This is how it's going to play out:<p>1. Updated Apple TV launches<p>2. Tech pundits and gadget blog commentators pan it because of limited content deals but most likely not living up to some pie in the sky ideal<p>3. Apple TV sells well<p>4. Apple keeps iterating on product adding new content as they get more leverage<p>5. Console gaming gets accidentally disrupted because they don't take the threat seriously and "it's just Angry Birds on your TV, not the good games like Call of Duty"<p>6. Installed base gets too large for Activision (and other large game studios) to ignore and launches Call of Duty on Apple TV<p>7. Another leg on the stool for Apple
Our Apple TV is the main way we watch TV, but frankly the channel options are a bit bizarre, and half of the interesting ones require a cable contract. It'd be nice if they put a stake in the ground for ESPN, Disney, HBO Go, etc and didn't require a cable subscription. Seems like such a backwards model.
Welp, time to start figuring out a business to build around the Apple TV. Should have started that a while back, but I was waiting for a sign they are moving.<p>This is the equivalent to a highly telegraphed right hook from a boxer - that also happens to be heading directly for an opponent dazed, on the ropes.<p>Sweeeeeeet.
"We’re led to believe that the game integration will utilize existing iPads, iPhones, and iPod touches as controllers"<p>This wouldn't come as a surprise, but using a buttonless handheld touchscreen as a controller would be a terrible interface for gaming on a tv.
This lines up will with what I wrote about a month ago. Everyone's focus is on the Xbox One and Playstation 4, but the real challenger in the console space is an upgraded Apple TV (and other emerging products).<p><a href="http://goldfirestudios.com/blog/121/Why-the-Xbox-One-and-PS4-Aren%27t-the-Future" rel="nofollow">http://goldfirestudios.com/blog/121/Why-the-Xbox-One-and-PS4...</a>
I just spend $1300 on a MacBook Air, but if the part about integrating with digital cable is true it looks like Apple will be getting even more of my money. As a blind person the apple TV is the only accessible set top box. The ability to actually have an accessible TV guide would be worth a couple hundred dollars to me especially if there was some kind of DVR functionality.
I really hope they merge it with airports, it's always nice to have one-less-device. I hope they put a ton of storage in it as well so it can be used for time machine and not have to always stream the movies I buy.<p>The gaming is also a really exciting possibility, iOS has an amazing gaming ecosystem and I miss it a lot when I'm playing stuff on my kindle and phone.<p>The only thing I'm not enthusiastic about is it will still be too locked down to replace my media pc.
<i>Now</i> I get it. I'm hundred percent sure that Apple TV integrates iBeacon powered mobile payments. How else do we pay for the on-demand content on TV? Just scan your fingerprint and there you go. Maybe even buy an advertised product that you see on TV, just like that.<p>"This channel requires subscription, please verify your payment with your iDevice, thank you." Fantastic.
Nice, this is very much a space about to get crazy. We started the process of keeping a journal of what we actually watch/use in our current satellite subscription and it was pretty revealing. Easily 80% of everything was available elsewhere in a more useful format.
I have 2 Apple TV devices and have loved the product in general. { Disclaimer - I am far from being an apple fan boy }<p>Couple of things that require fixes.<p>- Content:
Frankly the current content is pretty lame. ABC has a sheepish presence catering to its prime TV shows. ESPN seems to use this as a vehicle for ESPN3.<p>- Itunes:
I had such a bad experience with itunes movie rentals over the weekend. Utterly bad streaming/buffering experience. Unacceptable.<p>- Radio:
Come on .... Do you know they have internet radio support?<p>-Keyboard:
Searching is such a pain. Try using the search on the youtube app.<p>- Remote:
The remote interferes with your Bluetooth receiver on your mac book.<p>- lack of local storage
I think that the Apple TV is best <i>misunderstood</i> product that Apple makes (and perhaps it's misunderstood, and sometimes frustrating, because it's dependent on another device - your TV).
Hopefully that means better software support. The newest update has a bug with video playback after using iTunes Radio, video plays "through" the UI and no way for me to downgrade.