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Apple to Launch New 'Smart Home' Platform at WWDC
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Does anyone have any insight as to why we should not expect when the Apple TV finally drops, that it will contain a projector system replacing the traditional "TV SET?"
Assuming Apple has found a way to revolutionize the picture for ultra-bright rooms, wouldn't this solve all of the problems related to low profit margins associated with manufacturing an entire set? Wouldn't this also be a revolutionary product in that it would remove a large black box from the living room of every home? Wouldn't this also lend itself to the possibility of consumers purchasing a new box more often, so long as they can keep prices somewhat reasonable? I remember seeing multiple patents from Apple regarding projection systems, but have seen nothing for a while.
I am not an engineer, can anyone provide insight as to why this seems like a far-fetched idea? Is it the cost to produce the projector? Are they expensive to build? Could Apple reduce the cost in some way?
Thanks.
Assuming Apple has found a way to revolutionize the picture for ultra-bright rooms, wouldn't this solve all of the problems related to low profit margins associated with manufacturing an entire set? Wouldn't this also be a revolutionary product in that it would remove a large black box from the living room of every home? Wouldn't this also lend itself to the possibility of consumers purchasing a new box more often, so long as they can keep prices somewhat reasonable? I remember seeing multiple patents from Apple regarding projection systems, but have seen nothing for a while.
I am not an engineer, can anyone provide insight as to why this seems like a far-fetched idea? Is it the cost to produce the projector? Are they expensive to build? Could Apple reduce the cost in some way?
Thanks.
Because home automation is actually useful.
I think of it like the iPod. Similar music players already existed but were so horrible that Apple just had to make a flawless one that was easy to use and kinda inexpensive. Same thing with home automation.
I completely disagree, especially if they integrate Siri into it. There's a project called SiriProxy that intercepts Siri commands and allows you to control every aspect of your house that has an open API.
It could be a great thing for apple, assuming they don't botch it like they did with the controller program.
Because home automation is actually useful.
I think of it like the iPod. Similar music players already existed but were so horrible that Apple just had to make a flawless one that was easy to use and kinda inexpensive. Same thing with home automation.
You seriously compared an iPod to Home Automation? Home Automation is not something you go to an Apple Store and buy. You don't just unwrap it, turn it on and BOOM! everything just works. You have to spend $10-$20K to hard-wire a house to one or more automation controllers first. Home automation has already existed for years in the form of alarms, motion sensors, thermostats. However, existing homes are a mish-mash of these things and what controller units they have would not talk a TCP protocol for controller via a mobile OS app. This is where a NEST comes in, but that's just a thermostat. You literally need a NEST blind, NEST lights, etc...
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Once you've got the home automation controller set up, whether you use touch controls on a GUI or issue the command via Siri makes no difference. You've already solved the hardest part.
Wow, the bad investing advice is flowing like water today.
1. The price does not have to do anything.
2. Selling short is a fool's errand even if you know what you are doing. Advising someone else try it is like telling them to stick their hand in a threshing machine just to see how it feels.
3. The markets are not a zero-sum game. Someone else does not have to lose money for you to make money.
Other than that, brilliant advice.
OK, I just didn't get what you were trying to say before. The home automation problem is at least partially solved in some houses by Crestron, Lutron, and AMX boxes which already have ethernet connections, or at least RS232, and can be controlled remotely via network commands. For example, I've gotten an iPhone app to control an AMX box by sending it telnet commands. Hopefully, if Apple joins this, they include some compatibility.
Nope it's a very complex problem. Think about the wiring to things like motorized blinds, lights, thermostat, alarm, windows, etc... If you're Bill Gates you can throw $50K at the problem. If you're Joe Schmoe you can't. It's one thing to spend $99 on a router and $499 on an iPad. Whole 'nohter thing for this home automation gig.
If true, I hope this one will actually work around the world, and more importantly will actually be used. Quite a few of their offerings just didn't take the world by storm like Passbook iTunes Radio etc.
Apple can at times be so good at introducing new features, but like Maps, Ping, iTunes Radio and Passbook they can sometimes really mess it up.
