What is apple tv?

[davis5050]

What is apple tv? I mean is it something that you download to your iphone and watch certian channels? And is there a way to answer theiphone without touching it? Some phones have auto answer didn't know if this one does or not. Thank you

[macgirl]

it's this (http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?nnmm=browse&mco=7B72363E&node=home/shop_ipod/family/apple_tv)...

[ravman]

Seems like a total waste of money if you ask me. If you want something like that, I would say go for the Sling Player. www.slingmedia.com (http://www.slingmedia.com).

Apple TV is a total rip off. $299 for essentially a 40gb hard drive in a box that connects to iTunes. Hmm.

[4U2NV]

And I can say that the Slingbox is a great device. I've been watching cable in my car through Slingbox for almost a year now and love it.

[Lincoln]

The Apple TV is really a simple equation:

iPhone + AV Cable = Apple TV. :smile:

[ravman]

Sweet.

I heard that Sling is working on something for the iPhone. Not sure how good Sling will be on EDGE.



And I can say that the Slingbox is a great device. I've been watching cable in my car through Slingbox for almost a year now and love it.

[meiphones_brill]

I love my appleTV - On its own it's a bit weak, but I've upgraded mine so it now runs asterisk - does all my house phones - I dial friends using my remote - and I can see incoming calls picture-in-picture while watching scrapheap challenge.

It's my home automation gateway - I access it over the net and control various stuff around the network. It fetches data from work and puts them on the tv so I can see at a glance what's going on there while I'm watching Red Dwarf.

And it gets really hot so I use it for thawing out frozen rats.

When you download a film - you want to watch it on the best TV in the house with the best sound system. Shame it's not HD , but without it I'd have to lug about a laptop and set that up whenever I wanted to watch the Matrix.

[x999x]

I think the reason AppleTV is not HD could be attributed to the fact that iTunes does not deliver HD content. Therefore in a typical Steve Jobs fashion, to control the way the content is viewed in order to create the best experience possible was to limit its resolution output for less upscaling of their premium content.

Think of it this way, you just paid 9.99 for a movie on iTunes to watch on your AppleTV only to discover it doesn't look as good as the DVD version when you watch it on your HD setup. Yeah, I'd be bummed to, but back in 480p land its actually comparable.

[prijikn]

The Apple TV is a device that allows consumers to stream iTunes data from computers to the their HD TVs. The device is what is known as a set-top box, because it connects to the TV.

[acosmichippo]

awesome....

[mikef1182]

How difficult is it to stream your own movies or videos that I have saved on my hard drive to Apple TV? Do they need to be in your iTunes library or can they be in a virtual hard drive like time capsule?

Thanks for the help guys!

[aenti]

To answer mik, not too hard. I believe they need to be in your iTunes library.

But I got to say, Apple TV is a failure in my eyes. Even TV take 2 sucks.

[mikef1182]

So if they are on an external hard drive, how can they also be in my itunes library on my macbook wirelessly? Basically what I would like is to stream all of my movies on my hard drive, which are not on my my macbook's hard drive, to Apple TV. Does anyone know if this possible?

[smknSRT8]

Seems like a total waste of money if you ask me. If you want something like that, I would say go for the Sling Player. www.slingmedia.com (http://www.slingmedia.com).

Apple TV is a total rip off. $299 for essentially a 40gb hard drive in a box that connects to iTunes. Hmm.

Someone help me here, Apple TV plays movies etc from your computer, while slingbox allows you to watch tv that is streaming from a cable box. These are two different things, unless you record EVERYTHING you watch onto your computer then stream it to the Apple TV.
I wouldn't go and say that "If you want something like THAT, get the slingbox. I have a sling box and it doesnt play my movies on my computer.

[acosmichippo]

yeah, they do two totally different things. not to mention AppleTV plays HD, which the SlingBox can not even approach.

[ravman]

Umm, you may want to double check that. Yes Sling does stream HD channels.

Apple TV and Sling are two totally different devices. Apple TV is like Blockbuster Video for your TV. You rent and view movies. Sling Box is a device which streams your cable/satellite TV to a device. So unless you have DVR'd programs on your cable/satellite box, it's totally different to Apple TV.

They both have two totally different uses.



yeah, they do two totally different things. not to mention AppleTV plays HD, which the SlingBox can not even approach.

[acosmichippo]

sure, it'll stream HD channels, but not in HD, which was my point.

the best resolution you'll get is 640x480.

[ravman]

Does seem to be the case.

Netflix have launched an online movie player also. You don't have a large a library as say Apple TV, but it's all part of your monthly DVD rental package. So after the initial $99 cost for the Roku box, the service is actually free. But right now it only pumps out at 480P. But they are plans to extend it to full HD soon.




To answer mik, not too hard. I believe they need to be in your iTunes library.

