Apple TV 3.0 to be available for all Macs as Front Row replacement?

[ipedro]

I've been wondering what incentive Apple has to keep Front Row behind in features to tv. I understand that Apple may want to differentiate their home entertainment device but other than encouraging people who already own a Mac to get a separate device, I don't see any more advantages.

On the other hand however, if Apple were to introduce tv's next software (3.0) into all Mac's, all of a sudden, every Mac owner would have an "tv". They'd quickly figure out its usefulness and want a separate always on device to place under the TV. Many would choose to buy the purpose built tv because it's relatively inexpensive and would have little other use since it would sit under the TV the whole time.

Apple has only to gain from replicating tv as Front Row on all Macs.

[Tallest Skil]

Or they'd find that they have no need for one now that their computer does the same thing.

[steviem]

What Apple should do is either redesign the :apple:tv firmware to enable you to play games on it, or they should half the price. Games consoles, well the xbox360, are cheaper than it, can connect to your mac to be able to stream tv and play some great games.

The :apple:tv should be more like £99, thats a reasonable price point for its function.

[zap2]

Seems kind of unlikely....i mean :apple:TV is built so it can stand alone...but on a Mac, you have iTunes to buy/rent your media from....sure its be useful for some, but I don't know if Apple wants to remove the push they have for people to pick up an AppleTV vs use their old mac.

[ChrisN]

Apple has only to gain from replicating tv as Front Row on all Macs.

I'd rather have apple tv as a stand alone box, I personally never use front row and I'd hate to watch my movies on a small screen and I wouldn't want to buy cables to hook up my computer to my tv.

ChrisN

[ipedro]

I'm not saying that they should get rid of the tv. I'm suggesting that Front Row be brought into equality with tv. This way, every single Mac owner would experience it and be encouraged to look at the idea of picking up an tv as their dedicated media server.

With the iPod Touch, Apple at first artificially reduced its features to protect the iPhone but soon opened up features such as email and made the software on par with iPhone.

I think the same parallels exist with tv vis-a-vis Front Row. Sure some people would use their existing Macs as an tv but these are the people who wouldn't buy one to begin with. For everybody else, it's a trojan horse to get the tv system in front of them.

[bluehoo]

I agree, they should make both interfaces the same. It would be easier for them to maintain 1 interface for the two platforms instead of the current 2, and I could see it spurring more people to buy an Apple TV.

I'm crossing my fingers that there will be a 3.0 update at MacWorld to even consider applying to the Mac.