Mossberg reviews Apple TV: "simple and elegant"

Only Walt Mossberg's clout can muster up an Apple TV 10 days prior to its launch. So naturally, he and WSJ colleague Katherine Boehret were first-up with a review on Apple's initial living room sally. Their take? Well, they call the "beautifully designed, easy-to-use" Apple TV "classic Apple: simple and elegant." They tested on three Macs and three PCs (yes, running Vista too) running iTunes and successfully streamed data without stuttering over both 802.11n (as you'd hope) and even 802.11g WiFi. Oh sure, there were limitations: for example, you can't control the volume with Apple's remote and only trailers and "previews" of iTunes Store content can be streamed directly from the Apple TV interface. Although Walt expects the latter to change via a "software update" to give users the ability to stream or download a variety of content (like Google Video?) direct from the Internet. Oh, and what about that USB port on the back; that's for slinging additional disk capacity right? Nope, it's apparently only for service and diagnostics. Shame. Still, the Apple TV "worked great" for moving media off the home PC and onto the big (television) screen. As such, Walt and Co "can easily recommend it for people who are yearning for a simple way to show on their big TVs all that stuff trapped on their computers."

Update: The Walt and "Katie" video review is now available after the break.

[Via MacRumors]

[Hiro11 @ Mar 21st 2007 8:24AM]

I'm sure this thing works well, but Mossberg is a bit of an Apple shill. He's spends a disproportionate time reviewing (and fawning over) Apple hardware. He also often ignores serious shortcomings in Apple products (his ignoring the ridiculously bad price-to-feature ratio of iMacs or the limited functionality of iPods when compared to competitors spring to mind). At the same time he's often extremely nit-picky when reviewing competitor's equipment and cites complaints that he just as easily could have made about Apple products. I'm not saying Apple's stuff isn't worthy of praise, but when the vast majority of Mossberg articles conclude that every single Apple product is absolutely perfect, it makes me seriously doubt his objectivity.

[Rick Lyon @ Mar 21st 2007 9:16AM]

Sorry, but the bad price rap went away years ago. Just because other MO3 makers stack features into their units in order to COMPETE with the iPod, doesn't then make the iPod less feature packed. If that was obviously such a shortcoming as you seem to slander, then, um, why do they sell so well while those 'feature rich' units don't?

Thanks PC user, move along and go register Vista.

[Arno @ Mar 21st 2007 8:26AM]

Gee, looks a lot like Media Center. But wait... according to Apple, it's only Microsoft who copies Apple and never the other way around.

Agh, I hate Apple. (doesn't mean I love Microsoft)

[Daniel @ Mar 21st 2007 6:23PM]

You're an idiot

[Mrmean @ Mar 21st 2007 9:00AM]

lol @ you ruined by Apple

[elan @ Mar 21st 2007 8:33AM]

You think Apple is fibbing about the functionality (or lack thereof) of the USB port? Perhaps they will release an update in the future which will allow for expansion, or other accessories, and they are holding off in the same way as they did with wireless N.

[Jon @ Mar 21st 2007 8:40AM]

Apple again is about 5 years late to the party. Apple TV, iPhone, iPod, Intel Chips. I've been enjoying this functionality for years with Media Center and even better this last year and half with my Xbox 360 which is the only device that has High Def downloads.

[Rick Lyon @ Mar 21st 2007 9:30AM]

Yea,. because we know how unsuccessful the iPod was. And the iPhone? No one expects that to sell to be the hot topic for so long. And to clarify since you seem to miss the point, this is a bridge between your iTunes and TV, not a media center. Talk about late to the party with Apple, ah, USB, mouse, Floppy Death, Apple Talk, FireWire, blah blah blah, thanks to Apple.

[geezer @ Mar 21st 2007 8:41AM]

by the way: you can watch the accompanying video to the article for free @ german mac website mac-essentials.

http://www.mac-essentials.de/index.php/mac/article/18832/

[Dave @ Mar 21st 2007 8:45AM]

There's nothing "plug and play" about media centers and they don't work with macs. While I think it's a nice toy and I'm sure there are other devices that do the same job cheaper or have more features and storage. It's if they do them with a 6 button remote that any person including my techno-tarded parents could figure out is the real story. Apple's truly made this a plug and play adventure without any hiccups. I've honestly never found the need to surf youtube from my couch. This is that missing piece that makes purchased content very simple to download off the internet and get on the tv. The ones who should be worried are blockbuster and netflix. If they goto a pay per view system or monthly subscriber format. They're over.

