First Apple TV hands-on pics!

Not a lot's changed here since we last saw the Apple TV in iTV form, but here it is, a gallery of hardware shots and menus. More information soon, but check out the gallery for now. (Please bear with us as this gallery continues to upload, pics will be done in just a sec.)

[oshean @ Jan 9th 2007 3:05PM]

iWoot!

[Smeagol @ Jan 9th 2007 3:08PM]

Those are sweet Sony BRAVIA XBRs ... lol, Sony should sell a boatload of those.

[Alan @ Jan 9th 2007 3:09PM]

So now i guess Apple soon will sell high-definition movies through iTunes right? Then i'll buy an Apple TV! :)

[Chris @ Jan 9th 2007 3:11PM]

Do you have to use iTunes to use it? PLEASE SAY NO!!!!

[aural @ Jan 9th 2007 3:12PM]

why no DIVX playback? That's a dealbreaker for me.

[tiuk @ Jan 9th 2007 3:14PM]

Wish it was a DVR.

[Chris @ Jan 9th 2007 3:17PM]

Woah!!! No DIVX playback? What about DVD Streaming?

[Mark Deab @ Jan 9th 2007 4:42PM]

DVD Streaming 80% of households in the USA have dvd players, and the people who do want the Apple TV will probably have DVD players

[Mark Deab @ Jan 9th 2007 4:42PM]

80% of households in the USA have dvd players, and the people who do want the Apple TV will probably have DVD players

[DaveTehWave @ Jan 9th 2007 3:20PM]

Not biting until it does 1080p.

[treetrunk @ Jan 9th 2007 3:27PM]

This would be great if it only supported video formats anyone uses! Like the iPod, it only supports H.264 and MPEG-4. No thank-you!

[mike s @ Jan 9th 2007 3:29PM]

Video
Video formats supported: H.264 and protected H.264 (from iTunes Store): 640 by 480, 30 fps, LC version of Baseline Profile; 320 by 240, 30 fps, Baseline profile up to Level 1.3; 1280 by 720, 24 fps, Progressive Main Profile. MPEG-4: 640 by 480, 30 fps, Simple Profile
Audio
Audio formats supported: AAC (16 to 320 Kbps); protected AAC (from iTunes Store); MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps); MP3 VBR; Apple Lossless; AIFF; WAV
Photos
Photo formats supported: JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PNG
TV compatibility
Enhanced-definition or high-definition widescreen TVs capable of 1080i 60/50Hz, 720p 60/50Hz, 576p 50Hz (PAL format), or 480p 60Hz

[eli @ Jan 9th 2007 3:38PM]

divx movies –or maybe i'm only partly right about this, .avi movies– can play on itunes/quicktime - just save as a reference .mov in quicktime.

[kaybee @ Jan 9th 2007 5:06PM]

can someone verify this?

[Tim Anderson @ Jan 9th 2007 3:39PM]

So do you have to have a widescreen TV for this? That's what the Apple site suggests... I really want one. :)

[JW @ Jan 9th 2007 3:43PM]

Good luck waiting for any content in 1080p other than BD or HDDVD. There is not enough bandwidth out there to efficiently stream such content. 720p is by far good enough for me. I watch HD movies from my Xbox 30 and they look wonderful on my 1080p set.

As it has been stated, the only outstanding question is their support of 720p content via iTunes. Once that is cleared up, I think we'll all feel alittle better about this thing.

Also note, 1080p is can be updated into the HDMI/component firmware just as the Xbox 360's component and VGA firmware was. Don't start belittling something without viewing all of the angles first. Cheers!

[Brad @ Jan 9th 2007 3:49PM]

The on-screen interface looks almost identical to my Buffalo LinkTheater.

[cckrobinson @ Jan 9th 2007 4:03PM]

I really wanted to be able to watch live TV from this thing via a network based ATSC tuner (i.e. the HDHomeRun). If you only watch time shifted content then it's great. If you’re like me and watch sports then it just doesn't cut it. It's not a bad device for the bedroom, but that's it. I don’t need another box that “almost” does what I want. I’m sad to say that Microsoft appears to be on the right track with the Xbox 360. I’m not sure what market Apple is targeting with this device, but I don’t think it will sell. Why can’t someone deliver a single device that’s reliable that can deliver all of my content (i.e. the Series3 Tivo) without having to pay a subscription. Maybe next year.

[keyoncal @ Jan 11th 2007 12:15PM]

here here.

all i ever wanted is a box that sees all my other computers, and i can stream whatever the hell i want to it. no matter what codec, anything. simple. no conversions, no headaches. so far PS3 has the most support for formats, but a pain in the butt getting things to it. everything needs to be converted to windows media formats for xbox360 to work. and appletv can't play even transport streams. its all lame to me. none of these things can do more than my laptop with a dvi to hdmi output.

