Sales of the Apple TV “ hobby ” intersection may have skip over three clip last year over the previous year , but Apple has a new harvest of rivalry to contend with if it go for to ever graduate the Apple TV to the great league . Let ’s take a look back at where the Apple TV has been , and where it needs to go .
Then
Steve Jobs announced the 40 GB Apple TV alongside young iPod at one of its mechanical press event on September 12 , 2006 ( yes , it ’s really been that long ) . Since then , it has experienced one memory growth , two major software upgrades , and backing for a fistful of young media source such as YouTube , HD renting and purchases from iTunes Store , photo gallery from MobileMe and Flickr , and access to the iTunes Store ’s podcast directory .
The core purpose of the Apple TV , however , has remained the same since its first appearance : it ’s an “ iPod for your TV , ” anchored — for expert and worse — to iTunes . Its round-eyed end is to make it easier to bridge the spread between your computer and your living elbow room TV . If your iTunes library bechance to be lowly than the original 40 GB or current 160 GB model , the Apple TV can indeed represent as a faithful iPod for your TV . But if you just go on to watch a muckle of video on your TV , and your iTunes library has ballooned in size over the class , you probably have had to act the “ what should I sync ” game of iTunes melodious chair on more than one occasion . That , or you call for to leave the computer with your iTunes content on for streaming all the prison term .
Now
Last week , Google announced Google TV , an Apple - TV - like box that will essentially be everything the Apple TV is not . alternatively of being tie primarily to one central store for mainstream content , Google TV merge the vane and traditional television . you may look for a show , and Google TV expose a list of collaborator services where it can be found , such as Hulu , Amazon , and Netflix . Since Google TV work Android , the company ’s mobile O rival to iPhone OS , Google enjoin that Android applications and Flash game will work on on Google TV as well . Like Apple TV , you will be able to buy a small stage set - top box once Google releases Google TV , but Google also forged partnership to get its Google TV package built right into some TV ; no extra hardware necessary .
Other hardware - agnostic competition has risen to give the Apple TV a run for its money . Netflix , for instance , has emerged almost undisputed as the B. B. King of Internet - extradite video subscription supplier . Over the last two years , the caller has forged partnerships to get its service onto everything from ( previously ) no - name contraption like the Roku , to select DVD and Blu - ray of light players , and even to play consoles like the Playstation 3 , Xbox 360 , and Nintendo Wii . Netflix ’s proffer is clear : why buy telecasting that you ’ll believably only keep an eye on once or twice , as well as a consecrated bent - top box , when you may bless up for a down - cost subscription and watch out as much video recording as you want on a twist you already own or were probably going to buy anyway ? ( We ’ll put away the fact that Netflix is still in the DVD / Blu - ray renting business enterprise and that its Watch Instantly selection is only a fraction of what it volunteer on physical media . )
Even Hulu is rumour to launch a subscription plan for its divine service . The jury is still out on which devices this Hulu subscription would be usable ( such as desktop Web internet browser , iPad , and others ) , but it could reportedly cost as little as $ 10 per month .
Soon
If Apple want to delay competitive in the quickly evolving culture medium space , specially when it comes to mainstream contentedness and selling gadgets , it ’s run to have to adapt — soon — or peril retiring the Apple television to the archives alongside the Pippin , Newton , and the G4 Cube . consider how much of a post Apple has in the iTunes Store and its ties to the iPhone , iPod , and iPad , though , Apple surely wo n’t let itself get beat at the media game without a combat .
We have already seen hints at how Apple could be plan a metamorphsis for the Apple TV , and perhaps all of its media - rich products and even the iTunes Store itself , in recent reports and acquisitions . In December 2009 , Apple buy Lala , a euphony - rain cats and dogs inauguration that let users salt away their libraries on its server and rain buckets their music and playlists from any computer ( Lala even had an iPhone app waitress in App Store commendation limbo ) . in the beginning this twelvemonth , it was also discovered thatApple broke ground on a new datum centerin North Carolina . Translated : Apple acquired a company specialize in media - streaming technology , then started study on a reportedly “ monumental ” young data center — that ca n’t all be just to hosttutorial videos .
On Friday , technical school siteEngadgetstirred the anxious Apple TV pot by saying it had received information about a major upgrade to the machine ’s computer hardware and how it works with the iTunes Store . In a nutshell , Engadget says the next Apple TV could be more of an “ iPad for your goggle box , ” sporting a comparatively small amount of flash store , backup for 1080p video , and running on iPhone OS 4.0 — essentially becoming a pour hub for your iTunes Store content store in the cloud .
But Apple is speedily approaching a crossroads of the media and gadget industries . While rival such as Netflix are enjoying success with cyclosis and subscription modeling for desktop information processing system and living room consoles , the iTunes Store got its devote - per - item name by let customers download and enjoy their subject matter anywhere , with or without an Internet connection , on a kind of desktop , laptop computer , and portable machine .
Let ’s set aside Engadget ’s tip ( it is just an unsourced rumor at this point ) , and rather scrutinize the industry ’s tea leaf leaves . It is becoming abundantly clear that a dim-witted computer storage upgrade to the Apple TV will not engorge the fresh media consumer . In an eld where video has become king , Apple ask to pave a unequalled highway ahead from these carrefour for its media services and devices , and especially the Apple TV .
Not everyone wants the province of managing media or playlists , permit alone maintaining strict hard drive backups for the inevitable showery daylight . For the increasing number of consumer who want something even uncomplicated than iTunes , Apple need to introduce a cyclosis option into the figural fabric of its iTunes and gadget ecosystem — start the store , find something you need , chatter to start listening or watching . Of course , The subscription plans that Apple has reportedly been pitch to studios could could work in tandem for simplifying the iTunes experience .
This way , Apple could enable customers with the selection to buy an all - access offer to stream or download their media for offline viewing , or stick with a current - only subscription for always - link up devices like the Apple telecasting . This is a option that more consumers are demanding with Netflix subscriptions , and the market has opened up enough for Google to finally pounce . It ’s looking like 2010 may be the twelvemonth that Apple is forced to either go pro with its Apple TV hobby or give ear up its gloves .
