First, is there much profit margin in making a TV screen, compared to the profit margin in making a set top box? Easier to sell a billion set top boxes than a billion screens? The screen is boring, the set top box has unlimited opportunity. Yeah you can build the set top box into the screen, but that's pretty minor issue compared to just selling the set top box. Or do both.
But getting the set top box right is the key.
Maybe it needs to be cooler. If the existing Apple TV came with a remote control that was like an iPod Touch, that might grab some eyeballs. You'd leave the iRemote on top of (maybe just next to) the ATV to recharge it too. Use the iRemote to scroll through content before changing stations or recording, renting or buying a show.
I guess if the set top box is built into the screen, then you just need the iRemote (iPod Touch thing).
Either way, the service you get from the set top box is the important thing, and it has to be better than what's on offer now. Not being locked into Apple Ecosystem would help. Offer the Apple Way, but allow it to plug into other services - via an Apple App, if that helps. TV land is very open source, and Apple may need to find a way to embrace that while offering the core Apple experience at the same time.
...any way, what my family wants is a family server system, where we can manage all of the various Apple accounts the family has accumulated. Kinda like Facebook meets iTunes, if you know what I mean. iCloud seems fine for an individual with one Apple ID, one iTunes account, one iPhoto account, etc. But we have multiple such accounts under one roof, with some things shared on a common iMac (lots of photos) and others not (music). Plugging it all into the iCloud feels like a mess that is very un Apple. A family tree where we can share the Apples, that's what we need. Yeah we have Lion Sever, but need the Apple Ecosystem to deal with multiple semi-shared Apple IDs too.
The current apple TV is really nice. I don't think many would pay 3x standard TV cost for Apple's turn-key approach. Its not clear to me why expanding the current apple TV and having it plug into a 'dumb' screen isn't a better way to go. The value of putting Apple TV into the display is pretty small, inflexible and expensive.
Agreed. We've seen the current Apple TV get apps, have game developers using the whole Air Play to make console play and so on. I think even if this TV notion is true they will still make the box for those that don't want to replace a tv. perhaps by way of making a larger display (say a 40 inch) that could be used regular style with a computer or with the Apple TV. Perhaps that might have the ATV built in to it. perhaps it would merely have the HDMI plug (which could perhaps also be used to plug in a stand alone blu-ray etc)
Screw "projections". When have analysts EVER BEEN RIGHT?!
Apple exceeded guidance. That's all that matters.
Except for the fact that people buy and sell stock on projections not just Apple's guidance. If markets were just based on Apples guidence then there wouldn't be much risk involved. The fact is Apples share price went up to a level in part based on projections even if people only took the mid point between Apples guidance and the projections. They would then be hoping for the share price to jump even more when the projections are proven to be correct, but they were proved wrong.
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Problem is, the early adopters are the ones most likely to pay a premium price, and the early adopters are "all-in" already re HDTV.
Consider this:
? When Apple introduced the iPod, very few people had even heard of MP3 players.
? When Apple introduced the iPhone, there were virtually no smartphones.
? When Apple introduced the iPad, nothing like it existed.
Your first two points are incorrect.
But getting the set top box right is the key.
Maybe it needs to be cooler. If the existing Apple TV came with a remote control that was like an iPod Touch, that might grab some eyeballs. You'd leave the iRemote on top of (maybe just next to) the ATV to recharge it too. Use the iRemote to scroll through content before changing stations or recording, renting or buying a show.
I guess if the set top box is built into the screen, then you just need the iRemote (iPod Touch thing).
Either way, the service you get from the set top box is the important thing, and it has to be better than what's on offer now. Not being locked into Apple Ecosystem would help. Offer the Apple Way, but allow it to plug into other services - via an Apple App, if that helps. TV land is very open source, and Apple may need to find a way to embrace that while offering the core Apple experience at the same time.
...any way, what my family wants is a family server system, where we can manage all of the various Apple accounts the family has accumulated. Kinda like Facebook meets iTunes, if you know what I mean. iCloud seems fine for an individual with one Apple ID, one iTunes account, one iPhoto account, etc. But we have multiple such accounts under one roof, with some things shared on a common iMac (lots of photos) and others not (music). Plugging it all into the iCloud feels like a mess that is very un Apple. A family tree where we can share the Apples, that's what we need. Yeah we have Lion Sever, but need the Apple Ecosystem to deal with multiple semi-shared Apple IDs too.
my $0.02
The current apple TV is really nice. I don't think many would pay 3x standard TV cost for Apple's turn-key approach. Its not clear to me why expanding the current apple TV and having it plug into a 'dumb' screen isn't a better way to go. The value of putting Apple TV into the display is pretty small, inflexible and expensive.
Agreed. We've seen the current Apple TV get apps, have game developers using the whole Air Play to make console play and so on. I think even if this TV notion is true they will still make the box for those that don't want to replace a tv. perhaps by way of making a larger display (say a 40 inch) that could be used regular style with a computer or with the Apple TV. Perhaps that might have the ATV built in to it. perhaps it would merely have the HDMI plug (which could perhaps also be used to plug in a stand alone blu-ray etc)
i am buying two of these Apple Televisions as soon as they come out.
i'm psyched!!!!
Are you psyched, or a psycho about Apple?
Yes it was a joke, don't take it seriously or personally, just a harmless silly pun, no need to flame me!
Screw "projections". When have analysts EVER BEEN RIGHT?!
Apple exceeded guidance. That's all that matters.
Except for the fact that people buy and sell stock on projections not just Apple's guidance. If markets were just based on Apples guidence then there wouldn't be much risk involved. The fact is Apples share price went up to a level in part based on projections even if people only took the mid point between Apples guidance and the projections. They would then be hoping for the share price to jump even more when the projections are proven to be correct, but they were proved wrong.