Apple Reportedly Prepping Revamped Apple TV: iPhone OS, Cloud-Based Storage, $99 Price Point?

[sonofmof]

no flash no hulu?

not worried about flash or hulu.

If i can replicate my ipod touch in my lounge, (cant afford an ipad yet) and stream the content i have, including home movies which I don't want to have to import to itunes, i'm sold.

Gig ethernet is a must though too.

 

[Shintocam]

Why? People have been saying this for years. Like it or not, DVRs are outdated. Why bother recording and storing locally if you can have content delivered on-demand from the cloud? DVRs are power hogs, space hogs, and pump out a lot of heat.

Because in my experience, even with a fairly fast (6MB+) connection streamed video is nowhere near the quality of the content off my DVR. I bought a high def TV not to deal with tonnes of compression artifacts etc... I don't want to see all those blocks (especially in the dark parts of the scene) in high def. So for me a DVR is still best. Even a 720p rip that I download (1.2GB+) does not look as good.

Add to that, that internet connections are far from stable and reliable. Sure I have pretty good "up time" but still I don't want to be dealing with dropouts while trying to watch something. Now assuming Apple is smart, at least this issue may be dealt with by the use of a healthy buffer (16gb is more than enough) that may not be relevant.

 

[GFLPraxis]

How could this only cost $99??? The iPhone 3GS costs $179 to manufacture as it is. Removing the LCD and Digitizer would only knock off $36 from that. So that's a $143 manufacturing cost!

Remove the LCD, GPS, Digital Compass, 3G/HSPDA antennae, battery, and use bigger parts since it doesn't have to be THAT small, and use only 16 GB of Flash memory.

Oh, and take out the proximity sensor, microphone, and two speakers. And the ambient light sensors. And any extra hardware required to track multitouch inputs.

And add some ports on the back.

Seems reasonable that it'd be under $99 to manufacture.

 

[alent1234]

How could this only cost $99??? The iPhone 3GS costs $179 to manufacture as it is. Removing the LCD and Digitizer would only knock off $36 from that. So that's a $143 manufacturing cost!

that was last year. cost of components falls every day. and this won't need any cell phone radios. just a wifi radio

 

[flopticalcube]

I wonder if it will run SlingPlayer if it does run the iPhoneOS. Might make a really cheap SlingCatcher.

 

[lkrupp]

No. Sorry but no. Microsoft make the vast amount of their income from the business market and there's just no viable competitor in that space right now or for the foreseable future.

What you may (well, probably will) see is Microsoft shrinking a bit. Business is less likely to want to upgrade their OS and apps if there's no compelling reason to do so. We're already seeing that, the take up of Vista wasn't great outside of new PC's, Office 2010 isn't exactly a top priority for most places with 2007 and so on. But anyone that thinks MS is honestly going to die as a company really need to understand the sheer breadth and depth of their product offerings and just how many companies rely on them.

The real point here is that Microsoft is all but irrelevant in these NEW markets. And in the tech industry that's as good as death.

 

[paradox00]

And it's also a conceptual PS job.

They have no information on how it will look other than it will be small. It is just a visual illustration of what the internals will be (assuming the rumor is even true).

 

[verdee]

This sounds great. I love my ATV. My friends got us one with a 250GB HD w/ patchstick for our wedding, and my wife and I agree that it is the wedding gift we use the most.

In terms of DVR. I don't think that it needs it. Most cable boxes can be equipped with DVR, and I would rather have it incorporated with the cable hardware (as it is recording from the TV, just saves hassle, extra equipment).

One of my biggest complaints with the ATV as it stands is the syncing. I don't like having to keep the movies in 2 different places if I am using itunes. Fortunately, I don't have to worry, since i just use AFP and put them on the ATV myself.

 

[Digitalclips]

I posted this over in the other thread but... what if Apple managed to wrestle the content providers into offering a subscription service on top of that? Instant competitior to the cable networks and removes the need for a PVR service for a great many people. Add in local streaming from iTunes to allow use of any media you have on your home network and... well, that's a very VERY strong product.

