Engadget’s tasty scoop on Wednesday suggests that the long-rumoured but still-mythical Apple TV hardware refresh would lack 1080p output. As is fairly routine now, weblogs, forums, and Twitter exploded with “ZOMG APPLE #FAIL” and similar thoughtful criticism. But assuming it’s true, is this really that surprising? Everyone automatically assumes 1080p is the natural choice but I’m not sure it’s that simple.
Notwithstanding (slightly dubious) recent rumours of a new video codec capable of pushing out 4096×2160, iTunes today can only offer high definition video in 720p. To move that to 1080p would require 2.25 times more disk space on the iTunes servers and the same increase in data bandwidth between those servers and the paying customers. Those are not cheap investments.
In turn, consumers would see a similar increase in streaming requirements. Xbox Live can stream 1080p video, but it requires 8-10meg broadband, which leaves an awful lot of people out in the cold. It has the option of downloading instead, but if you’re out in the sticks on a 2meg stream you’re looking at more than eight hours to download your film at 1080p. You’d best plan your Friday night viewing before leaving for work on Friday morning.
TUAWDoes the Apple TV need 1080p? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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