[programminggeek]

I think the reason the Apple TV isn't as disruptive or genius is that I don't believe that Steve Jobs watches much if any TV. He is a busy man running a Fortune 500 company. Do you think he spends a bunch of free time on his couch watching TV?

Apple products are great in part because Steve Jobs and other executives use them and so they make sure they are top tier.

Apple TV is a "hobby" because the people signing off on them don't have the same deep understanding of the TV watching experience that they do the phone experience or the desktop/laptop computer experience.

For example, for the longest time the Apple TV was where you could watch YouTube and movies you download from Apple. No DVD drive, no Netflix, no Hulu, no DVR, no game console. YouTube and iTunes purchases. That is not what a couch potato would design.

A couch potato would design something like a cross between the current Apple TV and the Wii or something. Streaming content + downloadable music/movies + casual games all running iOS. Make the Apple TV interface with the iPod Touch, iPhone, or Wiimote and you're basically there.

Again, if Steve Jobs were a TV junkie this might seem obvious to him, but I don't think he is so it probably isn't going to happen.

[padmanabhan01]

The idea that a ~350 Billion dollar company runs on the hunches of a single man might sound interesting, but it just can not be true. And again, the idea that Steve Jobs can not understand what constitutes a good TV, just because he is not a TV junkie doesn't sound convincing to me. If it is a 100 Billion dollar market and if it is something a majority use even for a few hours a day and if improving that can make their daily life even 3% better, they are going to go for it.

[jonknee]

Steve Jobs is not the average CEO. He's famous for micromanaging and very directly being responsible for new products. It doesn't sound too far fetched to me.

[padmanabhan01]

Yes, but I dont think it would be too hard for him to understand what a good TV should be, even if he is not a TV junkie himself.

[Timothee]

A couch potato would design something like a cross between the current Apple TV and the Wii or something. Streaming content + downloadable music/movies + casual games all running iOS. Make the Apple TV interface with the iPod Touch, iPhone, or Wiimote and you're basically there.

Note that Apple is going that way with AirPlay Mirroring. As a reminder, AirPlay Mirroring allows you to wirelessly use the AppleTV as a second display for any app that supports it. (and it's very easy for a developer to support) In particular, that includes games (see Real Racing HD for example). Though it will only work with the iPad2 at first, this has a lot of potential.

I'm not sure that this would be the ideal way to get into people's living-rooms (they would still need to buy an AppleTV on top of an iPad), but it's pretty close to what you're describing.

[krmmalik]

In his 1997 WWDC Keynote, Steve said that he likes to create products that he would want to use.

Even if he doesnt have time to watch TV, or isnt a couch potato, he will surely be interested in creating a TV that he would want to use.

I deliberately placed the word "use" here, because Apple is intent on creating highly interactive and/or immersive devices.

Apple is sure to use its learned experience from the success of the iPhone, iPad and Macbook to bring something revolutionary to the largest mainstay screen in our homes.

[henryaym]

TV is also a technology that EVERYONE uses, much like a computer now. An Apple TV has the potential to get the Apple brand into MANY MANY more households. A successful Apple TV will do what the ipod did for apple, (or the iphone for that matter). If they do it right. (which is an oxymoron)

[reecepacheco]

my issue with your point here is that i think you're stuck with the concept of what a TV is now, when Apple has the potential to completely redefine the concept of what a "TV" is or should be...

"Smart TV's" have the potential to cannibalize some of the PC market, as all of our data moves to the cloud and all we need is a good interface to compute...

Apple didn't make a tablet, they made an iPad. they won't make a TV, they'll make an iTV and differentiate themselves entirely.

[reecepacheco]

also, i think Jobs will tackle TV just because it is so challenging.

he wants to put a dent in the universe... what better way than revolutionizing TV/computing?

[reecepacheco]

also, i think Jobs will tackle TV just because it is so challenging.

he wants to put a dent in the universe... what better way than revolutionizing TV?