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I doubt an Apple TV would look like the Thunderbolt Display. Other manufacturers have produced excellent looking TVs with very minimal bezels. A large bezel is starting to look very dated.

Content access is something that really needs updating, but the large creators seem unwilling to leave the old ways, and I suspect they will be even more reluctant to allow Apple to change things. The first network to embrace an a la carte model has the potential to gain a big advantage, but none seem willing to take the risk.

An iOS almost certainly has the computational power to virtualise most set-top boxes. There is the potential to make things simpler by having it all within the TV.

Another way to tidy things up is to hide the set-top boxes away with a wifi controlled IR sender in front of them. You tell the Apple TV what you want as part of a unified interface. The TV passes on the command to the box.
 
Rumors like these are what gives the competition - Copycat Samsung n others, the next thing to work on.:mad:

No wonder Apple keeps it on a hush!
 
Rumors like these are what gives the competition - Copycat Samsung n others, the next thing to work on.:mad:

No wonder Apple keeps it on a hush!
Seriously... step away from the kool-aid.
Pretty much every feature mentioned already exists in a released product.
Samsung's Smart TV's are on store shelves today.
If Apple want's to compete in the TV market, they need to out do the other guys by a wide margin.
And no, content is not king. There are way to many other sources for content that Apple cannot control.
They would have to gain exclusive rights to premium content and I don't see this happening with a TV. Content providers want mass distribution, not a limited audience.

Also the idea of limiting or restricting connectivity to external DVD/BD players, game consoles, etc would be a failure, not a feature.
I have 20 years of my own content still on physical media that enjoy from time to time. Most of which is simply not available in digital format.
Being able to connect the proper playback device to my TV is a must.
 
So I have every channel under the sun with my DirecTV HD DVR. What would an Apple TV give me that DirecTV doesn't?
 
Not sure if i am loving built in cameras. Especially when the NSA in Wired magazine came out and admitted they tap virtually everything.

So, because there are very little protections for locking down the built in cam/mics, i hate the privacy intrusions. ie, Google has gone on record they can turn on cams/mics remotely on computers which are on its websites.

ie someone can watch/listen to people via the camera in their own home.

So, until privacy protections are put into place.... a bit worried about the implications.

Don't believe me:

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/03/ff_nsadatacenter/all/1

http://www.democracynow.org/2012/3/21/exposed_inside_the_nsas_largest_and

http://www.knowthelies.com/node/7124

I'm having a tinfoil hat party later this week-- you should come.

What those articles talk about is passive listening, which while still being a major privacy concern, is vastly different than actively enabling one's personal device to spy.

Yes, any program you willfully install on your computer (Google's included) can use your computer in any way it's allowed (which is usually without limit). Computers also typically have an LED next to the camera to indicate they're in use, and it's not something that can be turned off on a MacBook.
 
do you know how racist you sound? what was the last thing your hands made that compared to an build quality of an iPhone or iPad?

no, I dont know how racist I sound ... I am sorry, but is China not notorious for making cheap ****? Tell me I am wrong ...

Well if Apple made custom cabinets or tables then I would be on their level. Since they dont I cant compare ...
 
Seriously... step away from the kool-aid.
Pretty much every feature mentioned already exists in a released product.
Samsung's Smart TV's are on store shelves today.
If Apple want's to compete in the TV market, they need to out do the other guys by a wide margin.
And no, content is not king. There are way to many other sources for content that Apple cannot control.
They would have to gain exclusive rights to premium content and I don't see this happening with a TV. Content providers want mass distribution, not a limited audience.

Also the idea of limiting or restricting connectivity to external DVD/BD players, game consoles, etc would be a failure, not a feature.
I have 20 years of my own content still on physical media that enjoy from time to time. Most of which is simply not available in digital format.
Being able to connect the proper playback device to my TV is a must.

where does it say that apple will limit or restrict capability?? or have you just made that up so you look like you have a good argument along with calling another poster a fanboy? Plus the samsung smart tv's are not perfect....
 
no, I dont know how racist I sound ... I am sorry, but is China not notorious for making cheap ****? Tell me I am wrong ...

Well if Apple made custom cabinets or tables then I would be on their level. Since they dont I cant compare ...

China is a pretty big place, and while there's a lot of junk made everywhere in the world, some awesome electronics come out of there. That goes for the US too.

You might make awesome cabinets and tables, but there's probably cheaper and crappier versions that someone else in your area makes.
 
Unlike all their other products, they need to get the pricing right. I would expect much smaller margins, as this is a market that has already gone "smart". Apple will need to ship under £1500 for it to be successful. This could be the first time in many years that Apple has entered a market that they won't dominate.
 
Could this be a new 30'+ monitor that can also be used as a TV?

I would certainly hope so. A highres screen with Thunderbolt port, so it can double as display for you Mac (or iPhone5...)
Choice of 32" and 40-42" - maybe a third option if they go all in.

Other comments:
Internet required?! But of course - this, and the software/integration with everything ios, is what will set it apart from all the other tv's.

TVs not in need of an overhaul like smartphones/tablets?! You gotta be kidding? The design has changed quite a bit with the option of lcd/plasmas and now LED technologies, but all the software and integration is absolutely horrendous, even the so-called smart-tv from Samsung is not even close to the potential.

Agree that content is the culprit, and I can fear that part, being from a small European country!
 
