[Zoom]

I posted this over a year ago, in anticipation of a new digital lifestyle device. I never got any feedback on it, but maybe its time has come.

I've updated this a bit from the original post ...

I think Apple is due for a set-top box for the home entertainment center. You can say all you want about using your desktop Mac for this, but most people don't keep their Macs right next to their home entertainment center. The only possible solution for the average person would be Airport Extreme connectivity, but this still presumes that you have some sort of Apple-branded device to receive the signal.

Here's my vision of such a device.

PVR

Table stakes - it has to have a big hard drive and perform PVR functions. Apple should have invented the TiVo, but now that it's out, it should do it better. Again, since most people don't have their Macs by their TV, this needs to be a standalone device that can record programs off a common analog A/V input format (coax, S-Video, component). It should have a built-in cable TV tuner and some way to pull up local programming guides. Finally, it would have an elegant RF remote control and big flourescent display in case you don't have the TV on (LCDs can't be read across the room).

archiving

The unit comes with a built-in optical drive capable of burning to VCD or DVD format. It even lets you export shows (complete with commmercials, to satisfy the content providers) to iDVD or iMovie or whatever, so you can archive shows or space shift them. It would make every show a chapter, give them all nice title screens, make the DVD menu for you, you name it.

"satellite" units

I would like to see smaller, simpler units that you can put anywhere in the house that talk to the mother ship (main unit) via AirPort Extreme. You can then watch anything off the main PVR on any other TV in the house. These units would have no hard drive, just a receiver and decoder. They should be able to watch any recorded program (ie, not just mirror whatever the main unit is showing).

iPod base

Nice as the iPod is, and even with the cradle, it's still not a home entertainment center solution. I would like to see this set-top box have a built-in iPod slot (the entire iPod slides in). The device would control the iPod via the front panel and remote control. The box would run some "embedded" version of iTunes, complete with visuals and on-screen track info.

iTV

Given the new iTunes model, who would pay $1 a show for past episodes of TV shows (we're talking Simpons to Sullivan, Ed to Mr Ed, ER to Marcus Welby, PowerPuff to Bugs & Daffy,everything)?? I certainly would, if they were commercial-free. I'd LOVE to be able to burn a DVD of my favorite Simpsons, Star Trek, Muppet Show, whatever. The content people would have to love this. All of a sudden, all their old shows are available - they don't have to win some syndication deal. They could sell entire seasons at a discount (similar to selling entire albums on iTunes). They could also do movies. This would be true video/TV on demand, all streamed over the internet in MPEG4 format.

radio

Throw in an FM/AM radio, too, which integrates with iTunes internet radio. That would be cheap. Make sure the radio is digital-ready, too, so you can get the cool info.

web browsing

I'm not sure how useful this would be, but with a LAN connection and video out to your TV, you may as well have some rudimentary web browsing capability - at least iTMS and iTVMS. Weather, news, etc would be good.

multi-directional streaming

You should be able to stream content to/from any local Mac and even over the internet. I want to be able to log in to this device from anywhere in the world, manage my timers, manage the shows (eg, delete a show to make room), and stream small versions of any contained show to any QuickTime computer anywhere.

the kitchen sink

Voicemail. Why not? Give the thing a phone jack, which people could use to download TV guide info if they don't have a 'net connection, and let this device give you caller ID and answer the phone for you. Then I could browse my messages with a remote control, save the ones I wanted, delete others, see who called and when, and hell, maybe even call them back using a speakerphone. And to make this feature just way too cool, have it email you or instant message you when you get voicemails at home, then let you hear them from anywhere. Maybe this is a new .Mac function.

Configurations

- base model: CD-RW drive, 120GB hard drive: $500
- deluxe model: SuperDrive, 200GB hard drive: $800
- satellite unit: $300 (or $200 with purchase of main unit)

[LeeG]

Wow. I would LOVE such a thing. It had nevered occurred to me that you could sell tv shows as one-offs, but they are PERFECT on demand things - $1 per viewer. Not bad, and a continuing revenue stream. Even the short lived shows. Apple could do this beautifully. Conquer the TV studios. TiVO is my favorite toy ever - but an Apple-fied version of tivo, with on-demand tv for purchase, might be best human invention, ever.

Originally posted by Zoom:


Here's my vision of such a device.

PVR

Table stakes - it has to have a big hard drive and perform PVR functions.

