{"id":844,"date":"2010-10-09T10:35:14","date_gmt":"2010-10-09T14:35:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jakestapleton.com\/wordpress\/?p=844"},"modified":"2012-09-29T11:03:53","modified_gmt":"2012-09-29T15:03:53","slug":"appletv-2nd-gen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jakestapleton.com\/wordpress\/archives\/844","title":{"rendered":"AppleTV 2nd Gen – Updated 12-20-11"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are 3 pieces of tech that will be pried from my cold dead hands my Drobo<\/a>, my iPhone and my AppleTV; and there’s a new AppleTV.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

After everyone hearing about my enthusiasm for the AppleTV.\u00c2\u00a0 I’ve had a lot of people ask me if I think they should buy the 2nd gen AppleTV that just came out for $99.\u00c2\u00a0 This not an easy question considering all the variables involved so I thought I would write a short post.<\/p>\n

First of all let me say that I am not a typical user (What you Jake, not the typical user I find that shocking!) \u00c2\u00a0 I watch a lot of HD video podcasts and I have converted all the media in my household and imported it into iTunes.\u00c2\u00a0 This does not make me the typical user.<\/p>\n

Second I have purchased some TV seasons\/shows from iTunes.\u00c2\u00a0 There are some TV shows that are not being released on Blu-Ray but I wanted an HD copy.\u00c2\u00a0 Currently iTunes is the only way to purchase them in a download offline format.\u00c2\u00a0 This is getting me a little closer to the typical user.<\/p>\n

Now we have to conduct a sidebar on purchasing video from iTunes.\u00c2\u00a0 Unlike the iTunes music store all the of the video still has DRM<\/a>.\u00c2\u00a0 As you may know I am not a real fan of DRM but I can live with Apple’s version for video.\u00c2\u00a0 Content providers are not going to allow their video to be sold in a download format without some sort of DRM.\u00c2\u00a0 This is just something we are going to have to accept until the delivery and business models change for TV and movies.<\/p>\n

Let me explain to you how this works:<\/p>\n

You purchase a video title from Apple via your iTunes account.\u00c2\u00a0 This video is now authorized to play when it detects your account is being used in iTunes.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 5 PC’s can be authorized to play your legally purchased content.\u00c2\u00a0 Your AppleTV, iPhone, or iPod does not count in the 5 devices because they have to be synced or connected to one of these PC’s to work.<\/p>\n

So for example lets say that you have 1 PC, 2 laptops, 2 AppleTV’s, 1 iPhone, & 1 iPod you would only be using 3 of your 5 authorizations.\u00c2\u00a0 Using this model I am perfectly ok with the DRM because it fulfills my overriding goal of<\/p>\n

I want what I want, when I want, and where I want it.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Then you add in the bonus that for every HD purchase you make from iTunes they give you an SD version as well for your iPhone and iPod to play.\u00c2\u00a0 This requires no thought when you are syncing to iTunes it just knows if the device is HD capable or not and moves the correct file for you.<\/p>\n

mini-rant<\/p>\n

Content providers have got to get on board and realize this is the way that people are moving.\u00c2\u00a0 They expect their content to delivered at their convenience.\u00c2\u00a0 Lets be honest, when was the last time you watched a TV show live?\u00c2\u00a0 I don’t care if you are using a DVR or a VCR, I bet there aren’t too many of you that settle down at a set time to watch anything on TV besides a sporting event.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

With all this being said lets move on to the review portion of the post.<\/p>\n

The AppleTV 2nd gen rocks!\u00c2\u00a0 It has a much faster processor then it’s predecessor and none of the heat problems. I am also taken aback by how well it streams HD from my home computer over the wifi network.\u00c2\u00a0 I’m running a wireless N network in the house and even though I have a hardwired option available where the AppleTV is located the N is just so much faster.\u00c2\u00a0 With the faster processor and the N streaming it works just about as well as having the file locally available on the 1st gen AppleTV hard drive.\u00c2\u00a0 There a few annoyances with the sorting of the TV shows on the menu but I am sure that will be addressed soon.\u00c2\u00a0 The Netflix streaming on the AppleTV is also far superior to what I have on my Blu-Ray player.\u00c2\u00a0 It’s snappy and adds several functions from Netflix you used to only be able to get through their website. So overall I am very pleased with the update and I am sure Jess will love it.\u00c2\u00a0 The first gen AppleTV I will continue to use until it gives up the ghost.\u00c2\u00a0 (Oops forgot to mention that it also brings all your music from iTunes to your TV as well.)<\/p>\n

