I’ve been a Netflix subscriber from damn near day one.

I’ve certainly appreciated having the service there as an entertainment alternative long before video streaming was a remote possibility. I’d have three DVDs out at a time and often forget I was holding onto them for months on end. You could say that I’ve wasted a lot of money on Netflix – far more than I would have spent at a local video rental store.

So, last year, I decided to drop the 3-disc option and go with the 1-disc plan plus the on-demand streaming – even though the streaming selection was seemingly stunted (though nowhere as bad as Hulu’s lackluster movie library). For the most part, that’s worked out well – but I still feel like I’m overpaying for media that I’m not remembering to digest.

This morning, news came down the pike (yes, pike – not pipe) that Netflix is staging new subscription plans for us. Yippee? Nope.

There are now 2 DVD-Only plans:

• $8 a month for one disc at a time
• $12 a month for two discs at a time

Now there’s a separate option:

• Unlimited Streaming (no DVDs) for $8 a month

They think that this change “is a terrific value.” I think it’s a load of shit. This is “forcing” me to drop their disc-only plan altogether (based on my patterns). When I want to rent a DVD, I’ll simply make an online reservation for my local Redbox station. I’d be tempted to drop the Netflix streaming plan if there were a viable alternative elsewhere – but judging by how many documentaries my girlfriend loves to watch, that’s not practical.

I guess at the end of the day, I’m going to be spending less money with Netflix (by $2). Thanks?

Is Netflix Worth It Anymore?

Thunderbolt was announced by Apple some time ago. New Apple computers are featuring the port in their design. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a big rush for manufacturers to produce products that support the platform.

Storage devices including the LaCie Little Big Disk and the Sonnet Fusion RAID have joined the slow-growing list of devices that support Thunderbolt. At up to 864 MB/s, the data transfer rate offered by Thunderbolt is lightyears ahead of other standard currently on the market.

Even so, it appears manufacturers are opting once again to support the latest USB standard with its backwards compatibility over a faster technology. This is almost directly reminiscent of the competition between FireWire and USB that resulted in a divide between convenience and performance.

I brought this question to the community to get their take on why Thunderbolt seems to be taking so long to get off the ground. Here is what they said:

Sean Cooper – I might also note that Thunderbolt is the new Firewire. Give it two years, somebody will come out with a cheaper faster standard.

Blake Sabatinelli – On Apple’s enterprise RAID servers, where they belong. Does the average user really need 10 Gbps?

John Thompson – Thunderbolt devices will come much quicker when more companies adopt the technology. It’s a numbers game; USB 2.0 was/is more popular than Firewire 800 not because it’s the better technology but because it’s in every consumer laptop out there, so companies are bound to target the market where they can have the most impact.

There’s no doubt that Thunderbolt is great technology, but if it isn’t adopted by more manufacturers apart from Apple and Sony, then it will only lead to (i) less adoption by manufacturers of peripherals such as external hard drives and (ii) higher prices of those products when they hit the market.

Speaking of higher prices, $50 for a Thunderbolt cable from Apple is not going to win many fans, either. Just my two cents!

Max Huijgen – Thunderbolt is the Firewire of the future. Limited to Apple only environments where there is a need for high throughput otherwise know as the lower grade video editing world.

The masses will live with USB 3.0 which serve their needs for a lot less money and the serious people and the Linux and Windows world will go for the External PCI solution because it will be an open standard. No licenses to be paid, no manufacturer tie-in and a clear future. Check for instance this, or one of the many other sources of info.

Thunderbolt and PCI External will both need to wait for optical cables to deliver a revolution in speed instead of an incremental upgrade over USB or external SATA which is already available. The good news is that Intel already integrated PCI external in their newer chipsets so even they didn’t fully commit to Thunderbolt so it will go the Firewire way: a limited number of external devices with the connector mostly targeted at the smaller sized video editing studios.

In addition to my earlier comment I agree with +John Thompson that there needs to be a killer application to reach critical masses. USB 3.0 will find its way as it´s already on your new PC/notebook/tablet and is backwards compatible. PCI External´s killer application will be the gamers market.

The PCI-E connector is smaller than the Thunderbolt so will fit in the new generation of Thinbooks and tablets. It will enable external graphic cards to be connected to every laptop. No longer being restricted to a PC box just because you are into serious gaming. Getting rid of the super heavy weight Alienware notebooks which get hot, eat batteries for lunch and are a nuisance to carry around.

