iBox Followup?

[MacRumors]

MacOSX.com claims (http://www.macosx.com/content/article.php?cid=55) to have more details from "another informant" with an artist's rendition.

Readers are reminded that fakes tend to run rampant pre-MacWorld. This product may resemble a rumor that made our Rumor Reject List (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2003/12/20031230043507.shtml) from 2003.

[tyson12zoll]

I want this product, but it has to have quality outputs like component, DVI, or better. Optical Audio seems like a must as well.

[restiffbard]

I can use illustrator and photoshop too. why would apple use a left right up down cursor? wouldn't they use the wheel from the ipod?

[Wonder Boy]

ill have 2, thank you for asking.

[crees!]

Originally posted by restiffbard
I can use illustrator and photoshop too. why would apple use a left right up down cursor? wouldn't they use the wheel from the ipod?

Sounds like a nice added touch.

[whfsdude]

I’d love to believe it true but I don’t think so :(

I'd also buy one.

[Nermal]

All will be revealed next week :)

[Chaszmyr]

Originally posted by whfsdude
I’d love to believe it true but I don’t think so :(

I'd also buy one.

My thoughts exactly

[Squire]

This thing sounds pretty cool. I don't know much about TiVO. How would this stack up? Better? Not as good? Or a slightly different market?

I still only have an early Japanese model PS2; no DVD player. This might be just the device my living room needs.

Squire

P.S. Oh, speaking of the PS2, wouldn't this compete directly with Sony's new PSX?

[centauratlas]

I hope they do something like this. Integration with a ReplayTV/TiVo type feature would be a very nice thing. Then if it can run Java then it can run dvarchive (http://sourceforge.net/projects/dvarchive/) which would let it integrate with at least some PVRs.

I'll believe it *when* I see it though.

[Jerry Spoon]

Originally posted by Squire
This thing sounds pretty cool. I don't know much about TiVO. How would this stack up? Better? Not as good? Or a slightly different market?

Doesn't give the program listings and searches that tivo allows, but if this also came with a superdrive in it, that would be cool. Plus, if I could wirelessly pull photos from my mac...this might encourage me to keep using iPhoto. No monthly or lifetime subscription like you'd have with tivo. I like that.

I still doubt this rumor is true though, although I'd buy one in a second.

Anyone know the hard drive sizes in the tivo players?

Anyone know what Apple's '95 prototype actually did with the tv?

[Dreadnought]

Sorry, haven't been following the ibox rumors. It looks like a vcr or dvd player! Or is it more then that? DVD player/recorder with built in HD and tv and radio tuner? Ofcourse with firewire on the back to put it into your mac. Ow and a couple of USB ports for controllers! So you can also play games with it!! And it can all kinds of games, the XBOX, Gamecube, PS1 and 2 :D (just letting my imatination run wild!)

[Squire]

Originally posted by Jerry Spoon
Anyone know what Apple's '95 prototype actually did with the tv?

I thought Arn said he had one. If so, he probably knows. ;) Unless of course it doesn't work.

Squire

<edit: I doubt it's true but how often is there that much detail in a rumor? It's about 4 pages of text. That's the only thing that makes me think there's even a small chance of it being true.>

[amichalo]

This would be a spectacular device, but MacOSX.com should have placed this "news" item under the "wish list" category.

It does disservice to Apple's brand when people concoct such stories. Inevitably, some folks believe the rumors and change purchasing plans in the hopes of an imaginary device.

Of course, the Mac faithful never purchase in the weeks leading up to MacWorld, and Apple helps by "out of stock"ing many items about the be upgraded.

Still, this fanciful wish would hold more water with me if it were just stated that it was a dream and not reported by "a member of a testing program" - Is this even in Apple's MO? I thought the testing program was Steve's job ;)

[Le Big Mac]

Originally posted by restiffbard
wouldn't they use the wheel from the ipod?

Well, not even the iPod uses the wheel anymore :D

Anyway, what exactly would this iBox do?