Reasonable to have PVR functions - agreed necessary. I wouldn't go crazy with fluorescent displays - doesn't seem very apple - they will want a flashy on-screen display.

archiving

The unit comes with a built-in optical drive capable of burning to VCD or DVD format. It even lets you export shows (complete with commmercials, to satisfy the content providers) to iDVD or iMovie or whatever, so you can archive shows or space shift them. It would make every show a chapter, give them all nice title screens, make the DVD menu for you, you name it.

"satellite" units

I would like to see smaller, simpler units that you can put anywhere in the house that talk to the mother ship (main unit) via AirPort Extreme. You can then watch anything off the main PVR on any other TV in the house. These units would have no hard drive, just a receiver and decoder. They should be able to watch any recorded program (ie, not just mirror whatever the main unit is showing).

Satellites are overkill for NOW, let the whole concept catch on - apple can't go too overboard, make it seem EASY first - 1 box-1 tv. Then use the satellite as a built-in feature upgrade soon after release.

iPod base

Nice as the iPod is, and even with the cradle, it's still not a home entertainment center solution. I would like to see this set-top box have a built-in iPod slot (the entire iPod slides in). The device would control the iPod via the front panel and remote control. The box would run some "embedded" version of iTunes, complete with visuals and on-screen track info.

Ooh, as nice as this would be, I think Apple would get SLAMMED by the media for such a proprietary interface, though it would work best, and there are a LOT of ipods out there. If they did it, make it an unobtrusive slot of some kind that doesn't look empty if you decide NOT to use an iPod.

iTV

Given the new iTunes model, who would pay $1 a show for past episodes of TV shows (we're talking Simpons to Sullivan, Ed to Mr Ed, ER to Marcus Welby, PowerPuff to Bugs & Daffy,everything)?? I certainly would, if they were commercial-free. I'd LOVE to be able to burn a DVD of my favorite Simpsons, Star Trek, Muppet Show, whatever. The content people would have to love this. All of a sudden, all their old shows are available - they don't have to win some syndication deal. They could sell entire seasons at a discount (similar to selling entire albums on iTunes). They could also do movies. This would be true video/TV on demand, all streamed over the internet in MPEG4 format.

radio

Throw in an FM/AM radio, too, which integrates with iTunes internet radio. That would be cheap. Make sure the radio is digital-ready, too, so you can get the cool info.

web browsing

I'm not sure how useful this would be, but with a LAN connection and video out to your TV, you may as well have some rudimentary web browsing capability - at least iTMS and iTVMS. Weather, news, etc would be good.

OK, the TV thing is awesome, and a huge undertaking ALONE. The rest is getting GREEDY. I think the idea of webbrowsing is not good, iTMS or other internet enable apps sounds fine. If they could accomplish the first one, it would be a crazy DLD.

multi-directional streaming

You should be able to stream content to/from any local Mac and even over the internet. I want to be able to log in to this device from anywhere in the world, manage my timers, manage the shows (eg, delete a show to make room), and stream small versions of any contained show to any QuickTime computer anywhere.

the kitchen sink

Voicemail. Why not? Give the thing a phone jack, which people could use to download TV guide info if they don't have a 'net connection, and let this device give you caller ID and answer the phone for you. Then I could browse my messages with a remote control, save the ones I wanted, delete others, see who called and when, and hell, maybe even call them back using a speakerphone. And to make this feature just way too cool, have it email you or instant message you when you get voicemails at home, then let you hear them from anywhere. Maybe this is a new .Mac function.

WAYYYY too much. KISS. Add things as the platform matures, but bidirectional streaming? Most of the public doesn't even know what downloading really is. A little too geek for primetime.

Configurations

- base model: CD-RW drive, 120GB hard drive: $500
- deluxe model: SuperDrive, 200GB hard drive: $800
- satellite unit: $300 (or $200 with purchase of main unit)

Can I give you my VISA now??

L

[Zoom]

I was really just exploring the possibilities of such a device. Certainly the first version of this DLD could have only a subset of these features. These are the things I could envision from such a device, to paint a picture of the potential it has.

For RevA, I would be happy with basic PVR functions and the optical drive, though I'd love to have the iPod dock, too. They could put a little spring-loaded cover on it like old-style indash cassette players used to have so it wouldn't look like a big hole in the face.

I'm sticking to the flourescent display (like the Squeezebox but prettier). You can't read LCDs from across the room, and I don't want to have my TV on just to listen to music (so, on-screen display is out).

[tooki]

Well, we did get AirTunes! (Active discussion of it in the Networking forum.)

tooki