Apple TV gets a full blown specification list, sort of
By Darren Murph 
posted Jan 15th 2007 11:26PM
posted Jan 15th 2007 11:26PM
Whether you've dropped your hard-earned $299 for Apple's forthcoming Apple TV, or you're just waiting to find out a bit more details on the thing before pulling the trigger, AppleInsider reportedly has the dirt we geeks adore. According to Apple's website, the device sports an elusive "Intel processor" and a 40GB hard drive, but we all know there's a lot more to this 7.7- x 7.7-inch box than what Steve is letting us know; thankfully, some folks in the know have supposedly dug up just what's under the silver lid, and it seems that you're paying three hundred bones for some rather antiquated components. Getting us started is a 1GHz Pentium-M-based chip, codenamed "Crofton," which has been underclocked to run on a 350MHz bus, and it's purportedly based on Intel's Dothan core, which includes 2MB of L2 cache. Additionally, an NVIDIA G72M with 64MB of DDR2 RAM is included for video purposes, and a quarter gigabyte of 400MHz DDR2 system RAM is soldered to the logic board. Also of note is its inability to function as its own wireless router / extender, despite the built-in 802.11n antenna, and while you'll find a USB port flanking the rear, it's presumably only there for "services and diagnostics purposes." So, in the end the Apple TV should still have plenty of horsepower to handle its well established duties, but it's certainly not packing a great lot of pizazz beneath the hood -- according to this report, anyway.
Engadget editors do know that you need three dimensions to make a cube, right??
Therefore, 7.7inch by 7.7inch is only square, and by this statement, two dimensional.
We all know this is a rectangular prism.... not a cube. Common Engadget!
We should also all know that "come on" is two separate words.
Actually, I was saying the word Common; I didn't splice come on into one word.
I think that it is common for Engadget to make these kinds of little mistakes without thinking the avid reading public would notice.
Nice try, buddy. But no one is buying it.
'quarter gigabyte'
256MB a dirty word?
It can't do my laundry either, but I'll still end up getting one.
(Face it, so will you)
ha, I don't think so
Well what do you expect for $299 anyways?
For a wireless high-def audio/video bridge with a built in hard drive, that seems plenty reasonable to me, regardless of the internals. I mean, what else can you put in it and keep manufacturing costs under $200?
A 360 maybe? It wouldn't have wifi or a hard drive, but it would still play games along with doing media streaming the old fasioned way over copper.
I own a iPod and a Mac (in addition to several "PC's") and have bought a few things off of iTunes, and have been considering buying some sort of "extender" and now I am just leaning twards the 360, maybe when the new one comes out with HDMI and the 65nm chip. Cheap way to get HD-DVD too. Streaming media and downloadable content + games + future IPTV = win. I don't need wifi because I already pulled the copper, which is IMO a better solution anyway.
I am not suggesting that this is the best option for everyone out there, but for the price, the 360 just has a good deal more to offer for essentially the same price depending on what features you require, and especially if you already have a collection of Windows PC's (like most of us do).
Intel seem to be keeping mum about what type of processor the're packing
http://www.intel.com/news/apple.htm?iid=biztab+apple
I`m so tired of that all white cheesy plastic look...Can`t they do someting better , like make it all clear or something ? LOL
They already did the translucent thing. Remember the first generation imac?
Eew. 100% clear plastics are just... ugly these days. The white plastic is nice, but getting kind of old. They've been using it for what seems to be longer than the blue pinstripes (which I actually liked). Can we just move everything towards the metalic industrial style of the Mac Pro? Or how about some sort of polished metal, similar to the PS3?
i know right. apple's style has always seemed a bit cheesy and fake. too much acid for those guys.
I wonder if it can run OS X...
as if there were any more reasons to just spend an extra $100 or so and get a used mac mini!
it may not do my laundry, but i will definitely not be getting one. i'd much rather go the mac mini route, and have a full comptuer hooked up instead. i'll still be able to watch video on my tv, pull down trailers and listen to itunes. not only that, but i'll be able to pull up firefox, my calendar, my address book, adium, office, iwork, ilife...or to put it simply, EVERYTHING.
hooray for lcd's with vga inputs and bluetooth keyboards and mice.
i'd still rather have a mac mini in my ht rig
I think they spent too much time on iPhone and low-balled the tv. I thought a Front Row v2 kind of software would be running in tv ... even the graphics seems a little 'low-end'.
