Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Apple's iTV Set for September Launch With iAd-Supported Channels, iPad as Remote?

Why not just make iTV a software purchase, like the Logic or Final Cut. Seems like it would be a perfect match with the new Mac Mini. But it would also be sweet on a 27" iMac. I can't see Apple making a physical TV that happens to have iOS in it. Most people have TVs; just plug a Mac into it.
 
MisterMe said:
These rumors appear to have nuggets of truth served with heaping helpings of nonsense. An example of each:
  • Nugget of Truth: If this system works, then the current cable distribution model will evaporate.
  • Nonsense: Apple's current remote is a tiny little thing. The iPad will not replace it.
Click to expand...

Well, I ditched cable TV, but cable is still my mode of transport for Internet and phone, I don't think it's going anywhere and they were smart (at least in Cablevision's terms) to upgrade and expand. They're miles into the lead over the telephone companies, even with them moving to fibre in my area.

As for the Nonsense, I can actually see a three pronged release here. One I can see a new AppleTV having no remote at all in box (bring your own remote like the mac mini, in this case use your iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch), one with the old Apple Remote (standard edition) and one with the new touch screen remote (iTV Pro). You can buy the old remote or the new remote and the new remote will likely work off of bluetooth so you can use it with your Macs as well if you really wanted. And being a bluetooth device, I could easily see it fetching the standard $60 price tag on it's own.

I don't think Apple will ditch IR, they know all too well people have their harmony's and other universal remotes that they want to control all devices. But I do think Apple wants to change strategy for the future. The iPad will just be an option, and a good one. I wouldn't be surprised if they got that former Standford student to write the whole thing, after all his remote works perfectly for the current AppleTV and with some GUI work could be an awesome remote. It would also explain why we haven't seen his iPad update for Apple Remote software.

And I love the current AppleTV, I don't love the price which is why I've held off. I bought a refurbed 40GB for my in-laws last christmas, they love it more than their iPod touch and have NEVER used the Apple Remote with it other than for the first 10 minutes to configure it. I just hope that they either incorporate iTunesDJ (and the ability to DJ a network shared iTunes Library) and/or leave in the Airtunes Speaker support. Even with the iPad interface, Apple Remote to an AppleTV connected to a multizone receiver that is serving up an iTunesDJ instance on their network (from my laptop usually) has made for some awesome parties at their house.

jayducharme said:
Why not just make iTV a software purchase, like the Logic or Final Cut. Seems like it would be a perfect match with the new Mac Mini. But it would also be sweet on a 27" iMac. I can't see Apple making a physical TV that happens to have iOS in it. Most people have TVs; just plug a Mac into it.
Click to expand...

You need to go back and reread, it isn't a physical TV and the end result we're looking at is supposed to be significantly cheaper than any current Mac offering.
 
Thread is TL,DR but an idea that's been kicking around in my head regarding the remote...

iTV is going to be iOS. iOS is touch. The iPad is great for interaction but not everyone has one, and it isn't ideal for all interactions. Even the iPhone and iPod touch aren't owned by everyone, particularly not those who would be looking at a $99 STB. Also Apple are interested in more gateway drugs to their iOS platform.

Also, with production of the iPod touch switching over to the presumable-iPhone-4-like design, there will be a lot of spare capacity for manufacturing old iPod-touch-style devices.

So, what if instead of a standard Apple Remote, the new iTV comes with the Apple Magic Remote - a massively trimmed-down iPod touch, with maybe 128MB of flash and minimal everything else (possibly with a Retina display but more likely the previous generation). Software processing is done on the iTV with interface elements either on the TV screen or the touch screen (e.g. 3D games couldn't be drawn on the limited power of the Magic Remote, but basic drawn UI using the standard controls could). The extra space (from removing unused elements and miniaturising the others - since technology has moved on since the touch debuted) could be used for increasing the battery capacity, which along with a reduced power draw from the miniaturised components could be extended massively. Include a dock of some kind for charging and software updates downloaded to the iTV. The Magic part would be that it could also dispense with some of the fiddly aspects of using a remote - having to hunt around for the right buttons. Swipe to skip forwards and back, tap to pause and play, perhaps hold one or two fingers in place and drag another up and down to adjust volume... the possibilities seem endless!

(I'd guess the same software would be available from the App Store so that you could use it on your existing iPhone or iPod touch, saving you having to hunt for the remote when you have a perfectly usable device in your pocket, and it would be a Universal App giving the already-rumoured iPad version.)
 