And then, just for a giggle, thrown in app purchases to allow gaming on the TV as well.

I am sure you are partially correct on all counts, only partially as some providers won't play ball yet but ABC will be there I would bet.

 

[Tones2]

This would seem to be BAD news. With all the limitations that providers are imposing on bandwidth usage these days, having streaming VIDEO content as a requirement for use is going to press against those upper limits, not to mention overtaxing already overtaxed networks.

Secondly, this trend is going to slow down even further the increase in flash capacity development, which has already been at a snail pace. I myself always just want more capacity resident on the device itself. Then you don't have to worry about connectivity all of the time.

Thirdly, why would anyone care about AppleTV devices when the iTunes store has hardly any video movie content?

Tony

 

[lkrupp]

Well...

Now we know what that server farm in North Carolina is for don't we.

 

[robotmonkey]

No. Sorry but no. Microsoft make the vast amount of their income from the business market and there's just no viable competitor in that space right now or for the foreseable future.

What you may (well, probably will) see is Microsoft shrinking a bit. Business is less likely to want to upgrade their OS and apps if there's no compelling reason to do so. We're already seeing that, the take up of Vista wasn't great outside of new PC's, Office 2010 isn't exactly a top priority for most places with 2007 and so on. But anyone that thinks MS is honestly going to die as a company really need to understand the sheer breadth and depth of their product offerings and just how many companies rely on them.

I am not saying that Microsoft is going to die, but I think apple and/or google will take over the consumer market and the mobile business market. MS definitely has a seemingly permanent place in the business market, but the mobile business market (phones, netbooks, etc.) is probably going to be replaced by apple/google. It already has begun. And who knows, chrome OS may be better suited for business than MS... Cheap and light. I think MS will become much more obscure.

 

[lkrupp]

This would seem to be BAD news. With all the limitations that providers are imposing on bandwidth usage these days, having streaming VIDEO content as a requirement for use is going to press against those upper limits, not to mention overtaxing already overtaxed networks.

Secondly, this trend is going to slow down even further the increase in flash capacity develop, which has already been at a snail pace.

Thirdly, why would anyone care about AppleTV devices when the iTunes store has hardly any video movie content?

Tony

You really don't get it, do you?

 

[Peace]

Because in my experience, even with a fairly fast (6MB+) connection streamed video is nowhere near the quality of the content off my DVR. I bought a high def TV not to deal with tonnes of compression artifacts etc... I don't want to see all those blocks (especially in the dark parts of the scene) in high def. So for me a DVR is still best. Even a 720p rip that I download (1.2GB+) does not look as good.

Add to that, that internet connections are far from stable and reliable. Sure I have pretty good "up time" but still I don't want to be dealing with dropouts while trying to watch something. Now assuming Apple is smart, at least this issue may be dealt with by the use of a healthy buffer (16gb is more than enough) that may not be relevant.

That 720P ( 1.2GB ) video doesn't look as good because it's compressed also. Normal 720P does 1280X720 @ 60FPS making an hour long show 10-15GB. So any "720P" video you downloaded that was only 1.2GB was compressed already.

 

[GFLPraxis]

No. Sorry but no. Microsoft make the vast amount of their income from the business market and there's just no viable competitor in that space right now or for the foreseable future.

What you may (well, probably will) see is Microsoft shrinking a bit. Business is less likely to want to upgrade their OS and apps if there's no compelling reason to do so. We're already seeing that, the take up of Vista wasn't great outside of new PC's, Office 2010 isn't exactly a top priority for most places with 2007 and so on. But anyone that thinks MS is honestly going to die as a company really need to understand the sheer breadth and depth of their product offerings and just how many companies rely on them.

It's more the demise of Microsoft as a dominant/relevant force. They'll remain the key business supplier, and there's no way they'll die- their cash reserve will let them jump into new markets, like the Health Industry. I do think, however, that by the end of this decade Microsoft will just be another big software vendor, and not the giant with the stranglehold on the desktop industry they've been for the last two decades.

