eightzero

At the risk of repeating myself, I would instantly buy an ATV that contained an OTA tuner (or 2 or 3) and a coax jack for an antenna. This is possible with a HDHomeRun device, but these come at a cost that is still beyond my interest. Apple is very unlikely to do this because there really is no business case for it. Other than the basic hardware, they can't monetize it in any way. 

And now that I think about it, this still doesn't get me past the convenience I now find with the TCL 4k smart roku set I have now. What that device needs is an in channel guide for OTA like the "channels" app you can run with the silicon dust HDHomeRun device. But it get me closer to being interested in ATV again.

If ATV could then put its OTA signal out on the LAN like HDHomeRun, so users could stream to their laptops, phones, and iPads...maybe we're on to something. But that is now available on the Mohu Airwave. For $150. And nothing else.

Or maybe Apple can update the Airports to handle some of this?

Choices are good. Apple is rather behind on this.

randominternetperson said:

Surely the customer would have to establish some relationship with a carrier first, right?  If so, this doesn't seem like a technical challenge on Apple's side; it's a carrier issue.

To get FCC approval to sell these devices in the US, it has to be able to connect to 911 services without an activated plan. Its a legal issue.

cali said:

JFC_PA said:

Logical: phone’s without plans are required by law to have access to emergency service numbers. 

Right but the Watch is new tech.

3-5 minutes? If Apple can get it connected to emergency services immediately, this is one more(BIG) reason to get a Watch with LTE.

It is still a phone. In the US, by law, it has to be able to connect to 911 services even if it has no plan. 

Pretty sure the profitability of their shipments is most important to Apple.

"Sure, we lose money on every PC. But we make it up in the volume."

Every time I think about it, I am again astounded at Apple's ability to produce 10s of millions of devices, even more so how accurate they get it. That a couple get into consumers hands with flaws should be expected, and yes, Apple needs to be responsible for them. I think I read somewhere that Apple has mass produced more complex machines than any manufacturer in history. Incredible.