macnn
09/17/2008, 10:05am, EDT
Wednesday, September 17th
Apple TV update to enable direct HD TV downloads?
Apple is already at work on an update to deliver HD TV shows to the Apple TV, anonymous sources claim. The release of iTunes 8 brought with it HD-quality shows, which can be viewed either on a computer or an Apple TV; the latter device cannot download HD shows directly however, despite supporting the option for movies. A software update for Apple TVs is said to be in progress, which may be necessary for multiple reasons.
Although the Apple TV first needs the option of HD TV purchases added to its menus, major issue may be the need to decouple HD content from SD. At the iTunes Store, users who buy HD shows also receive SD copies, mainly for the purposes of syncing with an iPod or iPhone. Keeping these would be impractical with the Apple TV, as the 40GB version might rapidly run out of available space.
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Piddly changes
I love my AppleTV, but Apple could do SO much more with the device. If they would make it the iPod Touch for your home theatre, it would be 1000 times more attractive.
Allow wireless keyboards(or the iPod Touch or iPhone vKeyboard) to work with the device, add the Safari browser, App Store compatibility, game controller similar to Wii (or, again, the iPod Touch, iPhone or even the new Nano), larger hard drive, recording features, etc.
Apple needs to accelerate AppleTV's development. It's an awesome device. I use it in place of Cable but would like to see more interactive elements added. If Apple only adds App Store and wireless keyboard support, I would be happy.
Video chat would also be a nice addition!
RE: Piddly
Download the Remote app for your iPhone it allows you to type using the iPhone's keyboard. All you have to do is launch the app and once you select an input field on your Apple TV, such as a Search field, the Apple keyboard will automatically appear on your iPhone.
release date/widgets
would be interested in the timeframe for the update... i think implementation of widgets would change the way peeps watch the tube! check out what yahoo is doing with them..
http://connectedtv.yahoo.com/ - HURRY UP APPLE!
re: re: Piddly
Very cool! I don't own an iPhone or iPod Touch but hope to get a Touch as soon as possible.
Great to know Remote app already has one of the features I'm looking for! Thanks!