Not sure the name will iTV will stick

As Dagless eluded to earlier, ITV in the Britain has been a household brand name since the 1950's. It's the main rival to the BBC.

I cannot see them giving that name up any time soon although Apple could just ignore the problem and hope it goes away like The Beatle's claim to the Apple trademark! I guess they could call it the Apple ITV to get up the nose of two major British companies all at the same time. :)
 
Peace said:
I own all of them and I use the remote app to control my Apple TV everyday.
Click to expand...

i stand corrected, i read online it controls apple tv but i think since i hacked my apple tv i no longer have that function:(
 
homsar said:
So, what if instead of a standard Apple Remote, the new iTV comes with the Apple Magic Remote - a massively trimmed-down iPod touch, ....
Click to expand...

Only good if it has full viewing directly on the remote. This is why touchscreens have not caught on very well. (price, too) You can't feel anything on the touchscreen, and that is how most everyone is accustomed to operating a remote, at least partially blind/by feel. So the menus, channels, audio lists, etc. need to be visible on the remote so you can see them while operating it.

They are certainly close, it's fairly possible with the closed system Apple provides. We'll see. It still won't work for people like me, I fear. I will always have more than one source to my TV. I would need a more robust and varied system, which products exist, but cost quite a bit.
 
6EQUJ5 said:
i stand corrected, i read online it controls apple tv but i think since i hacked my apple tv i no longer have that function:(
Click to expand...

If you use ATV Flash you still have that function.

Go to the Apple settings and add a remote. Then pair it with your iPhone remote app.

Of course your iPhone has to be using WiFi.
 
homsar said:
So, what if instead of a standard Apple Remote, the new iTV comes with the Apple Magic Remote - a massively trimmed-down iPod touch, with maybe 128MB of flash and minimal everything else (possibly with a Retina display but more likely the previous generation).
Click to expand...

While possible- and interesting- the problems with this concept are simple:
  1. Would having something like this in the box with the new iTV be sellable at $99 from Apple (with Apple margins)?
  2. Remotes for home A/V equipment are often used in the dark- by feeling the buttons- not looking at a little screen so that you touch the right spot.
  3. If it is going to become a new master remote, it will need to duplicate universal remote functionality, so that it can control the other AV gear. That means it probably needs a learning function (to learn IR commands from other remotes) and some kind of software through which to do the programming. That software will need to be created for both Windows and Macs, or maybe as an app.

I know it is really seductive to keep imagining a touch screen as THE remote, but there are practical use and economic challenges to the concept. Thinking it through, I perceive it needs to ship with a tactile remote (buttons you can feel in the dark) rather than a flat piece of glass with virtual buttons. If I am right, I hope it ships with something a bit "more" than the Apple remote shipped with the first generation. If it does ship with some kind of touch-device remote, I think it is much more likely for it to be more "magic mouse" (no screen) than to be iPod Jr. Heavily stripped down iPod Jr. will still need a big battery, touch hardware, screen, backlight, etc (memory is pretty cheap, so shipping with less probably won't heavily impact price).

I'm thinking for the people that want an iDevice to be their iTV remote, they just use a remote app on the iDevice they have/buy. But, since they probably take that iDevice with them when they leave their home, the iTV will still need some kind of permanent remote dedicated to it for anyone else that might live at that same home (and then, get ready to hear the gripes each time you take the "good remote" with you when you leave).
 
Wasn't there some rumour a few months ago about Apple buying tiny little 1" multitouch screens?

Could be bound for an iTV remote, maybe?
 
Maybe, but I would encourage anyone to create a little 1" square and then pretend to use it as some kind of touch screen device. 1" is really small (4 postage stamps in a 2X2 layout is about that size). Now think about swiping to scroll through a list, and so on.

I may be biased (against) because I'm a big guy, but it's hard to picture a touch screen that small really adding a lot of functionality.
 
WannaGoMac said:
If it has support for more video formats then it is a win for me. Divx/Xvid etc or at least support the addition of Perian install or something...
Click to expand...

An iOS app for the iPhone and iPad called Air Video transcodes pretty much any video file you can throw at it including MKV too. So I don't think that will be a problem.
 
HobeSoundDarryl said:
I envision a $99 iTV because we've seen that price over and over for months, but no other rumored pricing. In the past, it seems rumored Apple products with low pricing have subsequent leaks of higher pricing to get price expectations more toward what will actually be THE price. That hasn't happened with this iTV rumor, so I'm assuming that $99 might really be THE price, or near to it.

