Journal

Apple’s missing link

  • Posted on: October 12, 2005
  • In: Apple
  • Comments closed

{title}No real surprises with Apple's latest product releases. A video iPod, an updated iTunes (selling video no less) and an updated iMac (featuring integrated iSight). Perhaps the most interesting product in all of this is the iMac's new Remote and the application called Front Row.

Front row seems to be a TV friendly application for browsing your media (photos, DVD's, movies etc) with the previously mentioned remote. All good so far.

{title}But Apple seem to be under the assumption that people will watch films on their computer. True, some people will. Most people won't however. No matter how much 'cool' you throw our way Steve, an iMac is not a telly. Yet.

For years I think Apple have missed a vital component in the iMac - a TV tuner, or now built in digital free view. This technology already exists as a third party peripheral, it really isn't too much bother to include it. Then your average student would have it all - TV, DVD player and computer now sporting a rather convenient remote. The trouble is, Apple haven't done that and we're left with a big gap in the march to convergence.

That gap is a something that has been doing the rumor rounds this week. A video Airport Express.

If Apple were to release this (and put a digital tuner in the iMac), it won't really be a surprise to me, but coupled with Apple's marketing savvy and the success of the iPod, it has the power change the way people watch TV.

So, Apple, here's what you need to do:

  • Get some deals struck with movie studios and distributors
  • Sort out any DRM issues
  • Make the new Remote work with the new video Airport Express
  • Release the video Airport Express
  • Oh and add a digital tuner to the iMac
  • In fact, why not add a half a terabyte hard drive to the video Airport Express and call it something like 'iHome' (yes, I know there were fake images of this circulating a while ago).

I have an Airport Express and it's already changed the way my wife and I listen to music. We don't use CD's anymore. We save space by not having oodles of jewel cases everywhere. My wife and I have different playlists for different things etc. It's all good. So, imagine what would happen if Apple were to do all of this. We could have quick access to all our digital photos for when the Parents-In-law come round, we could also download the latest film to watch (if, like us you live nowhere near a video store, this kind of thing would be a Godsend). This list goes on and on.

Mind you, if you were to ask my wife, she would say 'why do we need that?'.

Good point.

Comments

Actually, I think the next step forward would be a set-top box (like a mini) with HD output and optical audio, the Front Row interface, lots of hard drive (Xserve RAID?), and a TV tuner. There you have it--perfect media center!

Kevin Marsh's Gravatar

Kevin Marsh
Thu 13th Oct 2005
at 3:47 am

Does this mean that another input device that you have to consider when designing interfaces has arrived?

Along with the “Nintendo Revolution controller”:http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000077059062/ the apple remote heralds a genre of input devices that have characteristics quite different to design for.

My son now has the dilemma of what to save for.

a PSP
an Xbox 360
or THE ipod (as they are naming it)

He’ll need to get a few more paper rounds to stump up for all that equipment!

Kev Mears's Gravatar

Kev Mears
Thu 13th Oct 2005
at 6:20 am

Indeed, a TV tuner would be nice.

One thing I loved about the presentation was the comparison between the Apple remote (6 buttons) and the Windows Media Center remote (40+). “That’s what Apple is all about”, Jobs said.. and I think he’s absolutely right.

What disappointed me is the resolution of the downloaded shows. 320x240? I thought this was supposed to be ‘the year of HD’, Steve? Even the video stream of his presentation was in a higher resolution.

When I’m moving out of my parents’ nest I really can see me buying an iMac+TV Tuner instead of a TV. Now if Apple would release a nice DVR-like add-on (be it built-in or a small, Apple-like device). I don’t care much for Windows Media Center (and neither does the rest of the world, or so it seems), but an iTunes-like way of watching tv and managing recorded programs sounds great. Given that Jobs explicitely mentioned the Microsoft media platform when introducing FrontRow, I don’t think this can be too far away. (Unless he wants us to buy every program trough ITMS, even though I’ve already paid for my cable.)

For the Belgian readers: wouldn’t it be great if this was integrated with the Telenet Digital Platform (sucky as they may be)?