[John Miller @ Jan 9th 2007 4:13PM]

A LOT of fanboys are going to be very disappointed when they get their new toy and realize that it only has hdmi and component outputs on it and they can't hook it up to what they have. Not everyone has a TV with those inputs, after all. This product seems like a flop to me.

[missed_again @ Jan 9th 2007 9:21PM]

You do realize that component is the lowest you can go before it will no longer support anything above 480i? If your TV doesn't have at least component then it's an SDTV and pretty useless for use with something like this.

[ciscoguerrero @ Jan 9th 2007 4:15PM]

The question is for BOTH the Apple TV and Iphone, is that if they run a version of MAC OSX, couldn't you load an applicaytion like VLC to watch all other videos? (MPEG, AVI, DIVX) maybe not for the apple TV box, but if the Iphone allows one to load other clients like sling, VLC and maybe even a GPS software client, then I'm definitely there for the phone. If one can hack the AppleTV to accept other formats, then I'm sold!

[h0mi @ Jan 9th 2007 8:36PM]

I thought the same thing... if this thing is basically a modified mac mini, surely it'd be possible to install drivers on it to stream divx or other codecs/containers

[applesucksLeo @ Jan 9th 2007 4:19PM]

There are better solutions that cost less at CES...Can you say Slingcatcher??? Plus i`m more excited about the Dell with built-in hi-def cable card :)

[Jonathan Sundy @ Jan 9th 2007 4:32PM]

So, uhh, where's the remote??

[Elijha @ Jan 10th 2007 7:15AM]

It's not so much as to why should it have this feature but why not. I was reciently arguing in favour of the Wii in this point as I already had a D?VD player, and why would I need another?

well for starters I'm stuggling with inputs for my TV withe all thses devices fighting for my attention and secondly - my DVD player broken over christmas, thats right christmas eve and no DVD player - could I just use my wii - nope. Had to digg up my cables vidoe audio and balance my glowing laptop near the TV for a few days... I still havn't replaced the DVD player though ... DIVX att the way now.

[Brad Johnson @ Jan 9th 2007 4:52PM]

This is a nice device but doesn't really help me simplify my set up unless I am mistaken about the AppleTV's capabilities. I need this device to serve as an input from my DVD player and an input from my SAT TV or cable box and be an AV switcher to the TV complete with remote control. I want an Apple control interface to switch between these new AppleTV sources and the DVD and SAT reciever otherwise you're just adding another source box that I have to plug into my A/V switcher. Please tell me I'm wrong but if I'm right this product could have been a home run expecially if it had an integrated wireless HDMI so that you don't have any wires running into the back of your TV (a great intallation advantage for people with projectors, flat screen TV's, big heavy TV's that are hard to access the back or people who are adding new devices such as game systems, home theater or other new A/V sources).

[matt jackson @ Jan 9th 2007 5:01PM]

Nothing much that my xbox can't do. Pretty sad.

[Michael @ Jan 9th 2007 5:30PM]

Nothing revolutionary. It is the same as everyone elses media extender except that it supports way less formats. Was looking forward to this to buy day one, but not now. This will flop and disappear in 6 months because they had the potential to do it correctly but didn't bother to go all the way.

[ockahuna @ Jan 9th 2007 5:43PM]

Am I missing something? This seems to be nothing but a wireless iPod aggregator. You can stream audio/video content from several computers running iTunes and then watch it on your TV. There is no ability to stream/watch other content (Cinemanow, MediaZone, uTube, MLB, etc.) through AppleTV and view it on your TV and nothing can be done without transfering it to the AppleTV HD first. Is this correct?

Seems that some of the new products being shown at CES are much better solutions.

Addlogix's Echoview (http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/07/the-pc2tv-echoview-fm-think-itv-but-not-by-apple/) seems much more useful and MediaZone has a box from Quartics that's streaming live content wirelessly from a laptop to a TV in their booth at CES.

[RuneSpyder @ Jan 9th 2007 6:14PM]

Try streaming 720P across 802.11g.

[Joe Henson @ Jan 9th 2007 6:30PM]

This is perfect for me... All I want to do is listen to music from my computer (which is upstairs) on my stereo (downstairs). I use Airtunes at the moment and hate having to go up to my computer to choose albums etc.

I am buying asap

[Ozgur Bulbul @ Jan 10th 2007 4:12AM]

Why don't you try roku (www.rokulabs.com). Which will do exactly what you need.

I have the cheap M500, and it works great.

