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DVRs are a stopgap solution.
Apple is not into stopgap solutions.

Hummm.... what do you mean by Stop gap???? DVRs are well worth it... but I think you're saying that direct content from networks is going to overtake the DVR's usefulness??? Is this why you think this?
 
I think this would be great to have but agree with others that this would cut into apples tv show sales and because of that don't think this will be a reality anytime soon
 
I love this quote:

The patent application was filed originally in October of 2006 so Apple has already had adequate time to bring such a device to market but has chosen not to do so.

And who is qualified to come up with this judgement? I think only the company that files the patent (being non-company specific). Just because "A" company comes up with an idea and patents it, doesn't mean they've already or for that matter have the R&D resources available to start work on it considering other projects that have/had a higher priority.

It's always good, if you have an idea that is so unique it can justify a patent, to apply for the patent. Then when budget, resources, and time permits, to start actual work/research.

Oct 2006, which starts the new fiscal year, so basically they've had 1yr and a few months to devote an entire team to R&D to see how to make it, contract hardware vendors to R&D the hardware, Software development teams to R&D the software to work with the hardware that would still be in R&D, etc AND still put out, Leopard, iPhone, iTunes Rentals, updates to Tiger, Intel platform Macs, Alum iMacs, and all the OTHER numerous updates that have happened since Oct 2006?

I personally think that statement above is a somewhat poor form. Bad MR guys.
 
This would be a device that I would buy in a heartbeat. I love the idea of programming your DVR via an iPod Touch since it is aready equipped with WiFi.
I agree 100%, I've been wanting something like this for a while, and I guess I've been stalling on a Mac mini & eye-tv setup because I'd like something more integrated.

hmm, that's funny. Seems like apple is committed to the concept of itunes being your source for content. Having an apple DVR would fly in the face of that strategy.
Although cool. Would this not cut into their already meager TV sales?
Thought this patent was first created in 2006 it's existence could indicate that Apple (at the very least) wanted another option if their downloaded TV content wasn't profitable enough. I have no idea though what the current revenue draw is for downloaded shows through iTunes.
 
Oh, how amazing something like this would be. Release a $99 add-on USB adapter for the AppleTV that lets you hook up a cable line to it and record via AppleTV.

I might actually consider buying an AppleTV in that case, if it supported analog! It'd be very useful for recording TV shows, and even transfering VHS tapes to digital.
 
Apple would have to hurry up and release this device before everyone stops watching tv all together.

Conan O’Brien, host of the acclaimed Late Night with Conan O'Brien with shows like The Simpsons and Saturday Night Live on his resume, is a man who knows a thing or two about television. A year or so ago, in an interview with Charlie Rose, he said that he felt we were now living in TV’s Golden Age. The writing was better than it had ever been, the production values were excellent and the acting superb (special mention: Hugh Laurie as Dr. House). And yet, recent estimates suggest that TV viewership in America is down by more than 2.5 million this year compared to last. What happened?

Ummm... may I suggest... Writers' Strike??????
 
DVRs are a stopgap solution.
Apple is not into stopgap solutions.

How is a DVR a stop-gap solution? I know in Apple's mind, we will eventually all purchase the content we want, when we want it.

In my house, we dropped cable/sat about 3 months ago, and have just a Tivo, which offers Amazon Unbox content, then a Mac Mini for ripped movies and other content, and a blu-ray player for HD movies. If I can combine two of these boxes into a single Apple box, my whole family would be happy. We can purchase the few shows from cable that we'd like (a presumably can save them to an external drive as you can now), purchase HD movies from Apple, view YouTube and the other various items they provide in the Take2, etc.

To make another existing service more marketable, add online programming options to .Mac, and I'd gladly pay the 99 or even 149 a year for that service, so they'd gain that service from me as well.

I think it's a brilliant idea, and would nicely integrate a lot of my media into a single, usable box, which even my wife could switch between. I'll buy in a heartbeat!
 
