With it being a cable box that narrows down what they can do. It will be very similar to the xbox one (just not the graphics power).
*Arm processor A*X* silicon around the power of next iPad (in house chip to suite their needs / cheap) * HDMI In & HDMI Out ( piggyback off of existing cable boxes with a guide) * Built in mic / remote control from idevices with touch / voice
OS / Guide features *TV Guide overlay onto HDMI IN source (Cable provider box) *Updated flat ui from ios7 *Voice control / Siri via built in mic *Featuring 1st party ios apps (browser/mail etc) *Support for 3rd party apps via app store *Extensive game support w/ a game controller from the latest iOS 7 update *Built in cam for facetime + other video apps
$100-150
The first real challenge to the big three in the gaming industry.
Most of the current advertisement are not working these days. Here is the new way to advertise - THE ART OF ADVERTISING - educate the people about your product/service and increase your sale instantaneously.
Apple usually don't make these hires until they have something nearly fully baked for a public release. I hope that's the case here.
I disagree, Apple has a well defined plan and hires like this are to put the right people in the right positions to implement the plan. It may include somethings Apple is already selling, something they will release soon, but the pieces of the puzzle that will telegraph what's up their sleeve will come later and then everything will click together making the Apple Watchers go, "Oh Holly Shit!" The pundits will explain why it will be a total fail and drive Apple's stock to a new low. Meanwhile Microsoft will announce that they are working on something similar but better and Samsung will announce that they will be releasing a bigger and better version in the next 30-60 days (and in gold).
Has anyone heard that several large stock holders want to set Bill Gates out into the parking lot with his shit in a cardboard box??
What do you think? Does Bill Gates know his shit or not?
So let's see. Hiring the director now means that there just might be a product by this time next year. Small matter of designing the architecture, hiring managers, hiring engineers + QA, internally testing a beta, then another beta, then another, then redesigning things and testing yet another beta, etc. Not to mention all those contracts that need to be signed with some of the content providers and other major legacy players.
But the technology infrastructure is already there. Just take a look at the iTunes Festival app on iOS and Apple TV. It's a preview of Apple's future television disruption: live streaming video plus pre-recorded streaming content. That's all you need. No DVR recording feature because it's useless for millions of consumers to have their own local copy of the same content.
Over the last decade, Apple has shown that they build out the enabling technologies and infrastructures first, test it all in public, then add the actual hardware component as the keystone. The tip of the pyramid. iTunes for example: it was released months before the first iPod, but it is the reason for the iPod's success. Without iTunes, iPod would have been just a slightly shiner, slightly easier-to-use MP3 player. With iTunes, it was a worldbeater.
Competitors hastily copy Apple's hardware components (e.g. iPad), then realize there's a lot more to it. They try to fake the infrastructure until they can build out their own solution (e.g. RIM PlayBook.) Of course, that takes years, and by then it could be too late. It takes Apple years to build out their infrastructure too. But they build it out in advance of the actual consumer hardware product release. In plain sight, testing it with existing hardware products.
Another example: those little iPod click-wheel games in the mid-2000s. Apple used them to test the purchase, download, and installation of software to the iPod. That basic technology was the proof-of-concept for today's App Store. I think Apple is using iTunes Radio, iTunes Festival, and the current Apple TV as test beds for their future infrastructure. And yes, by the time Apple rolls out their "real" television disruption strategy, it will be too late for any competitor to mash up a me-too hardware component, then try to fake their own copy of Apple's content and distribution infrastructure.
As for the mythical "Apple TV set," I think it will just be a 60" 4K Thunderbolt Display. Just a big monitor connected to some future Apple TV box. That's all Apple would need to do. If they feel like it. It certainly won't be an imperative.
I've been dreaming for a while that Apple might try to simplify the whole TV/Internet access mess in one product by building a cable modem and wifi router into their future TV. This could work as a plug and play device on most cable systems. Hiring this DOCSIS 3 engineer/specialist seems to point to this as a possibility.
Imagine your TV as the hub of your entire home. Plug it into a cable line with broadband service and it configures itself and simultaneously provides wireless networking to the home and shared video service to all AppleTV equipped TVs in the house with little to no effort or technical knowledge on the part of the user. It may be a dream, but I think this solution seems pretty Apple-like.
I want a box where I pay a reasonable flat fee, and I can stream any movie or any TV show ever made. Maybe have different service tiers. Something for people who just want current or recent stuff, and another for full coverage (back to stuff filmed on Vitascopes or Cinematographe). Eventually they can add short films, music videos, whatever.
