Apple TV: Almost ready for prime time?
I was pretty jazzed last Fall when Apple introduced its set top box to the world and finally we get to see what this little baby can do. CNET has a pretty good review of Apple TV on their site, though it sounds like I’ll be waiting a little longer to get one.
I’ll be waiting because Apple TV sounds like a giant leap forward in media center PC design, especially with the user interface. Of course, given that it is made by Apple, you knew it would have a pretty easy to use and good looking GUI, unlike previous attempts at on-screen menus from Microsoft and others. Apple TV also comes with built-in support for 802.11n wireless networking, which means you can stream media at up to 200 Mbps, more than enough for big video files.
The big downside, though, for me and everyone else still saving for an HDTV is that Apple TV only works with wide-screen televisions. I get why Apple decided to go that route: Why make a jazzy cool application like this and not make it compatible with the latest in TV technology? But it would have been nice if it had outputs for standard TV as well. I guess maybe this is a sign I need to trade up for a new TV.
Another thing I find lacking in Apple TV, according to the review, is streaming Internet radio support. The unit plays all the media through iTunes, but you apparently won’t be able to play your favorite online radio stations, such as SOMA FM, through Apple TV. That seems like a huge oversight and one I hope Apple addresses in newer versions.
It would also be great if later versions of Apple TV came with video capture capability and DVR software. If you could program it to record shows off TV just like your cable DVR or Tivo, I think Apple TV would be the catagory killer Steve Jobs is hoping it will be.
So, I’ll keep limping along with my Windows MCE media PC for now. But I have my fingers crossed that Apple TV will soon be the perfect choice for my digital living room.
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