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Steve Jobs on an Apple Television Set: 'I Finally Cracked It'

Still think an Apple TV is a dumb idea.

Nowadays TV's are generally just a display, almost like a monitor and you plug the latest box into it.

Next year the box changes and your TV is out of date.

Best idea if they wanted to do it would be a module that plugged into the TV and could be replaced with a new version when needed
 
Don't know about US but in Europe the trend goes away from separate cable and satellite boxes. Most new TV's come with multi-band tuners supporting the complete spectrum of terrestrial, cable and satellite stations. So it shouldn't be that hard for Apple to add that into a huge iMac or iPad too, next to all the existing AppleTV/iCloud stuff.

And by trowing some money at Elgato, they can basically get all the legacy TV technology/knowledge they need in no time. Including some very cool streaming functionality to watch cable/sat stations on any iOS device...
 
I might have missed this, but integrate Siri or something like that and you would have a very simple to control television!
 
When SJ says he cracked it, we need to see if he cracked the 'go to market strategy', not just the elimination of many remotes. There is something interesting there since he mentions that in the context of iCloud.

In cable tv integration, there are two things: Signaling ( e.g. change channel ) and media ( tv program itself ). The media can come straight from the cable companies. The signaling integration is the important thing. May be he cracked something there, so that signaling is done through the iCloud integration while media ( tv programs ) flow directly from the cable operator to the apple made tv.
 
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For some reason, while reading what Jobs said in this article, I felt a huge surge of anger that this man is dead.
 
In any offering the software, programing and interface would be the most appealing.

Otherwise, I predict a very good looking $2000 set with sub-par specs and content strictly under Apple's control. Unless this were the only way to get true a la carte programming with MLB and NFL as options, I see myself passing.
 
Piggie said:
Still think an Apple TV is a dumb idea.

Nowadays TV's are generally just a display, almost like a monitor and you plug the latest box into it.

Next year the box changes and your TV is out of date.

Best idea if they wanted to do it would be a module that plugged into the TV and could be replaced with a new version when needed
Click to expand...
Would agree that any 'monitor' would out-live a pc or settop-box by a factor 2 or 3.

So I'm all for a 50+" Apple Cinema display with a separate cable/sat-enabled AppleTV. Ideally with a future-proof 4k screen.
 
ethana said:
That's what made the guy great. He never let anyone get in the way of his thinking, ideas, direction, and drive.

And it's why you are nobody. Because you can't see or be that.
Click to expand...

How do you know who the guy is? And who are you?

Plenty of people are "great" without being delusional megalomaniacs.
 
It would be incredible if they made a TV set. It can't be TOO expensive though.

They could Integrate Siri.

Make your iPhone, iPod, and iPad your remote.

iTunes integrated. It would synch with iCloud to play your music/movies.

Made out of Aluminum.
 
louis Fashion said:
Well I do not know if we will ever get an iTV but SJ was right; TV with all the power sucking set top boxes, (funding any number of oil rich terror supporting kingdoms) complex remote controls, (which may or may not require more than one remote per system) and political fighting between local stations and the cable companies, not to mention the fact that you cannot choose which stations/networks YOU want will, someday, require rationalization.
Click to expand...

And what do you think all the Apple devices in the world run on, hopes and dreams? They're plugged into the same wall sockets as set top boxes.
 
If the TV could replace our DVR box that is also our cable box or whatever you want to call it (basically it translates? the FIOS tv channels as well as does recording) or even could replace the DVR part on top of the cable box I think I could sell my roommate on it.

Mainly cause the DVR our "cable" provider gave us is a POS!! It now has stopped recording most shows entirely (like it occasionally records some of the shows we tell it to). And has all sorts of other quirks but it has finally failed on the main thing we pay extra to rent it for.

I wish I could convince my roommate to at least call up FIOS (not Verizon, some other company bought it from Verizon) and complain.

