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Apple Looking at More Corporate Acquisitions, Prepping Move Into Television?
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Why is the move away from iPhoneOS seen as anything more than the fact that the iPad and iPod Touch run it as well. Seems to make sense that you don't want confusion about iPhone OS running on iPods or iPads. Doesn't rule it out, but I'm going with what I see as the more obvious reason.
Why should Apple buy some local (=USA only) satellite service?
They can deliver TV programs over the internet as it is already available in other countries.
They can deliver TV programs over the internet as it is already available in other countries.
The things is, that this is still very much their core business. It's not like they're an ad company trying to do phones for anything.
TVs will become more lika computers in the near future and it's still hardware+software they would be building - still an OS they would be doing. The difference to Macs and iPhones and iPads is tiny.
and why would i buy this set top box when there are nice cheap TV's out there with the box already built in? my inlaw's TV is like 1" thick at it's thickest point and it already does more than what the Apple TV does
i need to buy a new TV and will buy one with internet built in, or a cheapo store brand and a PS3 or X-Box or internet connected blu-ray player. either combination will have more functionality than the Apple TV
It's a given that they're getting into television. Why else would Steve describe AppleTV as a "hobby". Maybe it's a hobby because they don't want to market it and enforce the brand "AppleTV" as relating to a small device. When has Apple ever said "no big deal" about one of its products? If they were to get into televison sets, they have now have the retail store presence to sell them to the curious. No one has been able to get the internet into a television in a commercially successful (software driven) way. Watch and see Apple drive iOS into people's homes to create not just an entertainment device, but an entertainment network of devices that work in a seamless manner. They're going to sell TV's with the only killer app most TV watchers have not had to this point: Telepresence. Talk about reality television! Here it comes.
It's time for there to be a change in television as we know it. Watching what we want to when we want to is where it's at. Forming your schedule around television, and mindlessly perusing through channels to find something, just SOMETHING slightly worth watching is a thing of the past.
I just helped a friend move; he switched from Cox to Warner (Cable wise). Seeing how horrible the hardware and software these companies provide to you is a sure indication of how primitive television is in general. I mean, it's been what, 60 years with literally no change in how we watch television (with the exception of DVR and Hulu, which are the first signs of change). Why it is unchanged all stems to revenue; all the money is made through the ads. So obviously, the middle men (cable companies) need to be eliminated, and all business must be done with the people who create and distribute the content.
Ideally, we need a pay per view, or subscription service. What's different about that? The subscription, will be a subscription to Film Production/Distribution studios' offerings, American Television Networks, etc. So say you want to watch whatever New Line Cinema offers with no limitation; you pay $10-$20 monthly to have unlimited streaming access to the movies they offer. Say you want all the FOX channels + access to TV show episodes; you pay $10 a month. Sports? World Cup Package deals or $2 to watch a match. Something like this could completely change television as we know it.
I just helped a friend move; he switched from Cox to Warner (Cable wise). Seeing how horrible the hardware and software these companies provide to you is a sure indication of how primitive television is in general. I mean, it's been what, 60 years with literally no change in how we watch television (with the exception of DVR and Hulu, which are the first signs of change). Why it is unchanged all stems to revenue; all the money is made through the ads. So obviously, the middle men (cable companies) need to be eliminated, and all business must be done with the people who create and distribute the content.
Ideally, we need a pay per view, or subscription service. What's different about that? The subscription, will be a subscription to Film Production/Distribution studios' offerings, American Television Networks, etc. So say you want to watch whatever New Line Cinema offers with no limitation; you pay $10-$20 monthly to have unlimited streaming access to the movies they offer. Say you want all the FOX channels + access to TV show episodes; you pay $10 a month. Sports? World Cup Package deals or $2 to watch a match. Something like this could completely change television as we know it.
The Market
The market is difficult to get in as a new player. DirectTV and/or Dish are already there and can offer national service since they are not wired like Comcast. Makes sense that Apple would acquire oneor partner with onesince channel lineup contracts already exist. It would be a lot like the Apple/ATT relationship. Apple is much more diverse company these days than it was before iTunes.
The market is difficult to get in as a new player. DirectTV and/or Dish are already there and can offer national service since they are not wired like Comcast. Makes sense that Apple would acquire oneor partner with onesince channel lineup contracts already exist. It would be a lot like the Apple/ATT relationship. Apple is much more diverse company these days than it was before iTunes.
I've got a better idea!
Why don't they aqquire someone to update the Mac ******* Pro's!
ARRRRGGHHHHH
...
Ah, that felt better. Coke anyone?
Why don't they aqquire someone to update the Mac ******* Pro's!
ARRRRGGHHHHH
...
Ah, that felt better. Coke anyone?
i pay $130 a month for cable/internet/phone to time warner. approximately $30 of that goes to the content creators. for that i get a lot of content including news and sports and my wife's reality shows
why would I pay $20 a month plus internet just for some old movies? I can get netflix for $9 a month. Vudu is in a lot of TV's now as well
Doesn't DISH own SlingBox?
