roughlydrafted.com — Steve Jobs described the iTV as Apple's entry into the living room, as if it were a strategic move in a larger game plan. But with several wireless TV extenders already on the market, why will Apple's be any different? Here's why - Daniel Eran, RoughlyDrafted Magazine
Sep 30, 2006 View in Crawl 4
nrightonSep 30, 2006
I have always owned an Apple from the original Performa days but at $299.00 what does the iTV do (play streamed music, pictures, movies) that my Xbox 360 doesn't do ( other than play rights restricted, lower than DVD quality, 2+ hours to download movies?). And the 360 is a killer HD game system. I will probably spend the 200 bucks on the HD DVD player for my 360 rather than clunk down 300 for the iTV ( as it stands right now), and keep computing away on my Powerbook.
Closed AccountSep 30, 2006
In the interest of fair play, and because this article is one of the most one-sided things I've ever read (it reads like an Apple-produced marketing brochure), I would very much like for someone to write an article titled "Why Apple Will Not Change TV". Then, we can honestly and fairly compare and contrast the points and the logic. Thank you.
ronaldstSep 30, 2006
TiVO changed TV as we know it.iTV is just another implementation of past failed projects. Apple could probably the first one to get a success out of this concept (computer stuff streamed to TV.) XBox360 has it but it's stuck on Media Center. People who have Home and Pro need to fork out extra $$$ or wait for Vista. Which puts a huge handicap on the success of that feature of the XBox360.The other thing: DiVX. Most of my stuff I want to stream to an eventual "iTV" won't come from Apple's store or Apple apps. Will we be able to steam WMV and DiVX stuff to it? iTunes tries to convert WMA files to another format to use it. I hope this won't be the case with the iTV.
daedalus790Sep 30, 2006
The final name of the product isn't going to be iTV, it's just a working name. At least that's what Jobs said in the keynote when he introduced it.
irelandOct 1, 2006
"But if the iTV is within say, the $500 or less range with HDTV compatibility and no forced subscription fee (just optional pay-per-view, but plenty of free content), I'll buy one."Buy away, cause Apple has already said that it will retail for $299.
danieleranOct 1, 2006Submitter
I'm sorry your reading comprehension isn't very good, but I would like to point out that "Led Zeppelin" is a band named after an expression equivalent to "lead balloon," in other words, something that would be impossible to fly.The exploding airship pictured with the Zune logo is the Hindenburg, a bad idea that failed spectacularly (the Nazis used hydrogen because they didn't have access to helium - the US cut them off). It's therefore a fitting bit of artwork used to illustrate an article pointing out the imminent failure of the Zune. Glad I could help educate you.
terraxOct 1, 2006
Good list. A device like this would be very, very expensive and difficult to mass market.
monkeybutlerOct 1, 2006
This is the problem with Apple bias. The $299 XBox currently does what the unreleased iTV does. Yet there they go declaring the XBox doesnt do it right but the iTV will work perfectly just because it has an Apple tag on it.
consonanceOct 1, 2006
@danieleranThank you for alerting me to that. I was so frustrated by your article that I was unable to even think straight, so I forgot all about the Hindenburg. The Led Zeppelin album cover is the most iconic rendering of that event.I find it a bit disappointing that your only refutation to my argument is a misplaced graphical reference. Am I wrong in any way, or do I point out valid criticisms?Also, I am unable to deduce why the Zune will be an imminent failure. Perhaps you could educate me on that, too. I think it's a bit premature, judging by the Digg reaction, to say that the Zune will fail so badly.
tilneysOct 1, 2006
Don't be put off by those who live on pro-Microsoft spin and can't bear to see something similar on behalf of Apple. For the doubters, my guess is they will look back on these articles in time and wonder why they weren't on board too.Keep up the great work. - A grateful Apple user that will no doubt be running i / AirTV in the new year.
h3xleyOct 1, 2006
www.duggmirror.com
simonbpOct 2, 2006
You can already get one of these in the form of modded Xbox running Xbox Media Center. The ability to have it run python scripts allow it to integrate well with sites like Lauch, YouTube, and Google video. There's even a MythTV frontend for it called XBMCMythtv.Now I know that Xbox modding is not for everyone, and will obviously never be as mainstream as this device, but I *really* love my modded Xbox. I think this iTV will be a big hit, as long as it connects well with other devices and steers clear of too much DRM