Apple Indeed Talking with Cable Operators About New TV Product, But Launch Not Imminent

[olowott]

when Apple is Ready we be like or WTF
Simples

[Yvan256]

No company can expect people to change their TV set for their own. The problem with television is twofold:
1. Most TVs have incredibly bad interfaces
2. The current media distribution system is a mess requiring people to pay for things they don't want.

Problem #1 is fixed with the little, low-cost TV box.

Forget your DVR ideas, cable/satellite as we know it is dying. Any idea based around the concept of a DVR is like buying a new computer case because you hate the operating system.

Problem #2 is complex and nearly impossible to fix in the near future because of all the contracts currently in effect with the media producers and the media distributors.

However, with rumors that Microsoft might be buying Netflix I sure hope Apple is trying to work out deals with the media producers.

Microsoft already bought Skype so I can certainly see them buying Netflix. And I'm afraid of what will happen to Netflix on non-Microsoft devices if it ever happens.

[Brazuca]

Originally Posted by camnchar

I've seen rumors that it's purely an interface, which Apple is particularly good at and the current TV manufacturers are particularly bad at. But that runs against Apple's "hardware+software" model that's been so successful for them for the past 10 years.

I really don't see Apple doing a cloud-driven interface for an internet-enabled TV set and licensing it out like Google or Microsoft. It just seems so anti-Apple.

The more I think about this, the more I go back to what makes Apple Apple.

The company sells hardware. Even iTunes is a platform to sell more Apple hardware. That is where its margins are.

So when I think of a new aTV, I have to think about what hardware Apple wants to sell. I don't think it will be a new version of its Apple TV. I think it will either be the current line up (so that they are really just looking to get more content into iTunes), or an entire new device (cable box?).

I like option 1. It's neat. AirPlay is already in all iOS devices. So Apple's "TV", I suspect, will be some sort of AirPlay support built into the tv sets so you don't need a separate apple tv box. If they somehow make it so that it could also replace the cable box, you could just use your iOS to navigate your cable channels and your iTunes library.

Just build it into either the TV or the Cable box. Don't mess with cable subscriptions.

One remote (your iOS). Siri. iTunes. DVR (?).

Boom!

edit: I like this more and more. Sell Sharp (or whatever) TVs with built in Apple. Heck, you can even brand it an "Apple TV". But it is just a TV with the Apple TV hardware built in. Or sell cable boxes with the same thing. Make sure it has a great UI. Apple can get a per-TV fee from the manufacturers, who can sell them a TV that integrates with iTunes, iOS, etc.

Apple makes money by selling more iPhones, iPads, and grows its content game.

[smoledman]

Sue me for being Mr. contrary, but why not just improve the Apple TV hockey puck to include Siri? That way you just plug it to any ole TV set and Apple doesn't have to get bogged down into screens! Also the up-side is when Apple comes out every 2 years with an improved Apple TV box, you just pay $99 and keep the television for 8 years.

[camnchar]

Originally Posted by smoledman

Sue me for being Mr. contrary, but why not just improve the Apple TV hockey puck to include Siri?

Because Siri is not very good in its current incarnation, and seems to be getting worse with time.

[smoledman]

Originally Posted by camnchar

Because Siri is not very good in its current incarnation, and seems to be getting worse with time.

How will it get better by putting it in a big-ass TV set?

[camnchar]

Originally Posted by smoledman

How will it get better by putting it in a big-ass TV set?

Big-ass processor? I'm not sure voice is the way to go with TV anyway. We'll see.

[Radio]

Originally Posted by gnasher729

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.

an xbox costs 3 x this device and is substantially limited.

i want this to succeed but where does that leave those of us that don't want cable?

i would be interested in OTA and streaming video that is free with ads

FREE

yes FREE with Ads

i dont want to pay for tv shows EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[smoledman]

Originally Posted by Radio

an xbox costs 3 x this device and is substantially limited.

i want this to succeed but where does that leave those of us that don't want cable?

i would be interested in OTA and streaming video that is free with ads

FREE

yes FREE with Ads

i dont want to pay for tv shows EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is no such thing as "free". You pay $4K for the TV and get 2-year "free" content. Or pay what you do now and pay for the content. Either way there is no escape from the Content Man!

