Apple's iDongle Should Go Back to the Drawing Board

The Apple (AAPL) Blog has a quick run down on AppleTV -- Take 2.

My mom bought me an AppleTV for Christmas and I returned it to Apple. Sorry mom. It's fun seeing my mom turn into a Machead and all (she has two Mac computers now and an iPod), but AppleTV is still not for me.

Remember, it was Thomas Hawk who first called this thing the iDongle and told you it would fail back in September of 2006.

The AppleBlog has a quick run down on the new features of the less than successful AppleTV product:
* No computer required
* Rent movies directly from the AppleTV (HD movies for $3.99; $4.99 for new releases)
* DVD quality and HD quality + Dolby 5.1
* Buy music directly from AppleTV
* Browse podcasts (audio and video)
* Browse photos from Flickr and .Mac
* Sync with iTunes
* Preview movies and see what other users have rented
* Run photo screensavers pulled from .Mac web galleries

So what are the problems in my opinion?

Well, first, there is *still* no DVR and people want a DVR. Microsoft's (MSFT) competing product the XBox 360 as an extender unit lets you stream your DVR recordings. You can't use the iDongle to get premium HDTV DVR content. No, I'm not talking OTA recordings that you might be able to get with EyeTV and then stream to your iDongle. I'm talking about real life premium HDTV content.

There's also still no DVD player. The XBox 360 (which can also stream video, music, photos, etc.) has a built-in DVD player, plus it's an awesome gaming console. Seems like a better deal to me.

Finally, the thing relies on iTunes for music and I think iTunes sucks for large digital media collections as I've written about before -- too much gapless playback processing, searching for album art, etc. etc. and not enough actual playing of music.

Nice try Apple, but I still think the iDongle needs to go back to the drawing board. Include a HDTV DVR in it (yes, yes, I know, then you'll sell me less movies, but whatever), put a DVD player in it, they are super cheap (yes, yes, again I know, if I get my content from Netflix (NFLX) then this means even less money spent on your movie service), and then we might have something. Oh, and give me a way to disable gapless playback processing and endless searches for album art.

Comments

[AdWilk]

The Apple TV has a huge number of features and is in comparable to the Apple TV. Dont you see the huge jump apple has made by getting all the major studios on board to rent movies? they have a huge install base through iPods, mac, Apple TV, and itunes on windows. YOURE WRONG, your mom should write these articles.

[Tez]

Thomas, are you feeling a little anti-Apple today? Even if it does not have what you want, it can still be a great product and perhaps even a reliable one. Isn't that what people want as well?

Really, iDongle? Not cute at all. Perhaps your new name could be "iAnti-Apple"...

[peter02l]

I don't want a gaming console. I already have a DVD player and a DVR. And I especially dislike listening to a loud box while watching a movie or listening to music. Apple TV suites me fine. How else can I watch all the movies in my iTunes library on the living room TV?
It seems to me if you already have an XBox 360 and don't use iTunes, you have no business reviewing Apple TV. I suggest you go back to the drawing board and find something else to write about.

[peter02l]

Seriously, You watch TV, use a DVR for recording TV programs, rent your movies from Netflix, and don't want to use iTunes.
Did you only interview yourself to reach the conclusion that "people want a DVR?"

[ellsab]

As for wanting a DVD player, if you really want to watch a movie, just use the DVD player on your computer and send to your TV via iTV, is this not one of its functions. Why make the consumer pay for more, when most will not require it???

[AppleFan]

Thomas Hawk makes some excellent points. AppleTV -- Take 2 has some much needed improvements, but there is plenty of room to improve it. For example, it still only plays 720P instead of 1080i or 1080P (www.apple.com/appletv/...). While I do not want or need a DVD player or DVR as part of Apple TV, have those options may widen the appeal of the product.

[AppleFan]

By the way, I am likely to buy one anyway.

[peter02l]

AppleFan,

Those options can make the product occupy much more space than it needs to. Unless you are talking about external attachments, in which case why bother? DVD players are very cheap and you can get a DVR (sometimes free) inside your cable or satellite box.