[malren @ Mar 21st 2007 8:51AM]

I don't get it.

The Apple TV has no support for the most commonly used media formats in the world. It costs 300 bucks. Many other products are already out that stream media to the TV and can stream formats that people actually use. Yet Apple is getting stroked by the media yet again.

Amazing.

[Dave Hunwick @ Mar 21st 2007 11:27AM]

Um the most commonly used formats, how about all the formats the MOST dominant media software (iTunes) supports. End of story.

[malren @ Mar 21st 2007 8:59AM]

"The ones who should be worried are blockbuster and netflix. If they goto a pay per view system or monthly subscriber format. They're over."

Sheer nonsense. To use an Apple TV, one must own a computer, have a network AND buy content from iTunes or learn to convert video to MP4 (and very SPECIFIC MP4s I might add).

To use a DVD, one must buy a player available from as low as 39 bucks...and plug it in.

Apple Fanboys really need to learn to reign in the hyperbole.

[MisterShrubber @ Mar 21st 2007 9:06AM]

User friendliness, not feature count. Welcome to the craaaaazy world of non-geeks.

[craig @ Mar 21st 2007 9:08AM]

Classic shill piece. I love how they showed their "considerable technical chops":

"It doesn't work on square TVs...but we have both kinds here."

"It works very well, and it's fun to use."

No wonder he works as a technical reviewer for the Wall Street Journal and Apple selects him to do product reviews. He's a prototypical Apple fanboy. Love how excuses were offered immediately after pointing out the only weakness they chose to criticise (lack of internet content). His intentions couldn't be more transparent.

Sure, it's a ripoff of Windows Media Center Extenders. It almost surely will work better than MCEs as well. What bugs me is why the device doesn't offer a browser. Game machines do that, after all, and it isn't limited by "square TVs". Doesn't Apple have the resources or programming ability to pull that off?

[Olivier @ Mar 21st 2007 9:12AM]

the iPod had AAC but still supported MP3s
The apple TV, only supports MP4, no Divx..

Too bad for Apple.
That non-working USB port is bull as well. Hope they won't pull one like MSFT with their XBOX360 where one needs to pay $99 for a 20Gig. Stuff it Apple

[Jared @ Mar 21st 2007 9:13AM]

I should preface this with the fact that I am a switcher and am slowly becoming a Mac fanatic. Anyway, the AppleTV is nifty, but extremely limited for the price. I'll be waiting for the Sling Catcher. It's half the price, will support a multitude more formats, and will allow me to shift my DVR from my living room to my bedroom.

[xxdesmus @ Mar 21st 2007 9:20AM]

"simple" is a great description because this thing is really quite useless.

[John @ Mar 21st 2007 9:21AM]

My Tivo does most (all?) of this stuff already. Such a shame that a superior product like Tivo will probably end up getting crushed by Apple. I'd love it if Apple bought up Tivo but that's probably wishful thinking.

[Bob @ Mar 21st 2007 9:23AM]

Wait one second Walt Mossberg loves an Apple product? Well color me surprised!

[andy @ Mar 21st 2007 9:27AM]

"the iPod had AAC but still supported MP3s
The apple TV, only supports MP4, no Divx.."

aww gee, ya cant watch all them vids you stole off the internet then, boo hoo

[craig @ Mar 21st 2007 7:48PM]

Apple wasn't first with USB, mouse, "Floppy Death", or Firewire. AppleTalk sure, but where is it now?

Just to preempt the silly arguments, we all know Apple didn't invent the modern GUI or the mouse, USB came from Intel and shipped in Intel chipsets for nearly a year before the iMac, floppies were optional from the beginning with PCs and were missing on NeXT machines, and Sony shipped Firewire first and created the standard.

As for the off-topic iPhone, some expect it to sell but not me. People will want it til they find out about the big Apple lie regarding the soft keyboard.

Finally, what's the point about "a media center". iTunes is simply an app that is integral to the AppleTV. How is that any different that competing products that have existed for years?

[Moin Haque @ Mar 21st 2007 9:35AM]

At the least, this review proves why Walt should stick to writing rather than doing videos. In addition, he should try to get a sidekick who, at a minimum, is able to know the difference between standard definition and high definition, and academy frames and wide-screen, rather than indulge us with "square" and "wide-angle" as she points like a mindless idiot. Also, what's with the "broadcast-live-from-Uzbekistan-on-a-video-phone" picture quality of this review???

