Apple eyes ISPs to sell 'iTV' What are we to make of the claims from moles within Canada's two key telcos that both companies have Apple HD TVs in their labs? That Apple is indeed working on an own-brand television now seems certain. Equally sure seems the notion that the so-called 'iTV' won't be remotely revolutionary, though it will be spun that way by …
...alternatively, that they want to get onto iTV precisely *because* it will cut into their cable subscriptions. The talk is that the lucky tube-provider will have exclusive rights to the latest Apple iMustHave, so they will be able to gouge punters to their heart's content with overpriced internet bundles.
And, with reference to the line "Equally sure seems the notion that the so-called 'iTV' won't be remotely revolutionary, though it will be spun that way by the glib-tongued manufacturer" - so true, and yet it doesn't matter. With the Apple love-in in the media, it's going to be spun out of all recognition (news reports are already saying it has the potential to turn the TV market upside down); and consumers will buy into it and ignore the IPTV products previously marketed. It makes me embarrassed to be human...
Granted it's not a UK-focussed article but my ISP won't be trying to sell me an iTV (or whatever it gets called in the UK cos we already have an ITV thank you very much). Mostly cos my ISP is SKY, to be fair but if it weren't the answer would be 'OK, so... explain to me why I need to replace my perfectly fine 42" TV and buy some streaming thing in addition to Netflix on my PS3? Oh, cos it's Apple? well why didn't you SAY so at the start! I could have had the last five minutes of my life back. **click**'
(I'm assuming itv will be hardware TV + streaming/cloud subscription, of course)
Has former artwork or the like ever stopped Apple from trying?
Oh, I'm sure it will be great, a real simplification. Apple's iTV will bring us back the times when there was only 1 channel, just better.
Siri will understand what you are talking about and the gesture control will track your body language. According to this, the appropriate fruit-approved* program will play. I can see a lot of lunchtime talk shows playing in homes where the sole inhabitant has died in the living room. The only problem is that it will switch to football in the middle of a soppy chick flick that your girl is watching if you come in, raise a beer can and say 'offside'. Mind you, if you watch premier league, and she sniffs and waves a hankie because she's got a cold, this could just switch back, too.
Lots of entertainment value there...
* No chance to get an erotic movie by bouncing up and down on your sofa and moaning, then...
Voice recognition and gestures? On a TV?
Kinect is a clever bit of kit, but, whilst it's great for playing a certain type of game, navigating through menus and options is a complete pain, using a controller to to do the same thing is far easier.
Voice recognition? How many people have used it other than when they get their new phone, just to see if it works? Not many... for a couple of reasons... no matter how good it is, it's not perfect and you look a tit doing it.
Is it really easier to change to BBC1 by telling everyone in the room to be quiet and then clearly saying "TV.. Channel.. BBC1"? I bet I can press 101 on the remote quicker.
Got a sore throat? Broken arm? Stuck on the same channel for the night then!
Finally... put your fancy TV next to one of Samsungs latest OLED screens and tell punters it's worth a grand more because you can talk to it, and the majority will just look at the picture and laugh at you... unless Apple have somehow managed to develop a screen that looks better?
My HDMI Mac Mini is linked to a 42in Philips LCD, all my TV viewing are the programmes and films I want to watch downloaded via Bittorrent, in Hong Kong I don't even have a ariel connected to the TV.
If Apple made a bigger monitor than current 27in at a cheaper price point - think Dell - they'd be on to a winner - I'm sure they can up the size easily to 32in and 37in and next gen. Mac Mini should have decent graphics capability, so a win win.
In the UK, currently utilise a iMac with TV USB, usually still download a lot, utilise iPlayer/TV Catch-up and watch some actual live TV - basically I watch what I want and already have good storage via 3T externals.
Apples plan, if it has one is to sell a high quality TV iOS enabled and keep all punters in its heavily walled ecosystem - can't wait till its jailbroken.
Whilst i like Apple products - they work and look pretty due to Mr. Ive, I've never been one for iTunes or anything thing else that costs me coin on top of hardware cost.
Hence, why bother, a Mac Mini connected to a high resolution screen is ideal and you can also add TV via a USB add on.
I certainly will not invest in one as much prefer the iMac/ Mac Mini combo, also will get a iPad3 when available and can watch TV/ content off that.
Still, if the thought of paying £2000 for a large iMac that's not actually a computer appeals to you, great, me, I've got better things to do with that amount of cash.
Your not interested in buying something unless you get all your content for free.
And who pays for all this stuff you consume for free then, the magic pixies?
Still I'm glad you do all your work for free, you must have a very good heritage, what with you working for free and your parents working for free, otherwise how on earth did your mummy and daddy buy you your shiney toys?
Can we call it something other than iTV please? Since one of the biggest (probably the biggest) commercial TV channels in the UK is called ITV. There is very little chance of them giving up their name in the uk to accomodate Apple and its new televisual contraption, and watching ITV on your iTv will just get very complicated.
What's wrong with, oh, i dont know... the Apple TV.
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