I really don't see this, I would much rather have the Apple TV little box that I can hook up to any TV I want to buy.
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Apple to Launch 3 HDTV Models by March 2012?
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You overestimate my ambition. ...And perhaps underestimate the laws of physics?
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They don't make money from content. They make money from hardware. They would sell the TV with a version of iOS like the AppleTV and they'd charge a premium.
Obviously the TV would also act like a phone, or show you your voicemail or at least who's calling, etc. I'm sure it would have facetime and skype, etc. Why not? Even my Vizio has different logins so each user can set the sound an visual the way he wants. Per channel if desired. Why wouldn't Apple have quick logins so that whoever is watcing could get their mail, texts, and phone calls right there too?
I even had a Dish Network receiver that had caller ID built in a long time ago. That was pretty cool when the phone would ring in the house and the TV popped up a transparent screen saying "incoming call from .... "
Their 27" monitor is twice the rez as a 65" LCD. They wouldn't be using their monitors as a base.
I find the idea of an Apple TV daft to be honest. Not only will they charge a fortune for it in one of the most competitive electronic markets, something even Pioneer pulled out from despite making very good sets, but it will also be competing it's Apple TV service against another market full of very well established names and media formats around the globe.
And from what I understand the Apple TV still isn't selling as well as they'd like. Putting it into something they would most likely charge three times the price of everyone else for, isn't going to solve that.
And from what I understand the Apple TV still isn't selling as well as they'd like. Putting it into something they would most likely charge three times the price of everyone else for, isn't going to solve that.
No doubt the TV would be made completely by another company. Samsung maybe. Apple would provide the interface and add-ons. Simple enough. Apple would of course dictate the external styling.
every TV has a retina display as long as you sit far away enough from it. iPhone and IPad benefit from retina displays because there is a more of less fixed distance between the display and your eyes. There would be no point whatsoever in making a retina display tv.
This doesn't make sense to me - Apple would be going against a host of other manufacturers with long track records in television production, including some with years worth of R&D. For example, Panasonic currently make the best plasma displays, having bought all of Pioneer's R&D from their discontinued Kuro range.
Televisions, particularly high-end ones, are also subject to very high scrutiny by their purchasers. Expensive screens are calibrated and analysed, and the slightest imperfection or problem is noted. If Apple skimped out on anything, they'll be slammed, particularly on a high end model.
I'm a television enthusiast and I have a high-end Panasonic plasma. This is a totally different marketplace than what Apple currently works in. I know you could have said that before the iPhone, but moving to TVs doesn't sound logical at all.
Televisions, particularly high-end ones, are also subject to very high scrutiny by their purchasers. Expensive screens are calibrated and analysed, and the slightest imperfection or problem is noted. If Apple skimped out on anything, they'll be slammed, particularly on a high end model.
I'm a television enthusiast and I have a high-end Panasonic plasma. This is a totally different marketplace than what Apple currently works in. I know you could have said that before the iPhone, but moving to TVs doesn't sound logical at all.
I think this would be more like the Plex/LG partnership. I doubt Apple is going to enter the TV market itself. However, supplying software makes a lot of sense.
He probably went for lunch with this clown Gene Munster who has 'predicted' an Apple TV for years and has been wrong for the same amount of years..
IMO, although the idea sounds absurd at best, we could really use some Apple's magic in TV.
Let's say that an iTV has better functionality via software (iOS?) and hardware integration (quad-core ARM with some AMD or NVIDIA 3D solution built in), we have the magic Apple has given us all along.
Given the rumor that Apple is considering buying Hulu, I don't see how Apple couldn't revolutionize the TV industry. Gone will be the day of simply watching broadcast or VOD and welcome the smart TV era.
Imagine that your TV could run games, synchronize your mac via iCloud, play media via iTunes and have broadcast recorded for you so you can watch at any given time (only a very powerful DC is capable of pulling sth like this off, which Apple has)
I hate my TV, and it could be feasible/profitable for Apple to come in and change the way we use TV.
Let's say that an iTV has better functionality via software (iOS?) and hardware integration (quad-core ARM with some AMD or NVIDIA 3D solution built in), we have the magic Apple has given us all along.
Given the rumor that Apple is considering buying Hulu, I don't see how Apple couldn't revolutionize the TV industry. Gone will be the day of simply watching broadcast or VOD and welcome the smart TV era.
