Consumers will probably like this, geeks probably won't.<p>The current model is x86 based (1 GHz or so, single core, something like a Celeron M) and runs a stripped down version of OS X. It's a bit underpowered, but with some work loading things it can run standard OS X apps. QuickTime can handle the same codecs used on OS X.
With the current model, the more powerful but more costly Mac Mini is an alternative.<p>As described, the new model has a much less powerful and Mac-binary incompatible CPU, but it will use MUCH less energy and can handle h.264 playback with hardware decoding. That'll pretty much rule out adding codecs for those XViD .AVI videos many have laying around. Lack of an Intel CPU lowers cost significantly. It seems it could run app store stuff except for the input device hmmm.... maybe it should have a touch screen? Add video out somehow to an iPod touch?<p>Apple so far has stayed clear of directly supporting off-air or cable-tv PVR functionality. The USB tuners from Elgato Systems work well ("Eye-TV"), but with a Core 2 Duo it would take a dedicated hardware compressor to shrink archives down to h.264 etc at a decent quality level and in a reasonable amount of time.<p>Locked down like an iPad/iPod touch/iPhone, much of the geek appeal would be gone. The thought of a browser without ad-blocking alone is a big deal to some.
(perhaps someone can fine a clear way to do some ad-blocking in a router with open-source firmware?)<p>Hopefully whatever Apple does will allow access to plenty of tv content that isn't costly. DRM issues (and poor support of video that people already have) could be a negative.<p>It'll probably have (DRMed) HDMI output but no VGA or DVI. Or maybe Apple will prove us all wrong and do something really surprising?
Wait a second, if it's going to have apps, what is the controller going to be like?<p>My guess: iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad is going to learn a new trick.
Imagine a driving game where the controller is your iPhone (accelerometer and gyroscope for control) the screen can be used to control gear, and watch stats.
If this is going to be true, the new Apple TV will seriously be something unique!
The app bit makes it clear this is set to be a direct competitor to Google's Android based TV solution.<p>Also interesting to move it to iOS4, the first previously OSX device to move to iOS? A sign of things to come?
Coincidentally, the Apple TV device came up in random office discussion yesterday, and general concensus was that it should have been called iTv. Maybe Apple has secretly bought my company?