Lode's Gravatar

Lode
Thu 13th Oct 2005
at 7:58 am

Kev - You’re absolutely right, TV is a very different environment to design for, but we are going to see those boundries continue to blur if you believe all the convergence hype.

Personally I don’t see it as too much of a problem. As a designer you should familiarise yourself with the technology of the media you are designing for and also how the product will be used.

Lode - I think you’re right, this kind of this isn’t too far off from a hardware point of view. What is lacking is the infrastructure (such as iTunes Store and all of the associated DRM issues). It’ll come, but not for a year or so.

Mark Boulton's Gravatar

Mark Boulton
Thu 13th Oct 2005
at 9:00 am

Mac have seemed a bit slow on the uptake of this - MCE from microsoft has been around since 2001. The latest version is very good - provided your prepared to curse and swear loads to get it working.  So why haven’t Apple made a product to compete with MS. Then they really would change the way we do home entertainment.

Tim's Gravatar

Tim
Thu 13th Oct 2005
at 2:39 pm

For me, Apple needs to be supplying the video content in HD - especially considering LOST is so easily downloaded via P2P in what passes for HD in the States, also minus ad breaks!

When that happens, I’d use it.

I would desperately love Apple to release a media streamer that could wirelessly couple to a TV, PC, Projector and Audio System - allowing you to choose what got sent where using wireless tech and a single simple remote!

Steve Williams's Gravatar

Steve Williams
Thu 13th Oct 2005
at 3:53 pm

Another good article, Mark - thank you - but all this focus on Apple is starting to concern me, even though it may be justified. 

Internet TV and related entertainment seems to be ending up in the hands of one company with few other players on the scene.  Yes, there is competition (Archos, Orb, etc. are heading in the same direction, I believe), but they need to step up a gear.  Your article tells Apple what they need to do, but I’d also like to see others listen to your advice.

As much as I love Apple for their uniqueness and progress in this area, I don’t think anyone wants to see another IT monopoly.

Vodstock's Gravatar

Vodstock
Fri 14th Oct 2005
at 6:05 am

At least in Europe, there is a problem about integrating a TV tuner, it is called TV licence.

If Apple decided to put one in every iMac, it would mean that in theory every iMac owner would have to pay it even if they don’t use the TV.
This is why I think the TV will stay an option and right now Apple is probably happy to have others doing it.

In Finland, the licence is 200?/year, and in the UK I believe it is 120? (then again BBC is nice), a lot to ask from people on top of the price of the machine.

matgorb's Gravatar

matgorb
Sat 15th Oct 2005
at 7:49 pm

i haven’t watched TV in eight years, and i don’t want a TV tuner in my Mac for the same reason i don’t want a radio in my iPod.

some guy's Gravatar

some guy
Sun 16th Oct 2005
at 3:15 am

Do you think Apple’s stocks will go up as a result of the video upgrades they are making?

With Interest's Gravatar

With Interest
Tue 18th Oct 2005
at 10:57 am

I think so, at least for the short term. Not sure if that will be a direct result of the video iPod’s though. I think it will probably be more to do with the Apple’s general market strength at the moment just continuing to rise.

Mark Boulton's Gravatar

Mark Boulton
Tue 18th Oct 2005
at 11:02 am

I think Aperture is the next big thing myself:
http://www.apple.com/aperture

Will be saving my penny’s for this, looks really, really nice. Take the time to listen to the profiles too:
http://www.apple.com/aperture/profiles/?kluetmeier

Graham Sanders's Gravatar

Graham Sanders
Fri 21st Oct 2005
at 2:57 pm

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A picture of Mark BoultonI'm a graphic designer from near Cardiff in the UK. I've been a designer for over ten years now and primarily work on the web. I'm still partial to a bit of print every now and then though. I used to work for Agency.com in London as an Art Director before working as a Senior Designer for the BBC in sunny Cardiff. This was all before I took leave of my senses and formed my own design consultancy, Mark Boulton Design Ltd.

I've got a thing about grids and typography and occasionally ramble on about them to anyone who will listen.

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