Hey, gotta fill those fancy new data centers with something!
Game of thrones also happens to be one of the most pirated shows. I think content producers aren't seeing the additional revenue they can gain simply by providing an easy method of purchase for customers who want to watch their shows, but don't have cable. Right now that segment is being served by the pirate bay. It's the pre-iPod music industry all over again
It's a thin line they're walking. Making a la carte seasons available might bring that piracy number down, but it may also affect their subscriber count. I don't know if content producers can realistically view pirate numbers as potential customers...they need to work to protect the numbers they can count on (subscribers).
The revenue model for most TV shows doesn't work this way. Show producers "sell" the show to the network for an agreed upon price, based on popularity of show. Network turns around and charges advertisers for commercial time on that show for an agreed upon rate...again based on popularity.
With a la carte, your Apple, Amazon and Google Play stores have taken the place of the networks, but instead of wildly varying rates based on popularity, most show prices are fixed. While the a la carte model is growing in popularity, there is no way more people are paying for their content this way vs. the traditional network model.
HaHa Dude! Somehow I don't think it is going to be a set top box! Did we check our brains at the door when we sat down to write this one?
What makes more sense, a set top box that people will buy 2-4 and have all of their TVs getting content through or from Apple, or a TV set that people will buy only one of? The refresh cycle for a STB could be 3-4 years while a TV will be 5-7 years.
I've been following this with some interest. One thought I've had is that for Apple to get around the multitude of regional cable monopolies they could partner with Dish Network...or buy them outright. (Full disclosure: I'm a current DirecTV subscriber, myself). But Dish is the obligatory 2nd place (the AVIS of satellite TV). This would provide a way for them to make a splash & do something groundbreaking. It also gives Apple turnkey tech support on the delivery. Make the transition to satellite-delivered internet (a la Hughes), and now Apple is in the ISP business, too.
It's a big new business to absorb, and would be a major new frontier for Apple, but now they have the "pipe" into your home, the ISP, the content/channel packaging (e.g., pay by the episode, like the iTunes model). Knowing Apple, it can't be just about the box.
Comments
I see what you did there, you flipped the 30% cut Apple takes. "Don't think of it as you're giving us 30%, think of it as we're giving you 70%"
*Arm processor A*X* silicon around the power of next iPad (in house chip to suite their needs / cheap)
* HDMI In & HDMI Out ( piggyback off of existing cable boxes with a guide)
* Built in mic / remote control from idevices with touch / voice
OS / Guide features
*TV Guide overlay onto HDMI IN source (Cable provider box)
*Updated flat ui from ios7
*Voice control / Siri via built in mic
*Featuring 1st party ios apps (browser/mail etc)
*Support for 3rd party apps via app store
*Extensive game support w/ a game controller from the latest iOS 7 update
*Built in cam for facetime + other video apps
$100-150
The first real challenge to the big three in the gaming industry.
Any thought of Apple replacing both the Cable Set Top Box and the Cable Modem? I mean like Airport Extreme TV?
For me I would like to view the NFL games on my iPad. The only TV I watch is a few NFL games.
the new way to advertise - THE ART OF ADVERTISING - educate the people
about your product/service and increase your sale instantaneously.
To learn more, please watch this short video:
For any questions, please write to [email protected]
I disagree, Apple has a well defined plan and hires like this are to put the right people in the right positions to implement the plan. It may include somethings Apple is already selling, something they will release soon, but the pieces of the puzzle that will telegraph what's up their sleeve will come later and then everything will click together making the Apple Watchers go, "Oh Holly Shit!" The pundits will explain why it will be a total fail and drive Apple's stock to a new low. Meanwhile Microsoft will announce that they are working on something similar but better and Samsung will announce that they will be releasing a bigger and better version in the next 30-60 days (and in gold).
Has anyone heard that several large stock holders want to set Bill Gates out into the parking lot with his shit in a cardboard box??
What do you think? Does Bill Gates know his shit or not?
Well, that’s the opposite of the point of the device, at least.
Ew. But anything that gets rid of the stupid ribbon is probably better.
Also, not flat.
Not gonna shout at my TV, thanks.
It’s a TV. No one wants that.
It’s a box and you’re in a recliner ten feet away. No.
iOS devices already are.
Slingbox.
I think you mean HBO???
Did that make you feel better? Correcting him on a minor point when EVERYONE knew what he meant?
Petty.
