Apple Branded PVR
I would like to see Apple produce its own PVR. I think an Apple branded PVR could be a huge success if it were designed/handled the right way. Here are my thoughts:
I am going to call the Apple branded PVR the iPVR (real original right). The iPVR would be around the same price range of current PVR players (~500.00). This recorder will do everything that all current PVR units can do and will rely on a subscription service as well for content programming.
Where the iPVR will be different than other PVR units is that Apple will make its PVR recorder a digital lifestyle device and not just a digital device.
With the announcement of the iPVR, Apple will also announce the new Video iPod (something that has been rumored for quite some time). The Video iPod will do to video what the music iPod did for music. Imagine being able to watch your favorite television programs anywhere you go? The Video iPod will download content from the iPVR through a FireWire 800 port. The cost for the 40GB Video iPod will be around $500 as well.
Subscription services for the iPVR would be handled through a premium .Mac account. And unlike other PVR subscription services, programming Apple's iPVR could be handled through a web based interface (in addition to your standard television programming). Imagine forgetting to record a show on Discovery but as soon as you get to your office/school, you log onto .Mac and set your iPVR to record the show. Or imagine sharing iCal calendars that have show times that all one has to do is publish the iCal to your iPVR.
Any thoughts??
Thanks
I am going to call the Apple branded PVR the iPVR (real original right). The iPVR would be around the same price range of current PVR players (~500.00). This recorder will do everything that all current PVR units can do and will rely on a subscription service as well for content programming.
Where the iPVR will be different than other PVR units is that Apple will make its PVR recorder a digital lifestyle device and not just a digital device.
With the announcement of the iPVR, Apple will also announce the new Video iPod (something that has been rumored for quite some time). The Video iPod will do to video what the music iPod did for music. Imagine being able to watch your favorite television programs anywhere you go? The Video iPod will download content from the iPVR through a FireWire 800 port. The cost for the 40GB Video iPod will be around $500 as well.
Subscription services for the iPVR would be handled through a premium .Mac account. And unlike other PVR subscription services, programming Apple's iPVR could be handled through a web based interface (in addition to your standard television programming). Imagine forgetting to record a show on Discovery but as soon as you get to your office/school, you log onto .Mac and set your iPVR to record the show. Or imagine sharing iCal calendars that have show times that all one has to do is publish the iCal to your iPVR.
Any thoughts??
Thanks
Comments
Apple is not going to do their own. Why bother? They're working with TiVo to integrate Apple tech into TiVo. Much better idea in my opinion. Concentrate on better Apple hardware and better software. Leave the consumer devide to someone who already has a good product. The iPod only happened because there was nothing like it yet.
<strong><a href="http://www.tivo.com/4.9.1.asp#10"; target="_blank">Link To TiVo Website</a>
Apple is not going to do their own. Why bother? They're working with TiVo to integrate Apple tech into TiVo. Much better idea in my opinion. Concentrate on better Apple hardware and better software. Leave the consumer devide to someone who already has a good product. The iPod only happened because there was nothing like it yet.</strong><hr></blockquote>
WHy bother? Offer listings for free...no subscription. Much like Sherlock will translate other sites' content for an easy GUI, Apple can do the same. There are plenty of TV listings for free on the web. Then, having saved the consumer $250 or the annuity of montly payments on listings, Apple can place Macintosh and Apple hardware and software advertisements on the TV listings, just like Microsoft does with their FREE tv listings as part of their Windows XP Home Media Center Edition.
Then, think of all the free advertisements Apple would show to people. They could demonstrate how Apple products can be integrated with the PVR to provide even more Digital Lifestyl capabilities.
Give it firewire connectivity to sync up with and load music FROM your iPod TO the PVR. And, make the music accessible via the TV interface, just like MS's Media Center Edition. (though they don't have an MP3 sync like I was talking about)
Provide iCal and iSync capability and have your names and addresses as well as appointments show up on your PVR. While you're watching TV, if you need any of that info, just have it handy at your fingertips.
In addition, you can have it interrupt your viewing with iCal reminders.
And lastly, the most obvious use, is to have it sync up with the available 3.2 Terabytes X Serve RAID to continuously record ALL TV shows for instant playback...all for only $12,000!