But even if it worked like it did when we first got it (meaning it at least recorded the shows cause it never worked properly) I'm sure an Apple TV would be a vast improvement (our TV is dieing anyways and we need to replace it).
 
The crazy thing is we won't have to buy the book because the best parts will just made into threads on macrumors.
 
aristotle said:
Uh, they already have sports channels in the current AppleTV if you upgraded to the latest version. Are you saying that the NFL would be that much harder to crack?
Click to expand...

Yes. It's possible to get streaming agreements to most other sports. The NFL? No. You can get cycling jerseys that look like MLB team jerseys. NFL? No. I will be seriously impressed with anyone who cracks the NFL and gets them to offer a la carte internet streaming. That would be a huge accomplishment. Good luck to those who try, though.
 
Piggie said:
Still think an Apple TV is a dumb idea.

Nowadays TV's are generally just a display, almost like a monitor and you plug the latest box into it.

Next year the box changes and your TV is out of date.

Best idea if they wanted to do it would be a module that plugged into the TV and could be replaced with a new version when needed
Click to expand...

Ever hear of a cable card? That is your "module". Less than 1 million out there last I heard.

Oh, and cable cards have no VOD, DVR, and possibly PPV (not 100% on that).
 
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Subscription model TV channels? Siri based remote? AirPlay hooked up to most of your other electronics?

Remember when Steve said the Mac was the hub for iPod? I suspect the Apple TV will now be the hub for it all now!
 
Piggie said:
Still think an Apple TV is a dumb idea.

Nowadays TV's are generally just a display, almost like a monitor and you plug the latest box into it.

Next year the box changes and your TV is out of date.

Best idea if they wanted to do it would be a module that plugged into the TV and could be replaced with a new version when needed
Click to expand...

I don't think you understand.

There is no need for these boxes with an iTV. It replaced all of these boxes.
The one exception would be surround sound and maybe Bl-Ray.

In terms of "digital" boxes....
Box changes and you are out of date?
Nope, that is one simple software update away from new features.

OTA networks could make ad driven apps for their networks so that consumers can watch what they want, when they want, where they want - like what we have on the iPad/iPhone.

Cable networks could make ad driven and/or pay apps for their networks. Again, so consumers can watch what they want, when they want, where they want.

No more need for cable/satellite tv.

A device that does this far outweighs the benefits of having individual boxes. Sure you are giving up some freedom but what you gain far out weighs the drawbacks. You also act like an iTV wouldn't have any input ports for those who want to continuing to use multiple external boxes.
 
The TV is already pretty successful and has very high saturation, even with poor people and in developing countries—more so than any other market Apple is in. To have cracked the TV is a pretty big claim/deal if true--the TV was "cracked" when it first came out. Having said that, he was known for hyperbole.
 
If they make a TV I would expect it to be compatible with cable cards and hopefully have DVR functionality. If anyone would finally bring cable cards to TVs with a great tvguide interface and DVR capabilities to finally break us free from the absolute rubbish provided by Comcast and the like it would be Apple and not status quo companies like Samsung.

its mind boggling that there are still no TVs with cable card slots
 
stainlessliquid said:
If they make a TV I would expect it to be compatible with cable cards and hopefully have DVR functionality. If anyone would finally bring cable cards to TVs with a great tvguide interface and DVR capabilities to finally break us free from the absolute rubbish provided by Comcast and the like it would be Apple and not status quo companies like Samsung.
Click to expand...

Why would you need cable when each network could bring programming directly to you via an app.

I would rather pay for only the networks I watch then some spanish language network or women's entertainment.
 
I can believe Apple cracked the simple interface. That's the easy part of the equation.

The hard part is making the content model work. Cable companies are not going to roll over quietly if Apple's intention is to replace cable as we know it. And without content, an Apple Television will just not work.

I'd love to see it happen, though. For me to buy an Apple Television, it would have to replace not just my television set, but also my cable service and various online options I use now. Doable, but not easily.
 
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