WGS has looked at a number of digital media receivers, but we’ve yet to review Apple’s so called “hobby”, the Apple TV. Steve Jobs has gone on the record to state that the Apple TV is not yet part of the company’s core (no pun intended) business but it’s a product that they continue to tinker with from time to time, most recently with the release of a 3.0 software update for the product.

Perhaps more interestingly, a thriving community of developers has hacked the Apple TV and continue to add improvements and new features to the product. Today’s review will look at the vanilla offering from Apple and over the next few weeks, we’ll look at some of those community enhancements to see if Apple TV really is a viable digital media receiver for your home, or just a half-baked Californian hobby.

What is Apple TV?

Apple TV is a networked media player, which can playback music, video and photos from its internal 160GB hard drive, a PC with iTunes as well as stream online content on demand. If I was from Apple, I’d say:

Apple TV gives you access to an easy-to-navigate world of entertainment. Rent HD movies. Buy HD movies and get iTunes Extras. Buy HD TV shows. Listen to your iTunes music and Internet radio. Even show off your photos. Connect one HDMI cable and, just like that, your TV becomes more than just a TV.

Unlike every other digital media receiver you’ll try, Apple TV is of course hard wired into the Apply eco-system, so it’s tethered to iTunes. Now, I’ve got to tell you, I hate iTunes with a vengeance – I’m forced to use it to get content on to my iPhone and I find it slow, bloated, unwieldy and a pain to use.

What the Apple TV doesn’t do (inexplicably) is serve media from attached network storage devices – it’ll only connect to a PC with iTunes. Which sucks. That said, I’m prepared to give it a go with Apple TV to see what content is available for downloading and streaming, because Apple say:

HD movies. HD TV shows. HD podcasts. HD YouTube videos. With Apple TV, they’re all available on demand. You get instant access to newly released Hollywood hits and popular classic and library titles, including a large selection of on-demand HD movies. And now you can also purchase and watch your favourite TV shows in brilliant HD one day after they air. Or enjoy thousands of free HD podcasts or YouTube videos from around the world.

So, unlike most other digital media receivers around, we may find some decent, high quality video we actually give a stuff about watching. Of course, Apple also promise to show all of your photos on TV, and provide access to your whole music collection through the TV – that is, as long as it’s in the iTunes library.

With Apple TV, iTunes syncs wirelessly to your TV, so your entire music collection can now be played on the best speakers in your house. Use the Genius feature to create new playlists or Genius Mixes, or check out thousands of Internet radio stations that play every genre imaginable. You can also browse and buy music videos on the iTunes Store. And sync songs and videos purchased on Apple TV to your computer and iPod or iPhone.

Your photos deserve a bigger stage. Apple TV puts them on your widescreen TV, where everybody can see them in stunning HD. Select My Photos to browse photos from your Mac or PC. If you use iPhoto, you can find photos organized by Events or Faces. You can also access your Flickr photos or MobileMe Gallery. And you no longer have to huddle around a computer screen to see YouTube videos and podcasts, even in HD — Apple TV plays them big and bold on your TV’s spectacular screen.

Before we even get into the pack, let’s firstly take a step back and review the pricing. Check back at the top of the page and you’ll see a UK price of £219 and a US price of $229. That equates to a £70 premium for the privilege of buying in the UK. Not a great start, guys. Devices like the Popcorn Hour C-200 at $299 offer a wider range of features and formats, but without the internal 160Gb storage so the US pricing is reasonable. For the UK, there are definitely better value options out there.

What’s in the Box?

Ah, the famous Apple box opening experience – actually, the Apple TV isn’t too dramatically packaged, with a simple sleeve revealing a black box which opens up to present the Apple TV device itself and a small remote control.

