Google TV: Will Apple put up a fight?

I hope so! Apple really needs a kick in the balls to get moving on the Home Theater front. ATV has been left in the ditch for way too long.

This is the perfect example of a company needing competition to spur improvement and innovation.

This might actually get Apple started on finally updating the Apple TV. We can only hope.

I agree, I'd love them to take it more seriously. I use a macmini to get the job done but I know the integration can be done a bit better somehow.

As to Google, Sony and others entering the mix I never even knew about that so it's very good to hear.

Be fantastic if TV's are the new battleground.

klrobinson999 said:

Some background on Google TV from Gizmodo:

http://gizmodo.com/5495856/a-google-tv-set+top-box-is-coming


Note that web access is almost definite and they are looking at BluRay player compatibility.

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Thanks for that. Was look on Engadget and saw nothing. I'd actually really like a open type platform like that even though I know it's all going to be streamed media plus the odd disc.

klrobinson999 said:

Maybe Apple should look into buying tIvo?

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Hopefully someone with some motivation will buy TiVo. The only thing slower than the pace of TiVo's "innovation" in recent years is the pace of Apple's "innovation" wrt Apple TV.

Apple could do (and has done) worse than buying TiVo. E.g. they bought P. A. Semi for a princely sum, and then Dan Dobberpuhl and other principals simply walked out the door. At least by buying TiVo, Apple would retain the name. But that's probably the very reason Apple won't. They don't want to dilute their own brand name.

Perhaps Google will buy TiVo.

Maybe apple is planning something since the next mac mini will have a HDMI port. Would get one in a heart beat if it also had an i3 chip, 8gb max ram and a descent graphics chip to support a 50 inch tv. Would be awesome.

I'm a bit of a contrarian on this point. I think the only thing preventing Apple TV's success today is awareness. If you see it, you'll like it. Not talking about hardcore geeks, I mean the same mass market of people who've been buying HDTVs and Blu-Ray players lately.

The improvements I'd like are pretty modest. Much bigger hard drive, an Off button ... uh, that's about it.

Netflix streaming would be nice but will not happen since it contradicts Apple's business model with iTunes rentals.

I guess I'd like 1080p for ripped Blu-Ray movies, and the hardware that requires, such as a faster CPU. But this isn't a priority for me (I'm not exactly sure why I should rip a Blu-Ray onto my Apple TV instead of just watching it from the disc). 1080p streaming is not coming very soon, so this mostly matters for ripped content. That said, Apple should add it just as a selling point.

If you want a computer, get a computer. Apple TV isn't really a computer - it is technically, but not in philosophy.

All that said, I'd be willing to switch to a Google/Sony device if I like it more, but my main concern is ease of use, which includes iTunes compatibility. I'm not interested in outgeeking people, bragging about specs, or long lists of features. I'm interested in useability.

First thoughts:

1) If it plays nicely with the AppleTV-preset Handbrake encodes, a lot of frustrated AppleTV users could make the switch overnight. Take out one set-top box, plug in another.

2) Integration with BluRay players would be ideal, even if it means a higher than average costing player. I'm glad they're looking into this.

3) Say what you will about Microsoft, but Google's "we want to own all data" mentality gives me the shakes. Sony has a habit of designing overpriced and impractical hardware, and of letting it atrophy once they have a dominant position. All things considered, I'd rather invest in an Apple product over the long term.

AppleTV is crippled by it's (for all practical purposes to the average consumer) unbreakable link with iTunes. Until Apple allows people to separate the ATV from iTunes (i.e. never), the AppleTV is not going to have the widespread commercial success that the iPod has had.

godslabrat said:

3) Say what you will about Microsoft, but Google's "we want to own all data" mentality gives me the shakes... All things considered, I'd rather invest in an Apple product over the long term.

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You're aware that Apple wants to own all your data as well, right?

I don't think Apple cares one iota what any other company does. They care about the market, and that comes down to statistical calculations. If the market is there, they'll jump in if they think they have something to offer that's better than any others.

miles01110 said:

You're aware that Apple wants to own all your data as well, right?

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Not in the same context, but yes. I find the push to get me to buy my content from iTunes instead of a physical source to be very intrusive... so I only use iTunes for free stuff. I know that using an iPhone puts a lot of my personal data in Apple's hands, but so far, the tradeoff has been worth it.

Google, on the other hand, bought Dejanews, only to turn it into crap. Gmail scans my mail in order to give me targeted advertising. They keep getting involved in nebulous side-ventures, the only purpose for which seems to be increasing the amount of raw data under their sole ownership.

I'd never say Apple is perfect or altruistic, but overall, I'd rather make a deal with them than Google or Sony. Intel I have no strong feelings about.