No, the future is a thin and slick portable, be it a thin book, a netbook or a tablet with keyboard with an external box which only leaves home for a gaming party connected by PCI-E. The bandwidth is sufficient, the market is for grabs and people will happily buy the latest and greatest video card in a box which can be upgraded separately. Gamers have an above average spending pattern so there are your numbers to warrant implementation of a new standard connection.

Where are the Thunderbolt Devices?

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The Apple Digital AV Adapter allows you to mirror anything on your iPad 2 screen to an HDTV or computer monitor with HDMI input. Use this compact little cord to show your apps, presentations and more right on your big-screen television or computer monitor. While most displays render in full 1080p, movies will play at up to 720p.

Watch your movies and slideshows simply by connecting your iPad, iPhone 4 or iPod touch 4th gen using this av cable. A second 30-ping adapter allows you to charge and sync your device while it is connected to your HDMI display.

As you can see in the video, I can view nearly everything on my iPad right on that television. Audio and video both come through very clearly. My device is not jailbroken in any way: I simply used the av adapter. Being able to output your files onto a much larger screen is nearly priceless in some instances. It has certainly made the iPad even more useful than it already was!

I’m sure by now you’re wondering why – exactly – you would even care to do something like this. After all, you bought the iPad because it is small, light and portable. However, there truly could be instances where you would want or need to see what’s on the device on a much larger screen. Perhaps you have put together a presentation you need to share for work. Instead of praying anyone other than the person next to you can see it on the iPad screen, why not plug it in to an external HDMI display?

Use your iPad to create a slideshow for your parent’s anniversary dinner and share it on a bigger screen with everyone gathered together. Shoot a video on the device to propose to your significant other and broadcast it on the television when she (or he!) least expects it. There are so many things you could do with this one tiny little white cable that it boggles the mind.

Go ahead – grab one for yourself and watch as I grin quietly instead of saying “I told you so.”

Apple Digital AV Adapter for the iPad

Streaming content in your home is quickly becoming much more than just a fad. People are cutting the cord in favor of set-top boxes such as Roku, Apple TV and Boxee. Using a device such as this gives the consumer more control over the content they can watch as well as being more cost-effective than traditional cable or satellite television connections. The question is, though, which box is right for your home? The three major players – Roku, Boxee and Apple TV – have many things in common. However, you’ll be surprised at how the differences between them can sway your purchasing decision.

Both the Roku and the Apple TV boxes can be purchased for under one hundred dollars, while the new Boxee model will set you back two hundred smackers. However, the Boxee alternative has quite a bit more to offer. At this point in time, Apple and Roku have some catching up to do in the content delivery department. Boxee now offers both Netflix and Vudu for your viewing pleasure. With Vudu, you can purchase movies on-demand – the same day they are released on DVD even – at a cost of $2.00 for two nights. Stream your favorite Internet content and connect with your Twitter and Facebook account in order to get suggestions from your friends. Additionally, personal recommendations will be sent straight to your television, based on your previous viewing choices. The unit is Flash 10.1 compatible, another feature the others don’t offer. There are more than 400 apps at this time, offering you third-party content distribution choices you haven’t even begun to think of. The remote control is double-sided, offering both a browsing experience and a full QWERTY keyboard. There’s an SD card slot and two USB ports built in.

The Roku box offers Netflix and Hulu, movie rental and purchases and even popular sports packages. There are more than fifty channels at this time – including Amazon video service. Stream your iTunes collection without a computer connection or tune in to your favorite online radio stations such as Pandora. The unit is capable of viewing YouTube and Flickr content, much as the others are. There is also a USB port which allows you to view media on your favorite USB stick.

Apple TV has a partnership with both FOX and ABC, allowing you to access your favorite shows for .99 per episode. If you want to watch an entire season, though, it could end up costing you quite a lot. This unit also offers Netflix, YouTube and Flickr access. Movies will cost you $2.99 or $3.00 for HD versions. There is one Micro USB slot and the cool remote allows you to access your iPod touch, iPad or iPhone with the press of a button. That in itself is seriously cool. Have you tried playing Angry Birds on the big screen yet?

Even though the Boxee set-top box has more to offer at this point in time, don’t count the Roku and Apple TV out just yet. I’m sure we will be seeing revisions to both machines sometime this year. Competition in this market is fierce, and I have a feeling that we’ll see even better features coming in the new versions.

Are you using a set-top box in your home? Which model do you own, and what do you prefer about it?