Needs Safari

I think to make a product like this to really work, apple needs to install Safari into this device.

Were all trying to make the perfect DVR like a crazy science experiment.
Patching multiple devices together with 10-20 codecs.

Why! what is there really to watch on tv anymore. You spend $1600 on a decent flat screen, $700 on a mac mini with Ram, $400 on a amp, $500 on speakers. That totals too $3200 and all there is to watch is reality tv, or some tabloid news show that thinks its important. I dont understand.

You better off watching nexfix shows/movies on your apple Laptop.

In TV’s worst spring in recent memory, an alarming number of Americans drifted away from television the past two months: More than 2.5 million fewer people were watching ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox than at the same time last year, statistics show.
 
I love this quote:

from the macrumors report:
"The patent application was filed originally in October of 2006 so Apple has already had adequate time to bring such a device to market but has chosen not to do so."

kkat69's comments:
And who is qualified to come up with this judgement? I think only the company that files the patent (being non-company specific). Just because "A" company comes up with an idea and patents it, doesn't mean they've already or for that matter have the R&D resources available to start work on it considering other projects that have/had a higher priority.

It's always good, if you have an idea that is so unique it can justify a patent, to apply for the patent. Then when budget, resources, and time permits, to start actual work/research.

Oct 2006, which starts the new fiscal year, so basically they've had 1yr and a few months to devote an entire team to R&D to see how to make it, contract hardware vendors to R&D the hardware, Software development teams to R&D the software to work with the hardware that would still be in R&D, etc AND still put out, Leopard, iPhone, iTunes Rentals, updates to Tiger, Intel platform Macs, Alum iMacs, and all the OTHER numerous updates that have happened since Oct 2006?

I personally think that statement above is a somewhat poor form. Bad MR guys.

i don't see an issue between Arn's report and your comments. Read the sentences you referred to (above) again. What's literally at odds with your observations? 18 months or so WOULD be time to bring such a product (software?) to market; since they've not done so, it's reasonable to assume they chose not to do so. So where's your beef?
 
Apple would have to hurry up and release this device before everyone stops watching tv all together.

Conan O’Brien, host of the acclaimed Late Night with Conan O'Brien with shows like The Simpsons and Saturday Night Live on his resume, is a man who knows a thing or two about television. A year or so ago, in an interview with Charlie Rose, he said that he felt we were now living in TV’s Golden Age. The writing was better than it had ever been, the production values were excellent and the acting superb (special mention: Hugh Laurie as Dr. House). And yet, recent estimates suggest that TV viewership in America is down by more than 2.5 million this year compared to last. What happened?

Is it a lifestyle change? Is it the effect of TiVo? Is the brilliant writing too brilliant (the old “The viewer is an idiot and this here edjikated stuff ain’t gonna work” argument)? Are concerned parents restricting their kids’ access to TV (I shake my fist at thee, Janet Jackson!)? Is American Idol the last big hurrah before the Apocalypse? Are people so befuddled by the springing forward of Spring Forward that they’re all standing outside their homes in the unexpectedly early extra hour of daylight like bears outside their caves in spring?

These are all questions that have been asked and obsessed over, especially as this news comes slap bang in the middle of sweeps’ month – kicking networks right where it hurts the most — their bank account.

But as a person who spends a lot of time on the Internet, I’m surprised at the tiny number of people who’re looking at the effect of the Internet on these numbers. After all, an increasing number of people now choose to view the shows they want online instead of living their lives in thrall to the networks' time schedule.

The Internet has been striking terror into the hearts of execs everywhere. While people in other industries have had to deal with things like leaked emails, tell-all blogs, and hacking, the entertainment business – from books to movies to music to TV – has had an entirely different problem on its hands.
I'll disagree, the writing isn't great (sure they are some exceptions) and most of the plots themselves suck. I mean, Law and Order is STILL better than CSI in writing and plots and how old is the concept of that show? Of course this is obviously subjective.

