Apple to release iTV video streaming box in 2007

In an unusual turn of events, Apple has pre-announced a wireless video streaming set-top box to be released in Q1 2007 with the tag line "you can take content to your computer or iPod, but now... TV." Going by the codeword of iTV, the box looks like a flattened Mac mini -- apparently it's around half the height -- and features a built-in power supply, USB 2.0, Ethernet, 802.11 "wireless component video", optical audio and HDMI ports, plus regular ol' RCA stereo audio ports. Controllable by the standard Apple remote, the iTV will come with an updated version of the Front Row interface that shares Front Row's smooth 3D graphics, but differs in that it has a menu on the right side of the screen. Apparently it'll work with both iTunes on both PCs and Macs, and will sell for $299.

[Tom Boucher @ Sep 12th 2006 2:32PM]

Wow, can't wait to see more details, I'd snag one of these.

[Jason @ Sep 12th 2006 2:33PM]

It has an HDMI port, will there be HD content?

[Chris @ Sep 12th 2006 2:33PM]

$299 is far too expensive without a TV tuner. I'll stick to my tivo.

[Evilengineer @ Sep 12th 2006 2:33PM]

So, if there's an HDMI out- can we expect a resolution bump in Q1 of '07 to say, 1920x1080p?

[ed @ Sep 12th 2006 2:34PM]

So in the live keynote post, it said it was playing The Incredibles in HD, not the iTunes download format. Does that mean the iTV gets special access to HD versions, or that they were playing it from another (High-Def) source?

It seems they removed the HD comment in the keynote post - how odd...

[the_godfather @ Sep 12th 2006 2:35PM]

i'll stick with my htpc and wait for vista mce with cable card support

[Steve Wallen @ Sep 12th 2006 2:35PM]

Front Row needs the ability to record. Or interface with a Tivo 3.

[The Other Jason @ Sep 12th 2006 2:35PM]

I'll pass... I have been streaming HD from my PC to my HDTV using my XBOX 360 for almost a year now...

This is far from innovative... really the XBOX360 Core System will do everything this does and look better doing... plus you can play games with it! PASS!!

[Khamel @ Sep 12th 2006 2:36PM]

while im going to stick with my xbmc box for now, the fact that this actually will do hd is interesting. but if i cant watch non-itunes movies in hd its really limiting to the point of being useless (for me).

[Dan @ Sep 12th 2006 2:37PM]

Really, HD is going to be key for the success of this device. Sure, 640x480 is decent (even good) for watching on your ipod, but the sort of person who drops another iPod's worth of $$$ on a STB expects to see some serious picture quality.

At 299 it could be seen as a veritable bargain compared to bluray or hddvd... but only if it supports 1080i or better.

[Wonderboy @ Sep 12th 2006 2:37PM]

I'm guessing this will only work for iTunes supported formats... in other words all the movies and video clips I have on my computer in non-.mp4 or .mov format would be left out in the cold.

I'm hoping I'm wrong with this, but I'm guessing the interface will require iTunes as the source.

If I'm correct, I'll be passing this up and waiting for a comprehensive solution... I'm not about to waste the 2TB of video I've collected. Guess we'll all find out in January for sure.

[The Incredible Hulk @ Sep 12th 2006 2:37PM]

Hulk SMASH itunes 7 and iTV!! Movies overpriced!! Hulk can buy DVD and transcode without DRM for less. Hulk love dolby digital surround sound. iTunes movies no have dolby digital!!! Arrrrrghhhhh!! If plan is to use ipod and iTV to watch downloaded movie on big screen with 2 channel sound, Hulk SMASH plan to bits!!! Hulk always say, "Audio is 50% of Audio/Video"

-Hulk

[Evan @ Sep 12th 2006 2:38PM]

I'd like to know:
HDMI - Is HD playback planned?
USB - Can we connect a harddrive and stream off that?

[DBX00 @ Sep 12th 2006 2:39PM]

It doesn't seem to be priced to sell. I'd rather just get a Tivo3, XBOX360 (streaming media), or a PS3 (which will have those functionalities and more)...I don't really buy into this whole movie purchasing, especially when last time I checked the video Ipod doesn't have a rewind or fast forward function

[Will Clarke @ Sep 18th 2006 9:11PM]

The Video iPod has ALWAYS had a rewind and fast forward function. You can even use the scroll wheel to skip to any part of the video you want.

