Apple TV users reporting long rental wait times, HDMI issues

[h0mi]

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...mi_issues.html

Early adopters of Apple's second-generation Apple TV are reporting issues with streaming HD rentals and problems completing "HDMI handshakes" between the new Apple TV and their HD TVs.

Several discussion threads on Apple's support forums related to issues with HD rentals not loading and HDMI connectivity problems have reached hundreds of posts in length as increasing numbers of Apple TV owners report having trouble with the device.

Some users report that Apple TV displays HD rental wait times of hundreds of minutes, while other video, such as trailers, HD Netflix movies, and YouTube begin playing after just a few minutes. "At one point, the HD movie was going to take over 3,000 minutes to load," wrote one user.

Though a portion of the users have resolved the issue by upgrading to higher bandwidth Internet, others report the problem occurring even with high-speed connections capable of handling HD video.

Another Apple support thread details potential compatibility issues between Apple TV and a number of HD TV sets. Users report frequent "HDMI handshakes" between the TV and Apple TV, with the picture returning with inverted colors. A user-compiled list of TVs affected includes models by Philips and Sony.

The Apple TV 4.1 firmware update, which was released last week alongside iOS 4.2, does not appear to resolve either issue.

Apple unveiled the revamped $99 Apple TV in September with a focus on 'the cloud' and streaming media. With just 8GB of onboard storage, Apple's new set top box serves as a hub for content streamed from the Internet, computers, or iOS devices.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced in October that the company had sold 250,000 Apple TVs in "just a short amount of time."

Just as I said a few weeks ago, Blu-ray isn't the only format that's had issues with playback on some hardware, not the only format to have firmware updates to hardware. Those are not functions that are inherently negative for blu-ray and nothing else; they are a fact of life in this modern world and we will see more, not less of this sort of thing. And having problems with the playback of rentals defeats the entire purpose of downloads- you buy it for the convenience, the instant access. Lose that and you're overpaying greatly for a product that's inferior to an optical disc based format.

[ack_bak]

What? I thought only Blu-Ray had playback issues and required firmware updates.. Shocker...

[Philnerd]

Just no escaping this crap now. Television technology has completely merged into IT. That means Moore's Law, software bugs, incompatible platforms, networking issues; the whole enchilada.

[GizmoDVD]

Reminder to myself - everytime Blu-ray has an issue, start a new thread.

[Rob71]

Reminder to myself - everytime Blu-ray has an issue, start a new thread.

Real issues or inflated ones? Will you leave these threads open for more than 45 minutes? Unlike the last one?

[GizmoDVD]

Real issues or inflated ones? Will you leave these threads open for more than 45 minutes? Unlike the last one?

Gonna go hide some more DVDs?

[ack_bak]

Just no escaping this crap now. Television technology has completely merged into IT. That means Moore's Law, software bugs, incompatible platforms, networking issues; the whole enchilada.

Yes. And it also makes me want to stay away from running applications directly from my TV/Projector and really limiting updates to my most critical hardware. It would suck if a firmware update killed a new $3K TV...

A $90-200 BD player is much easier to replace. Especially if you buy it at Costco where there is an unlimited return policy on their BD player but not on their TV.

[h0mi]

Real issues or inflated ones? Will you leave these threads open for more than 45 minutes? Unlike the last one?

You mean we don't already get new threads whenever there's a "blu-ray issue"? I mean managed copy, profiles, BD+, firmware updates, BD-XL, 3D blu-ray, catalog sales (or lack thereof), standalone sales (or lack thereof)?

(edit) Oh yeah I forgot about the best buy changing their store's layout for "optical disc". Hahaha.

[Rob71]

Gonna go hide some more DVDs?

Gonna use your "contacts" to tell us more about studios future plans? Use Google your "crystal ball" to tell us more about a stores future plans? Use mama to tell us how Americans will use their BD players? Or the size "Netflix" is printed on the box?


Will you keep the threads open so we can discuss the topics, or will you close them to stifle conversation?

[Actionable Mango]

HDCP is an abomination upon the world.

[GizmoDVD]

Gonna use your "contacts" to tell us more about studios future plans? Use Google your "crystal ball" to tell us more about a stores future plans? Use mama to tell us how Americans will use their BD players? Or the size "Netflix" is printed on the box?


Will you keep the threads open so we can discuss the topics, or will you close them to stifle conversation?

Such a great response.

I especially like how you ignored that the thread locking notice was because of Kosty, not me. Teammates gotta stick together!

[Rob71]

Such a great response.

I especially like how you ignored that the thread locking notice was because of Kosty, not me. Teammates gotta stick together!

Yeah, you and Chip made such a big deal out of it. And then you go and do the same thing.

Besides, Kosty didn't close the thread to stifle conversation. It was done to stifle BS. I believe you are one of only 2-3 people who would even attempt to make that ridiculous accusation.

[GizmoDVD]

Really?

2010, Where did all the catalog go?

And

Thread Locking Notice

Look at the dates. Wrong again. Par for the course.

Of course Kosty was right in locking the thread! He's on your team. Excuse me I'm goingto go hide some Blu-rays behind DVDs now.

[Rob71]

Really?

2010, Where did all the catalog go?

And

Thread Locking Notice

Look at the dates. Wrong again. Par for the course.

Of course Kosty was right in locking the thread! He's on your team. Excuse me I'm goingto go hide some Blu-rays behind DVDs now.

You closed the damn thread after it became apparent it wasn't going to be one big Blu-ray crapfest. That you were going to have to defend your positions with actual proof. Something you to this day have been unable to do. In other words, you stifled conversation. Deal with it. You love to make statements for the studios, like you have some idea of their inner workings. Fact is you have none, as you have proven on multiple occasions.

[GizmoDVD]

So you lied. I got it. Try to change the tables, but you lied. My thread was 2 weeks old. You should have known that as you bring it up almost daily because you get backed into a corner. Classic. Thanks for letting me smack you down.