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At the end of March, we announced the giveaway of an Apple TV. Requirements for entry were pretty simple: You had to follow both myself and The Frugal Geek on Twitter, and send out a Tweet of your own. We actually had a LOT of entries, y’all – more than a thousand of them!

There are a lot of things you can do with this gorgeous little device. Turn your television into a photo album. Listen to your music. Watch YouTube videos and listen to podcasts or Internet radio through your home speakers. Watch Netflix movies and television in HD. Rent your favorite shows on the spot – commercial free – for less than a buck per episode. (These are available the day after they air.) And of course, with the Apple TV you have instant access to the hottest new movies… usually the SAME DAY they release to DVD in stores.

Matt and I hooked up on Skype to do this giveaway, and I recorded the conversation using Call Recorder. It’s not a free application, but it does work very well. It’s simple to use: install the app and record and stop buttons will appear in your Skype window. You will have the ability to record video calls with picture-in-picture or split-screen mode! The files are saved as QuickTime movies, but you can convert them to MP3 files quickly. Drag your movie into the “Convert to MP3″ utility within the app and it will automagically convert the file for you. You can then email it to someone or share it via a website.

When Matt came to me with an interest in doing a giveaway, I jumped at the chance. We announced it with a video, and received some amount of negativity from the community. Most of this came from our International audience. They weren’t happy to be left out. We had to explain – repeatedly – that our hands were tied. Giveaways are governed by various country laws, and there’s nothing we can do to change those obviously.

With nearly 1100 entries, Matt’s Twitter account quickly gained hundreds of new followers. My account even received a few new subscribers, which blows my mind. To have this type of positive feedback – and entries for the giveaway – made the negativity worth having to deal with. We want to try to do a monthly giveaway, and are going to work hard to try and accommodate the International folks.

This entire giveaway came about when Matt was visiting his local Fry’s store. He noticed some silly Darth Vader lamps (which I happen to love!) which made him think of me. As he wandered into the next aisle – the Apple product aisle – he remembered how welcoming and accepting our community has been. He’s been blogging full time for a few months now on the Lockergnome Frugal Geek blog, and has submitted a few excellent videos to our YouTube channel. All of his work is full of money-saving tips for geeks… something we can all use.

Matt realized there’s no better way to say thank you than with a sweet piece of hardware. The Apple TV weighs only a half an ounce, but it packs some serious punch. You’ll find a lovely A4 CPU – the same chip that runs your iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. There’s a 6-watt power supply and a slew of ports: HDMI2, Audio, Ethernet and Micro USB slot (which Apple says is for service and support).

I was all for this opportunity, since Matt is such an active contributing member of our community. I love that Matt helps people save money – and time. I constantly Tweet out coupons, deals and even links to freebies of all types. Some may accuse me of spam, but I really do enjoy helping people save money. There’s value we provide – beyond the gifts.

Matt collected all of the names – just under 1100 of them – of the people who entered the giveaway. He put that list into the Random Number Generator site and a winner was chosen!

Congratulations to Casey Bryan from North Hollywood, California! You have just won yourself an Apple TV!

Thank you to everyone for participating. Keep your eyes peeled for our next giveaway.

Apple TV Giveaway Winner and Money-Saving Geek Tips

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Streaming content into your home is more than just some passing fad. Thousands of people have already “cut the cable cord” in favor of set-top boxes such as the Apple TV. Using a device like this gives you more control over the content you are watching. It’s also cost effective – it will cost far less than traditional cable or satellite programming. The Apple TV is a fantastic device – and this one could be yours.

This tiny little black box (it’s just under 4″ square, sits about an inch high off the table and weighs just .6 ounces!) packs a lot of punch. Inside, you’ll find the A4 CPU, the same chip that powers the iPhone 4, iPad, and iPod touch. There’s a built-in 6-watt universal power supply and several ports: HDMI2, Optical Audio, Ethernet, IR receiver and a Micro-USB slot that Apple claims is for service and support.

It supports a slew of different formats. For video, you have:

• H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats.
• MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats.
• Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format.

Audio files supported include HE-AAC (V1), AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV; Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound pass-through. And for photos, you can browse anything ending with .JPEG, .GIF and .TIFF.

