Apple TV MB189LL/A with 160GB Hard Drive [OLD VERSION] by Apple Computer
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Digital camera reviews of Apple TV MB189LL/A with 160GB Hard Drive [OLD VERSION]
Digital camera Review: A $300 iTunes Shopping Cart
Summary: 2 Stars
In telecommunications, there's a lot of talk about the "last mile" in terms of getting voice, data, video, etc. to the final point where it is needed. When it comes to digital entertainment content, it might be better to think in terms of the last few meters. It's not uncommon these days for households to have a computer in a den somewhere loaded with ripped CDs, downloaded music and video, and thousands of archived photos. A few meters away, a home theater setup in the living room remains tethered to cable, satellite, DVDs, and other more conventional channels of content delivery.
Apple TV is Apple's most advanced attempt to bridge those last few meters. Basically, it's a hard drive linked via 802.11n wireless networking to one or more computers on which digital content resides in an iTunes library. The Apple TV unit syncs with one library and can stream from several others. It then plays back that content and sends it to a widescreen TV and/or AV receiver via an HDMI cable (not supplied). In theory, that's a great setup. In practice, the delivery falls short.
The first problem is that the menus and interface on Apple TV seem overwhelmingly skewed in favor of the iTunes store. Boot up the Apple TV and you'll see a menu of categories such as music and movies. So far, so good, but select any of those categories, and the top menu option always leads to the iTunes store, where the user can presumably make an impulse purchase of digital content. In a moment of role reversal, that content purchased and downloaded from iTunes directly via Apple TV later syncs back to the paired computer. That's great, but iTunes is an expensive way to acquire digital content. $1.99 here and $9.99 there eventually adds up to real money.
For a user like me, who just wanted to use Apple TV as a digital jukebox holding a music library ripped from nearly a 1000 CDs collected since college, Apple TV is needlessly cumbersome. Since the iTunes option is always at the top of each category menu, I always have to click down to the "my music" option, which is, not surprisingly, at the bottom of the menu since it generates no additional revenue for Apple. It's too many mouseclicks just to listen to or watch content that I've already purchased and have owned for years (or maybe even decades).
To this major flaw, add a variety of minor, but annoying issues:
-- The device is unpredictable. Occasionally, after a period or dormancy, this device will come right back to whatever it was playing previously. Most times, though, it will lead me through a flashy introductory movie. It's a neat little movie, but once is enough.
-- The device never really shuts down and therefore is a vampire draining power. Apparently, Apple's new wave of environmental consciousness has not yet swept over Apple TV.
-- The included Apple remote is better suited to a small portable device than a home entertainment system. Moreover, Apple TV works only partially with universal remotes from Harmony and others.
I'm going to miss the album art on my TV screen, but ultimately this device is just too much of an iTunes shopping cart to serve my needs. I'm going to sell mine and, as much as I hate to give more money to Apple, have replaced it with an Airport Express -- a much simpler audio-only streaming device. There's no album art, but there's also no iTunes store --- just the reassuring sound of CDs already paid for and ripped over the years.
Digital camera Review: A Truly Unique Entertainment device
Summary: 5 Stars
Apple TV is a fantastic product and I have to give it 5 stars! The device is different than anything mainstream on the market that I have come across - different from dvd, different from blu-ray, tivo, dishtv/direct tv, etc.
First the disclaimer on this review: I am an apple fan and have owned an apple computer for the last 4 years so this is coming from an apple user/network point of view. I can't comment on how well this works with itunes on a PC / PC network. You have to have a widescreen tv and broadband/DSL network connection - preferably WIFI or wired with ethernet port close to your TV so you can hook the device up (requires internet connection to function).
Pros:
iPods and iPhones are obviously a main staple for many of us today and this device is positioned to amplify the integration of these devices and products in our lives. The largest benefit is it adds value for files that many of us are likely already buying on itunes!!!
