Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

[NA9D]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

I have both Apple TV and Vudu. I only rent videos and I imagine most users will rent videos. As such, if a particular HD movie was available from both Vudu and Apple TV, of course I would rent from Apple TV. In any event, if you purchase a movie from Itunes, I believe you can store it on your computer hard drive. Transferring movies from your hard drive to the Apple TV is not that big of a hassle (I do it occasionally with DVDs that I have ripped). So imho, your argument about comparing storage spaces verus price is somewhat weak.

I disagree on the storage space completely. With AppleTV you MUST have iTunes running if you want to move content between the ATV or the computer. And right now there is no moving content from ATV to the computer. I suppose that will change with the 2.0 release but we shall have to see. I can imagine this scenario though:

You have your ATV. You want to rent a movie, but you can't because your 40 Gig drive is full. So in order to download the movie, you have to move content off your ATV. So do you have to go to your computer to do this or can you do it from your ATV? If you can do it from ATV, great. But iTunes isn't running. Now you have to go to your computer, start iTunes and then move the content. Then once it's moved you can rent the movie. But Apple's HD isn't instant and you have to wait and wait for it.

With Vudu, I rent my HD movie and it streams instantly (and yes, I DO mean instant).

So the storage thing is a big issue and my only point is you cannot solely compare a $229 ATV and a $399 Vudu simply on price.

[RonV]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

I don't know if I would call that Video On Demand. Especially, if you have to copy them manually off your server, and then onto your device, to make them available for the Apple TV. It sounds more like, Video once you go to your PC and sync it with your Apple TV demand.

This is why a lot of AppleTV reviews called it "Rube Goldberg" contraption. If you are not familiar with Rube Goldberg here is some info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rube_Goldberg

[tobiaspete]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

One thing I'm interested in hearing about....

Right now, if I purchase a title on iTunes then delete the content off my hard drive to free up space I cannot download that content again without paying for it twice. I wonder if with the advent of Apple TV, Apple's policy on redownloading content will change. This is one of the major reasons I haven't bought much from the iTunes store, is one reason I've liked Microsoft's model on the XBOX 360...and now one reason I love the Vudu.

Vudu trumps Apple majorly if this the policy hasn't changed, especially with the relatively small size of the storage in the Apple TV. Sure, if you have a computer, you can shuffle the files around, but what about Joe Consumer who buys the Apple TV and realizes he's run out of space on the built-in Hard Drive? I'm interested to see how Apple will address this with people who delete files to make room for more content, then go back to watch said content again only to find they have to pay for it twice.

I may be wrong in my understandings, so please instruct gently if I'm wrong!

[gregg098]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

So speaking of HD....when is "this month" for the 70 new HD titles on Vudu?

[rstone]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

Yes, but purchases still require storage. My 40 Gig AppleTV is about max'd with music, pictures and video. Now, if I want to purchase with it, what happens to the content already there? Where does my purchase get stored? Does it get sent back to my machine running iTunes? There's a bit of a headache here - I bet users whose drives are filled or nearly so won't be able to purchase anything.

My point is that 40 Gigs is NOTHING when it comes to storing video.

I agree that 40 gigs is nothing, if your storing videos on your devices hard drive. And even 160 gigs isnt very much in that same context. However, since Apple TV lets users use Networked Storage devices, through iTunes, to store content...I could see that being appealing to many consumers, especially ones that purchase vs rent content. And something I would like to see VUDU do in the future, especially since I do purchase more than I rent.

[orccro1]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

You can't compare the prices when the storage space is not the same! If you want to purchase movies, you'll store precious few on the $229 AppleTV!

Your other comments are valid, but at least compare the $329 model at its closer to what the Vudu offers for storage. People don't just rent.

I have both Apple TV and Vudu. I only rent videos and I imagine most users will rent videos. As such, if a particular HD movie was available from both Vudu and Apple TV, of course I would rent from Apple TV. In any event, if you purchase a movie from Itunes, I believe you can store it on your computer hard drive. Transferring movies from your hard drive to the Apple TV is not that big of a hassle (I do it occasionally with DVDs that I have ripped). So imho, your argument about comparing storage spaces verus price is somewhat weak.

(Also, in my opinion, the Apple TV remote is not that bad (not as good as Vudu's remote.)

The bottom line is that if Vudu is going to survive they will have to reduce the rental price of their HD movies and reduce the price of the hardware.

