AppleTV Has a Lot of Catching Up to Do
Remember back in September of 2006 when I said that Apple's (AAPL) new iDongle (i.e. AppleTV) would fail because, among other things, it didn't have a DVR?
Well it looks like that might be changing shortly. AppleInsider has published a report saying that in a series of Apple patent fillings published this week, Apple has quietly been working on their own DVR technology. The patent filing details with diagrams how their new DVR might work.
In my opinion AppleTV has a long way to go to catch up with Microsoft (MSFT) and their Media Center/Media Center Extender strategy. But adding a DVR to AppleTV would definitely represent a positive step forward for their product.
Even with a DVR built into AppleTV though, Apple would still have lots of work to do. While some people (myself included) are very happy with OTA HDTV broadcasts (read: free HDTV where you can skip commercials), many people these days still want a device that can record HDTV from cable or satellite. While CableCARD Media Center PCs are still relatively new for Microsoft and their hardware partners, they have at least navigated the early maze with CableLabs to build these sorts of devices. I'm not sure that Apple has really done much here or that these patents show any considerable effort towards anything other than a straight OTA DVR.
Apple has an amazing brand name. Building the right set top box could be done and using their name in the marketing with the right product would give them a lot of momentum. But today's AppleTV, the iDongle, is not the right product. And at this point they still have a lot of catching up to do.
Because of this, their AppleTV strategy thus far has largely failed. Just like Thomas Hawk said it would back in 2006. Why would I buy an AppleTV which has no DVR, no DVD player, and no kick ass gaming platform when I could just buy an XBox 360 for the same price that does have a DVR (through Media Center), that does have a DVD player, that can do pretty much anything AppleTV can do, plus comes with a kick ass gaming platform?
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This article has 17 comments:
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Steve B.
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1 Comment
Mar 14 02:47 AMWhy do you need a DVD if you are downloading movies directly from the source? You do realize that Blu-Ray players are $400 a pop right now?
On demand from your couch at your convenience. DVD format wars and expected BluRay price gouging are driving people toward an Internet solution. Sony got it wrong .. again.
Apple will use the power or their distribution channel (iTunes) and portable media player integration (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPod) to make Apple TV more compelling. Is it a must have. Nope. But it will make them money until they figure out a way to improve the device. I expect a touch pad controller for Apple TV with swipe, page, pinch whose affects will appear on your TV set. Safari browser. iChat.
Afterall, isn't the Apple TV an electronic Internet device running Mac OS X Lite?
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User 163676
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1 Comment
Mar 14 04:35 AMApple TV is setting the future. Forget any format of DVD in 5-10 years, Blue Ray is just another product to become obsolete when everything is on demand HD video via the internet.
This will also break the cable companies cartel with their 200 channels of useless programming when you pay for what you want, when you want it.
Apple TV is a computer connected to the TV. Everything people use a computer for today can be formatted for the TV - shopping, email, video, communication, games etc. Stay tuned...
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peter02l
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125 Comments
Mar 14 04:50 AM-
Danthemason
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13 Comments
Mar 14 05:32 AM-
Jon T
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330 Comments
Mar 14 05:37 AMIS THIS GUY FOR REAL?
Microsoft's strategy - in place for years - is precisely nowhere. That statement says all I need to know about the quality of Thomas Hawk's 'analysis'.
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fauxscot
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9 Comments
Mar 14 07:02 AMDoes Tommy have a little pituitary problem that prevents him from attaining adulthood?
Gaming?
Honestly, as someone who doesn't watch TVs, DVDs, or shoot aliens, this quibbling about gadget feature sets for the quasi-sentient among us escapes me. I'll just go by the 'units shipped' number and see what happens to my Apple stock, thanks.
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Rob L
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40 Comments
Mar 14 08:01 AM-
digivision
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164 Comments
My Website
Mar 14 08:56 AMthe current AppleTV is not perfect but Apple is doing the right things .. quietly, they will eventually change this game as well ..
one update at the time
I personally couldn't care less about DVR capabilities a few features I'd like to see :
a built in sat. receiver with Apple offering satellite content
(hint buy freaking dish network) or even better come up with your own
and most important incorporate a technology like the sling media where you can stream tv programming to your iPhone or laptop
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digivision
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164 Comments
My Website
Mar 14 08:57 AM-
Mark_G
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1 Comment
Mar 14 09:36 AMThe other minor gripe is that I would like to be able to bin the my movie library on my host macbook to free up some disk space without losing the movies on the macTV. Yes, I knowI could play with moving my library to an external drive etc but thats a cumbersome boring fiddle
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Richard_K
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1 Comment
Mar 14 10:04 AM-
User 163771
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1 Comment
Mar 14 10:18 AM-
Davewrite
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18 Comments
Mar 14 11:10 AM-
AdamC
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18 Comments
Mar 14 10:26 PMI am 5 years backward looking and this is what i saw AppleTV will be like the iPod, all your movies in 1 device.
Who needs DVD or Blu-ray?
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lrd
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13 Comments
Mar 15 03:16 PM-
peter02l
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125 Comments
Mar 18 02:40 PMIn fact, just imagine for a moment if Apple should make a deal with Nintendo to produce a less expensive version of WII to connect to AppleTV!
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turleymuller
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92 Comments
My Website
Mar 18 06:03 PM