Apple TV is, by design, not designed to be the main storage or hard drive for your video files. My understanding from talking to the apple experts at the store and researching this product is it is primarily designed to move files from your computer (itunes library) to the device to allow you to enjoy them on your television.
The device can move them from programmed sync scheduled similar to tivo (all unwatched, oldest recently watched, etc).
Cost for files - compared to dishtv, direct tv, and comcast rental movies - these are a buck cheaper. They for the same price have many new movies in HD files for rental (4.99). I personally have dishtv, but don't have the HD packages. This gives me the ability to enjoy HD on my tv on demand and not pay the 20 bucks + per month for a full package. Purchase of movies ranges from 4.99 to 14.99. These same files can be moved to your iPhone, iPod, iTunes/computer, or Apple TV. This allows maximum usage!
Ease of set up - I have an apple powerbook, airport wifi router, and a plasma HDTV. Setup took about 5 min with plugging in HDMI cables (not included). Apple TV prompts for the language and then automatically detects the network. I submitted the security information for any computer and it automatically connected, then through prompts had me go to my powerbook and click on the new "DEVICE" on my iTunes and plug in a code given by the apple tv (all prompted). It configured to my itunes and sync'd up. That was it!! You can then manage the device just like your iPod or iPhone by automatically sync'ing or by custom sync'ing by specific files, unwatched, all movies, no music, add pictures or rolls from iPhoto, and other options.
That's it. no pain.
The experience is somewhere in between using a computer and a tivo type device. Aside from watching your video files, tv shows, etc that you own there are many cost effective options that are totally free!!! You have youtube available via wifi. This I found incredibly entertaining and adds a new dimension to family entertainment. Disclaimer - there are parental controls on the device, but I haven't tested it with youtube yet so can't comment on that aspect. It was enjoyable to look for files and I've wasted tons of hours just messing with the youtube as a new form of family room entertainment.
iPod video podcasts! This is a wealth of great info that is totally and completely free! There is stuff for kids like sesame street, dora, and many other options that are just 1 min - 10 min mini episodes to keep the kids and family occupied. There are also the normal pod casts such as Anderson Cooper's 30 min news beat from Fox News and many many others. These allow you to enjoy these as regular tivo streaming content.
Cost of the device is much cheaper than blu-ray. Though that is changing given blu-ray slowly dropping in price following christmas - but the discs are still ridiculously expensive - this offers content for more affordable.
TV picture - HD is available and looks great. I haven't experience lagged except when I've opened my laptop and it connected in the background and it was only a few seconds. Otherwise, the picture looks great - DVD to better quality. 1080i...
Reference the issues of space. I'm told that you can create a library on an external hard drive on your network and the device can accept and utilize up to five libraries. I haven't fully tried this, but do have 2 libraries on my device from the same computer. The external hard drive library will be attempted later - but gives you the idea that you can added a ton of space and not bog down your regular computer.
Similar to the benefits of the iPod - no discs to scratch. I have little kids so the dvd life is limited for any new disc we bring into our house. The ability to have the file instead of a disc is very beneficial. Combined with just an internet connection and/or just the device and you can take this to a hotel, family member, or other's house and plug in and hook to a tv and instant movies for the family!! ....benefits for the family and ease of packing for those younger families that travel.
You don't need to utilize the computer directly as it will allow you to download movies directly to the device and doing the streams for youtube and podcasts without a computer (device to WIFI network).
160GB is probably
Cons
Download times for movies can be pretty extensive depending on your internet speed - like 1 hr plus. However, it tracks the progress of your movie download and allows you to start watching your movie in about 20 min once you select a new movie. Its no different than in iPod iTunes download.
Along with the file sizes, the update of moving movie files on and off the device does take time. Initially it can be frustrating, but by planning a head and waiting the 20 min to start the download, or begin sync'ing before you're ready to watch - you get used to it and once you have items to watch, the device is very easy to live with and utilize as a main staple of your entertainment.