[NA9D]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

I I constantly battle with the fact that many of the films I want to watch with Vudu are "purchase only". Who wants to pay 19$ for a movie these days, especially since you can't trade it or loan it to a friend like you can buying a DVD?

This ain't going to change with Apple either....There will still likely be non-rentable content.

[NA9D]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

Previously, video content for Apple TV needed to be ordered on a computer (Windows/Mac) and then streamed from that PC's hard drive to the Apple TV. The updated Apple TV will allow direct access to the iTunes Store, so you can buy or rent movies and TV shows directly--no PC intermediary required. (Music can also be purchased, as well.)

Yes, but purchases still require storage. My 40 Gig AppleTV is about max'd with music, pictures and video. Now, if I want to purchase with it, what happens to the content already there? Where does my purchase get stored? Does it get sent back to my machine running iTunes? There's a bit of a headache here - I bet users whose drives are filled or nearly so won't be able to purchase anything.

My point is that 40 Gigs is NOTHING when it comes to storing video. The $229 price might have bqmesiter all lathered up but it's not a useful drive for hard core media usage and storage.

[caribousteaks]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

I must admit I am disappointed in my Vudu box. I remember adding a comment to one of these forums last year on how I thought how the menu navigation and view of Apple's Front Row system for viewing trailers was so much easier and more visually appealing than Vudu's tiny font, lack of trailers and bothersome backclicking to view genre menus. I suggested Vudu copy Frontrow's menu system, or at least mimic it as much as possible. Big bright covers, good descriptions, trailers for every single film and easy easy practical navigation. Now with Apple TV2 using it I don't think I will be using my Vudu much more. I constantly battle with the fact that many of the films I want to watch with Vudu are "purchase only". Who wants to pay 19$ for a movie these days, especially since you can't trade it or loan it to a friend like you can buying a DVD? I sure don't . Apple has seen the light and from the start offers what most want. Renting movies, easily and attractively. Not a hunting experience with lots of back clicking and menu shuffling only to find out the one you want is not rentable. Vudu is a great idea but sadly its thunder has been stolen. I only wish viewing and accessing movies on Vudu was as sexy as the box that surrounds them.

[rstone]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

I've merged the two duplicate threads.

This is good news for the VOD industry. Vudu still has many more movies available but it will be interesting to see how this plays out.

I agree, competition always results in better products for the consumer in the end. As I see it, the things that Apple does better, be it content or features, will only be a good thing for us in the end as it will force VUDU to add content or features its missing, sooner than otherwise, in order to compete with Apple.

[rstone]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

And I don't want to pay $170 more for a hard drive I don't need, when I have the storage on my server.
Vudu should offer a $150 vudu with an 80gig drive. The cost should be lower than apple to offset the lack of functionality as compared to appletv.

I don't know if I would call that Video On Demand. Especially, if you have to copy them manually off your server, and then onto your device, to make them available for the Apple TV. It sounds more like, Video once you go to your PC and sync it with your Apple TV demand.

[aaronwt]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

Maybe this will push VUDU to have a sale. I really want to get one, but not at $400. I lost out on one on Ebay today. Although I see a few more popped up within the last couple of days.
Hopefully I'll be able to get a VUDU before the end of the month.

[bqmeister]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

Actually, I counted it one day when I was bored, and they have 719 movies or so, as of a week or so ago.

I said titles though. I wasn't clear. I meant tv shows as well.

[rstone]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

It does right now. But with 40 Gigs of storage, you have to store it on your computer. Then you have to sync the computer with the AppleTV to get the movies, or you have to go and choose to stream from your iTunes Library. Changing to streaming from iTunes takes a while with a large library of songs and all because the AppleTV has to load and process all the XML data in order to get the menus set up. Seriously, it takes about 1 to 2 minutes sometimes to do this. And iTunes has to be running on the serving machine.

Previously, video content for Apple TV needed to be ordered on a computer (Windows/Mac) and then streamed from that PC's hard drive to the Apple TV. The updated Apple TV will allow direct access to the iTunes Store, so you can buy or rent movies and TV shows directly--no PC intermediary required. (Music can also be purchased, as well.)

[rstone]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

If we're talking content, doesn't apple have more than 5000 titles in the entire store?

Actually, I counted it one day when I was bored, and they have 719 movies or so, as of a week or so ago.

There are a significant amount of TV Shows available. Apple won't lose the content war.

That is definately something VUDU needs to work on if they want to compete in the TV realm.