 

[onetoescape]

Big news if true. I would expect a monthly fee at that price for the "storage". I for one would be happy to pay for it if I could hook one up to each of the rooms in the house. We are moving slowly but surely towards this. The only problem is the low take up on broadband or broadband not available in parts of the states compared to the rest of the western world. Extemely excited about this none the less. With me getting an Ipad in the next couple of months and if this turns out to be true, I can see me switching off the cable tv down to the basic package with just the sport!

 

[paradox00]

Because in my experience, even with a fairly fast (6MB+) connection streamed video is nowhere near the quality of the content off my DVR. I bought a high def TV not to deal with tonnes of compression artifacts etc... I don't want to see all those blocks (especially in the dark parts of the scene) in high def. So for me a DVR is still best. Even a 720p rip that I download (1.2GB+) does not look as good.

Add to that, that internet connections are far from stable and reliable. Sure I have pretty good "up time" but still I don't want to be dealing with dropouts while trying to watch something. Now assuming Apple is smart, at least this issue may be dealt with by the use of a healthy buffer (16gb is more than enough) that may not be relevant.

So if you don't buy it, the product will fail?

 

[PCClone]

Apple has Managed to make the Most desiereable Lifestyle Produkts to Listen to Musik: iPod check
Apple has managednto make the Most desierable lifestylprodukt to make phonecalls: iPhone check
The First ever really selig Tabletcomputer: iPad check

This will Be the Living Room!! Man i dient think they Build their Billion Dollar Data-Center to Be able to dominant the Living Room! This Sems to Be the plan!

If i had a Million Dollars i Gould by myself some appl Stock!

And you could take a spelling class.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

If this rumor is true, the positives sound fantastic. For years, I've been merely hoping for a 1080p hardware upgrade in the existing TV box. If we get new hardware- this rumor or something else- it seems likely that this major gripe (lack of 1080p) will finally be addressed. If so, it probably means a new option for products like iMovie & Quicktime to render for TV1080p. I almost wish that could come out now, so all the re-rendering could get started.

iPhone OS underpinnings biggest benefits are:

1. The potential for app store expansion (which the existing product has needed forever, only marginally addressed by the many hacks)
2. More rapid upgrades to the OS X underpinnings, unlike the current device underpinnings still clinging to Tiger. Basically, given the enormous focus on iDevices by Apple, this would probably give more attention to this new TV than it has ever had (simply by regular updates to OS X touch)

There's a lot to offer as additional positive speculation (which I'm sure will fill this thread), so I'll list some concerns instead:

• miminal ports could mean just power and HDMI, which could screen out those with HDTVs lacking HDMI. I wonder if they would use mini-displayport and then push adapters?
• optical or digital audio out? It seems it would have to be there but it is not mentioned.
• Would Apple lock it into Time Capsule only? Or is that offered as just an example that network storage is coming (even network storage that is not Time Capsule)? And if you are going to have network storage of the media, does this mean that we may finally get a true centralization of our own iTunes content (not in the cloud) so that multiple devices within the household could access one media library?
• remote? I know lots of people envision controlling it with iDevices, but that only makes sense if you are single living alone. If you take the "good remote" with you when you leave the house, the rest of your family/room-mates are not going to be thrilled you did so. Nothing against continuing to offer the remote apps "as is" but it seems they would still need a dedicated solution that is not iDevices, or those who live people will need to buy an iDevice dedicated as a remote control (separate from the one they take with them when they leave the house).
• Since it's an iPhone, does it come with a 24-month AT&T commitment? (just kidding)
• No USB or similar hardware expansion means no third party hardware expansion potentials. So those very popular wishes for it to also be a blu ray player, also be a DVR, also have a TV tuner for free local HD, etc would not be even remotely possible unless it comes with some kind of hardware expansion. Wouldn't it be great to include a "normal" USB port so that those who want it to also be a DVR could buy some Elgato add-on plus an Elgato app and get their wish fulfilled? Those who want it to also be a BD player could buy an add on disc player and an app, and they get their wish fulfilled too? Etc.
• Still need to cover the live aspect of TV (sports, local news, etc) in some way (and that's unlikely to be the cloud). That probably begs for building in a tuner. Else, this probably doesn't address the popular wish to cut the cable/satt bill and go with an iTunes purchase (or maybe subscription) model instead. Wouldn't it be great if this could become a true alternative to cable/satt (which means it has to cover live TV in some way)?
• Wireless streaming only? If so, that's not so great (for everyone). It seems it would need to offer an ethernet jack.
• Cloud can't work for everyone. Broadband speeds aren't there (for all) and lots of people don't even have broadband subscriptions.

