As much as I love Apple products, I don't see myself ever going for one of these. As others have mentioned, the product cycle for an AppleTV should be much shorter then a Television. I have no issue replacing an aging AppleTV every couple of years with the latest/greatest version at $100, however I'm not replacing the whole TV every couple of years. It doesn't make sense to have this built in when its so inexpensive to add it to any TV you want.
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Apple Television Set Rumors Revived, To Launch in 2011?
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I will bet that their next big product (within the next few years) will be a 38" - 45" iPad/AppleTV hybrid. It will be a very thin touch screen, and stream your music, movies and TV shows. You heard it here first!!!!
38"-45" touchscreen as a consumer product? Yeah, it's coming soon. Right after jetpack and flying car hit your local Costco.
Hope the gross margins on these things are in the 40% range.
When iPhone was released, SJ had the equation: Phone + iPod = $499.00 This thing does much much more, but we are going to charge only $499.00, no premium for the extra features.
What I am thinking about are along these lines.
So, for this Apple branded TV, What is that equation?
And what big problems in TV watching it solves?
What new things it brings in to make the quality of life better?
If it runs Apps, does it have access to other parts of TV, like the way iPhone apps have access to various sensors, camera etc. If so, what are those which the current Apple TV does not have access to.
What meta data about shows and videos that can be synced to several devices including TV that can be useful?
etc.
When iPhone was released, SJ had the equation: Phone + iPod = $499.00 This thing does much much more, but we are going to charge only $499.00, no premium for the extra features.
What I am thinking about are along these lines.
So, for this Apple branded TV, What is that equation?
And what big problems in TV watching it solves?
What new things it brings in to make the quality of life better?
If it runs Apps, does it have access to other parts of TV, like the way iPhone apps have access to various sensors, camera etc. If so, what are those which the current Apple TV does not have access to.
What meta data about shows and videos that can be synced to several devices including TV that can be useful?
etc.
I know you're all mocking this rumor and concept, but use a little bit of imagination, and youd realize it might have potential. This is Apple we're talking about.
People 'get' what a TV does and what it is. What they dont get, is a little black box that might do X or Y. Apple doesn't even have to sell them at a profit- they can break even, the business model being making money on the future content that is sold, etc. Imagine advertising the TV in such a way to show the integration with iPod, iPhones, iPads. Hundreds of millions of people have these devices, so there's a market. Imagine turning on the TV, signing in with your Apple ID, and boom, all your photos/vids/etc are downloaded/streamed from iCloud. Imagine ads where the individual is controlling it with their iOS device, using multitouch etc, and seamlessly moving content from the device to the TV. By pricing competitively, people in the market for a TV might think 'why not' and just get the Apple branded one- even if they DONT have apple devices. In this case, it could be a motivator to add to the ecosystem, which at the end of the day is Apple's goal. To create synergy with their products, so as owning another will get you added benefits and integration. If they competitively sell an Apple-branded TV- it WILL sell-a lot.
People 'get' what a TV does and what it is. What they dont get, is a little black box that might do X or Y. Apple doesn't even have to sell them at a profit- they can break even, the business model being making money on the future content that is sold, etc. Imagine advertising the TV in such a way to show the integration with iPod, iPhones, iPads. Hundreds of millions of people have these devices, so there's a market. Imagine turning on the TV, signing in with your Apple ID, and boom, all your photos/vids/etc are downloaded/streamed from iCloud. Imagine ads where the individual is controlling it with their iOS device, using multitouch etc, and seamlessly moving content from the device to the TV. By pricing competitively, people in the market for a TV might think 'why not' and just get the Apple branded one- even if they DONT have apple devices. In this case, it could be a motivator to add to the ecosystem, which at the end of the day is Apple's goal. To create synergy with their products, so as owning another will get you added benefits and integration. If they competitively sell an Apple-branded TV- it WILL sell-a lot.
I have to agree....... plasma has a more natural picture, better contrast ratios (by far), and no motion blur issues at all. The only downside is the glossier screens and the increased power consumption. Screen burn-in is a minor issue, since the newer plasmas all have good anti burn-in features.
LED sets look unrealistic to me..... the whites are too bright, and bluish in cast. They have better contrast than the standard LCDs, but their picture isn't as realistic as a good plasma set.
Apple already licenses AirPlay. And there are receiver manufacturers selling them. Denon and Pioneer are a couple. I hear rumors that Yamaha either has one, or is on the verge of rolling it.
What would really sell this thing is the ability to wirelessly connect to a Mac Mini so you could also have a full on computer, even if its in another room. Touch gestures via a Magic Trackpad as a remote. Perhaps give it a the iPad version of iOS tweaked for the Magic Trackpad and bigger screen format. The only scary thing about this would be the price. Think about it, the ACD sells for 1000 dollars nevermind adding 15+ inches (42' screen) and iOS! They'd probably try and sell it for as much as a Mac Pro!
hopefully they use plasma, lcd and led lcd just don't compare imo.
Better have really good picture quality since i'm sure it's going to be fairly expensive.
50" no more than $1600.
Better have really good picture quality since i'm sure it's going to be fairly expensive.
50" no more than $1600.
46 inch iMac, 50 in iMac and 60 inch iMac. Serves the media pc market well, can integrate iTunes and AirPlay. And, it would be vesa wall mountable. Also implementing your cable box through a software upgrade, so no need for a standalone box.
Rumors? with all of those labs in there, i betcha a $1,000 they are already doing it!
