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Dec 29, 08 - 09:24 am Comment from: deepdish

I kinda wish things would go the other direction. I wish I could get the new screensaver Leopard has on the AppleTV.

With the economy as it is, I don't expect Apple to introduce anything really new or cool until it picks back up again.

Dec 29, 08 - 09:25 am Comment from: deepdish

Damn, my own chance to say "first" and I blew it. I always thought it was kinda stupid to post "first" anyway.

But here it goes "second"

How could any Mac be turned into an Apple TV with only software? How would they connect to HDTVs? There are no component or HDMI ports.

Dec 29, 08 - 09:34 am Comment from: Connor MacBook

Macs have had an Apple TV built-in for years. It's called Front Row.

If they open up the platform then that would mean there's no need to manufacture the ATV hardware. Would this mean Mini sales would take off? Would this be an Intel Apple item only?

Guess most folks would need a pretty long DVI cable unless Apple makes a wireless TV connection to stream off your Mac.

All I want is a DVD/BLU-RAY built in an AppleTV

Tony:

Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter:

http://tinyurl.com/5ym5jb

Agreed. I love my ATV but my goodness is it slim pickins at iTunes.

or... other than one brief commercial's run, they could've actually advertised for the ATV over the last two years.

sheesh.

i've never met anyone whom actually knew what i was talking about when i go on and on about how cool mine is. bought the day it was released.

the BIG PITA with using your mac to watch movies is that DVI doesnt send the sound. So after connecting your mini display display port-to-dvi adapter, then your extra long dvi-to-hdmi cable to your tv - youve now got a silent movie - hurrah !
Tv's which take hdmi-in expect the sound - theres no separate audio-in, which means you need to hook the audio direct to a sound system.
With a set of pre-requisites like these, its unlikely many will bother. Im a complete tech-head with every cable and adapter imaginable to hand, and I wont.

Dec 29, 08 - 09:54 am Comment from: DRM sucks

That would be cool, though I doubt it would happen unless Apple is ready to get rid of the Apple TV. They already treat it like a step child, aka Mac Mini.

Re: "With the economy as it is, I don't expect Apple to introduce anything really new or cool until it picks back up again."

At economic times like these, the best place to put money is into R & D. This may not be realized as hardware immediately, esp if a new manufacturing process is required as might be the case for cool new hardware. However, this would be software. Also, this would not require a lot of work as the premise is already established.

Dec 29, 08 - 09:57 am Comment from: hurtle24

If this is true, they just need to update Front Row, the UI is virtually identical to the Apple TV, they just need to add the iTunes store functionality.

Dec 29, 08 - 10:08 am Comment from: eMax

Who would want/really use the iTunes store in front row? If you are already controlling your computer why cant you just open itunes?

That feature is definitely not worth paying for. It would just make it a bit easier to rent or buy on the fly from a remote.

I'm not interested in rental (or even purchase) through iTunes. I want DVD/Blu-Ray built-in. Until then, I'm not buying AppleTV.

Dec 29, 08 - 11:00 am Comment from: qka

@TV Head

I love my ATV but my goodness is it slim pickins at iTunes.

Then you consider this.

Isn't that what Front Row already does? I don't really get this. The only scenario I see is to utilize the new Mac Mini for this purpose so that the web functionality of the Mini is now also applied to the living room...

With a 1080p monitor, ATV could easily become a great casual internet browser, email and gaming rig. Surely the processor has the horsepower to run iPhone games, etc.

This software upgrade would automatically make the ATV much more interesting.

Pandora or Flycast should come preinstalled—who needs satellite radio or cable radio? Anything Apple can stick on ATV to replace cable tv functions would be great. Also simple apps like weather channel, stocks, Google earth, etc.

I still think they ought to make the thing slightly bigger so that it can use cheaper laptop drives instead of iPod drives. 40 gigs is kinda lame in 2008 for a HD client.

How about just shipping an AppleTV with a USB camera/mic, and a version of iChat that works on it? Bam, instant video phone integrated right into your home entertainment system.... Yes please.

Dec 29, 08 - 12:11 pm Comment from: nvlion10

Isn't that just Front Row? If this turns out to be true will there even be new ATV hardware? Blu Ray for ATV 3.0? That's really all I want.

Is there any word on that?

"Tv's which take hdmi-in expect the sound - theres no separate audio-in, which means you need to hook the audio direct to a sound system."

That's not exactly true... my Sony Bravia has three HDMI inputs. One of which has an analog sound input as well. Works fine with my Mac Mini.

"Need more input, Stephanie."

Apparently Number 5 is still alive.

I think that they ought to merge the AppleTV and the Mini into one product with a BluRay (or however you spell it) drive, a full-size HD, Firewire 800 and Nvidia chipset with MiniDisplayPort and included HDMI adaptor. Price it at $400-500, and you would have a very sweet home entertainment system. Especially if you include all of the major media streaming/download sites in the Front Row/AppleTV interface. Make sure that you include games and internet browsing, and that you can add HDTV tuning with TubeStick or El Gato. Also, include iChat and allow camera and mic input (sold separately of course). That would be the ultimate Media Hub/Digital Living Room device. They could even make a really cool MobileMe interface to push that product into wider adoption. Push email, calendar and contacts right in your living room. Sell iPod Touch with slick interface as an add-on remote control. Buy the bundle package, with AppleTV/Mini, Remote and Camera/Mic for $800-1000.

