Apple Television Set to Include Siri and Face-Tracking iSight for FaceTime Calls?

GREEN4U said:

The thing I (and most consumers) like about TVs is that most of the time they're simple. You don't have to be bombarded with updates. It doesn't have to be connected to the internet. You set it up once and you're done for the next 20 years. That's why Samsungs, Panasonics, and Sonys work just fine.

Apple doesn't have a market here. It's not like a cell phone, tablet, or computer. The user/machine interface for a TV is kept a minimum versus those other products. On a TV you turn it on, and change the channel or input. Can Apple really improve the experience of changing the channel? I doubt it.

Click to expand...

I think where Apple might have an Edge is with an app store. IF they go that route. A multi-touch control that would allow IOS games and things to run on the TV would be a BIG selling point. Apple is all Ecosystem all the time. I'm sure this set would have all the features of the Apple TV and then some.

But you're point about the internet is valid. Though, most people aren't without internet at home or wi-fi these days. So it's not a niche market either.

There's actually 2 arguments here. This will (imho) then direct Apple on which direction to go:

1. If Apple wants to take on UI issues (as well as add "cool" UI/functionality), then they'll go with an actual TV. Why?

For example, if Apple wanted to add Facetime, they'll need a camera of some kind. A stand alone Apple TV (like the current "puck") won't do. Why? Because Apple *prefers* all-in-ones. They don't want the user to wire their TV (and thereby their entertainment system) with additional wires


2. It's about content.

If Apple is only going on the track of "content," then there's absolutely no need to create an actual TV.


Perhaps, it is both, but in my book the game of TV is really about content more than anything. People keep bringing up the current services of Apple TV, Google TV, etc. The problem? Sports - namely the NFL.

Also, dealing with cable and satellite companies are a complete nightmare. IMHO, if Apple *really* wants to make a dent, then everything needs to be over IP independent of the Cable/Satellite providers as well as a la carte/always on/no DVR but all content available at all times. If not, then what difference is Apple really making here?

w00master

byke said:

I wonder how long after it released Samsung will offer something similar with the exact same features but with a rounder bezel claiming its completely different?

Click to expand...

How do you know Sammy isn't already developing one?

WHy do so many here assume that Apple is the technology creator, when in fact many times they take what is already out there and repackage it, market the heck out of it, and then call it magical.

Samsung smart TV's are and have been out there for awhile now and are excellent tv's. They already do much of what Apple will claim to have invented.

And yes I am an Apple fan and have many of their products in my home, but I'm not blind either.

Sound more like the future monitor than a Teli.

Why does everyone on here care so much about what Samsung does? Really... how does it actually affect your life? I'm sure some of your friends own a Samsung phone or device, do you think they're bad people because of said device?

Isn't anyone tired of this back and forth trashing of Apple fans and Samsung fans? I am. I could care less about what Samsung copies or what Apple copies. Who really cares besides the lawyers, Apple and Samsung?

How does it honestly affect you?

w00master

Bemopti123 said:

But Samsung's implementation of their Android phones.....I would definitely NOT WANT 4"X10 of the same horrible glitchy tech. No thank you.

Click to expand...

My Sammy phone with the 5+ inch screen suits my needs better than the IP4 I got rid of. Sometimes having an open mind allows one to actually consider alternatives.

topmounter said:

Worst mock-up ever.

Click to expand...

Did you not say the SAME thing regarding the LAST mock-up?

JDee said:

I don't know if Apple can expect consumers to pay a premium for a TV like this. Nowadays, you can get a (good brand) 40" TV for around £350 - and I don't think consumers would want to pay any higher than this.

Click to expand...

It can't be a regular Teli. What ever it is is going to have to be more like an iPad like device with way more built in. I don't think this is coming out any time soon, and exactly why apple would do a tv and not add this to the next gen or two iMac is even more strange. After all how is Apple going to sell iTV 2 and 3 and 4.

----------

w00master said:

Why does everyone on here care so much about what Samsung does? Really... how does it actually affect your life? I'm sure some of your friends own a Samsung phone or device, do you think they're bad people because of said device?

