Gawker: valleywag, apple tv

Apple Falls 601 Movies Short of February Promise

Mark Wilson — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 17:31:07 EST

Macworld did some follow-up on a promise made by Apple in a press release from January's keynote. In it, the company claimed:

iTunes Movie Rentals launches today and will offer over 1,000 titles by the end of February, including over 100 titles in stunning high definition video with 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound which users can rent directly from their widescreen TV using Apple TV.

Now that February is over, a "Power Search" on iTunes reveals that only 399 rentals are available.

All in all, that's 601 movies short of their 1,000 title promise. As for "100 titles in stunning HD," Apple fell short here as well, but they at least came close offering 91 films that meet the standard (however, many of those films are not actually in 5.1 surround).

And when counting all the movies you can watch from iTunes—including both rentals and purchases—Macworld found that Apple is still short of any 1,000 movie goal, offering only 770 films total.

Hopefully, Apple will meet their 1,000 rental goal in March. Because while AppleTV's recent makeover was impressive, we'd like to be able to, you know, watch some movies on it or something. [macworld]

Apple TV launches movie rentals, but who's paying the late fee?

Jordan Golson — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:20:51 EST

Two weeks after it was supposed to be delivered, Apple has issued an update to its Apple TV set-tops, bringing with it Flickr integration and iTunes movie rentals. On January 15, Apple CEO Steve Jobs promised the update "within 2 weeks." The company later pushed that back "another week or two." Well, better late than never, I guess. What I want to know is who's taking the fall for this one: Tony Fadell, head of the iPod division; Bertrand Serlet, Apple's software-engineering chief; or Sina Tamaddon, who's in charge of application software. Let the fingerpointing begin!

Apple TV movie rentals delayed two more weeks

Jordan Golson — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:20:33 EST

Apple announced today that while the MacBook Air has started shipping, the Apple TV 2.0 update, which was promised "in about two weeks," will be available "in another week or two." Apple didn't say what the holdup was, but it could be related to Flickr integration issues (Steve Jobs's Flickr demonstration failed during his keynote), other quality control problems, or, quite possibly, due to last-minute wrangling with the movie studios.

The most notable feature of Apple TV is HD movie downloads. Movie rentals are already available on your computer through iTunes, but the high-definition versions are reserved for Apple TV set-top downloads only. Apple could be having trouble getting all the HD movies encoded and set up properly for digital distribution. Either way, delays in shipping products is never a good sign — especially when you are trying to reassure your investors that everything is fine.

Apple subsidizing Apple TV with movie rentals revenue?

Jordan Golson — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 04:01:59 EST

A few weeks ago, at the Macworld keynote, Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced online movie rentals from all the major studios. At the same time, he rolled out a significant upgrade to the Apple TV, transforming it from an underwhelming side project into something consumers might actually purchase. Online movie rentals, in high definition no less, are what the Apple TV has been begging for since it was introduced. I suspect that Steve Jobs wanted to roll out movie rentals when the Apple TV was released, but couldn't get the deals done — a testament to the reluctance of the movie studios to make this deal and to the coup that Jobs has pulled off. Now though, we're wondering about the price drop on the Apple TV that was announced as the same time, from $299 to $229. Just how can Apple afford that?

Computerworld thinks that Apple is subsidizing the Apple TV with movie rental revenue. With movie rentals, like other iTunes Store content, Apple makes a set percentage — maybe 35-40 percent — as gross profit, after paying off the movie studios. The Apple TV has never been a significant profit maker for Apple. This price drop, combined with direct purchase of movie rentals and tv shows from your couch, makes the Apple TV significantly more attractive as a set-top box.

With possible revenue of each high-definition rental at $2, it is very possible that Apple is forgoing its usual high hardware margins on the Apple TV in favor of back-end profits from movie rentals — and to gain a stronger presence in the living room, where competitors Microsoft (Xbox 360) and Sony (PlayStation 3) have started to roll out their own Internet video strategies. And tellingly, Apple accounts for Apple TV revenues on a subscription basis. The accounting change allows Apple to deliver software updates for Apple TV users without charging separately for them, but it also suggests Apple might expect a steady stream of recurring revenues from each sale of an Apple TV.

In November, I wrote about Apple's "tripod" of revenue streams: the Mac, the iPod and the iPhone. Movie rentals and a resurgent Apple TV should strongly help the iPod leg — if not create a separate, fourth revenue stream altogether. With every new product introduction — the iPod, the iPhone and now with Apple TV 2.0 — it's increasingly clear why Apple, Inc. dropped "computer" from its name.

Vudu, the set-top movie rental box just cut...

