is the restrictions on getting content onto the device. My wife and I both have our own iTunes libraries. Maybe sometime into the future we’ll combine them in one networked drive, but right now that’s too big of a PITA. Apple will only download content, via syncing, with one library. To view content from any other library, you have to do it via streaming. We would both be using the AppleTV to watch videos, so this would add a layer of hassle that I don’t want to deal with.
It pains me to say it, but Sony’s PS3 blows the AppleTV out of the water as a media hub in every way except price (and that’s not even a big difference anymore). It plays more formats, and you can even play videos directly off a flash drive, which is handy.
I should note: There is a $50 software package out there called “aTV Flash” that adds many enhancements to the AppleTV, including installing Perian, which makes the AppleTV one of the most fully-functioned video players available. It’s this software that almost got me to buy an AppleTV. Then I got cold feet — the software is a hack, and disables automatic Apple software updates to prevent the hack from breaking.
So, I don’t know. I really want what the AppleTV could be. But I’m not interested in it as it is today.
——RM
So what could Apple add to the Apple tv to make it more of a success?
DVR – Not gonna happen, for obvious reasons.
Blu-Ray – Not gonna happen, for obvious reasons.
Hulu – Not gonna happen, for obvious reasons. Hulu wouldn’t even allow it to happen for Apple wanted it.
Netflix – Not gonna happen, for obvious reasons.
Access to video sites other than Youtube – Not gonna make a difference to a mainstream market.
Pandora/Last.fm – Possible. Not a huge selling point.
Safari – how many different devices to people need to access facebook on? Not a big selling point.
App Store/Non-games – What apps would be interesting on the TV? How would you navigate them? I could maybe see little widgets for stocks, weather, sports and headlines. Maybe a small selling point.
Games – How are you going to control them? The Apple remote? The iPod touch/iPhone (in other words a touch screen that you aren’t looking at…that costs at least $200 more)? Is Apple going to design a new game controller? Will these be casual games? If so, not a big selling point. Console quality games? If so we are talking a completely different ballgame and I don’t see Apple getting into it.
Hardware – Upgrade it for what? It works fine. 1080p? Not available on iTunes, so pointless to upgrade processor now. A harddrive would be the only meaningful upgrade.
So, no reason for hardware upgrades really. Most requests (dvr, netflix, big app store, etc) aren’t going to happen because they would compete with what Apple is doing (thus the whole point of the AppleTV), or not add much value to a mainstream market. There’s really only two feasible, realistic and meaningful upgrades Apple could make to the AppleTV; a bigger HDD and Pandora/Last.fm. And neither of those are a big deal.
Set-top boxes outside of generic satellite/cable DVRs and dvd players just aren’t big sellers and I’d be willing to bet that, other than maybe TIVO, Apple TV is actually the most successful one. There’s just not much of a demand for internet videos and corny apps on the tv.
Buy the EyeTV 264 TurboHD and you can convert almost anything QuickTime supports into Apple TV or iPod/iPhone formats with the push of a button.That would include Video TS files, flash and such. Very fast and Hardware accelerated for h264. Make sure you get the HD model.
Another advantage of the device is that it accelerates h264 on any app that draws upon QuickTime, including Final Cut.
BTW- if you buy Telestream Flip4Mac studio ($50 I think) you can convert Windows Media to m4v through the Turbo with HW acceleration.
That should take care of your video format concerns.
I have two Apple TVs, which I love. I will probably add another, but I would in fact like many of the features I see evolving out there. It’s not just Google, but others as well who will force Apple to s**t or get off the pot. Does it make sense for Apple to make a DVR/disc/streamingNetFlix/ATV combo? Probably not, but I sure would love it.
@ sixvodkas and others
You pay for ads every time you buy anything. If a product is advertised, that cost is recovered in the price you pay It one of the cleverest uses of the Shylock Shuffle. You think you’re getting bargain stuff for free but everything you see will cost you more. People don’t see their pockets being picked because they don’t follow the monetisation trail and understand that there really is no such thing as a free lunch, or free tv or free anything. Your job, the job of everyone is to be an obedient doofus dimwit and pay far too much and never, never think about the cost of things and why that is so. There are many hands in your pocket and you will be the last one to know, if you, or me or the next guy fail to get it.
Watch and learn. It’s a subtle thing, the Shuffle. If it was out in the open it couldn’t work. You won’ see it easily cos you’re not meant to. There’s 30 to 40% being added on and if people knew, they’d go apeshit. Why do you think BOGOF and 40, 50 60 or even 70% off discounts are possible? Once a vendor has recovered ad costs they can cut the price like crazy to retailers before they bring in the next new new thing that kinda has to be advertised and so they need to double the selling price until they get their ad spend back and so it goes round and round.
Ever wondered why Apple doesn’t advertise much?
I really really hope this is a big fail for Google.
