As a long time Apple TV and Mac user, yeah, am underwhelmed by both Apple TV's (but still use my first gen 1.). Due to size of my movie collection (+900 GB now), I'm using a Mac Mini as family media server and Apple TV just streams data from it, rather than holding data locally (even with 500GB drive upgrade). I did throw Boxee on ATV for a bit but didn't end up using it too much so back to regular Apple TV setup on next major upgrade. With my user practices, the current AppleTV, with no internal storage, would work out great for me. About the only downside of new ATV's is not being able to purchase directly on it. We do buy a couple movies a month from iTunes (mostly kid stuff) and it syncs the purchased copies back to Mac server. Would have to get used to VNC'ing in to Mac server, purchasing movie and then having it available for play on Apple TV. I may do this once we get family room built and have second TV.
For gaming, I'm still not sure how the Apple TV would work, except as a remote display for current iOS devices but then again, I'm not some billionaire out in CAL so that may explain my lack of vision.
Finally, I really wish Apple would release a family server/DVR system (Mac Mini Server, with current Apple TV front end, and cable input (with cable card reader for F*$#King Comcast) that would handle all of family's AV, document content and backup needs as well. For around/under $500. And for additional price, maybe include an auto backup to that huge server farm Apple's building as well. If they could make a single, affordable machine w/remote that plugs in to TV, and is easily configurable (elderly dad/mom level) and has option for full offsite backup, oh man, that'd be great.
I've gone and built such a beast but my offsites are swapping external 2 GB drives, keeping one stored at a friend's house down the road. And now that Comcast's encrypting their signal, my EyeTV no longer has access to most basic cable channels. Was nice when it worked as EyeTV could stream any channel it received (and recorded shows as well) to my iPhone and iPad over both wifi and 3GS. Am in process of making an antenna system for over-air broadcasts and we'll at least be able to cut back comcast to just internet service (only source out in country).
Yup, iPod/iPhone/iPad are doomed, DOOMED I say! I mean, it's not like Apple's known for reinventing itself or taking a common process and re-imaging it so that folks go out and buy a million new Apple thingies.
Yeah, but the iOS games are all for losers and not real gamers. Only folks who aren't cool and have too much money play those games. Why would Apple want to release another way for folks to play those games?
True. I mean, Apple's entry level tower system has gone from $2300 back in '93 down to... um... $2300 now. Ah-ha! The current system is faster and has more RAM! Can't believe they were charging $2300 for only 33Mhz with 32MB of RAM back then. What were they thinking?!!!
If the banks foreclose, they then pay property taxes, right?
But what happens when folks just walk away from their house/mortgage and it hangs there in limbo until the courts settle things? Any chances of states getting property tax then?
Heh. I learned real quick, once someone in basic said they were bored, what fun a drill sgt. could rain down on someone (and everyone else near by) when he heard those words.
I still like Marathon 1 over Halo, despite the game limitations (no 360 view). The atmospherics are great! Is what I'm going to introduce daughter to, for FPS games. Still have my Quadra 650 with Marathon installed.
There's that whole leaked email where Bill blasts folks for the crappy download/patch process when trying to install an MS video editor. I think, by that point, he was pretty distant from the tech.
Yup, corporate life at the top is really weird and almost disconnected from main business at times. Ever wonder why Fox cancels or moves shows to dead time zones? From what I heard from friend at Fox affiliate; whenever there's a management change at Fox, the new guy goes through current projects and makes changes as a way of marking territory. And if there's any bit of animosity, they'll try to kill off previous manager's pet project. The Simpsons is about the only sacred thing there.
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As a long time Apple TV and Mac user, yeah, am underwhelmed by both Apple TV's (but still use my first gen 1.). Due to size of my movie collection (+900 GB now), I'm using a Mac Mini as family media server and Apple TV just streams data from it, rather than holding data locally (even with 500GB drive upgrade). I did throw Boxee on ATV for a bit but didn't end up using it too much so back to regular Apple TV setup on next major upgrade. With my user practices, the current AppleTV, with no internal storage, would work out great for me. About the only downside of new ATV's is not being able to purchase directly on it. We do buy a couple movies a month from iTunes (mostly kid stuff) and it syncs the purchased copies back to Mac server. Would have to get used to VNC'ing in to Mac server, purchasing movie and then having it available for play on Apple TV. I may do this once we get family room built and have second TV.