Mary Jane Irwin — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 14:29:57 EST

Vudu, the set-top movie rental box just cut the price of its entry-level model to $295, following Apple's price cut on its revamped Apple TV to $229. If they want to compete in the current streaming frenzy, they probably want to seek distribution beyond Tweeter and other third-rate electronics stores. If the well-stocked kiosk in one San Francisco mall is any indication, Vudu's boxes are not flying off the shelves. [last100]

OK, we get it: Yahoo blogs are pointless, and even the bloggers hate them

Nicholas Carlson — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 13:20:01 EST

So we dinged Yahoo for not updating 8 of their 26 official blogs in the last month. Apparently word got around. In the image to the left, find the reply from Yahoo's Digital Home Blog. Click to expand it. It's either as fine a demonstration of snark you'll find or a snapshot of a very sad reality. Either way, the message is clear: At Yahoo, somebody forced somebody to start these pointless blogs and nobody likes writing them. So leave us alone. (Snark only goes so far: The blog post, ostensibly about the launch of Flickr photos on Apple TV, does not mention that the demo of this feature during Steve Jobs's Macworld keynote completely failed.) Here's a note, more to the point, from the Yahoo! Research Berkeley bloggers.

Oh, did we mention that Yahoo Research Berkeley is one of the locations rumored to be on the chopping block?

NBC CEO Jeff Zucker puckers up to Steve Jobs's posterior

Nicholas Carlson — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 12:45:38 EST

"We've said all along that we admire Apple, that we want to be in business with Apple," NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker said in the Financial Times this morning. Of course you have, Jeff. Except for maybe that time last fall when you told an audience at Syracuse University that "Apple has destroyed the music business ... If we don't take control on the video side, they'll do the same [there]." What does Zucker's pirouette mean?

Two things. One, fanboys might be drooling over the MacBook Air Steve Jobs announced last week, but studio bosses like those at Zucker's Universal are more excited about movie rentals on the remodeled Apple TV. And two, entrepreneurs seeking quick cash might consider taking on Zucker in a game of Texas Hold 'em.

New Time Warner bandwidth plan could make Apple TV movies rent for $34

Nicholas Carlson — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 13:45:10 EST

Time Warner Cable's new billing scheme, a test to charge users by bandwidth consumption, could crush Steve Jobs's hopes and dreams for Apple TV.

Up north, they're already charging by the bit. According to Bits, under Bell Canada's bandwidth pricing plan — one which Time Warner it is looking to as a potential model for its own — customers would pay $30 each time they rented an HD movie from Apple TV, on top of Apple's $3.99 rental fee. Even with gas prices where they are, driving to Blockbuster suddenly looks much more appealing.

And DSL Prime editor Dave Burstein told Bits the effect such a surcharge would have on Apple's new movie rental business is every bit intentional. "The smart people at Time Warner are scared of people watching TV directly over the Internet," he told the Times. "'Lost' and 'Desperate Housewives' look better over the Internet than they do on digital cable."

A Time Warner spokesperson denied the charge. "This is not targeted at people who download movies from Apple," Time Warner PR flack Alexander Dudley told the Times. "This is aimed at people who use peer-to-peer networks and download terabytes."

Give up already, HD-DVD

Owen Thomas — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:16:50 EST

Toshiba is insisting that its HD-DVD disc format is doing well, despite Warner's defection to the Blu-ray side. Citing strong fourth-quarter sales of HD-DVD players, Toshiba's going ahead with the fight. Which has to give Steve Jobs a chuckle. The continuing war between Blu-ray and HD-DVD just redounds to his advantage, as he preps a laptop without any optical drive at all and a retooled Apple TV to deliver movies to the living room.

Apple lands all six major studios for movie rentals

Nicholas Carlson — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 12:39:30 EST

Just confirmed at Macworld: all six major studios are onboard for iTunes movie rentals. That's Walt Disney, Warner Brothers, Paramount, Sony, 20th Century Fox and Universal.Variety thought Sony, Universal and Warner Bros. were unlikely to sign on for "various competitive reasons." Maybe there's hope for the flailing Apple TV yet. Why? It's all you need to access the films. No computer required. (Photo by Boereck)

Apple TV missing from company's gift guide

Paul Boutin — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 17:52:55 EST

Look for yourself. Apple's world-changing TV console, introduced just a few months ago, is completely absent from the landing page of its holiday gift guide. It didn't even make the photo montage. Apple TV is hiding below the fold on a second-tier "iPod Gifts" page, with lower billing than a set of Bose headphones. I only noticed because I was moving old mail out of my inbox. I found a bunch of messages from fanboys warning me to repent, repent my published disinterest in the device, because quote "cable TV will be dead by Christmas." Just like record companies!

Apple TV: Heard of it? No, really, have you?

Nicholas Carlson — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 15:50:36 EST

It's not all iPhones and iPods for Steve Jobs and Apple. Take Apple TV, example. When Steve Jobs announced the device last year, he said Apple TV would reinvent the way people watch movies and television shows. Well the holidays are here and that hasn't happened yet.

And it doesn't look like Apple thinks it's about to either. According to CNET, Apple is refusing to report unit shipments for Apple TV, the way it does for Macs, iPods, and iPhones. Apple lumps Apple TV revenues in with other products on its financial statements. The obfuscation is clarity enough: Apple TV is not ready for primetime.

