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Apple Television Set Prototypes Reportedly 'In the Works'
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Nobody has said that's what it would cost. How does one criticize a product that hasn't even been announced, described, or priced yet?
So, 1700$ for "simplicity" where "simplicity" means one less HDMI cable ?
How "simple" is a TV set to integrate to a home A/V system that requires the same HDMI connection (whether is comes from the set top box or the TV) ? Sounds like it's the same thing to me.
And wouldn't it be simpler to let customers just change a set top box every XX years than switch the whole TV set ?
Just asking questions here, so that people reflect on what an AppleTV, an actual set, means. Apple wouldn't do this if it was just a monitor with a set top box integrated in it.
I think this will be more then just a TV and X number of channels. It'd have applications like keynote and iPhoto and others. Not for doing work on, more for displaying work and photos already done. Also I think game centre will be big on it. And HD movies/TV will be watched on it direct from the hard drive.
I think this has the possibility to radically change the way TV channels operate. No more you need to turn the tv on at the right time to get your show. Each show will become available at a set time. And you just pick the shows you want and watch them. Al a carte like some above have said. Of cause there will be ads included too. The free networks need to make their money as well.
This way you can have more then 24 hours of content each day per network/TV station. It's all just appear there and you'd choose to watch what you want. It'd be there for a week or so before it's updated to the new episode or whatever. Sure you'll probably need a good internet connection for this. And that will be the bottleneck. How to download the shows at a decent speed and have enough bandwidth to download all thew shows you want.
I believe this has big potential. And this is one possible way Apple could go with this. But it's also require all the networks to play ball. I think with enough embedded advertising the free networks will sign up. But the pay TV networks might buck this. Cause with al a carte TV you won't need 500 channels with the same thing repeated 100 times a day just incase you missed it. Missing a show by a few hours will be a thing of the past. As long as you watch it within the week before the new episode is uploaded, you're set.
The content (movies/TV shows) will probably be stream only cause of copyrights etc. They will want to sell the show on iTunes/netflix or the DVD store too. Ad free of cause.
These are my opinions.
I think this has the possibility to radically change the way TV channels operate. No more you need to turn the tv on at the right time to get your show. Each show will become available at a set time. And you just pick the shows you want and watch them. Al a carte like some above have said. Of cause there will be ads included too. The free networks need to make their money as well.
This way you can have more then 24 hours of content each day per network/TV station. It's all just appear there and you'd choose to watch what you want. It'd be there for a week or so before it's updated to the new episode or whatever. Sure you'll probably need a good internet connection for this. And that will be the bottleneck. How to download the shows at a decent speed and have enough bandwidth to download all thew shows you want.
I believe this has big potential. And this is one possible way Apple could go with this. But it's also require all the networks to play ball. I think with enough embedded advertising the free networks will sign up. But the pay TV networks might buck this. Cause with al a carte TV you won't need 500 channels with the same thing repeated 100 times a day just incase you missed it. Missing a show by a few hours will be a thing of the past. As long as you watch it within the week before the new episode is uploaded, you're set.
The content (movies/TV shows) will probably be stream only cause of copyrights etc. They will want to sell the show on iTunes/netflix or the DVD store too. Ad free of cause.
These are my opinions.
So, you'll just throw out the 7.1 sound system, the A/V receiver, and the BD player/DVD player right out ? Those inputs and outputs are not there to be complex, they are there for versatility. Are you really ready to give up that versatility so you don't have to run 1 HDMI cable between an AppleTV set top box and your set ?
Thats what people said about Macs, iPods, iPhones, iPads....... so if they make it people will buy it and once again it will be revolutionary
1% of people will agree with you.
But the other 99% will say oohhh I don't have to buy any more space hogging dvds. And I don't have to purchase an expensive sound system or a set top box. Or for some people don't have to purchase a dvd player at all.
One hardware purchase to fit all your needs. The 1% of pros will not like it. But the other 99% will appreciate the simplicity this brings to their lives.
If I could remove the dvd player and replace the dvds (and bonus content) with digital copies I'd do it in an instant. I'd want the bonus content though.
I disagree. Not a week goes by that I don't field questions from friends and colleagues on how to operate their home theater system. Every manufacturer has their own configurations, their own specs, their own remotes. Remotes themselves are a chaotic mess. There's no standardization. Trying to get everything to work with a digital cable box or satellite system is a nightmare for most people. It's just that right now, there's no alternative, so people live with it. I really believe that Apple could make a huge difference in home entertainment.
The question is going to be price. I have a beautiful flat screen TV that cost me $700. Would I be willing to buy an Apple TV for more than double that cost? Probably not, at this point. There would have to be a lot more than simplicity alone to get me to spend that kind of money. I'm really curious to find out how exactly Steve "cracked" this dilemma.
I hated Windows9x.
I hated Symbian, WinMo and BB "smart" phones.
I hated portable CD players, MiniDisc players and ill-conceived MP3 players.
****
I'm perfectly happy with my 42" Samsung Television.
