Apple TV Take 2 hands-on

Not too much to look at right now, is it? Really, you'd never know it from the original (er, because it is the original). Here you can see the future of your home entertainment super-center doing its new HD rental thing, and generally just chillin' on a counter top. Feel free to browse the images after the break, but of course they don't do the mind-blowing, face-destroying, wood-stripping Apple quality any justice.

Gallery: Apple TV Take 2 hands-on

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[Mark @ Jan 29th 2008 7:54PM]

where is this UPDATE? My Apple TV still
says that it's up to date.... I want the update already.

[James Young @ Apr 14th 2008 2:39AM]

get a popcorn hour

[Able-X @ Jan 15th 2008 2:14PM]

Why should they pay MS to use WMV, and while DivX/XViD would be nice, it's still a cluster of a codec. It simply makes more sense to continue with what they've been doing by expanding upon it. There are plenty of other media extenders if you want to use those formats.

I look forward to seeing more of the new UI, as I've been using my AppleTV since shortly after it came out, and I've kind of gotten used to it :P

[Eugenia Loli-Queru @ Jan 15th 2008 2:19PM]

>Why should they pay MS to use WMV, and while DivX/XViD would be nice...

Ah, right! It's wrong pay MS for WMV, but not for DivX??? What kind of single-minded ideas are these????

WMV is a very popular format, and Sony Vegas Movie Studio (a very popular video editor) only exports in WMV regarding "delivery" formats (it has more "intermediate" format support, but for user playback, only WMV is supported with full customization options).

So for people like me, WHO OWN A CAMERA and a video editor, WMV support is a MUST HAVE. Besides, there's a lot of WMV content out there, even if you don't just own a camera.

[bob @ Jan 15th 2008 2:31PM]

not really as popular as quicktime / imove / final cut and itunes dl is it though? and dont you feel restricted by software that only allows you to export in one codec, bit lame if you ask me, get a mac or some adobe software.

[rip @ Jan 15th 2008 2:33PM]

@ eugenia

wmv is not important to people who own macs. I'd say it ranks just above punchcards. Just.

[tagaiz @ Jan 16th 2008 2:58AM]

The only time I see wmv used is on internet porn.

[Scott @ Jan 15th 2008 4:00PM]

"Sony Vegas Movie Studio (a very popular video editor) only exports in WMV..."

So then why the FUCK are you using such an inferior piece of garbage? You should have dropped that software like a bad habit the same day you found out it only outputs in WMV!

[TJ Johnson @ Jan 15th 2008 2:24PM]

A software update for QT and iTunes was just released. According to the description, the HD for the AppleTV is 720p. I'm not sure if this is old news but there ya go...

[Jake @ Jan 15th 2008 2:34PM]

Deos the iTunes description say anything about doing HD downloads WITHOUT the Apple TV? Or is HD limited to the ATV for now? That would blow...

[TJ Johnson @ Jan 15th 2008 2:47PM]

Here is the description verbatim. Long story short, 720p HD is ATV-only for now...

Rent and download your favorite movies with iTunes on your computer or directly to your living room on Apple TV. Enjoy rented movies in sizes up to 720p HD with surround sound on your Apple TV and sizes up to DVD-quality on your computer. Transfer your rented movies from iTunes to your iPod or iPhone and enjoy them on the go.

Also, purchase and download your favorite TV shows, music, and more directly on your Apple TV. Effortlessly transfer purchases made on Apple TV back to your computer with iTunes.

[Graeme Snell @ Jan 16th 2008 12:41PM]

I notice that the Apple TV update isn't featured on the UK Apple website - anyone know whether the UK will get the update too?

Also, is it right that the software update will provide 5.1 on old Apple TVs?

[Jim @ Jan 15th 2008 2:19PM]

Points at the NetFlix ad on the page and thinks it is cheaper, a LOT cheaper.

[Gary @ Jan 15th 2008 2:22PM]

Yeah, I won't buy a new set-top box until it gives me Netflix-like pricing and selection.

[YouFaceTheTick @ Jan 15th 2008 2:22PM]

Yeah, Apple's pricing on rentals is way off base.

