Next Generation AppleTV References Found in iOS 5, But When?

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Right (segaultdotorg), that's why I think it's so important for Apple to normalize that USB port to bring back local storage (like in the first generation). Only, this time, the user decides how much local storage they want.

As you illustrate with your aftermarket 320GB drive (and I did the same by the way), Apple can't really choose the appropriate amount of storage to fit everyone's desires. You & I have gone to the cost & trouble to replace the storage decision made by Apple with a third party option. I love the additional storage. I bet you do too.

However, I'd love even more to be able to buy a big storage drive and sync all of my media onto local storage. 2TB-6TB of storage is increasingly cheap, relatively compact and some of those boxes are very quiet. Being able to link one of those with an TV and then locally sync it all to that drive seems like a great option for those with the local storage wish. It also covers the wish many have of being able to turn off the host computer without losing access to the media library.

There's already a USB port on the thing- it's just not a normal port. Making it a normal port wouldn't make it more expensive and the rest would just be software. There's already devices that are effectively portable hard drives that bring big storage to the other iOS devices. This would just be another variation of that. Those that want big local storage could get whatever "big" means to them. Those that don't would be unaffected by the option. Giving more people what they want out of the device would help Apple sell more of them. More units in homes would further entice Studios to offer additional content for TV. Everybody wins.

 

[flux73]

Well the voice control race is definitely on

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOS58Q9mMJo

(spotted this a few days ago)

I think most people are still underestimating Siri. What makes it amazing is not the voice recognition part. Every big tech company does voice commands/voice recognition. What makes Siri a step ahead is the semantic comprehension engine that helps it understand what you want even if you don't say the exact right word for what you want. It goes beyond simple menu commands which is all that anyone else can do right now.

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Disaster? Business analysts seem to disagree with you. But, I guess if you say it would be a disaster then it will be. Buying a company doesn't necessarily mean any change for either of the companies, other than Apple could help invest money in projects for sony. Not a disaster in my mind. Sony could use some big cash for a period of time.

One of the main reasons that this is good for Apple is that they could control all of Sony's movie productions and use as incentives for pushing out better agreements on iTunes video streaming/renting/buying.

I don't think you understand Apple's culture or business practices. And you've certainly missed Steve Jobs' philosophy of innovation and focus.

By buying Sony's content, they would be shooting themselves in the foot with other content providers who will then see Apple as a direct competitor. The Playstation is of no value to them at all. Apple's business practice is not to try and enter mature markets already dominated by others, but to innovate and draw other companies into markets that THEY create and let them scramble to catch up. Buying Sony is probably not even on their radar. Apple wouldn't be considered such a remarkable company (nor Steve Jobs such a remarkable CEO) if business analysts were capable of predicting what they will do with any accuracy.

 

[sennekuyl]

I think most people are still underestimating Siri. What makes it amazing is not the voice recognition part. Every big tech company does voice commands/voice recognition. What makes Siri a step ahead is the semantic comprehension engine that helps it understand what you want even if you don't say the exact right word for what you want. It goes beyond simple menu commands which is all that anyone else can do right now.

<snip>
If it works. People are not underestimating Siri as they haven't experienced this iteration; at very least, they are s/ I am suspicious of the marketing claims made by Apple regarding it. Looks good though.

 

[jlc1978]

Disaster? Business analysts seem to disagree with you. But, I guess if you say it would be a disaster then it will be. Buying a company doesn't necessarily mean any change for either of the companies, other than Apple could help invest money in projects for sony. Not a disaster in my mind. Sony could use some big cash for a period of time.

In this case, the analysts are wrong (not surprising).

Companies buy other companies for one of two basic reasons - they think they can make more money combined or with restructuring than they make individually or want a specific piece of the acquired company.

Mergers are tough, and often wind up destroying value. Look at HP for a recent example.

In this case - apple would get a lot of low margin business (PC, TV, etc) that bring nothing to the table. In fact, with PCs and Tablets Apple would have businesses that compete with them. Others, such as the PS3 doesn't fit into Apple's ecosystem model. They'd also inherit a supply chain that is not aligned with their current one. In short, Apple would get a bunch of business that don't function as well as theirs and / or have productsApple would not want.

Pumping cash in a fading business is a non-starter - Apple is better off using the cash to buy or build things that add value to their business. If, and that's a big if, Apple wanted to build TVs they could do that with their existing infrastructure and talent (or buy the need talent) - so Sony adds zero to that. Same with gaming - Apple already has a gaming infrastructure to build on - no need to add a bag to the side of it called the PS3.

One of the main reasons that this is good for Apple is that they could control all of Sony's movie productions and use as incentives for pushing out better agreements on iTunes video streaming/renting/buying.