[Thomas A,Gaughan]

why a Dvd player, Apple going to rent movies. on line. it doesn't need a dvd player.

Thomas A. Gaughan

[Other comments by this reader edited for abusive language. Commenter put on watch.]

[peter02l]

"why a Dvd player, Apple going to rent movies. on line. it doesn't need a dvd player.

Thomas A. Gaughan"

In case you don't want to rent a movie you already have on DVD!

[Thomas A,Gaughan]

why a Dvd player, Apple going to rent movies. on line. it doesn't need a dvd player.

Thomas A. Gaughan"

In case you don't want to rent a movie you already have on DVD!


My Question to you is. If you already have Dvds, wouldn't you already a DVD Player?

Thomas A. Gaughan

[David Lentz]

I presume, since you think that the Xbox 360 is a better deal that you have one. How many times has it been replaced under warranty?

I have an AppleTV (the original you disliked so much). I use it as a DVR, with several terabytes of storage sitting in a disk array on a Mac in another room feeding it. I use the Mac for lots of other things, its role in hosting the media library (all purchased content) requiring a tiny fraction of its capabilities. I use the el gato eyeTV to record over-the-air HDTV broadcasts for time-shifted replay through the AppleTV to the HDTV sitting next to it. iTunes seems to work just fine for my multi-terabyte media library.

Yes, the video quality is only about as good as that of a (non-upscaling) set-top DVD player, and is not quite up to "true" HD quality. But it's close enough for me.

But hey -- it's a free country (sort of) -- you buy what you like and I'll buy what I like. Personally, I think that the Xbox 360 is a horrible POS that abuses MSFT stockholders by selling for no profit and abuses its customer base with lousy reliability. You obviously think differently from me. People pay their money and live with their choices.

[User 140654]

Could Thomas A. Gaughan please make one more entry.
Thomas please add one more entry. Thomas...?

[RonH96]

Remember, it was Thomas Hawk who first called this thing the iDongle and told you it would fail back in September of 2006.

That is an interesting pat on the back. Without much insight as to why Apple TV has "failed" and why it will likely do much better this time around.

The main reason Apple TV has not yet sold as many units as some people would like has little to do with the hardware issues that Mr. Hawk focuses on. The main issue has to do with content, and specifically with movie rentals. The biggest announcement related to Apple TV is that it will now have movie rentals from ALL of the major studios.

I own an Apple TV, along with numerous other components. It is by far my favorite component. I appreciate the fact that it is small, easy to set up and easy to use, easy and convenient to access video and audio content, and has already delivered significantly more content to my home entertainment experience than all of my other components combined, at less cost, less clutter and more convenience.

[jwest]

Hmmm... Thomas Hawk.

I have to remember that name so that I can avoid any more Apple articles he may write. His distain for Apple is only exceeded by his ignorance of the products they make and the market that loves them. I can't believe he even repeated previous remark that proves what an idiot he is.. "I think iTunes sucks".

Hmmm... Thomas Hawk, isn't he the idiot that hates Apple?

[NakoQuant]

Agree that DVD is irrelevant. You either have a player already, or you could just buy the movie on your AppleTV. Solved.

That said, DVR would make this a killer must-have device. My guess is they haven't done it because DVR is more about the ongoing service than the product itself, and it's harder for Apple to add value there.

[drummerjoe]

It's funny how people fail to realize that an Apple TV's key strength is to replace your cable box and cable subscriptions and not be an additional device you put in your entertainment center. With OTA HD, TV Shows, Movie Rentals, and Movie Purchases, Apple is posturing the Apple TV to be the main enterntainment device. Get rid of that stupid cable box and monthly cable bill.

[ex2bot]

For David Lentz,

Isn't it true that an upgrade is or will be available for AppleTV 1.0 users?

Bot

[ex2bot]

Um, oops! I mentioned David Lentz in the above message, but the message was intended as a general question. Sorry.

Bot
Even robots err sometimes.

[peter02l]

"My Question to you is. If you already have Dvds, wouldn't you already a DVD Player?

Thomas A. Gaughan"

True! But I bought a TV for the bedroom. Watching Seinfeld helps some fall asleep. So I got a DVD player for it as well.