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My comments

• Apple typically gets written off
  For some strange reason the popular press always finds some way to gripe about Apple and its products.
  
  As mentioned in some of the other posts, the iPod was derided initially, the computers are put down as is the OS, Apple TV is being called a failure...
  
  Apple, like almost all companies, tries to do a good to great job in creating it's products and services. It also does a very admirable job of promotion. The iPhone is hotly anticipated by almost everyone. The hype meter is off the charts and everyone is waiting for the phone to work great, fail miserably, or fall somewhere in-between.
  
  One thing that Apple appears to be doing (who really knows though other than Steve Jobs) with the iPhone is under promise and over deliver. We've heard rumors that third-party apps will be possible, rumors that stock piles are being built to satisfy demand - we'll just have to wait for this next Apple performance to play out in front of us.
  
  
  Stan Timek
  
  www.pollywogtheater.com
  www.HD4AppleTV.com

  June 8, 2007

  0 replies

• Media Center for the Masses
  DaiMac,
  
  You're right about the Apple Stores not showing the best demo videos - they do have HD material available but I imagine that it has to do with copyrights and clearances. Everything they're showing on the iTunes store has been cleared for public exposition.
  
  When it comes to HD material in the store I'm sure it'll get there - it's just a matter of time before Apple negotiates those contracts and makes Hollywood feel safe with Apple's DRM solution.
  
  Personally I'm hoping to get the indie players on board with my little project (that's taken far to long to get up and running) to get more HD stuff for everyone to enjoy.
  
  
  Stan Timek
  
  www.pollywogtheater.com
  www.HD4AppleTV.com

  June 8, 2007

  0 replies

• Apple in the living room
  Edgedesign you're absolutely correct in stating that the Apple TV is a stealth device. As it stands it does a great job at being an "iPod for your TV" or an "Internet DVD player." I use mine to play videos (SD and HD), music, slide shows, podcasts and the whole family gets a kick out of it.
  
  The video quality I think is great even for SD since most of the material is master quality and hasn't gone through the process of being broadcast or compressed fifty times by the cable company.
  
  Is the HD quality good? Heck yes! As you mentioned a few people are saying that it's not real HD because its compressed heavily - what do they think they're getting from their digital cable feeds if not heavily compressed pictures that have gone through multiple generations of compression!
  
  I work in video production so I can be a terror when it comes to quality - but I learned long ago that it isn't the best quality signal that gets the best ratings - it's the best story.
  
  Stan Timek
  
  www.pollywogtheater.com
  www.HD4AppleTV.com

  June 8, 2007

  0 replies

• Apple TV business model
  The Apple TV is many things to many people, what it isn't is a loss-leader. The device is sold at a profit (how much is fodder for great speculation) but rest assured - with Apple's supply chain they're getting great deals on all these components.
  
  Many people have argued that the Apple TV is comprised of yesterday's technology. If that's the case just think of the deals Apple is getting to help move "old" tech/inventory/whatever you want to call it.
  
  As the article says though, content is king and Apple has been building and molding its business to include the high-volume sales of content for quite some time. The great media companies are scared of the digital future, Apple is creating and embracing it.
  
  Stan Timek
  
  www.pollywogtheater.com
  www.HD4AppleTV.com

  June 7, 2007

  0 replies

• Apple TV is a great step forward
  Contrary to what Mr. Martin says, you can get content for the Apple TV from more locations than just Apple's iTunes store. From music to podcasts to video there are a number of sites serving consumer's desire for entertainment and information. My company is starting a service to provide HD video 'clips' to Apple TV owners in about a week or so. I say that we're providing clips because of the large file sizes of HD material. We decided to limit the initial offerings to 10 minutes and/or 500MB so viewers wouldn't have to download over night.
  
  Since we started this endeavor we've also heard of other's providing similar services. For example, http://rouxbe.com/videorecipes/ offers as their URL suggests videos of recipes. (I worked for three seasons on a cooking show and their videos/recipes are very good.)
  
  The site my company is starting is http://www.HD4AppleTV.com - we'll be offering productions by independent producers in the 720p, 24fps format Apple supports presently. Check it out when you get the chance!
  
  Stan Timek
  Pollywog Theater, LLC

  May 9, 2007

  2 replies

• Professional user-generated content
  This is interesting. YouTube became what it is through amateur content production (and 'borrowed' content - to be polite.) Ferrell's site may well be the next generation of this given their success thus far.
  
  Hopefully what this means is that story and production values will become more important in the creation and consumption of 'diversions' such as entertainment in its many forms, information, and education.
  
  Let's hope that Ferrell's experiment succeeds AND that true user-generated content continues its trend.
  
  Stan
  www.pollywogtheater.com
  www.HD4AppleTV.com

  May 4, 2007

  0 replies