The Future of Apple TV
January 11, 2008
From BusinessWeek: Steve Jobs’ Video Dreams
One possibility is that Apple might add a tuner to its TV product later this year. That way, the device could handle the tasks of a cable box and provide a portal for almost any video need—from obscure clips on the Net to the evening news. “The day that happens, Apple TV sales will take off,” says American Technology analyst Shaw Wu.
I can’t figure out where bloggers and reporters keep getting the idea that Apple TV needs to become a DVR in order to be successful. Anyone who’s attempted to set up a Series 3 TiVo knows that the process is so wholly un-Apple that it’s very nearly impossible for me to imagine the company attempting—or wanting to attempt—such a feat.
The problem, if there is one, with Apple TV is the content. And broadcast TV isn’t the way to solve it. If Apple continues to advance Apple TV as a product line, its salvation will come through new software (which, as an Apple TV owner, I hope will be freely available to customers who already own one of the units). Buying (and renting!) content from the iTunes Store via the Apple TV interface is the holy grail—I expect Apple to focus on wooing more content providers to the store rather than picking yet another fight with them by getting into the DVR business.
Just going through reading old posts of yours and noticed this post basically guesses what Stevie J was about to do (See press release here)...Well done!