I bet most people don't watch a full series of TV shows online. I still prefer shows on the big screen. Watching them online, for the most part, stinks.
 
Apple would need to charge a monthly fee, just like any other Tivo or DVR.
It seems like a lot of people seem to be overlooking that.
I'd still get one instantly.
 
Do you know what I said on the day the :apple:TV came out? "What? Not a DVR? What's the point? I'll wait."
 
Although cool. Would this not cut into their already meager TV sales?

This is the way I see it. People like me havent bought an Apple TV because it doesnt have the ability to record. If it did, I would buy it PLUS buy things on iTunes. Sure it may take away some iTunes sales, but I think it will also add sales.

Bring it on Apple. Set a good price, add a good TV guide, you have my money.
 
In TV’s worst spring in recent memory, an alarming number of Americans drifted away from television the past two months: More than 2.5 million fewer people were watching ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox than at the same time last year, statistics show.

The writer's strike, I believe, has a lot to do with this. Coupled with the "Tivo effect", and there just hasn't been anything on to watch. I've got 30 shows programmed to record on my Tivo, but only new episodes. Needless to say, I've been watching movies on DVD/iTunes for the last couple months....
 
Apple would need to charge a monthly fee, just like any other Tivo or DVR.
It seems like a lot of people seem to be overlooking that.
I'd still get one instantly.

Why? The monthly fee is one of the reasons I stopped using my ReplayTV and never bought a Tivo. iTunes already offers its store for free, adding a TV guide wouldnt increase cost much.
 
woody woodpecker

Writers strike really hurt TV viewership

SNL is not written well any more.

To be honest i stopped watching tv except for myth-busters.

If you bring woody woodpecker back and the road runner, i might change my mind and finally get the HD tv!!
 
I'll disagree, the writing isn't great (sure they are some exceptions) and most of the plots themselves suck. I mean, Law and Order is STILL better than CSI in writing and plots and how old is the concept of that show? Of course this is obviously subjective.

I bet most people don't watch a full series of TV shows online. I still prefer shows on the big screen. Watching them online, for the most part, stinks.

....and it's just not comfortable. I lay on my couch with my feet up to watch TV, like most people. Watching TV on the computer at a computer desk, upright in a chair is just not a comfortable TV viewing experience.
 
i don't see an issue between Arn's report and your comments. Read the sentences you referred to (above) again. What's literally at odds with your observations? 18 months or so WOULD be time to bring such a product (software?) to market; since they've not done so, it's reasonable to assume they chose not to do so. So where's your beef?

My beef is they probably DID choose to do it, but have other projects with higher priority. Ohh let's see, Tiger updates, Leopard Developement, iPhone development, iMac development (Alum iMac), Mac revisions, I'm pretty sure you can do the googling to find all the releases that were probably sloted for budget/resource approval PRIOR to patent filing. I think I've said all this before. Patent filings is good to get a stake hold on an idea. Doesn't mean just because someone filed they can or will immediately start work.

Heaven forbid I disagree with Arn or find thier comments in poor form. Personally I think it's deflamitory towards ANY company to accuse them of not wanting to create something simply because they didn't produce something a few months after filing a patent.

Heck they might still be in R&D or actually have a piece of equipement (Apple 3 anyone?) in testing or close to testing and we just don't know (hence rumor) but to accuse a company like that is just as I said poor form from a news reporter.

Ohhh we can't disagree with this comment but if it's posted on TechGeek or some other place you KNOW we'll bash them for saying it?

There's a lot of resources/budget/planning that goes into development of something like that, takes time and negotiations to plan out. They "CHOOSE" not to and "HAVEN'T" are 2 different things.

News reports are supposed to be OBJECTIVE not ACCUSATORY, and if they are the latter then it's poor form, I don't expect you to understand that concept.

It would be similar to your local Fox news reporter saying "The police have had plenty of time to find the guy and make an arrest but they choose NOT to do so"
 
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