Annoyingly, for such a premium priced package, Apple have decided to exclude any AV cables and look all you want, but you won’t find an Ethernet cable either. So when they say “Connect one HDMI cable and, just like that, your TV becomes more than just a TV”, what they mean is “Buy a HDMI cable ‘cos we’re to cheap to throw one in”. That’s an unacceptably poor customer experience, Apple. Fortunately, WGS has a few HDMIs and Ethernet cables stashed away, so no need for us to traipse all the way back to the Apple Store to buy high margin cables, unlike thousands of other customers, I’m sure!

First Looks

White polycarbonate? Check. Brushed aluminium? Check. Small white LED to denote power? Check. Okay, you know the score – the Apple TV looks great. Give them their dues, Apple are untouched when it comes to industrial design aesthetics and the Apple TV is small enough to tuck away in your TV cabinet but cute enough to leave out on show.

You’ll be hard pressed to find any buttons and controls on the hardware itself, but flip the Apple TV around and you’ll find a host of AV connectors at the rear, including HDMI, Component Video, Analogue and Optical Digital Audio ports. A power connector, USB 2.0 port and Ethernet (10/100, not Gigabit) socket completes the line up. If you don’t have your lounge wired for data, then the Apple TV comes with an 802.11n wireless connection built in. Allegedly good enough for video (as long as you have an 802.11n router) but I’d always play it safe and go for a powerline data connection.

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Hands On: Apple TV

In addition to increasing the number of TV tuners from two to four in Windows 7 Media Center, Microsoft has announced that Windows 7 Media Center users in the US, with the blessing of CableLabs, will now be able add CableCARD tuners (e.g. ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner) to their PC without any hacking. What’s more, Windows 7 will integrate “Copy Freely” or CF functionality to allow users to transfer/stream CF-marked digital cable recordings to other PCs, devices, and portable media players.

CableCARD is the US cable industry’s standard for getting digital content to supported devices such as TVs, and in a few rare cases PCs, instead of having to rely on a dedicated cable box. Previous PC options saw very limited uptake due to Microsoft only allowing OEM PC builders to create CableCARD compatible computers.

Things have now changed with Windows 7 Media Center being able to natively handle a CableCARD providing the hardware can decode all that digital goodness.

Press release details:

ATLANTA — Sept. 9, 2009 — Today at CEDIA EXPO 2009, Microsoft Corp. discussed key Windows Media Center features for Windows 7 and announced a series of initiatives that enhance the digital cable experience in Windows Media Center. With the addition of native support for additional international broadcast TV standards, including QAM and ATSC, there will now be support for switched digital video (SDV), a new tool that will make it possible for end customers to add a digital cable tuner with CableCARD to their PC, and for existing digital cable tuner with CableCARD customers to enjoy more portability for digital cable TV that is marked as “copy freely” (CF). In addition, Microsoft and the Media Center Integrator Alliance (MCIA) announced the winner of the 2009 Windows Media Center Ultimate Install Contest, showcasing the many ways Windows Media Center can be used in a whole-home solution.

“We’re continuing to work on creating opportunities for partners that will enable great entertainment experiences on the PC,” said Craig Eisler, corporate vice president of entertainment client software for the TV, Video & Music Business at Microsoft. “Consumers understand that having access to content via the PC is critical when it comes to entertainment experiences, and with these announcements, we’re underscoring our broader commitment to deliver a rich experience with Windows Media Center.”

Switched Digital Video (SDV) Support Added for Windows Media Center

In response to customer requests and cable providers’ deployment of SDV, Microsoft now supports SDV in Windows Media Center for Windows 7. In conjunction with a device known as a tuning adapter, supplied by a customer’s cable provider, Windows Media Center and a digital cable tuner with CableCARD will be able to tune to SDV channels. Customers can enjoy SDV broadcasts on PCs running Windows Media Center in Windows 7 and a digital cable tuner with CableCARD.