So what can you DO with an Apple TV? I’m so glad you asked! Turn your TV into an HD photo album. Listen to your extensive music collection. Browse and play YouTube videos, watch your favorite HD podcasts, and listen to Internet radio through your home entertainment speakers. Watch Netflix movies and television on the device in HD and with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound when available. Rent your favorite TV shows on the spot, commercial free and in HD for just 99¢ per episode as soon as the day after they are aired. And of course, with the Apple TV, you get instant access to all of the best movies – usually the same day they are released to DVD.

Are you drooling yet? Are you ready to win?! Anyone in the United States is eligible to enter. I apologize to those of you in other countries. International laws and restrictions prohibit us from running contests worldwide.

Jump over to your Twitter account and make sure you are following the Lockergnome account as well as the one for the Frugal Geek. Once you’re following both of us, send out a Tweet stating the following: LockerGnome is Giving Away an Apple TV http://bit.ly/fcyJRE @LockerGnome @FrugalGeek. The giveaway is open from now until April 15th. One winner will be chosen at random who meets all qualifications laid out in this paragraph.

Are you using a set-top box? Which one do you prefer – and why?

Giveaway of an Apple TV

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You may have jailbroken your Apple iPhone or iPod touch, but have you thought of jailbreaking your Apple TV? Reza talks this week about doing just that. While you may be happy enough simply being able to access your iTunes content, you could be doing so much more. Jailbreaking isn’t for everyone, but Reza is dedicated to giving you the information you need to make a solid decision on whether doing this to your device is right for you. Are you getting the most out of the piece of hardware you purchased?

Reza’s Apple TV 2G is jailbroken using GreenPois0n. In order to perform this task, you’re going to need a micro USB cable. Unplug the power from the back of the Apple TV 2G and put the micro into the back and pop the USB end into your computer. Place the television into recovery mode by holding down the Menu and Play buttons together for about eight seconds. Once the little white light begins to flash, you will know you are in recovery mode and you’re able to begin your jailbreaking process.

GreenPosi0n will automagically ask if your device is the Apple TV. Once you indicate that it is – poof! You’re jailbroken. Seriously… it’s that simple. Once that process has completed, you can head into your TV and set up some custom mods and tweaks which will blow away your previous experience with the device.

The first thing you’re going to want to check out is NitoTV. This app integrates with your device seamlessly to give you a viewing experience like nothing you have ever seen before. The app allows you to play movie files in nearly any format you can think of. It even will support subtitles, which is something we’re all still hoping Apple themselves will do. NitoTV also lets you play your DVD content right from the disc, a ripped ISO or a mounted USB DVD drive. Heck, mount the ISO on your network drive and watch at your leisure.

You’ll notice that Reza has some seriously cool backgrounds on that baby. He didn’t bother grabbing anything from iTunes, of course. He used a little tool called Cyberduck. This is a fantastic FTP client for Mac OS X. Reza just SSHd into that bad boy, placed a folder in the root directory and told the machine to play those pictures as a screensaver.

Reza feels that the ability to use a Webkit-based browser puts the Apple TV on the same playing field as a Google TV. He can quickly surf the web and insert apps whenever he chooses with just a click of a button. He truly feels that by jailbreaking, the Apple offering can give its Google counterpart a serious run for its money.

How to Jailbreak an Apple TV 2G

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

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The Roku HD set top box works with virtually any TV, offering HDMI for HDTV or composite connections for standard def televisions. The Roku HD supports 720p video and connects to the Internet via WiFi.

Kelly Clay does an unboxing of the Roku HD here, showing you what’s inside the box. As an Apple TV alternative, the Roku HD costs less and works with many content providers not compatible with Apple TV

Much like with Apple, the Roku HD packaging is very minimal. There aren’t a lot of extra things rattling around in the box. You get what you need in as small of a box as can be used. No muss – no fuss.

Unboxing the Roku HD

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Shenzhen Geniatech Co. Ltd presents some interesting Android Powered Set-top-boxes. These could be sold for around $100 like the Apple TV or Roku box, but they just run the full Android OS including support for lots of video codecs.

While Android is not yet really optimized for use on a TV with a remote control, this type of device will support the Google TV software (in this case, without HDMI pass-through overlay features) pretty soon once Google releases that software source code.