So I have every channel under the sun with my DirecTV HD DVR. What would an Apple TV give me that DirecTV doesn't?

Hmm,

The aTV can give you access to the following:

  1. Netflix
  2. Flickr
  3. Youtube
  4. Vimeo
  5. iTunes content
  6. Access to some of your Digital Copy movies (from BD/DVD combos)
  7. MLB free game of the day
  8. Cool minimalist remote

Whether these are selling points for you ... I can't say.
 
where does it say that apple will limit or restrict capability?? or have you just made that up so you look like you have a good argument along with calling another poster a fanboy? Plus the samsung smart tv's are not perfect....
Read the thread and follow along. Nothing was made up for the sake of an argument.
The "kool-aid" comment was for the copycat remark. Seriously, some people need to get out into the world more.
As for the Smart TV's, no they're not perfect, but they exist already.

As for the capabilities comment, many poster's are talking about Apple producing a device with limited or no HDMI or other external connectors.
I was simply adding to the discussion on the subject.

We good now or do you have anything else to add?
 
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The thing I (and most consumers) like about TVs is that most of the time they're simple. You don't have to be bombarded with updates. It doesn't have to be connected to the internet. You set it up once and you're done for the next 20 years. That's why Samsungs, Panasonics, and Sonys work just fine.

Apple doesn't have a market here. It's not like a cell phone, tablet, or computer. The user/machine interface for a TV is kept a minimum versus those other products. On a TV you turn it on, and change the channel or input. Can Apple really improve the experience of changing the channel? I doubt it.

Have you seen TV remotes lately with their 50+ buttons, that could be replaced with 6 buttons or something like that and a really easy-to-use interface? Then you have a TV set-top-box with a completely different UI with another 50+ button remote, and another UI and remote for your Blu-Ray player. There is your market.
 
how about if apple made a box that connects all the boxes you already have, and puts all the content in one user interface. So, if you have a playstation plugged into it, there would be the game that you have put in the ps3 in a games section, click on it, and it launches the game. And if you had sky, it would search the tv listings. If you wanted a specific program, it would read the tv listings, show you when its on, if its on anytime, and if its on iplayer and 4od, then take you right there. that would be cool
 
I would hope that if there was a couch full of people that the software would show all of them. That's what you'd want to do if a whole family was chatting with grandma, no?

Picture in Picture? Maybe someone is watching TV but not apart of the conversation.
 
Unlike all their other products, they need to get the pricing right. I would expect much smaller margins, as this is a market that has already gone "smart". Apple will need to ship under £1500 for it to be successful. This could be the first time in many years that Apple has entered a market that they won't dominate.
For the record, I have serious doubts the Apple will make a TV set any time soon.

However to say that the rest of the market has gone "smart" is really something. I guess to the average TV viewer, having access to Apps, and Netflix, and stuff like that means it's a Smart TV. OK, fine. I'd like to think that if Apple were going to jump into this market, their definition of "smart" would be much much more than this. Otherwise, just leave the aTV box alone and be done with it.

Also, if Apple were to get into the TV market, I would have no doubt that they'd be able to effectively compete, if not, dominate. Alas, I am no futurist, so I can't see what it could be that Apple would use to differentiate themselves from the rest.

Part of me would love to see Apple jump into this mess of a market, just to be amazed by what they've conjured up. But, I'm doubtful that they'd be able to negotiate any meaningful deals with the content owners and service providers who have shown themselves to be unwilling to change the status quo.
 
Have you seen TV remotes lately with their 50+ buttons, that could be replaced with 6 buttons and a really easy-to-use interface?

Looks pretty simply to me. And it controls the TV, STB and BD player.
The center is a touchpad too.

http://www.samsung.com/us/2012-smart-tv/index.html#accessories

remote-control.png


Hmm,

The aTV can give you access to the following:

Netflix
Flickr
Youtube
Vimeo
iTunes content
Access to some of your Digital Copy movies (from BD/DVD combos)
MLB free game of the day
Cool minimalist remote


Whether these are selling points for you ... I can't say.
Pretty much any TV or BD player will give you these today with the exception of iTunes.
The ATV remote is TOO minimalist in my opinion. Too many clicks to get simple tasks done.
It needs a touch pad or something.
 
FaceTime and Siri?
I can live without that.

Don't see the point in buying this TV unless it has a much better resolution.

I just download all my shows/movies or play FIFA on my Xbox
stream it from my Xbox to my TV

Nevertheless, I think those features will be enough to convince a good amount of people to buy an Apple LED TV.
 
no, I dont know how racist I sound ... I am sorry, but is China not notorious for making cheap ****? Tell me I am wrong ...

Well, yes, but they make them that way to specifications provided by the companies buying the stuff.

If you go to China, you'll see they have high-speed trains and tall glass skyscrapers and medical equipment that rivals the rest of the world -- stuff built to precise tolerances and made with high-quality materials. (I was just in Hong Kong last month -- the MTR subway system is amazing, as is the "Octopus card" NFC payment system that lets you pay for just about anything with the mere swipe of your wallet.)

The cheap poorly made crap that you see so often is in response to companies (and, ultimately, consumers) saying "make it cheaper! make it cheaper!" -- so the factories do. They use thinner castings and cheaper plastics and hire unskilled workers who make mistakes when putting things together. But if you're willing to pay for quality, they can certainly churn that out as well.
 
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