A subsidy would be a whole other can of worms. Who is subsidizing it? Are we talking some kind of 3G contract? If so, why? Are we talking some kind of cable-TV-like subscription. If so, that would probably be Apple taking on the role of a next-gen Comcast. Would that imply, that Apple is going to sell it for $99 with some kind of 12 or 24-month subscription at $XX per month?

Then, we would have to see the $XX as well as what's in the subscription to decide if $99 is bargain, good, not so good, or rip off. What's the penalty for quitting the service early? Etc. It's a bit harder for me to imagine Apple in that kind of role, unless they've observed how lucrative the iPhone subscriptions have been for AT&T and decided they want to get in on that side of the transaction in a big(ger) way.
Click to expand...

HobeSoundDarryl said:
Would having something like this in the box with the new iTV be sellable at $99 from Apple (with Apple margins)?
Click to expand...

I asked you before, and you just repeated the $99 rumors - What would an iTV consist of that would "be sellable at $99 from Apple (with Apple margins)?" I don't see how that would be possible without subsidies.
 
newagemac said:
An iOS app for the iPhone and iPad called Air Video transcodes pretty much any video file you can throw at it including MKV too. So I don't think that will be a problem.
Click to expand...

:rolleyes:

That sounds awesome, instead of using a superior device like the popcorn hour, i can go through convoluted steps just to watch what i want in what format I want on an item I paid for. Plus i will get to spend tons of money on inferior encoded videos.
 
I'd be surprised if Apple did release the new Apple TV this September, I expect it to be released when Apple releases a "cloud" version of iTunes, and from what I hear thats still having details worked out.
 
I would say that my concern for pay to play tv is only popular shows will be produced, therefore limiting the opportunities for independent media, or media that is important or avant guard, but not that popular. Oh, wait. We already have that model since most of the programing on the less popular stations does not fit into my above categories. For some reason even shows that are produced for small audience or markets are generally not of any special value. However, there is a chance that this could have the opposite effect if Apple allows an iTunes model that gives independent producers a chance to sell their video through iTV. A low budget or no budget film could go viral and sell wildly on such a system.
 
BaldiMac said:
I asked you before, and you just repeated the $99 rumors - What would an iTV consist of that would "be sellable at $99 from Apple (with Apple margins)?" I don't see how that would be possible without subsidies.
Click to expand...

OK then, let's clarify. If other companies can sell a more complicated than this rumored product- say a 1080p playback device with a built in laser and disc spinning mechanism- at a profit for $99, I think Apple could sell what appears to be just some chips (no disc spinning, no laser, etc) for $99 and make a profit. If WD can sell their 1080p playback device without a hard drive for $99 and make a profit, I think Apple can sell their 1080p playback device without a hard drive and make a profit. Etc.

If $99 is the price, I would guess it is Apple's version of the WD box with terrific Apple software running on it. It probably comes with something like the same Apple remote that came with the original :apple:TV or (hopefully) something with a few more buttons.

I can't see it much below $99, and I can easily see it at $149 or $199 instead of $99, but I can believe $99 enough because there haven't been other rumors of the thing at any price other than $99. Historically, I've noticed that when the rumors are too low on price, other rumors seem to come out with higher prices. Then Apple launches at something at or below those higher price estimates.

Frankly, I'm not overly hung up on price. I just hope we get something comparable to the existing :apple:TV experience, with 1080p hardware and hopefully the more open flexibility for third party software (apps) and hardware (elgato, etc) add-on options. That would be a "wow" product even at $229 or more.

And it would quickly get my money.
 
BaldiMac said:
In reply to: HobeSoundDarryl

I asked you before, and you just repeated the $99 rumors - What would an iTV consist of that would "be sellable at $99 from Apple (with Apple margins)?" I don't see how that would be possible without subsidies.
Click to expand...
I agree. There is no way that Apple is going to sell a $99 device without having some sort of gold rush attached to it. iAds might be something Apple is going to use, but I wonder if that would bring in the missing money. If Apple has enough faith in it to take this kind of risks.

Not to mention that this device would be limited to the US market, mostly, because 1.) iAds don't run everywhere, yet, and 2.) European TV providers [for example] have their own way of providing their channels. Mostly on cable, so I don't see how this should work.

What offers iTunes [tv shows and movies] for European people right now? Right. Nothing to almost nothing! And what they get is too darn expensive.
 
I have to say I'm very happy with the on demand service I get from BTVision and I can't see how an iTV could add to that (no pvr, no digital tv tuner etc). Having said that, I have ALWAYS wanted to be able to find out the name of and buy a song I heard in an advert/tv show/movie right there and then, through the TV. If the iTV could do that for me....I'm in :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back