[selva]

Originally Posted by Mike Valmike

You are the wind beneath my wings.

And you're the wind between my butt cheeks.

[mdelvecchio]

Originally Posted by jdegid

Nice to have a hobby when you can't deliver on your real job.

...yeah, biggest tech company on the planet whos also doing mad profit quarter after quarter, year after year cant "deliver". ha ha. nice one.

where's my iMac?

...ahh, it's all about the entitlement. nice. yeah, youre right, this company OWES you a new imac... me, i just bought last year's model and souped it up w/ 256gb SSD, 16gb RAM, 2gb VRAM...freakin screamer.

[JHankwitz]

Originally Posted by Rogifan

I wish these stupid rumors would quit already.

Stop reading MacRumors. Problem solved.

[Radio]

Originally Posted by smoledman

There is no such thing as "free". You pay $4K for the TV and get 2-year "free" content. Or pay what you do now and pay for the content. Either way there is no escape from the Content Man!

Hmm

Why not like OTA tv where we watch commercials ?

[sofila]

Some things we can expect from imaginary Apple TV new approach:
- Premium priced hardware with lower image quality than actual Panasonic/Samsung etc. with lot of people screaming about "Apple quality"
- The same people who can't tell the difference between crappy 720 low bitrate streaming and actual Full HD Progressive content (see "useless" and "prehistoric" Blu-Ray for details")
- No need to look out too much for marketing, just put some "awesome" " retina" "best" in advertisement
- Naturally this hardware will last a couple of years, after that no updates, you own an old device.
- Content more expensive (see iTunes prices for details). Don't forget what happened with e-books once Apple entered that market
- 2/3 years of beta-testing (except that customers don't know that they're guinea pigs).
- If you experience any problem, just remember that "you're watching it wrong"

[Mr. Retrofire]

Originally Posted by jdegid

...where's my iMac?

In my hands.

;-)

[gnasher729]

Originally Posted by rmwebs

Whilst it may make for a good freeview box, are people seriously going to pay a big premium for it? The Humax boxes are great - they have iPlayer, Sky player, etc. What (other than iTunes and AirPlay) could Apple offer on top of that?

Compared to Humax: Not crashing or freezing would be good. A user interface that doesn't slow down to a crawl after a year would be good. Many little things that could improve the user interface greatly. iDevice as remote control. Now don't get this wrong, Humax is probably among the best, but things can certainly be improved.

But I would certainly hope that Apple can do something that is better than I could think of in five minutes.

[macs4nw]

Originally Posted by monkor

All I want is for Apple, Google, Microsoft, any company with a solid OS to replace that crap interface they feed us using Comcast, FiOS, COX, and Time Warner. Ridiculous load times, sluggish performance, and it's all poorly implemented and scattered. I would love nothing more than to see that fixed.

Originally Posted by gugy

.....I much rather pay $100 to $400 on a killer ATV box than thousand of dollars on a display. Keep it simple Apple.

Originally Posted by spiderman0616

.....Let all the people already in the game make the TV hardware. Apple TV would turn ANY TV into an iTV. Let Samsung and Sony and Vizio fight over the profit scraps in the TV biz.....

Agreed x3.

Originally Posted by FriarNurgle

How about you go old school and just stream all the itunes content ad supported?

As long as we will need those cable companies, not much will change, because they will 'get' us with bandwidth charges. See also my comment below.

Originally Posted by camnchar

Sorry Apple. I'll probably put some cash down for a flat screen this holiday season, which means I probably won't be in the market for another 5-7 years. Unless your TV is insanely great. Not "iPad Mini great," but something really extraordinary.

For many different reasons, I also just can't see a 'set' happening. It just doesn't make any sense. But there is lots of room for improvement in the area of user experience, with a well thought-out and well designed set-top box.

More and more I believe that direct upload to satellite by content creators, and ISP's, and distribution to consumers via satellite modems for both cable tv AND broadband internet, is the way to go. That could be a win-win for both content creators AND users. Sorry middlemen, with your unbridled greed, you've priced yourselves "out of the picture'. No pun intended.

[Drunken Master]

Originally Posted by gregwyattjr

Fixing Maps should become Apple's new hobby.