[Bill @ Jan 9th 2007 6:41PM]

Been streaming 1080i thru my AVeLinkplayer for a couple of years. Divx, Xvid, WMV9, etc. either over the network or burned to DVD.

Cost $50 less and no proprietary service or format required. Newer versions don't support upconversion thru component, but who does?

Basically this is for the fanboys.

[Han SOlo @ Jan 9th 2007 7:24PM]

Personally I am thinking....


MYTHTV + usign DAAP program to serve files(makes linux looks like iTunes on network)+ iTV as MythFrontEnd = **NICE**

[Andrew Jun @ Jan 10th 2007 4:29AM]

How about using your new iPhone as a remote control instead the one that comes with Apple TV? That would be awesome with Multi-Touch screen.

[gear @ Jan 10th 2007 7:02AM]

Why does Apple seem to focus solely on lower quality content? The music compressed at a low bit rate and there are no other bit rates to choose from, now they will be selling the Apple TV and it uses 720p resolution for HD rather than 1080p or even 1080i. I would love to hear from Apple as to why they’re buisness plan is to focus exclusivly on lower quality content.

[tiuk @ Jan 10th 2007 6:21PM]

Does this run a full fledged version of OS X? In other words, could it be used as a cheaper Mac Mini?

[Brad @ Jan 10th 2007 7:52PM]

i will not buy one of these until there is a divx/xvid hack or upgrade!


also a few other beefs.

NO DIVX/XVID (there are other video formats in the world other than DRM'd MP4's)
no streaming and remote control of DV video cameras
no streaming and remote control of DVD player
No visualizer for music (one of my favorite features in itunes, so sad for the iPhone too)
Cheezy icons in Main GUI
No standard definition RCA video output (or S-Video)
Cheaper model with no harddrive (drive seem useless in most scenarios)
Photo slideshow lacks face recognition for smart panning and zooming (ps3 has it)
Built in iPod dock and iPod navigation

[e-mail]

[Bobby @ Jan 10th 2007 8:06PM]

It would be cool if Apple TV and the new iPhone worked together... use the iPhone like a remote, flip through slideshows on your TV, the possibilities would be endless :P

[bunnybash @ Jan 10th 2007 8:37PM]

so this only plays stuff from your itunes line up...

why the hell is this even being launched anywhere except the USA, we cannot get movies or TV shows over here in Australia, from our crippled version of iTunes...

i would love to know the thought process behind releasing this is Australia, so this means that i can stream songs from itunes to my stereo then... or i can just plug my ipod into my stereo...

stupid stupid stupid implementation of a great idea... sounds like they been doing some copying of a Redmond company...

[monal @ Mar 22nd 2007 12:32PM]

xbox+ndure softmod+xbmc= nothing comes even close to it as far as being able to view multiple codecs without much hassle and XBOX users have been doing this for years. The next thing to hope for is the 360 getting unlocked to the point we can put a 360 flavor of XBMC on there and view HD content.

[Shahryar Rizvi @ Jan 12th 2007 3:49PM]

Hmm... thanks keyoncal for mentioning the PS3's capabilities, I've been neglecting all the additional stuff I can do with the PS3 and if it can do some what this apple TV can, I might be in good shape with what I have.

Also, just curious, what would happen with surround sound? Would that be an option with the apple tv? if you have content on your mac or PC that has surround sound built into the file, I don't see an optical out for the apple TV.

And if the apple Tv's max is 720p, what happens if your content that you have on your computer is 1080i or 1080p? Where does the downgrading process occur?

[simon @ Jan 12th 2007 7:00PM]

If I connect PC to TV directly, what is this for???
Media center dosen't need this kind of box.

[David @ Jan 12th 2007 9:49PM]

I don't want to send anything from my computer to a tv-I want the computer hardware to be in my tv, like Hytek's or Micron's all-in-one machines with internal tuners. Why not converge devices like they're trying to do years later than Windows phones?

[ryanlk @ Mar 2nd 2007 6:49AM]

What if PS3 has the same function as Apple TV? Here it is:

A New Treat To Apple TV: PlayStation 3 movie downloads

"Now Sony has indicated the introduction of a movie download service for the PlayStation 3, to match the Xbox 360, the console war has moved into new territory - territory Apple has already marked as its own"

More http://www.appletvconverter.net/news/

[Hum_archmage60 @ Mar 6th 2007 6:57AM]

What if Gold PSP Come? Here it is:

A New Treat To Apple TV: PlayStation 3 movie downloads

"Now Sony has indicated the introduction of a movie download service for the PlayStation 3, to

match the Xbox 360, the console war has moved into new territory - territory Apple has already

marked as its own"

More: www.mobile-video-converter.com/news