TiVo X-box
if you read through this article <a href="http://lowendmac.com/myturn/02/1230.html"; target="_blank">http://lowendmac.com/myturn/02/1230.html</a>;
this pretty much resumes a digutal lifestyle strategy Apple must encompass sooner than later. the options it leaves let's Apple freely add digital consumer devices at their guise.
+Apple get's to introduce a low-cost computer of sorts
when will it happen...? you know it will..
this pretty much resumes a digutal lifestyle strategy Apple must encompass sooner than later. the options it leaves let's Apple freely add digital consumer devices at their guise.
+Apple get's to introduce a low-cost computer of sorts
when will it happen...? you know it will..
Comments
<strong>Your title scared the crap out of me. i thought you were suggesting Microsoft should make a PVR X-Box!
so, i guess that should be an Apple launch...?
TiVo is PPC based (603 or 604 I think)
TiVo is PPC Linux Based (with TiVo mods)
Apple could add it's 'magic' (ease of use) that could even make the TiVo look hard to use. (The TiVo really isn't too bad at all but Apple could do better)
For Apple to do it tho it would need broadcasters support and so far only TiVo has been able to truly crack that nut. ReplayTV was/is having all kinds of issues with their latest boxes (in part) due to the broadcasters not being happy with the direction they are going (more open access to the content on the device - network sharing etc).
Maybe ReplayTV is getting bullied because the broadcasters can get away with it (given the size of the company)? Maybe Apple wouldn't suffer the same wrath? Maybe Apple can get on the good side of the broadcasters?
Yea that's an awful lot of 'maybes' ...
Could Apple 'DO' a ApplePVR and 'DO IT' better than TiVo?? Heck yea...
Would they be able to sell it? I dunno...
Dave
[ 12-31-2002: Message edited by: DaveGee ]</p>
<strong>
so, i guess that should be an Apple launch...?</strong><hr></blockquote>
I should hope so.
<strong>...</strong><hr></blockquote>
It would have to be more than just a PVR to get a mass market appeal to be successful, IMO. they would need to integrate some prettynifty features. In another thread i suggested consumer video conferencing via these Apple STBs under an Apple service.... like a yearly subscription to .mac? instead of written emails, you would send little video clips or even just audio sent right to someones multimedia inbox. If done right if could be what WebTV always wanted to grow up to be.
<strong>
It would have to be more than just a PVR to get a mass market appeal to be successful, IMO. they would need to integrate some prettynifty features. </strong><hr></blockquote>
well, some of the prettynifty features would(in addition to PVR) be game console, engraving, wifi/internet, hifi/itunes, spacious harddrive and running the iApp-suite, video-conferncing(well, iChat +iPhone/phone answering machine) all using the TV as a mere monitor, thereby making the Apple lcd-displays a real TV option as well...
conspiracy theorists should enjoy this: what was one really weird feature that apple included in the recent 10.2.3 update...
force-feedback for game controllers
now why would apple do this, for a console that, while it sports games, it isn't KNOWN for it, and, to my knowledge, only has ONE force-feedback controller available -- the ishock from macally. seems like an awful lot of effort for such a limited appeal...
unless...
<strong>i posted this in the other thread re: apple's recent patent (which seems to have gone off into a TiVo-like direction)...
conspiracy theorists should enjoy this: what was one really weird feature that apple included in the recent 10.2.3 update...
force-feedback for game controllers
now why would apple do this, for a console that, while it sports games, it isn't KNOWN for it, and, to my knowledge, only has ONE force-feedback controller available -- the ishock from macally. seems like an awful lot of effort for such a limited appeal...
unless...</strong><hr></blockquote>
uhhm, i'm lazy... what's the url?
Basically I envision MPEG4 streaming channels via the internet that connect to the TV through the same box & interface as the rest of your TV. What that does is give every .Mac user a TV station into the living room of any willing .Mac user.
Is it really useful? Maybe, maybe not. But it would bust open the whole idea of a TV for everyone.
ApplePVR
=========
iPhoto access to your Mac
iTunes access to your Mac
iMovie access to your Mac
Mac
====
TV/Movie access to your ApplePVR
Throw in DVD record functions and your really talking... but maybe Apple would rather that you buy a Mac to record stuff... I could see benefits both ways...
Heck you could even take it a few steps further...
Caller ID:
Add on screen caller ID that (again via Rendezvous) would not only show you the number of the person calling but would even grap the persons photo (if it was in your address book)
Calendar:
Calendar reminders could popup on the TV (okay maybe not) but iCal could also be used to select what items to record.
The thing is...
Does Apple build this box so it for the most part REQUIRES a Mac to be useful (ala 1st gen iPod) or do they add enough to it some even non-mac households would also find it useful? (ala 2nd gen iPod)
The iPod was a great way to get Windows users to start to really LOOK at the Mac again... Many a WinHead wanted one and 9 months later they finally got it... but in that 9 month window did some people 'switch'? Yea maybe...
An ApplePVR could do the same thing... but I still think the broadcasters would/could put up some major road blocks...
Dave
<strong>If it connects to a Mac, if it can handle Quicktime formats, and if it can (via the Mac) connect to the internet to find other .Mac users with the system so they can trade streaming A/V files from iPhoto, iMovie, iTunes as well as video conference from a Firewire camera, it's got a chance.
