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The case for Apple unveiling a real TV set tomorrow

C

Casimono

macrumors member
Original poster
Dec 27, 2009
41
7
I've got a hunch that Apple will unveil a real TV set tomorrow.
  • It's exactly what the user wants. With current TVs you have multiple remotes, bad usability etc.
  • It didn't make sense when Apple TV was only a "hobby". Well with all those deals we read about, Apple even considering developing their own TV programs, this doesn't sound like a hobby anymore.
  • Why did Apple get such a big place? My guess is that they have a hands-on area for journalists with lots of products, and TVs together with sofas etc could use up that space.
  • Apple wants to do the whole widget, be in charge of the full experience a customer has. They tried an iPod app on the phone of another manufacturer, and moved to create their own phone. Well how the current Apple TV box works is very similar: a channel inside a crappy box that somebody else created. That can't be the final state of affairs, can't it?
  • Tim Cook wants to create products in new categories. We had a watch, and there seems to be a car on the horizon. A TV set is definitely such a category.
  • Like many designers, Johnny Ive would surely love the challenge to design products in new categories. So far, at the end of his career, he could say "I've designed some computers, a music player and a phone". I'm sure he would love it if he could say "I've designed products in many categories, from computers, music players, phones, watches, TVs up to cars". I'm pretty sure Ive would push for Apple to create such a product.
I'm surprised nobody is talking about this possibility on rumors blogs etc.

Anybody agrees or disagrees? Comments?
 
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Actually, it's true! Tim will unveil a 240 inch television that will have 8K abilities. It will be made from a space-age material (so secret it isn't named yet) that will automatically fold to the size of the current ATV when it's not being used.

You heard it here first!
 
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No way. We would have heard rumors if they were doing that.

Casimono said:
It's exactly what the user wants.
Click to expand...

Not this user. I want my TV to be a dumb display since it will almost certainly outlast anything I use with it.

Casimono said:
With current TVs you have multiple remotes
Click to expand...

Universal remotes solve that. Besides, you're assuming you'd never have any other devices connected to said TV which won't be the case. It's only a matter of time before you'd want to use some other non-Apple device with it and now you're back to dealing with multiple remotes, switching inputs, etc. Better to just get a good universal remote.
 
Casimono said:
  • Apple wants to do the whole widget, be in charge of the full experience a customer has. They tried an iPod app on the phone of another manufacturer, and moved to create their own phone.
Click to expand...

I disagree for reasons above and others. Also, I am on board with Apple trying new markets/products, but not a "traditional" TV...

I mean, you know it would just be a 72" iPad anyway. haha
 
There's nothing special or revolutionary about a television screen. The only thing special Apple could provide is the experience, which is rooted into the software side. It's far easier to produce and sell a plug-in box such as the current Apple TV.

A television is not happening.
 
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Casimono said:
I've got a hunch that Apple will unveil a real TV set tomorrow.
  • It's exactly what the user wants. With current TVs you have multiple remotes, bad usability etc.
  • It didn't make sense when Apple TV was only a "hobby". Well with all those deals we read about, Apple even considering developing their own TV programs, this doesn't sound like a hobby anymore.
  • Why did Apple get such a big place? My guess is that they have a hands-on area for journalists with lots of products, and TVs together with sofas etc could use up that space.
  • Apple wants to do the whole widget, be in charge of the full experience a customer has. They tried an iPod app on the phone of another manufacturer, and moved to create their own phone. Well how the current Apple TV box works is very similar: a channel inside a crappy box that somebody else created. That can't be the final state of affairs, can't it?
  • Tim Cook wants to create products in new categories. We had a watch, and there seems to be a car on the horizon. A TV set is definitely such a category.
  • Like many designers, Johnny Ive would surely love the challenge to design products in new categories. So far, at the end of his career, he could say "I've designed some computers, a music player and a phone". I'm sure he would love it if he could say "I've designed products in many categories, from computers, music players, phones, watches, TVs up to cars". I'm pretty sure Ive would push for Apple to create such a product.
I'm surprised nobody is talking about this possibility on rumors blogs etc.

Anybody agrees or disagrees? Comments?
Click to expand...

Is this Gene Munster??
 
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Pakaku said:
There's nothing special or revolutionary about a television screen. The only thing special Apple could provide is the experience, which is rooted into the software side. It's far easier to produce and sell a plug-in box such as the current Apple TV.

A television is not happening.
Click to expand...
Agreed.

And in any case, with an HDMI port, any plug-in box can essentially take control of the TV.
 
Waaaay too low a profit margin for Apple to do it. And like the others said, TVs tend to last a long time, meaning two things: people don't replace them very often (further lowering their profitability), and yep, people would much rather just upgrade a box rather than needlessly buying another screen along with it. Plus, most of the people Apple is targeting already have one (usually huge, ugly) box attached to their TV -- what's one more little one?

And Tim doesn't seem too interested in creating those new Apple categories anyway -- the watch was the first new product in ages.

Would be interesting to see what it would look like though...
 