Set-Top Debate: Boxee vs Roku vs Apple TV

Look, I’m a tolerant man. When Pixie wakes me up and asks for a trip to the little doggy’s room at 3am, I don’t yell at her. If Wicket throws up on my MacBook Pro, I forgive him. Eventually.

But seriously, I am out of forgiveness for people who can’t figure out the name of Apple’s iPod Touch.

According to the Apple press event yesterday, it’s the most popular iPod and the #1 game player in the world. It’s been used for over 1.5 billion game and entertainment downloads. It’s cute. It’s thin. It even has an HD video camera and video editing now.

Yet people still get its name wrong. So let me explain it for you in a nice, simple way. There are even pictures to help you out.

iPod Touch

This is a cool Apple device that you can use to play games, listen to music, and watch videos.

You can even use it with FaceTime and Game Center to connect to friends who have iPods or iPhones.

What you can’t do is call it the iTouch. That is not its name. Please call it the iPod Touch.

I touch.

This is a simple sentence. It’s made up of the pronoun I and the verb touch.

You can also use those words in more complex sentences like "I touch the base whenever I hit a home run," or "When I think about you, I touch myself."

Although on second thought, if you’re touching yourself, just keep that between you and your naughty little hands. The rest of us really don’t need to know.

Eye Touch

Stop that. What the heck is wrong with you? Why would you stick your finger in my eye?

Jeepers. You do have naughty hands, don’t you?

Seriously, dude, eye touching is completely inappropriate.

Now, enough of that. Don’t make me call Wicket. He’ll throw up on your computer.

Are we clear now? The little music/video device is an iPod Touch, not an iTouch.

I won’t be responsible for my actions if you call it an iTouch one more time. In fact, I’ll take suggestions. How should I punish people who call it the iTouch?

Please Call It the iPod Touch

DISCLAIMER: I thought the first Apple TV was relatively useless.

Today, Apple announced significant changes to Apple TV at the press event held in San Francisco (which, by the way, was streamed LIVE for the world to watch). The new Apple TV, available by the beginning of October, comes in at 1/4 the size of the original. It’s smaller than a sandwich. You can use a Tupperware container as your carrying case now – provided you’ve cleaned it first.

But there are tastier details to sink your teeth into!

There’s no media to keep track of anymore (through klutzy synching processes and whatnot) – everything will stream live into the tiny slice of digital heaven through either a network cable or WiFi (802.11n). As someone who hates storing media, this change is most welcomed. There’s a reason I use and love both Pandora and Rhapsody for my music, and why I’ve taken to Hulu for available TV show viewing. And on that note…

Once you’ve set up your new Apple TV, you’ll be able to “choose from the largest online selection of HD movies to rent, including first run movies for just $4.99, and the largest online selection of HD TV show episodes to rent from ABC, ABC Family, Fox, Disney Channel and BBC America for just 99 cents.” That’s quite a competitive price for legally-attainable media in conjunction with a convenient interface and service. Not sure I’ll take advantage of this part of the Apple TV, though; I’m not into à la carte media consumption.

Netflix subscribers (like myself) have access to the entire streaming library of Netflix videos. If the video is in your instant queue, you’re just a few clicks away from watching it with Apple TV. You can also view streaming media from YouTube and Flickr – plus watch your favorite podcasts (like a certain someone’s) and access streaming media and images on the computers in your home.

Job(s) well done.

Oh, did I remember to tell you that the price of this sophomore effort has also been cut by 66%! That brings the Apple TV price point to US$99 – a great impulse buy for gadget geeks and mediaphiles. I’ll buy one, pick up a few extra HDMI and power cables, then tote a single unit around the house with me.

While I never considered purchasing the original Apple TV (not once), I can’t wait for this to ship (available in about four weeks to consumers in the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany and Australia).

Am I alone with being impressed?

Apple TV Moves to Rental Model, Drops Price to $99

For the longest time, we knew where our data existed – it existed on our computers, typically on a hard drive or potentially a floppy disk. So now when we create files, let’s say on a Web service like Google Docs, for example, we may never actually know where that file sits. We know we can get to it from anywhere, of course, but it’s out there. In The Cloud. We don’t know the physical location of that file, but do we need to know, anymore? No, we don’t. That’s for someone else to worry about and track.

