Apple TV

[crumbles]

Does anyone know if you can play AVI files, or whatever other video's you already have stored on your PC with this device?

[haanzz]

Does anyone know if you can play AVI files, or whatever other video's you already have stored on your PC with this device?

From what I understand it only plays MP4's from Apple. I haven't looked that deeply into it...trying to keep my mind open for when I get a chance to try it for the show.

Hahn

[wilw]

From what I understand it only plays MP4's from Apple. I haven't looked that deeply into it...trying to keep my mind open for when I get a chance to try it for the show.

HahnYeah, I didn't know that it was limited to only a select few file-types that are Apple-approved. If that's the case, it's ****ing retarded and I hate it.

When will these companies learn that consumers want MORE options, not less? I'm sure it will sell like crazy, but Hahn looked at media devices in this episode that are just a swell as Apple TV, but without the limitations.

Well, maybe Apple will do a firmware upgrade at some point, if enough of their customers care about it.

[kingkilr]

Potty mouth Wil :)
I'm guessing it can play anything you can play in iTunes, so if you just ocnvert your AVI's to MP4 you'll be fine.

[masherscf]

Yeah, I didn't know that it was limited to only a select few file-types that are Apple-approved. If that's the case, it's ****ing retarded and I hate it.


I think we can depend on these electronic companies to never ship a product cable of playing open formats out-of-the-box. For example, I love the Microsoft Media Connect of the XBOX 360 but loathe the fact that it only plays WMV.

People who care about playing any format they come across on the web are doomed to have to build or mod they're own solutions.

[wilw]

Potty mouth Wil :)
I'm guessing it can play anything you can play in iTunes, so if you just ocnvert your AVI's to MP4 you'll be fine.Well,yeah, but why force me to endure that additional step?

I said in CES part 1 that I loved how Apple's stuff is beautifully designed, elegant, and "just works." But if I have to endure an additional step to play all of my media, it doesn't "just work" as much as it "just annoys me." If Apple wants to own this marketplace, they should give consumers more choices, not less.

[masherscf]

If Apple wants to own this marketplace, they should give consumers more choices, not less.

You would think... I'm just cynical enough not to bet on it though.

[kingkilr]

Eh. /shrug I don't care I use my own MythBox, Wil you should know that its the best solution.

[nightstrm]

If you think of the AppleTV as basically a headless iPod, you'll see that they are just supporting the same filetypes. As what happened when the iPod Video was released, I'm sure that someone will come out with a program that will easily transcode video to make it AppleTV compatible.

With that said, any chance inDigital will be going HD with a 720p version anytime in the near future for playback on my lovely new AppleTV? :D

[jwdsail]

With that said, any chance inDigital will be going HD with a 720p version anytime in the near future for playback on my lovely new AppleTV? :D



Hear Here!!!

I'd like to see some more systm and CaC in 720p as well....

[skellener]

I think the Apple TV could be a big boost to the video podcast community. But after all that talk of hooking up the Apple TV to "your big screen HDTV in your living room", Steve said nothing about any HD content available from the iTunes Store. What's up with that?

Only one HD format is listed in the Tech Specs...
http://www.apple.com/appletv/specs.html

* Video formats supported:
- 1280 by 720, 24 fps, Progressive Main Profile. MPEG-4

I am assuming that podcasters that want to deliver in HD format for Apple TV presentation will have to use this format. Interesting that there is no inbetween format to use for DVD size delivery (720x480 anamorphic for example).

I'm interested to see how this all shakes out when it becomes available.


Steve

[masherscf]

* Video formats supported:
- 1280 by 720, 24 fps, Progressive Main Profile. MPEG-4


That'll be the day... Revision 3 giving out 1G downloads. I'm not holding my breath.