Why only 720P?

Question

Level 1

8 points

Why only 720P?

I'm still thinking about buying one of the new Apple TV units but can't help but wondering why they only ramped up the video resolution to 720p. If you are going to make a product that is supposed to supply high def video to large TVs why wouldn't you run the highest resolution that is the current standard?

Since I already have a PS3 which can output 1080i/1080p and stream Netfix and YouTube the new Apple TV would really just be a streaming adapter for content from my Macs to my TV.

Kind of disappointing really that it doesn't output higher resolution.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6), iPhone 3GS

Posted on Sep 3, 2010 7:42 AM

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Answer 1

Chenks

Level 5

7,435 points

Sep 3, 2010 7:50 AM in response to Russ Waldron

Russ Waldron wrote:
I'm still thinking about buying one of the new Apple TV units but can't help but wondering why they only ramped up the video resolution to 720p. If you are going to make a product that is supposed to supply high def video to large TVs why wouldn't you run the highest resolution that is the current standard?

720p is HD, and that is also what the original appletv supported.
the itunes store doesn't not supply any HD content over 720P so i suspect that is why.

i am not aware of any internet content available at 1080p, so there is no other device out there does anything over 720p.

your PS3 may support 1080p but netflix isn't supplying it with a 1080p feed.

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Answer 2

capaho

Level 4

3,673 points

Sep 3, 2010 8:28 AM in response to Russ Waldron

720p is a limitation of the hardware. There isn't any 1080p content available from Netflix nor the iTunes store, so it doesn't matter. The PS3 has a lot more horsepower and can play Blu-ray discs, thus it can do 1080p. The hardware between the two is not comparable, nor is the price.

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