I Agree, I think you'd be much better with a MacMini next to your TV ... oh yea, it's over-priced too.
Apple charges premium prices, why can't they come out with premium hardware, i.e. 1080, etc.
This would be sweet if true....
http://www.codenameitv.com/index.php/topic,5.0.html
Yes, but does it run Linux?
No HD tuner, no buy.
I wonder if you could get it to run Window's Server 2003...
This would make a great little file server, domain controller, etc.
Why are you guys complaining about the graphics/ processor?
Its designed to show hi-def video NOT PLAY GAMES OR BROWSE THE INTERNET OR CRUNCH NUMBERS etc.
You don't expect your pocket calculator to have a dual core 6ghz chip so why should this?
ben,
regardless of what it is designed to do, if you can find an alternative device that does the same and more for only a minimal amount of additional money, why shouldn't it factor in to the buying decision calculation?
i don't think anyone is saying "i'd rather have a g5 or mac pro hooked up to my tv." people are comparing a similarly sized device that does significantly more and doesn't have to cost all that much more than the apple tv.
Too expensive for what it is and what it does. And I mean, I'm not cheap, I'm ready to buy the iPhone so... I truly hope that Apple comes out with a new Mac Mini soon with more power, a decent HD, a Bluetooth keyboard with integrated trackpad and rechargeable battery, and so forth.
Mac Mini... with a replacable battery?
Think before you type. Jesus.
A quarter gigabyte of ram? Wtf, I get so tired of engadget trying to make everything Mac sound so good. How much do they pay you guys?
Yeah. Damn those Engadget guys for trying to sound nice and use less-than-common phrases to spice up their articles! They should know better than to be creative! That's not what we pay them for... oh, right.
XBMC > AppleTV
No Divx or Xvid support, no care!
Couldn't have said it better myself. No DivX, no buy.
Why oh why did they not add an HD ATSC tuner and DVR software? Charge a bit more for it, I don't care, but that would have made the Apple TV MUCH more interesting to a lot of people.
Oh well, maybe it's coming with a software update down the road.
all i need to know is, will i be able to stream avi video from my mac to my tv. thats all i need to do. can someone plz answer my question plz.
I like how if this device were running some type of windows OS you guys would totally rip on it for being so underpowered with its measly 256mb of ram and 300mhz processor, but since it is made by apple is 1/4GIGABYTE of ram and 350MEGAHERTS processor is totally sufficient for the job.
I wonder if we will be able to get the main processor running at full speed and get some decent wireless functionality out of it when we finally get Linux running on it... If it would work as an a client for mythtv I might consider buying it.
This thing has a better GPU than the Mac Mini. :P
In short:
It runs linux!!!!! how about to run MythTV on it???
Yes, but will it run Doom ? Honestly im not an Apple Fanboy, but ... do you realy need 6 Cray Super computers coupled with a Gigaquad of Ram to stream video content onto a Quadrilateral HDD ? Just to stream and watch video from your mac ? I think not. Specs seem fine.
Silly article, very silly.
surely they'd put in another 256 of RAM! It's a bit ridiculous.
I wounder if you can plug an EyeTV into the USB port...... They do interface with front row on your computer, after all, i wonder if they'd do it on the AppleTV...
interesting possibility. i'd buy it then, too.
I really hope they update Front Row to AppleTV's gorgeous user interface. It's not fair people buying mac mini as a media center and having to buy another gadget to a better user experience.
I may not be a mac user, but a little note. It doesnt say it runs at 350Mhz, the devil is in the details. "Bus speed" ring a bell? Who knows what the multiplier frequency is, as long as it does its job.
But yeah, I think the general opinion is that it should have included PVR functionality. I wont be buying one because by the time stuff gets to the UK it suddenly and mysteriously gets very expensive!
Apple's last two major announcements (iPhone and Apple TV) have both been pretty behind the curve in technology, with the iPhone's lack of 3G support and Apple TV's 720p max and lack of DVR functionality. What's going on? Do they really think it's enough to just put out a pretty interface and an eye-catching form factor?
Come on Apple, what's under the hood does count for something...
