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I'm confused about by why video streaming is only 7%. Why would people want a slot loading DVD/blu ray? That technology already looks outdated compared to the promises of video streaming

Why would people want a slot loading DVD/blu ray?

Huh, backwards compatibility?

After all it takes a long time to download a HD movie unless one has a expensive fast connection like cable.

Of course the cable companies know this and throttle their bandwidth as to protect their cableTV business.

We need a alternative very fast connection with high reliability.

Feb 11, 09 - 12:04 pm Comment from: Demon

Virtual content delivery is the future (Music Industry needs to get it's head out of the sand and go lossless Audio and HD Music Videos or their going to end up being replaced completely)
I no longer Buy DVDs as iTunes movies and TV Shows are as good or better DVDs. So a DVD/Blu-ray drive is a waste on the Apple TV.

So basically, people want a Mac MIni with a blu-ray player

How about support for all video types. The ability to install codecs, and allow iTunes to to stream avi, dvix, wmv, etc etc. I'm tired of converting all my torrented pr0n from avi to m4v.

mini laser show? Clearly these people have too much free time,

re: ryne: I think it's the DVR that's outdated. I mean, you just wouldn't invent it today. Studios make a programme, sell it to a broadcaster, they chop it up and stick in ads we don't want, then they broadcast it so we can use a DVR to record it and store it back into its original format to watch later.

AppleTV is about the future. If you want backward compatibility, get a DVR. All in one might be convenient or tidy for some, but why do I have to have one if I don't want it? Separates mean you buy what you want, not pay for something that someone else wanted.

Backward compatibility can be good, in the right place. But it also has a cost and can become a millstone. See Windows for details. My electric kettle won't work on a wood burning stove either.

I don't get what the deal is with people asking for DVR capabilities. Every cabletv/telcotv provider gives you a DVR that can record 2-4 streams simultaneously. They have HDMI, component, and optical/coaxial audio cables and are generally pretty good. I have ATT Uverse TV and my box (made by motorolla) actually runs Windows CE and is very decent... (proceed with my flogging for saying such blasphemy...).

Are you suggesting to tape over-the-air broadcast TV? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of increasing streaming capabilities from websites like Hulu, CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox, FX, etc. that already offer many of their primetime shows?

I'm tired of converting all my torrented pr0n from avi to m4v.

Use SnapProZ X, then you can watch the prøn while your converting it!

Better yet, buy this new JVC HD camera and record directly into Quicktime!

http://pro.jvc.com/prof/attributes/features.jsp?model_id=MDL101851

You might need some participants though...

It is all about an all you can eat subscription service to ITunes media. Who cares about outdated DVR capability? I hate commercials and waiting for the show to air. Let me watch when I want and pay to have no commercials. Look at netflix, subscription done correctly is the future of video content. Again buy music rent video, easy.

DVR? Too complicated, could prove to be ATV's Titanic, gains are not worth compared to problems that might come up. Cable boxes are very good at DVR-ing, let's leave that job to them.
Slot-loading? I could use one only if it's region free.

Feb 11, 09 - 12:39 pm Comment from: eMax

I want the option to watch ad supported HD TV content, then if i like it I can buy it. AND/or the ability to RENT TV shows for cheap so I can put it on my iphone.

Feb 11, 09 - 12:45 pm Comment from: Bitjockey

I don't see the need for a DVR feature either. Over the air broadcasting is on it's way out and as someone else mentioned, cable and satellite services provide their own. Including a DVD/CD/Blueray player though would eliminate two pieces of equipment from my A/V shelf. I have a significant collection of discs plus friends like to pop over with a new song or video to show off so It's doubtful I'll be rid of those players anytime soon.

If for no other reason i'd like a slot loading DVD player built in to eliminate one component from my system as well as having it all part of the same interface with appletv. Face it, we are still going to be renting dvd's and using netflix for awhile, at least until ITunes has the video selection of netflix or your local video store.

And OF COURSE please enable the frakkin usb port for external drives already!! Being able to sync all of your content to the appletv that stores it all on external drive would be pretty sweet.

