This morning I disposed of the awful 2Wire Blockbuster VOD box… that you probably didn’t remember existed. Not only was it limited to just standard def content, but it was also plagued by DRM issues and UI lockups. As you can see below, I took it apart (like Akimbo, Moviebeam, etc) looking for salvageable parts before sending it off for recycling. And all I have to show for the original $99 I dropped on this Blockbuster box is a 8GB USB stick. I did briefly consider extracting the WiFi chip for future projects, but they soldered it down. So it’ll be disposed of with the rest of the disappointing product.
Nest, I swung by the Apple Store to pick up the new Apple TV. Even though you think you know how small it is, the tiny box is stunning. Like most Apple hardware, this exudes solid build quality and elegance. Although, as something typically placed behind a TV or within a cabinet, its appearance is less relevant than say the iPhone 4’s handsome looks.
But don’t consider my purchase an endorsement… (yet?) Think of it as a blog research expense. While iOS 4.2 AirPlay functionality looks quite promising for audio applications, I have my doubts how well video streaming will work iDevice to iDevice given the expected lower resolutions implemented on a handheld and network stress (by possibly simultaneously receiving and transmitting content). Plus, I fully expect some of the services that provide video via the App Store choose not to implement AirPlay in their apps. So that’ll be something we want to keep an eye. Additionally, given the revelations that the new Apple TV does indeed appear to run iOS, it reopens the door for a potential television app store.