<strong><a href="http://www.tivo.com/4.9.1.asp#10"; target="_blank">Link To TiVo Website</a>
Apple is not going to do their own. Why bother? They're working with TiVo to integrate Apple tech into TiVo. Much better idea in my opinion. Concentrate on better Apple hardware and better software. Leave the consumer devide to someone who already has a good product. The iPod only happened because there was nothing like it yet.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Why bother? Hell using that logic why bother even creating the Mac as 90% of computer user use Wintel.
The "Bother" is watching Television accounts for a majority of home entertainment for many families. However both Sonicblue and Tivo have their weaknesses that have slowed the progress.
Tivo- Great name recognition but expensive. They just raised their Lifetime fee to $300!!! They have failed to add a basic ethernet port causing their users to make the unecessary step of adding a USB-Ethernet converter. Tivo's don't even have 30 Second commercial skip without going through a totally inane programming tweak. Tivo is not for consumers. I will not buy one.
Sonicblue- Has fought for consumers. They have ethernet and file sharing between ReplayTV units. Automatic Commercial Skip. Component Outs. Their weakness is marketing and UI. They're cheaper than Tivo.
What Apple could do is easily leverage their existing Technology.
FW and Ethernet would be the connectivity standard with perhaps HPNA as well
Of course Rendezvous would be supported. The units needs to be inexpensive. MPEG4 would be nice. .mac+ would be the Monthly Service. Everything .mac offers plus this sheduling. Apple could offer .mac at $20 this would included support for as many machines as you have in your house.
Each unit would support filesharing between the units but each recorded file would have a unique identifier that would only work on local LAN for Copyrighted material.
iLife would be leveraged with support for these iPVR's.
There are two ways to get into the minds of consumers. The biggest way is the Television followed by Print Media and then the Internet. The success of the iPod was nothing compared to what Apple could do here. They have all the tools.
iGuarantee you no other DLD will have near as much potential on possibility as a PVR. EVERYONE has a TV.
Tivo2 and rendezvous..bah!. They're charging $150 for the pleasure of view photos and listening to MP3 on two units...hardly inexpensive.
Apple needs to start adding new products and services that go beyond what they have now. The need to generate monthly income from a service. .mac just isn't compelling enough to sustain. Tivo is too expensive...Sonicblue doesn't market enough.
Only Apple can do this right. From the UI to the connectivity they would hit the ground better than all other PVRs. I'd buy one.
[ 02-13-2003: Message edited by: hmurchison ]</p>
<strong><a href="http://www.tivo.com/4.9.1.asp#10"; target="_blank">Link To TiVo Website</a>
Apple is not going to do their own. Why bother? They're working with TiVo to integrate Apple tech into TiVo. Much better idea in my opinion. Concentrate on better Apple hardware and better software. Leave the consumer devide to someone who already has a good product. The iPod only happened because there was nothing like it yet.</strong><hr></blockquote>
You saved me from typing
In this case, Apple's core tech is its hardware and its software (OS X, iApps, Final Cut, DVD Pro, etc). I know its been mentioned that Steve Jobs would like Apple to become more of a consumer electronics company, but I just don't agree with this. Macs are already having trouble being seen as more than a niche thing. I think it would make a lot more sense to partner with exhisting electronics companies to get all this great tech out there. Do we want Apple to become a propriatary company ala MicroSoft? I think it would be great to see "OS X Inside" on a Sony DVD player
I think Apple is best served by focusing on what they do well...rather than trying to get into too many side things. Some of you folks are just way to obsessed with having Apple-branded stuff. I know you think they can do it well, but I think they might need to focus more on making OS X ubiquitous along with making some really great hardware. An Apple PVR is great, but do we want it running on a G4 with a 167 MHz bus?
That's my argument...carry on.
Cheers
Scott
[ 02-13-2003: Message edited by: midwinter ]</p>
For communication, it should have firewire (for video camera's, etc.), ethernet, and optional airport.
It would be awesome if it encoded with QT to MPEG-4.
Of course it would have rendevous, this would allow you to see all TV shows you have recorded on all iPVRs in your house. It would also allow your desktop/laptop to watch TV shows.
Setting your iPVR to record over the internet (possibly from .Mac) would be great, but ReplayTV already has this ability (I'm just saying they wouldn't be the first).
Keep it cheap.
Make sure that if someone has multiple iPVRs, they would automatically schedule recordings, fix conflicts, and share files. For example, you could see what you have set to record or add more shows from any iPVR. If two shows were set to be on at the same time, the iPVRs would figure which one records which. Then, both shows would be available to an iPVR. With the use of "instant start" streaming (or what ever it is called), people wouldn't know if they show was recorded locally or on their basement PVR.