Our whole life is eventually going to be stored in The Cloud, no longer tied to a physical machine or hard drive. I’m not even really tracking any of my media, anymore. I have a Rhapsody account for my music; I subscribe to Netflix and Hulu. I’m not really buying any physical media, anymore. I’m not storing them on my local network. This data exists in The Cloud on these Web services that I pay to access. I know that, somewhere, the file is sitting on a hard drive waiting for me to point and click my way to it, but the responsibility of holding on to it is no longer mine.

Think of a public library – you can check out books, read them, and then put them back on its shelves without cluttering up your own at home. The archives are there for your benefit without requiring you to be their ever-vigilant custodian. The Cloud doesn’t charge you overdue fees, either, so don’t go saying the 21st century’s never done you any favors!

Storing your life remotely has its benefits, but as with any service that offers to simplify your day-to-day doings, be sure to research these places in The Cloud and make sure they’re reliable. Let your vision look toward The Cloud, but keep your head on Earth when you’re making the decision about what chunks of your life to stow away there.

Et Tu, Cloud? Caveat Clickor!

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You have content scattered all over your network, I’m sure. The problem is when you want to watch your media on your HDTV. That’s where the FreeAgent Theater + from Seagate comes in handy! It allows you to not only access files from across your network, it also accepts input devices, such as memory cards. It has a variety of inputs, including full 1080p video and Dolby audio! It’s also compatible with the FreeAgent Go portable hard drive. I have to thank Seagate for sending me these products to review. It’s been fun to navigate my way through all of my content.

It’s a good system, and it works. However, it’s not all that easy to use. There are a ton of options. However, the user interface is kind of sluggish at times, and confusing for some people. This can be used with either a Mac or a Windows computer, which is something that I love.

Use the included sync software to copy all of your media to the FreeAgent Go drive. Or, just drag-and-drop your files directly onto the drive. Then, dock the drive into the FreeAgent Theater + HD media player. When connected to your television, it puts your entire media library at your fingertips!

Video quality is excellent. It has HDMI and allows resolutions up to 1080p. h264 video playback is smooth, as well. It supports multiple audio tracks, so you can encode the commentary into the same file as the main audio. It’s also quite responsive, quickly moving into play, fast-forward and other modes.

Get your media onto your tv with a great deal of ease. At only about $120.00, this is definitely an excellent option!

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How to Turn Your TV Into a Media Center

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Trying to convert things from one file format to another can be a royal pain, as we all know. There are many programs out there that will do the job for us, but most of them will cost you an arm and a leg. Format Factory is a piece of freeware that is quite powerful. Matthew’s first screencast for us is going to show you how to use Format Factory to manage all of your file formats, conversions and more!

Not only can Format Factory convert video files, it can handle audio files and image files as well. Use it to reduce your file size, repair damaged files and even rip DVDs! It supports more than 50 languages, so you don’t have to wonder whether you’ll be able to fully understand the English version if you aren’t from the US.

Matthew says that the amazing thing about this program is the huge number of file types that are supported. Videos can be converted to: MP4, 3GP, MPG, AVI, WMV, FLV or SWF. Audio files can convert to: MP3, WMA, AMR, OGG, AAC, or WAV. Last – but not least! – image files can convert to: JPG, BMP, PNG, TIF, ICO, GIF, or TGA! Best of all, MP4 files support iPods, iPhone, PSP and BlackBerry format!

As you can see from the screencast, it’s exceedingly easy to use, and it won’t cost you a penny! Grab Format Factory for yourself and start managing your files more efficiently.

Thanks, Matthew, for an excellent first screencast!

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How to Convert Files Using Format Factory

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I was rummaging through old boxes the other day, and came across several MiniDV tapes. These are pretty important tapes. For instance, I have Wil Wheaton’s keynote from Gnomedex 4 back in Lake Tahoe. Another is Steve Wozniak from the same conference! If I had the proper equipment, I could hook it up to my computer, transfer the videos and convert them myself. That’s very time intensive, though. I need to find someone whom I know and can trust with these tapes to convert them for me. I remembered that Pixorial sent me a review code, so I decided to check that out!

Pixorial helps you convert data on physical media, and converts them into digital formats. You can edit them on the website itself, or download them to your computer. You can then share them, convert them, or burn them to a DVD.

You can even ask Pixorial to do the physical work for you! Send them your tapes, and wait for them to arrive back in your home. The pricing seems to be quite good, as well. When Pixorial reached out to me, they offered to convert some old media for me so that I could review their service. I asked them if my parents could send in their old VHS home movies… and they agreed! I was very happy with the results, and so were my parents. I even uploaded an old Prom Night clip to my YouTube channel! Mom said it was a great experience, and that her original media was very well taken care of.

