Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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?

[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!

[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

[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.

[NA9D]

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?

The press release says by the end of the month.

I know Vudu is working hard to get this out and all I can say is that they are very close to releasing it. You guys will love it.

[rstone]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

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.

Yeah I wonder how that works to, my guess is your correct in that you would have to use your computer as the intermediary to move content on and off your ATV, which kind of sucks in my opinion. I have been tempted to go buy one so I can see how it works, but honestly, I'd rather spend 320+ on VUDU movies and shows, then on an ATV right now. Although if VUDU takes to much time to get the shows I want, I might just have to give in.

[Guy Gadois]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

Storage is a pain. Apple has always been such control freaks when it comes to storage I don't think they support an external HD. Correct me if I am wrong. Vudu will support an external USB.

[rstone]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

Storage is a pain. Apple has always been such control freaks when it comes to storage I don't think they support an external HD. Correct me if I am wrong. Vudu will support an external USB.

From what I have read on Apples forum, the ATV does have a USB port, but it is not used, and the word is Apple does not plan on an external storage option being used via the USB port. Although, with ATV2, who knows if they might change that.

[Guy Gadois]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

From what I have read on Apples forum, the ATV does have a USB port, but it is not used, and the word is Apple does not plan on an external storage option being used via the USB port. Although, with ATV2, who knows if they might change that.

yes, it has one but Apple has never been open to adding storage to it because of loss of control of data. Don't hold your breath - I don't think they will ever support external storage unless it is their own.

[NA9D]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

yes, it has one but Apple has never been open to adding storage to it because of loss of control of data. Don't hold your breath - I don't think they will ever support external storage unless it is their own.

There has been an ATV hack though that allows access to an external drive. However, when Apple updated to the current version of the ATV software, it wiped out all the hacks you had installed. It may do that again. I never bothered to re-enable the hacks I'd installed as most of them weren't that great. Still it was kinda cool to see the thing boot OS X!

[kmulder]

Re: Apple TV take 2: 100 hd titles today

My biggest problem with Vudu is that no one nows they exist.
Apple will be advertizing on TV and in the papers and touting their new addition to their lineup and millions of people will instantly know about this new product.
While virtually no one except the techies like us will even now Apple has any competition.
That is going to be the problem.
Vudu needs to get the word out to the masses that they exist. Vudu can be the greatest product in the world but will fail if no one nows they exist.
I have not found one person that knows about the Vudu. I tell them about it and they say they have never heard about it.
I also own apple tv and will wait to see what there new software will bring.