What I'd hope for is essentially a box that allows me to access the media on my computer through a network (wired or wireless) so I could route itunes/iphoto/imovie onto my TV or audio system. I don't want my mac in my living room, and I don't want a bunch of wires running there. One ethernet would be enough. Am I asking too much?

[Jerry Spoon]

Originally posted by Squire

<edit: I doubt it's true but how often is there that much detail in a rumor? It's about 4 pages of text. That's the only thing that makes me think there's even a small chance of it being true.>

I wouldn't doubt that apple might be working on some type of prototype to this, just to explore the possibility. What I really doubt is that it's anywhere near coming out or that it ever will come out. Maybe someone got ahold of some specs to this new prototype.

Hey Arn, do you know what the '95 prototype set did with the tv?

[Laslo Panaflex]

A little off topic.

I personally would not buy this. I just got a PVR cable box from charter that is way better then my tivo at work. With the cable box I can record 2 shows at once and not have to watch the show that I am recording. You can't do that with Tivo, at least I couldn't find out how. It can record 50 hours of HQ video, on what I think is an internal 180gig drive. Best of all I didn't have to buy the box, all I pay is 10 bucks a month for rental of the box on top of my regular cable bill. It's the best thing to come out of charter in a long time.

I don't need another box to connect to my computer wirelessly, I have a 2gig G5, I would rather do all my photo music tasks on that, rahter than through a wireless conected box on my TV that is in turn connected to my computer.

[bograt]

I'm sucked in completely by this one - its probably too good to be true but who cares!

Give the public what they want (at a price of course)

Any idea on if it will even come out in the UK? This is the most important issue - sod iTunes music store - this thing is better.

[Jerry Spoon]

Originally posted by Laslo Panaflex
A little off topic.

I personally would not buy this. I just got a PVR cable box from charter that is way better then my tivo at work. With the cable box I can record 2 shows at once and not have to watch the show that I am recording. You can't do that with Tivo, at least I couldn't find out how. It can record 50 hours of HQ video, on what I think is an internal 180gig drive. Best of all I didn't have to buy the box, all I pay is 10 bucks a month for rental of the box on top of my regular cable bill. It's the best thing to come out of charter in a long time.

I don't need another box to connect to my computer wirelessly, I have a 2gig G5, I would rather do all my photo music tasks on that, rahter than through a wireless conected box on my TV that is in turn connected to my computer.

Shoot! Charter in St. Louis doesn't offer this. Darn midwest! Hopefully soon. I'd love this.

[ITR 81]

Reminds me of this
http://www.2khappyware.com/ibox/

As long as it can play DVD's and record digital tv I'm fine with it.

[macMaestro]

Originally posted by Laslo Panaflex
...With the cable box I can record 2 shows at once and not have to watch the show that I am recording. You can't do that with Tivo...

TiVo can do this. I too however, would not buy this if the only features are those described in the article.


-Recording TV. My TiVo does that, and also offers the guide that this apparently does not.

-Transfering recorded TV to the mac. Some people might find this useful, most would not. I see this as a sweet method to pirate TV over the internet easily.

-Accessing photos and tunes from your computer. I can see tunes as being useful, but I for one would never put a slideshow on my TV. What a waste of energy (electricity, not physical effort).

-Home server-ish feature. How many people do you really think are going to use this? And if you were, chances are you are something of a geek enough to set up one with a cheap PC for much less $$$.

-iBoxRemote. The most un-appleish name I have heard preposed in a while. Plus don't the newer TiVos have something along the same lines?

-SuperDrive. Personally, burning CD's and DVD's is not something I want to do from my TV. I want to do this on my mac. And the ability to watch DVDs is really offset when you consider that you can buy el cheapo DVD player for 50 bucks. I can get a decent player for 100.

-Importing photos from a camera. Who on earth would want to do that from their TV??? That's what a computer is for.

-Playing Tunes. This I have to admit, would be useful. I believe the newer TiVos can do something like this and play from iTunes, but iTunes on your computer playing off a set-top box would be useful.