This video was filmed by Charbax of ARMdevices at CES 2011.

Android Set-Top Box

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This is Google TV. I am more than grateful to the team at Google for sending this unit to me, and for showing me how I can help all of YOU win one for yourself. I have to tell you – this piece of hardware is simply stunning. The quality is far beyond what I had expected. Besides, what could be cooler than watching YouTube videos on a big screen television?

Google TV is a new platform for television that combines your normal TV programming with a full web browser, Android apps and a simple way to search through all of it. It’s even easy to switch between TV and the web without having to change inputs on your television set.

With Google Chrome and Adobe Flash Player 10.1, Google TV lets you access everything on the web. Watch your favorite web videos, view photos, play games, check fantasy scores, chat with friends, and do everything else you’re accustomed to doing online.

If you’re a video producer like I am, you’re going to love this. Google TV gives web video stars the change to be a TV star. Google TV users can even bookmark your YouTube channel onto their TV home screen. This makes your content appear one click away from whatever they are already watching.

Google TV will come pre-loaded with apps like Netflix, Twitter, CNBC, Pandora, Napster, NBA Game Time, Amazon Video On Demand and Gallery. Starting early next year, apps from Android Market will work on Google TV as well. As I already said in the video above, the quality and clarity of this Sony television is just – fantastic. I cannot imagine anything better to surf the web with, including my beloved Mac Pro and dual 30″ monitors. This TV set puts those to shame. Seriously.

I’m sure you are ready to know how you can win one of these for yourself, aren’t you? Google is graciously giving YOU the chance to win. The contest ends on December 22nd, so you’ll have to hurry. 100 people will win a 46″ Sony Google Internet TV on January 20th.

To enter, simply create a video describing why you’re excited about watching the Internet on TV. You can upload your entry as soon as you’re ready – and please make sure you’ve read the official contest rules. Your video cannot be longer than one minute, so be creative with your time – and good luck to everyone!

Thanks again to Google. This Sony in my office is now my new best friend. Why are YOU excited about Google TV?

Google TV vs Apple TV

Everyone loves free stuff, including me. Apple is reportedly sending out free movie codes to many of the registered iTunes users. There has been no official announcement about this. There doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason as to who can receive a code. The free movie rental promotion lets you rent one of the 8,500 compatible movies and you have 30 days to start watching and 24 hours to finish.

You can watch iTunes movies on your iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Apple TV or computer (including a Windows machine!) at any time you wish – and from anywhere you choose. iTunes doesn’t charge late fees. There are no return envelopes to worry about. You don’t have to wait in line or join a queue. You can even use your iTunes Store credit to rent movies or to purchase movies. One of the coolest things about the iTunes movie rental service is that you can move the movie between devices as many times as you wish during the rental period. However, the movie can only exist on one device at a time.

Renting a movie is as simple as purchasing music or apps. Simply choose your movie, purchase it and download to iTunes. Connect your device and transfer the movie to it… and then enjoy. You don’t need to sign up for a separate account or service like you would if you use Netflix or another rental company. You likely already have iTunes for one reason or another. Why not use it to rent your movies, as well?

Free iTunes Movie

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I received my Apple TV the other day, and decided to unbox it in front of the live audience. Yes, I know that the television currently in my home office sucks. If you have recommendations for a new one, I’d love to hear them.

I appreciate that the Apple TV is black and silver. It matches my home office perfectly. Poor Wicket wants a Google TV but has to be patient for a while longer. The remote app is nice for both the Apple TV and my iPhone. I will likely use my phone as the remote.

Unboing was pretty simple… pull out the device, the instruction book and the remote and you’re done. If you’re planning to get an Apple TV, how soon will you have one? If you’re not getting one – why not? I’m curious to hear what everyone in the community is planning to do, and why.

Apple TV has been redesigned to be small in size but big on entertainment. Rent from the largest selection of HD movies — many available the same day they come out on DVD. Watch Netflix titles instantly. Rent TV shows, commercial free in HD. And stream photos and music from your computer to your widescreen TV. Best of all, Apple TV is just $99.

