CNET UK Credits Claim That Apple Will Release Networked TVs 110
r2k writes "While the Apple rumours posted yesterday highlight some of the most commonly talked-about opinions, a writer for CNet UK sat down with Mahalo's Jason Calacanis, who told CNet he knew for a fact that Apple is developing fully networked LCD TV sets. As the writer points out, Apple dropped 'Computer' from its company name for a very good reason."
I'm of two minds here (Score:4, Insightful)
On one hand it's a logical progression: integrate an AppleTV into an LCD screen, analogue to an iMac. On the other hand, you'd expect the TV to be usable long after the computer has become obsolete, so you end up with a TV that contains useless parts (and knowing Apple, limited options for connecting other peripherals).
Re:Wrong market for Apple to be in (Score:4, Insightful)
You know, except for Apple the PC market has pretty thin margins :)
Yep (Score:4, Insightful)
Phillips showed one off back in 2004 [pcworld.com]. A very quick search turns up several [digitrexusa.com] good examples [sharpusa.com] with varying features and capability.
That won't stop the Apple fanbois from drooling and going "OMG STEVE'S SUCH A GENIUS!" and acting like Apple invented it, though.
no thanks (Score:4, Insightful)
i don't want DRM in my TV set
btw I recently got a big LCD and hooked up the x360 to it, now i get to enjoy all the 1080p goodness without paying a cent for content thanks to usenet and x360 being able to play HD mpeg4 :) oh and you get a games console on side :P
Re:no thanks (Score:4, Insightful)
rumor has it you can play all the mpeg4 content you want (and more) on a mac. the DRM only comes into play if you actually buy content... having the option to legally buy content is nice sometimes you know.
besides MS has shown its willing to please content providers over consumers disallowing recording of certain content.
Re:no thanks (Score:2, Insightful)
You won't tolerate DRM in your TV set but you will in every set-top box (or console) attached to it?
Re:if they did away with the need for the computer (Score:4, Insightful)
People don't want a TV OR a computer, they want to watch/see media. The TV is only a screen with built in receiving components. So separate the screen from the components, and you end up with a controller and a screen. The pc is the best controller possible. It's upgradeable not just in hardware but also software, to enable upgrades of both types of technology while keeping the same display.
You should be able to choose which software you use to manage your media, not just blindly accept whatever comes down the pipe. Your suggestion seems to accept that big media will run the (video based) internet.
Not for me thanks. I'd prefer the stream to be open and I choose what to view. Letting the media companies decide what content my device can view is not an option. If companies want to cater for people who want an easy life then let them cater to that market with simple locked down boxes, but I should be able to build a device to my specs too, and still be able to access the big media content.
Building a set proprietary functionality into a display device is backward.
News about possible news? (Score:4, Insightful)
I entirely agree - that's two articles in a row now that's not been about actual news, but news - based on rumour - that they might make some announcement in future. Why not just wait until the actual news itself?
There are enough perfectly good articles about actual news that get rejected - why take up valuable space on the page with posts based on rumour about vaporware, that will either turn out to be dupes if the thing's released, or false if it's not?
(On another note, anyone noticed tagging recently seems to be broken in any browser except Firefox? I now have to wait for that to load, in order to tag the article "Vaporware"...)
Re:Yep (Score:1, Insightful)
Apple didn't invent the mp3 music player, but they sure as well ran with it.
Apple didn't invent the cell phone, but seem to be doing pretty well in their niche.
Apple didn't invent the non-grey-box computer, but they seem happy with the numbers they are selling.
Apple didn't invent the laptop, yet sell a lot of them.
Who cares what they invent. They are apparently very good with taking an idea that was not-invented-here and making it something the average person will not only pay for but pay a premium for.
No doubt, an Apple LCD will cost more than other LCDs. But it will probably do more as well.
ObGripe: So say a few years after buying the LCD I want to upgrade the computer part. Would it be possible? I have a feeling the answer is actually going to be yes, given Apple's patents on placing removable computers/laptops within large screens.