-Playing Ipod. Useful, but easily done with a stereo and an iPod dock. For $30. As opposed to $600.

-Cell Phone junk. Junk. Period. Worthless feature.

My reasons. Disagree with them, whatever. I would not buy one of these.

[jettredmont]

Originally posted by Laslo Panaflex
A little off topic.

I personally would not buy this. I just got a PVR cable box from charter that is way better then my tivo at work. With the cable box I can record 2 shows at once and not have to watch the show that I am recording. You can't do that with Tivo, at least I couldn't find out how. It can record 50 hours of HQ video, on what I think is an internal 180gig drive. Best of all I didn't have to buy the box, all I pay is 10 bucks a month for rental of the box on top of my regular cable bill. It's the best thing to come out of charter in a long time.


You have a two-tuner "Tivo" (used as a generic name fr DVR; most likely no connection to Tivo the company) inside your cable box, that's all. You can also buy such units, although Tivo doesn't support proprietary and local cable systems (cable systems keep their boxes proprietary to keep people from "hijacking" cable ... not that it works, but you'll rarely see the same cable box technology in use in two different cities). Two-tuner Tivo's can do the "basic" cable channels, but it's fairly unlikely that you'd ever have a burning desire to record both what's on NBC and CBS at the same time ... Two-tuner Tivo's do, however, work with DirectTV. And you can buy/rent them from most other service providers (Dish, cable companies).

Whew. That having been said, no, I doubt that an Apple box will be able to record multiple channels at once, because it is unlikely that it can record non-basic-cable channels to begin with, and putting two tuners in to decode two channels of basic cable at once is kind of silly.

On the other hand, a single-tuner system still works pretty well for the other 90% of the population. I mean, how many VCR's will record a (non-basic-cable) channel and let you watch another (non-basic-cable) channel at the same time? We've been collectively living with that limitation for a few decades now, yet few ever complain.


I don't need another box to connect to my computer wirelessly, I have a 2gig G5, I would rather do all my photo music tasks on that, rahter than through a wireless conected box on my TV that is in turn connected to my computer.

I doubt you'd be doing any heavy editting in the living room. I suspect this would be more of a public display device for what you've done on your little slice of a supercomputer. Personally, I'd buy a couple for just this purpose.

[mian]

This might be an interesting addition.

http://www.1394ta.org/Press/2003Press/december/12.08.a.htm

[jcroft]

I'm not really buying this rumor, and if it is true, I hope it's inaccurate.

I love the concept of an Apple set-top box, but as described, this iBox doesn't cut it. As has been mentioned, most of this can already be done with a TiVo Series2 with the Home Media Option.

If Apple were smart, they'd use the relationship they've already developed with TiVo to their advantage. They ought to license the TiVo system and build new hardware and UI for it. What I have in mind is basically this iBox, but with TiVo built-in. This is not a stretch -- other companys have rebranded TiVo while adding features (for example, Sony makes a DirecTiVo, which is effectivley a TiVo and DirectTV receiver in one).

My version of the iBox would have these features over the one presented on MacOSX.com:

- Program Guide
- Easy program sheduling and season passes (via Program Guide)
- Ability to pause and replay live TV.


It would have these features over the TiVo Series 2 with Home Media Option:

- Superdrive built-in (coupld play and record DVDs and CDs)
- Optical Audio Out (absolutle must for any DVD player, otherwise surround sound is not possible)
- DVI and Component video out (not currently on TiVo, I don't believe)
- Apple UI to iTunes and iPhoto (TiVo Home Media Option plays from iTunes and iPhoto, but with a TiVo-style UI, not Apple's great UI work).
- Apple UI to all TiVo features (Program Guide, Scheduling, etc.)
- Ability to route media from iBox to computers (TiVo cannot do this), both streaming and downloading.
- Built-in hard drive can be used for Photos/Music etc (TiVo's can only be used for recorded TV)
- External USB and Firewire ports for iPod and Digital Camera connections.