Apple needs content - not production. Why would Apple get into a business where the money is in distribution and accounting methods - a distribution model Apple is turning upside down with digital distribution? They'd essentially be buying a business they are destroying.

If Apple wanted Sony Picture's catalogue they could just buy it and leave production alone - there is no need to take on such a risky business.

As long as they can get content deals - and as their market grows they will since that'll be where the money is - they'll leave the development costs to the studios.

Quite frankly, if Sony continues to decline they'll get desperate and a company, Apple or otherwise, can buy small chunks for a lot less than buying the whole.

 

[klrobinson999]

...Apple's business practice is not to try and enter mature markets already dominated by others, but to innovate and draw other companies into markets that THEY create and let them scramble to catch up. .

This. Or how about markets they RE-create? Like the cell phone industry. I imagine them going headfirst into the television industry and perfecting it.

The problem is, of course, the old guard who want the current system to continue forever.

However, with so many people ditching cable for on-line services, a plethora of streaming options, and the industry as a whole in a state of decline, it's probably ripe for disruption.

 

[Maury]

Wrong!

"A new Apple TV could integrate Apple's new A5 processor, which offers much faster graphics processing, and include true 1080p support. But unless Apple plans on offering 1080p content on iTunes, that feature would be of limited use to the majority of consumers. Fortunately, Apple has been rumored to be prepping movie studios to start submitting 1080p content to iTunes. "

No no no no no!

The addition of 1080p to the existing aTV, with no changes at all to iTunes content, would be a dramatic improvement in the product.

That's because at 720p the menus simply do not look good on a large television. On my 52" the appear blurry, which was not the case with my aTV1 at 1080.

 

[djjimson]

Only thing with games, though, is how do you play? Wouldn't you need something like a Nintendo WII remote, or a touchscreen TV?

your iphone ofcourse!!! you always have your controller with you if you visit your friends house lol

 

[jlc1978]

This. Or how about markets they RE-create? Like the cell phone industry. I imagine them going headfirst into the television industry and perfecting it.

They didn't recreate the cell phone industry - they picked the part of the market - handsets that was easy to enter and where they could leverage their existing strengths. As innovative as the iPhone is; Apple's real innovation was creating a structure that let them gain control of the revenue stream for apps. By building the ability for many developers to create and sell apps (with Apple getting a cut) they effectively locked users into phone (and pod and pad)not the carrier.

The problem is, of course, the old guard who want the current system to continue forever.

Most will die if they do. Of course, the reason they like it is the money is made in the production and distribution of movies, not from the movie itself.

However, with so many people ditching cable for on-line services, a plethora of streaming options, and the industry as a whole in a state of decline, it's probably ripe for disruption.

Again, it's not the TV, but the content delivery interface where Apple can innovate. They can bring the app store to anyone's (low margin) TV. They can partner with mobile companies to deliver content and bypass cable. There's lots of room in that part of the market; and that's where the disruption will occur, not in the TV.

TVs are not a very attractive market for a number of reasons,low margins being a big one along with turnover rates.

 

[mrf5]

new AppleTV 3 & Siri

Could Siri solve universal remote control issues! Will 2012 be Siri (voice command) product of the year! No need to turn on device, change input, search (Queue/click/select…) for a title from Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, nbc, iTune songs … “just request it”… & “it plays it”….

Will the box be controlled via iPhone-App or just a Headset-Bluetooth?

How will ATV3 compare to…. lets say Roku2, Boxee & others?

More discussion…. click here…



Cheers!

 

[mrf5]

AppleTV 2 gets iOS 5 update w/Airplay mirroring (iPhone 4S- iPad 2 screen to your HDTV)/ iCloud Photo Streaming/ NHL/ multi language Subtitles in white/bold (set-option from global-settings)…

Would that pave the way to ATV3?

After the update, I noticed some change to PQ (brighter)….anyone else?

 

[mrf5]

NYT: Apple’s TV is Coming in 2013 and Will Have Siri Instead of a Remote.

article click here…

 

[ncc1701d]

I'm surprised with how many people are advocating the ATV2.... <snip> .... I'm very disappointed with how long it take to load from my mac mini itunes.

the thread has progressed somewhat, but thought I'd report that since the latest update to atv2, the access / load times - so far - are significantly faster. It is now playing content within 10 seconds. I hope it stays that way.

Does anyone know how to get the atv2 format for tv shows to be the same as atv1? For example, the atv1 tv show display would show the tv show name only, and then once you select it, you would then choose which season then the episode. It's much easier to find shows that way than what I see on my atv2, which is all the shows - even by season and then going to the episode. At the moment I'm seeing the name of the show per season (7 times for example), making it a pita to get to the show I want quickly.

Atv1 originally did this cumbersome way, then changed to show title only. Now atv2 is going back to the old way... Cheers