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Apple TV deal breaker (for me anyway) (Page 2)
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Mac Elite
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Yes. I want to stare at a screen all day and watch random graphics while I listen to techno and sip Red Bull. And can they make the TV screen turn into a mirror now and then so I can gaze at my reflection? I need to know I look trendy every 15 minutes or so, and carrying a mirror around is so 2006. But I'm not buying Apple TV until it throws me a compliment at the end of every song -- a sincere one. I'm worth it.
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Originally Posted by centerchannel68
I totally agree with you, but seeing as how it has a intel chip, I'm guessing someone will make one for it. The 'dealbreaker' for me is that it doesn't have a DVD drive, so it's not going to replace my DVD player, it can't encode my DVDs, and the optical port is useless as nothing is encoded in surround sound anyway.
Any way to rip a DVD to h.264 and maintain the 5.1 audio?
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Originally Posted by Cadaver
Any way to rip a DVD to h.264 and maintain the 5.1 audio?
handbrake will do it, but it will only play back in VLC (or other non-quicktime players) and not (as far as we know) on the tv.
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"I start fires!"
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Mac Enthusiast
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I think AppleTV will behave just like a (non-portable) 40gig iPod. It has video-out instead of a display, audio-out for connection to a Hi-Fi, and a UI which mimics Front Row. Nothing more. It will store and play whatever is synced to it in iTunes. As for the streaming functions, we'll have to see. And I'm sure someone will figure out how to put a bigger HD in it in no time.
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Originally Posted by Dark Helmet
Yes. I never do quick on and off's with it. If I want visuals well the 360 does it better than anything else or I can look at my computer.
Anyway, i am not saying Apple shouldn't add visualizers but it is a bit silly to skip it just for that.
Better than milkdrop?
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Baninated
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Originally Posted by Cadaver
Any way to rip a DVD to h.264 and maintain the 5.1 audio?
Sure. But the problem is, UNLESS this iTV converts the 5.1 AAC (compressed) back into full quality uncompressed 5.1 on hte fly, it won't be compatible with any home theater receiver.
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Originally Posted by centerchannel68
Sure. But the problem is, UNLESS this iTV converts the 5.1 AAC (compressed) back into full quality uncompressed 5.1 on hte fly, it won't be compatible with any home theater receiver.
My concern exactly.
Thinking about canceling my order...
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Baninated
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I'd cancel. Movies without surround sound if you already have a surround system ... that's just dumb. Wait for the bugs to get worked out, ie, full surround capability.
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I hate it how Apple always gets the small details wrong like this.
What about playing .avi files? What about surround sound? What about gigabit ethernet?
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Baninated
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yeeeeep. No soup for you!
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Clinically Insane
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Originally Posted by voodoo
Not really. Tivo isn't available except in the US, UK and Taiwan. The rest of the world uses something else.
Last time I looked, it wasn't available in the UK either. AFAIK, they're still providing the schedule service to existing users but you can no longer buy a new box.
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Mac Elite
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Last night my wife and I watched three episodes of Desperate Housewives that we purchased from iTMS using our iBook and a video adapter and headphone jack splitter connected to our living-room TV. It worked great. Sure, it wasn't HD, but who cares until that's mandated by the FCC? Because this works so well (and no ads!), I fail to see the appeal of AppleTV, especially since Rev. A apparently will lack gigabit ethernet, which is a real disappointment.
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Baninated
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You'll see hte appeal once you hook up your laptop to your TV and stereo for the 20th time, having to futz with cords, hit detect displays, putting things in fullscreen, wearing out your S-video connector, having a power cord near the TV, etc etc etc. It sucks.
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Originally Posted by centerchannel68
You'll see hte appeal once you hook up your laptop to your TV and stereo for the 20th time, having to futz with cords, hit detect displays, putting things in fullscreen, wearing out your S-video connector, having a power cord near the TV, etc etc etc. It sucks.
OK, I can see that. But does it truly suck to the tune of $300? Not on my budget. Anyway, I actually can use the connectors on my input-device selector, a $30 part, instead of on the TV itself. Sure, the iBook gets some wear, but whatever -- that's my bang-around, receive-abuse machine anyway (the iMac being my silicon baby).
It sure was fun watching downloaded shows on my television! Even my Luddite wife was impressed. What a pleasure....
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Baninated
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Yep. Wait til you show her mininova and bit torrent.
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Originally Posted by selowitch
OK, I can see that. But does it truly suck to the tune of $300? Not on my budget. Anyway, I actually can use the connectors on my input-device selector, a $30 part, instead of on the TV itself. Sure, the iBook gets some wear, but whatever -- that's my bang-around, receive-abuse machine anyway (the iMac being my silicon baby).
It sure was fun watching downloaded shows on my television! Even my Luddite wife was impressed. What a pleasure....
Your wife is a textile worker from the early 1800s?
Luddite - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Originally Posted by centerchannel68
Sure. But the problem is, UNLESS this iTV converts the 5.1 AAC (compressed) back into full quality uncompressed 5.1 on hte fly, it won't be compatible with any home theater receiver.
Why is everyone assuming that this is not how it works? It is hard to believe that apple would put a useless optical port on the back.
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Originally Posted by Gossamer
I don't know but the word luddite followed by wife doesn't paint the picture of a drop-dead gorgeous woman.
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Posting Junkie
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I own an Elgato Eye Home and LOVEd it (until it broke).
I really wanted the TV to be an updated Eye Home (perhaps with HD and the Apple GUI), but it falls short. I can watch Divx, Xvid, etc. etc. on the Eye Home. How sad...
I'm guessing we will know more when the TV ships.