As it stands, the iBox presented on MacOSX.com wouldn't compete with TiVo, and also wouldn't work well with it. TiVo has changed the way I watch TV as much as the Mac changed the way we all used computers. TiVo + Apple is a natural fit. Apple making a half-assed TiVo will go nowhere.

[jeffmc425]

Um, the photo on Macrumors has the old multi colored logo, and this box looks so similar to the one in 1995 that they tried in teh Tele-TV trials in Reston Va. and failed. I think if Apple is doing one, it is gling to look more "aluminum" and a new logo, and most likely will not try to infringe on TiVo's patents, etc and be more like a Digital VCR, and an MP3/AAC playback via rendezvous. Sort of what the Turtle Beach Audiotron was, but with Video recording.

I would be surprised to see this announced at Macworld. But, hey, if they did, I'd buy one. What's another toy in the pile?

[edgar_is_good]

Originally posted by jettredmont
You have a two-tuner "Tivo" (used as a generic name fr DVR; most likely no connection to Tivo the company) inside your cable box, that's all. You can also buy such units, although Tivo doesn't support proprietary and local cable systems (cable systems keep their boxes proprietary to keep people from "hijacking" cable ... not that it works, but you'll rarely see the same cable box technology in use in two different cities).

I think it's more than merely two-tuners. The two-tuner TiVo's I thought were just DirectTiVo. However, the signal there is already digital, so one merely needs to tune in and record. Ordinary (i.e., analog) DVRs have just one encoder, so it's more than just a tuner, you need more hardware, or, at least, better processing power, to handle two encodings in real-time.

[macMaestro]

Originally posted by jcroft
If Apple were smart, they'd use the relationship they've already developed with TiVo to their advantage. They ought to license the TiVo system and build new hardware and UI for it.

Agreed.

[fixyourthinking]

Originally posted by Jerry Spoon


Anyone know what Apple's '95 prototype actually did with the tv?

It was was "trialed" at Walt Disney in California in about 1200 Hotel Rooms and in Florida at about 3500 Hotel rooms.

I have purchased 5 of them on eBay and know someone who had the three different types. They go on eBay for as little as $25 + shipping and I think are a true Apple collectible - they are basically a fast 68040 Machine. The coolest part is the remote. The remotes are even more rare and control the box and Sony TVs.

They were mainly used to connect to services via the television - like shopping on Main St USA (at Disney) - shopping for clothes from Neiman Marcus (thru Disney) - and ordering food (room service)... at least this is the content I have seen on several drives (they had 240MB hard drives for the content but also had network content)

[OutThere]

Thanks for the input adzoox!

My take on the so-called 'iBox'

a) I think that iBox is definitley not a name that Apple would use. They could have called iTunes iMusic, or iPhoto iPictures. Both of which are ugly names, thus I think that they would come up with something more interesting, with a less 'blunt' sound to it.

b) I really don't think that it would need a very 900 G3 to do what it does. The Xbox only has a 700 PIII. That's wicked slow, yet since the machine is dedicated to playing games, it doesn't waste any power managing an OS or anything else that a computer has to do all the time.

c) To be competitive these days it should definitley have a bigger hard drive. If it's going to be recording stuff on TV it should at least try to keep up with the huge hard drives that people are putting in DVRs these days.

d) Does a DVR use a lot of memory? It doesn't run any apps besides iTunes. All it would use memory for would be some light caching as video goes in and out (remember NTSC video is 720x480, not the most amazing res.). From expierience Apple has always under-RAMed their computers, and I think that they would never put in more RAM than it needs, and I can't imagine a set-top box needing 128 MB of RAM

e) In contrast to what I said before, it wouldn't need 80 gigs of HD space if it can't get TV listings, and from what they said about it, it doesn't seem like it has a direct purpose, so it would be kind of a multi-tool hub station, DVR, home theater, slide show viewer, wireless tool gizmo.

