Macworld: Whipping the Apple TV into shape ...

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43 Replies Last post: Sep 4, 2008 7:10 AM by maxeverde 1 2 3 Previous Next

Macworld

11,211 posts since
Nov 30, 2007

Aug 26, 2008 12:37 PM

Whipping the Apple TV into shape

Post your comments for Whipping the Apple TV into shape here

pistogrih

25 posts since
Jun 5, 2008

1. Aug 26, 2008 12:54 PM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Whipping the Apple TV into shape

Is there a reason why you couldn't just attach the Mac Mini to the TV and do away with the Apple TV altogether?

I only ask because from what I know about Apple TV, the only advantage you have with your system is the simplicity of the interface, no faffing about with mice/keyboards. But it's not like you don't have a wireless mighty mouse and keyboard stashed down the side of the sofa for the Mini.

garyi

308 posts since
Jun 3, 2005

2. Aug 26, 2008 12:58 PM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Whipping the Apple TV into shape

I am wondering if apple is holding out for some uber NAS thing they are devising? That would be nice, but takes sales from minis I suppose.

I will have to rethink the HDMI connection as well, I am just sick to death if it crashing practically each and everytime and have to put most of the issues down to the HDMI. This is an apple issue and they need to address it.

No doubt someone will say its because of HDMI, I would politly say that I have not experienced crashes with any other HDMI equipment.

Also of late I am getting mutliple issues with itunes on the server (a mini connected to the network via ethernet) the main one being that it just does not show on the appletv until its quitted and restarted. I can bet any money that if I am away for the night, the wife will ring to say she can't get it too work or I'll get back in the morning and she well tell me it never worked.

She has mentioned a number of times that basically the appletv is a PC in disguise. Aside from the blue screen of death, I am inclined to agree. Not very apple at all.

jughead

69 posts since
Jan 12, 2005

3. Aug 26, 2008 12:59 PM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Whipping the Apple TV into shape

I would be happy if Apple would allow direct streaming from my ReadyNAS.

Another idea to throw out there would be rebranding the "mini" line into a series of components. You might have:

-MacMini - a stripped down Mac w/o optical drive
-BDmini - an external slimline Blu-Ray drive.
-StreamMini - a streaming device like Slingbox
-HDmini - an ATSC tuner/DVR device

All would have the same form factor so they could be stacked like legos. Many of these things can already be purchased in MacMini format. But Apple could differentiate itself by making all of the items play nice with each other.

Just my $.02

Chris Breen

3,595 posts since
Dec 11, 2000

4. Aug 26, 2008 1:00 PM

in response to: pistogrih

Re: Whipping the Apple TV into shape

I could. I have the Mac mini attached to the TV as well. The Apple TV offers the advantage that it's easier to operate so that everyone in the family can use it. Plus I can get HD movies with it from the iTunes Store, which I can't do with the Mac.

altoidboy

16 posts since
Jul 3, 2006

5. Aug 26, 2008 1:04 PM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Whipping the Apple TV into shape

i think the atv flash product is an indispensible addition to appletv, and anyone wondering about all the things it can't do will want to check it out:
http://www.atvflash.com/product_info.php?products_id=27

jamus

161 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

6. Aug 26, 2008 1:13 PM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Whipping the Apple TV into shape

1. USB port feeding out to an external case with two hardware mirrored drives (ie Guardian Maximus) would be very very lovely.
2. Far fetch request: Internal DVD player with latest upscaling tech as an optional upgrade. Blu-ray if it would be cheap enough, but we know that will not happen for eons.

fuzzball

2 posts since
Aug 26, 2008

7. Aug 26, 2008 1:15 PM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Whipping the Apple TV into shape

Frankly I think the ATV is "Dead man walking." Apple really dropped this ball with the ATV IMHO. It could have been so much more so much sooner. Unfortunately Apple somehow believed we would all drop our cable/premium channel/netflix subscriptions and just start buying all our entertainment. Like that's going to happen. yeah, I know people who have a library of like 100+ DVDs, I'm sure those people love the ATV (or maybe not given some quality diffs especially early on). As for most people I know that want to watch something once, or record something to watch once later, we were pretty much an afterthought. All along the ATV should have been a shopping/renting/dvr type device. Had Apple "got that" out of the gate, we'd all be saying "Tivo who?" and "Netflix was so yesterday" and the ATV would be sitting pretty. As it is, I believe the ATV is the next Cube. Remember how "wonderful" the cube was?

folklore

696 posts since
Aug 9, 2005

8. Aug 26, 2008 1:18 PM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Whipping the Apple TV into shape

I hadn't even considered the possibility that the HDMI connection could be causing my problems. I'll pick up some component cables and see if that helps. I see a lot of slowness and spontaneous rebooting of my AppleTVs...

danviento

236 posts since
Mar 7, 2007

9. Aug 26, 2008 1:19 PM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Whipping the Apple TV into shape

Have you checked the speed of a library stored on a network drive that is referenced from a multitasking computer? I'm just curious if its the drive on the computer having to do multiple tasks that makes the slowdown or if its the processor of the computer.

I'd like to assume that with your media stored on a network drive, the AppleTV is just borrowing the library file and processing all of the media itself and not utilizing processing resources of the computer. I'd like to have a network drive (ex: LaCie 2big Network) mounted on the network with everyone's media on it, so we can all access it while at home. At 1000mbps and a RAID setup, this could certainly speed things up with a hard line connection to an Apple TV, could it not?

filipiak

7 posts since
Jul 11, 2008

10. Aug 26, 2008 1:29 PM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Whipping the Apple TV into shape

For me, lately, it's the heat. My unit will stop playing either the audio or the video, if the ambient air temperature is over 88 degrees or so.

No, I don't very often run my A/C. Yes, it's got plenty of open space around the top and four sides.

It gets really, really warm though. So, I've taken to just unplugging it when I'm not using it.

flybynight

835 posts since
Jul 21, 2006

11. Aug 26, 2008 1:37 PM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Whipping the Apple TV into shape

That's too bad, given the simplicity that HDMI is supposed to offer. One cable to my receiver is great. I haven't had any freezes lately, but I'll keep that in mind.

Chris Breen

3,595 posts since
Dec 11, 2000

12. Aug 26, 2008 1:41 PM

in response to: flybynight

Re: Whipping the Apple TV into shape

I will say that those posting about HDMI issues haven't concluded that it's all TVs and receivers that may contribute to the problem, just some. Not really helpful, I know, but I don't want to leave the impression that HDMI is the devil, only that it could contribute to problems.

trip1ex

376 posts since
Sep 12, 2006

13. Aug 26, 2008 1:45 PM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Whipping the Apple TV into shape

It sounds like it's still not ready for primetime.

I wonder if plugging the ATV into an Airport Extreme with a USB hard drive plugged into that would help too? Do they have the same footprint? ATV and Airport Extreme that is?

trip1ex

376 posts since
Sep 12, 2006

14. Aug 26, 2008 2:37 PM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Whipping the Apple TV into shape

They should also just put the ATV software on the Mini. A Mini might be more $$$, but you (can) use a Mini as a Time Machine backup network device and I think you can use it as a router with internet connection sharing although they haven't updated it to wireless N yet.

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Aug 26, 2008 12:37 PM

Whipping the Apple TV into shape

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