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AppleTV Rumors

Submitted by Shelley on Sun, 09/28/2008 - 09:18
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Rumors abound this weekend that something is up with AppleTV. TUAW first wrote about the AppleTV signs coming down, and erroneously mentioned about machines being pulled. The site later made an update that the machines haven't been pulled, and conjecture in comments is that the signage change is because of one year licensing and old publication material. Still, another rumor mentioned a webcast related to the AppleTV on Tuesday. Comments in Gizmodo mention AppleTVs on clearance at Target, but that doesn't necessarily mean that Target is making way for new products.

There has been speculation for some time now on a new AppleTV that combines the old AppleTV streaming and direct purchasing capability, and features of the Mac Mini. Speculation runs the gamut from a new box with Blu-Ray, to a merge between the Mac Mini and the AppleTV with Blu-Ray thrown in. I think one thing we can safely say is that whatever happens to the future of AppleTV et al, it won't stream Netflix's WatchNow.

The rumor that most interested me, from MacBlogz, was that a software upgrade for AppleTV is in the works enabling direct purchase of HD TV shows through the machine. Now, you have to purchase the shows in iTunes on the computer and then transfer them to the machine.

I tried posting a note on these at the official AppleTV discussion forum. It was pulled in ten minutes and I received an email from Apple, slapping my hands and telling me not to post "rumors" and "speculation" in the forum. Considering that rumor and speculation form the heart and soul of Apple marketing, I would think the company would welcome increased exposure for both, but it would seem it likes to play coy within its own environments. Mustn't smudge the shellac.

I do find this latest round of Apple buzz to be less than endearing—necessary updates to hardware should not be handled within the same PR stream as new products or innovations.

Comments

Submitted by Bud on Sun, 09/28/2008 - 12:31.

Apple's insistence that you buy from itunes and then transfer over to apple tv always seemed stupid to me. Why not just run itunes on apple tv to begin with?

iTunes is easily the best on-demand system. Shows are accessibly archived and reasonably priced. The kludgy transfer to other devices and the fact that I can't play directly on my HD set has been the stumbling block for me. You can be the most accessible system, but if people can't play your material on their device, well ...

It's going to take a while to sort all this out.


Submitted by Shelley on Sun, 09/28/2008 - 22:41.

You can buy SD TV shows and movies, and rent HD movies directly through AppleTV. You can't buy HD movies, and you have to buy HD TV shows through iTunes. The implementation seems erratic and is more than a little frustrating.

I have a feeling, though, that Apple is about to roll out something new. What is hard to say.


Submitted by Bud on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 10:13.

Shelley, you seem to have gotten me on some specifics of what you can and cannot do on Apple tv. But, I think that's really the rub. You're still tethered to the computer for a lot of stuff, either using apple tv or ipod.

The bigger point is that I would like to take these devices and point them at any store that supported their interface (read connecting my ipod directly to amazonmp3).


Submitted by Shelley on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 10:33.

I agree, Bud. To take these boxes into the LR, they need to be able to access the content directly, not have to drag the computer along.