The Apple TV is very portable… enough so that I will carry it with me wherever I want to use it in my house. I will likely also bring it along when I travel somewhere. Using iTunes with it to find movies is actually pretty simple and intuitive. The prices are comparable (and often cheaper) than what you’ll find anywhere else.

Have you tried an Apple TV yet? What are your thoughts?

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Apple TV Initial Impressions

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

Apple sent out invitations to the press this morning, asking them to attend a special event on September 1st. There’s zero information in the invitation on the nature of the event, and the only hint is the photo of the guitar with the Apple-logo shaped cut out.

There has been much speculation floating around in recent weeks, with everyone trying to figure out what may be coming out of Cupertino. Some rumors claim we will see the unveiling of a new television episode rental service through iTunes. Others say there will be a new version of Apple TV and a refreshed iPod Touch model. A small percentage of people who haven’t moved beyond Antennagate yet insist that Jobs will discuss some miracle cure they have found for the death grip issue.

Your guess is as good as ours at this point. We are all going to have to wait until Wednesday to find out what glorious new things Steve and his team have for us this time around.

Apple Special Announcement Event on September 1st

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Someone in the live chat room asked me last night what my thoughts are about Google TV… bringing the Google experience to your television instead of just the Internet. It makes sense to me, given that Google owns YouTube. They are working with manufacturers to bring the Google TV experience into your homes around the world. Some people compare Apple TV to Google TV, and I don’t feel that’s exactly fair.

Apple has their content locked up in their Universe, much like iTunes itself. Google is more like “HEY! It’s out there, so let’s throw it in here!” It’s a more open approach to deliver content to your doorstep. The more interesting idea to me is Clicker.TV.

If you head over there right now, you’ll see a web experience that runs right within your web browser. You can navigate shows using your keyboard, instead of a mouse. The idea is that you could use a device connected to your television and control your experience without having to use an actual keyboard. What Clicker is doing is aggregating all of these shows you can find across the Internet. It’s an application that doesn’t rely on Flash. It runs off of HTML5, which is more open. Some of the videos themselves may run off of Flash, but not the interface itself. If you’re wondering what a Google TV experience may be like, check this out first. I have a feeling they’re going to be pretty close.

If anything, I think Google TV would compare favorably to Boxee. I expect a lot of development over the coming months (and even years) from Google with this idea, and I have a feeling it’s something that could end up in many of our homes before all is said and done.

What are your thoughts on Google TV, or even Apple TV? Do you feel these types of services are what we will be using in the future, instead of traditional cable or satellite programs?

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Google TV Thoughts

I recently wrote a blog post talking about the Apple TV. I just don’t get what all the fuss is about. There are very few updates, and virtually no awesome features. There’s no WOW factor involved. I had to get some other opinions on this matter. It’s not just me… right? What do you think… love it or hate it? Take it or leave it? Buy it or skip it?

Am I the Only One Who Doesn’t Feel Like They are Missing Out on Anything by Not Owning an Apple TV? They are not that Interesting!

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

Apple’s iTunes Podcasting Team (nameless, faceless people) sent me the following tips for getting along with Apple TV:

If you’re encoding your video podcast at 320×240, please increase the resolution to either 640×480 or 640×360 (depending on the aspect ratio of your source files). Why? Because video podcasts at this resolution look great on Apple TV and still port to video iPods. Lower resolution podcasts might also work on both platforms, but they don’t look nearly as good on a widescreen TV. As always, make sure to test any encoding changes you make to ensure device compatibility. QuickTime 7.1′s “Export to iPod” function will ensure that a video file is encoded at a width of 640 and is iPod-compatible.

It’s best not to create two different podcast feeds for different resolutions. By doing so, you dilute the popularity of your podcast and reduce exposure in our charts. It’s better to have one feed high in the charts than two that are lower.

If your source files are 16:9, stick with that aspect ratio. Don’t add letterboxing to make them 4:3. By doing so, you prevent the video from expanding to fill a 16:9 widescreen TV and instead end up with black space on all four sides. Also, your original source files should be at least 640 pixels wide.

Of course these are just recommendations. We understand that there are good reasons for 320×240 (bandwidth bills) and 720p (looks fantastic). Do whatever makes the most sense for your show. For more information on formatting video, see the recently updated spec.

Recommendations for Formatting Video Podcasts