You can get a free subscription with Pixorial, with up to 10GB of online storage. You even get 60 days of Archival Storage for each tape or film! With a pro account ($24.99 per year), you’ll receive unlimited storage and uploads. It’s stored securely at the highest resolution.

Your VHS tapes won’t last forever. You likely can’t even watch your old 8mm reel-to-reel tapes anymore. Heck, even DVDs can be lost or broken. Heaven forbid, a natural disaster could happen. You don’t want to lose those priceless memories. Back them up using Pixorial – hassle-free, easy and affordable.

Addendum!

As a special thank-you for our review, the folks at Pixorial wanted to offer our readers a special discount! For the remainder of January, 2010, using coupon code: PIXPRO25 will gain you access to the following benefits:

• $25 Credit to use to purchase anything on the site
• Free PRO membership for one year (a $25 value)
• Unlimited archival storage of media content for PRO members
• Unlimited access to Screening Room in Full-Screen
• Free online video editing
• Free low-res sharing

Thanks so much Pixorial!

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Convert VHS to Digital

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Let’s say you have an HDTV, a computer and Internet access. Why not put all of those things together by experiencing computer content on your computer? How would you get content from the computer to the television? You know you don’t want to run a cable from one to the other, right? So what else can you do? Lucky for you, the latest product from IOGear is here to save the day!

The Wireless USB Audio and Video Kit allows you to connect your computer to your TV wirelessly without the long and unattractive cable run. The system has strong, reliable signals – ideal for streaming media content across a room… even up to 30 feet away. There’s not even any complicated setup process.

The kit consists of three adapters: audio for speaker connectivity, VGA for the TV and Wireless USB for the hosting PC. Once you’re hooked up, you can do everything from watch your favorite YouTube videos to editing a spreadsheet for work – right on your flat-screen TV!

Broadcast whatever is on your computer onto your television. Make your family happy. Instead of gathering around your monitor, you can relax in front of the TV.

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How to Broadcast a Wireless Audio / Video Signal from PC to TV

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I am quite literally all over the musical map. I’ll listen to any kind of music. Inevitably, I’ll be playing a song and someone has to ask who sings it. Then, of course, they want to know how to download the song. There’s a different service now that you can use to share your music with others! Check out Blip.fm!

Blip lets you basically create your own music station! Enter your DJ name, and your email address – and go! I’ve known about this service for awhile now. I never bothered to feature it, because I hadn’t signed up for an account. I thought it was about time to sign up for an account, so that I can help people figure out what songs I’m listening to.

Now you can easily follow along and listen to the music with me. You’ll know who the artist is, what the title is, and find a way to get the music yourself! I warn you, though – I’m very eclectic with my music tastes. I meant it when I said I listen to a little bit of everything.

When you sign up for the site, they’ll ask you what song you want to Blip. Be sure you preview your selection to make sure that you have the right one. Click the “Blip” button to the left of the song, and add a personal message if you choose. It’s then added to my Blip list for all of you to enjoy! If you like the song, you can favorite it or play it over and over.

If you’ve always wanted to share your music with others, and let them know what you’re listening to… be sure to check out Blip!

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How to Share Music and be Your own DJ

Amazon MP3 has a wide selection of popular new MP3 albums for music fans of any genre from rock to hip hop, country, jazz, and beyond. This month, they’re celebrating indie rock with a well-crafted list of the 100 Greatest Indie Rock Albums of All Time and over 100 free songs from 12 Indie Label Samplers that are available only at Amazon MP3.

With the Grammy Awards(R) behind us and spring in the air, the big new releases of 2009 are getting bigger every week. You can find new releases anytime at Amazon MP3. Featured Artists with New Releases?

• Keith Urban
• Flo Rida
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs
• Keri Hilson
• Bow Wow
• Hannah Montana
• Leonard Cohen
• Neil Young
• Stevie Nicks
• Diana Krall
• Death Cab For Cutie
• Jim Gaffigan

Along with Amazon MP3‘s carefully selected list of the 100 Greatest Indie Rock albums of all time, whet your audience’s appetite for indie rock further, with free label samplers and discounted MP3 albums from top-tier indie labels like Sub Pop, ANTI, Secretly Canadian, Jagjaguwar, and more. These selections are available only through April 30, 2009, and only at Amazon MP3. Take advantage of this promotion ASAP!

