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Opinions on the Apple TV gadget?

  • 21-03-2007 1:43pm
    #1
    Tom Dunne
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,212 ✭✭✭✭


    Has the crossover between HTPC and STB arrived?

    Could this device do for home entertainment what the ipod did for mp3 players? I haven't read any reviews of it yet, but I will be keeping an eye out for them. I certainly think it has potential, especially given Apple's reputation for making things that work out of the box.

    Any opinions?


Comments

  • #2
    Krusty_Clown
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,550 ✭✭✭✭Krusty_Clown


    It does look interesting, but doesn't it have more in common with a Media Centre Extender, given that it doesn't support TV reception (except downloaded content).

    It would be great to relegate my Media PC to another room, and just have the AppleTV connected to my television set, but having live TV available is an important feature in our house..

    Nice to see that it comes with optical audio, HDMI, 10/100, and 802.11n. As you mentioned, it's Apple, so it just works (unless trying to use iTunes in Vista!)


  • #3
    8T8
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,757 ✭✭✭8T8


    Limited usefulness in stock configuration unless you are an iTunes user.

    Apple's own proprietary versions of MPEG4-ASP and AVC mean it wont decode other content as well (unless there are using something else for decoding in the unit).

    Only outputs supported are component & HDMI normally only found on HDTV's, the USB port is a service port only apparently (well have to see what hackers can do with that).

    However as it runs a x86 Intel CPU inside it there is plenty of potential to hack it to widen video support then it becomes a much more attractive device.


  • #4
    Tom Dunne
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,212 ✭✭✭✭Tom Dunne


    8T8 wrote:
    However as it runs a x86 Intel CPU inside it there is plenty of potential to hack it to widen video support then it becomes a much more attractive device.

    Start the clock.......


  • #5
    8T8
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,757 ✭✭✭8T8


    Yes indeed :D

    I have been waiting for something like this to come along as nothing really came close to XBMC but that was far too involved to setup as something simple for friends & family.

    Also keep in mind this thing only works with widescreen TV's as well in it's stock config so that's another item that hackers will have to correct.

    It would be perfect if they the get the following working:
    * Enhance media codec support with XviD, H.264 & WMV industry standards supported.
    * Enhance container support AVI, MP4, MKV with subtitles.
    * De-couple iTunes from media sharing/management.
    * Enable USB port so reading media from USB drive is possible.

    Of course this will probably take some time :(


  • #6
    SouperComputer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,949 ✭✭✭SouperComputer


    My opinion now could be summed up with "Yawn". Its nowhere near a HTPC replacement.

    However, when its hacked.......


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  • #7
    8T8
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,757 ✭✭✭8T8


    First blood to SA Forums who got XviD running on it.

    The AppleTV is running an embedded version of OSX and they basically dropped in the Perian plugin for QuickTime which adds support for XviD in AVI containers & a few other codec types.

    QT is a crappy decoder though so the hardwares performance could be wasted and Perian still has some ways to go to fill out it's codec support hopefully this will help Perian improve or something better comes along like MythTV for AppleTV :cool:


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