I pulled out the video out adapter for my 12” Alum Powerbook and cabled to a 42” HD set. For anyone craving a big monitor this works. Also worked with my wife’s MacBook. You can sit on the sofa and do spread sheets or watch TOS screens. Really surprised me. My Apple TV is great but this set-up rocks.

or perhaps this ?

Justs how long are your cables? Or is the couch inches from the TV? Is it possible to stream computer to the AppleTV (not iTunes content)?

I really *hope* the new spots are for movie rentals and/or a new AppleTV model… but I seriously doubt this will happen yet. Instead, here’s another less-glamorous but still exciting possibility. It is my 100% pure speculation based on the displays that are coming to retail stores for Black Friday:

Giant nutcrackers coming to retail stores

And the 5-10 TV spots mentioned by superbaka? Well,   rumor has it that Black Friday will feature discounts on five products: iMac, iPods, iPod touch, iPhones and AppleTV. Could each of these get its own ad featuring animated nutcrackers? With the giant nutcracker models being placed as guards at or near the doors of Apple stores?

Again, all of this is just speculation. But new AppleTV models/upgrades/ads seem unlikely to me until January at the earliest since rumors suggest Apple is using Black Friday and the holidays to clear out existing AppleTVs with big discounts.

Therefore, I’d guess an AppleTV announcement would be either at MacWorld or a special event—can’t see something this big getting lost in the mix or overshadowed by other sales/discounts.

Black Friday is next Friday. The ads aren’t likely to air before then. And Apple has never run any TV spots for Black Friday.

Have you actually seen giant Nutcrakers in Apple Stores?

Has everyone seen the newer Mac ads ?

If these ads are for a new product they will not be shown till after black Friday IMO. There is no blurring of lines between Apple promotions.

[quote author=“willrob”]Have you actually seen giant Nutcrakers in Apple Stores?

No—they’re not up yet. But as the article linked in my earlier post purports, the nutcrackers will be up for Black Friday and throughout the holidays. I can envision a series of ads with animated nutcrackers and the entire Apple lineup that runs from Thanksgiving through Christmas.

I have no idea whether the new ads will feature nutcrackers—I was just guessing this based on three things we do know: (1) superbaka’s post said that there was to be animation, and (2) Apple is thought to have a strong holiday lineup this year which might justify a strong holiday ad blitz (3) The Apple stores will feature large nutcrackers as part of their holiday display.

I agree 100% with SNIPUS that Apple won’t make things too confusing by introducing new product(s) on or before Black Friday. Frankly, I think an AppleTV intro anytime before Christmas might serve to divert some shoppers from iMacs and iPods and iPhones. These three are so strong right now that they deserve the spotlight. Let everybody buy iMacs, iPhones, and iPods for Christmas. Then hit them in January or later in ‘08 with a new killer product that they simply have to buy—AppleTV with movie rentals (and maybe DVR?).

Again, all just speculation and I could be way off base.