Here is more about just one of the Indie Free Album Samplers this Month: Sub Pop’s Free Label Samplerfeatures 11 songs from artists like Flight of the Conchords, Fleet Foxes, Handsome Furs, Vetiver, Iron & Wine, the Vaselines, and many more. You’ll also find a selection of related Sub Pop albums under $10.

Build Links & Earn Money
To link directly to the promotions mentioned above and earn referral fees on subsequent qualifying purchases, follow the link format replacing “lockergnome-20″ with your Associates ID:

Indie Rock

New Releases

Amazon MP3 homepage

Where to Find MP3s of New Music Releases

Broken Heart Radio – Broken Heart Radio on Slacker is a melancholy mix of lost love and yearning with a touch of soulful redemption. These songs of heartbreak and hope will show you that sadness can be beautiful and love is fleeting but always on the horizon.

Slow Jamz – Slow Jamz on Slacker Radio features the greatest classic and current R&B love songs to put you in the mood for whatever your Valentines Day has in store Featuring the seductive sounds of artists like Barry White, Marvin Gaye, Keith Sweat, and Boyz II Men. Recommended for Valentines Day if you already enjoy Soul Jams on Slacker Radio.

Rock Ballads Radio – Big Rock Ballads on Slacker Radio will take you back to the days of big hair and big love ballads. Raise your lighters in the air, grab the one you love, and find your own “Paradise by the Dashboard Light”. Big Rock Ballads on Slacker Radio features all the best balladeers from the 70′s and 80′s like Journey, Foreigner, and Aerosmith.

Country Love [NOT Courtney Love] – Country music is the music of our lives; the good, the bad, love, and loss. Country Love on Slacker Radio takes the best of Country and focuses only on the love songs: old fashion All-American love stories. Country Love on Slacker Radio plays everything from today’s superstars to yesterday’s timeless country. Fall in love with the boy or girl next door all over again. If you already enjoy Country on Slacker Radio, this is your Valentines Day soundtrack

Metropolitan Mood – Metropolitan Mood music on Slacker Radio is the provocative soundtrack to seduction and love. It’s not so much about the lyrics, as it is the sound and tempo of this mood music. It’s the sound of a big-city love affair. Featuring exotic electronica, downtempo beats and retro-futuristic sounds from the likes of Morcheeba, Portishead, and Massive Attack. Let Metropolitan Mood Music on Slacker Radio provide the uninterrupted soundtrack to a night of uninterrupted passion. Recommended for lovers of Chill and Alt-Chill on Slacker Radio.

Where to Fall in Love with Valentine’s Day Romance Music

When Apple first announced their Apple TV product, I was interested but not excited. Years later, that interest has completely warn off – largely because of the lack of updates and killer features. Admittedly, I do already have a TiVo (and a few Comcast DVRs to boot).

Still, why has Apple seemingly abandoned the Apple TV? There’s a new report suggesting that Apple is working on a connected television. I’m not so sure that’s even interesting to me. Who knows? Maybe they’ll knock that one out of the park.

Do you have an Apple TV, or do you feel like you’re missing out because you don’t have one? I asked my Twitter followers, and some of them responded:

Vividlydrawn: what's an AppleTV?

about 47 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:37:58 +0000 2009

jmccullough108: I agree. I am perfectly fine without one.

about 46 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:38:19 +0000 2009

Condawg: I feel the same way. Hooking up my iMac to my TV gives me basically the same thing… It just seems worthless, IMO.

about 46 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:38:39 +0000 2009

Schlomo: AppleTV is not nearly as interesting as my xbox!

about 46 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:38:40 +0000 2009

robertrosenfeld: I agree. I like Apple, but I don't need them handing my entire media experience.

about 46 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:38:41 +0000 2009

ericpratum: Agreed. Honestly, I don't sit in front of the TV enough to make it worth it. If I did, I don't know that I'd choose AppleTV

about 46 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:38:51 +0000 2009

MikeMathia: I don't own one, and I don't wish that I had one. It's a good idea, just not for me.

about 46 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:39:05 +0000 2009

dVoka: AppleTV rocks! You can connect a Terrabyte drive to it where your backed up DVDs reside, run Boxee (hulu), and much more.

about 45 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:39:23 +0000 2009

unclespeedo: i don't believe you're in the target audience for apple tv….. you shouldn't feel like you're missing anything, you're not

about 45 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:39:40 +0000 2009

gregskidmore: Yes I do too. I keep wanting to get an AppleTV. I don't know why I haven't bought one yet. Maybe it's lacking something?

