AppleTV vs. Vudu vs. Amazon/TiVo vs. Playstation/Netflix vs. Xbox Live vs. Comcast HD - Page 4

Apple TV will have a major upgrade at Mac World Jan 2009

You are correct in that the VUDU XL is only available from custom installers and select high-end specialty retailers.

Since this is the Vudu vs AppleTV thread gotta point out that AppleTV does 1080p over component & HDMI simultaneously. Having a 1 TB option on the AppleTV would be nice, but then again all of my AppleTVs are configured to stream from a central server that is located in my equipment room so really for me the local disk is only used for HD movie rental. As for IP control of the AppleTV I just use the Remote app on my iPhone. Let's me browse and control my AppleTV from anywhere on my network, pretty nice interface as well.

I thought AppleTV was capped at 720p and couldn't do 1080p? I'm really on the fence between AppleTV and Vudu. Right now, I'm leaning toward VUDU w/HDX, but I own 2 iMacs and an iPhone so the AppleTV is very interesting from an integration and long term viability standpoint (I'm more nervous about VUDU going out of business in a year or 2).

If the AppleTV can actually output 1080p; it would be possible that Apple could announce a product similar to HDX and existing AppleTV's could handle it correct?

Thanks!
KF

There is what the AppleTV can output to a receiver and what the maximum resolution the AppleTV can decode H.264 video at. You are correct that the AppleTV is currently limited to 720p for H.264 video playback. If you have your AppleTV set to display at 1080p it will perform the up conversion to 1080p as part of the rendering process.

I find this thread fairly interesting for 1080p H.264 playback on the new MacBook laptops:

http://www.powerpage.org/2008/10/lat..._decoding.html

Full frame 1080p H.264 decoding only using 20% of the CPU ... nice

I have yet to hear any rumours on what that might be. Any ideas? I plan on using boxee on an Apple TV for Hulu access, currently waiting on an invite for it. That and knowing an upgrade coming is likely are what's stopping me from picking one up right now.

I'm waiting on the update too. At least to hear what it is. I really want an AppleTV or Vudu box, but again feel the need to point out (to beat a dead horse) that whichever one gets a buffet plan (i.e. so many movies a month for a set fee) gets my business, as long as it's semi-affordable.

Or perhaps Netflix will start offering HD content. I would think if they do (and keep the buffet plan, even if it's at a premium cost), the others would have to follow suit. The PPV model is just not affordable to me.

New Vudu owner so Im subbing to the thread.

Very happy so far, seems the HDX push is going well. HDX PQ is damn fine.

VuduPatrick, if we buy a unit and the hard drive fails, can we replace it ourselves or do we have to buy a new vudu box? Curious how that is handled as I am considering a Vudu unit, but I don't want to be stuck with a non-servicable box and have to buy a new one when (not if) the drive fails.

Good question.

Sorry, the hard drive is not user-replaceable.

What is the cost to have the drive replaced? I would really hate to have these units be disposable and just have to buy a new one.

Reason I ask is with AppleTv, there is a pretty easy upgrade/replace process, similar to Tivo. Not that either manufacturer "support" it. Since I am sure the price of the Vudu unit is not recouping the actual costs (maybe it is?), but you intend to make your profit off the PPV style of selling, I would think it would be better to have a unit that users would not have to worry about losing use of to continue the PPV revenue stream.

What kind of drive is used by Vudu? Sata? IDE? SCSI (doubting this one, but just in case)

Honestly, I don't see how Vudu will be in business 6 months from now. The hardware and movies are expensive an do not offer any value add over competing products. Vudu lacks the ability to stream photos, music, movies, watch trailers, youtube, and a large # of TV shows.

Their probably breaking even on hardware or losing money. And the money they make off of content is pennies.

What consumer would choose this over their existing cable box, Netflix, AppleTV, PS3, or a dedicated Blu-ray player?

This is exactly what I am thinking. I am not exactly mainstream in my choices with technology, but a Vudu box wasnt even a consideration for me because of the above reasons.

The new HDX format is great. I traded in my BR player for a 6mo experiment, so far Im happy. When a movie becomes available for rent, I can tell my box to remotely download it from any pc, then watch it whenever I want. For me, this is a replacement to Netflix (got tired of waiting on new flicks) and a BR player. As far as streaming goes, my Directv HDDVR does that.

You gotta remember, Vudu is still young, and those apple fans can say what they want about Apple TV, but at the end of the day, the AppleTV movie PQ aint so hot. Jobs also just stated that itll still be a "hobby" in 09, so its another mediocore apple product I wont buy.

And BTW, who the hell cares about watching you tube, thats pretty lame reasoning. Vudu has one purpose, watching movies without having to leave your home, and at their current pace, theyll have more HD movies than Apple soon.

^ I got nothing against Vudu or AppleTV, but I seriously don't get the pricing scheme.

If you watch 10-20 movies a month, are you going to replace your <$20 a month Netflix with $50-$100/month for their PPV scheme?

If you only watch 5 movies a month, you're not really a "hardcore" movie watcher, so are you going to drop a couple hundred bucks on a Vudu/AppleTV box and then still pay $25/month?

Note I am assuming $5 PPV prices.

Sorry, but I can't afford $100 a month to watch movies, even if it's tons more convenient than Netflix. I'd probably be willing to pay $40 (still twice as much as Netflix), but not much more. So they either need to cut prices pretty much in half, or offer a buffet plan to get my business.

Again, I really hope these services take off as the potential and convenience is astounding, but I just don't see how they can compete at these prices. Of course, I said that about a certain other technology that recently beat out the "affordable" option, so don't listen to me.

No way to watch 10-20 on Netflix, they throttle you.

