There is a rumor that Apple is developing a networked HDTV.
Yesterday I spent a couple of hours here at the office with Valleywag’s most cherished and adored tech celebrity, Jason Calacanis. Love him or hate him, the bloke’s got contacts, and he confirmed to me that he knew first-hand that Apple was working on a networked television.
These LCD HDTVs will be fully networked, with the ability to stream all your iTunes content from your Mac or PC. In fact, Calacanis told me they’ll function like a standard TV with an Apple TV box, only without the need for the box.
Source: cnet uk
HDTV technology varies greatly. Will this be a plasma or an LCD HDTV? Choosing the right panel for each person depends on a lot of factors. I prefer having more options.
Imagine a Vizio panel in an Apple labeled HDTV? Will there be panels from different brands or will people be stuck choosing an inferior brand panel? The idea says one thing to me: Ouch. For the brand of Apple at least.
So given all of that I doubt they will do this.
Here’s what I would propose:
There needs to be industry standard support for some sort of module to go in every TV sort of like the CableCard. Let people choose their own HDTV panel. Then the television manufacturers should allow companies like Tivo, Apple, or SlingMedia to tap right into the TV without the need for a set-top device. Come together and agree on an industry standard port. Tivo, Apple TV or a SlingBox functionality would be nice to have integrated right into the TV via a module/card.
How about some sort of blank slate module that you can put software on from the companies and do a combination of functions? A board with an SSD that can have an Apple, Google or Microsoft OS loaded to control the UI and the core then have Tivo, SlingBox and other add-ons expand functionality.
Tech companies should avoid proprietary technology more. Of course they don’t want to but it is in there economic best interest to do so. Open is the way of the future. Ask Google.
Let Apple, Goolge, Microsoft, Tivo or some other companies control the TV’s UI and add more features. Most TVs have awful menus and features. Give us some alternatives. Hardware manufacturers should stick to the hardware and leave the software to people who know software.
I can’t imagine anything better than combining my two favorite gadgets: my Vizio tv and my Apple computer. I don’t know about you but that would be pretty fantastic combo!
It would be a good combo.
I would like for people to choose their own TV and then add on Apple or other brand features instead of the other way around. If Apple makes the TV you won’t have a choice on what size , quality, or make of the TV. They will choose one and mass produce them in maybe two sizes.