Content - content is growing rapidly but obviously the device and its success and enjoyment is based on apple continuing to add the new releases to its inventory on iTunes. So far this isn't a concern and content is being added daily and all the new releases are on it!!
Youtube picture quality is okay and watchable but not HD or even DVD quality for some videos. Others it's great! ...you roll with them and enjoy them for what they are - many may not take up the full widescreen tv but the device will show them as large as it can while maintaining a decent picture quality - on avg 80-90% of the screen size.
The device is a bit revolutionary and requires some comfort with computers, files management, backing up files to external hard drives, servers, etc. The worst thing that could happen would be hard drive failure and not having the back up files saved. It was really easy to set up and the device does "just work" like much of what I have experienced with Apple products. The follow on skills is the management of your files and ensuring you safe guard them. If you aren't computer savy that you feel you don't know anything about backing up your files and basic file management...this probably isn't for you.
You need to have a widescreen TV or I'm told you'll get an error. I haven't tried it.
Overall - great device and definitely TONS of potential and a lot of fun. I've had Tivo, Dish tv's DVR, itunes, and iPod, iPhone 3G, and many other devices...played with blu-ray and HD-DVD....
This device is by far the most fun I've had out of the box as something truly "different"...
It was very easy to hook up. I have no major complaints and definitely would recommend to others to consider for their entertainment setups!
Digital camera Review: A Very Cool Thing
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a very cool thing for renting movies without having to deal with running back and forth with the "disc" or storing a binder full of stuff. We also often play selections from itunes music library while favorite photos cascade up the screen. Ours is plugged into an RJ45 wall jack so I can't speak to how the wireless features are yet. Music videos and you tube are also a snap to view. I'm certain there's much more to learn about it's cababilities but I'm very satisfied. My only gripe would be menus and/or instuctions could be a little easier to figure out.Digital camera Review: A great box for your old home-made movies.
Summary: 5 Stars
What a joy it is to have all my home made movies, originally shot in Super 8 (remember that format?), on my Apple TV.
I had tons of old Super 8 movies, some of them filmed by my dad some 60 years ago. Watching them now required setting up the old family projector, and pulling up the portable white screen. Some movies became dry, and tore in the projector, so watching one of the old movies became a process of stop, remove film, glue it back together, and continue watching.
My brother eventually gave all the movies to a specialized company that converted them all into mpeg format. Once in mpeg, they were transferred to iTunes, and then to the Apple TV via the home network.
What a pleasure it is now to watch my family's old home made movies on my TV screen. It is now a snap to switch between my movies, and by being so accessible, I can now show them to other family members and friends.
The Apple TV is really like an iPod. It is controlled by a very simple remote control with one menu button, a play/pause button, surrounded in a circle by the forward and rewind buttons, and the volume control (`+ and -` buttons also used for navigation). You are going to wish all remote controls were that simple.
Navigating the Apple TV is like navigating an iPod. You can store video, music, and photos. There is a slideshow feature for your pictures that will display your pictures on your TV with background music of your choice. The background music can be chosen at random from your music library.
Though as simple as an iPod to operate, the Apple TV is itself a stripped-down Mac mini, running a version of Mac OS X. When you plug in the Apple TV to your TV, you will not need to do any configuration. It's basically plug-and-play. Audio and video cables (not included) connect it to your TV. There is an HDMI output.
The Apple TV comes with a wireless feature allowing you to wirelessly connect to your home network. However, in order to sync your Apple TV with your iTunes, I would recommend you use an Ethernet cable to connect to your home network. The video, music, and photo transfer will be faster through an Ethernet cable. Once you sync your Apple TV for the first time, you may then disconnect the network cable and use the wireless feature in the Apple TV to update its content.
