Apple's Jimmy Iovine hints at curation playing part in future TV product
While discussing Apple Music in a new interview published on Thursday, Apple executive Jimmy Iovine mentioned the prospect of applying curation to TV, potentially pointing to a direction for Apple's rumored streaming TV service.
"We all know one thing, we all have different television delivery systems, don't we all wish that the delivery systems were better, as far as curation and service?" Iovine told Wired without being asked about the topic.
He claimed that while all of the current systems are "technically good," and companies like Netflix are crossing into original content, they don't help in finding something to watch.
"That box helps you none -- it doesn't help. You're on your own. And eventually that will catch them unless somebody digs in and really helps the customer. And entertainment needs that, it needs to live and breathe," the executive said.
He added however that he isn't planning to get involved in any TV projects, because music alone is "so daunting that I can't even think about anything else."
Rumors have circulated for many months that Apple is working on a TV streaming service with a "skinny" bundle of channels. The company has reportedly had a tough time negotiating content deals though, and the most recent rumor hinted at a 2016 launch, or at best late 2015.
Curation might also simply be applied to a refreshed Apple TV set-top expected in September. That device should not only have Siri and an App Store, but a new operating system, which could in theory use curation to better highlight videos available to buy and rent.
"We all know one thing, we all have different television delivery systems, don't we all wish that the delivery systems were better, as far as curation and service?" Iovine told Wired without being asked about the topic.
He claimed that while all of the current systems are "technically good," and companies like Netflix are crossing into original content, they don't help in finding something to watch.
"That box helps you none -- it doesn't help. You're on your own. And eventually that will catch them unless somebody digs in and really helps the customer. And entertainment needs that, it needs to live and breathe," the executive said.
He added however that he isn't planning to get involved in any TV projects, because music alone is "so daunting that I can't even think about anything else."
Rumors have circulated for many months that Apple is working on a TV streaming service with a "skinny" bundle of channels. The company has reportedly had a tough time negotiating content deals though, and the most recent rumor hinted at a 2016 launch, or at best late 2015.
Curation might also simply be applied to a refreshed Apple TV set-top expected in September. That device should not only have Siri and an App Store, but a new operating system, which could in theory use curation to better highlight videos available to buy and rent.
Comments
I don't have issues with finding stuff on Netflix. I have issues with them not having stuff when I want to watch it. I don't see Apple solving that with the same model.
Great! I do curation of TV Shows and Movies all the time with friends and family since I know the stuff they will like and I'll likely know something exists before they will so it would be nice to get some curation assistance for myself, however, curation is not even in my Top 10 requirements for a revamped Apple TV.
I want it to retain the Ethernet port, have a reasonable price point ($99 ideally), and have an open app store so I can choose the services I want and not just the ones Apple has deals with. That's pretty much it.
I was thinking the same thing. There aren't as many genres of TV shows as music, and there just aren't enough TV shows to warrant curation. Most of the shows I recommend are British, like Luther, Misfits, and Copper. Also many really good foreign language shows are made in a English version like The Bridge, and Gracepoint.
There is also the way we indulge in these media. For example, I might recommends a band and do so by pulling out a single song that could be track 5 of their 3 album for you to listen to, but curation of TV shows are typically the whole series, not a single episode*. So the number of TV series** to the number of songs is what needs to be compared. Even if we limit songs to genre it's still not even close to being the same.
* There are key episodes of shows I recommend to get people interested, but that just gets them to watch the series from the beginning.
** Series in the American usage, not in the British usage which weirdly means season.
He's a loose cannon. Full of himself.
I want it to retain the Ethernet port, have a reasonable price point ($99 ideally), and have an open app store so I can choose the services I want and not just the ones Apple has deals with. That's pretty much it.
That will never happen! In order to have an app in the app store you will have to have an agreement with Apple. Be careful for what you ask for because a truly open app store that allowed any and all apps would be security nightmare of malware and such.
Ha!!! You said "Jimmy's wearing a hat". Who knows that reference without looking it up?
Thats good enough for me. right now switching between so many media devices on TV is hectic , gaming system , Tivo and chrome cast or Roku who the hell needs so many devices , integration is the key and only Apple can deliver that vertical integration.
Thats good enough for me. right now switching between so many media devices on TV is hectic , gaming system , Tivo and chrome cast or Roku who the hell needs so many devices , integration is the key and only Apple can deliver that vertical integration.
Better ?:D
I just want a Apple TV which replaces conventional bulky Gaming systems like xbox 360 , Nintendo DS and Sony PS3, It should have a processor like Apple A8X, which is powerful enough to deliver a machine with gaming capability. So that i start playing a game on mobile (lIke ravensword) when i am travelling and continue it on TV or Mac or whatever when i reach home. Thats is what i want.
I really think Apple can deliver a machine that is truly Mind Blowing, and makes Xbox 360 and Sony PS people to think again before they make there next ugly beast.
TV is a center for many media devices, TiVo, Chrome cast, and A gaming Console. All these need to be integrated into a single device that makes our life as users easier and we don't have to switch between 3 devices. Only Apple can deliver such an experience that is vertically integrated.
I need TV curation, pronto.
I am picky about what I watch and an 'early adopter' of shows.
It's not just about the Netflix queue, anymore.
I now get 'Hulu' just for 3 shows, same thing with Netflix and Amazon, Two good (Really good) shows, tops. Of course, Apple TV. Also, If I want to watch 'the jim gaffigan show', I need to buy a separate tier from my cable TV provider....or wait till it's on Hulu... Oh yeah, it's also on comedy central....sometime!? HELP! It's too costly and confusing to keep up. Everyone is making content now.
Wouldn't be too fussed if he called up Eddy with the same message!
Clearly there is anger building within Apple.
- Developers getting asked to do dumb things to iTunes and are destroying it in protest.
- Lovine wanting to use humans instead of machines for curation, its great to give a few people some jobs but its not scalable to Apples needs. Loving is so out of touch with technology.
- Lovine and Eddy too public, telling stories about calling up Tim to ask him stuff just amateurish and makes me shudder.