HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
That alone doesn't solve all the problems with regards to an Apple TV service though. Still have to get around the cable companies and convince content providers to stop being afraid of them (blocking content deals). Which is why I say BUY AND UPGRADE SPRINT WIRELESS. Instead of relying on all these squabbling jerkoffs, control the network yourself.
Please see the correct answer for this one in post #209. Ignoring that reality doesn't make an acquisition of Sprint solve this problem. For just the U.S. market, you'll need to see something like a strong rumor about Apple acquiring DISH or DirecTV (and that limits the market to just the places signals from DISH or DirecTV can reach). Else, you'll need to see a slew of rumors about many major- but regional- cable providers being acquired (along with the same all over the world if this is going to be a global product). Buying 4G/3G in a Sprint acquisition won't be enough for on-demand, what-I-want-when-I-want-it video distribution for all potential buyers of a "magical" Apple television.
Done with cable, boxes, DVR's etc., other than them being the pipe to get internet to your house.
I love the dream of much of what you (and others who are thinking like you) posted there. The biggest problem though is that between Apple's iCloud and a next gen

If Apple somehow jumps a bunch of other hurdles that makes it possible for "us" to kill our cable/satt subscriptions, expect your Internet provider to make up the death of their video business by jacking up the fee for Internet access. Don't like the new higher fees? Where are you going to go? There's a very obvious reason why the big cable companies have bought out/crushed all competitors for local broadband. This dream can't be realized without them getting all the money they get now one way (existing cable revenues) or another (higher priced broadband service and/or tightened tiers for "heavy users," which would be everyone who replaces video via cable with video via Internet).
I don't like it one bit (either), but it's as obvious as it can be. Apple can't solve those problems with the most innovative television hardware & software in the world because the content for that television must still flow through pipes owned by companies that like their cake "as is" and will get it either way.