Apple TV?

[cdrn1]

I am considering getting this and would appreciate pros and cons from anyone who has it. I have an iPhone and am getting an iPad and thought this might be a nice addition.

 

[arthur06]

 

[Keli]

What is apple tv? And why the popcorn smilie?

 

[bdoyledimou]

The only issue i have the Apple TV is that it ties you down to the Apple Itunes store. Otherwise its a pretty neat device.

Personally, I use the LG Smart TV Updater (LG ST600) . It provides the same functionality as the Apple TV, but is a bit cheaper (can be found for $99 or less). It also has an iphone/ipad app which you can use as a remote.

Apple TV, LG Smart TV Upgrader and other devices like this allow you to access your stored movies from your computer, Netflix, Hulu+, or Video on Demand such as VUDU through your TV and home internet connection.

Since i got mine, i have dropped Cable altogether and just use Netflix and Hulu+ for day to day watching.

 

[S. C.]

What is apple tv? And why the popcorn smilie?

I was wondering the same thing.

 

[mrsklamc]

Do you have specific questions? DH wanted one when they first came out but we never used it much so I don't know much a about it but would be happy to ask him for you.

 

[SabMad]

We love it. Used Handbrake to copy our movies to a 2TB drive and can access them from the TV that Apple TV is connected to. We watch more movies now because it is much easier. If you have any technical questions I will have to refer them to my husband.

 

[TiggerTails57]

subbing......

 

[vaDisneyGuy]

We love our Apple TV. We use it to stream Netflix and then movies and tv shows from the Itunes. you can also watch YouTube,Vimeo. I thought it was a great deal for $99.00 bucks and the new one is so small you don't really see it.(I don't like clutter)
I have my Ipod touch and Ipad set up as remote controls for it so that is neat also.

It was really easy to set up. plug it in hook HDMI cable form the back of Apple TV to your TV. It walks you through every thing else on the TV screen.

 

[starbird]

Ours gets used daily. Between Netflix, he MLB.tv package (if you subscribe through MLB), and content from iTunes. And the digital copies that most Disney DVDs come with now? As long as you pick the iTunes version will play, too. Everyone in my house loves it (me, DW, DD9, DD6).

Even have it set up through the audio jack in the back to me stereo. Then I can play my music in iTunes wirelessly through it.

If you use iTunes For you media, it is a great extension. If you have an iPhone or iPod touch, you can use that as a remote (iPad, too). If you have an iPad 2, when the next iOS update comes out (rumors say next month), you will be able to mirror content fromthe iPad to your tv.

 

[wshupnastar]

I have been wondering about getting Apple TV as well. Currently we have a ROKU in our bedroom, but I was thinking Apple might work better for the living room. We are wanting to get rid of Directv, and most of the current shows we watch aren't available to stream through Hulu Plus (at least not through the TV).

Am I correct that with Apple TV I could buy the episodes I want. For instance, we are all addicted to Glee (and I already have quite a few episodes on my I-POD) would we be able to buy each weeks episodes and watch it on our tv? And can we use more than one account on it? (such as if I buy an episode of Glee, but, on DH's Apple account/I-Tunes he purchases one the shows he likes, can we play from any I-Tunes account in our household (we have one for all four of us...each with a lot of purchased shows)

We don't watch a ton of tv, so I was thinking paying per show might save a lot over the fortune Directv is charging us. We would maybe spend $20 a month instead of $85....

Any info would be appreciated.

 

[DawnM]

Apple TV is not compatible with HuluPlus so you are limited in what you can stream.

We chose Roku so that we could use Hulu+.

Roku also streams up to 1080p quality where Apple's streaming goes only up to 720p quality.

Dawn

 

[starbird]

I have been wondering about getting Apple TV as well. Currently we have a ROKU in our bedroom, but I was thinking Apple might work better for the living room. We are wanting to get rid of Directv, and most of the current shows we watch aren't available to stream through Hulu Plus (at least not through the TV).