DVR would be nice but I don't see that happening. Games I guess, the idea of using the Iphone as a controller sounds pretty cool, especially if they open up an SDK like the Iphone and games are 99 cents and such...

Feb 11, 09 - 12:57 pm Comment from: touringsedan

DVR? Gross. The whole point of the AppleTV and iTunes is get you to buy content via AppleTV.
I doubt Apple is going to cannibalize their core business model to sell Audio/Video direct to consumers.
DVD Blu-Ray? Would be nice, but again, wouldn't this cannibalize their iTunes business.
The movies/tv shows download fast and look great, despite what others have thought. The quality of the content is clearly tied to the studio, some content is crystal clear 720p with virtually no artifacting in fast motion sequences, but others no so good.

If we could get a 'peer to peer' live or close to live tv streaming with commercials you would be set.

I say 'peer to peer' because I don't see how anyone could stream close to live content to hundreds of thousands without bandwidth issues, 'peer to peer' built into AppleTV could allow it self propagate the close to live tv content.

Once you have all movies, old tv and close to live tv Apple's vision will have been realized and you can rid yourself of physical media forever.

Only other issue that concerns me, is that this idea would put Cable businesses in jeopardy and with legislation to protect consumers from carriers limited bandwidth we may be in for an unpleasant ride.

S! D! K! ... S! D! K! ... S! D! K! ... S! D! K! ... S! D! K!

Add a DVR

What about a firewire port or two? What about support for an external hard drive? Yea, and what about a simple on/off switch? Don't get me started!!

Feb 11, 09 - 01:10 pm Comment from: rdbvideo

My reason for DVR.
I get a beautiful over-the-air HD signals. Why should I pay for cable HD?
I want to be able to record "House" and "24" in HD, and be able to immediately play them back when I get home.

Therefore, a DVR that will record from antenna.
If someone like Panasonic made one for the USA, I'd buy it now.

I don't think they would want you to have a DVR on there cuz then you won't have to buy them off iTunes. Slot loading blu-ray better possibility. But as far as the USB thing, they should just make one model, one hard drive size, and let use an external harddrive. boxee should stay the way it is cuz then if apple buys them then so legal sh!t will have to take place with all the companies. and RBVIDEO yes Panasonic makes a DVR http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMRE85HS-Progressive-Scan-Recorder-Recording/dp/B00021ZVL0
I gave mine to the sister for her kids to record all there shows, works great but pricey i think.

Apple TV should be upgraded to support 1080i and 1080p, of course. I am surprised that no one has mentioned that Apple TV only supports 720p.

Here is a tip for design the new Apple tv,in my opinion Apple should design then like it was a 12´´ macbook but closed and at least it should put down the heat of the hard drive or use low power drives like flash or SSD; its just my opinion.

Feb 11, 09 - 01:26 pm Comment from: Mr. Reeee

Add a FireWire 800 port and add the ability to store content on it and access it from TV.

Add support for FullHD/1080p content. Of course the bandwidth available for 1080p downloads isn't really there right now, nor will it be in the foreseeable future... unless you move to a more technologically advanced country. And just think, once you get there, you'll have free healthcare available, too!

As for DVR, Blu-ray, etc. Those you get separately. DVR I get from Time Warner with my HD cable subscription. I bought a Sony Blu-ray player, which upsamples standard DVDs, allowing me to get rid of a component and make a nice gift for a friend in need of an upsampling DVD player.

The TV is really more of a media hub/ switcher, not much else. I'd still like to see a hybrid Mac mini/TV, so that one isn't limited to the Apple iLife apps.

Connecting a Mac to an HDTV is really a nice experience... I can switch to FrontRow or run Safari, Mail, even VectorWorks, Photoshop or Call of Duty 4 on it.

The TV as it is now is too limited.

That's right, Cyberdog!
And what are they thinking with no floppy drive, Zip or Jaz drive, PS2 ports, or even a DAT connector?!

All deal breakers for me.

I would ditch my PS3 in a second if Apple TV had Blu-ray and DVR. And the ability to play ANY video format would be perfection.

Bryan J. Blumberg - Apple TV should be upgraded to support 1080i and 1080p, of course. I am surprised that no one has mentioned that Apple TV only supports 720p.

