Full Review - Serious Problems
Stepping Outside the RDF
Despite the fact that the Apple TV has a number of excellent qualities, there are a few trouble spots that really should be brought to light. To ignore these areas would be nothing short of irresponsible. It is safe to assume that Apple could provide firmware or software updates that would solve most of these problems:
Trouble Area 1: Hot, Hot, Hot
One of the first things I noticed about the Apple TV is the fact that it gets very hot. Remember the whole MacBook Pro heat issue in early 2006? The Apple TV gets that hot. I recorded an average surface temperature of 110 degrees F when syncing or playing video. It was so hot that I was concerned about it damaging wooden, painted or plastic surfaces.
There are no external vents or fans on the Apple TV. While it seems that there may be a CPU fan on the inside of the Apple TV, heat from the unit escapes by dissipating through the aluminum and plastic body. It seems that with high external temperatures like 110F (undoubtedly hotter inside), the cooling process should be assisted with a few side vents or at least a tiny side- or rear-mounted fan.
In my opinion, the Apple TV should NOT be used in a small or tightly enclosed area with insufficient ventilation. Even more importantly, nothing should be placed on top of the Apple TV at all, ever. The insulating effect could exacerbate temperatures and prove dangerous.
Trouble Area 2: Power Switch
I don't know about you, but I've got dozens of gadgets, media devices, TVs and other technology all around my home and my office. No matter how huge and expensive or tiny and insignificant, each of my media or tech toys has a power switch. I'm concerned about the environment. I'm even more concerned about the rediculous injustice I call "monthly electric bills". I like to be able to turn devices off, or at least put them into a suspend/sleep mode.
The Apple TV does not have an on/off switch. It just sits there running hot. The Apple TV can be put into sleep mode only with the Apple remote - by holding the play/pause button for about 5 seconds. Even in sleep mode, the Apple TV remains warm-to-hot and parts inside are still functioning. If you put the Apple TV to sleep and later put your ear to the top of the cover, you can clearly hear the hard drive or CPU fan still spinning. The Apple TV's sleep mode is more of a 'resting' mode.
The only way to fully turn the Apple TV off for zero-power-consumption is to unplug it from the wall or from the surge protector that it rightfully should be plugged into.
Trouble Area 3: Cheap-o Cheap on the Cables
The Apple TV does not come with any video cables. After spending $299 for the Apple TV, you'll have to spend $30 or more for a good HDMI or Component cable package at Apple stores. Some retailers are charging as much as $100 for virtually the same cable. HDMI and Component cables are selling for as little as $1.99 on eBay (I ordered a set). If these cables are going for as little $1.99, then why can't Apple just include one or both? What's $4 worth of cable, especially when it makes the customer feel like he or she has gotten a great deal? It irks me that some companies skimp on the simplest little thing to save a few dollars.
Trouble Area 4: Apple Remote
When navigating the menus on the Apple TV interface, I noticed that my MacBook Pro, which was sitting nearby, was responding to the Apple remote commands. Front Row was opening and closing accidentally while I was selecting menus on the Apple TV. To solve this problem, I scrolled down to the Settings directory on the Apple TV and paired the remote with the Apple TV. This limits the Apple remote to controlling only the Apple TV, not every Front Row-enabled computer with an infrared port nearby. Also, the Apple remote does not control audio levels for content playing from the Apple TV. Your TV's remote will be required for changing volume. Woops.
Trouble Area 5: Officially, HDTV or EDTV Required
According to Apple, the Apple TV needs to be connected to an EDTV or HDTV to work properly. For most consumers around the world, buying an Apple TV would necessitate buying a new TV set as well. Of course, component video can be downgraded to RCA video using a conversion box, but this downgrade nullifies one of the primary reasons to use an Apple TV - high def video content would no longer be high-def.
There are a number of non-HD TV sets sold that have component video inputs. The Apple TV reportedly displays video on those non-HD televisions, but the content clearly won't be HD.
Trouble Area 6: Format Wars
One of the popular uses for the Apple TV is to bring internet and home-grown video content away from the computer and onto a proper television. There are quite a number of formats that video files can be found in - many of which are not recognized by the Apple TV. What are people going to do with the collections of WMV, DivX, AVI or even FLV/SWF files? Unless users are willing or able to hack the Apple TV (which has already been done), they'll need to convert each of those files to one of the limited video formats supported by the Apple TV (which are h.264 and MPEG-4 video files).
Converting these countless video files likely means buying software that will convert the files for you. This means added expense. Even if you find a free video converter (and there are plenty of them out there), you'll still need to take the time and effort to convert everything over. And converting files almost always involves loss of quality. Apple TV can't be everything to everyone, but I would have expected a little broader range of supported video formats.
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by Stacey on May 5, 2008:
“We loved Apple TV so much, we now have two... one for each floor of the house. The larger size is a must, especially with the movie download capability, from the couch. That said, here's what I would suggest to make users like us even happier: - allow...” More...