Am I correct that with Apple TV I could buy the episodes I want. For instance, we are all addicted to Glee (and I already have quite a few episodes on my I-POD) would we be able to buy each weeks episodes and watch it on our tv? And can we use more than one account on it? (such as if I buy an episode of Glee, but, on DH's Apple account/I-Tunes he purchases one the shows he likes, can we play from any I-Tunes account in our household (we have one for all four of us...each with a lot of purchased shows)

We don't watch a ton of tv, so I was thinking paying per show might save a lot over the fortune Directv is charging us. We would maybe spend $20 a month instead of $85....

Any info would be appreciated.

Do you all download to different computers? If so, once downloaded, as long as home sharing is active on all the computers, they will all show up on the AppleTV, I believe. I use the same account for all our iDevices and Macs as this allows us all to use anything we buy as opposed to re-authenticating on the fly. So I am not sure how that would work for you to get them all without signing in that account. But I believe, if you all have iPod touches, iPhones, or iPads, each with a different account, you can start the video on the iDevice and then tap the AirPlay icon and send it to your AppleTV.


AirPlay by srstarbird, on Flickr

Apple TV is not compatible with HuluPlus so you are limited in what you can stream.

We chose Roku so that we could use Hulu+.

Roku also streams up to 1080p quality where Apple's streaming goes only up to 720p quality.

Dawn

True about both statements. The things to consider here are (1) Is your HDTV 1080p? If it is 1080i or 720p, it won't matter, and, more importantly (2) is the content being streamed 1080p? And is it compressed? If so, it isn't 'true' 1080p that a blu-ray disc is. From a search for "Is Netflix streaming HD 1080p"

Netflix streaming does support 1080p - but whether you get it depends on what content you're watching (some of it may not be licensed for 1080p or recorded in that format), and what device you're watching on, and whether you have the bandwidth for it (and note that Netflix will ratchet down bandwidth and resolution during playback if it detects congestion).

Remember also that just because it's 1080p doesn't mean it looks great; you can compress a 1080p stream a lot until it looks bad.​

The current content in the iTunes store, HD, is 720p. Disney Digital Copies are not HD, but widescreen, and to be honest? I hardly notice a difference on most things I watch. MLB games look just as good as they do on MLB Network on my DirecTV box.

There are rumors that the next AppleTV will support 1080p since the iPad 2 technically can output (with a separately purchased cable - and Apple hates cables) 1080p.

When the calendar turns late August/early September, my buying advice for iPods and AppleTVs are to wait until the first week in October if you can. If so? Chances are Apple will have released or announced a new version.

 

[hsmamato2]

oh,so many questions!!! what type of internet is needed to stream thru Roku or Apple tv? DSL? broadband? I was thinking of downgrading my 'net speed fro cable to DSL,about 12 mbps to 6...would I be able to use that?
and...I will do some reading, but what kind of content is easily available? I do like Netflix streaming, but also want some updated shows too....are shows current?
and.....if I had a box,hooked up to the tv,does it work on my (not apple) computer also? I am so confused....
also- I assume using one of these boxes is more like DVR usage,right? Kind of like you watch your choice of shows WHEN you want?

 

[timmac]

more importantly (2) is the content being streamed 1080p? And is it compressed? If so, it isn't 'true' 1080p that a blu-ray disc is.

Technical nit: Bluray content is compressed also. What's important is the degree of the compression--which your info did allude to later down-- but wanted to make sure the distinction was clear.

Something else I'd argue is important though, even if _currently_ using a 720p TV, etc, is that at some point in the not too distant future, you might want to upgrade your TV, or might get a faster net connection that supports better quality streaming. On that angle, it might be worth considering a device today that already supports the 1080p.

 

[starbird]

Technical nit: Bluray content is compressed also. What's important is the degree of the compression--which your info did allude to later down-- but wanted to make sure the distinction was clear.

Something else I'd argue is important though, even if _currently_ using a 720p TV, etc, is that at some point in the not too distant future, you might want to upgrade your TV, or might get a faster net connection that supports better quality streaming. On that angle, it might be worth considering a device today that already supports the 1080p.

Great points, for sure, especially the future-proofing. If the rumors are true, and I hope they are, will become a non-issue in about a month...

But based on today's offerings, Roku does have a 1080p model, where the AppleTV is currently 720p.