So why 299 usd for this POS when you can get more powerful hardware for same price which can do more than this. Xbox 360 does what Apple TV will do and on top of that it is not just tied up to iTunes so you can get other media also playing on your TV apart from just Apple's crap. And how about adding 300 usd extra to this and geting one that does all of this plus has blue-ray player built-in, allows you to go on net as well as plays media at 1080p instead of just 720p (anyone heard on PS3 ?). Its ironic to see when PS3 came out with price of 599 everyone was saying it is too high whereas Apple comes out with POS and prices it at 299 and still no one complains about price/value point.
Why are people ripping on the iPhone for "lack of 3G" when the thing has friggin Wi-Fi!
I have a Nokia E61 which has EDGE and Wi-Fi. Edge is fine for most stuff and free Wi-Fi is so prevalent that the lack of 3G is practically a non-issue. Not having to pay 3G data fees is also nice...
I don't need an ATSC tuner or DVR software. I have my cable box DVR for that. I do want to stream video from my PC though. The Apple TV is very close to what I want except I wish it supported DIVX/XVID as well. Although I can use Nero Recode to backup my dvd's to iTunes, ability to read .iso format would be awesome as well. I may have to look at the other offerings like MVIX and TVIX. I really wanted the Apple TV to be more open and maybe someone will hack it. I do know there are ways to put DIVX into itunes but I don't know how to do it.
All these media units/media streamers coming out are one big disappointment after another. At least for me that is.
I have been spoiled with my Roku PhotoBridge and have been looking for a replacement for it that has all the important features it does and most importantly, mpeg-4 support. The Photobridge has an older ATI embedded chip on it that cannot handle mpeg-4 formats, but it can handle mpeg-2 TS HD streams. On top of that, it can run on its own with out any stupid media software (which most seems to only run on Windows). It also supports all kid of network shares, from NFS, Samba and OSX even directly plugging in a USB drive or NAS. On top of that, they released an SDK for their software. Meaning that third party scene is alive and kicking with some amazing software.
I just want something to match that, but have yet to find anything. I think the MIVX and TVIX units are the most promising, but not exactly what I need or want. Roku's new BrightSign, the replacement to the PhotoBridge, even falls way short.
For those who want ATSC tuners, check out the HD HomeRun network dual ATSC tuner. You plug it into the cable and then into the network. Any numberous pieces of software can view, a app has even been created for the PhotoBridge to watch live TV. I would assume that media servers are starting to take advantage of this and that Apple TV and other devices will also be able to take advantage of it. I want to buy one, but I may just wait and see if a CableCard version comes out.
i spoke with someone over at apple and they assured me that this would replace my air port express (ie, it WILL work as a router, but i guess i'll lose my wireless printing). This does support 1080i and i give it a week or two before I can hop online and find hax to get other video support. I'm not apple fanboy but i pre-ordered mine just minutes after it was officially released and I cant wait to get my hands on this!
If this is true I must say I'm rather surprised that Apple decided to use a general-purpose CPU instead of a dedicated solution like Sigma Design's 8622L or SMP8634 to lower cost and power-consumption.
Same price as an Xbox 360 core with less power. I guess you're stuck with Apple/eye Tunes instead of Microsoft/Windows Media Player. I guess it's better to get raped by an devil in an angel costume then by the devil itself.
$150 Xbox v1
$20 Modchip (or simply a $0 firmware hack)
$50 200gb HD =
-------------------
$220 Media Center that does everything that this box does, plus isn't tied to the Itunes platform, plus plays games, etc etc...
The AppleTV is ridiculous. I like Apple, I really do, but this thing is pointless.
Gosh all you guys ever do is whine about what a product doesn't have. The majority of the country is still on 480p and you all whine that it doesn't do 1080p. You guys will complain even if this has all the specs you wanted. You will find something to cry about. If the 360 is better for you, go watch it ad scram out of here. Why are you even reading this if you have the perfect device? Hmmmm, not so perfect eh. Who cares what the specs are if it does what it is supposed to do. Does your station wagon have 900hp. Idiots. So Apple will give the iphone 3g then you will cry and say that your battery dies too quick and you whine that cingulars plan for 3g is too high. Why don't you all just shut up and not buy anything apple. You can keep the club exclusive to people that want working devices and we will remain virus free with our low market share. If their products don't work for you, DON'T BUY THEM.