Bought a Vizio 47" 4 years ago. Primarily use for ATV and DVD viewing. Cut cable nearly three years ago and based on best bundle deals have saved over 4K.
Might buy into cable ( or other alternatives) when you can purchase ala carte, but since I only view TV on an irregular basis, not worth the investment. Most of the time when I had cable, I spent too much time just trying to figure out what was on.
Not really interested in a 'real' :apple:TV.
 
A lot of televisions look painfully bad or poorly calibrated color-wise, so an Apple TV set could be great to provide consumers with an option that looks great out of the box but I don't think it's the right time.

I really don't see the justification to convince consumers to recycle their old TV sets for an Apple television.

Although -- if Apple timed it right they could own a substantial share of the 4K market. If their panel was excellent I'd be willing to purchase it once 4K is more mainstream, but only then.
 
Apple is not looking to enter an industry that loses money. Why anyone would want to get into the production of TVs makes no sense. Sharp, a major player, just got out.
 
nelson1457 said:
Actually, it's true! Tim will unveil a 240 inch television that will have 8K abilities. It will be made from a space-age material (so secret it isn't named yet) that will automatically fold to the size of the current ATV when it's not being used.

You heard it here first!
Click to expand...

It will go on sale December 2027! Goodnight everyone! :eek:
 
Apple won't as TVs are a long term upgrade thing... People aren't going to buy TVs often enough for Apple to make money, however a set top box is a lot cheaper so the consumer is far more likely to upgrade more often.
 
MICHAELSD said:
A lot of televisions look painfully bad or poorly calibrated color-wise, so an Apple TV set could be great to provide consumers with an option that looks great out of the box but I don't think it's the right time.

I really don't see the justification to convince consumers to recycle their old TV sets for an Apple television.

Although -- if Apple timed it right they could own a substantial share of the 4K market. If their panel was excellent I'd be willing to purchase it once 4K is more mainstream, but only then.
Click to expand...


Of people supposedly don't even care about DVD vs Bluray, then there is an even smaller number of consumers who would care about a well calibrated TV. I tend to think people care about quality if they can afford it, but an actual Apple TV set would be a failure. Believe me, I'd love what would essentially be a 47" iPad hanging on the bedroom walls, but I don't see that happening. Displays are jaunt too easy to come by and the AppleTV box can connect to almost anything.
 
Snoopy4 said:
Of people supposedly don't even care about DVD vs Bluray, then there is an even smaller number of consumers who would care about a well calibrated TV. I tend to think people care about quality if they can afford it, but an actual Apple TV set would be a failure. Believe me, I'd love what would essentially be a 47" iPad hanging on the bedroom walls, but I don't see that happening. Displays are jaunt too easy to come by and the AppleTV box can connect to almost anything.
Click to expand...

You just hit the nail on the head. Most people do not care at all or even know what a calibrated TV is. They take it out of the box, plug in their devices, and call it a day.

Others brought up good points about update cycle. What is the average time someone keeps a TV, 7-10 years?
 
mattopotamus said:
You just hit the nail on the head. Most people do not care at all or even know what a calibrated TV is. They take it out of the box, plug in their devices, and call it a day.

Others brought up good points about update cycle. What is the average time someone keeps a TV, 7-10 years?
Click to expand...

I always get a chuckle when I walk into someone's house and their TV is on torch mode with all the digital filters turned on. They go look at my great TV ! I'm like what? Where's your clicker? Turn of the torch, turn of the filter and bam. Now look at your TV. And that's not even doing a calibration, it's just turning off the noise.

I think the average age is growing a bit. We still have a 720p DLP in the bedroom from 2003. The damn thing has more lives than a cat. I tell it to die so my wife will say I can get a new set and it just laughs at me.
 
Snoopy4 said:
I always get a chuckle when I walk into someone's house and their TV is on torch mode with all the digital filters turned on. They go look at my great TV ! I'm like what? Where's your clicker? Turn of the torch, turn of the filter and bam. Now look at your TV. And that's not even doing a calibration, it's just turning off the noise.

I think the average age is growing a bit. We still have a 720p DLP in the bedroom from 2003. The damn thing has more lives than a cat. I tell it to die so my wife will say I can get a new set and it just laughs at me.
Click to expand...

or worse, you make those changes and they like "torch" mode better b.c the color pops.
 
I do think Apple has looked at the feasibility of developing their own TV--probably quite extensively. In the end I think they have decided that the best approach is with a device that can easily attach to any TV or home theater system and can be easily updated--the Apple TV--and that's what they will stick with.
 
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bobr1952 said:
I do think Apple has looked at the feasibility of developing their own TV--probably quite extensively. In the end I think they have decided that the best approach is with a device that can easily attach to any TV or home theater system and can be easily updated--the Apple TV--and that's what they will stick with.
Click to expand...

Or regarding this TVOs thing.... maybe an app for your TV to play your iTunes media in addition to a new Apple TV...

Unlikely, but trademark the application is an interesting read.
 
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