If Apple does do a TV, it will be interesting to see what the secret sauce is. It seems like "what else can you do?" to make it that much better than what's already on the market? You can get a really nice TV for under a $1,000 now so Apple will have to do something really different inside to attract buyers at a price over $2,000.
I hope they do blow our socks off with something cool. I'm always up for a new toy.
21.5 Apple TV 2k 27" Apple TV 3-4k 42" 5k you get the drift. Unless these TV are reasonably priced ill stick to Samsung TV which are great. The premium on a Computer is fine but on a TV. I refused to be mugged just for a fruit logo. Sorry folks.
For macs it's fine cos windows is rubbish or last time I was using XP it was. TV there are plenty of decent makes Anout.
Can't wait for the iMac to be released purely to shut the moaners on here up, but then again they'll just pass the buck to the Mac Pro crowd
I'd buy an actual Apple TV if they made it. I use my Apple TV a little too much. Airplay is awesome
I absolutely do believe that Apple will be getting into this market...or creating a market that we don't currently experience. But I don't envision that the "TV" will be an actual piece of hardware per se.
The concept of a high-end set just doesn't make any sense to me. Competition is intense, and the hardware costs are ridiculously low now...for great stuff! The pictures (and sound when using external A/V receivers and speakers) are tremendous.
What needs to be improved is the content and, specifically, the delivery model around that content.
I believe that Apple's "TV" will continue to be some sort of add-on device than can be used by the masses on any display. And that there will be some mechanism for subscription services. In that case, the market potential is mammoth.
I'm hoping they bring out all this content on a box. I may be buying TV on Monday. I can't wait any longer
Meh
Too little too late
Apple will be quick to call it a "hobby" when this thing fails
Not going to happen. European TV is VERY different from that in the states, Football is all locked up by Mr Murdoch, like most sports and major broadcasts. In the UK we have 4 choices: Digital Terrestrial (e.g Freeview, BT Vision, etc), Freesat (basically freeview over Satellite) Virgin Media (aka Cable)or Sky (Satellite).
There isnt anywhere for Apple to 'slot in'. Virgin are in partnership with Tivo - a long term contract, Freeview allows anyone to create a set top box (there is only about 30 channels, pretty mediocre ones at that) and Sky use a custom system.
A very similar system operates throughout Europe, and Cable isnt all that popular in many places as there just arent the cable lines in place.
Meh
Too little too late
Apple will be quick to call it a "hobby" when this thing fails
Quarterly sales are higher than XBox 360. Just to put these things into perspective. If any other company was selling this, they would call it a huge success.
Not going to happen. European TV is VERY different from that in the states, Football is all locked up by Mr Murdoch, like most sports and major broadcasts. In the UK we have 4 choices: Digital Terrestrial (e.g Freeview, BT Vision, etc), Freesat (basically freeview over Satellite) Virgin Media (aka Cable)or Sky (Satellite).
There isnt anywhere for Apple to 'slot in'. Virgin are in partnership with Tivo - a long term contract, Freeview allows anyone to create a set top box (there is only about 30 channels, pretty mediocre ones at that) and Sky use a custom system.
A very similar system operates throughout Europe, and Cable isnt all that popular in many places as there just arent the cable lines in place.
Apple TV cant really succeed if its restricted to one type of input. Obviously internet-based streaming would be ideal, but again, there is no way it will happen. The ISP's were up in arms when BBC iPlayer launched, and demanded that it was either taken off line, or the BBC paid the ISP's extra cash. In the end, most ISP's ended up throttling it.
Just saying: Freeview is probably the biggest, and the easiest market (no negotiations needed). A plain Freeview viewing box is pointless because every modern TV does it, while a box is £25. Freeview recording would be where the money is, decent recorders are >£200.
Humax has enormous storage with a decent user interface. And here's a big problem with all user interfaces: You just can't check them out in a store. There may be something with a better UI, but it's impossible to find out. So my next box will be Humax again as long as they don't mess up the UI, because I'm not willing to take a risk. Now with Apple, I might trust them to make something that is better. And I definitely trust them to make something that I can check out in the nearest Apple Store. So for that alone, they could sell a lot.
Now if you combine Freeview recorder, decent CPU, a good UI, displaying iPhone, iPad, Mac, and some good advertising, you've got something to sell.
My bet is on:
1) New AppleTV 4 box with built in digital cable decoder and DVR.
- Cable companies offer it as an option free to their subscribers for a 2 year term contract or $99 at the Apple Store on no contract.
- Cable companies continue to sell channel packages, Apple takes over the interface and gets to sell iTunes content.
2) New Thunderbolt display with AppleTV built in: 27" + 42" + 52" ($999/$1499/$1999).
3) iMac update with AppleTV built in (Fall 2013).
The only way for Apple to get the ball running on the AppleTV is for Profession & NCAA teams sell "Subscriptions" to Teams and the AppleTV would start flying off the shelf, i am full believer in this. It would fly faster if Apple made deals with "Football" clubs across Europe & elsewhere. It would be even better if a fan from another country could also buy that Teams "subscription".