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My last words... the TV is also missing a DVD to iTunes converter. I know... I know... it will never happen, but it just seems like that would make the entire solution exciting.
iTunes was exciting when it came out because I could burn my CDs. Without the ability to burn my DVDs to a nice ~2-4GB file (retaining the higher quality audio)... I really wonder... what's the point.
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Originally Posted by mitchell_pgh
My last words... the TV is also missing a DVD to iTunes converter. I know... I know... it will never happen, but it just seems like that would make the entire solution exciting.
iTunes was exciting when it came out because I could burn my CDs. Without the ability to burn my DVDs to a nice ~2-4GB file (retaining the higher quality audio)... I really wonder... what's the point.
It's a valid point. TV will be most popular for those who already rip DVDs, or those who don't mind dumping money on iTS movie purchases.
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I also wonder what the point of the hard drive is? Perhaps I'm missing something. Is it so you can copy movies over to it and take it on vacation or to a friends house? My Elgato Eye Home doesn't have a hard drive, and doesn't need one IMHO.
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Originally Posted by Steve Bosell
Why is everyone assuming that this is not how it works? It is hard to believe that apple would put a useless optical port on the back.
I agree... there is no way they are going to make the optical port useless. There are a number of cheaper $199 boxes that can output digital audio.
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According to Apple, you're supposed to be able to sync your most recent videos to the TV. But I'm not sure what good this is if you can stream from your computer anyway. Does it automatically download stuff for you?
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Originally Posted by Gossamer
According to Apple, you're supposed to be able to sync your most recent videos to the TV. But I'm not sure what good this is if you can stream from your computer anyway. Does it automatically download stuff for you?
Yes, it will automatically update your TV with new shows, etc... but what's the point? Great... I have a movie on my TV... but I could just stream it off of my computer.
Why have a hard drive?
I'm obviously missing something.
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Perhaps the streaming is unreliable at lower wifi bandwiths... or some other convenience.
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Originally Posted by Dakar²
Perhaps the streaming is unreliable at lower wifi bandwiths... or some other convenience.
That's a good point... but you would think they would simply have buffers vs. a full hard drive.
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Hmm... here's an odd thought. What if it was used to hold only TV & Movie downloads, rather than keeping them on your desktop/laptop drive?
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Does it have a replaceable battery and 3G? If not deals off.
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"She's gone from suck to blow!"
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Originally Posted by Dark Helmet
Does it have a replaceable battery and 3G? If not deals off.
It also must support 3rd party apps. Which ones? I have no idea. But Apple will fall short.
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It doesn't even come with a battery, which means I can't hook it up to my handheld tv while I'm rock climbing.
I mean, I never rock climb, but what if I did?
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Will it convert your TV to a touchscreen interface?
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Originally Posted by Kerrigan
It doesn't even come with a battery, which means I can't hook it up to my handheld tv while I'm rock climbing.
I mean, I never rock climb, but what if I did?
On that note... this morning I saw a new product that CHARGES your motorola MP3 Phone by bike power. Good timing after those iPhone/mountain bike comments yesterday.
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"She's gone from suck to blow!"
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I'm disappointed that the battery will not last during my journey to Mars. That is the dealbreaker for me.
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Originally Posted by Gossamer
I'm disappointed that the battery will not last during my journey to Mars. That is the dealbreaker for me.
Yes, if it can't get me to Uranus, I'm not interested.
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Posting Junkie
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the tv needs much larger handlebars... how serious is Apple with the home theater if they don't even offer quality handlebars on their products.
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Originally Posted by Dakar²
Yes, if it can't get me to Uranus, I'm not interested.
Does Uranus have 3G coverage? I won't pay for the data services anyway but no way am I getting anything without 3G.
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"She's gone from suck to blow!"
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Baninated
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Eletric Sheep > Milk Drop
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Lemme see if I get this straight…
Apple TV sucks because it's not fun to stare at when you're stoned.
Makes sense to me.
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Originally Posted by smacintush
Lemme see if I get this straight…
Apple TV sucks because it's not fun to stare at when you're stoned.
Makes sense to me.
It would if you were stoned.
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Originally Posted by Dakar²
It would if you were stoned.
Oh please when you are stoned it is entertaining to watch the cat clean itself.
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"She's gone from suck to blow!"
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Originally Posted by Dark Helmet
Oh please when you are stoned it is entertaining to watch the cat clean itself.
and if you're not it's just merely arousing.
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Baninated
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Clinically Insane
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Is that spoiler tag new ? I haven't seen it before until a couple of days ago...
-t
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Check out DemonHood's thread.
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Oh, that's PRICELESS...
Originally Posted by Kevin
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Clinically Insane
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Originally Posted by Gossamer
Check out DemonHood's thread.
[test3]Wow, cool, haven't seen that before[/test3]
-t
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Originally Posted by smacintush
Lemme see if I get this straight…
Apple TV sucks because it's not fun to stare at when you're stoned.
Makes sense to me.
No need to "spark the owl". Not having a good visualizer is lame if you are using the apple TV primarily for music.
(
Last edited by Steve Bosell; Jan 26, 2007 at 07:46 PM.
)
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Ya but isn't it a bit odd to pay for a device with HD out and 802.11n and all that fancy stuff, if you're just going to use it as an iPod? I don't understand why you considered the Apple TV to begin with, since it's for TV, not music/karaoke/visualizations.
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My opinion of tv is improving. I already own a TVmicro for PVR. If I can record tv in the den, transcode, and sync it to tv, then why not?
I'm gonna visit an Apple store, give the thing a test-drive, and then decide.
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