If they bought DISH and DISH owns SlingBox, could it lead to streaming your purchased content, DVR'ed content and live TV to your mobile devices? That would be kinda cool! I already have a SlingBox and my building has DirecTV, but I can imagine that a unified system/service would be killer.
If they bought DISH and DISH owns SlingBox, could it lead to streaming your purchased content, DVR'ed content and live TV to your mobile devices? That would be kinda cool! I already have a SlingBox and my building has DirecTV, but I can imagine that a unified system/service would be killer.
The first real internet TV network?
In some ways, the existing TV industry is like the music industry was way back in 2001. Old-school record labels resisting change, many random MP3 player manufacturers, rampant piracy of music from CDs, and terrible software for getting music to your desktop computer.
Now, the TV industry is full of old-school studios resisting change, many random set-top box makers, and rampant piracy of TV shows (and movies) from DVD/BD. The one thing that's different is that the software for getting TV and movies to your desktop computer (and iPod/iPhone/iPad) is here, it's powerful, and it's the key to the iPod's success: iTunes.
I wouldn't be surprised if Apple creates an internet-only "Apple Channel." Some of its content would be free, some paid. For example, you could stream free TV shows with ads and pay for movies with no ads. There have been rumors about an "iTunes Live", which could be some kind of real time streaming media delivery system. And that giant data center in NC isn't just for storing people's iPod nano vacation videos.
And, I almost hate to say it, iAd can probably be scaled up to HDTV sized screens. I suspect that's the final piece of the puzzle. It's what Apple has been working on instead of tweaking Apple TV hardware and software, and it's the bait that will hook TV studios and get them to create content for the "Apple Channel" or whatever it would be called.
Apple customers with iOS and Mac OS devices would be able to watch the Apple Channel at home on their HDTV screens or on the go on their iOS devices. And they should be able to access their own home made content, like those vacation iMovies, stored on MobileMe. (Of course, this wouldn't really be possible until 4G cell networks are widespread.)
The TV industry is ready to evolve, and Apple is getting ready to lead next-gen TV into the future. Sure, there are bleeding-edge players like Boxee and Hulu now, but there were plenty of bleeding-edge MP3 manufacturers back in 2001. Remember them?
In some ways, the existing TV industry is like the music industry was way back in 2001. Old-school record labels resisting change, many random MP3 player manufacturers, rampant piracy of music from CDs, and terrible software for getting music to your desktop computer.
Now, the TV industry is full of old-school studios resisting change, many random set-top box makers, and rampant piracy of TV shows (and movies) from DVD/BD. The one thing that's different is that the software for getting TV and movies to your desktop computer (and iPod/iPhone/iPad) is here, it's powerful, and it's the key to the iPod's success: iTunes.
I wouldn't be surprised if Apple creates an internet-only "Apple Channel." Some of its content would be free, some paid. For example, you could stream free TV shows with ads and pay for movies with no ads. There have been rumors about an "iTunes Live", which could be some kind of real time streaming media delivery system. And that giant data center in NC isn't just for storing people's iPod nano vacation videos.
And, I almost hate to say it, iAd can probably be scaled up to HDTV sized screens. I suspect that's the final piece of the puzzle. It's what Apple has been working on instead of tweaking Apple TV hardware and software, and it's the bait that will hook TV studios and get them to create content for the "Apple Channel" or whatever it would be called.
Apple customers with iOS and Mac OS devices would be able to watch the Apple Channel at home on their HDTV screens or on the go on their iOS devices. And they should be able to access their own home made content, like those vacation iMovies, stored on MobileMe. (Of course, this wouldn't really be possible until 4G cell networks are widespread.)
The TV industry is ready to evolve, and Apple is getting ready to lead next-gen TV into the future. Sure, there are bleeding-edge players like Boxee and Hulu now, but there were plenty of bleeding-edge MP3 manufacturers back in 2001. Remember them?
Part of me wishes they would stick to computers.
Part of me wishes they would get their new phone just-right before they sell it.
However,
Part of me also wishes that they would do something with the integration of computers and television.
I have wanted a good HTPC Mac for a while, something that can combine the internet, and subscription TV, and broadcast TV and radio, as well as recorded media like DVD and BluRay.
All in one box.
As long as the A/V folks love components, and versatility through multiple devices, rather than versatility of single hardware that can do many things... it is going to be difficult.
Everybody wants to sell you a proprietary new box. Or contract it to you over-time, through a subsidized contract.
I want fewer boxes. not more boxes. I don't want a DVD player, and a CD changer, and a cable/SAT box with a separate tuner from the TV, and all running through an expensive switcher/Radio tuner/Amplifier. All with different remotes, or a remote that has to have it's own microprocessor.
I want 3 boxes.
1: An Audio amplifier that takes a digital audio input, converts it to multi-channel, and amplifies it, and sends it to my speakers, wherever the digital to analog converters may be in that chain.