However my guess it's gonna be a set top box. yeah its a pain in the butt to have to make diff chips or w/e for each cable company but they already proven they'll do it (iphone/originally former att exclusive), and will probably do it again! (plz plz fios exclusiv 1st!)
...w/ iphone/ipad integration
However my guess it's gonna be a set top box. yeah its a pain in the butt to have to make diff chips or w/e for each cable company but they already proven they'll do it (iphone/originally former att exclusive), and will probably do it again! (plz plz fios exclusiv 1st!)
...w/ iphone/ipad integration
Not excited.
Just think it would be too expensive for my taste with questionable gain.
And would rather replace a $100 ATV when the tech changes rather than a whole tv.
Would nice to have one remote instead of 2, nicer menus and easier to use options and decent speakers!
Just think it would be too expensive for my taste with questionable gain.
And would rather replace a $100 ATV when the tech changes rather than a whole tv.
Would nice to have one remote instead of 2, nicer menus and easier to use options and decent speakers!
No. Way.
Has Apple ever - in the history of their company - been satisified with rebranding ANYTHING? Didn't think so. Integrating the iTunes store into existing TVs? That's feasible. But sticking their precious logo on anything that's not been mercurially "designed by Apple in California"? Doubt it'll ever happen while Jobs lives.
Has Apple ever - in the history of their company - been satisified with rebranding ANYTHING? Didn't think so. Integrating the iTunes store into existing TVs? That's feasible. But sticking their precious logo on anything that's not been mercurially "designed by Apple in California"? Doubt it'll ever happen while Jobs lives.
Apple might not be interested in selling it's own TVs, but instead I think they are looking to license AppleTV out to TV makers that are interested - probably with strict conditions of course.
Samsung is out, they have their own smartTV thing going on. Not to mention the considerable amount of bad blood between the two companies now with the lawsuit.
Sony is unlikely, now we can't rule it out - Sony doesn't weird things sometimes (the PS3 can playback WMV and PSV has support for MS Skype). But still it's unlikely.
That leaves everyone else. Sharp, Toshiba, Panasonic, Hitachi ...
AppleTV as a separate "add-on" just isn't "hitting it big", but as a "feature" of a TV it will probably fare better.
Samsung is out, they have their own smartTV thing going on. Not to mention the considerable amount of bad blood between the two companies now with the lawsuit.
Sony is unlikely, now we can't rule it out - Sony doesn't weird things sometimes (the PS3 can playback WMV and PSV has support for MS Skype). But still it's unlikely.
That leaves everyone else. Sharp, Toshiba, Panasonic, Hitachi ...
AppleTV as a separate "add-on" just isn't "hitting it big", but as a "feature" of a TV it will probably fare better.
It's hard to see why this would happen.
I can't believe Apple would just stick an ATV in a TV.
I guess they could create some new kind of TV/computer/tablet hybrid that goes beyond an ATV update. I don't see anyone clamoring for this though.
This rumor seems like junk -- same as before.
I can't believe Apple would just stick an ATV in a TV.
I guess they could create some new kind of TV/computer/tablet hybrid that goes beyond an ATV update. I don't see anyone clamoring for this though.
This rumor seems like junk -- same as before.
Rumors? with all of those labs in there, i betcha a $1,000 they are already doing it!
...w/ iphone/ipad integration
My friend, back in 1998 when the mac were beige, I was studying multimedia and I got to dig into many serious companies and back then they had technology still no available.
In fact, Philips used to sell a 3D TV glasses free back in 2008.
There are awesome inventions but many of them does not have a market and they are kept in showrooms or in labs.
LED-LCDs yes, Plasmas no
I might agree that Plasmas in general provide a better picture in darken rooms. But given Apples experience with LED-LCDs, there greater performance in bright rooms, lower weight and being more eco-friendly I would hope Apple goes in the LED-LCD direction. It would be a mistake to bring out a Plasma.
Now given Apple's innovation maybe they can solve the OLED issues for large TVs. Now that would be the ticket.
I might agree that Plasmas in general provide a better picture in darken rooms. But given Apples experience with LED-LCDs, there greater performance in bright rooms, lower weight and being more eco-friendly I would hope Apple goes in the LED-LCD direction. It would be a mistake to bring out a Plasma.
Now given Apple's innovation maybe they can solve the OLED issues for large TVs. Now that would be the ticket.
WOW. A Panasonic Plasma set that doesn't resemble something from four years ago. I swear all their Plasmas are positively ugly, save perhaps for the G-Series with 3D. Their LCD sets look great. Note that I'm not talking about picture quality here.
Helluva price tag. That Plasma better eat every LCD for breakfast. Hard to beat Sony's Brava line and Samsung's higher end LCDs. Sony especially. They've really nailed LCD/LED tech. Besides, LCDs/LEDs have caught up to and in many cases surpassed plasma sets.
Why?
All they did was make a giant iPhone and look what happened: Revolution is what's for dinner.
This is Apple. They do something ridiculously simple and obvious - almost too easy - and the results tend to be game-changing.
Does anyone really think Apple cares enough about picture quality to go with plasma after their most recent AppleTV didn't even do 1080p?
If Apple enters the TV market, it'll look sleek, it'll be thin, and it will certainly be an LED LCD display. But that's a big if.
And knowing Apple it will have a single mini displayport for connectivity. (some sarcasm intended)
If Apple enters the TV market, it'll look sleek, it'll be thin, and it will certainly be an LED LCD display. But that's a big if.
And knowing Apple it will have a single mini displayport for connectivity. (some sarcasm intended)