Apple WWDC 2007 Liveblog - Steve Jobs Keynote

Noah Robischon — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 15:00:33 EDT

Click here or the headline for Gizmodo's new WWDC liveblog (10AM PST/1PM EST).

YouTube on Apple TV - It's Official

Noah Robischon — Wed, 30 May 2007 15:52:00 EDT

It goes live in a few weeks.

Read more in the liveblog.

– Brian Lam

All Things D at Giz [Gizmodo]

YouTube Coming to Apple TV
CUPERTINO, California-May, 30, 2007-Apple® today announced that it's bringing the Internet's most popular originally-created content from YouTube to the living room with Apple TV™. Beginning in mid-June, Apple TV will wirelessly stream videos directly from YouTube and play them on a user's widescreen TV. Using Apple TV's elegant interface and simple Apple Remote, viewers can easily browse, find and watch free videos from YouTube in the comfort of their living room.

"This is the first time users can easily browse, find and watch YouTube videos right from their living room couch, and it's really, really fun," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "YouTube is a worldwide sensation, and Apple TV is bringing it directly from the Internet onto the widescreen TV in your living room."

Thousands of the most current and popular YouTube videos will be available on Apple TV at launch in mid-June, with YouTube adding thousands more each week until the full YouTube catalog is available this fall. With Apple TV's stunning interface and simple Apple Remote, users can easily navigate through YouTube's familiar video browsing categories or search for specific videos. YouTube members can also log-in to their YouTube accounts on Apple TV to view and save their favorite videos.

Apple TV seamlessly integrates with iTunes® to wirelessly play a user's favorite content from a PC or Mac® on their widescreen TV, including movies, TV shows, music, photos and podcasts. Apple TV users can choose from over 500 movies and 350 TV shows in near DVD quality; over five million songs; 5,000 music videos; 100,000 podcasts; and 20,000 audiobooks from the iTunes Store (www.itunes.com). Users can enjoy their favorite music on a home entertainment system and view slideshows of their photo albums on a widescreen TV.

Apple today also announced that it is offering a new Apple TV build-to-order option with a 160GB hard drive. The new larger hard drive offers four times the storage for up to 200 hours of video, 36,000 songs, 25,000 photos or a combination of each.* Apple TV is easy to connect to a broad range of widescreen TVs and home theater systems and comes standard with HDMI, component video, analog and optical audio ports. Using high-speed AirPort® 802.11n Wi-Fi wireless networking, Apple TV can auto-sync content from one computer or stream content from up to five additional computers right to a TV without any wires.**

Pricing & Availability
Apple TV, which includes the Apple Remote, is available through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $299 (US). Apple TV with a 160GB hard drive will be available tomorrow for a suggested retail price of $399 (US). The YouTube feature for Apple TV will be available as a free software update in mid-June.

Apple TV requires iTunes 7.1 or later running on a Mac with Mac OS® X version 10.3.9 or later, or a Windows PC with Windows XP Home/Professional (SP2).

An 802.11b/g/n wireless network using AirPort, AirPort Extreme® or 10/100 Base-T Ethernet networking is required. Internet access is required and a broadband connection is recommended, fees may apply. Apple TV requires an enhanced definition or high-definition widescreen TV. iPod® games will not play on Apple TV. The iTunes store is available in the US and select countries.

*Video playback based on 640x480 iTunes video content. Music capacity based on four minutes per song and 128-Kbps AAC encoding. Photo capacity based on Apple TV viewable photos transferred from iTunes. Actual capacity varies by content.

**Based on an IEEE 802.11n draft specification. Compatible with 802.11b/g/n, wireless video streaming requires an 802.11g/n network.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and will enter the mobile phone market this year with its revolutionary iPhone.

AppleTV First Unboxing

Noah Robischon — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 18:30:36 EDT

Packaging is one of the only things about the Apple TV that we haven't seen already. I was lucky enough to get one early. Biggest surprise? No cables in the box. –Noah Robischon

This is Not a Post Telling You Apple TV is Shipping

Brian Lam — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 16:42:47 EDT

Because the delays and extensive pre-coverage, you're likely not-pumped for Apple TV right now. You don't care, because you miss the feeling of the old Apple launches where the fanboy splooge erupted the same time as ship. In response, we'll avoid posting that Apple's foray into the living room is foraying right now, via FedEx, with preorders hitting the mail room in 3–5 days. That is all, and you can't change our minds on the matter.–Brian Lam

AppleTV [Gizmodo]

Rumor Smashed: No Apple TV Games

Adam Frucci — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 12:38:48 EST

So you know how someone found "evidence" of game compatibility with Apple TV in the latest iTunes update? Looks like it's more of an example of some lazy copying and pasting by developers than one of future features. MacUser did some research and discovered that the code is exactly the same as the code for both iPods and mobile phones (like the ROKR, not the iPhone), making it look like this is just the result of some find and replace action.

Sorry dudes. But come on, it's not like transferring iPod games to Apple TV really even makes any sense. –Adam Frucci

Thanks Dan!

Busting the Apple TV games rumor [MacUser]