Regarding the AppleTV, it does seem limited for the price-point, but the value proposition seems to be the simple integration for the majority of home users who leverage their content from within iTunes.

[Zut @ Mar 21st 2007 9:36AM]

Hmmm... it looks to me like little more than a wireless yet crippled TV-out system. You still need a Mac/PC to use this, and to get new stuff you've got to go to your Mac/PC and download/transcode stuff.

Why can't it download stuff directly?? Why doesn't it has a DVD drive?

You'd be FAR better off buying a cheap HTPC in my opinion!

[Chris @ Mar 21st 2007 9:42AM]

"Why doesn't it has a DVD drive?"

Don't most folks already have a DVD player?

[Geoffrey Sperl @ Mar 21st 2007 9:46AM]

@Chris: That's true, but I can tell you that I, for one, ended up getting a Humax DVD recording TiVo because I wanted as few boxes in the bedroom as possible (down to the cable box and the Humax now and was able to get rid of the DVD player). Eventually a media extender (unless DVD/Blu-Ray/HD-DVD ripping becomes supported in something like iTunes or WMP) will need to have the drive in it to be successful across a broad spectrum.

[Chris @ Mar 21st 2007 9:43AM]

my $250 linkplayer2 does everything this does plus plays dvd's and content off usb disks, doesn't require transcoding to mp4, has optical audio out with DTS pass through, s-video and composite just in case I want to use it on an older tv, and the "server" software has 3rd party options, many of which are php based and fully customizable. Oh, and the server software can even run off certain NAS devices meaning the PC does not have to be on to use it.

outside of "ooo apple pretty" someone care to 'splain why this is a good deal? Now, say it can be hacked to run MythTV and maybe you'd have a point.

[Mike Campbell @ Mar 21st 2007 8:59PM]

Your comment is too full of computer terminology for me, the average computer user. AppleTV seems simple enough for me to grok though. I think people here who are very tech savvy are mistaken in thinking that they are the target audience for this device.

[Chris @ Mar 21st 2007 11:24PM]

so you'd pay more to do less because you are afraid of technology? the linkplayer is pretty damned easy to use, you don't have to know what that stuff is. you'll soon find that with the apple tv that you will have to know what all that means so that you can convert it.

[TorontoGuy @ Mar 21st 2007 9:51AM]

Has there EVER been an Apple announcement that did not use the empty and meaningless word 'elegant'?

[Jim @ Mar 21st 2007 10:14AM]

Am I wrong in thinking that most of the other media extenders DON'T support iTunes content? I'm talking about AACs and TV Shows/Movies bought off of ITMS. I have an iPod and have bought quite a bit of content off the store and have playlists as well. I've been researching a media extender for about 16 months and haven't found one that supports iTunes, just the other stuff like Divx/etc. Now, the Apple TV does exactly the opposite, which doesn't help when I want to watch my downloaded shows NOT from iTunes. What's a guy to do?

[Nick @ Mar 21st 2007 10:20AM]

what i would have liked to see was them incorporate bluetooth for wireless keyboard&mouse and remote desktop. Since im gonna be sitting infront of my tv streaming my media, maybe id like to be able to do other things or check my mail or something. I know one or two WoW geeks that would love the ability to use that lil box to play WoW or any game on their LCD tv's in their family room while their machine is somewhere else.

[Chedabob @ Mar 21st 2007 10:24AM]

3 words:

Xbox Media Centre

[Dave Hunwick @ Mar 21st 2007 11:40AM]

3 words

will be steamrolled

[Nick @ Mar 21st 2007 10:24AM]

knowing that Apple is in the BluRay camp.. it would be interesting if for V2 they drop a BluRay drive in there and some other functionality and really made a True media center.

[Moff @ Mar 21st 2007 10:42AM]

It was fun to use they say.. So is a sex toy and is a hell of a lot cheaper.

Well.. I guess that depends on your taste.. LOL

[Falcon @ Mar 21st 2007 10:50AM]

Okay, tell me why I can't just hook-up a Mac Mini to my Display/Monitor/TV setup instead?

[Nick @ Mar 21st 2007 10:57AM]

cuz your mac mini doesnt have standard tv/display jacks.. it only has DVI/VGA video out.. and youd need to have a tv that has a DVI/VGA jack... its possible.. but not everyones tvs support DVI or VGA... but if yours does.. the more power to you..

[Ted T. @ Mar 22nd 2007 12:02AM]

Nick, you most certainly can hook a MacMini to ANY TV. DVI is pin compatible with HDMI, so you can hook it up with a DVI to HDMI cable.