[Mahkno @ Sep 12th 2006 2:39PM]

I really don't see the point of this device. It will be a niche item.

Now... if Apple put an HDTV tuner inside that 24" iMac, we might have something goin.

[phi @ Sep 12th 2006 2:42PM]

The only reason I can see Apple doing this was because people would ultimately ask how they were gonna be able to watch their movies on their TVs seeing how I'm sure iTunes isn't going to be giving you an option to burn those movies to DVD.

[Mal @ Sep 12th 2006 2:43PM]

Yes, I suspect that itv ( http://www.itv.com ) may have some issues with that name...

But then it serves Apple right really after all that crap suing people who dare use the term 'pod' in a product name.

[The Other Jason @ Sep 12th 2006 2:43PM]

Really save yourself the trouble!!! Who wants to buy TV shows from iTunes??? Get a media center PC and you can schedule them to record just like they do on a Tivo box... then get a PMC like the Toshiba Gigabet... sync it right with your PC... oh and if you want a box like this get an XBOX360... It will do everything this thing does using Media Center or Windows Media Connect.

It looks like Apple has the copy machines out today... trying to catch up with all the cool products Microsoft already has out there. Plus with Windows/360 you can use ANY media format not just crappy DRMed Apple crap!

[Kevin @ Sep 12th 2006 2:43PM]

Again it looks like Apple is playing the proprietary game and limiting this device to itunes tv shows and movies. Since I don't intend to pay for either the device is worthless. Apple is still way behind the game from a media center standpoint. As an earlier poster said, they need to incorporate a TV tuner. But wait, then you wouldn't need to pay them $1.99 per episode. Looks like they're making the same mistake that landed them 2% of the desktop market share even though they have superior technology.

[Graham @ Sep 12th 2006 2:44PM]

Looks nice. I hope that means that iTunes is going to get a facility to rip DVDs and HD-DVDs/BluRay movies, so that they can be streamed to this device (which doesn't look like it will have a lot of internal storage space). However I suspect that Apple has a grand vision of all media being downloaded via iTMS. However stick an EyeTV on the Mac running iTunes and you'll have a DVR ... but not in the living room.

Looks like it could replace the slingbox and the squeezebox, although the latter at least is operable without a television for music, and has high quality components.

[Frank Einstien @ Sep 12th 2006 2:44PM]

Arrrhh. Frank agree with Hulk. NetFlix better.

[Ari @ Sep 12th 2006 2:47PM]

I'll buy this, but only if it can play other content, non-iTunes video, and maybe streamed eyeTV video.

[eric @ Sep 12th 2006 2:48PM]

Normally I'm a freak for all things apple, but this thing is just dumb. No HDTV tuner? When are they going to put out a real set top box? They really expect me to stream crap quality itunes movies to my beautiful HDTV? I'd rather watch movies on my 15 year old general electric VCR.

They have so much potential with the mini. get an HD tuner and some DVR software in that thing and they've got a killer.

[Sherif @ Sep 12th 2006 2:48PM]

Hmmm...media streaming devices have been around forever. I guess the advantage of this will be that it works well with the iTunes ecosystem. And it'll probably work better than the other ones by DLink and I-O Data, which have tended to be flaky.

If the iTunes movies are not Hi Def though, then what's the point of attaching this to a Hi Def TV?

[primetime4 @ Sep 12th 2006 2:50PM]

Hey Other Jason,

Please explain to me HOW you have been streaming HD content from you PC using your 360. Not HD content you download from the marketplace. True idiot.

Everyone else, if you want to use other video formats with this why not just convert it to an iTunes format? There are plenty of programs that will do this and anything in your iTunes library should play like the next.

[tiuk @ Sep 12th 2006 2:50PM]

Well, since it has no tuner I don't see much of a reason to abandon my XBMC just yet. However, This is a great move by Apple.

[John @ Sep 12th 2006 2:51PM]

I call "smokescreen" for newer technologies to be announced next year. This is unprecedented for Apple to show a glimpse into future technologies outside of the occasional verbal hint. So, I don't think "Apple has the copy machines out today". In fact, the last time Apple copied Microsoft was...uhhhh...ummmmm...

