[cbutter]

I have been thinking a lot lately about all of the technology that apple has announced that isn't even available and what it has to do with this new digital hub device that is due out any time now.

Now this is complete conjecture but I'd like to propose that Apple has plans for a set top box of sorts. Not just a Tivo but a piece of hardware that will allow viewing of streaming video from the internet. To be more specific, from, lets say, xServe. xServe is never going to be able to compete in the enterprise market. So why not market it to budding young professionals who want to stream video to whoever has one of these devices. This is revolutionary. This could change the way people watch television. Not only would it give viewers more choice but it would put the power of content creation in the hands of the poeple, not the networks.

Ok, so at first there will be a lot of crap but small production companies will want to get in on creating their own channels and selling advertising without the FCC looking over their shoulders.

If Apple gives us a Tivo on steroids it will obviously run on QT 6 with Mpeg 4 compression. This technology will allow us to stream dish quality video to whoever will tune in.

I really think that this will be big for the entertainment industry and seems like the next step in Apple's evolution for video. They have already made non-linear video editing available to the masses now we need a way to share our creations. For the budding entrepeneur it will be a way to capitalize on the entertainment industry, a way to break in where it has taken corporations millions of dollars to succeed.

cbutter

[SupahCoolX]

Sounds like a pretty good idea. Almost like public access TV in the form of internet radio (streamed content from personal computers). There could be plenty of marketing opportunities, too (like "share your iMovies with the world!").

However, I don't know how feasible this would actually be for Apple. It would be a huge risk trying to get some kind of market for such a device (and it would need time for people to come up with video to stream).

Sounds good, but it may need another few years before it's really possible.

[cbutter]

This device will be made. If not by Apple then by someone else. There has been talk of a set top box by the entertainment industry since Apple developed Pippin, but I think that a standard has to be set. Maybe Apple will be the Betamax of set top boxes. Maybe they will learn from past mistakes and will do it better than anyone else. Sony had to set the standard with the VCR but JVC came out with a more affordable device that caught on. Sony got greedy with money for licenses, JVC wanted less money for the license. Hopefully Apple won't make the same mistake.

Specs:
Think Tivo with Ethernet
Records your Favorite Programs
Share Episodes with your friends
Watch streaming video off a server

Reasons this device could work:

1) Innovative maybe revolutionary
2) People like to watch TV
3) TV watching is changing with digital TV
Apple may set the bar with this new device. There is already a means to create content with Apple software and hardware there needs to be a consumer "viewer" that everyone can use like a VCR. Everyone knows how to use a VCR. VCR penetration is something like 93%. Maybe Apple can win this war with personal devices or at least give Sony a run for its money.

-chupa

[jwblase]

Check the forums just before the original iPod came out. This was the major idea, other than a PDA. Look at some of the ideas fostered there (I think the lounge was a major speculation place there.)

Just keeping the past in mind for the future.

I could actually see something like a set top box, but it's connected to your mac via FireWire. The signal would stream from the internet to your mac, and from your mac to your settop.

Perhaps instead of Firewire, it would have Airport II (wireless video, anybody!)

I don't think it would be a WebTV type device. Apple wants to promote Mac OS X, not a scaled down settop OS.

Remember, the Mac is the HUB for everything... the center of the wheel.

All we need now is a few more spokes.

JB

<small>[ 05-31-2002, 03:50 PM: Message edited by: jwblase ]</small>

[nana2]

I thought Lord Steve didn't believe in TV?