^^This^^ Everything else is superfluous when I have the power of a Mac Pro behind my ATV doing the heavy lifting.

Just because it's conveniant to download----I couldn't care less, UNLESS it's better.
Will they introduce a new Apple TV with 4,000*2000 res display? Will it be BETTER than Blu-Ray, in the future or not? THAT'S what I care about.
Sure, I buy it then. Just sell me what I want.(on a SED or FED display tv)

Feb 11, 09 - 01:58 pm Comment from: the other steve jobs

anyone that says that Blu-ray discs are obsolete have never seen and used a Blu-ray...

its like a DVD, except way better quality!

For those of you in the "discs are teh outdated" - you're telling me you don't own a DVD player or DVD movies? Of course not.

Blu-ray, like DVD, you can play it as many times as you want, and it doesn't take 45 minutes before you can start to watch it at lower quality.

Feb 11, 09 - 02:02 pm Comment from: ElderNorm

DVR???? DVR?????

They already make those with either DVD medium or hard drive recorders. Why, oh Why would you want to put one inside an Apple TV????

The biggest trouble with all-in-one everything, is one thing breaks and you are up a sh-t creek with out that missing part.

Just a thought,
en

IT's THE IMAGE QUALITY, STUPID . . . . and I say that with respect.

The MAIN thing Apple TV must deliver is HIGH IMAGE AND SOUND QUALITY

It must be said that Apple TV is NOT TRULY HIGH DEFINITION.

Video capped at 720 P @ 5 Mbs and audio capped WAY lower is JUST NOT HIGH DEFINITION . . . not when BLU-RAY routinely delivers 1080 P / 24 fps / at 30 Mbs and uncompressed audio around 5 Mbs.

It is disingenuous AT BEST of Apple to say they are delivering HIGH DEFINITION video and audio.
Yes, it does fall under the "acceptable" FCC
definition of "high definition" . . . . but to whom exactly
is it acceptable? Not to anyone who wants to
watch their video aon anything larger than a laptop.

Again, the main thing Apple TV most do / change
is to deliver better image and sound quality.

-30-

Steve is going to buy you all a pony! And he's going to deliver it personally!!!

Feb 11, 09 - 03:32 pm Comment from: Brau

Another completely braindead inane article from the addled-minded "writers" at Wired. Yeah, like Apple is going to cut their own throat by offering a BluRay drive or a DVR (free content) when they make money on downloading through iTunes. Anybody who is waiting for these features to be included on any future version of the AppleTV better get used to disappointment.

Feb 11, 09 - 04:04 pm Comment from: Predrag

People screaming for 1080p sound exactly like those screaming for lossless audio in iTunes. I'm sure there are some pristine conditions (as well as high-end equipment) where an average HD enthusiast could actually discern the difference between 1080 and 720, or 256bps AAC and uncompressed 44.1k audio. However, if your TV is smaller than 52", you simply cannot notice the difference between 1080 and 720p.

Practically all camcorders out there capture at 1080. Nobody would buy them if they were 720p only. Yet, the maximum number of lines most of these can resolve is below even 720.

Basically, 1080 on AppleTV would be nothing more than a gimmick.

Feb 11, 09 - 05:15 pm Comment from: Predrag

Brau,

The way you say it sounds like iTunes is making Apple billions of dolars in profit through the sales of TV shows and movies.

iTunes is barely profitable for Apple. The only reason it exists is to sell iPods, iPhones, AppleTV and Macs. It completes the Apple media and hardware integration puzzle.

The inclusion of Blu-ray, or DVD player, or DVR will have negligible impact on the volume of sales through iTunes. However, it may make it much more attractive to those who otherwise would have never considered.