Isn't anyone tired of this back and forth trashing of Apple fans and Samsung fans? I am. I could care less about what Samsung copies or what Apple copies. Who really cares besides the lawyers, Apple and Samsung?

How does it honestly affect you?

w00master

Click to expand...

Actually its a lot of fun reading fangirls tit for tat even if it does get old.

1984

shinobi-81 said:

This reminds me of a device called "telescreen" from some book that I once read.

Click to expand...

Exactly, I don't think I want my TV watching me. Don't get me wrong, I will buy the Apple Television Set someday, but the first thing I will do is paste a nice yellow sticky over the camera.

So much for high design.

nuckinfutz said:

70" please

Plus gimme a 4TB HDD inside for storing Por...err sports.

Click to expand...

70" desperately needs a retina-like display. @ 1080p, I can see square pixels.
Source: Sharp 70".

And why stop there? Put in some real computer hardware to act as a giant iMac.

Aha...I talk to the box, the box watches me. I bet I will not be able to watch local news life from Ulaanbaatar or a cooking show from RTSR how to make a good fondue at will from any global location so it will be utherly useless. When in the states, where tv is heavily censored all I want is occasionally turn on Larry David which I can manage without apple ideas. I think I will go this Wednesday to Croatia for a bit, with o tv at all...

kiljoy616 said:

Actually its a lot of fun reading fangirls tit for tat even if it does get old.

Click to expand...

It's been old for me for a very long time. I went through the PC vs Mac phase. I remember all of the back and forth arguments (heck they still happen), but guess what? Both are still around. Both have their users. We are all still alive. Why? Because at the end of the day and in the grand scheme of things, these "debates" are silly and honestly dumb.

Just like iOS vs Android

Just like Apple vs Samsung

Just like Apple vs Google.


I could care less who is copying who. I just want the best technological device/experience for me. If Apple needs to copy Google for a feature for this to happen... GREAT. If Samsung needs to copy Apple to move the needle further in Tech...? GREAT.

These "fights" / "debates" are pointless. They don't affect the general user (e.g. most of us on MacRumors and other Tech sites). It's just an exercise in futility.

w00master

gtg660w said:

I don't understand why you would want or even need a remote. It would be nice if all I had to do was say "show me all baseball games that are on tonight" and then a list pops up and i can say "schedule an alert on my phone to let me know when the braves game starts. Also, record the game".

I think the whole point, as hinted in Jobs' biography, is that a physical remote is no longer necessary.

I would love not having to find the remote when changing channels, increasing volume, or scheduling a show...That is the re-invention of the television.

Click to expand...

WHile I agree it would be nice, I also think that there would be plenty of times i would not want to have to speak to change the tv channel. SOmetimes It's easier just pushing the buttons on the remote.

jman240 said:

While I love Apple and all, this seems like a market that isn't in as much of a need of an overhaul as the tablet/phone markets were.

That being said, I think this is a good benchmark to compare a currently fictional Apple TV to. http://www.samsung.com/us/video/tvs/UN55ES8000FXZA-features

Then again, we've all been wrong in the past and Apple loves to wow us with things we didn't know we wanted in the first place. Just seems to me like they're going to be facing some very stiff competition in TVs beyond what they've seen in any recent ventures.

Click to expand...

So how does it really work, anyone has one that can say its worth the price, it all looks good on photoshop all of it.

If they're going to try to make me control my TV with that silly Siri thing then I think I'll sit this one out.

That would be a rare miscue from a company like Apple that much more often than not "gets it right."

dstankus said:

If they're going to try to make me control my TV with that silly Siri thing then I think I'll sit this one out.

That would be a rare miscue from a company like Apple that much more often than not "gets it right."

Click to expand...

well i doubt it's not going to be solely controlled by Siri, i would assume optional, like iPhone...

mock-up mocker

louis Fashion said:

Did you not say the SAME thing regarding the LAST mock-up?

Click to expand...

Topmounter is a mocking mocker who mocks the mock-ups.

shandyman said:

well i doubt it's not going to be solely controlled by Siri, i would assume optional, like iPhone...

Click to expand...

Excellent; as long as I can turn it off or ignore it!