[qatoknow @ Jan 15th 2008 2:26PM]

Points to Thursday (or maybe Friday) on calendar as the expected day DVD arrives from Netflix for the movie that I want to watch today.

[EricC @ Jan 16th 2008 10:22AM]

*points to NetFlix VoD, which just went unlimited within the last few days*

Nice try, though ;)

[John @ Jan 15th 2008 2:35PM]

I do believe Netflix lets you stream video now.

[JT @ Jan 15th 2008 2:52PM]

Netflix streams "some" movies now, but not nearly enough.

[Andy @ Jan 15th 2008 2:19PM]

What bugs me is how MS has had this on the XBOX360 for over a year, and now all the one sided MAC lovers who think Apple invented the world will claim how they were the first to do this. As a Mac user, this bugs me about my fellow Mac users. I have a Mac, PC, and a 360. I have the best of both worlds. Can the
Apple TV play 360 games for 229?

[Jake @ Jan 15th 2008 2:25PM]

APT with 720/24p downloads x "100" movies for $229; or XBox 360 Arcade with 720/30p downloads x "several hundred" movies; plus HDTV reruns; plus GAMES for $279?

No brainer, that.

[bob @ Jan 15th 2008 2:31PM]

not as annoying as people moaning about something that hasnt even happened in attempt to be clever.

[Serengeti @ Jan 15th 2008 2:37PM]

I have a Mac, and a 360, and I'd definitely not get the ATV2.0, but I can see value in it if I wasn't interested in games. Don't make the mistake that because you're a gamer and visit gaming-pro sites like Engadget and Kotaku that there's only a market for machines like this that must also play games.

[JT @ Jan 15th 2008 2:50PM]

I know it's hard to believe, but not everybody plays games.

[John @ Jan 15th 2008 2:44PM]

Really? I haven't heard one word from Mac users about how the Apple TV was first to do much of anything, really. In fact, I don't know a single Mac user that actually owns one. Can you point me to where the alleged fanfare is? Perhaps it will give me a different perspective.

[jacob @ Jan 15th 2008 2:47PM]

i agree, but i still don't understand why ms won't let me have more control over the content on my 'mostly empty' 120 hdd. atv is superior it that one regard. i guess it's time to get an hd tuner...

just to be fair. don't forget the live account [required for video format updates, when it's up], as well as a storage device [20gb hdd for a measly 100$]. now we're at about 400$...still better in my opinion.

[Andy S. @ Jan 15th 2008 3:50PM]

I can see your point, but as an Xbox 360 owner myself, I have to point out that video downloads on the Xbox 360 depend on the Xbox Live Marketplace being up and running, and that hasn't exactly been a safe bet lately. If I had a dollar for every time I've lost connection to -- or been unable to connect to -- Xbox Live over the past few weeks, I could probably buy an Apple TV right now.

[SteveMB @ Jan 15th 2008 5:31PM]

jacob.. you could also buy the premium for $349. Or get 120GB for a little more. Besides, you do NOT need Xbox Live Gold to download movies.

[jsn @ Jan 15th 2008 7:42PM]

This is no different than anything else. For years apple has been cranking out pretty but common-feature-deficient products that play up a unique feature or two and the Mac community drools over it. It's ok for Apple to crank out a product that won't catch up with the rest of the world until the 2nd or 3rd version, but let Microsoft do it and "it's just proof of how horrible they are". Laptops with non-removable batteries, but god it sure is thin. Phones that can't do 10 year old functions, BUT I AN USE MY THUMBS FOR STUFF!!! I prefer products that do what I make them do, not products that do what the manufacturer tells me I'm allowed to do.

[Chris @ Jan 15th 2008 2:20PM]

Will Front Row get the same feature updates on Macs running Leopard? Flickr support in Front Row would be great.

[badtzmaru @ Jan 15th 2008 2:24PM]

I was hoping for that too! But when I downloaded today's FrontRow update (do it on your mac), those options did not show up. Not even YouTube!

[Adam @ Jan 15th 2008 2:24PM]

Maybe they updated the hard drive connection to support SATA instead of PATA. I think the PATA drives top out at 250gb....I want more space if I'm going to hack my AppleTV!!