2: A high-definition monitor or projector that accepts and automatically adapts to whatever standardized video formats it receives, and tries to display them as clearly, and without artifacts and motion fragments as possible.
3: The central processor HTPC This is the versatile bit.
-Able to take input from over-the-air broadcasts, cable or satellite services by subscription, and perform as a high-capacity DVR inline with on-board pre-recorded, or pre-downloaded material.
-Able to store and reproduce audio and video from on-board, external attached, or network-attached storage.
-Able to display internet based material from Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, and other sources online.
-Able to take analog and digital inputs from legacy physical media, such as turn tables, external optical or tape drives, external video or audio capture devices, or adaptable to most A/V and digital standards.
-Able to use a camera, microphone, speakers, or hand-off to a sub-net connected and designated bluetooth/Wifi/cellular phone handset, other computer, or pad/tablet device, in full duplex video or audio communications, via VoIP, or traditional analog telephony connections to the main processing device.
-Serve and receive digital distributed video and audio from other terminals and portable devices in the local subnet (household-scope)
-Cooperate and manage digital interfaces between household HVAC, security systems, and power systems connected around the household, with distributed control interface, including other household terminals, and authenticated mobile devices, and secure-access VPN log-in, so that homeowners can have system access while away from home, to check cameras and status monitors. Basically integrated home automation and security systems, should one want to utilize that option.
Most of this can already be done... but it would be nice to have it more consolidated and centrally secure than a bunch of proprietary systems that don't cooperate that well with each other.
Until the software becomes more hardware agnostic, and companies start to inter-operate via standard protocols, and rely less on proprietary, single-use hardware devices, like cable and satellite set-top boxes, I am not sure what inroads apple is going to make simply by providing yet another AppleTV additional set-top box.
Part of me wishes they would get their new phone just-right before they sell it.
However,
Part of me also wishes that they would do something with the integration of computers and television.
I have wanted a good HTPC Mac for a while, something that can combine the internet, and subscription TV, and broadcast TV and radio, as well as recorded media like DVD and BluRay.
All in one box.
As long as the A/V folks love components, and versatility through multiple devices, rather than versatility of single hardware that can do many things... it is going to be difficult.
Everybody wants to sell you a proprietary new box. Or contract it to you over-time, through a subsidized contract.
I want fewer boxes. not more boxes. I don't want a DVD player, and a CD changer, and a cable/SAT box with a separate tuner from the TV, and all running through an expensive switcher/Radio tuner/Amplifier. All with different remotes, or a remote that has to have it's own microprocessor.
I want 3 boxes.
1: An Audio amplifier that takes a digital audio input, converts it to multi-channel, and amplifies it, and sends it to my speakers, wherever the digital to analog converters may be in that chain.
2: A high-definition monitor or projector that accepts and automatically adapts to whatever standardized video formats it receives, and tries to display them as clearly, and without artifacts and motion fragments as possible.
3: The central processor HTPC This is the versatile bit.
-Able to take input from over-the-air broadcasts, cable or satellite services by subscription, and perform as a high-capacity DVR inline with on-board pre-recorded, or pre-downloaded material.
-Able to store and reproduce audio and video from on-board, external attached, or network-attached storage.
-Able to display internet based material from Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, and other sources online.
-Able to take analog and digital inputs from legacy physical media, such as turn tables, external optical or tape drives, external video or audio capture devices, or adaptable to most A/V and digital standards.
-Able to use a camera, microphone, speakers, or hand-off to a sub-net connected and designated bluetooth/Wifi/cellular phone handset, other computer, or pad/tablet device, in full duplex video or audio communications, via VoIP, or traditional analog telephony connections to the main processing device.
-Serve and receive digital distributed video and audio from other terminals and portable devices in the local subnet (household-scope)
-Cooperate and manage digital interfaces between household HVAC, security systems, and power systems connected around the household, with distributed control interface, including other household terminals, and authenticated mobile devices, and secure-access VPN log-in, so that homeowners can have system access while away from home, to check cameras and status monitors. Basically integrated home automation and security systems, should one want to utilize that option.
Most of this can already be done... but it would be nice to have it more consolidated and centrally secure than a bunch of proprietary systems that don't cooperate that well with each other.
Until the software becomes more hardware agnostic, and companies start to inter-operate via standard protocols, and rely less on proprietary, single-use hardware devices, like cable and satellite set-top boxes, I am not sure what inroads apple is going to make simply by providing yet another AppleTV additional set-top box.
My Apple TV burned out a few months ago - had it since it was first introduced and love it.
Made all my video purchases from the couch with it when the feature came out - much easier than purchasing on a tiny computer screen.
The hardware is extremely aged (Pentium III?)
C'mon, Apple, waiting for a new one...
Add the App store, Bluetooth, and games/controllers and it's your new super gaming console!
Made all my video purchases from the couch with it when the feature came out - much easier than purchasing on a tiny computer screen.
The hardware is extremely aged (Pentium III?)
C'mon, Apple, waiting for a new one...
Add the App store, Bluetooth, and games/controllers and it's your new super gaming console!