Who watches the watchers?

There was a 70's tv movie or show where the hero went into the future, and it was a very totalitarian government, and the host turned to the time traveller and whispered, "Be careful, not only do you watch the television, but IT watches YOU!"
be prepared to be in the future momentarily, now.

dstankus said:

If they're going to try to make me control my TV with that silly Siri thing then I think I'll sit this one out.

That would be a rare miscue from a company like Apple that much more often than not "gets it right."

Click to expand...

Maybe for that one Siri will go from Beta mode to Gamma mode, but will not be ready for a real release for some time to come.

While others sing Siri's praises, I can't find much use for it other than amusement of Siri not understanding.

MacAddict1978 said:

I think where Apple might have an Edge is with an app store. IF they go that route. A multi-touch control that would allow IOS games and things to run on the TV would be a BIG selling point. Apple is all Ecosystem all the time.

Click to expand...

How many iOS games are designed to be played with the player holding a controller and looking at a separate screen though? Shooters and racing games could be fairly easily modified but the vast majority of iOS games are designed for a touch interface. Even if the controller had multi-touch features it would still need to be primarily thumbsticks and buttons since the player is going to be looking at the TV and not the controller.

Tones2 said:

Yes, I can't imagine Apple having a better quality TV itself than Samsung or LG, unless it's of course built by them, and even then it would probably be somewhat behind Samsung's / LG's current offerings. And the quality of the TV is the most important thing. As as you can see, Samsung already has all the face recognition / gestures / voice control built in, and LG is coming soon. Lastly, both are planning to have a highly revised Google TV built in which is much better than the current Apple TV "box" offering, the latter of which is basically comparable to the built in apps og most TV's over the last 3 years.

So the Apple TV news here is anything but revolutionary.

Click to expand...

Considering that the current technical hurdle for TV manufacturers is making a more realistic 3D experience, Apple or any other company, can get into the game by buying a panel from Samsung or whoever and re-brand it and have a decent product out of the box. To me improving 3D is not as big a challenge as pushing beyond 1080P along with similar or just slightly higher cost. Which is to say, there are higher resolution technologies out there, but they are all expensive, JMHO.

But I don't think that that is what Jobs saw as the "great opportunity" in making the TV experience better. It of course has to be in the interface. In regard to that, we shall see if Jobs' vision results in a revolutionary product or not.

Maybe they'll figure out a better way to combine technologies of TV, computer, gaming console, DVR and phone into a single device. Maybe different enough to be "revolutionary". We shall see.

Aster said:

I want something like this

Click to expand...

Very nice, a 51" OLED would be astronomical. In a few years, when the price doesn't cost more than my first born, I'm in.

Hardtimes said:

you know what would **** with the Cable providers??

Six months free subscription to netflix et al with every new Apple Television set...

Click to expand...

I hate to be the guy to crash the party, but the cable and satellite providers concatenate subscriber fees and pay them to networks so they stay in business with "moderate" ad revenues. The folks in cable aren't making much already, so just like the book thing, there needs to be a preserved revenue stream.

Don't expect free. Target $50 a month for content and $30 a month for access all in commodity pricing.

Apple has no objection to "networks" selling content and PPV.

Apple wants:
The hardware-software interface sale
A content purchase gateway
A PPV gateway so frictionless you may buy there if you are convenience focused
A related product sales gateway

They are fine with content owners and even competitive sellers with some added friction.

I don't know if Apple coined frictionless, but they made it a business model.

Rocketman

GREEN4U said:

The thing I (and most consumers) like about TVs is that most of the time they're simple. You don't have to be bombarded with updates. It doesn't have to be connected to the internet. You set it up once and you're done for the next 20 years. That's why Samsungs, Panasonics, and Sonys work just fine.

Apple doesn't have a market here. It's not like a cell phone, tablet, or computer. The user/machine interface for a TV is kept a minimum versus those other products. On a TV you turn it on, and change the channel or input. Can Apple really improve the experience of changing the channel? I doubt it.

Click to expand...

You also generally don't upgrade a TV every 6-12 months which is the Apple model. I cannot see this being anything like as successful as they're used to.