Apple has to get into Search and become a strong player there.
@macBill’
“My Roku Digital Player already does everything I need in my living room”
That is what I would like to see Apple do, a $99.00 module to receive and show content from your iTune library using an iPad!!
Lovely idea. All them ipad suggestions. I can already see my kids swiping the TV. No thank you. ATV can remain as is.
Apple will *never* develop Apple TV. They put it out, saw it utterly fail, and are letting it slowly die. Steve’s pronouncement of Apple TV being just a hobby was a death blow to this antiquated piece of hardware. Apple TV is going nowhere.
I need a new ATV so I can put my current one in the RV. Drive into the yard and the ATV starts it’s sync for the next trip to the park.
DVR and digital tuner are essential. Until then, no Apple TV for me.
My TV (MB189LL/A) can playback 1080p (L 4.1) and not even break a sweat. In fact, these codecs are at my disposal:
H.264/AVC HP at L 4.1 1080p/1080i, 40 Mbps
SMPTE VC-1 AP at L 3 1080p/1080i, 40 Mbps
WMV9 (VC-1 SP and MP)
MPEG-2 MP @ ML and MP @ HL
The fix cost me less that a Benjamin.
@jeeve stobs
Wrong. TV does exactly what it was intended to do; serve the iTunes model. There are probably at least 7-million owners out there who are using it as it was intended. Why would Apple derail that revenue stream?
When other TV owners learn what I know, they will be scarfing up the existing 40GB model like it went out of style…. oh wait… it did!
Don’t I remember reading about a TV related patent application on MDN? Somehow I get the feeling that when Apple TV leaves the hobby stage, it might completely surprise everyone as to the extent Apple will then be involved with TV’s. It is also possible that Apple intentionally delayed any such announcements until Google committed itself to Google TV. That way, Apple will be sure to incorporate all GTV features and expand significantly.
Whatever happens, that patent reference makes me think that this may be the next big thing for Apple. Apple has been increasingly pointing to the living room since it introduced the Airport Express. My feeling is that Apple’s stealth development will again destroy its competition when it finally tells us what it has been doing.
“but just can’t make myself buy the current piece of crap”
If you haven’t bought “the piece of crap” then why refer to it as such?
I own one- it’s not perfect but it does what I want it to- it extends iTunes to my living room- and serves as my online video rental store.- It’s never failed me. Yes- it could be more- but it’s met my expectations. We love sitting around the TV looking at photos streaming from iTunes on the Macs in the house- again- it could be more and it WILL be more.
I’m passing on the “Google TV” and waiting for their “Google Pad”. It’s obvious to me that Google’s whole development team relies on what Apple comes up next. Copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy…
Leave it to Google to fix what Apple TV cant do. There are so many wholes in Apple TV they should call it swiss cheese!
I am very certain that Google based technology is the solution to this problem.
I am so happy that someone is going to push Apple to do something about this device. I have an unbroken device that I got as a birthday present. I actually love the thing. I have my entire Itunes music collection and photos on it. But where it lacks is the movie section. Not the online store, which is just plain brilliant, but the ability to play back whatever you want. As it stands, I have to convert everything to m4v which can take an eternity. I shouldn’t have to do that. Yes, I know H.264 M4V is superior, but some or a lot of my files look okay on HD with AVI.
Additionally, someone really has to get to Steve and Engineering about the networking of this device:
1. If I don’t wire the device (ethernet) or have my wireless router on all of the time, then it finds some neighbor named Linksys or Belkin to piggyback off. I’m pretty sure that Mr Linksys and Ms. Belkin don’t really have an open door policy on stealing bandwidth
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” />.
2. Second, where is that damn On/Off switch? I can make dinner on that thing, even when it’s in sleep mode. Or just leave a cup of coffee on it, it’s that hot.
3. Why, when it’s in sleep mode, even with all of my networks off, does the hard drive start spinning? Who’s it talking to?
4. Please, in the next iteration, put up a choice to synch or not to synch back to the computer. Just like with the iPhone, if you purchase an OTA (Over the air) Podcast, movie or show, it will take forever and a day to synch up with iTunes on your computer. Please make selective synching available.
5. Which leads to my final request. Allow the device to read from any NAS device without an Itunes server. Microsoft and HP are really kicking it with this feature. With the advent of Pogoplug and the new Tonidoplug for $99 without a drive, NAS networking has become cheap and the need for a dedicated server is out the door (ie HP / MSFT homeserver and Mac Mini Server ($500-$1000). Having Apple TV read from a NAS would be really nice. While we’re at it, getting involved with DLNA wouldn’t be bad either.
Just my 2 cents worth.
rick.
One more thing! What the heck’s the USB port for? Just asking.
@macarina
Leave it to Google to fix what Apple TV cant do. There are so many wholes in Apple TV they should call it swiss cheese!