I'll gladly pay $5.99/movie so I can watch it when Im ready. Too many times with Netflix I was sitting around thinking "man, sure would be nice to have that movie"

If you watch that many movies the best bet would be to get on a Netflix plan and have something like the AppleTV. Netflix gives you lots of movies, but AppleTV gives you instant gratification. That way you can watch new movies on AppleTV rather than waiting on your Netflix queue. Also, if you are into HD you can get limited Blu-ray via Netflix and semi-HD video on AppleTV for those titles that are not on Blu-ray.

Since I turned into an HD bigot I cancelled my Netflix subscription after waiting too long too often. I now use a combination of AppleTV HD titles and Blu-ray movies that I purchase.

I just see these internet services as very complementary to rent or purchase plans. I like the idea of being able to browse new movies on AppleTV when there is nothing else to watch. I especially like the fact that I don't have monthy fees with the AppleTV. Sure the AppleTV is a bit expensive, but it does more than rental movies. It can stream home videos, photos and music from my computer. It can access photos on the internet as well as Youtube videos. It does quite a bit for the price.

yep, pretty hard to keep netflix from throttling your shipments if you start exceeding what they consider "normal" usage for your plan.

It only took them 3 weeks to slow me down on my 2 out at time plan. In 3 weeks I managed to get 16 movies in about 23 day IIRC and mysteriously, my next 3 shipments took 5 days to arrive each one arriving on Friday, mailed back on Saturday, received Monday, no shipment notice until Thursday.

Right now the only things holding me back on Vudu are:

No local best buys have one that I can see in person
Don't like that it's vague what happens when the hard drive dies. I am sure I can dd it or something, but the lack of any info on the website bothers me on what the recourse is for failed hardware. I sure as hell won't buy another device just to get a $80 harddrive that works.

I am actually starting to lean AppleTv at this point cause I know I can replace/upgarde the drive and I have seen the in action. But either way, it will be Jan 2009 I think before I make a decision unless I find a deal somewhere like the Vudu Bestbuy $200 credit deal (again, none in store and I am just stingy and don't want to pay best buy to ship it to me when there is a store locally)

Of course I could just not buy anything and start using my Tivo Amazon Unbox, but I would really like and HD option to complement my netflix/roku setup.

or with the xbox360 you can have both netflix (instant streaming) and their rental "hd" movies (which covers most everything apple has). and you can also play games as well as do everything else you mentioned appletv does.

now to have netflix instant service will require xbox live gold but thats a pretty small charge.

but if you are looking at a box to do multiple things and netflix streaming is one of those the 360 is the best choice out there currently.

The way I see Apple vs Vudu is, for tv shows Apple rules in content. For new movies, they both offer the same and have the same dates for the most part, but the HDX PQ of Vudu rules.

Price on both is high, I wonder how long before we'll see a Netflix style rental plan from VOD?

My move from media to VOD was slow because I had to allow for the 30 day rental delay window to catch up to the movies I had seen, but Im there now and have 1-2 new movies to rent every week now. Looking forward to it.

Different strokes for different folks. Clearly the xbox360 is the way to go if you want gaming. You probably get more flexibility for power use type media streaming with the xbox360.

The AppleTV is a very elegant solution for just accessing media -- that is all it does. For example, it is really easy for just about anybody to access their iTunes library on your Mac or PC. It is also lopw-powered and silent.

Also, from the comparos Ive seen, the Xbox HD movies are sharper than Apples offering.

Good point. I haven't seen the HD movies on the Xbox, but the AppleTV is only 720p and at a fairly low bit rate. HD is definitely the Achilles heal of the AppleTV. I sure hope Apple fixes this sooner rather than later.

I love the Vudu box, but if Apple actually took the AppleTv seriously and came out with a 1080p version of a high end encode like Vudu's HDX, it might be the king. Especially with the HD tv show content.

Yep, Vudu for me wins quality and that is what keeps me from pulling the trigger on Apple TV....

Cmon vudupatrick, give me some more info so I might invest in your product and proclaim it to all who ask that Vudu is the best solution...

Just spoke with someone at the vudu forum on Apple HD vs Vudu HD (not HDX). Sharpness is about the same, color on Vudu may be better, and Vudu has instant start on HD movies with 4mbps. HDX is no contest, but as stated, ATV rules the roost in tv and anything ipod related.

Looks like if you require movies and tv (and PQ matters), you need need two of something (Vudu/ATX/XBox/Amazon)

Ill be glad when we have one box that offers quality downloads of tv and movies. I have to wonder if Vudu isnt considering getting more into tv shows.

i was not able to get hdmi and component to work - as soon as i plugged hdmi in - component shut off

Richard,

HD over component and simultaneous component and HDMI are limited to the VUDU XL and only with the purchase and activation of the software package XLS1. IP control is also part of XLS1 but through December 31, it is included on all XLs.

Vudupatick, did you see my questions? Are you just choosing not to answer them?
Even the simple one about what happens when the hard drive dies? What is the process to get the $80 part working again? I looked on the website, the FAQ's were slightly above useless so that is why I am asking here. Really it should not be hard for a potential customer to find this info on the website, but no query with the words "repair" "replace" "service" returned any results.

The vudu forums are even more vague on the capability to actually get purchased content back in the event of hardware failure. 1 year limits, 2 year limits are kicked around over there and any valid concern is merely brushed aside as fodder by people over there. It's almost like a site affiliated with AVS... question the company and management and you are immediately labeled as a troublemaker.

If the info is there, please direct me to it as my search terms are not liked much by the search engine. Really it should not be hard to find what the policy is in the event of hardware failure relating to:
Do I have to buy another box at $299 for what will most likely be just the harddrive
What exactly is the policy on restoring purchases (again the forums are all over the place with no definitive answer)