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

iTunes Creator Jeff Robbin Heading Apple Television Effort?

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
68,240
39,044



jeffrobbin-1-150x150.jpg
Jeff Robbin, who built iTunes and was co-lead in the creation of the original iPod with Tony Fadell, is heading up Apple's television efforts, according to a Bloomberg report.
Apple Inc. is turning to the software engineer who built iTunes to help lead its development of a television set, according to three people with knowledge of the project.

Jeff Robbin, who helped create the iPod in addition to the iTunes media store, is now guiding Apple's internal development of the new TV effort, said the people, who declined to be identified because his role isn't public.
Click to expand...
Earlier today, Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster issued a research note with several tidbits of evidence to support his long-held assertion that Apple is working on a television.

Rumors of an Apple television have been getting significantly louder since this weekend, when Steve Jobs' biography quoted Jobs as saying he had "finally cracked" the problems standing in the way of an Apple television set.

Article Link: iTunes Creator Jeff Robbin Heading Apple Television Effort?
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2011/10/24/itunes-creator-jeff-robbin-heading-apple-television-effort/
Last edited by a moderator:
The man's a legend. I found a copy of SoundJam MP on my old iMac G3 not too long ago. That + Napster + the ol' college T1 line fueled many a long night of searching for all kinds of goodness.
 
For a company who says the Apple TV is just a 'hobby' it still seems strange to me for to believe they would ever manufacture an actual television.

Although it would be pretty neat to see something like Facetime integrated.
 
Cathode said:
For a company who says the Apple TV is just a 'hobby' it still seems strange to me for to believe they would ever manufacture an actual television.

Although it would be pretty neat to see something like Facetime integrated.
Click to expand...

That's what you probably said about a phone, a tablet and an mp3 player.
 
reden said:
That's what you probably said about a phone, a tablet and an mp3 player.
Click to expand...

The thing that's different is the most expensive component is the screen, and only big brand companies have enough money to make those. I don't think Apple is going to be able to shake Sony or Samsung down to give them cheaper displays (and certainly not cheaper than their own HDTVs).

No, the value will have to be derived from elsewhere. The big question is what. And will people pay a premium for it?
 
Why a tv? Yes it will look nice but what do you think it will cost? Im betting at least $2000 for a 42" 1080 LED. While others sell the same thing for half that.

Stick with computers, phones, and OS X apple.
 
dagamer34 said:
The thing that's different is the most expensive component is the screen, and only big brand companies have enough money to make those. I don't think Apple is going to be able to shake Sony or Samsung down to give them cheaper displays (and certainly not cheaper than their own HDTVs).

No, the value will have to be derived from elsewhere. The big question is what. And will people pay a premium for it?
Click to expand...

True but I'm sure if apple doesn't manufacture them then they can get some other company to. A good contender might be VIZIO there screens are cheep and very good, I'm sure regardless apple will make it work.
 
Interesting. Would have expected someone from the iOS/OS X side of things to do this, since it will presumably be iOS/OS X-based and not iPod OS/Pixo-based.
 
I really hope that Apple isn't concentrating it's efforts on making a TV.

I can't think of a product more dull and passive than a TV set. Turn it on, sit there watching some junk, turn it off.

Where's the 'value add' here? Sure, Apple could redefine the way you pay for programs - but that's not exactly a big deal (and definitely not insanely great).

All Apple's best devices have spurred interaction and creativity. TV is dull!
 
KnightWRX said:
And why does it require Apple to make a full-blown TV instead of a 99$ set top box ?
Click to expand...

Weren't there some Apple patents some time ago w.r.t. cameras/sensors embedded throughout the display? Maybe part of this "Apple TV" uses that for Kinect style control and sensing?

B
 
Although I don't see how Apple making a television set would be a good idea, I'm sure people had the same hesitations about them entering the portable music player and phone markets. I'm confident that if they introduce a product it'll be noteworthy.
 