about 45 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:39:45 +0000 2009

roehmholdt: iTMS + 30in Cinema Display > AppleTV… now to go get that Cinema display…

about 44 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:40:12 +0000 2009

Outsanity: It's just more Apple crap that's more likely not worth the money unless you're that into Apple swag

about 44 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:40:19 +0000 2009

xKevinx: I'm with you on that

about 44 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:40:34 +0000 2009

maddogdom: you said that about the iPhone and you loved that!

about 44 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:40:36 +0000 2009

andrewmundy: you're totally not the only one. I promise

about 44 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:40:37 +0000 2009

AppleNerd: I don't see anything in the AppleTV. Seems boring…

about 44 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:40:41 +0000 2009

JessePB: Considering you can accomplish the same thing by buying directly in iTunes and streaming with any number of other devices, no.

about 44 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:40:47 +0000 2009

yenra: AppleTV is excellent at displaying photos on a big HDTV – smooth & great quality; also Flickr, Podcasts, YouTube.

about 44 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:40:56 +0000 2009

shedtroll: I don't feel I'm missing out. Boxee is a better alternative.

about 44 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:41:07 +0000 2009

cpedraza: I'm an Apple fan but in the world of DVRs AppleTV doesn't make sense for me.

about 43 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:41:22 +0000 2009

findingnewo: Yeah, I don't get the appeal. I think WinMCE extenders are much more worth it.

about 43 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:41:22 +0000 2009

jbone66: My ATV was humdrum until XBMC/Boxee was available for it. It's our main method to accessing video content now…

about 43 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:41:43 +0000 2009

VxJasonxV: It's very interesting. It's just that the most of us have computers to do everything the AppleTV does, and more.

about 43 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:42:07 +0000 2009

biss13: if you don't own an AppleTV how do you know what is it you are missing? ;)

about 43 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:42:10 +0000 2009

robpickering: And that statement shows everyone you don't have one. Hulu on my TV – 'nuff said

about 42 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:42:15 +0000 2009

EricCAnderson: Agree: it's basically just another iPod for your TV (even with boxiee on it)…

about 42 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:42:20 +0000 2009

Knunez: yeah I dont need one.. no point in having one anyways

about 42 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:42:45 +0000 2009

wolrah: i agree they're not that interesting out of the box, but patchstick them and they're great. XBMC and Boxee ftw

about 42 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:42:52 +0000 2009

Christyxcore: i agree. I thought it was cool when I saw it at my friends house but now that I think about it, it's also overpriced 4 watitis

about 42 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:42:51 +0000 2009

tjohansen: AppleTV alone isn't great, but AppleTV + @boxee is great!

about 42 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:42:59 +0000 2009

johnbarta: just buy it chris! Even if you dont use it it could be a fancy drink holder

about 42 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:42:58 +0000 2009

iGeekW: AppleTV is not worth the money :P

about 42 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:43:05 +0000 2009

jefflundberg: A DELL Studio PC w/ Blu-ray and Windows Media Center Edition is much more interesting.

about 41 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:43:22 +0000 2009

benhigham: I guess that depends on your current setup. I think it appeals to a different audience.

about 41 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:43:28 +0000 2009

easy_way: there a waste of money i got one and its kinda useless

about 41 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:43:55 +0000 2009

LisaBarger: Yes, Chris. Yes you are.

about 41 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:43:57 +0000 2009

yesitsmedoug: I once walked into Apple and asked them Why I would want one. They didn't sell me on the idea so I also don't have or want one

about 40 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:44:14 +0000 2009

chrisutley: #AppleTV with @boxee is great. I rent a lot of movies from #Apple, and watch TV shows over Hulu.

about 40 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:44:16 +0000 2009

themacinjosh: no you're not, I don't feel like I'm missing much. All of the media is available whether you own an apple tv or not.

about 40 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:45:04 +0000 2009

TarasI: I don't think so. One of my friends has one and it's really not that useful, especially if you have Media Center Extensions.

about 39 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:45:34 +0000 2009

idarknight: you might be – between the hacks and the core functions, it is a device whose tipping point may have come

about 37 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:47:33 +0000 2009

anansie: Its cheaper than a mac mini and has boxee going for it , Also it's the only game in town for renting movies in hd on iTunes

about 35 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:49:23 +0000 2009

amarvin: i didn't feel that i was missing out on Apple TV until Boxee popped up. now i want to roll my own Atom-based version w/ boxee.

