Apple Unveils Box Codenamed iTV
What you will not read here is a general news byte, rewriting Apple’s press release. What you will read here is why this has the potential to be the most revolutionary product from Apple. Ever.
On September 12, 2006, Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced an upgraded iPod® line, iTunes® 7, and an upcoming product codenamed iTV, a first in Apple history since products are usually announced and then immediately available at the Apple Store online (or later that same day). The presentation shows the iTV to be self-powered, 802.11 wireless (no specification given yet), with options for composite video in or HDMI, the new standard for HDTVs. Steve Jobs goes on to explain the iTV’s purpose for playing media — stored on your Mac or PC — wirelessly. He presented a slide of the hardware diagram, showing the modem, 802.11 access point, Mac (or PC), iPod and now iTV. What he didn’t show was the software pieces of the puzzle. In my opinion, this will be the real story.
There is a bigger picture at work at Apple that’s not being discussed… yet. If your television can now play movies from your Mac or PC wirelessly via the iTV, then shouldn’t QuickTime on your Mac or PC now be able to play television programs wirelessly via the iTV? And if the device does work both ways, wouldn’t it make sense to have remote access to all of your media — movies, trailers, music, podcasts, etc.via the Front Row interface? And if Apple does eventually sell an iPhone that syncs to your Mac or PC, wouldn’t it also make sense to have an app on it that could call into your network and view your media, say an app called QuickTime Mobile?
Take a look at Slingbox™ from SlingMedia. Do you see any reason why the Apple’s iTV couldn’t have the same functionality, and more? QuickTime Player and QuickTime Remote on your Mac or PC? QuickTime Mobile on your iPhone?
The only hardware piece of the puzzle missing from Steve’s diagram is the iPhone. But the software diagram is what I look forward to seeing when this product finally makes it to market.
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Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 8:54 pm
Very interesting view of the concept =)
Throw slingbox out of the market.. Would be possible for Apple I guess =)
Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 10:51 pm
I do think Apple can enter this market and Slingbox could also co-exist. Apple still doesn’t have the necessary technology to include TiVo like SLingbox does. Unless of course they buy TiVO and/or SlingMedia.
Friday, September 15, 2006 at 3:49 pm
I watched Steve Jobs present iTV, and was very excited about it. I’ve been considering getting a SqueezeBox to stream my music to my home theater, so also streaming pictures and video would be a bonus. I won’t be buying any movies from iTunes however, until they are in HD resolution with Dolby Digital or DTS surround sound.
The key to the success of iTV will be the UI. If using iTV is as easy and slick to the mass market as using an iPod, then it will be a winner.
Friday, September 15, 2006 at 5:32 pm
From the loos of the UI, it should be sweet. Now I need to get a new Mac with a remote control! I am eyeballing that new Mac Pro but plan on waiting for the second rev of the box so they can work out all the bugs, oh, AND so I can get a speed bump.