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First, I need a new TV.  Then I'm in. 

It's not easy to make a DVR that works with all types of cable systems, that's why Apple didn't do it.

Why do you think Tivo is having so much trouble gaining ground with their HD DVR?

Not if it's running on that POS Comcast Motorola box. That's as crappy as running OS X on some old Compaq Presario.

I already bought my Series 3, and I wouldn't want anything else.

Jasoco wrote:

What I DO want the TV to be is a device that I can use to playback all my personal video files. Not just ones I [am never going to] download from the iTunes store, but all all all my video files. Anything that QuickTime can play, I want this device to play.

Buy a first gen XBox and soft mod, then install Xbox Media Center.

Thats what I run and it plays everything I have in DivX, Xvid etc. etc. including Video_TS folders from DVDs I've ripped right to the 250  gig HD I installed in the xbox.

Seriously I have not found a set-top video playback device that can touch it for features and supported video formats.

Note: It won't have the balls to do high def but eventually the 360 will be cracked and I'm sure XBMC in the future on the 360 will likely handle it.

Jasoco wrote:

No, if I were to go that route, I might as well just use this Mac mini and install Front Row that I was already going to do. Seriously.

I have no idea what video formats Front Row supports so I can't really give you a comparison on that one.

I guess it really depends on what formats your video is in, for me the vast majority of my stuff is in XviD, which XBMC handles like a dream due to it basically having the core of mplayer built in.

I used to run various apps on a computer plugged in to the TV and it was always lacking in some way. I was not in the mood to spend the money on a dedicated PC for my living room so my xBox fully modded out with big HD, remote and component output addon came to just under $300. It seemed like a decent price and I've never regretted it.

XBMC.

I was wondering the same thing about Apple TV and DVR, until mo'rons comments here really started to make it more clear for me.  Tivo has nailed the DVR market in terms of providing a great product, and they are barely making a profit after almost 10 years.  Why would Apple want to enter that market?  Combine that with all of the technical challenges pointed out by mo'ron, and it starts to make sense.

What finished it making sense is Steve's comment "I go to where the puck is going, not to where its been".  The DVR fronterior has been done.  That's where the puck was.  Where it is going is Video on Demand, and that's where Apple is skating.  Is it any surprise that they are looking forward and not backwards?

And maybe a little too far forward, because I don't think their VOD pricing model is ready for prime time yet, and the other limitations pointed out by Jasco of the Apple TV are probably going to prevent me from getting one for now.  Give me a decent VOD pricing model that replaces Tivo, Cable and Blockbuster, and I'll gladly hand the money for those service over to Apple, even for a premium price, but not for 5x the price, as it stands currently.

Last edited by Czachorski (2007-01-13 9:12 am)

Jasoco wrote:

I don't need a DVR. I have a DVR. A good DVR. The best DVR in the world. TiVo Series 3 HD. So I don't need a DVR.

What I DO want the TV to be is a device that I can use to playback all my personal video files. Not just ones I [am never going to] download from the iTunes store, but all all all my video files. Anything that QuickTime can play, I want this device to play.

I would also like it to play Video_TS folders. Whether out of the box or through a hack.

Basically, I want to rip all my DVD's and I want this thing to be the device that plays them all. Or I will die of disappointment.

When I was watching the keynote, the way they explained it I thought it was supposed to be able to play any video files off any computer. The way I was understanding it at the time of watching it, if it didn't do that, then I surely wouldn't buy it. Sorry Apple, get your s hit together if it doesn't.

I always thought the Mini was supposed to be Apple's cornerstone in the connected living room. It should have evolved into this.

I think they are making a mistake by not having at least 1 composite or s-video output on it.

I am sure as hell not going to buy a new TV until my 27" Sony CRT dies or it is impossible to watch TV on it because analog is gone, even through cable.

-mark

kb5zhh wrote:

avkills wrote:

I think they are making a mistake by not having at least 1 composite or s-video output on it.

I am sure as hell not going to buy a new TV until my 27" Sony CRT dies or it is impossible to watch TV on it because analog is gone, even through cable.

-mark

I think apple's target market is people who like to drop lots of money on electronics.  If you aren't willing to buy a new tv because there's something better out there, then you're not in the group likely to buy and appletv.

Yeah maybe.  I could always buy a Component to S-video converter from AJA I suppose.

I think Steve thinks way more people actually have those types of TVs at home.

I really like the idea, but he hosed probably 60-70% of the market by not having s-video or composite.

-mark

titok16 wrote:

probably some good market research backing up any decision at Apple
tito

I doubt it.  If a TV has component, there is a good chance it has HDMI also, so they should have done the HDMI and maybe made a hybrid component output that could be switched to s-video or composite.  This is actually pretty easy to do as many professional switchers allow this type of behavior on the inputs.

-mark