For gaming, I'm still not sure how the Apple TV would work, except as a remote display for current iOS devices but then again, I'm not some billionaire out in CAL so that may explain my lack of vision.
Finally, I really wish Apple would release a family server /DVR system (Mac Mini Server, with current Apple TV front end, and cable input (with cable card reader for F*$#King Comcast) that would handle all of family's AV, document content and backup needs as well. For around/under $500. And for additional price, maybe include an auto backup to that huge server farm Apple's building as well. If they could make a single, affordable machine w/remote that plugs in to TV, and is easily configurable (elderly dad/mom level) and has option for full offsite backup, oh man, that'd be great.
I've gone and built such a beast but my offsites are swapping external 2 GB drives, keeping one stored at a friend's house down the road. And now that Comcast's encrypting their signal, my EyeTV no longer has access to most basic cable channels. Was nice when it worked as EyeTV could stream any channel it received (and recorded shows as well) to my iPhone and iPad over both wifi and 3GS. Am in process of making an antenna system for over-air broadcasts and we'll at least be able to cut back comcast to just internet service (only source out in country).
Wii games are $30-$50. iOS games are $1-$10. Not sure about this low end argument.
This an Apple walled garden. Is much eviler than other walled gardens 'cause it's Apple. And Apple's teh gay.
Yup, iPod/iPhone/iPad are doomed, DOOMED I say! I mean, it's not like Apple's known for reinventing itself or taking a common process and re-imaging it so that folks go out and buy a million new Apple thingies.
If they brought back Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri for iPad/AppleTV, that'd be cool.
Yeah, but the iOS games are all for losers and not real gamers. Only folks who aren't cool and have too much money play those games. Why would Apple want to release another way for folks to play those games?
True. I mean, Apple's entry level tower system has gone from $2300 back in '93 down to... um... $2300 now. Ah-ha! The current system is faster and has more RAM! Can't believe they were charging $2300 for only 33Mhz with 32MB of RAM back then. What were they thinking?!!!
If the banks foreclose, they then pay property taxes, right?
But what happens when folks just walk away from their house/mortgage and it hangs there in limbo until the courts settle things? Any chances of states getting property tax then?
Sorta' like how there's a limp home mode built in to new cars?
Akira!
A big cowboy hat that buzzes?
Heh. I learned real quick, once someone in basic said they were bored, what fun a drill sgt. could rain down on someone (and everyone else near by) when he heard those words.
How many birds can you fling across the screen?
Hey, the guy said that the Xbox360's case looks better than the PS3. That means there's a totally different gaming experience there.
I still like Marathon 1 over Halo, despite the game limitations (no 360 view). The atmospherics are great! Is what I'm going to introduce daughter to, for FPS games. Still have my Quadra 650 with Marathon installed.
But, but, Walmart and MicroSoft and TBTF banks have my best interest in mind, right? If you can't trust big business, who can you trust?
Why the hell would MicroSoft give away an IDE for folks to create Windows software? That would be lowering quarterly profits!
They wanted people to buy comfortable shoes and a sweater?
There's that whole leaked email where Bill blasts folks for the crappy download/patch process when trying to install an MS video editor. I think, by that point, he was pretty distant from the tech.
Hard X-rayed children are crunchy!
Yup, corporate life at the top is really weird and almost disconnected from main business at times. Ever wonder why Fox cancels or moves shows to dead time zones? From what I heard from friend at Fox affiliate; whenever there's a management change at Fox, the new guy goes through current projects and makes changes as a way of marking territory. And if there's any bit of animosity, they'll try to kill off previous manager's pet project. The Simpsons is about the only sacred thing there.
I bought a pair of shoes because of the Jerry/Bill ads. I think their marketing is working.
Jobs just copied everything from Microsoft, who copied it from IBM.
We're gonna' need more monkeys.
Do you want to be secure or do you hate America?