I also recommend you first start syncing at night. In this way, the syncing process will go on while you are sleeping. My Apple TV is 160 Gigabyte strong, and to put that much information on it might take the better part of a day! In most cases, depending on your hardware, connecting through the network Ethernet cable will make the transfer much faster than connecting wirelessly, particularly over 802.ub, 802.ug, and 802.un networks.
You can sync content from only one computer at a time, and you can't add content manually--for example, by dragging it from iTunes library to the Apple TV icon on iTunes' Source list, as you might do with an iPod. If you choose to sync with a different computer, all the data on the Apple TV will be replaced.
Another nice feature of the Apple TV is its ability to connect to the iTunes store, through your computer (either a Mac or PC), where you can download music and videos. Like the iPod, the Apple TV will neatly categorize your media for you, and automatically download the covers of the music albums and films.
One negative comment I have about the Apple TV is that you cannot transfer the media files on your Apple TV to your computer. It is only a one way process, with files moving from your iTunes to your Apple TV, and not vice versa. So if you want to send an Apple TV to a friend, loaded with your music and video library, your friend cannot connect it to his computer. If he does so, all the media on the Apple TV will be erased when it tries to sync with your friend's iTunes, replacing it with the media files on your friend's computer. This also applies to the iPod. There are software on the internet that claim to address this problem, but I have not tried any of them.
Be careful about earlier versions of Apple TV. Earlier versions don't support streaming videos. Newer versions shipped give you the option of navigating YouTube, and streaming their videos. I think that older versions can be updated to support streaming videos.
Apple TV also has limited support for video formats. This means that you will have to rely on tools like Techspanion's Visual-Hub to convert videos to Apple TV-ready formats. You can also use Apple QuickTime. You cannot directly burn a DVD into iTunes. DVDs also need to be converted in order to have them transferred to your Apple TV.
You can stream movies, however, you can't stream photos. Instead, on the computer synced with the Apple TV, iTunes formats the pictures you select and copies them to the Apple TV's hard drive. Once they're on the Apple TV, you can view a selected album or your entire photo library as a slide show. You can choose from a variety of transitions, as well as determine the display time for each picture.
Apple has chosen to say that generally, 5.1 audio is not supported.
The Apple TV does not offer true HD quality.
Apple Computer Inc. has changed its name to Apple Inc. With the name change, Apple is now promising us gadgetry other than computers. The iPhone is one example. There's more to come.
Digital camera Review: A iPod for your HD TV - OK - UPDATED - USELESS
Summary: 4 Stars
UPDATE:
I love Apple products and I think they do a great job. However they have lost points on the Apple TV... $300+ for a piece of garbage. There is a problem with these devices when connected via Wireless N and HDMI....they FREEZE - I had to power cycle my unit atleast once a day during the week and once an hour over the weekend when it was used most.
I am RETURNING IT!!!!
Do your self a favor...save up and buy a Mac Mini to replace this.
Another item you dont want from apple is the overpriced 1tb Time Capsule...it is slow as molasis...sorry...had to throw this in.
We have recently converted this family to everything apple...computers, router, etc. The results are fantastic due to the ease of use and build quality you can expect from a company like Apple.
The last item on the list was the Apple TV.... I got one and was up and running in about 5 minutes with an hdmi cable to my receiver. GREAT...
I paired it with my itunes library so it could sync...again...very easy. I got some hi-def podcasts and enjoyed them asap....again very easy.
Everything worked and then I noticed the thing froze up.....nothing..nada...zip....5 minutes later it asked me if I wanted to reboot. It started again.... I have had it freeze on me about 4 times thus far and that is why I am giving it 4 stars.
The only other gripe I have with this is that the mp3 songs from my itunes library dont sound that great through the HDMI connection. However, I am attributing that to my receiver for the time being and will hope that it gets better.
Another tiny quirk....if you have a mac laptop and use the apple tv remote...make sure you point the remote to the apple tv..otherwise you will notice that remote is controlling your laptop and the apple tv....it can get annoying. :-)
Enjoy!