I think that the person who wrote this about the iBox was trying to incorporate everything about the Mac OS X digital hub, along with a DVD player, as well as a DVR. It has long been known that these kinds of things are messy, when you get a PDA that goes online, records video, makes phone calls, takes pictures and feeds your dog, you get somewhat lost. Apple would really have to work to make this simple and easy to use, and have it be competitive. I think that by releasing this multi-hub thing Apple would be entering a market that has already been established, unlike their early jump with the iPod. The iPod came out before MP3 players had hit it big with the masses, and therefore it was able to be debugged, refined and retooled as Mp3 players took off, now, the DVR, DVD player, and home theater market's are already swarming with incredibly high-quality products, for low prices that work very well. Apple would have to make a complete U-Turn in their typical, 'Release, refine, sit back" strategy, in which they would have had to have been refining and testing for months before now.

From this I think that this rumor is false, or at least incredibly inaccurate.

Thats my $50,000,000, if you disagree then go buy yourself a Twinkie, then eat it while sitting in your car in front of a McDonalds, while listening to Joni Mitchell.

[network23]

Just to clarify...

The tuner does not allow TiVo to record two programs at once, it's the D/A converter. No TiVo has two converters. The reason the DirectTiVo's (and only the DirectTiVo's) can record two programs at once is because the DirectTV box has its own converter and can send the converted video to TiVo for recording. The converter is, I believe, the most expensive part of the unit and would make TiVo's much too expensive if they were to make one with two converters.

[SeaFox]

Hey look! It's the pizza box Mac we keep asking for.

Just stick in a 1Ghz G4 and a graphics card, slim HD and let us run Panther on it.

[OutThere]

Originally posted by SeaFox
Hey look! It's the pizza box Mac we keep asking for.

Just stick in a 1Ghz G4 and a graphics card, slim HD and let us run Panther on it.

You could also do that with a Powerbook or iBook, just rip the screen and keyboard off...

[jettredmont]

Originally posted by jcroft
My version of the iBox would have these features over the one presented on MacOSX.com:

- Program Guide


Hmmm. Odd. I read the original rumor as including an EPG (Apple would be downright foolish not to, since it can be gotten over the net connection for free ... although Gateway's DVR overlooked this, I always thought Apple was smarter than Gateway ...), just not the "search" and "season pass" and "record what shows it thinks you might like without you telling it" features of Tivo.

Rereading, the statement in the article isn't clear at all:


The iBox can be scheduled to record TV, but unlike TiVos it does not serve as a "what's on and when" service rather a hard drive / media based recording device (new aged VCR).

...

The iBox has its own on-screen set up and scheduler, but you also have the option of setting the iBox remotely.

[jettredmont]

Originally posted by edgar_is_good
I think it's more than merely two-tuners. The two-tuner TiVo's I thought were just DirectTiVo. However, the signal there is already digital, so one merely needs to tune in and record. Ordinary (i.e., analog) DVRs have just one encoder, so it's more than just a tuner, you need more hardware, or, at least, better processing power, to handle two encodings in real-time.

Well, yes, you have to be able to process and write two data streams at once. Microsoft's old models did two-stream analog ("UltimateTV"); I believe there are two-tuner analog Tivo's out there too.

Also, I believe early-model DirectTivo's reconverted the signal from DirecTV's MPEG-2, and may still do so if you go to a "lower quality/longer play" setting on the recorder. I say this because specific units last year or so used the non-reencoding as a selling feature over other brands'.

[maxterpiece]

there is no freaking way that apple is even considering a device like this. It's an overpriced TiVO in a market where TiVO isn't even making money (despite the fact that it is apparently a great product). I personally guarantee that this will not happen.

[SeaFox]

Originally posted by OutThere761
You could also do that with a Powerbook or iBook, just rip the screen and keyboard off...

Well, but I don't want to pay for the screen and keyboard first is the point.

[OutThere]

Originally posted by jettredmont
Hmmm. Odd. I read the original rumor as including an EPG (Apple would be downright foolish not to, since it can be gotten over the net connection for free ... although Gateway's DVR overlooked this, I always thought Apple was smarter than Gateway ...), just not the "search" and "season pass" and "record what shows it thinks you might like without you telling it" features of Tivo.