It's not?

You work there?

Originally Posted by sofila

Some things we can expect from imaginary Apple TV new approach:
- Premium priced hardware with lower image quality than actual Panasonic/Samsung etc. with lot of people screaming about "Apple quality"
- The same people who can't tell the difference between crappy 720 low bitrate streaming and actual Full HD Progressive content (see "useless" and "prehistoric" Blu-Ray for details")
- No need to look out too much for marketing, just put some "awesome" " retina" "best" in advertisement
- Naturally this hardware will last a couple of years, after that no updates, you own an old device.
- Content more expensive (see iTunes prices for details). Don't forget what happened with e-books once Apple entered that market
- 2/3 years of beta-testing (except that customers don't know that they're guinea pigs).
- If you experience any problem, just remember that "you're watching it wrong"

Teach me to be as cynical and bitter as you.

Just when I thought people here couldn't whine more, you guys have really outdone yourselves and blown away all my expectations.

Bravo.

[charlituna]

A lot of folks seem really certain that product=hardware. And major hardware at that. Perhaps it's just another set top box with new features from the iTunes stores, even perhaps those network apps we have on our iPads etc

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Originally Posted by OllyW

I've a feeling that whatever Apple are planning, it's going to be a product focused on the American market.

Blame that on the studios and nets

[Tech198]

Originally Posted by gregwyattjr

Fixing Maps should become Apple's new hobby.

Its looking that way.


I'm surprised after all this time, Apple *still* refers to the Apple TV hockey puk as 'a hobby"

Would a hobby be bringing in most of Apple's streaming ?

Maybe its time to finally put a name to this ......... before they settle on an Apple television.... if this will also be "just a hobby", then they must have allot of free time on their hands.


I live on streaming ..... I have Netflix, iTunes, and stream 100% .....on the Apple TV.

I'm guess this this will all come together, and at the end of the day. these companies KNOW its a loosing battle.... It only a matter of time. as its heading that way already......

I'm not gonna spend $$ on an Apple Television, something 'hocky puk' does already that i need. New content only on the television ...... maybe....... but thats not very likely.. Apple can't even convince companies........

In much the same way the music industry is like this, weather they like it or not....... we're in that same era with content.

Or you can just say "STuff it.. i'm gonna do my own thing anyway..' which i do btw

[MacDav]

Wouldn't mind having a hobby that generated 1/2 Billion a year.

[Evoken]

Originally Posted by Yvan256

However, with rumors that Microsoft might be buying Netflix...

Oh please let this NOT be true!

[faroZ06]

I just want to watch the World Cup and Euro Cup in HD. That's all I want. But no, you need to buy stupid cable subscriptions for hundreds of random channels and use a retarded box from Verizon or whatever to do that.

I don't care how it happens, but cable TV has to die. I don't care if I have to use some service from Microsoft and befoul my PC with Silverlight as long as I can just watch soccer without cable TV.

----------

Originally Posted by Radio

an xbox costs 3 x this device and is substantially limited.

i want this to succeed but where does that leave those of us that don't want cable?

i would be interested in OTA and streaming video that is free with ads

FREE

yes FREE with Ads

i dont want to pay for tv shows EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3X? Your math is off. You forgot to multiply by 5 for Red Rings of Death.

[macUser2007]

Allow apps (so that we can watch and listen to whatever format and sources we want), allow an OTA/unencrypted cable tuner like HDHomeRun and the ATV 3 would be a great Home Theater box.

As it is, it is only useful for Netflix and podcasts, which I suppose is still something. AirPlay has a great potential, but is not available on a lot of apps, and mirroring is unusable for anything high-def (yep, I have tried it with my latest generation Air, previous generation MB Pro and iPad 4).

But I guess we are not going to see apps or OTA, since this "hobby" is not to make life easy for us consumers, but to sell overpriced iTunes content.

As to the "operators," who really watches much cable/satellite nowadays? The unemployed over 40, the beer chugging sports fans and prison inmates.

Cable and satellite are dead, they just don't know it yet.

[Clown Boy]

Hobby actually means failed product with no real strategy which is bought by fanboys to mirror pornography and Starbucks commercials...

Hobby = fail

*A Bathing Ape