End Customers Can Now Add Digital Cable Tuners With CableCARD to Their PCs

Microsoft and CableLabs announced that customers will now be able to add digital cable tuners with CableCARD to a Windows 7-based PC with Windows Media Center. A new tool will be provided by Microsoft that assesses the PC’s ability to support the solution. This tool will analyze the customer’s PC and enable digital cable support if the PC meets requirements, opening digital cable options to Windows Media Center customers across the country. Microsoft also announced that, with Windows 7, it has increased the number of TV tuners that can be connected to the PC from two to four per tuner type, thereby allowing customers to simultaneously record or watch as many as four digital cable TV channels.

“We are excited that digital cable customers will now be able to take advantage of this new opportunity to bring great cable TV programming to the PC,” said So Vang, vice president of OpenCable at CableLabs. “We are dedicated to helping customers get the most from their cable service, and this will be a great win for both the customer and the cable operators.”

Digital Cable Customers Can Now Enjoy More TV Portability in Windows Media Center

Microsoft and CableLabs also announced that they worked together to enable digital cable tuner with CableCARD customers to enjoy more portability for digital cable TV that is marked as “copy freely” (CF). Customers will be able to play CF-marked digital cable recordings, such as those from local channels, on other PCs, devices and portable media.

Windows Media Center Features in Windows 7 Highlighted

Using new Windows 7 features such as Windows Touch, HomeGroup, Remote Media Streaming and PlayTo, sharing recorded TV, videos, music and pictures throughout the home, while on the road and to remote locations has never been easier. There is also support for the AVCHD format. This allows customers to view HD video from many popular HD video cameras.

In addition, support for the international broadcast TV standards that was released with the Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008 will also be included in Windows Media Center in Windows 7. This includes native support for both ATSC and QAM, the ability to remap channels, and support for subchannels.

New Firmware for ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuners

In conjunction with the Microsoft and CableLabs announcements, Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) will be providing a new firmware update that is available to all ATI TV Wonder digital cable tuners being used with Windows 7 and Windows Vista. This firmware update will allow existing digital cable tuner with CableCARD customers to enjoy more portability for digital cable TV marked as CF. Customers will be able to play CF-marked digital cable recordings, such as those from local channels, on other PCs, devices, and portable media. In addition, the firmware will contain support for SDV. When installed on a Windows 7-based PC with a digital cable tuner with CableCARD and a tuning adapter from a cable provider, it enables access to switched digital channels in locations where SDV has been deployed.

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Also on Display at CEDIA EXPO 2009

At the Microsoft booth at CEDIA EXPO 2009, Microsoft will show additional hardware and software installations that enhance the digital cable experience. Demonstrations include these:

• The new Zune HD portable media player using the Zune HD AV dock to display 720p content on an HDTV. The Zune HD and updated Zune PC software will launch on Sept. 15.

• A home server powered by Windows Home Server software. The upcoming Windows Home Server Power Pack 3, currently in beta testing, will add enhancements for Windows Media Center. Power Pack 3 features include the option to move recorded TV content to the home server in a variety of resolutions, and the ability for users to see statistics about the home server through Windows Media Center.

• A technology preview of the new Multi-Channel Cable TV Card from Ceton Corp., which enables PCs with Windows Media Center to play or record multiple live channels of premium HDTV at once, and stream live HD channels or recordings to multiple TV sets throughout the home, all with a single CableCARD.

About CableLabs

Founded in 1988 by members of the cable television industry, Cable Television Laboratories is a non-profit research and development consortium that is dedicated to pursuing new cable telecommunications technologies and to helping its cable operator members integrate those advancements into their business objectives. Cable operators from around the world are members. CableLabs maintains web sites at www.cablelabs.com; www.packetcable.com; www.cablemodem.com; www.cablenet.org; www.opencable.com; and www.tru2way.com.

About the Media Center Integrator Alliance (MCIA)

The MCIA is an open and independent non-profit consortium formed to advance and administer the support, promotion, and enrichment of the media center ecosystem. Charter members of MCIA include AMD, Crestron, HP, Intel, Life|ware, Microsoft Corp., and Niveus Media.

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Native CableCARD For Windows 7 (US)