The REAL AppleTV?

News Type: Opinion — Mon Apr 2, 2007 1:11 PM EDT

technology, apple, windows, mac, itunes, appletv, digital-video, entertainmet

Will AppleTV eventually be a TV?

I was listening to some podcast reviews of the new AppleTV today as we drove across a portion of our country. Long day, good time to catch up on some podcasts. As I was listening to them describe the Pros and Cons of this new device, I began dreaming up my own version of the AppleTV! I'm actually a big fan of Apple's current release. I think it will be a pretty big hit within a year or two as media moves more toward the "on-demand" method of distribution.

But if I were to dream...

The TV

Instead of AppleTV being an add-on to your TV... what if it actually was a TV?? What if the first major upgrade to the device was to build it in to a 42" plasma TV? It would be much like the iMac, with the computer built into the display, and could come in various sizes... 42", 60", 72", and so on. Apple makes some great displays, and since the AppleTV is geared toward high-definition content, why wouldn't they want that content to be displayed on a super-bright, super-clear high resolution display (TV)?

DVDs

We were visiting my sister who has a nice wall-mounted plasma TV and wanted to watch a DVD with them. Unfortunately the DVD player was on the fritz, so I cleverly connected my old PowerBook G4 to their TV and played the movie. As I was doing this, I naturally thought, "Wouldn't it be great if the disc was inserted in the side of the TV, much like my iMac?" We all thought that would be a great feature! It's the built in DVD player (like the currently available TV/DVD combo deals) but side-mounted, and out of the way... elegant design, just like the iMacs.

Content

Right now, the content on the AppleTV is pushed from another computer (or streamed from up to 5) to the AppleTV unit. This is certainly a neat feature. But it's limited by the 40GB hard drive. And, that of course, is limited by the current footprint of the ultra-thin and tiny device. However, if AppleTV were to have its own display... and given the SIZE of those screens, it would be reasonable to plop in 2, 3, or 4 drives in the back that could be connected together to form one drive of 1 or 2 terabytes of storage space. Your entire video collection could reside IN your TV!

Wireless Connectivity

Just like the current AppleTV, this device would be connected wirelessly to the internet, and the other computers in the house (in case streaming were still necessary). A wireless TV! Awesome! Now if we could just figure out how to power such a device wirelessly, there would litereally be NO WIRES. Amazing.

iTunes Store

Speaking of connection to the internet... you can play trailers for the Top 10 shows on iTunes now, and for movies and more. What's missing there is the ability to purchase directly from that screen. If AppleTV had the increased storage, it would make sense to purchase and download directly to the TV. However, you could set up a system like TiVo has with Amazon Unbox where you purchase through Amazon, and download not to your computer, but to your TiVo. So, you could purchase content right from the preview screen on your TV, but it actually downloads to your computer, ready to begin streaming to the TV almost immediately. The content could then be sync-ed over to the AppleTV after it finishes downloading.

DVR

The thing most folks think is missing from the AppleTV is the ability to record/watch live TV through the device. Some way of recording video to the built in hard drive. I am still convinced Apple is just moving to an entirely different model, but it would not be that difficult to include some 3rd party software (El Gato, et al) to act as a DVR and schedule, record, playback content grabbed from the TV feed, be it cable, satellite, or what have you.

The Price

Finally, the thing that would sell this all-in-one fantasy would be to somehow magically come in under $3000. Is that possible? Not on the larger screen sizes. But for something that would play all the content you have on your computers, play DVDs, be a DVR and a giant HD plasma TV... perhaps $3000 is a bargain?

So, that may be AppleTV 3.0, not 2.0... but Apple has a chance to completely take over the digital entertainment world if they could put together such a device.

I have so many more ideas, actually... but so little time. Anyone else care to chime in?

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0.6

{"commentId":619665,"authorDomain":"Marriage"}

Steven R.

Ok where can I buy one? No really where? I want one now!

I think your onto something and wouldn't be surprised if Apple isn't already thinking of this.

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#1 - Mon Apr 2, 2007 9:02 PM EDT

{"commentId":619678,"authorDomain":"fdbryant3"}

FDBryant3

Aside from having the TV being the system, you could probably put together a home theater computer system that does everything you describe from less than $3000.

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#2 - Mon Apr 2, 2007 9:10 PM EDT

{"commentId":619746,"authorDomain":"gregshead"}

GregsHead

Yeah, I think that's what makes it so great. It's the all-in-one coolness of the iMac. You get the computer AND the great display for less than buying them separately. So with an AppleTV 3.0, you get the amazing TV, WITH the AppleTV AND DVD player, and DVR built right in.

Seems good to me! :-)

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#2.1 - Mon Apr 2, 2007 9:52 PM EDT

{"commentId":623781,"authorDomain":"notgoingtousethis"}

Jason-138785

It already exists; it's called a Windows Media Center box. Since the Apple TV is so feature-poor and the Mac mini is so out of date, I'm planning to get one. It even runs iTunes with a 10-foot interface in MCE Tunes, though MCE Tunes doesn't let you do purchasing.

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#3 - Wed Apr 4, 2007 6:04 PM EDT

{"commentId":624212,"authorDomain":"gregshead"}

GregsHead

Hey Jason
Thanks for the comment. I think you might have missed what I was saying though. As far as I know, the device above does not exist. It's a TV that has a DVD player, DVR, and an AppleTV (with all the great Apple/iPod/iTunes connectivity and interface) all in one device! As far as I know that's not what Windows Media Center is? At least, I've never seen such a device. I was just dreaming :-)

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#3.1 - Wed Apr 4, 2007 10:12 PM EDT

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