Apple TV: good luck plugging it in!
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If only I'd been following The Register: my shiny new Apple TV lacks any outputs compatible with older televisions. It outputs HDMI or component video; my Grundig takes RGB or composite over SCART.
If Apple TV had an S-Video port, I'd be fine. It doesn't. I'm not.
For only an extra AUD$150-250 depending on model, I can buy a converter and have it shipped from the UK. Or, I can spend AUD$2,200 on an A/V receiver that can do the trick. Or, I can spend thousands replacing my fantastic looking cathode-ray tube TV with an expensive flat panel that still won't look as good for standard definition television.
Or, I could just return the bastard.
* * *
Keene Electronics have an Australian stockist. Hope hope.
April 1st, 2007 at 2:59 am
And the reason you didn’t check on this before dropping $300 on the device was?
April 1st, 2007 at 4:49 am
AppleTV does support 480i so a standard TV might work. Can’t you get a component to SCART cable for a lot less? Some people have connected it to the DVI port on their Apple monitors successfully.
April 1st, 2007 at 6:15 am
Apple said the AppleTV was MADE FOR HD WIDESCREEN TV. Apple never said it would work with SD tv’s.
If you fail to read before you buy then it seems to me its your fault.
Would you complain if you bought a new car that said it runs on biodiesel and when you got it home found out that it fails to run when you fill it with gasoline? uhmmmm your last car ran on gasoline so this one should too.
quite whining and get a life
April 1st, 2007 at 6:23 am
That is precisely the reason that Apple lists a widescreen TV as requirement.
April 1st, 2007 at 6:40 am
I’m also having trouble finding a suitable input. My TV has a component input which is split into two by my receiver. Unfortunately both of these are occupied; one by the DVD player, and one by the HD set top box.
Really annoying - the Apple TV looks like a fantastic box.
April 1st, 2007 at 7:24 am
John, it’s a widescreen TV. The ad says “if it’s on iTunes, it’s on your widescreen TV.” I got caught out not knowing the difference between component video and composite video, basically.
R Boylin, the problem isn’t so much the SCART plug as the signals running through it. Of the three ways most commonly found to encode the signal: Apple TV supports one, and my TV supports the other two.
Geewiz, I guess I just let my enthusiasm get the better of me. I’ve always been able to plug anything into my TV with a suitable cable. Next time, trust me, I’ll check in detail.
April 1st, 2007 at 8:36 am
Garth, I’m not sure what you are talking about regarding a CRT looking better than a flat screen for SD. I loved my old 68 cm Sony, but I have no regrets in moving to a Plasma.
(I did, for a few short days, thought I had a mistake when I first plugged it into my old analog Fox box).
As long as you have a digital receiver, the results are fantastic - in fact, much better than the old CRT.
Also, if the new AppleTV assumes widescreen, then you can assume it’s probably going to be pushing out 16:9 frames, which means that even if you went with a Component to SCART converter, or used a receiver as a down converter, your image will still look compressed horizontally on your CRT (I’m assuming it’s 4:3?)
Pat
April 1st, 2007 at 8:37 am
One more comment to other commenters: widescreen does not mean you require HD. ie. you can do widescreen on an SD TV.
Pat
April 1st, 2007 at 10:20 am
It’s a widescreen SD television. I’m heartened to hear that you’re happy with your plasma; it might be time to trade in the old CRT.
April 1st, 2007 at 11:55 pm
Give it up and move to California like the rest of our countrymen.
April 2nd, 2007 at 1:00 pm
This Component Video to S-Video converter made specifically for the AppleTV will go on sale in the U.S.A. at the end of April.
URL: http://www.svideo.com/appletv2tv.html
It will be sold by Svideo.comSVIDEO.COM
3101 N. 21st St. Ste. F
MCALLEN TX 78501
Tel: (956) 686-7449
Toll FREE Telephone in the USA for Orders only: 877-857-5553
Fax: (956) 686-7450
April 2nd, 2007 at 7:56 pm
I agree with you and it is akward and stupid that Apple TV don’t have a European RGB scart connection for CRT 16/9 TV’s. It is the european version of component video, but not compatible. I also blame the CRT TV makers, because it is almost impossible to figure out what scart version they use. My Sony CRT has 3 scart connectors, but only one is true RGB, but doesn’t sync on green, so it is worthless. The other are supporting only a composite s-video. Component video is not digital only HDMI is. For the different Plug and other headache TV standards take a look at Wikipedia …
April 5th, 2007 at 8:38 am
Hi Garth,
I’ve received my apple tv and have the same problem. I’ve got an old 16/9 CRT Philips.
Another options that may be are worth considering:
http://www.js-technology.com/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=52 (90 Pounds)
http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-11z-49-en-70-1d2s.html (37 Eur.)
May 12th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
I would assume that the price had a lot to do with your purchase. This just goes to show that you get what you pay for! Sure the set is cheap, but once you buy the six additional pieces of equipment you need to make it do what you need it to do, it wasn’t such a good deal after all.I would recomend returning the apple TV and purchase the one you really want. Hope you saved the reciept!
July 6th, 2007 at 4:52 am
Actually, it does work on a CRT telly.
March 7th, 2008 at 2:07 am
Sorry to hear about your misfortunes!
Here’s hoping you get it sorted without having to spend anymore money!