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“The first Apple TV was a great idea, but technology—particularly wireless streaming—wasn’t where it needed to be for the box to make new strides, until now. The new, miniature Apple TV costs less than most iPods. Sure, the rental limitations can be irksome, but, particularly for iOS device owners, the new features dramatically outweigh the letdowns,” Gideon reports. “Because of its affordability, ease-of-use, and impressive capabilities, the Apple TV gets our Editors’ Choice award. If more networks were onboard the 99-cent rental bandwagon at launch, it would have received an even-higher rating. Fingers crossed the TV selection will improve over time.”
Full review, 4 stars out of 5, Editors’ Choice, – recommended – here.
PC Magazine’s Apple TV unboxing and related photos are here.
The timing of the iOS 4.2 is interesting with the release of the Apple TV.
Perhaps they’re shipping ATV before Airplay is available as to not scare the cable companies/content providers.
The timing of the iOS 4.2 is interesting with the release of the Apple TV.
Perhaps they’re shipping ATV before Airplay is available as to not scare the cable companies/content providers.
Why is the rental irksome? If you want to buy the movie or show, you buy it thru iTunes. Am I missing something?
Why is the rental irksome? If you want to buy the movie or show, you buy it thru iTunes. Am I missing something?
I hope we’ll be able to get US content here in Japan some day soon. Then the whole range of international content available everywhere.
I hope we’ll be able to get US content here in Japan some day soon. Then the whole range of international content available everywhere.
Where do uk customers stand with apple tv eg no netflix no hulu
Where do uk customers stand with apple tv eg no netflix no hulu
“Rentals are irksome” because once you start watching the movie, you only have 24 hours of play time.
“Rentals are irksome” because once you start watching the movie, you only have 24 hours of play time.
@ pocomoonshine
I assume he means the “rental limitations can be irksome” because of
1) limited selection of TV show rentals
2) you can’t start a rental on your Apple TV and then continue it on any other device, but you can do the opposite (strange)
3) movie rentals are only for 24 hours. 48 hours is a much more convenient rental period
He goes on to say that “the new features dramatically outweigh the letdowns”, which I completely agree with. My Apple TV arrives tomorrow, and I’m giddy!
I plan to avoid the #2 inconvenience by browsing for TV/Movies on my iPad and then watching them on the Apple TV once I’ve already rented something. (This will be even easier when iOS 4.2 comes out in November.)
I hope Apple can tweak things to fix the rest of the “irksome” things though.
@ pocomoonshine
I assume he means the “rental limitations can be irksome” because of
1) limited selection of TV show rentals
2) you can’t start a rental on your Apple TV and then continue it on any other device, but you can do the opposite (strange)
3) movie rentals are only for 24 hours. 48 hours is a much more convenient rental period
He goes on to say that “the new features dramatically outweigh the letdowns”, which I completely agree with. My Apple TV arrives tomorrow, and I’m giddy!
I plan to avoid the #2 inconvenience by browsing for TV/Movies on my iPad and then watching them on the Apple TV once I’ve already rented something. (This will be even easier when iOS 4.2 comes out in November.)
I hope Apple can tweak things to fix the rest of the “irksome” things though.
i bet the delay of 4.2 and airplay is for developers to implement it into their programs. They have to get AppleTV for them to test everything out.
Rentals are irksome because of the studios, not because Apple. The 24hr time period was a selling point to the studios. If they wanted to help the customer out, let it expire when the content finishes.
i bet the delay of 4.2 and airplay is for developers to implement it into their programs. They have to get AppleTV for them to test everything out.
Rentals are irksome because of the studios, not because Apple. The 24hr time period was a selling point to the studios. If they wanted to help the customer out, let it expire when the content finishes.
I had little interest in the old AppleTV, but I definitely want the new version. The $99 price point helps.
I had little interest in the old AppleTV, but I definitely want the new version. The $99 price point helps.
Don’t be a cheapskate and buy the Apple Dual-Band AirPort Extreme with Improved Antenna (current). Streaming is just fine.
Don’t be a cheapskate and buy the Apple Dual-Band AirPort Extreme with Improved Antenna (current). Streaming is just fine.
Apple is actually competing with Redbox when it comes to movie rental.
With redbox, a movie rental is 99 cents for a day (24 hour viewing period). Given that apple charges more, it would be a good option to have more viewing time.
The advantage that apple has that redbox doesn’t have is that you don’t have to go to the nearest redbox and find out that the movie is not there.. or all copies have been checked out. That compensates for something.
Apple is actually competing with Redbox when it comes to movie rental.
With redbox, a movie rental is 99 cents for a day (24 hour viewing period). Given that apple charges more, it would be a good option to have more viewing time.
The advantage that apple has that redbox doesn’t have is that you don’t have to go to the nearest redbox and find out that the movie is not there.. or all copies have been checked out. That compensates for something.
There’s a reason perhaps why Apple chose to part with internal HD. There’s a reason why it sports a USB beyond the service and repair. Apple may one day allow it to connect daisy chains of external HDs and your mother-in-laws favourite Blue Ray etc. and meanwhile, this might appease the subscription and rental obsessed Media content providers. Meanwhile, hackers are ‘not discouraged’ to open up the box bit more for its potentials. Why load iOS when just streaming apps might have sufficed?
There’s a reason perhaps why Apple chose to part with internal HD. There’s a reason why it sports a USB beyond the service and repair. Apple may one day allow it to connect daisy chains of external HDs and your mother-in-laws favourite Blue Ray etc. and meanwhile, this might appease the subscription and rental obsessed Media content providers. Meanwhile, hackers are ‘not discouraged’ to open up the box bit more for its potentials. Why load iOS when just streaming apps might have sufficed?
Put commercials in the rental and give it way for free!
Put commercials in the rental and give it way for free!
@Tom
I’d rather pay , and commercial free