Re:if they did away with the need for the computer (Score:5, Insightful)
exactly. there will be a convergence of the TV with the PC, but it's not the PC that will be replaced. you replace specialized hardware with generalized hardware, not the other way around.
right now we have a bunch of redundant communication networks and hardware appliances. we have radios, telephones, and TV all using very specialized communications networks, and all running on application-specific hardware. but with the widespread adoption of broadband internet access, there's no need to have different communications infrastructure for sending audio data for radios, audio data for telephones, and video and audio data for TV, when all of this data can be transmitted digitally over the internet. soon all of these parallel technologies will be merged into the more generalized/flexible internet.
it's more efficient to run a single generalized data network like the internet than having a bunch of parallel application specific networks because it allows for better allocation of resources and eliminates redundant infrastructure. not only that, but the internet is also an open/democratic network (at least while there's net neutrality). like the computer for which the internet was originally developed, it gives users complete freedom of access, which is a stark contrast with the closed proprietary networks of traditional radio/TV/telecom. this decentralization of media distribution allows independent artists, musicians, film producers, etc. to reach billions of users around the globe without having to go through the traditional distribution channels which are tightly controlled by a handful of media conglomerates.
it's become harder and harder for big TV networks like NBC or radio networks such as Clear Channel to act as the gatekeepers of information. because of this, we're seeing a free culture developing where cultural contribution isn't a privilege reserved for major label artists, Hollywood studios, or corporate execs that have up until now decided what the public watches on TV. neither Apple nor anyone else is going to convince consumers to go back to the cultural bondage of pre-internet media.
a LCD TV is simply an LCD monitor with a built-in tuner card. why buy a TV and a set-top box when you can just have an HTPC or media center pc that can be used to check e-mail, surf the web, burn DVDs, play games, etc., etc.? a computer with a tuner card can watch both, regular TV as well as internet video streams like Miro (Democracy Player). it just doesn't make sense to replace the computer with a locked down and functionally crippled equivalent.
i imagine that once open wireless internet access becomes a common public infrastructure across the country we'll start seeing AM/FM radio being replaced by portable smart devices that can stream internet radio. people want freedom of choice, so that's the direction that media convergence will take.
Re:if they did away with the need for the computer (Score:3, Insightful)
Which explains why the Nomad totally kicked the iPod's ass.
Seriously: technology enthusiasts make choices from different criteria than most of the market. For most, ease of use and aesthetic appeal are much more important than flexibility as long as the device does its primary task well.
Re:Yep (Score:5, Insightful)
That won't stop the Apple fanbois from drooling and going "OMG STEVE'S SUCH A GENIUS!" and acting like Apple invented it, though.
You're missing the point. Not inventing something for the first time, never stopped Apple from dominating the market with their own version.
The key asset here is iTunes. iTunes is the first store of its kind to enjoy simplicity, availability and mass support by content providers and consumers alike.
When other companies add networking, WMV playback and photos slideshows to their TV-s, you have a set of possible uses for that, especially if you're a geek, but you need to figure it out on your own.
When Apple puts iTunes in a TV, you have a complete product your entire family can sit back and use out-of-the-box.
Re:I'm of two minds here (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Yep (Score:3, Insightful)
Not inventing something for the first time, never stopped Apple from dominating the market with their own version.
Well yes, they could become market leader. But then any company could. Any such claims are pure speculation, and there is no reason to consider Apple alone over all other companies.
The fact that they dominated one market before (mp3 players) is no judge of future markets - by that logic, we should be betting on a Microsoft TV to be the winner.
When Apple puts iTunes in a TV, you have a complete product your entire family can sit back and use out-of-the-box.
Pure vaporware. Call me back when they have a product - otherwise I might as well claim that the MS X-TV-BOX will do it better right out of the box.
Re:Wi Fi and Security? (Score:3, Insightful)
Holy crap, a TV that receives programming wirelessly, over the air??? What will they think of next??