Apple Nag

I was converting some TV shows over to Apple TV format to view in the comfort of my living room instead of yet more hours in front of the computer, and noticed that the aspect ratio was wrong. The original content had been originated for HD so the broadcaster left the top and bottom black bars in the standard def signal. I actually prefer to see all the content rather than the clipping that happens with pan-and-scan, so I don’t mind this.

When I use my Elgato EyeTV 200 box, it allows me to playback and select various aspect ratios to view the standard def content on a widescreen monitor or TV, effectively removing the black bars. This is yet another feature that is missing from the Apple TV.

You keep saying the Apple TV is only a hobby. I don’t think I’ll buy another one, or recommend any friends to buy one, until you remove a lot of these nagging limitations. It’s time to turn your hobby into a business.

The Apple TV has so much potential that has been unrealized. Sort of like the Mac Mini, that everyone really wants as their media device, but can’t afford.

I must be the only person using an unmodified Apple TV, without all the unauthorized enhancements like Boxee. You know, the mod that you broke with the 2.3.1 update.
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You can read all kinds of product reviews of your new announcements on other sites, but I’ll let you know why I won’t be buying your Mac Mini and why I might buy your Mac Pro.

I was multitasking last night by watching a movie and working through my RSS feeds using Google Reader on my iPod Touch. That was the first time that I heard about your new hardware releases. Even without a keynote, you generated enough interest for me to pause the movie at strategic points so that I could concentrate on the specs. And you know how much I love my movies.
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