Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

[RonV]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

Engadget has posted the limits of Apple TV:

http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/i...u-can-and-can/

Looks like the polish is coming off of it due to the confusion of what you can and can't do in the device and the desktop.

[NA9D]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

Are you implying that Apple TV has sold over a million units in there first year? Because if you are, you are way off. The number is actually estimated by macworld to be closer to 400,000 units since the device went on sale.

http://www.macworld.com/article/6140...2/appletv.html

No, he's not. I'll defend his comments even though he smacked me down with them!

People are critical of the AppleTV and have called it a failure and a flop because it has not sold 1 million units in its first year in existence (and as you rightly point out it's like 400,000 but maybe even less).

He's wanting to know if I'm going to use the same measuring stick for Vudu.

It's a fair question but I would say no that I'm not going to. Apple is a multi-billion dollar publicly traded company. Vudu is a small start-up with a handful of people. Vudu doesn't need to sell 1 million units for them to be successful. But Apple because of its size really does need to as far as critics and the markets are concerned.

I think if a no-name company like Vudu manages to sell between 50,000 and 100,000 units in year one, it will be considered a HUGE success considering they started from nowhere. I have no idea what Vudu's numbers are.

Given the fact that Apple has owned digital media and the portable player market, yeah, AppleTV was a flop since the theory was that most of the people with iPods would want a compatible device that would let them view content on their TVs. Plus Apple has a lot of kool-aid drinkers (I could possibly be considered one of them) who will buy a new Apple product simply because Apple came out with it. But this didn't happen with the ATV.

[rstone]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

This made me laugh. You have to go back to the G4 to get a good example of an Apple flop. That is saying something. And when Apple stands up for consumers you throw it in their face? And here is my question to you. You heard in the keynote, or can easily look up how many Apple TVs have shipped.

Are you going to be willing to call Vudu a "flop" when they don't ship well over a million units in their first year?

Are you implying that Apple TV has sold over a million units in there first year? Because if you are, you are way off. The number is actually estimated by macworld to be closer to 400,000 units since the device went on sale.

http://www.macworld.com/article/6140...2/appletv.html

[StevenRushing]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

This made me laugh....

And Apple is not so perfect with marketing either. Every hear of the G4 Cube? Or how about the fact that the AppleTV has been a flop for the past year? Or did you ever hear of NBC? Hmm...Try to find NBC shows on iTunes. Apple screwed that one up. And now recording studios are putting out DRM free content. But except for one studio, it isn't on iTunes...

This made me laugh. You have to go back to the G4 to get a good example of an Apple flop. That is saying something. And when Apple stands up for consumers you throw it in their face? And here is my question to you. You heard in the keynote, or can easily look up how many Apple TVs have shipped.
Are you going to be willing to call Vudu a "flop" when they don't ship well over a million units in their first year?

[NA9D]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

OK. I just loaded the new iTunes and went to the iTunes store.

The rentable movies are there. But I've not been able to see any from the computer listed as "HD". Also, a link that say "New Rentals on iTunes" takes you to a page with purchase only movies! Ooops!

Anyhow, not all rentable movies are purchasable. Live Free or Die Hard can be rented but it can't be purchased. Other movies can be purchased but not rented. Others like Underdog have both options.

The movie pages don't detail too well the sound quality.

I DO like the fact I can rent something and take it with me on my iPod. I've got a business trip this weekend and I may take advantage of that...

[NA9D]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

This is interesting...I just did a software update on my Mac. New iTunes is out. Here is the description:

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.

Reading this as written it looks like to me that HD content will ONLY be RENTABLE. No HD purchases. It says "Enjoy RENTED movies in sizes up to 720p.." And the HD is not playable on the computer - ATV only.

I find that very interesting - particularly the lack of mentioning anything about purchasing in HD...I just might stay awake for the SW to download and then check it out...