[/COLOR]
cantthinkofone said:
Why a tv? Yes it will look nice but what do you think it will cost? Im betting at least $2000 for a 42" 1080 LED. While others sell the same thing for half that.

Stick with computers, phones, and OS X apple.
Click to expand...

An Apple product that's twice as expensive as an "identical product?" That's a first. :rolleyes:

As with every other argument about pricing, Apple makes quality products. Isn't that why you have a G4 and a MBP?
 
Makes you wonder if this is going to be completely different from any type of TV we've seen before, not just in terms of interface/design but possibly input.

Obviously, it won't have legacy ports like composite or component inputs, digital ATSC tuners, analog audio outputs, vga or DVI output, etc. (All typical standard ports on the back of your HDTV)

However, wouldn't it be interesting if it didn't have HDMI inputs either? What if it got all of its content strictly from iTunes?

Would that force Fox, Disney, Viacom and Universal to provide their content for it? Maybe.

That would be pretty wild.
 
firestarter said:
I really hope that Apple isn't concentrating it's efforts on making a TV.

I can't think of a product more dull and passive than a TV set. Turn it on, sit there watching some junk, turn it off.

Where's the 'value add' here? Sure, Apple could redefine the way you pay for programs - but that's not exactly a big deal (and definitely not insanely great).

All Apple's best devices have spurred interaction and creativity. TV is dull!
Click to expand...

they're obviously going to reimagine the set, it'll be like no other tv on the market now. think: TV app store.

glad these rumors are picking up
 
KnightWRX said:
And that doesn't require a 1800$ TV Set, it just requires an Apple TV set top box and a Airport Express connected to an Internet connection.
Click to expand...

Why are you people putting a price on something that you have no idea about? You're not a professional analyst so calm down everyone...

A 46" 1080P Samsung TV will cost $1,099.99 after $100 Off, that's straight from the Costco website. Why not have a TV set that has Apple TV built in, and a built in WiFi Card for $1300? Even $1500 would be pretty freaking amazing.

Besides, the investment is not in the actual TV set itself, it's in the UI. I would definitely invest in a $2000 TV if it allows me to get my channels on demand instead of paying for garbage bundles that I don't necessarily need.
 
no, please no TVs! :(

i love my apple-tv. just update it with 1080hd, siri voice control, a 1080p facetime-camera and i will buy it again! i will not buy another TV just to replace my current new big 3d hd TV.
 
I see Apple getting ahead of the curve with OLED or Laser sets. Apple tends to buy up supplies and gets deals, and charges more, so it could happen.

OLED screens can be made to roll up like a windowshade, so maybe a TV that can elegantly disappear.

Home theater is ridiculously nerdy, but if Apple can put together the ultimate universal remote that would be another quite likely possibility.

Of course it would have an iTunes button and AppleTV functions for easy downloading without going into menus.

I think it would also control regular TV/home theater functions. Not many people would drop a ton of money just to more easily access iTunes downloads.

Less likely is partnering with a universal provider like DirecTv. This service is available everywhere and Apple would do wonders for for its receiver. DTV's satellites could also beam down Apple content and do it far better than DSL and cell towers.

Very far out would be an Apple/DTV receiver/AppleTV unit that would work in conjunction with wireless mono amps that could be placed at each speaker.

So, you would have one quality set-top box, a super-duper remote to operate it, a disappearing super-quality TV and wireless speakers of any brand you like and can afford, and in any number as well. How could it be better? Who wouldn't buy into that?
 
AmbiguousNinja said:
An Apple product that's twice as expensive as an "identical product?" That's a first. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
But Apple does do that...

As with every other argument about pricing, Apple makes quality products. Isn't that why you have a G4 and a MBP?
Click to expand...
No. Apple computers have OSX - and that's the value-add. I'm still not feeling what additional value Apple brings to the TV that makes it worth a premium price.
 
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