User:Aswick/Temp2
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[edit] Limitations
[edit] Functionality
Concerns have been raised regarding the dependency on connectivity to a home computer via iTunes. Although users can view YouTube as well as movie and TV previews directly through the Internet, most functionality depends on content originating from an iTunes-connected home computer. Some of Apple TV's competitors can download movie content directly from the Internet, but an Apple TV user cannot purchase or download iTunes content directly from Apple TV.[1][2]
Other concerns have been expressed for needing personal video recorder capabilities on Apple TV,[1][2][3] Apple TV does not contain a TV tuner, but a tuner and PVR capability can be applied on the connected home computer through a third party. The PVR software will connect to iTunes, enabling scheduled HDTV recordings to automatically appear on Apple TV for playback.[4]
Some people feel that the backrow interface is lacking standard iTunes functionality, including rating items, on-the-go playlists, synchronizing from more than one computer, shuffling, interrupting a shuffle, displaying a video timeline,[5] Internet radio support[6] and games.[7]
[edit] Content
Apple TV is seen by some to have limited out of the box support for video and audio codecs,[1][6][2] although Apple TV supports the same MP4 and H.264 codecs the video iPod and iPhone do.[8] Media conversion tools are available, but conversion "almost always" involves a loss of quality as well as the time and effort costs to perform the conversions.[9] Neither iTunes or Apple TV ships with the AC-3 codec, therefore Apple TV does not officially support 5.1 channel Dolby Digital audio.[1][10]
Quality of Apple TV content has also been noted as a concern. 1080i or 1080p HD content (e.g. content originating from HD cameras) must be downgraded in quality for use on Apple TV. Users without the technical knowledge to convert HD content to lower quality may have to resort to downloading low-quality iTunes store movie content.[1][6][10][3][11][12] Note that iTunes store 720p HD-quality content is available via video podcasts.[13]
[edit] Hardware
Apple TV content cannot be used with older televisions, although 480i is unofficially supported as long as the TV supports component video connectivity. RCA/composite video and F/RF connectors are not included on the Apple TV device. Reviewers have noted that Apple is "future-proofing", and "if you do not have HDTV now, you will in the future".[14][6][2][15][9][16]
Some users feel that Apple TV needs a volume control on the Apple Remote. An Apple Remote can be used on a Macintosh computer for both Front Row navigation as well as volume control, but cannot be used the same way on Apple TV.[1][2][15][9] Mainstream universal remotes have been updated for use with Apple TV and can be used to control volume.[6]
Apple TV comes with only a power cable and some users feel that Apple TV should include audio/video cables.[1][6][2][9] Other users feel that Apple TV has too many connectivity options to support bundled cables[10][17] and Apple has teamed-up with a third party to provide affordable cables for its customers.[18]
A USB port is included on the device, but has intentionally been crippled and is reserved for service use only. Some people feel that the port should be available to use with a secondary external drive.[19] Another option for additional storage is streaming content from a computer that has an iTunes-connected external drive.[20]
The Apple TV device runs "very hot",[6] sometimes reaching 44 degrees Celsius (111 degrees Fahrenheit).[9][21] According to Apple, this is normal,[22], but some users recommend to place the device in a well-ventilated area,[9] and others recommend putting the device in standby mode when not in use to conserve power.[1]
[edit] iTunes and Quicktime support
Excluding YouTube and TV/movie previews, Apple TV content must originate in iTunes. Purchased iTunes Store video content includes informational tags such as Description, Content Advisory and Rating that are viewable from Apple TV, but are not editable in iTunes. For non-purchased content, the user must depend on a third-party tool for editing the tags.[23] iTunes includes CD ripping functionality, but does not include DVD ripping functionality, also requiring the user to depend on a third-party tool.[10]
According to some users, the "Export to Apple TV" option in QuickTime, is no "speed demon"[24] Performance improvements may be found with a QuickTime-compatible hardware acceleration device for H.264 encoding.[25]
[edit] Past limitations
In March 2007, reviewers mentioned the lack of expansion options once the hard drive on the 40 GB model fills up.[1][6][2][15] Nonetheless, in late May 2007 Apple introduced a version of the Apple TV with 160 GB of storage space.[26] Another past limitation required photos to be synced to the device,[15] but this was fixed in a June 2007 iTunes update.[27]