Wholes? Really? As in analog wholes? LMAO… what a maroon.
Speaking of analog holes, that is precisely what is right with TV.
I Woz’d my TV. I installed ATVFlash and then added a USB hub for a keyboard and mouse, which comes in real handy for my Safari-based web browser, which looks fantastic in HD, by the way. I then added a external terabyte drive for my HD content. So I have XBMC/Boxee, and a chip that provides all of that 1080p HD goodness!
My Broadcom Crystal HD chip kicks neck, and does all of the heavy lifting for the CPU. Thanks to the folks at XBMC, particularly SDavilla, who provided tremendous OS X support, drivers, and libraries, I’m in media heaven.
That’s what I love about my TV; IT’S NOT PERFECT! I am grateful for the “hobby” specification, because without it, the product would be without any holes and little room for expansion.
There are two economical approaches to building a media center; Atom or Pentium M. Google is going Atom, Linux, and nVidia’s VPDAU technology, whereas Apple chose Pentium-M. But let’s be clear, Google isn’t going to do anything that hasn’t already been accomplished on my TV. Also, I really don’t think the Atom Dual Core can even keep pace with the Pentium-M.
Google is good for one thing though; search. With search I found an interesting tid-bit last year about a new Broadcom video accelerator for devices with PCIe. Well guess what? My TV has a PCIe slot! If I only had access to Broadcom-sponsored drivers and libraries, I’d be in business. So six-months later and the necessary OS X drivers and libraries finally arrived! Whoa.
The onboard PCI-e slot used for the TV’s wi-fi card is wicked fast and uses Rx and Tx simultaneously, like Firewire, but is a wasted slot if you already own Time Capsule or connect your TV to directly to your home’s router. So I pulled the wi-fi card and put the Crystal HD card in its place. This chip is a video accelerator, supported under XBMC for Mac on the TV.
The installation of <a >ATVFlash</a> is easy and supports codecs like:
– .avi, .divx, .eyetv, flv, .m4v, .mkv, .mp4, .mov, .mpeg, .mpg, .ogg, .ogm, .rm, .rmvb, .wmv, .xvid
– Up to 5 Mbps, maximum resolution 1280×720 @ 24fps, 960×540 @ 30fps
– DVD files: VIDEO_TS/VOB and ISO
– Audio support for: AAC, AC3, DTS, FLAC, MPEG3, MPEG4, VBR MP3, and WMA
– Subtitle support for SSA and SRT
The CrystalHD provides additional support for:
H.264/AVC HP at L 4.1 1080p/1080i, 40 Mbps
SMPTE VC-1 AP at L 3 1080p/1080i, 40 Mbps
WMV9 (VC-1 SP and MP)
MPEG-2 MP @ ML and MP @ HL
The Broadcom chip set me back forty-bucks, ATVFlash, another fifty, throw in thirty-minutes of know-how and BOOM! goes the dynamite. A premo media center, made possible by Apple, providing a platform on which to build a dream entertainment system.
This thread is full of whiners claiming TV isn’t for them, at least not until Apple fixes it. What is lost on most is, Apple will never “fix” it because it already is a “hobbyists” dream machine. With a little ingenuity and determination, anyone can upgrade their TV to suit their needs.
Apple doesn’t care, especially Steve Jobs, because TV is serving a dual-purpose; one in which the device satisfies those customers who are content with iTunes Store content, YouTube, personal media libraries, etc., and then there’s the device that has the potential to blow the doors off anything offered by Apple’s competitors, including Google. Even after “tricking” out my TV, I still have access to my iTunes Store account and all of the usual stuff, but that’s the tip of the iceberg compared to what ATVFlash offers.
So, all I’m saying is, anyone who owns an TV and is whining about what Apple has left out, or anyone who wouldn’t consider purchasing an TV, simply because “they suck”, you’re living in a bubble.
God, I hope all of my HTML tags are in order, I’m punchy and tired and it’s time to go fire up my TV.
@rickw
where is that damn On/Off switch? I can make dinner on that thing, even when it’s in sleep mode. Or just leave a cup of coffee on it, it’s that hot.
FYI, there is no on/off switch and it doesn’t need one. The thing only uses 23-watts of power and as for the heat, don’t worry about that either; the top of the TV is a giant heat-sink, it’s supposed to get hot, that’s the way it was designed. Just don’t place anything on top of it and allow ambient airflow of the room whisk away the heat.
I use the USB port for a 2.0 hub, which gives me six more USB ports. I use a nice wired alu apple keyboard and mouse as well as external USB hard drives for lots of storage.
Correction:
The installation of [url=”http://www.atvflash.com/product_info.php?products_id=27″>ATVFlash</a> is easy and supports codecs like:
The installation of <a ]ATVFlash[/url] supports it all…
atvflash ?
Oh, did I mention I control my TV using my Touch? Sweeeeet!