The WOW! Buzz

Last week we discussed perhaps the most ubiquitous video server technology out there–the DVR.  This week, we’ll discuss Apple TV, a fairly mature video server/client technology that has fairly widespread deployment throughout the country.  Again, the basic functions of a video server are to record/download content, store, catalog, and retrieve for viewing.  External to this basic definition, there are a host of feature sets that are attached to various approaches in this space, and Apple TV is no exception.

Apple TV meets the basic definition of a video server, but it can also function as a client in that it has the ability to tie into video content from several computer systems (which then act as the servers) to which it is linked via wi-fi or ethernet.  Apple gives the user access to any video content nested in iTunes (on either a PC or Mac platform), plus YouTube and content from the iTunes Store.  The device gives you the choice of either streaming from or syncing with a primary computer system, plus gives streaming access to all content on additional computers on the network as well.   This includes music, video, podcasts, photos, and other digital content that a user might wish to access on the primary theatre/sound system in the home.

In typical Apple fashion, the interface is intuitive, and set up is pretty easy.  As alluded to, the Apple TV can be a self contained server for a single video system, or it can act as a client for content stored elsewhere on computer systems in the home.  The one thing that it can’t do is record “off air” like a DVR or TIVO.  It is primarily designed as a portal for commercial free, costed content out of the Apple Store, or to access other digital content from YouTube or other mpeg-4 files stored locally within the home on various computers.  Video quality is excellent (particularly in HD), and the user experience is very straightforward and satisfying.

Additional specific features include:

1)  Ability to do full discrete Dolby 5.1 sound, if the source material was properly encoded.  (most of Apple’s “available for purchase or rent” content is 5.1, but other sources may not be)

2)  Full wi-fi capability.  If your local home network is 802.11(b,g,n) compatible, no additional wiring is needed to either stream or download content from local computers or the internet.

3)  That famously simple Apple interface–Very simple remote operation with a handheld the size of three postage stamps laid back to back.  Also, there’s a nice (free) app out there that let’s you control AppleTV with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

Some have described Apple TV as an iPod on steroids.  I don’t necessarily agree with that assessment, but I do wish that Apple would do more with this product.  Here is my specific wish list:

1)  Support for Netflix and other video streaming sites available on the web.

2)  Support for 1080p content.  At present, Apple TV only supports 720p content–still great video, but technology marches on.  Even my home videos aren’t in 720p anymore.

3)  Support for add on QAM or ATSC tuner(s) that would allow recording from linear broadcasts.  This basic DVR functionality would allow users more flexibility in content choices.

I suspect that my suggestions are antithetical to Apple’s business model surrounding this product.  But I’d still like to see it happen.  Steve Jobs, are you listening?

Next week, DLNA servers…..