[pinn @ Sep 12th 2006 2:51PM]

I don't see why this would be better than hooking up a media center PC. Video on iTunes is crap because of the proprietary file format... even if it's HD. I'd rather be able to download whatever format I want and not be hooked to Apple's corporate machine.

Sorry boys, but there's no reason I'd spend $300 for this box when I can put together a very decent media center PC for less than $1K.

[Mack Swift @ Sep 12th 2006 2:54PM]

Remember, Steve-O said that this was just a preview and that it was still in development. So we can see alot of changes down the pike in Jan 2007.

The HDMI port obviously means were looking at 1080p or 1080i capability for something. HD movies on the iTunes store? A Mac-Mini with a Blu-Ray or HD-DVD drive? Slap a Mac-Mini, with a large firewire drive and this in your stereo cabinet and voila'! A Mac-HTPC setup!

PC users seem to be left out in the cold. For starters, I have quite a bit of WMV (HD and SD), Divx and Xvid (HD and SD) over a few external HDs. Will this thing support multiple codecs? Or will this thing not care what codec you use, but just stream whatever media it is and read the ID3 tag info?

We'll know for sure come January.

[tofu713 @ Sep 12th 2006 2:55PM]

So they are just releasing a Mac version of the Buffalo LinkTheater (http://www.buffalotech.com/products/product-detail.php?productid=130&categoryid=18)
and just charging $200 more for a FrontRow-like interface...

[Matt @ Sep 12th 2006 2:55PM]

Although it lacks a DVR, it has another feature that makes it far more interesting than a standard MCPC in my opinion. Paired with the iTunes Store, this could offer an interesting a la carte and on demand alternative to a cable subscription. Something people have been asking the cable companies for for years.

[Kevin @ Sep 12th 2006 2:58PM]

HD content can be streamed to the Xbox 360 using a Windows media center pc and using media center extender. Here's a website with a video clip if you're interested. http://www.hdbeat.com/2005/12/08/video-of-streaming-hdtv-to-an-xbox-360/

[Sam @ Sep 12th 2006 2:58PM]

yeah uhmmm "cool products Microsoft already has out there" you're kidding right? lol, Apple will do it right, and will do it better. May take them longer (sometimes) but they always do it better. Graphics on the xBox 360 are typically microsoft ugly, no sophistication or restraint. I hope you realized that fundamentally Apple started the whole graphical interface movement so really who is copying who now? Some people just don't get it.

[The Other Jason @ Sep 12th 2006 2:59PM]

Hey primetime4 - The Real True Idiot - I stream HD WMV files from my PC using Windows Media Center ALL THE TIME! Don't be an ass... do you own an XBOX360? You can access ANY MEDIA FROM a Media Center PC on your 360... include HD videos! Not from the Marketplace... think before you speak.

Go to your 360 Media blade and click the Media Center Icon (the 360 is a FULL MEDIA CENTER EXTENDER)... maybe you should have checked that out before you spoke up.

[Adil Osman @ Sep 12th 2006 2:59PM]

I am so surprised that with the current advances in technology none of the big boys has produced this kind of product as yet and so congratulations and thank you to Apple for getting the ball rolling. We are slowly getting closer to a completely integrated media experience in the home. The only one question I have is whether one would need to rely to having ITunes installed on a local PC/Mac to make use of this box?

[Mosquito Control @ Sep 12th 2006 3:00PM]

So basically Microsoft wouldn't let me stream video from my PC to my 360 without paying for an XP upgrade (sold OEM only), but Apple will let me do it?



Jackasses.

[x23 @ Sep 12th 2006 3:01PM]

"Sorry boys, but there's no reason I'd spend $300 for this box when I can put together a very decent media center PC for less than $1K."

how about because : $300 != $1000.

that alone is a reason for a lot of people. that... and lacking the needed MCE for most other expanders. and not feeling like upgrading an otherwise functioning machine.

i'm hoping the USB port will be able to be used for a keyboard. those with large music libraries aren't going to want to scroll from A->? everytime.

[Jeff @ Sep 12th 2006 3:01PM]

So Apple releases a set-top box that can play 75 downloadable movies at 640x480 resolution for $300.

Tell me where the exciting part of this is.

