February 3rd, 2008
I’ve now had quite a bit of time to explore the abilities of AppleTV. There are many things I like and, of course, some quirks that I think could be improved.
For those who haven’t read any of my previous posts or been watching the news, AppleTV is a small box that sits next to any widescreen television in the same way that you hook up your DVD player or cable box.
The main difference is that there is no slot for DVDs. There is no cable in connector. The only way to watch content is from a hard drive either inside the device or on another computer on your home network. It hooks up to your iTunes library and will play all your content in your library.
Want to watch a movie or TV show that you purchased from iTunes? You simply use the very simple remove and pick the show or movie you want to watch and click play. The show then streams from your main computer onto your television.
What makes this device different from a cable box or DVD player is that it has the ability to play movies in HD. And this is the big one: it has the ability to play podcasts.
As I’ve written before, podcasts are truly a wonderful thing for independent content creators. We are now in an age where anyone can record a show, edit it and broadcast it to the world.
The problem up until now was that content would be seen on a small iPod screen or computer screen. Now, these video podcasts are side by side with content from the big three networks and all the cable networks. Pretty big change!
So how well does the AppleTV work?
Hooking it up was a breeze. You simply plug in either an HDMI or Component video cable to your tv. It looks for any iTunes libraries on your home network and asks to which one (if you have more than one) you want to connect. From there, you can watch YouTube, any podcasts and any movies/tv shows on your main computer.
The quality varies depending on the content you are watching. At this moment, the podcasts are shining. Many podcasts are being filmed in High Definition (for example, MacBreak and The Washington Post). They are downloaded to the main computer automatically and are ready for you to watch at any time.
The HD content looks spectacular on our set. I have an older Sony HD set that is capable of 1080i. The AppleTV can connect to a 1080i set, but is only capable of playing 720p at 24 frames per second.
While this seems like a black eye on the AppleTV, it isn’t too much of a difference. Most people cannot tell a difference between 1080i and 720p unless the screen is larger than 60 inches and they are closer than 10 feet. I’m safe. I’ve got a 42″ screen and sit back pretty far.
Movies look great also. There is an optical digital audio cable in the back of the Apple TV to hook it into your existing sound system. Sound is very good. Not all of the movies on iTunes are surround (I’ll have to look up details on this).
In the end, the AppleTV provides the average person the ability to stream their content to the world instantly.
So we can go out and create films, episodic shows, documentaries and much more. And this can be delivered in HD for free to the world. This sidestep of Blu-ray and HD-DVD is a great boost to the independent producer. Blu-ray and HD-DVD are, technically, a higher resolution, but Apple TV offers something today that is infinitely cheaper and faster for most people to implement.
Categories: Distribution, Reviews, Technology |
Tags: digital distribution, podcast | No Comments
January 15th, 2008
Today, Apple did a sidestep around the HD DVD and Blu-ray debate with the update to their AppleTV.
Think about the most popular way most of us watch movies. We rent them. Either at the local movie store or via mail at Netflix or Blockbuster.
What Apple has done is said, “Why wait for a plastic disc to be sent to you?” Now you can flip through an online selection like Netflix or Blockbuster AND watch it right away. That puts them in a very strong position. Plus, they have the very popular iTunes online store streamlined more than any of the competition.
Now, while the others fight over which plastic disc to send next (HD DVD or Blu-ray), Apple can already deliver an HD movie right to the television set since we can now rent HD movies FROM the AppleTV interface.
All for a onetime fee of $229 plus the four or five bucks to rent the movie.
Compare that to a new high def player that runs several hundred dollars more and $30 to buy a new piece of plastic to put into that player.
Now take into account that thousands of HD podcasts are available right now on iTunes and AppleTV right now and for free!
I think this little device is sneaking its way into our lives and changing the way we watch video forever.
Categories: Misc |
Tags: digital distribution, internet video, Misc, new media | 1 Comment
September 6th, 2007
It is a very hot topic this week. So what about this sudden price cut to the iPhone and introduction of the iPod touch? How does this fit into the larger picture?
At Reels in Motion, we’ve been watching a trend in increasing video podcasts, online video and other new methods of distribution. And we should know: Reels in Motion has been producing many shows for quite some time. And we’re getting busier and busier in this arena.
Companies Are Talking in a New Voice
Companies have been finding new methods to talk with their customers and digital distribution has become the answer. This isn’t just uploading their 30-second spots as an online video. No. We’re able to communicate new ideas and create more innovative messages with digital distribution.
Without the constraints of traditional media, we can now be more creative and tell more involved stories.
For example, imagine a local restaurant who wants to stand out from the competition. Now, they can create a show that is broadcast bi-weekly. Each show teaches about how to make a standard dish more appealing. These shows range from 5 minutes to 30 minutes for the ambitious.
Another example: hardware stores that found it difficult to compete with national chains can become local celebrities in their own shows teaching home repair or home improvements each week. Customers (and fans) can subscribe to the shows and learn at their convenience.
Digital Distribution Growth
At Reels in Motion, we’ve become quite efficient at creating campaigns, show designs and hosting options for companies deciding to innovate. After all, this is where the industry is heading, so we decided to get the kinks worked so you don’t have to.
For example, we have been shooting, editing, adding visual effects and posting shows for multiple programs (including our own, by the way .. at Reels in Motion .tv) for companies, organizations and individuals.
This demand has been growing steadily for awhile. And with the recent price drop with the iPhone, we’re going to see many more people getting their content on a portable device. The companies we are working with producing these shows have already told us about how many comments they’ve been receiving from their customers. They are no longer just a “store.”
They are becoming local celebrities and building a very special rapport with their audience and customers. And that is the secret.
That is why we’ll see this trend continue and why Reels in Motion has decided to set up a pipeline to handle this demand and prepare for the growth in Q1 and Q2 of 2008. Join us for the ride!
Categories: Uncategorized |
Tags: digital distribution, iphone, podcast | No Comments