Rereading, the statement in the article isn't clear at all:


I think that this is a sign that it was invented by someone, and the person who invented it was not really sure what they should put in it.

[sigamy]

Apple has never supported DVD authoring on a G3. Without a dedicated MPEG 2 encoder, it would take the whole weekend to render 50 minutes to a DVD...what do you do with the iBox during that time?

Tivo subsidizes their box manufactures, and sells the boxes at a loss in hopes of gaining licensing/service fee revenue.

When was the last time that Apple cut its nice margins and sold hardware at a loss?

I'm not buying this at all. Pure fiction.

[SeaFox]

Originally posted by sigamy
Tivo subsidizes their box manufactures, and sells the boxes at a loss in hopes of gaining licensing/service fee revenue.

When was the last time that Apple cut its nice margins and sold hardware at a loss?


I'd rather pay more for the box and not be at the mercy of a subscription service of any sort.

What are all those TiVo owners going to do if the company were to suddenly get wiped off the map? Expensive paperweight.

[SiliconAddict]

I'd like to get one but priorities first. I have an aging 28" TV that has magnetic burn in from the speakers sitting next to it along with a ghosting barely visible vertical strip on screen.
Before adding any cool gizmos to the system I want to upgrade to a Sony widescreen 40" high def TV and that's after I get my G5 PowerBook paid off. So even if Apple came out with such a device I'd probably end up getting a second gen iBox.

[tny]

Originally posted by Jerry Spoon
No monthly or lifetime subscription like you'd have with tivo. I like that.


Actually, if Apple did come out with a PVR, I'd expect the listings to be provided to .Mac subscribers.


Anyone know the hard drive sizes in the tivo players?


I think 40 and 80 GB.

[Squire]

If this thing becomes a reality, I wonder how it will stack up (performance-, sales-, and price-wise) against Sony's new PSX, which, by the way, sold out in a few minutes! Read:

PSX Sells Out in Japan


Sony's all-in-one unit lasts on shelves for a few minutes.















December 17, 2003 - Sony's new PSX device has nearly sold through the first shipment in its first day of sale. Many customers stayed in long lines at stores only to leave empty-handed. Large amounts of pre-orders cleared the shelves before many shoppers had a chance to enter the front door.

Due to Sony stripping some of the PSX features for a Christmas launch, the hordes of analysts that follow Sony's every move predicted that sales would be lower than expected. They're now saying that sales will hold strong for a couple months and then drop off. Sony has been firm in its belief that at least one million units will sell in Japan in the next year.

-- Ed Lewis

[iAtom]

Originally posted by jeffmc425
Um, the photo on Macrumors has the old multi colored logo, and this box looks so similar to the one in 1995 that they tried in teh Tele-TV trials in Reston Va. and failed. I think if Apple is doing one, it is gling to look more "aluminum" and a new logo, and most likely will not try to infringe on TiVo's patents, etc and be more like a Digital VCR, and an MP3/AAC playback via rendezvous. Sort of what the Turtle Beach Audiotron was, but with Video recording.

Actually, that was a picture of the one from 1995.

I would love to have one of these things if they are ever released, but I would hope they would release a cheaper model without a super drive, because if it can send the files to my computer, I would just burn them there.

[MacFly]

There are several products on the high end home theater market that allow users to put their entire DVD collection on a central hard drive and make available to several televisions throughout the house. These products also stream music and internet radio. Microsoft just announced a device that will allow you to stream content from your computer to your TV through either a standalone box or a new hyped up version of the Xbox.

I love my DVR and believe this will be the next logical step in home theater. A receiver on the tv that can store programing on a central server and be made available to another TV either through the new ultra wireless that is being developed or a wired network. I hope Apple really is working on this and if they do they have consulted the industry. DVI is going to slowly be replaced by HDMI so I would love to see Apple be ahead of the game and include this connection.

Sign me up for 3 or 4 iboxes and one G5 or maybe an Xserve to store a serious movie collection to stream away throughout the house.

