The Apple TV fans thread

[raypin]

---

---

answers: downloaded a 2 minute trailer in high definition format (.mov) , converted to h.264 HD format, transferred to my mba's itunes 8.0 movie folder AND tried to sync to my ATV movies folder. Here's a screen shot:



If you notice, the ATV icon on the device source has an exclamation point beside it, which means NO, YOU CAN'T output anything beyond 720 on the ATV (software version 2.1). although ATV supports up to 1080i displays. I tried all sorts of HD formats using h.264 but ATV refuses to accept it.

For now, the maximum and acceptable format is 1280 x 720 in h.264 or mp4 material. So, what's the point of being able to support 1080 HD displays while limiting material for output at 720? My guess is Apple is working on higher than 720p material for the next generation ATV.

I am still downloading some HD TV (free episode) on my mba's itunes 8.0. Will post comments after I'm done.

[rdy0329]

the HD tv shows are great!

[raypin]

@rdy0329 . should be but how would they output in ATV? That's the question we're trying to test here. Also, we are also seeking answers to whether it is DTS encoded - similar to HD movies that ATV owners now enjoy.

BTW, atv-owners, there's no access yet to itunes 8.0 HD TV episodes or series from the ATV interface. This made me scratch my head. I mean, why did apple leave ATV owners out by not simultaenously releasing an upgrade to 2.1? So, we're left to downloading the HD TV episodes from our macs, sync it to ATV and view it. This is utter STUPIDITY on the part of Apple, imo.

[rbenzon]

For now, the maximum and acceptable format is 1280 x 720 in h.264 or mp4 material. So, what's the point of being able to support 1080 HD displays while limiting material for output at 720? My guess is Apple is working on higher than 720p material for the next generation ATV.

thanks for the lab, raypin.

i hope you're right about the ability to support 1080p output in the future, although i am not sure that i would rave about such improvement. i mean, i am quite satisfied with 720p; i am not sure roughly twice the wait (not to mention twice the storage) will translate to twice my enjoyment.

personally, i would probably rather go from our atv's 720p to complimenting it with a blu-ray player for uncompressed 1080p. because no matter how you slice it, an atv upgrade to 1080p will still be compressed 1080p.

besides, i don't know what apple would gain from such an upgrade. they'll need more storage, more bandwidth, but may not be able to charge extra for 1080p content.

just the same, here's to more features, more content, but same simplicity.

[rbenzon]

i went to an apple store today to buy two things: air jacket for my iphone, and itunes prepaid cards. but i also stumbled upon the xtrememac hdmi switcher i previously posted on this thread. and just like that, my tab went over $200.

has anyone tried the hdtv shows? which ones are high-def enough to be worthwhile? suffice to say, i do not want to pay a premium for shows that are only marginally better than SD. apple tv junkie blog says heroes hd looked comparable to broadcast hd, which is acceptable to me. anybody see 30 rock hd yet? others?

am particularly interested in what apple tv owners think, well, because no matter what mac owners say, hd on a mbp just isn't the same as hd on a large hd display.

also, it may be time for me to get that next terabyte. because purchasing hdtv, vis-a-vis renting is a storage guzzler. one season of hdtv shows can be 30gb big--which i don't want sitting in my atv after i've seen the shows.

[hitme64]

dang, while you enjoy your atvs, i have yet to find out...and stores these side of the city are not carrying it anymore, i dunno why...

[antz]

I've only downloaded 2 TV series, The Office and Battlestar Galactica. As we all know both HD and SD gets downloaded but i can't sync the SD to my ATV (or maybe I am doing something wrong) so I can compare the quality.

So far I am very impressed with the HD quality of The Office. I am considering to get some TV series on HD. I think i really need to upgrade my ATV. Saw those DIY upgrade to 1TB..

[rbenzon]

@hitme: have you PM'd charlie yet?

@antz: do you want to sell your atv to hitme instead, so you can upgrade?

with regards to storage, i'm fine with my 160gb. i don't plan on keeping viewed hdtv shows on my atv. if needed, i can always stream them from the tera plugged to my mac. i wonder though if 802.11n is fast enough to stream hd video--something i will test.

[hitme64]

charlie hasn't even replied to my texts or calls, and today is his birthday...

anyway, antz is keeping his so am still looking for one, tough luck!

[raypin]

i went to an apple store today to buy two things: air jacket for my iphone, and itunes prepaid cards. but i also stumbled upon the xtrememac hdmi switcher i previously posted on this thread. and just like that, my tab went over $200.

has anyone tried the hdtv shows? which ones are high-def enough to be worthwhile? suffice to say, i do not want to pay a premium for shows that are only marginally better than SD. apple tv junkie blog says heroes hd looked comparable to broadcast hd, which is acceptable to me. anybody see 30 rock hd yet? others?

am particularly interested in what apple tv owners think, well, because no matter what mac owners say, hd on a mbp just isn't the same as hd on a large hd display.

also, it may be time for me to get that next terabyte. because purchasing hdtv, vis-a-vis renting is a storage guzzler. one season of hdtv shows can be 30gb big--which i don't want sitting in my atv after i've seen the shows.

@RB, he he.... Dagdagan mo pa yan so at least you have something to show for it. I agree that viewing HD, or even HD lite, anything on an MBP or Macbook is darn silly!

I've downloaded the SD version of 30 Rock (the freebie episode - file size 256 megabytes) - through the ATV. I must say that the quality is much better than I anticipated. The video images are very clear and the colors vivid even though it is 820 x 480p h.264 encoded.

Still downloading the HD version (1.86 gigabyte file size) of the freebie Battlestar Galactica episode. Is it just me but it seems Apple's servers must be deluged because the HD TV freebies kept on restarting on me.

Speaking of itunes TV shows, I've spotted a couple of bargains. For fans of 1980s sitcom, "Benson" sells at 1.99 per episode but for the entire series, it is deeply discounted at 16.99 only (25 episodes). I grew up with this sitcom and plan to download. Also Monk Season 1 (love Adrian) at 0.99 per.

@antz....sell, sell, sell.....upgrade, upgrade, upgrade!