In terms of copy protection, use the scheme the iPod uses. Don't make any tools that allow people to trade shows, but don't stop it from happening.
Apple for President!
In case you hadn't noticed Apple is looking for more revenue streams, not less. By giving away TiVO like services they can sell hardware, but have to put together another large web based infrastructure to service customers. Its not like .Mac, the one they already have, is growing new features in leaps and bounds.
The iPod didn't require Apple to startup a new category of customer services; it adds value to the Mac and the customers software (CDs) without Apple having to provide anything else to the customer. If Apple intros another device look for the same conditions to be filled.
<hr></blockquote>
Which is precisely why you haven't seen a new Apple DLD. The iPod is just a glorified Walkman. The market for portable Audio is larger and ever changing. However the next device will pose a much tougher challenge. Portable video...bah..forget it won't seel in decent numbers. The next device Apple brings will have to have a service involved.
PVR could also be a great idea, but NOT standalone! A firewire breakout box, mebbe a base that sits under an iMac that also houses a HDD of your choice along with the requisite A/V breakout and TV tuner. Software controlled. Think iCal. You log into your .mac and download appropriate iCal based TV listings, then you just click the dates/times you want the iPVR to record and it goes to it. I could see a thrid party doing it.
<strong>Those are big assumptions. How do you justify them?
In case you hadn't noticed Apple is looking for more revenue streams, not less. By giving away TiVO like services they can sell hardware, but have to put together another large web based infrastructure to service customers. Its not like .Mac, the one they already have, is growing new features in leaps and bounds.
The iPod didn't require Apple to startup a new category of customer services; it adds value to the Mac and the customers software (CDs) without Apple having to provide anything else to the customer. If Apple intros another device look for the same conditions to be filled.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Again, Microsoft is already doing that with Media Center edition.
Plus, my ATI All-in-wonder card uses GemStar's GuidePlus listing.
Plus, GuidePlus is already built in to some TVs, and you don't pay to use it. It, too, can schedule your VCR to record a program.
TIVO and REPLAYTV are just raping consumers with the tv listing scam.
<strong>I dunno...I see what you all are saying, but it seems to me that when a company tries to be too good at too many things then its core tech starts to suffer.</strong><hr></blockquote>
that is exactly why apple got out of the printer and scanner business. sure, it all worked together, but it took a heck of a lot away from other core computer strategies.
i'm not sure where you draw the line, but apple knows where it is, so i guess that's all that matters.
Plus, my ATI All-in-wonder card uses GemStar's GuidePlus listing.
Plus, GuidePlus is already built in to some TVs, and you don't pay to use it. It, too, can schedule your VCR to record a program.
TIVO and REPLAYTV are just raping consumers with the tv listing scam.<hr></blockquote>Then why would you buy Apple at a price premium. If Apple does this it has to be better from a HI standpoint which means starting their own listing service or buying one and making it better. No one pay more for an Apple "me too" device that is not substantiaally better than the other stuff on the market.
<strong>Then why would you buy Apple at a price premium. If Apple does this it has to be better from a HI standpoint which means starting their own listing service or buying one and making it better. No one pay more for an Apple "me too" device that is not substantiaally better than the other stuff on the market.</strong><hr></blockquote>
That's the same as asking why an existing product, SHERLOCK, is nothing more than improving the GUI (HI) on existing content. (e.g.-eBay, dictionary.com, numerous search sites, airline reservations)
Also, iChat is an example. Apple neither started their own chat service nor did they buy an existing one. iChat is PRECISELY a me too app, with only those 'improvements' that Apple thinks makes the user's experience better and also more mac compatible.
So, Apple is already doing this TYPE of stuff. Really, the TV listings is nothing more than another Sherlock CHANNEL.
Just that it would sit on diff hardware, and in a stereo cabinet, not on your desk.
Sad in a way, that the platform is hampered and crippled by one man's prejudices.
...
[ 02-14-2003: Message edited by: Aphelion ]</p>
<strong>I can see Apple buying Tivo...Cheers!</strong><hr></blockquote>
If Apple wants to be more like MS, then they work with TiVo, and STEAL THEIR TECHNOLOGY.
<strong>
If Apple wants to be more like MS, then they work with TiVo, and STEAL THEIR TECHNOLOGY.</strong><hr></blockquote>
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