Basically I envision MPEG4 streaming channels via the internet that connect to the TV through the same box & interface as the rest of your TV. What that does is give every .Mac user a TV station into the living room of any willing .Mac user.
Is it really useful? Maybe, maybe not. But it would bust open the whole idea of a TV for everyone.</strong><hr></blockquote>
ViaCom would KILL anyone who did that... As would the broadcasters AND the tv show producers...
Syndication is where the REAL money is made my friends and the folks in that industry will do everything they could to search-hunt-destory anyone who tries to hurt them or their profits...
This is why ReplayTV and their new (well not so new now) Ethernet/Broadband box are in so much hot water...
How much could 'tv show x' get in syndication money if all the shows wee already 'out on the net'? Yea I know many are already 'out on the net' but that's in the 'sub-culture' if Apple or any other 'major' HW developer made it even easier (take it from sub-culture to the public) it would just be asking for a world of hurt...
Dave
[ 12-31-2002: Message edited by: DaveGee ]</p>
The MPEG 4 "streaming" is a little out there with current connections, I have no desire to stream video over the web, or recieve it with my dial up connection...maybe if I could get ride of Cable, and recieve the same quality and choice from the web, it might be worth it. But as it stands now a $50 broadband connection fee is pretty steap on top of all my other bills. I would imagine that this would also add cost to the machine, and it would need to be as cheap as possable.
<strong>
ViaCom would KILL anyone who did that... As would the broadcasters AND the tv show producers...
Syndication is where the REAL money is made my friends and the folks in that industry will do everything they could to search-hunt-destory anyone who tries to hurt them or their profits... </strong><hr></blockquote>
Oh, like the iPod, I wouldn't expect Apple to make it easy to steal TV. I assume any recorded shows would be locked for personal use only. The sharing would be for your own video. It's a strange concept, but one I think might work.
Just like the web, 10 years ago if someone said "Everyone in the world is going to be able to publish their own newspaper, basically for free" who would have thought it practical? That's basically what the web is. I'd like to see Apple give everyone a TV/Multimedia Channel in their living room.
I don't watch TV, but I can't even imagine the content that would spring up. Music video channels for undiscovered bands, music only channels, obviously Porn, propaganda, news clips that the major stations are too scared to show, ect.
This would be through a box that also controls your TV/PVR functions. Same box, same TV, same everything. Like now, there are no distinctions between corporate and non-corporate web sites aside from budget. Revolutionize the TV into something truly innovative and even interactive. Quicktime even has the ability to use Flash files.
Instead of trying to force the web onto a TV, force the TV in a new direction.
The thing is, Apple already owns everything necessary except the bandwidth which we all have to pay for ourselves anyway.
<strong>all you guys state alot of features, amazing features like adding them is as simple as flipping a switch...things, especially like you were talkign about are amazingly hard to do, and what do you think the price of that will be?</strong><hr></blockquote>
how much is a P2? it ain't that bad....
<strong>all you guys state alot of features, amazing features like adding them is as simple as flipping a switch...things, especially like you were talkign about are amazingly hard to do, and what do you think the price of that will be?</strong><hr></blockquote>
Whoops...simultaneous posting.
Cost. On the software side, Apple is set. They've got the OS, they've got QTSS, they've got .Mac & IM services to tie users together & Rendevous for the box-to-Mac connection.
Hardware, just A/V input & output with a dedicated encoder/decoder. The I/O could just be Firewire in the future, but for now I assume it would be coaxial. The encoder/decoders, these things aren't free, but they're not that expensive. They're in every digital camera, telephones, the iPod, $69 DVD players, ect.
The Mac is where the real cost would be, and the real functionality. Presumably we all already own that, or would need to upgrade. It would be a relatively cheap box to allow a connection from your Mac to your TV/Stereo. The networking and heavy work could be done by your Mac.
<strong>all you guys state alot of features, amazing features like adding them is as simple as flipping a switch...things, especially like you were talkign about are amazingly hard to do, and what do you think the price of that will be?</strong><hr></blockquote>
The features aren't really 'AMAZING' just look at what we are talking about...
Showing Photos
Showing Video
Playing Audio
Displaying Text
The beauty is in the EASE OF USE and EASE OF ACCESS.
Ease of use is where Apple shines.
Ease of access is where Rendezvous kick in.
Apple really does have everything it needs to get the job done. That isn't the major hurdle from where I sit... I know I keep beating this drum but it's all about the CONTENT (and its OWNERS) that Apple has to worry about.
Apple can't just develop a system to STEAL data (like Watson does) - sorry Watson fans but it's true. The person who developed Watson has no content deals with anyone, his app just takes what it likes and strips out what it wants - that is not the REALY or LEGAL way to do things and Apple could NEVER do that... But, Apple can get tv guide info with TV-Guide or some other guide providing service under contract. That really shouldn't be too hard (after all didn't EyeTV do it with ... forgot the provider...) and Apple has already done such deals with (I'm pretty sure) every other content provider you see available with Apples Sherlock so this really shouldn't be an issue.
I've been getting back up to speed with what happend to Replay and the way it looks Replay was forced to NOT allow Replay boxes to 'share' data over the net as was 1st the plan but none the less hackers are making it happen anyway... it just isn't as easy as it could have been had Replay been allowed to use it's original design ideas.
I've been wanting this type of box for quite some time but just because it CAN be done don't mean other hurdles wont prevent it from going to market.
Dave