Well, well, well, before adding more fancy features, there are quite some things that need to be fixed.
1) Why do only HD movies (and not even all of them) provide a Dolby Digital (5.1) soundtrack? A movie bought or rented on Apple TV only comes in stereo. Basically every cheap little DVD contains a 5.1 track. No Dolby Digital can be found on trailers, whether standard or HD.
2) Almost every movie on DVD comes with different language options. Which languages there are depends on the country the DVD was produced for. In the US mostly Spanish and French are added to the English main language. So far, I have not found any language options, not even in foreign movies. Sometimes it is not even clear if the movie will be in English or in Spanish with English subtitles.
3) HD movies can only be rented but not bought on Apple TV. At least the TV Shows you can buy the HD version.
4) There are not extras (such as interviews, making ofs, etc.) included in the Apple TV movies.
So let me summarize this: If you buy a movie on Apple TV in standard quality, you pay about the price of a DVD, sometimes more and sometimes less. The picture quality is about the same but you don't get Dolby Digital, don't get language options or director's comments, don't get extras and won't be able to sell your movie to somebody else when you get tired of it.

But there is more:
5) Apple added playlists. So now your iTunes playlists show up on Apple TV. Good but what I don't like is that the playlists can only be found as submenus of Movies, TV Shows, Music etc. I would like my playlists to be shown among the main menu.
6) I love to watch trailers on Apple TV. But I really wish there was an option to sort them by date added descending so the latest added ones show up first.
7) I rented a movie the other day on Apple TV. I had to go urgently away for several weeks and could not watch the movie before I left. So I would have liked to move it over to my iPod touch to watch it while I'm gone. This was not possible unfortunately and I paid rent for nothing.
8) I watch some video podcasts on Apple TV and on my iPod touch. When I watched them, I would like to delete them permanently. I wish there was an option that you can say on Apple TV and on the iPod/iPhone that you want to delete this podcast (or movie or TV Show) and also want to delete it in iTunes (with the option of deleting the file or just the entry in the library) the next time Apple TV or the iPod/iPhone gets synchronized.
There may be more but this seems to be what bugs me most at the moment.

Apple would be wise to offer DVR and/or Blu-Ray as separate plug-in options or as new Apple TV models. If that DVR functionality included hard drive expandability and excellent video collection management, with the ability to legally archive old DVD collections and quickly sync an iPod to the Apple TV to "grab a flick to go", it would garner a huge following.

There seems to be some misunderstanding as to DVR use. In my mind, it's not intended to replace the video store. Some, not all, users actually do want to archive videos of broadcast content. While it is true that 99% of what is aired on TV today is pure crap, there is some use for a DVR. The Superbowl Monster.com moose commercial should have been archived by everyone, it's an instant classic. Replays of hockey games save lots of time and allow you to cut to the good stuff while cutting out all the boring fights (or the other way around, if you are a violent person). And what happens when your dad gets interviewed on the local news -- you going to watch the broadcast once and forget it, or would you turn on the DVR? Broadcasting and recording are not dead.

I find it highly unlikely that cable & satellite companies would sit idly by and watch Apple offer a fantastic a-la-carte content ordering device with DVR, though. These companies market DVRs as either teaser deals or expensive subscription add-ons to their existing cable/satellite services. It works wonderfully as a means to swindle customers out of more money. Give customers only the ability to temporarily "time-shift" broadcast content for viewing schedule convenience, but not to actually create a video collection or share or archive high-quality video, and the dummies will enjoy the illusion of control.

If consumers could pay for and permanently archive their HD video content once (or even simply access the select few channels a user really wants without buying the other 95% crap that is bundled in the "Premium Channels" package), then cable and satellite operators would lose their regional monopolies. All hell would break loose and the fabric of the universe would disintegrate. The suddenly-vulnerable media megacorporations would be forced to retaliate the only way they know how: throttling consumer-driven internet traffic so they can expand their offerings of even more stupid TV programming and scripted "reality" crapTV. Traffic signals would turn blue and SUVs would retaliate against their drivers. The very basis of modern civilization -- selling the consumer more than the consumer really wants -- would crumble. This is the kind of Armageddon that the entrenched media companies are saving we hapless consumers from experiencing. Thank goodness for corporate overlords.

Feb 11, 09 - 08:43 pm Comment from: Tommy Boy

All I want is parental controls so I can keep my rugrats out of my porn.

The answer is simple.

Apple sells a combination download and BluRay movie.

Apple streams a 720p version to the buyer for immediate viewing satisfaction and ships a BluRay for subsequent viewing and archival.

Perfect solution. Kills all competition.