Apple TV Underhyped

Perhaps more intriguing than the massively hyped iPhone is the release of Apple TV. This is a promising gadget that extends your media from your computer to your TV.

An iPhone is a nice toy, but it doesn't really re-invent the wheel. It's a phone, people! Get over it!

Apple TV, on the other hand, is the true innovation here. It offers viewers the ability to sync all their media between their computers (up to 5) and their TV. The implications of such a device are mindboggling. Every TV show, movie, Mp3, photo, and so on, can be uploaded (wired, or via WiFi) to the Apple TV box, where you can then watch (or listen) on your television. Now think of the fact that this will run you a mere $299. This is clearly an answer to the overbearing cable box that takes a chunk out of your wallet every month. Buy one of these, cut off your oppressive cable (yeah you, Comcast, you thieves), and you can recoup your expenses in a few short months.

My only complaint is the tiny 40 GB drive. Most downloaded movies run about 5 GB, so the Apple TV may be a temporary storage device that only functions to shuttle video, rather than store it. Fortunately, you will also be able to stream media directly from your computers (up to 5 of them), bypassing Apple TV's hard drive entirely.

I've never been a fan of Apple products. Being an avid gamer, I can't conceive of buying a Powerbook and dooming my addiction; but I might have to look more closely at what can be done with Apple TV. Sure, an iPhone will be a nice toy (once I can afford the hefty $499 price for the entry model), but the Apple TV is a killer app that could be more useful to me right now.