[NNTPgrip @ Jan 15th 2008 2:28PM]

Agreed, interested in info of any hardware changes that have been made, or if it is just the same box with new software & new price.

[Dufresne @ Jan 15th 2008 2:26PM]

Apple breaths new life into Netflix with these missteps. Apple TV Take 2...Cut!!

[Jon @ Jan 15th 2008 2:25PM]

>you'd never know it from the original -- but Jobsy swears it's all new

Didn't he also say that existing owners will be able to get the new features through a software update? To me that implies that the "new" ATV is only the old box with new software on it. So I wouldn't expect it to look too different!

[Jeff @ Jan 15th 2008 2:25PM]

It needs a DVR:

http://thewarp.org/blog/index.cfm/2008/1/15/new-Apple-TV-software-still-misses-the-mark

[ClaMs @ Jan 15th 2008 2:26PM]

I also OWN a video camera and use a video editor. And I have to say that I have never needed a WMV file... ever!

Once I had a clip I needed to incorporate and I used a file converter.... hint hint...

[Gabriel Wolfe @ Jan 15th 2008 2:27PM]

USD $229 would be approx. GBP £116.
So why are Apple selling it in the UK for £199?

It's about time UK consumers woke up to the price fixing and unfair charging that Apple have been doing for many years now, and progressively gotten worse with in the past five years.

If we were to buy this, along with a new MacBook Air and optical drive, we would pay nearly $2893, that's $700 more than our American cousins. And that's before we've bought the Time Capsule.

Be a sensible consumer, don't buy these products until Apple are prepared to lower the prices, which is what will happen in Q3 - Q4 when they realise no one is buying their products due to over pricing.

[Dan @ Jan 15th 2008 2:33PM]

Export/import costs, tariffs, trade agreements, etc.

I could go on, but it would get boring fast.

The world is not as simple as you think it.

[AlexP @ Jan 15th 2008 2:34PM]

Blah blah whiny Brits whining again - read what I said in the Macbook Air hands on.

[rip @ Jan 15th 2008 2:41PM]

You forget to talk about the VAT tax, which adds about 20 to the price. Then talk about currency exchange rates. The pound happens to be strong against the dollar right now. But 5 years from now, the situation could be reversed.

Feel free to direct your anger at the British government and the world currency market instead of an individual company.

[ClaMs @ Jan 15th 2008 2:28PM]

Why? :s

[Kizorblade @ Jan 15th 2008 2:28PM]

Apple is the new Microsoft! Following in the footsteps of the Zune, Apple is making this a free update to all!

Bad Apple!

[K.O. @ Jan 15th 2008 2:39PM]

Will the older APPLE TV consoles be upgraded to the new software included in this newer Apple TV Console (Take 2)??
Or will I have to buy another Apple TV reluctantly seeing that the 1st gen really ran poorly. :(
Crossing my fingers I can just upgrade the firmware or internal software somehow.

[Kizorblade @ Jan 15th 2008 2:46PM]

Yep you can download the update for free, although it will take two weeks or so until you can download it

[K.O. @ Jan 15th 2008 4:24PM]

Thanks! Good news!

[DennisVR @ Jan 15th 2008 2:29PM]

Anyone know if movie rentals will be available in Europe aswell ?

[rip @ Jan 15th 2008 2:30PM]

x-vid or divx I can understand. But wmv? puh-lease.

[Aniruddh Chaturvedi @ Jan 15th 2008 2:31PM]

in order to show everyone on facebook that you are a fan!

[Eugenia Loli-Queru @ Jan 15th 2008 2:31PM]

ClaMs, you don't know what you are talking about. If you are using iMovie, sure you don't need WMV. But if you are using Sony Vegas, YOU DO. Vegas Movie Studio ONLY EXPORTS in WMV regarding "delivery" codecs (I am not talking about intermediate here).

Why the heck would you export in an intermediate codec, and then in a delivery codec in order to be compatible with the AppleTV? These are TWO exports, not one. Instead, if AppleTV itself was supporting WMV, ONLY ONE export would be needed, not a gazillion ones. So yes, IT IS up to Apple to recognize the needs of consumers and get it RIGHT.