about 35 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:49:36 +0000 2009

kevinbriody: I bought an early model AppleTV. I'd call it “neat” but definitely not compelling. Cool to show family vids, some DL'd TV.

about 35 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:49:58 +0000 2009

jay1one: we might be the only two, but you are definitely not the only one.

about 34 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:50:18 +0000 2009

ahaslach: Functionality of AppleTV can be replicated/exceeded w/ a laptop and video cable. Not a compelling product.

about 34 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:50:20 +0000 2009

j_holtslander: Nope.

about 34 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:50:23 +0000 2009

ipodtouch15: I agree!:)

about 33 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:51:17 +0000 2009

wmchamberlain: Why would I buy a AppleTV when I can do more with a mac mini? Even the Cult of Mac would have a hard time explaining.

about 32 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:52:16 +0000 2009

calebh: nope I feel the same way

about 32 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:52:24 +0000 2009

schmenzer: Chris, I was a lot more interested before I started using Boxee.

about 31 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:53:22 +0000 2009

seanwolter: The true media hoarder has a mac mini and a drobo hooked up to his big screen

about 30 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:55:08 +0000 2009

mikekochansky: I agree. As much as I love Apple, I have little to no desire/need for AppleTV

about 29 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:55:28 +0000 2009

ricorick: Boxee has made mine more interesting and better.

about 28 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:56:52 +0000 2009

Zanoryt: Running Boxee on Apple TV is a compelling replacement for a cable connection. It's not 100% ideal, but Boxee is really awesome

about 27 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:57:40 +0000 2009

adamkmiec: I love mine – it's a fixture of our house

about 25 minutes ago

Thu Feb 05 23:59:23 +0000 2009

MicrosoftWin7: RT: ByronSmartMicrosoftWin7 Yeah my hacked Xbox1 W Media Center(720p) is far more intresting then Apple TV, + the 360

about 24 minutes ago

Fri Feb 06 00:00:18 +0000 2009

blogbloke: I'm with you Chris

about 24 minutes ago

Fri Feb 06 00:00:57 +0000 2009

JessLoebig: Well maybe it is because you have a TiVo ;)

about 23 minutes ago

Fri Feb 06 00:01:26 +0000 2009

cogwisewill: Well, if you get the atv flash and are able to put hulu on the appletv along with a other things… http://bit.ly/LDL8

about 23 minutes ago

Fri Feb 06 00:02:05 +0000 2009

RobinBoyWonders: I like it a lot

about 22 minutes ago

Fri Feb 06 00:02:25 +0000 2009

color_me_pink: You're not the only one. Until there is DVRcapability, I won't even consider it.

about 21 minutes ago

Fri Feb 06 00:03:35 +0000 2009

gurubrandon: Yes.. but Boxee makes that genre of devices very interesting. ( http://boxee.tv )

about 21 minutes ago

Fri Feb 06 00:03:41 +0000 2009

PassTheBoll: seeing as you can accomplish the same thing using less money, I won't get one. Just take a computer and connect it to the tv.

about 21 minutes ago

Fri Feb 06 00:03:57 +0000 2009

webdrifter: This frugal tech guy is all ATO man! No AppleTV, no DirecTV and no cable TV. Just a cheap Techno who has seen and likes HULU

about 20 minutes ago

Fri Feb 06 00:04:42 +0000 2009

gailelaine: I don't own an Apple TV because I just don't see the need. I own a Mac and I've looked at the Apple TV.

about 19 minutes ago

Fri Feb 06 00:05:11 +0000 2009

LoganPayne: I don't feel that like I'm missing out. But I do want one….to stop buying DVDs and discs…

about 16 minutes ago

Fri Feb 06 00:09:06 +0000 2009

Sebbbb: how isn't it intresting? it comes in a shiny apple box :P

about 15 minutes ago

Fri Feb 06 00:09:18 +0000 2009

sideswipe70: I feel the same way. It just seems like a glorified media server.

about 9 minutes ago

Fri Feb 06 00:15:37 +0000 2009

swichi293: I own everything apple, but I refuse to own the apple tv. It really is quite pointless

about 8 minutes ago

Fri Feb 06 00:16:29 +0000 2009

aaron_bennett: It's just not exciting enough for the price OR the inevitable inoperability with my other devices.. You are not alone.

about 7 minutes ago

Fri Feb 06 00:17:40 +0000 2009

What are your thoughts on Apple TV and the general state of DVRs?

Apple TV vs Every Other DVR