Makes little sense except maybe for a smallish segment of AppleTV users who happen to position their AppleTV box immediately under or above, center of their TV. Position it anywhere else and while user is looking at the other party on their TV, they will NOT see "you" looking back at them. Instead, you will be looking far left or right of them, above or below them... or they won't be able to see you at all.
All the people who put their AppleTV left or right of their set, behind their set, in a separate cabinet, well below or well above their set will not have any FaceTime-type use for this "feature" as either that camera won't be able to see "you" at all or won't be seeing you so that you are looking right back at "them."
There are TWO solutions to this want:
- (already exists) wireless camera accessory via Continuity Camera. Maybe that could be an original iSight-type camera vs. having to use an iPhone... but it would work the same way.
- separate camera that mounts above or below, center of the TV and by wired or wireless connection sends its video to AppleTV to send to those on the other end of the video communication. In this, I'd envision the return of a USB port on AppleTV and then plug in a wired camera. Again, this too could be like the original iSight-type camera... and there are MANY of these already on the market, like these 2 4K TV cam examples...
...along with many much smaller types that typically have only HD resolution.
All these other concepts- such as all of the Frankenstein products: merging AppleTV + Camera + Soundbar + Router +++ seem like we are making an A/V iMac... which, just like iMac... can seem great going in but terrible at the end when any one part makes it a "throw baby out with the bathwater" proposition.
Not everyone has a soundbar setup, nor would want to switch to one. Not everyone needs a new router. Not everyone has their AppleTV in the right spot for effective video conferencing. Etc. As you lump in features that don't fit the masses, you cut the segment size of those who would desire this Frankenstein. AppleTV is already a "hobby." Frankenstein would be carving up the hobby share in search of a slice of a slice of a market interested in exactly THAT Frankenstein.
IMO, leave AppleTV almost "as is" except...
- Build in a normal USB-C port to which things like cameras, local storage, etc could be attached for those interested without forcing either on those who don't want such features. A "universal" port could scratch just about all itches without adding a lot of cost to AppleTV.
- Add the 3.5" headphone jack back to AppleTV for those with Zone 2 Receivers who would like to use the "Jukebox" benefits of AppleTV with Receiver zones that need analog audio in. Yes, there are HDMI "splitters/extractors" but few (any?) seem to readily pass through CEC & HDR correctly. One dirt cheap headphone jack and this jukebox feature returns in a fully compatible way.
Pretty much everyone can get what they want with those 2 changes. Those wanting an Apple-branded soundbar or router should long for those as their OWN products vs. being mashed into this one thing. Else, the complete Frankenstein would probably be priced towards $1K... but obsolete as fast as AppleTV obsoletes in just a few years... even if the speaker and/or router is still perfectly fine at the time. If you want to be shelling out $1K+ every couple of years, keep hoping for this Frankenstein. Else, buy those more "out there" wants as their own thing and things like routers and soundbars/speakers can far outlast faster-to-obsolescence hardware like AppleTV.
