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."
Wi Fi and Security? (Score:5, Interesting)
if they did away with the need for the computer... (Score:5, Interesting)
...they could open up a whole new market.
i see a net-equipped TV, with a minimal ARM-based computer built-in, running a lightweight itunes; shows are bought and played entirely with the remote, which has a simple kb for searching for stuff and entering credit card info.
owners could then download shows straight to the tv, which has an upgradable hard drive/flash module
people don't necessarily want a computer, they want to watch tv
Re:Wrong market for Apple to be in (Score:5, Interesting)
Which is exactly why they add value by building in an HD content delivery system...
Why buy a TV, and a Blu-Ray player, and a load of discs when you can buy AppleTV and rent/buy your content without levering your fat ass off the couch?
Now how much would you pay...? :)
Sure, the margins on LCD TVs are low, but if someone says they can save $300 or more by not needing an HD source, they might pay almost that for a shiny Apple logo...
Re:if they did away with the need for the computer (Score:2, Interesting)
There are plenty of network aware TVs. Take off your apple shaped glasses and visit the real world some time. You'll be surprised how many other companies already do products that apple rumor mongers and fanbois desire.
Not this time (Score:2, Interesting)
The teasers they are sending out clearly indicate that the next event will concern notebook laptops. These days, Apple events are very tightly focused on a particular product line--the last event was for iPods, and they barely even mentioned the iPhone, much less the Mac.
Fundamentally, I think that it is a good idea, and given that they already have the AppleTV name, I imagine that they are looking to go in this direction. But I don't think the Apple TV as it currently exists adds enough value to get an Apple TV set into the high margin arena where Apple likes to play.
I think that Apple has been making a fundamental mistake by tying the Apple TV box too tightly to Apple content. This is different from what they have done with the iPod, which supports mp3 as well as Apple's format. I also think that whereas buy-to-own is king for music, Netflix-style subscription is going to be the dominant model for video distribution.
So if Apple really wants the Apple TV to be more than a minor player in the set-top box market, and to add value to an Apple-branded entertainment display, they need to:
1) Play back or stream video in a wide-range of formats as the XBox360 and PS3 do. This should be easy; everything they need is already available open-source. Just include a UPnP client and something like VLC.
2) Include Netflix subscription capability, as the XBox360 is about to do. Heck, perhaps Apple should just acquire Netflix.
3) Put Safari on it. Even the iPod touch supports Safari. The PS3 and Wii even have web browsers, although they are not very appealing. Add an app to the iPhone/iTouch that makes it function as a touchpad for Safari on AppleTV.
If they do these things, then a TV set with AppleTV built into it would likely be a strong contender.
This is silly (Score:3, Interesting)
Furthermore, the very idea of hacking into someone's TV to display images on it is pure Hollywood sci-fi.
Think about it for a moment. Even on a completely open network, even imagining some wacky DAAP overflow exploit existing on this imaginary Apple product that allowed local peers to execute arbitrary code over the WLAN, you're talking many minutes of patiently sitting outside, dutifully screwing around in a shell.
No one's going to hack your TV unless they can just drive by, hit a "HACK" button on their laptop, and control your set. Which only happens on TV.
If you're running WPA or WPA2, you can find much better things to worry about than your wireless network. Such as what happens with your data out on the WAN.
MythTV (Score:3, Interesting)
How long before someone figures out how to jailbreak the TV and reload it with Mythbuntu?
Then it might actually be useful.
If the iPod and iPhone are any indication, I don't want the gilded cage of an Apple TV set.