Apple TV gets a full blown specification list, sort of
By Darren Murph 
posted January 15th 2007 11:26PM
posted January 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.
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...