[kmulder]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

I will be happy to post my opinions of the Apple TV when it comes out.
I have just been looking at their first look video and the new software does look interesting.
It looks like it can show around 18 movies icons on the screen at once and you can scroll horizontally or vertically through them.
Something I believe I saw someone asking Vudu to do on this forum.
It also will have trailers. The trailers on the Apple TV are one of the nicer features of that product.
They are full screen trailers in High quality. One of the things on the Vudu that I wish they would improve is the trailer previews. They are in that little box on the screen and they are poor quality compared to the quality of the rentals on the box.
The interface looks very similar to Vudu with out the scroll wheel of course.

[NA9D]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

I also own apple tv and will wait to see what there new software will bring.

Ken,

I think your points about Vudu are valid as to people knowing about them. Hopefully, they can start launching some ads soon on the web or in print (TV's expensive). I'm sure Vudu and Apple both would love to do something for the Academy Awards but who knows if that show will even happen with the WGA strike.

Anyhow, I veer off course.

Since I am not seen as an "objective" person by a number of people on the board, would you be so kind as to post a comparison review of Vudu and AppleTV 2.0 when it comes out? I plan on doing a similar thing, but again, you are someone who has absolutely no basis for being biased for against either product and you are an expert in home theatre and capabilities. I think the forum would benefit a lot from an honest review by someone like yourself.

[kmulder]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

My biggest problem with Vudu is that no one nows they exist.
Apple will be advertizing on TV and in the papers and touting their new addition to their lineup and millions of people will instantly know about this new product.
While virtually no one except the techies like us will even now Apple has any competition.
That is going to be the problem.
Vudu needs to get the word out to the masses that they exist. Vudu can be the greatest product in the world but will fail if no one nows they exist.
I have not found one person that knows about the Vudu. I tell them about it and they say they have never heard about it.
I also own apple tv and will wait to see what there new software will bring.

[NA9D]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

yes, it has one but Apple has never been open to adding storage to it because of loss of control of data. Don't hold your breath - I don't think they will ever support external storage unless it is their own.

There has been an ATV hack though that allows access to an external drive. However, when Apple updated to the current version of the ATV software, it wiped out all the hacks you had installed. It may do that again. I never bothered to re-enable the hacks I'd installed as most of them weren't that great. Still it was kinda cool to see the thing boot OS X!

[Guy Gadois]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

From what I have read on Apples forum, the ATV does have a USB port, but it is not used, and the word is Apple does not plan on an external storage option being used via the USB port. Although, with ATV2, who knows if they might change that.

yes, it has one but Apple has never been open to adding storage to it because of loss of control of data. Don't hold your breath - I don't think they will ever support external storage unless it is their own.

[rstone]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

Storage is a pain. Apple has always been such control freaks when it comes to storage I don't think they support an external HD. Correct me if I am wrong. Vudu will support an external USB.

From what I have read on Apples forum, the ATV does have a USB port, but it is not used, and the word is Apple does not plan on an external storage option being used via the USB port. Although, with ATV2, who knows if they might change that.

[Guy Gadois]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

Storage is a pain. Apple has always been such control freaks when it comes to storage I don't think they support an external HD. Correct me if I am wrong. Vudu will support an external USB.

[rstone]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

You have your ATV. You want to rent a movie, but you can't because your 40 Gig drive is full. So in order to download the movie, you have to move content off your ATV. So do you have to go to your computer to do this or can you do it from your ATV? If you can do it from ATV, great. But iTunes isn't running. Now you have to go to your computer, start iTunes and then move the content. Then once it's moved you can rent the movie. But Apple's HD isn't instant and you have to wait and wait for it.

Yeah I wonder how that works to, my guess is your correct in that you would have to use your computer as the intermediary to move content on and off your ATV, which kind of sucks in my opinion. I have been tempted to go buy one so I can see how it works, but honestly, I'd rather spend 320+ on VUDU movies and shows, then on an ATV right now. Although if VUDU takes to much time to get the shows I want, I might just have to give in.

[NA9D]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

So speaking of HD....when is "this month" for the 70 new HD titles on Vudu?

The press release says by the end of the month.

I know Vudu is working hard to get this out and all I can say is that they are very close to releasing it. You guys will love it.