But I got to say, Apple TV is a failure in my eyes. Even TV take 2 sucks.

[ravman]

That is true. Sling works on compression, so you're never going to get perfect picture quality. But it's cool when you're on the other side of the planet, watching "Flip This House".



sure, it'll stream HD channels, but not in HD, which was my point.

[smknSRT8]

Apple TV and Sling are two totally different devices. Apple TV is like Blockbuster Video for your TV. You rent and view movies. Sling Box is a device which streams your cable/satellite TV to a device. So unless you have DVR'd programs on your cable/satellite box, it's totally different to Apple TV.

They both have two totally different uses.
I know this, which is why I said it. You were the one that said the sling box can take over your apple tv

[ravman]

I said what? Where?

I never said Sling Box will take over your Apple TV?


I know this, which is why I said it. You were the one that said the sling box can take over your apple tv

[acosmichippo]

Seems like a total waste of money if you ask me. If you want something like that, I would say go for the Sling Player. www.slingmedia.com (http://www.slingmedia.com).........................

[ravman]

Where am I saying that the Sling Box will take over your Apple TV?

Do you mean "take Over" as in will replace the Apple TV for a cheaper price.

Or "take over", is in will take control of the Apple TV box.



..Seems like a total waste of money if you ask me. If you want something like that, I would say go for the Sling Player. www.slingmedia.com (http://www.slingmedia.com/).......................

[acosmichippo]

If you want something like [AppleTV], I would say go for the Sling Player. www.slingmedia.com (http://www.slingmedia.com).........................

[smknSRT8]

Not word for word, I was going by what you meant, you meant that apple tv is to much so get slingbox. they dont do the same thing which is what i was getting at.

[ravman]

The original person said: I mean is it something that you download to your iphone and watch certian channels?

And I said, if you want something like that, then get the Sling Box. As it does exactly what he asked. It allows you to watch certain channels.

For what the Apple TV box does (something different from the Sling Box), it's overpriced and a total rip off.




........................

[acosmichippo]

fair enough... except slingbox actually doesn't stream to the iphone.

[ravman]

I know, and it's a fricken pain!! I've heard different reasons as to why no Sling Mobile on the iPhone. The main one being that AT&T does not want Apple to authorzie it, as AT&T want to push their own MobiTV thing. Even though AT&T have nothing for the iPhone as of yet!



fair enough... except slingbox actually doesn't stream to the iphone.

[aenti]

I know, and it's a fricken pain!! I've heard different reasons as to why no Sling Mobile on the iPhone. The main one being that AT&T does not want Apple to authorzie it, as AT&T want to push their own MobiTV thing. Even though AT&T have nothing for the iPhone as of yet!

Nah, I don't think it is to push MobiTV, I think it is because it would be sucking up ATT bandwidth.

[ravman]

But isn't that why we are now paying the extra $15 a month for the 3G speed? To pay for the extra bandwidth?


Nah, I don't think it is to push MobiTV, I think it is because it would be sucking up ATT bandwidth.

[aenti]

Thats for business users, correct? (45 for business, 30 for reg)
I believe ATT stated that the extra 15 is because they assume business users would use more bandwidth. Basically you are getting jipped.

[ravman]

I'm thinking of returning my iPhone. I love the APP store, but I am not getting my money's worth on the $30 for the 3G. It's simply not worth it.


Thats for business users, correct? (45 for business, 30 for reg)
I believe ATT stated that the extra 15 is because they assume business users would use more bandwidth. Basically you are getting jipped.

[aenti]

Think about it this way. If you were paying for any other smart phone, you would have the additional 30 dollar tag on as well (if you had chosen u.d.)
But you are right about the 30 dollars. It is expensive, and it is up to you.

[ravman]

I was paying $15 a month (Unlimited Media Net Plan) for my last 3G phone (AT&T 8525). I used to use about 3 gigs a month on the thing. I was using more bandwidth then, than what I am using now on my iPhone. And I am paying an extra $15 a month for the pleasure of using less bandwidth.

I got to use Sling Mobile on the 8525 also.



Think about it this way. If you were paying for any other smart phone, you would have the additional 30 dollar tag on as well (if you had chosen u.d.)
But you are right about the 30 dollars. It is expensive, and it is up to you.

[fury]

They'd make Apple TV infinitely more useful if they'd just slap a $20 HDTV tuner in there. I always wondered why they called it Apple TV when it isn't actually a TV, just a stripped down Mac Mini that they've essentially turned into a settop iTunes box.

[bearon1]

i was paying $15 a month (unlimited media net plan) for my last 3g phone (at&t 8525). I used to use about 3 gigs a month on the thing. I was using more bandwidth then, than what i am using now on my iphone. And i am paying an extra $15 a month for the pleasure of using less bandwidth.

I got to use sling mobile on the 8525 also.

then you gotta use the buttons