I don't see any benefit to paying a premium for an iMac-style integrated television device. If they can't justify adding HDCP to OS X, then Apple is certainly not going to jump through the hoops required to add a Cable Card slot and DVR functionality. I'd much rather keep my television for 5+ years and replace my ATV device more frequently (the last thing I want to do is add my television set to my costly computer / smart phone biennial upgrade cycle).
Yes, media is getting more fragmented, but as long as the majority of viewers are glued to the boob-tube for the seasonal prime-time crap, the popular networks and content providers are no where near ceding any control and/or pulling the rug out from under their current business model.
When Apple can sell me a 65" panel that can be delivered in a poster tube, unrolled and hung on the wall... then we'll talk
I hated Symbian, WinMo and BB "smart" phones.
I hated portable CD players, MiniDisc players and ill-conceived MP3 players.
****
I'm perfectly happy with my 42" Samsung Television.
I don't see any benefit to paying a premium for an iMac-style integrated television device. If they can't justify adding HDCP to OS X, then Apple is certainly not going to jump through the hoops required to add a Cable Card slot and DVR functionality. I'd much rather keep my television for 5+ years and replace my ATV device more frequently (the last thing I want to do is add my television set to my costly computer / smart phone biennial upgrade cycle).
Yes, media is getting more fragmented, but as long as the majority of viewers are glued to the boob-tube for the seasonal prime-time crap, the popular networks and content providers are no where near ceding any control and/or pulling the rug out from under their current business model.
When Apple can sell me a 65" panel that can be delivered in a poster tube, unrolled and hung on the wall... then we'll talk
Um, you do realize LED displays ARE LCDs. The LEDs backlight the panel instead of a fluorescent bulb like the original LCD TVs...
You're way off. The article says $1800.
Apple quality deserves a few extra bucks but not this.
$1800 and then when the hardware inside is outdated in 3 or 4 years you can just throw it away and go buy another one!
One issue I've seen crop up here.
I'm not replacing my TV every year. Like people do iPads/iPhones. I think a 5 year upgrade cycle will be nice. I'm sure Apple has thought abut this.
What I want to hear is "why Apple say I should buy this". What features does it have over my current TV.
And I wonder what screen sizes it has. Cause I only use a 32 inch TV at the moment and don't want bigger. If Apple only sell a 50 inch+ monster then I win't ever get one.
I'm not replacing my TV every year. Like people do iPads/iPhones. I think a 5 year upgrade cycle will be nice. I'm sure Apple has thought abut this.
What I want to hear is "why Apple say I should buy this". What features does it have over my current TV.
And I wonder what screen sizes it has. Cause I only use a 32 inch TV at the moment and don't want bigger. If Apple only sell a 50 inch+ monster then I win't ever get one.
I don't see myself in the market for this. Good TVs are pretty cheap, and I'm only interested in a dummy display.
No, that's not what people said about iPods etc.
Not at all.
What are you talking about.
TVs are already easy. You switch them on, lay back and watch. That's what most people do and want to do.
I think there are too many variables in the TV market for Apple to enter into it. For one thing you have both Plasma and LCD type displays both of which have there own strengths and weaknesses and one type is not right for everyone (plasma is better in dark rooms where LCD is better in rooms that have lots of windows). There is also the size factor with TVs ranging from around 20inch to about 65inch for the mainstream market with even bigger TVs in the high end market. As for cable over the internet, with more and more ISPs putting bandwidth caps on there services this could very quickly become more expensive than the current price people are paying for ip/cable/sat TV. Apple would be better off by selling the technology of the Apple TV to the TV makers as long as they approved every TV that carried it.
Wait. This is about TVs, not home theater.
Are you really suggesting Apple will enter the home theater market to compete with Denon, Yamaha, Pioneer etc? Well, dream on.
Where's the iProfit in that? The market is tiny!
Most people don't even have a home theater system and will never buy one, because they don't care about/want/need tons of speakers and stuff.
That sums it up perfectly. Nothing wrong with current TVs. Plenty of wrong with the whole content delivery, but that has got nothing to do with the actual TV.
We don't know what it is yet, but what I would like for the rumored price is:
1. 2560 x 1600 resolution.
2. Model sizes of 46", 52" and 60+". Better yet if a 70" display could be made.
3. Color gamut of the Apple Cinema Display (ACD).
4. Easy to color calibrate like the ACD.
5. Integrated Apple TV.
6. Thunderbolt, mini-Display Port, HDMI, and 1-set of analog inputs.
7. Aesthetically similar in design to the Apple Thunderbolt Display.
1. 2560 x 1600 resolution.
2. Model sizes of 46", 52" and 60+". Better yet if a 70" display could be made.
3. Color gamut of the Apple Cinema Display (ACD).
4. Easy to color calibrate like the ACD.
5. Integrated Apple TV.
6. Thunderbolt, mini-Display Port, HDMI, and 1-set of analog inputs.
7. Aesthetically similar in design to the Apple Thunderbolt Display.