This thing is merely meant as a streamer guys. Seriously. You guys must not get it. Here's the plan. You have one centralized server with all of your media on it. Then, you get a very lightweight system that does nothing but stream all of that data to your TV to watch. Photos, TV, movies, etc. All this thing is acting as is a thin client to a distributed home AV system. I don't care about a hacked up xbox that doesn't stream this stuff cleanly like the AppleTV does. I want something that just works out of the box.
Well, Brian - since you probably don't HAVE a "hacked up xbox" to compare it to, I'll let you know - the "Hacked up Xbox" will stream content from any location I can get to over a network, local or otherwise, in full 720P. So when YOU get it - that this thing is an overpriced and purposefully crippled joke of a product - feel free to type some crap again.
What you described is EXACTLY what I've had for 3 years, except in addition to the meager formats that AppleTV allows I can do all Divx/Xvid flavors, Direct play of SVCD and DVD image files, Matroska, Quicktime, RealMedia, H264, and more. It tells me the weather, has a newsfeed reader, and retains the ability to play great games too. All for $100 less than the Apple offering. All at the same resolution the apple product does. And all with a host of advanced features that the Apple product doesn't even offer.
I don't care about the product specs at all. If they are fast enough to do the job intended, that's good enough for me. However, people shouldn't think because you slap a piece of fruit on the top that a device becomes magical and groundbreaking. While a leader in many ways, Apple is playing catchup in the MEdia CEnter department.
To me this things seems backward. Why would I want to stream my video and music to it? I'd rather it had a big hard drive and contained my music and video on its drive for instant, no-streaming-necessary playback, and I could stream the music and video to computers on my network and/or over the internet.
The way it seems to work, I have to keep my computers on in order to be able to access the music and video on them which alone seems a huge waste, and besides that I have to have space for all those files on my computer, and if I have more than one computer I have to have all my files on all of them. This make absolutely no sense to me, but perhaps I'm missing something?
Anyone know whether this thing has a fan? (A cooling device, not someone who really likes it...)
The reason I don't like the Xbox 360 as a media extender is that it whines like a stuck pig. Not a big problem when playing games, but put me off getting the HD Drive.
Don, because this product doesn't fit your needs does not mean that it sucks. Can the average joe duplicate your hacked xbox set up? NO. So a simple product like this works for them. If you are happy reading forums on how to hack your device that's great. If this product doesn't work for you, don't slam it. This product is designed to get your Itunes, photos, Itunes videos, etc to another location in your home. Apple is not advertising that it is supposed to play 90 types fo video files. If you want more features, stick with your media center xbox hack thing. The average joe doesn't have your needs and that's who they are selling to. They tell you what the thing does, to expect more is retarded. There are other options out there to fit your more advanced needs. I don't say that those other options are not worth it because they don't fit my needs. My mom will be able to set up Apple TV, she won't be able to perform your Xbox hack or set up a Windows media center. BTW I'm not saying your xbox hack sucks. If anyone has an option that works great for them, that is wonderful. Stick with your better option and try to refrain from spewing hate because of your fanboyism.
That's a good question - it probably doesn't, the lower (but adequate) specs probably are fine with passive cooling like heatsinks et al. The 360 is a bit loud, although I was surprised to read that it was on average less noisy than the PS3 or Wii.
I think I must have read something wrong on the AppleTV web page--I could have sworn it said that you actually sync your media from all of your computers WITH the aTV. So, that doesn't mean it streams media--it copies it over to it's 40GB HD and then plays it from there, right? Can't we do this with our 5g iPods already? Sync videos from our computers to our iPods, then output the signal from our iPods to the TV. The only thing aTV can do that my setup can't already do is the wireless side of it. And I think there's a 3rd party dock that will let you sync wirelessly.
Personally, I'd rather just pick up a MacMini with some sort of video capture/tuner device for it and leave it at that. The ensemble may cost close to $800 but at least it'll be expandable and I'll be able to do other things with it. I'm a total Machead, but it's obvious this thing is for the lazy. I mean, don't most lappies have S-Video out on them?
You'll probably also be surprised to hear that the so-called "Test" of the sound levels were completely inaccurate and poorly executed.
I may be wrong about some of this, but...