Regarding bandwidth, I have 18 Megs down, and Netflix HD content starts in under 30 seconds. The iTunes - I have only done items I have previously downloaded to my iMac, and all my devices (iMac, AppleTV, iPhone, AirPort Extreme Base Station) support the fastest available WiFi speeds (802.11n) - So there is no real delay there, either.

As far as "DVR like" that another poster had a question about, yes and no. It is all "on-demand" so to speak (Streaming on Netflix, buying/renting from iTunes), but it is not necessarily as convenient. For instance, Netflix streaming doesn't have new movie releases (some TV content they do, and get updates pretty frequently - Phineas & Ferb and Wizards of Waverley Place come to mind) streaming. iTunes tends to get movies on the same day as the DVD goes on sale, but not all movies are available to rent (HD prices for new release purchases is about $20 a movie to buy, $5 to rent) TV shows on iTunes tend to be available the next day (or some time after 1 AM eastern), so you won't be able to catch tonight's episode of a show until tomorrow, as opposed to starting it when you are ready, but the same night, as a DVR allows. You can also, in iTunes on many shows, buy a Season Pass. What this does is automatically download the next show as it becomes available. I did this with The Walking Dead last year (aired on Sunday nights). I would wake up about 6 AM Monday morning, launch iTunes, and the prior night's episode would start downloading.

A BIG (IMHO) benefit of buying an episode/movie in iTunes, and the AppleTV, is that the content you buy for your AppleTV is also playable on your iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and computer with iTunes, where content on competing boxes is not necessarily (Some might be accomplished via apps)

What I tell people who ask should they go AppleTV or Roku? Do you have an iDevice already (iPhone/iPad/iPod touch)? If so, AppleTV makes the most sense. If not? Which ever you feel will likely be a good choice.

On the topic of "cutting the cable" - I have not gotten there completely. I have reduced my DirecTV package to one they don't advertise, and generally only offer if you are considering canceling, but between the Verizon NFL Mobile App (for Verizon iPhone only), MLB.tv subscription/app, and the Watch ESPN iPhone app, I move closer to being able to. But the content providers are getting "wise" to this - Both the CNN and Watch ESPN apps require you to be an active customer with a participating cable/satellite provider in order to watch live content.

 

[DawnM]

Yes, it is very true that not all shows are even close to 1080p. However, for us, the Hulu play was also a big deal. We like TV shows and Netflix seems to play more movies and older shows, where HuluPlus will air most of what was on TV yesterday today.

Netflix is $10/mo for streaming
HuluPlus is $8

This has allowed us to drop satellite altogether.

We also have an antenna.

Dawn

 

[starbird]

Yes, it is very true that not all shows are even close to 1080p. However, for us, the Hulu play was also a big deal. We like TV shows and Netflix seems to play more movies and older shows, where HuluPlus will air most of what was on TV yesterday today.

Netflix is $10/mo for streaming
HuluPlus is $8

This has allowed us to drop satellite altogether.

We also have an antenna.

Dawn

HuluPlus is my number two hoped for feature in am upcoming AppleTV software update, for the timeliness of the show updates. Number one is NFL (or the ability to AirPlay th NFL mobile app to it).

Netflix streaming only is only $8, however. Same as HuluPlus.

 

[DawnM]

Oh yes, $8. I have a plan with 2 DVDs and with the old pricing and new, I get a little confused.

I do plan to ditch the DVDs as soon as I finish my current season I am watching.

Dawn

HuluPlus is my number two hoped for feature in am upcoming AppleTV software update, for the timeliness of the show updates. Number one is NFL (or the ability to AirPlay th NFL mobile app to it).

Netflix streaming only is only $8, however. Same as HuluPlus.

 

[starbird]

Oh yes, $8. I have a plan with 2 DVDs and with the old pricing and new, I get a little confused.

I do plan to ditch the DVDs as soon as I finish my current season I am watching.

Dawn

Same here! Have 2 DVDs now (dropped blu ray last price increase). Planning to drop to 1 DVD before my September billing so the price change isn't as much, then when I get caught up, just go to streaming and fulfill the limited movie needs with iTunes rentals.