Imagine that your TV could run games, synchronize your mac via iCloud, play media via iTunes and have broadcast recorded for you so you can watch at any given time (only a very powerful DC is capable of pulling sth like this off, which Apple has)
I hate my TV, and it could be feasible/profitable for Apple to come in and change the way we use TV.
That kind of resolution would be almost worthless on, say, a 50" flatscreen. TV channels are not being broadcast in "retina"-resolution. Far from it. Heck, most aren't even in HD yet. Gaming consoles are only 720/1080p. Same goes for Blu-ray.
So you end up with an amazing (and expensive) feature that you have no content for. I feel pretty sure this is not going to happen.
Has potential. Imagine iTunes integration, airplay, etc, competitive price-point as per Apples' recent consumer-oriented products (999 Macbook Air folks? 99 AppleTV?), high-resolution and contrast like their displays? Awesome.
However, they'll probably bollocks it up, charge too much, and probably not even have video inputs. Steve Jobs: "Video inputs are un-necessary, look, it has iTunes!"
Also, surround-sound "in the tv" is such a crock, I really wish people would stop making those insipid claims. Make something that uses all the channels of audio and mixes them properly so you can hear everything right and so it sounds quite good, sure, but don't call it surround sound. If there aren't speakers behind you, that's simply not what it is.
However, they'll probably bollocks it up, charge too much, and probably not even have video inputs. Steve Jobs: "Video inputs are un-necessary, look, it has iTunes!"
Also, surround-sound "in the tv" is such a crock, I really wish people would stop making those insipid claims. Make something that uses all the channels of audio and mixes them properly so you can hear everything right and so it sounds quite good, sure, but don't call it surround sound. If there aren't speakers behind you, that's simply not what it is.
I see three challenges to Apple getting in to the television business.
(1) Margins. The TV industry is cut-throat and margins are tight. Samsung is a leading manufacturer and in their most recent quarterly report their margins in TV came in at ~10% and that's considered great. The Thunderbolt Display sells for $999, you can bet they're taking more than 10% on each unit.
(2) Design. Modern TVs aren't hideous, in fact, many are gorgeous. It isn't obvious what Apple's design expertise can bring to the table.
(3) Upgrades. Folks don't upgrade their TVs every 2 years, some hang on to them for 7 to 10 years. Apple's entire product lineup, software and hardware, receive updates much more frequently than that.
Point 3 may not be a major obstacle. Consumer habits certainly haven't stopped the TV manufacturers from updating every year. Come to think of it, Apple typically updates its displays less frequently than that.
Point 2 addresses hardware, it's software where Apple can raise the bar. We all know that TVs are just crying for improved UIs and ecosystems.
Point 1 is the most challenging. It doesn't matter how good an Apple television is, consumer behaviour in this space dictates that people will go for Samsung's less expensive 55" over Apple's pricey 42". Apple has changed consumer behaviour before; they've done with the iPhone and iPad. If they can 'wow' consumers a third time, they might be able to do it again. Remember Apple's 'ace', they just might have the most efficient operations infrastructure in the world. They surprised everyone with the $499 iPad.
I don't know what Apple will do. It's interesting that the whispers are getting louder but we all know that analysts are the worst rumour-mongers. We shall see.
(1) Margins. The TV industry is cut-throat and margins are tight. Samsung is a leading manufacturer and in their most recent quarterly report their margins in TV came in at ~10% and that's considered great. The Thunderbolt Display sells for $999, you can bet they're taking more than 10% on each unit.
(2) Design. Modern TVs aren't hideous, in fact, many are gorgeous. It isn't obvious what Apple's design expertise can bring to the table.
(3) Upgrades. Folks don't upgrade their TVs every 2 years, some hang on to them for 7 to 10 years. Apple's entire product lineup, software and hardware, receive updates much more frequently than that.
Point 3 may not be a major obstacle. Consumer habits certainly haven't stopped the TV manufacturers from updating every year. Come to think of it, Apple typically updates its displays less frequently than that.
Point 2 addresses hardware, it's software where Apple can raise the bar. We all know that TVs are just crying for improved UIs and ecosystems.