[MacFly]

There are several products on the high end home theater market that allow users to put their entire DVD collection on a central hard drive and make available to several televisions throughout the house. These products also stream music and internet radio. Microsoft just announced a device that will allow you to stream content from your computer to your TV through either a standalone box or a new hyped up version of the Xbox.

I love my DVR and believe this will be the next logical step in home theater. A receiver on the tv that can store programing on a central server and be made available to another TV either through the new ultra wireless that is being developed or a wired network. I hope Apple really is working on this and if they do they have consulted the industry. DVI is going to slowly be replaced by HDMI so I would love to see Apple be ahead of the game and include this connection.

Sign me up for 3 or 4 iboxes and one G5 or maybe an Xserve to store a serious movie collection to stream away throughout the house.

[medhed]

http://www.elgato.com/products/eyehome.html

Looks exactly like most of the proto-types I've been seeing, most of the features:

Works with iTunes, iPhoto, DivX, Mpegs, web browsing, etc.

Even integrates with their other product: eyeTV for DVR-ing TV.

No DVD-Burning though, but a Superdrive on your Mac would archive shows.

Sounds like it to me.

Destently priced too @ $250. (eyeTV, althou not required, is seperate purchase thou).

I'm thinking of getting one of these over a MODded Xbox or PS2, cause I could careless for playing games. I want a set-top convergence box! :P

Althou, an Apple release product would be MUCH more desirable. ;)

[Squire]

I was considering a Sony PSX but if this interacts well with my Mac, it would be pretty hard to beat. Cool.

Squire

[GregA]

macMaestro said he wouldn't buy this because the Tivo already records TV (with guide!), photos are no good on TV (and you would import to the Mac), who'd want a home server, burning CDs and DVDs should be done on the Mac, and the iPod already plays tunes on the stereo.

The thing is - do you currently also have a DVD player and VCR? This could change that. (And many people don't have a Tivo, iPod, & Mac - making this device more appealing)

There's a few facts that must be going through Apple's collective minds in their design here...
A) There is value in having iTunes on the stereo
B) The TV is a viewing medium, not a sit down and type medium (photos are viewing too)
C) DVDs are very popular
D) People are used to recording stuff off the TV to watch later.
E) The cable companies are using their own boxes, mainly.
F) Not everyone has a computer
G) This has to be EASY to use.

So I'm thinking several things about how an iBox might work.
1. it'll be marketed as a replacement for DVD player and VCR.
Record to DVD rewriteables (default LP recording 2hrs)
2. It'll have to have a harddisk - but movies won't stay on it except as a cache while compressing.
3. Copy CDs, & iTunes management of music
4. Copy home movies via firewire (default DVD-R SP recording of 1hr)
5. For photos - plug in your USB camera, iPhoto management of photos (or add to your DVD-RW hard copy). (if you don't have digital camera yet get your local camera shop to develop your film onto CD (Kodak CD?) and load that).
6. "Prosumer" features.
* Remote management from a computer (use rendezvous or an iBox-iChat login).
* TV guide on the remote computer, for programming recordings
* Pause Live TV
* Store video temporarily in the system (up to 15 hours?)

People can buy this with 20 blank DVD-RWs and just start using it. Your remote has 3 modes - TV, Photo, Tunes (& maybe an upmarket model has "Tivo" too). Depending on what you plug into it (DVD, CD, still camera etc etc) the system will have a pretty good guess at what you want.

If this is cheap enough (cheaper than existing DVD recorders?) I think it would be a best seller!

[shmow]

Interesting idea but a product that may take a while to develop and test and to put into production. Hopefully a future product from Apple. Either way I really would like one!

[jap4n]

yeah - it doesnt sound very realistic. i mean.. a G3 500, 128mb ram with, er, a superdrive!?

i'd like to see that...

i'm sure they'd use at least a G4 1ghz

and at least 256mb ram.

So, if it was true... you'd record/watch tv/media.. on the tv? then, could you transfer the just recorded media to your mac in the other room via airport?

again this thing sounds pretty unrealistic.. would be kinda cool.. but... lets not get our hopes up.