All that said, I am extremely interested in what a next-gen TV would be (and have been waiting a very long time for any new hardware along these lines, money ready to be spent). This could be a massive success if Apple decides not to overly lock it down (this time) instead embracing the "open" nature like they did by adding an app store for iDevices, and including a hardware port(s) for third-party hardware expansion. Do these things and it would be a total "wow" device on par with the "wow" of the iDevices relative to their applications.

 

[Digitalclips]

This sounds great. I love my ATV. My friends got us one with a 250GB HD w/ patchstick for our wedding, and my wife and I agree that it is the wedding gift we use the most.

In terms of DVR. I don't think that it needs it. Most cable boxes can be equipped with DVR, and I would rather have it incorporated with the cable hardware (as it is recording from the TV, just saves hassle, extra equipment).

One of my biggest complaints with the ATV as it stands is the syncing. I don't like having to keep the movies in 2 different places if I am using itunes. Fortunately, I don't have to worry, since i just use AFP and put them on the ATV myself.

I have over 200 movies and 65 GIGs of music on my MacPro and can watch or listen to anything on my ATV and big screen + hi fi system. I never transfer anything to the ATV, never have. I never understood the reason for that option (other than buffering a movie for 24 hours from iTunes). Everything streams flawlessly using .11n and Apples AE. I suspect you have not seen the 2nd alternative way to use an ATV maybe?

With on demand the Tivo concept is dead too.

 

[Peace]

They have no information on how it will look other than it will be small. It is just a visual illustration of what the internals will be (assuming the rumor is even true).

ummm..That's what I said.

"Originally Posted by Peace
And it's also a conceptual PS job."

 

[robotmonkey]

an iphone without a screen? I'm wondering how the iPhone OS works without multitouch? Maybe a multitouch remote control? Maybe you can use your iPhone/iPod/iPad as a remote? Would be pretty cool, but I'm afraid they'll stick with a price-per-video system when I would be willing to pay a $10/mo subscription service - probably more per month, but I can dream.

You can already use your iphone a remote control: http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/cellphone/ddcc/

 

[onetoescape]

This would seem to be BAD news. With all the limitations that providers are imposing on bandwidth usage these days, having streaming VIDEO content as a requirement for use is going to press against those upper limits, not to mention overtaxing already overtaxed networks.

Not for the people on 50mb connection all you can eat. Everything is moving this way and the IP will have to adapt to it.

 

[smiddlehurst]

The real point here is that Microsoft is all but irrelevant in these NEW markets. And in the tech industry that's as good as death.

Sorry but that's too easy an answer. Let's not forget MS does have a foothold in the living room already with the Xbox. And they have WP7 coming with a massive marketing budget behind it (and an interface that I'd swear was built for tablets rather than phones). They're not out of those new markets yet.

Besides which, let's not forget that Apple themselves don't exactly dominate most markets they're in. They've managed to position themselves very well to take the high-end sector and are looking like they may be able to join up several seperate ventures to create something special but for the most part they are one of many when it comes to market share. If MS were to drop the entire home entertainment division and... oh... say 50% of the home user market to devices like the iPad they'd still be a massive company with a very very healthy turnover and some first class developers.

When you have those sorts of resources, and a willingness to adapt and change everything from management processes down, you can change the world before anyone realises what you've done. MS at the moment aren't willing to do that but it's coming and when it does you may find they're more relevant than you think...

Note, not a fanboy of anyone or anything, just a realist.

 

[Theappmachine]

Super Cool... but will this be compatible with previous Apple Tvs?