Brilliant stuff. Makes me want a QuadCore. I’ve been thinking about a Smart Codec idea too, one file that supports playback on multiple devices at multiple screen resolutions.

You have hit one thing though, consumer viewing preference. Everyone seems different. Some prefer to archive their own media, be able to retain rights to it and physically own it. For others cost becomes a factor and they settle on downloading or renting.

For the Apple TV to succeed it needs to strike a chord with all types of viewing habits. For those who are digital packrats, it needs storage space, and a vast array of available content. For the miserly user, it needs cheap rentals, cheap purchases but with more flexible viewing freedom (where and when to watch the video). There needs to be a one stop solution that appeases everyone, and I felt a purchase/subscription model satisfied that.

Purchasing allows users similar to you, to download to own their videos, and maintain them forever. Whereas users perhaps more like me, could subscribe to a show and borrow new episodes as they are released and delete them when watched. But I find myself in between. If I love something, I want access to it whenever and wherever I am. In that case movies become very similar to music. I need it, I need it now. And the miser in me says don’t buy it, so what do I have left to do? If network companies offered an EXTENSIVE archive of ALL their TV shows, movies, etc, for a monthly fee, I’d be satisfied. And I believe you could be too.

That being said, I really was hoping that Apple was making a seriously mad dash to online video in 2007, and I hoped this would be the last year I ever had to buy DVDs… but not so…

I’m not interested in a DVD player included, because the whole point for me is to get AWAY from DVDs and other “hard” media.

If I love a movie then I want to own it, and if I don’t bother seeing it in the theatre then I probably wont ever bother seeing it - therefore I rarely rent anything, and would prefer to buy and own the movie, TV show, etc. from iTunes though my Apple TV.

Yes there will be download times sure, but those will eventually be less than the time it takes me to rip & handbrake a DVD currently. (My QuadCore G5 can handle about 6 or 8 movies overnight - so I’ve got over 100 movies I now watch on my Apple TV)

What I also want to see is a “smart” codec that allows you to own one HD version of a movie, and have it somehow be smart enough for lower end (iPod, iPhone) devices to play the same file.

I too hope to see the Apple TV move to the forefront in 2008, but after 2007’s slow pace I’m not holding my breath…

confused

Would you rather pay extra for the included DVD player in an Apple TV, or just upgrade to a Mac Mini and stick with FrontRow? Honestly I feel most consumers would rather just do that, and it wouldn’t be in Apples interest do so. But if you’re interested in still retaining DVD functionality on your Apple TV be sure to check out Handbrake.

Same goes for Apple TV - I own one - it’s a great concept and great technology, but just like the iPhone - with a mediocre delivery. The first Apple TV I bought - crashed within 2 minutes of plugging it in. I got another one, which works well and demonstrates the technology, but is still an average product when it comes to useability. For instance:

1. every time you put it to sleep, you have to reconnect to your wireless network and there is no way for the device to automatically do that and remember your network password. This is a pain!
2. out of the blue once in a while the Apple TV stops playback. Just stops - in the middle of a song or a movie, whether you play it over WiFi or directly from the Apple TV.

So, while all Apple technologies are revolutionary and they definitely are at the forefront of the technological revolution, they need to work out the kinks and finer points in how the technology is being delivered to the consumers, i.e. usability and reliability of their existing products. I’d like them to improve that first, before devising a portable spaceship that may not fly all that well.