Apple can at times be so good at introducing new features, but like Maps, Ping, iTunes Radio and Passbook they can sometimes really mess it up.
Apple is really good at improving the iPhone and Mac. Those are their core competencies, mostly on hardware. Look at the Mac Pro, genius design. Apple has the best computer designers in the world.
Actually, I control my 5 zone heating and cooling Mitsubishi system from my iPhone or iPad now. It's an app by Honeywell, but I would much rather have an apple app!
Unless I'm missing something, this doesn't look like it's designed to work with all third-party domotics device. It seems to only support the accessories sold through their store and the Philips Hue lights. Want to use a Nest along with those? Whoops, still gotta use the Nest app.
What we need is an affordable solution with good UX that is sold worldwide and that offers support for pretty much all third-party accessories with minimal configuration.
I also personally wouldn't feel comfortable investing such amounts of money for a proprietary system from a small company that may very well be out of business soon.
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Doesn't matter.
Apple's core business is mass market consumer goods.
Walk into an Apple store, spend a couple of hundred bucks, walk out, done. Happy customer.
Now you're talking about thousands, or tens of thousands of dollars to rewire a home and pretend you're in Star Trek.
Now who is going to support the product when it doesn't work? Apple Store is now like home depot? Genius bar does house calls like Geek Squad?
What about those that live in apartments, teens, students, and emerging markets. Or even those new families on a budget in starter homes?
You think this HUGE market segment cares about the gimmick of automation? It's not a mass market consumer good and has all the attributes of a DOA distraction that will be cool during a keynote only.
Even if Apple partners with a construction company for pre-wired Apple iHomes, how many people are in the market for a $350k mortgage compared to a $399 iPad Mini.
No Sarcasm intended... OK, maybe the Samsung part.... But, I think you are correct. They need a standard. Then anyone could make a product that worked and the consumer could choose. As I said, like wireless, cellular, cable cards, (my comcast cable cards work in my TIVO) USB, cable modems, etc. The Home automation sector is behind in this fact.
NEST (Google) wants everyone to switch to NEST. But If I buy a NEST thermostat, a NEST Smoke Detector, and eventually a water filter, Lawn sprinkler control system, Alarm, Garage door opener, etc.... and them I move into a new House and all the stuff there is by GE, then I have a lot of crap that won't talk to each other. If I have a NEST car alarm, I want it to be able to flash my GE lighting system in my office so I know how many bullets to load before going out to the garage.
All I want is my chocolate to talk to my peanut butter.
No, I was just hoping I could connect some Apple product to existing AMX and Lutron computers and have it control them through the command interfaces they already have set up. No new hardware (besides adaptors to the Apple computer) should be necessary. And I only want automated thermostats and music, couldn't care less about gimmicks like iPhone-controlled lights and shades.
But as new homes are built, they can put in the wiring for whatever Apple comes out with, or it can be wireless.
Dude you beat me to the punch, LOL. I was going to talk about Apple partnering with construction companies to build "smart communities" as a showcase. This would be a slow burner over decades as housing stock got rebuilt. But it's definitely not a new $10 billion/year business by 2017.
Yeah, if you're into classical (aka wrong) economic theory or mercantilism
As someone else already said, that is not the case. Also, short your own AAPL stock if you think it's a good idea. IMO, it's better to not deal with AAPL and just buy S&P500, and I have money on that.
Nest and Hive both work for iOS and Android Devices (perhaps they do, or will work for Windows Phone also?)
Why would anyone buy someone similar that only works on iOS devices.
By all means make it, but as a bit of hardware would you really make it iOS only seeing that large parts of the world have a tiny amount of iOS sales?
Why would anyone buy someone similar that only works on iOS devices.
By all means make it, but as a bit of hardware would you really make it iOS only seeing that large parts of the world have a tiny amount of iOS sales?
Dude, you realize how niche you are? Maybe 0.01% of houses have your type of setup. You're a hobbyist.
Apple isn't going to release an AppleTV until they partner with Comcast/Time Warner as the go to platform for in home.
Same business model as cell phones. Being able to hide the high upfront cost of the device in a small box 'lease' payments on your cable bill like they do now.