Steve, are you listening?

Dec 29, 08 - 01:02 pm Comment from: John E

"Cloning" iPod Touch software on the AppleTV (or a Mini used as an HTPC), or alternatively enabling it to "mirror" your iPhone/Touch screen on your TV, would be the huge breakthrough, not more content or bluray, etc. but it would need a fundamentally different remote control.

the true problem with all the TV-computer "convergence" boxes - ATV, XBox, et al - is the user interface - their remote controls. the old style cursor & menu they all use is just clumsy, especially bad for entering any text - which is vital for fully using the web. and full keyboard remote controls - which are available for some - just don't feel right sitting on a sofa.

using an iPhone/Touch as the sofa control via ATV instead would be fantastic. suddenly all their apps would "work" on your TV. games, the web, and the rest, and easy to use.

hope the rumor is true ...

Dec 29, 08 - 01:23 pm Comment from: bobchr

Front row on any Mac wont allow the full use of screen real estate the way Apple TV does. As for Blu Ray, there is no real incentive for Apple to offer this unless it was going to rent or sell the physical media . It's not worth the expense for the limited demand. Sure everybody wants it but they want it for free. I'll bet ot one person on this site would be willing to pay an extra $400 for a Blu Ray superdrive or $250 for just a player with DVD CD burner capabilities.

Yes while it is true you can get PS3 with Blu Ray capability, No one knows what kind of financial hit Sony is taking to provide their gaming units with this service because they did it to create a de-facto standard and push HDdvd out of the market.

The other kicker is content providers are going to kick in their own tax to protect their investments from piracy. As band width for high speed interned improves and Infrastructure providers loosen up the no physical media approach provided by Apple TV along with Time capsule and home servers will always provide a cheaper solution than physical burnable discs.

Mac Pro hooked to a 46"+ HDTV for years. The problem with Front Row is you can't tell it which screen to use. It automatically wants to use the one the menu bar is on. So you either have to do video mirroring and forget working at the same time or jump through hoops to web browse on the secondary monitor and pray you don't need to open any new folders/windows.

Just give me a DVD slot on the Apple TV and I'll buy one.

Dec 29, 08 - 03:06 pm Comment from: MacintoshSoftwareList.com

I can see the iPhone becoming more than just a remote.

They've already released this software. It's called iTunes, and using the Front Row software, functions virtually identical to the native software of the AppleTV.

I really don't understand this "rumor" and story!.

Is not only expand their content- but deliver pre-paid content ON TIME and not fscked up.

Countless times i've had to deal with email shit support because i downloaded a video with no audio, or super low audio, or only music and no speech volume.

That and a tv show will broadcast, and apple won;t have it ready for weeks later.

At this point also- the show will be available for download, but season pass holders are locked out of it - sometimes for days.

And then there's the fact that shows will be mislabeled or out of order. WTF?

they should fix the obvious simple shit first. it's a fscking joke sometimes.

i read alot of people wanting Blu-Ray on the Apple TV... why not Apple TV on a Blu-Ray player hardware instead? Same thing just I bet alot more people would buy it if it had a Sony label on the box.

i'd be happy if they'd just do one of the following or both:
1. integrate personal DVD importing into itunes in a similar manner to personal CD importing. not likely to happen because of legal issues or whatever, but come on! if i have the disc in my house, i should be allowed to have a compressed copy in iTunes so i don't have to hunt down the D*MN disc everytime i want to watch it. yeah i can buy the digital copy from iTunes, but thats about as dumb as buying an album i have on CD from itunes... STOOP-ID!

2. for crying out loud sell HD movies from the iTunes store!

but really, this rumor about selling the Apple TV software??? Why. What would be the point other than to tell people "oh you think you could do a better job on building the Apple TV, go ahead then!"

or would they do so only to have at least 1 product that sells fewer units than the hardware version of the Apple TV product.

i like the idea of the games on the Apple TV...

How could any Mac be turned into an Apple TV with only software? How would they connect to HDTVs? There are no component or HDMI ports.

Not yet.........

Dec 29, 08 - 07:16 pm Comment from: John E

it's easy - just use a DVI to HDMI cable.

"...How could any Mac be turned into an Apple TV with only software? How would they connect to HDTVs? There are no component or HDMI ports..."

You'd still have to add a video card or a display with HDCP (to unlock content protection) on older machines.

Boxee.. anyone.. ??

"That's not exactly true... my Sony Bravia has three HDMI inputs. One of which has an analog sound input as well. Works fine with my Mac Mini."

In fact I too have a 3 x HDMI Bravia (kdl40v4000) which does indeed have this function on HDMI port 2, thanks for pointing it out ! Now I just need a matching 5 meter minijack cable.