Frootloop
Technology Fan
Interesting piece on the state of Apple TV and the limitations of outputs from the device.
Personally, I think that the lack of support for older style TV's is limiting the market for the device. Indeed, how difficult would it have been to include at least an s-video port on it? Ok so the quality wouldnt have been as hot on s-video devices, but at least they would have been catered for.
In the UK we have a pretty good system that is produced by BT (British Telecom) called BT Vision. Its provided free of charge with their top Broadband package which also includes a Homehub wireless router and a VoIP telephone which also doubles as a normal DECT phone with the ability to switch between the VoIP line and the standard line. The BT Vision box itself is a Philips unit that is based upon the Microsoft Media Room system and provides the normal PVR features, EPG, twin DVB tuners, a 160gb HDD and Content On Demand via ADSL. Although the content available (via both on demand and DVB services) is still standard definition only, the unit has HDMI ports availble on the back and will upscale content to 1080i. However there are also s-video and Scart ports available for use on older TV systems.
Granted, there have been some users with initial problems in set up of this system, but I have found it to be excelent for delivering on demand content to my appartment for which Cable and Satelite is not available. HD content will be impractical on the current ADSL network as the speed simply isnt up to delivering such large volumes of data in a streaming format. BT is in the process of upgrading all its exchanges to ADSL2+ which should offer speeds of up to 24mbps. Although, this will probably not include FTTH and may take up to 2011 to impliment across the majority of the UK :S
I truely believe that most of the media and information services that we receive in our homes can be delivered via ADSL (or whatever variant eventually replaces it), but this will take time and suffer with various issues until it becomes as commonplace as the TV itself.
Personally, I think that the lack of support for older style TV's is limiting the market for the device. Indeed, how difficult would it have been to include at least an s-video port on it? Ok so the quality wouldnt have been as hot on s-video devices, but at least they would have been catered for.
In the UK we have a pretty good system that is produced by BT (British Telecom) called BT Vision. Its provided free of charge with their top Broadband package which also includes a Homehub wireless router and a VoIP telephone which also doubles as a normal DECT phone with the ability to switch between the VoIP line and the standard line. The BT Vision box itself is a Philips unit that is based upon the Microsoft Media Room system and provides the normal PVR features, EPG, twin DVB tuners, a 160gb HDD and Content On Demand via ADSL. Although the content available (via both on demand and DVB services) is still standard definition only, the unit has HDMI ports availble on the back and will upscale content to 1080i. However there are also s-video and Scart ports available for use on older TV systems.
Granted, there have been some users with initial problems in set up of this system, but I have found it to be excelent for delivering on demand content to my appartment for which Cable and Satelite is not available. HD content will be impractical on the current ADSL network as the speed simply isnt up to delivering such large volumes of data in a streaming format. BT is in the process of upgrading all its exchanges to ADSL2+ which should offer speeds of up to 24mbps. Although, this will probably not include FTTH and may take up to 2011 to impliment across the majority of the UK :S
I truely believe that most of the media and information services that we receive in our homes can be delivered via ADSL (or whatever variant eventually replaces it), but this will take time and suffer with various issues until it becomes as commonplace as the TV itself.
