AppleTV and iPhone - Products That Reach for the Mark, But Still Fall Short

First, let me openly state that I love Apple products. I find they are beautifully designed and constructed, and for the most part function as advertised. I never touched an Apple computer until I purchased a MacBook Pro back in July of 2006. Initially, I was doubtful as to the claims of stability, and ease of use synonymous with Apple's reputation, but it didn't take long for me to recognize and appreciate the advantages gained from a company's tight control over both hardware and software.

I was unaware of it at the time, but Apple products would soon wind up playing a dominant role in fulfilling my technology needs. Shortly after the laptop, my next Apple purchase was an AirPort Extreme Base Station, followed by AppleTV, a Mac Pro, and an iPhone. The other day I actually made the mistake of calculating the total dollars I had spent on Apple stuff, something I still regret doing. Perhaps I should have just taken the money and invested it in Apple's stock. (crap)!

Apple TV...

For the most part I am very pleased with ALL my Apple purchases, however, there are a few things that really irk me. The first that comes to mind is AppleTV. This product's shortcomings have been well documented on the internet, but while I agree with most AppleTV owners, I think we sometimes expect too much of this product. This isn't our fault though, as it was Apple's decision to pack this little box with tons of potential, and then limit its functionality by sealing it up tighter than a drum.

I refuse to believe that the creators of AppleTV did not consider that many early adopters of the device would be buying this thing to serve as the content providing hub of a media-center. It has all the appropriate connections to be coupled to an HDTV and AV Receiver, yet because it lacks the proper codecs, it is not capable of passing multi-channel dolby digital audio to your system. Of course this can be easily remedied if only Apple would allow us to access the operating system via the unit's defunct USB port. Hardware limitations are one thing, but intentionally crippling the device via its software will only serve to inflame and frustrate owners (like me). I know, there are other ways, but I refuse to dismantle and hack into the device only to have all my hard work undone by a future upgrade from Apple.

The other thing that really bugs me, is the way in which movies are cataloged and tagged. This is a really easy one to fix, but Apple has still chosen to do nothing about it. Displaying all of your movies in a lengthy alphabetical list, with no other sorting or grouping options, is simply unacceptable. Metadata for video in iTunes still seems like an afterthought. How difficult would it be for Apple to port the cataloging capabilities found in the iTunes audio section over to video? After all, AppleTV is both an audio and video device, they deserve equal treatment!

That being said, I still love my AppleTV. I am not one of those owners who gripe about not being able to add external storage, or the unit's lack of DVR functionality. I also have no objections to using iTunes as my central media manager. People who feel strongly about these shortcomings are missing the intended purpose of this device, and would be much better served by a Mac Mini. Since AppleTV has only received one update since its introduction, my only question is this... what is Apple waiting for!

On to the iPhone...

I am not a real power cell phone user, so I will only touch on the one major gripe I have with this amazing device, that being iPhone's lack of A2DP stereo Bluetooth support. This is by no means considered a luxury feature, and is commonly found on most brands of multi-media enabled cell phones. Everything I have read states that the iPhone's hardware is fully capable of supporting this highly sought after feature, yet Apple has once again chosen to cripple the device via its software!

Naturally the only logical explanation is that Apple does not manufacture their own stereo Bluetooth headset, and will enable this feature if and when they become available to the public. Ok then, I reiterate... what is Apple waiting for?

Apple's mono Bluetooth headset was available almost immediately after the iPhone launched back in June 2007. Since the iPhone is a very capable iPod, Apple had to anticipate that owners would be very interested in using a stereo Bluetooth headset with the unit. Why did they not develop their own in time for the iPhone launch? If this was not possible, surely they could have managed to release a product in the months that followed; but here we are in January of 2008 and still nothing.

I personally find it appalling that Apple is forcing iPhone owners to go without this feature. The supplied earbuds are sub par, and to invest in a new pair of wired headphones when Apple can enable stereo Bluetooth with the flick of a switch is not prudent. So I, and many others, lie wallowing in uncertainty.

To Apple, silence is golden...

When all is said and done, I guess it's the uncertainty that gets to me most. Apple seems to pride itself on the stealthy way in which it does business. This method apparently works in their favor by causing followers to stir up rumors which heighten demand for upcoming products and upgrades. In some cases though, this technique is just plain unnecessary, and unfair.

Apple should be more forthright with the people who have chosen to buy into their technology. Instead, loyal customers are forced to wait for features that may never materialize. Those who grow impatient might find themselves making purchases they will regret should Apple suddenly fulfill their hopes with a software update.

Which brings me to my final thoughts. For the most part, Apple's products are spectacular, and perform extraordinarily well right out of the gate. My disappointment stems from the fact that once the newness wears off, long-lasting satisfaction often rests in the smaller details; and this is where AppleTV and the iPhone currently fall short. Until Apple adequately responds to its customer's needs, these products will always be a software update away from perfection, but maybe that's just how Apple wants it to be.

Copyright 2008 - Written by: Michael Casamento

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