Point 1 is the most challenging. It doesn't matter how good an Apple television is, consumer behaviour in this space dictates that people will go for Samsung's less expensive 55" over Apple's pricey 42". Apple has changed consumer behaviour before; they've done with the iPhone and iPad. If they can 'wow' consumers a third time, they might be able to do it again. Remember Apple's 'ace', they just might have the most efficient operations infrastructure in the world. They surprised everyone with the $499 iPad.
I don't know what Apple will do. It's interesting that the whispers are getting louder but we all know that analysts are the worst rumour-mongers. We shall see.
I fear Apple will enter the television market and only offer these things:
- Neat integration with i-products and Mac products
- Nice shell aesthetics (like the Cinema display 27")
- Good quality screen
I think they won't really have a ton to offer beyond that.
To give themselves an edge, this is what I fear: They may start throwing around marketing lingo. So, for example, they may say they have their revolutionary never-in-any-other-tv Retina display television... or something like that. And I figure they'll use lingo to make it sound nice, and in the end it's just a nice picture just like any other high-end television. Adding new mumbo-jumbo marketing lingo to an industry can really screw with the consumer-base (there's a lot of idiots who always fall for it).
I'm just waiting for it:
When Jobs announced the iPhone, they said they were going to reinvent the phone. Well, all they did was this: They threw a computer into a phone, with a touchscreen. A phone is still a phone: it makes phone calls, and mobile ones can text. There's no way to reinvent that concept. So when they release the Apple tv, I hope they don't say they're "reinventing the television", because that's just stupid.
- Neat integration with i-products and Mac products
- Nice shell aesthetics (like the Cinema display 27")
- Good quality screen
I think they won't really have a ton to offer beyond that.
To give themselves an edge, this is what I fear: They may start throwing around marketing lingo. So, for example, they may say they have their revolutionary never-in-any-other-tv Retina display television... or something like that. And I figure they'll use lingo to make it sound nice, and in the end it's just a nice picture just like any other high-end television. Adding new mumbo-jumbo marketing lingo to an industry can really screw with the consumer-base (there's a lot of idiots who always fall for it).
I'm just waiting for it:
When Jobs announced the iPhone, they said they were going to reinvent the phone. Well, all they did was this: They threw a computer into a phone, with a touchscreen. A phone is still a phone: it makes phone calls, and mobile ones can text. There's no way to reinvent that concept. So when they release the Apple tv, I hope they don't say they're "reinventing the television", because that's just stupid.
Perhaps you don't realise this, but most 1080p sets are already technically retina displays.
EG. People are generally sitting too far back for the human eye, with perfect vision to be able to fully resolve all the pixels.
I think I'll pass on this one, If apples 27" monitor is expensive, I can only imagine the price on the HDTV. I'll stick to Samsung
I disagree. Apple reinvented the software on phones. If there's an Apple television I'd be looking to software for the innovation, differentiation, and value.
Well... it is a long standing FACT, that Apple is indeed testing large size LG panels, 42" and up. Apple started doing this some years back (at least since 2009 maybe even earlier). But be this as it may, I bet Apple R&D is testing a whole lot of things that never really get to market in the end. And while I personally really hope they DO enter the HDTV market, and believe it as well in the long run, a specific point in time is kind of questionable.
I doubt that Apple is going to introduce their own TVs. IMO, if this does happen it probably means that Steve Jobs is no longer calling the shots at Apple. TVs are a low margin business and Apple has no first-mover advantage in this market.
The only possible advantage to an Apple-branded TV would be if Apple can seamlessly integrate a super-enhanced version of the existing Apple TV box within the TV itself. Well that's pretty obvious, but it would have to be really groundbreaking in design and features, not just the current Apple TV + display.
In order to create a really revolutionary product Apple would have to forge new agreements with the content providers and cable TV operators which is not likely to happen anytime soon.
Thus, I call this rumor and all of the previous Apple TV rumors (which go back for years and years) pure, unadulterated bunk.
The only possible advantage to an Apple-branded TV would be if Apple can seamlessly integrate a super-enhanced version of the existing Apple TV box within the TV itself. Well that's pretty obvious, but it would have to be really groundbreaking in design and features, not just the current Apple TV + display.
In order to create a really revolutionary product Apple would have to forge new agreements with the content providers and cable TV operators which is not likely to happen anytime soon.
Thus, I call this rumor and all of the previous Apple TV rumors (which go back for years and years) pure, unadulterated bunk.