You can also hook up a Mini to older TV's via S-Video, using Apple's DVI to S-Video adapter.

The only reason to get a AppleTV instead os a Mini is price: the AppleTV is $299, the Mini is $599, but will play DVDs, outputs 1080P, and along with EyeTV the Mac Min makes a very nice DVR.

[David @ Mar 21st 2007 10:53AM]

Walt Mossberg loved the Apple TV?! REALLY?!

Boy, I didn't see this one coming, at all!

*rolls eyes*

[Richard @ Mar 21st 2007 2:24PM]

> cuz your mac mini doesnt have standard tv/display jacks.

Uhh. DVI and HDMI are (for the purposes of an AppleTV or Mac mini) the same thing. Just a different plug on the end of the cable. Seeing as how the Apple TV doesn't even come with a cable to connect to your TV I don't see how your argument makes any sense.

[Rick @ Mar 21st 2007 10:57AM]

You guys never pay attention to the reviews, just get your tinfoil panties in a bunch: he says this isn't for the geek crowd. It's for everyone else who doesn't like to fiddle with their tech.

Why don't you go complain that that new wheelchair by Segway is stupid and overpriced because it doesn't interface with your home-built rig? That would be just as irrelevant and perhaps more productive.

C'mon-- everyone now: what else can we complain about that isn't geared toward us? Anyone? Anyone? NoooOOOooO?

[Rossmac @ Mar 21st 2007 11:17AM]

Three words:

Xbox Media Center

http://www.xboxmediacenter.de

Get that rolling on your original Xbox, and whats more, you can download a xTV skin for this to replicate Apple TV:

http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=583541

Enjoy!

[J @ Mar 21st 2007 12:37PM]

Media Center doesn't play Divx, or iTunes movies/shows. And don't give me that 'TVersity can play everything!!' because TVersity is low resolution and choppy.

Apple TV is a good solution for people who have an iPod (which is about 100 million) and would like to watch iTunes movies and music (which is the most successful legal media service).

I'm not a huge Apple 'fanboy', but all of your other 'better' solutions are limited in some way, just like Apple TV is. It's simply to get your iTunes stuff on your TV. It's not the end-all solution.

[Hardcore @ Mar 21st 2007 11:34AM]

You might as well start posting Microsoft product reviews by Bill Gates - they'd have the same level of objectivity as Mossberg reviewing an Apple product.

[Grant @ Mar 21st 2007 12:21PM]

wow, a media streaming device, that requires a computer with the same content, and no TV tuner.

anyone can do the same with a laptop with an s-video out, a cheap adapter from radio shack, free software, and if you really wanna splurge, a USB remote.

Don't get me wrong, i love apple...but..
MAYBE, just maybe, i would think this was a good idea with time shifting/DVR functionality, but it doesn't.
Save your money and buy a cheap laptop with an S-video out. Hell, even a xbox360 can do half of that and more for a few bucks more.

[Naveed @ Mar 21st 2007 12:32PM]

i dont see why apple made this. why so expensive? its just so limited. if someone described this product to me id be confused and startled when they told me the price. It MIGHT make sense if they were ALOT cheaper,like 50 bucks or so.

[Andrew Paul Baisden @ Mar 21st 2007 1:00PM]

why is everyone saying it is limited it plays all mp4 and mp3. it is easey to transfer any video to mp4. it is what i do so i can organize my videos in ITS and i do not even have an iPod.
http://www.videora.com/en-us/Converter/iPod/

[technabob @ Mar 21st 2007 1:19PM]

Does anyone know if the AppleTV offers any sort of screen saver or anti-burn-in capability for Plasma TVs? I've been thinking about putting one in my living room, but I'm worried about anything that will have lots of static text/images on it all the time.

[h0mi @ Mar 21st 2007 1:29PM]

"And don't give me that 'TVersity can play everything!!' because TVersity is low resolution and choppy. "

I dunno about that but it's probably only a matter of time before tversity could support apple tv.

"I'm not a huge Apple 'fanboy', but all of your other 'better' solutions are limited in some way, just like Apple TV is. It's simply to get your iTunes stuff on your TV. It's not the end-all solution."

Most of those other solutions (all those Divx files) require people to pirate content or otherwise rip it themselves. Or if they're savvy enough, they can find divx VOD downloads that can work. The itunes content is key. All other solutions mentioned except for the xbox 360 offer no means of downloading content legitimately and playing it back.