[Joe @ Sep 12th 2006 3:02PM]

I could see them asking you to dump your cable or sat dish for this. Essentially, use iTunes to sucscribe to your favorite shows and podcasts and purchase your favorite movies. Who needs the networks if you could get all your shows distributed digitally on demand or by subscriptions. I think Stevie is after a lot of Rupert and the cable boy's money and this is his foot in the door.

Those who mentioned XBMC are right, the 360 is a better option today because it can play more formats from a Windows Media Center box (and has that whole game feature thing). HOWEVER, no one out side of Apple has had any success with the whole "closed loop" content ecosystem where they control the purchase, the distribution, the rights management, and the playback device. That's going to be the appeal they'll attempt to commercialize - "It all just works..."

Interesting times.

[David @ Sep 12th 2006 3:02PM]

This would have been exciting if WMP11 wasn't going to be capable of streaming HD video to the Xbox 360 after the next dashboard update (you can already do it with MCE). That goes doubly so if the rumors that 1080p output over component and VGA will be enabled in the update.

Too little, too late. Not something I accuse Apple of too often, but they seem to have managed it this time.

[Sean @ Sep 12th 2006 3:04PM]

$300 to stream non-hd stuff to my TV????

Geeze.

No tuner/DVR?

It should be called IdontdoTV.

As I was listening to the announcement I was holding off on my Tivo S3 purchase. Not anymore. No Tivo killer here.

[Mosquito Control @ Sep 12th 2006 3:04PM]

Needing XPMCE is pretty much the most frustrating part of the 360, because I can think of no good reason why they couldn't have patched the functionality into XP, as they did with mp3 and picture sharing.



As someone else mentioned, though, I'd much rather make a media pc. $300 for a shoddy PC, $200 for a bigger HD, "acquire" MCE, and I'd be good to go for barely much more than this.

[Kevin @ Sep 12th 2006 3:06PM]

Yeah, you'll be able to watch all those Disney new releases since Jobs was so arrogant he pissed off all the other studios. The only reason Disney hung in there was because Jobs was on the BOD.

[primetime4 @ Sep 12th 2006 3:10PM]

Other Jason,

You are right and I am not too big of a fanboy to admit being wrong. I do own a 360 but not a media center pc. Unfortunately, a lot of other people don't either so either way, both companies are getting peoples money.

[John @ Sep 12th 2006 3:12PM]

I agree with the XBOX360 and XBMC comments. These media extenders and the likes are garbage comparatively, when looked at from a price/features standpoint, the XBOX's win hands down.

[grimlock @ Sep 12th 2006 3:18PM]

me grimlock no happy. me grimlock smash itv. me grimlock want pvr capabilities. no like proprietary codecs. me grimlock not afford tivo series 3 HD.

[calebc @ Sep 12th 2006 3:24PM]

Mosquito Control,
So what you're saying is, if you lie cheat and steal, you'll end up spending more money for a shoddy pc and hard drive, than if you bought the iTV.
I'm sold...

Also...

@DBX00
The iPod video does have a fast forward and rewind feature. Just click the select button and use the wheel to FF and RWD.

[B-Sabre @ Sep 12th 2006 3:25PM]

Front Row on the Mac will play videos besides DRM'd iTunes shows - like .wmv and .avi files, assuming you have the right codec loaded for Quicktime.

Now, that begs the question - assuming this thing is using Quicktime as the playback software (if its running iTunes, it is), then can you add your preferred codecs to the system, or do they come preloaded? Can you update the software on the box via the wireless network (and it also looks like there is an Ethernet port on the back)?

I'm betting you can at least update iTunes and Quicktime via your network, but I don't know about custom codecs.

Also, that USB port is interesting? It'd be nice if you can hook up an external hard drive full of movies to the box...

[sideshow_raheem @ Sep 12th 2006 3:25PM]

i think alot of people are not understaning what apple is trying to do. this is NOT ment to be a meadia center, like the xbox 360 is atteamting to be, itv is just a way to play all the content that you have within itunes on your tv, thats all. if i'm not mistaken this has been something people have been wanting ever since itunes added video. i know that there are lots of things you can purchace that will do this job but, like most things apple makes, your not buying it for what it dose but rather for how well it dose it.