So let's see. Hiring the director now means that there just might be a product by this time next year. Small matter of designing the architecture, hiring managers, hiring engineers + QA, internally testing a beta, then another beta, then another, then redesigning things and testing yet another beta, etc. Not to mention all those contracts that need to be signed with some of the content providers and other major legacy players.
But the technology infrastructure is already there. Just take a look at the iTunes Festival app on iOS and Apple TV. It's a preview of Apple's future television disruption: live streaming video plus pre-recorded streaming content. That's all you need. No DVR recording feature because it's useless for millions of consumers to have their own local copy of the same content.
Over the last decade, Apple has shown that they build out the enabling technologies and infrastructures first, test it all in public, then add the actual hardware component as the keystone. The tip of the pyramid. iTunes for example: it was released months before the first iPod, but it is the reason for the iPod's success. Without iTunes, iPod would have been just a slightly shiner, slightly easier-to-use MP3 player. With iTunes, it was a worldbeater.
Competitors hastily copy Apple's hardware components (e.g. iPad), then realize there's a lot more to it. They try to fake the infrastructure until they can build out their own solution (e.g. RIM PlayBook.) Of course, that takes years, and by then it could be too late. It takes Apple years to build out their infrastructure too. But they build it out in advance of the actual consumer hardware product release. In plain sight, testing it with existing hardware products.
Another example: those little iPod click-wheel games in the mid-2000s. Apple used them to test the purchase, download, and installation of software to the iPod. That basic technology was the proof-of-concept for today's App Store. I think Apple is using iTunes Radio, iTunes Festival, and the current Apple TV as test beds for their future infrastructure. And yes, by the time Apple rolls out their "real" television disruption strategy, it will be too late for any competitor to mash up a me-too hardware component, then try to fake their own copy of Apple's content and distribution infrastructure.
As for the mythical "Apple TV set," I think it will just be a 60" 4K Thunderbolt Display. Just a big monitor connected to some future Apple TV box. That's all Apple would need to do. If they feel like it. It certainly won't be an imperative.
Well said. Thumbs up...
Apple usually don't make these hires until they have something nearly fully baked for a public release. I hope that's the case here.
Really? Do you have any examples of that?
Thompson
I've been dreaming for a while that Apple might try to simplify the whole TV/Internet access mess in one product by building a cable modem and wifi router into their future TV. This could work as a plug and play device on most cable systems. Hiring this DOCSIS 3 engineer/specialist seems to point to this as a possibility.
Imagine your TV as the hub of your entire home. Plug it into a cable line with broadband service and it configures itself and simultaneously provides wireless networking to the home and shared video service to all AppleTV equipped TVs in the house with little to no effort or technical knowledge on the part of the user. It may be a dream, but I think this solution seems pretty Apple-like.
Obviously it needs to be more than just tech.
I want a box where I pay a reasonable flat fee, and I can stream any movie or any TV show ever made. Maybe have different service tiers. Something for people who just want current or recent stuff, and another for full coverage (back to stuff filmed on Vitascopes or Cinematographe). Eventually they can add short films, music videos, whatever.
Hey, gotta fill those fancy new data centers with something!
Yeah, I know. The IP houses would never allow it.
Game of thrones also happens to be one of the most pirated shows. I think content producers aren't seeing the additional revenue they can gain simply by providing an easy method of purchase for customers who want to watch their shows, but don't have cable. Right now that segment is being served by the pirate bay. It's the pre-iPod music industry all over again
It's a thin line they're walking. Making a la carte seasons available might bring that piracy number down, but it may also affect their subscriber count. I don't know if content producers can realistically view pirate numbers as potential customers...they need to work to protect the numbers they can count on (subscribers).
The revenue model for most TV shows doesn't work this way. Show producers "sell" the show to the network for an agreed upon price, based on popularity of show. Network turns around and charges advertisers for commercial time on that show for an agreed upon rate...again based on popularity.
With a la carte, your Apple, Amazon and Google Play stores have taken the place of the networks, but instead of wildly varying rates based on popularity, most show prices are fixed. While the a la carte model is growing in popularity, there is no way more people are paying for their content this way vs. the traditional network model.
What makes more sense, a set top box that people will buy 2-4 and have all of their TVs getting content through or from Apple, or a TV set that people will buy only one of? The refresh cycle for a STB could be 3-4 years while a TV will be 5-7 years.
I think it’s 7-10 years on average now.
It's a big new business to absorb, and would be a major new frontier for Apple, but now they have the "pipe" into your home, the ISP, the content/channel packaging (e.g., pay by the episode, like the iTunes model). Knowing Apple, it can't be just about the box.