A low-voltage Pentiun M at 1.0GHz would be run on a 400MHz bus with a 10x multiplier. So with the bus at 350MHz, the processor would run at 875MHz. That's certainly low enough for fanless operation.
It's not fast enough to process HDTV streams, which is why there's a separate GPU. I give it about three months after this is released before there's a Linux distro for it.
I'm an average joe. I'd like to duplicate the complicated hacked Xbox set-up. However, I'm just too stupid to do it. It's pretty frustrating.
I was so looking forward to AppleTV, but like others have said, no Divx/Xvid equals no go.
No, keyboard with a replaceable battery, not MacMini. Jesus, think before you reply, dude!
I hate apple fan boys. Now watch me become the lowest comment. It seems as though every time a comment burning apple for the comment gets ranked lowly. Now watch as they rank me higher to prove me wrong.
You're not seeing the full implications on this box. Look here http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/Ou/?p=406 where I explain how this might just kill off the mini PC market where you pay $600 for something that's half the speed of the Apple TV. 1 GHz for a PC in this form factor at this price is really good.
Don, do you have HDMI? Wireless '.n' standard? Nah? Well then, you're not working with the same thing... And if you hacked it yourself, I doubt if you upgraded the hardrive to anything worthy if your total cost was less than $299. Take it easy buddy, this product isn't for you. People who like it are not 'idiots.'
Why do media center/modded xbox/linux people get so so SO VERY bent when people decide the DIY/mod world can easily be AVOIDED for as low as $299? Believe it dude when I tell you I have my Weller digital soldering iron and many years of tweaking under my belt, but I still can see the value in this thing.
Also, dude who thinks the 360 can do this is a little forgetful of the HDMI connector this has, the built-in wireless, as well as AppleTV's larger hard drive, for less... It might be a better value to a GAMER to try to make the 360 do all this, but for many people, this is fun and easy, and for a wireless HDMI extender with a built-in 40gig hardrive, it's pretty affordable. No 360 can do this for $299.
There seems to be a lot of apprehension about why Apple did not include the following:
1. More memory: Umm, Same goes for money I guess - Why not more ? What do you do with it, once you have it ? When the application comes along so will the additional memory. Dont sweat it.
2. TV Tuner: Welcome to the Internet era folks. Do not forget that Internet is the way forward. Microsoft IPTV, Verizon VCast, Sprint TV ... Get the picture ? Max two more years - IPTV would be rife. Your cable line would be only for those who are not part of IPTV network - or for providing the IP backbone only. I am sure Appe has a few cards up their sleeve.
2a. PVR - !@#$%&$#$ - I hate that device - adds more maintenance to life - you got to clean up regularly the wife's recordings - kids scream their heads because the damned thing is full. I can't peacefully watch TV when I want without worrying about nonsense like this. I will gladly run my car more than once over the contraption.
3. Router: Think WiMax folks - No point having a router inside the house anymore. Again one or two more years max.
4. Internet browser: I agree this is required for living room domination. Agreed you may not use the atv to browse - but you can buy more than one for the house - that is what in fact they would want, right ? - But then again, this is only a software add on - why are we overly concerned that they did not add it in V1 ?
If you are this piqued about having PVR, TV, Browser, etc. on the living room TV, why not buy a mac mini and EyeTV combo ?
The Apple TV should provide a good user experience out of the box. Many people want to plug something in to stream content from a computer, not have a hacked piece of crap with a stupid interface.
Most people have a good computer, just not a good way to get its contents to the TV. Anyone smart enough to hack an x-box should be able to convert DVIX to H264 or MPEG4.
The only thing that I would like to see prior to buying the Apple TV is better specs on the new slingbox product that is to be in the same market as the apple TV device.
Apple has designed this thing to be purchased with the new airport router. Would have been nice to have it all in the TV box. But who cares what's under the hood, the box will work. Do it's thing and the market will finally accept a pc in the living room
One has to agree with c33pays. There are people who want to get their hands messy and spare some bucks (or not) while DIY themselves. There are others that want it to work like this does from the moment they turn it on, just a couple of wires and that's it.
Choice!
But if any of you can make a thing that works like this using, let's say GeexBox and sports at least a decent design, then why not start selling it? You could use MythTV, GeexBox, or any other linux flavored stuff, get the right licences and start selling those pups, but instead you choose to complain over a forum...