(The paragraph above did not mention how easy it is to use and navigate the AppleTV.\u00c2\u00a0 If you have ever bought anything from Apple you know that you can train your grandmother or spouse to use it.\u00c2\u00a0 That’s just how well Apple does interfaces.) <\/em><\/p>\n

I am sure that you have all heard me say before that if I did not have Jess I would not have DirectTV.\u00c2\u00a0 Now I have nothing against DirectTV (or Jess) but there are just so many legitimate ways to get your content legally over the web nowadays that a cable or satellite service is rapidly becoming obsolete in my opinion.\u00c2\u00a0 This is especially true considering what little bit of TV I watch.\u00c2\u00a0 Between iTunes rentals, iTunes season purchases, Hulu, & a Netflix subscription I can get my content other ways a lot cheaper.\u00c2\u00a0 Once again fulfilling the my goal of\u00c2\u00a0 what I want, when I want, and where I want it.<\/p>\n

If you just read a list of 4 services to get everything you can find in one place by TV subscription and think “I get all that from cable or satellite in one place, Jake you bonehead” you would be correct.\u00c2\u00a0 There lies the problem with all the set-top TV boxes coming out this Christmas season.\u00c2\u00a0 In the next few weeks you will see a new Roku Player<\/a> with Hulu<\/a>, Boxee Box<\/a>, and Google TV<\/a> enabled devices.\u00c2\u00a0 Many of the devices listed have no storage and rely on an internet connection to be useful.\u00c2\u00a0 You also need to keep in mind to stream that you will need pretty decent internet speed to stream (let’s say 1.5 mbps or better) to these boxes.\u00c2\u00a0 You standard crappy hotel internet speed will not meet the needs of video. Not one of these devices have everything and thats because the content providers won’t let their media free from the old business model.\u00c2\u00a0 Each box has content available that is just a little bit different, this new space is still shaking out so we will have to be patient.<\/p>\n

For now I am pleased with iTunes and a Netflix subscription.\u00c2\u00a0 Netflix is getting more and more streaming rights all the time, and if they can’t stream it you can just get the DVD sent to your house.\u00c2\u00a0 iTunes has the industry leading relationships with media companies and with its stability will be around when many solutions have come and gone.<\/p>\n

Since a lot of you come to me for advice on technology and media matters, I hope you have found this explanation to be useful in considering your choices.\u00c2\u00a0 If after reading all the disclosures and explanations above you still feel that an AppleTV will meet your needs, then you can not go wrong with the purchase.\u00c2\u00a0 Enjoy!<\/p>\n

Here is a link to another review<\/a> of the AppleTV you might find useful that touches on game consoles as well.<\/p>\n

11-22-10 Update 1:<\/p>\n

The AppleTV software version 4.1 was released today.\u00c2\u00a0 It took care of all the minor issues I had with the device.<\/p>\n

12-18-11<\/p>\n

What a difference a year makes. \u00c2\u00a0Now the AppleTV is useful as a stand alone box not connected to iTunes. \u00c2\u00a0If you are a iTunes Match customer all your music is\u00c2\u00a0available\u00c2\u00a0as long as you have any internet connection. \u00c2\u00a0The AppleTV has also added a “purchased”\u00c2\u00a0category\u00c2\u00a0that will let you stream all your iTunes purchased video content\u00c2\u00a0straight\u00c2\u00a0to the device with just an internet connection. \u00c2\u00a0If you live in an all Apple household this small inexpensive media box will serve you well. \u00c2\u00a0If you have ripped every piece of media in your household and use iTunes as an\u00c2\u00a0enormous\u00c2\u00a0Video On Demand system it will serve \u00c2\u00a0you double well!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There are 3 pieces of tech that will be pried from my cold dead hands my Drobo, my iPhone and my AppleTV; and there’s a new AppleTV.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[13,24],"class_list":["post-844","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-normal-entry","tag-nerdly","tag-reviews"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2tyCm-dC","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jakestapleton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/844","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jakestapleton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jakestapleton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jakestapleton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jakestapleton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=844"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/jakestapleton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/844\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3183,"href":"https:\/\/jakestapleton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/844\/revisions\/3183"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jakestapleton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=844"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jakestapleton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=844"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jakestapleton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=844"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}