Apple's iTV device - time to sue?
Discussion
BBC said:
Technology giants Google and Apple are in discussions over video content for the computer firm's recently announced iTV device, say reports.
US magazine Newsweek reports that Google is talking to Apple about supplying video clips for the player.
The iTV device lets users watch video content stored on their desktop PC on their home TVs.
Google's consumer product chief, Marissa Mayer, told Newsweek that the two companies are "engaged in talks".
The iTV device is a video streaming player which uses wireless technology to play video on a TV.
The product is Apple's attempt to bridge the gap between the PC and television.
Mainstream market
While a host of other devices are already on the market with similar capabilities, none has managed to succeed in the mainstream market.
Microsoft's Xbox 360 console acts as a "media extender" when used in conjunction with a PC running Windows Media Center Edition or Vista, the firm's forthcoming operating system.
It offers all of the announced features of the planned iTV box and can also stream live TV programming, if the PC being used is equipped with a TV tuner card.
But there are no official figures on how many of the estimated 16 million Media Center edition owners use an Xbox 360 in this fashion.
"Everyone who's tried this before has failed," said Apple boss Steve Jobs during the unveiling of the iTV device.
Couldn't the British ITV sue them over the use of the name? since it's TV based system just like our own ITV.
Plotloss said:
Its movie content I thought.
No, the main announcement was about the iTunes store serving movies. but Steve Jobs previewed this new device that acts as a hardware bridge between TV and computer. At first glance it would seem to be a wireless version of other bridges, such as Elgato's EyeTV. But Apple clearly think this wil be huge for them, as they NEVER preview hardware.
Plotloss said:
Already a fairly buoyant market, with a lot of players, unlike Apple to move into a market unless their box has a killer USP
If you go to the QuickTime presentation:
http://events.apple.com.edgesuite.net
the iTV bit starts at about 52' and lasts 13'. If you have the time, it's worth watching (and a piece at the end gives an interesting insight into Apple's strategy at the moment)
It:
- Looks suspiciously like a 1" baseplate for a Mac Mini
- Hooks up with cables (HDMI, Composite video) to your TV/HiFi
- Links to your computer (Ethernet or wireless)
- Lets you access your iTunes material (movies, TV shows, music) and iPhoto (slideshows with soundtrack)
- Links, through your computer, to the iTunes Store
- Presents it all on your TV screen
- Has a funky navigation menu, utilising all the features you see on your computer (e.g. you see the album/DVD covers rolling across the screen)
- Is operated by a small remote, the size on an iPod Mini
- Will cost $299
- Is available Q1 2007
I'm not up on all these TV-computer interface systems, but as I understand it it presents all the Home Entertainment packages that you have on the computer (Mac & PC) on your TV screen. What it doesn't do is take TV stuff and present it to your computer (ie act as a video recorder). And it does it in a typically lush, easy-to-understand Apple style.
Whilst it looks gorgeous, I don't know whether it offers functionality not already available. Now if it acted as a recorder as well (whether for time shift, or for editing in iMovie for archive), it would be a no-brainer for me - maybe that's the next 'slab'?
Yeah, identical to the Pinnacle ShowCenter [sic], Kiss MP, DLink Media Adaptor etc etc.
If its small, good looking and has a funky interface I can see it going down well with Mac Mini owners and perhaps Mac owners in general.
MP3 players existed before the iPod but that became king. I think we are just going to have to wait and see the effect of the Jobs magic dust.
If its small, good looking and has a funky interface I can see it going down well with Mac Mini owners and perhaps Mac owners in general.
MP3 players existed before the iPod but that became king. I think we are just going to have to wait and see the effect of the Jobs magic dust.
Plotloss said:
MP3 players existed before the iPod but that became king. I think we are just going to have to wait and see the effect of the Jobs magic dust.
Apple gave everyone easy access to loads of songs, no geekiness or skyware beating required and all for only 79pence. There are cheaper mp3s out there but itunes is so easy to use
mcflurry said:
Plotloss said:
MP3 players existed before the iPod but that became king. I think we are just going to have to wait and see the effect of the Jobs magic dust.
Apple gave everyone easy access to loads of songs, no geekiness or skyware beating required and all for only 79pence. There are cheaper mp3s out there but itunes is so easy to use
iPod was king before the music download service though.
Plotloss said:
Yeah, identical to the Pinnacle ShowCenter [sic], Kiss MP, DLink Media Adaptor etc etc.
If its small, good looking and has a funky interface I can see it going down well with Mac Mini owners and perhaps Mac owners in general.
MP3 players existed before the iPod but that became king. I think we are just going to have to wait and see the effect of the Jobs magic dust.
If its small, good looking and has a funky interface I can see it going down well with Mac Mini owners and perhaps Mac owners in general.
MP3 players existed before the iPod but that became king. I think we are just going to have to wait and see the effect of the Jobs magic dust.
It works with itunes on the mac or the pc so it will probably be the winner solely due to it being the best publicised one.
Plotloss said:
Yeah, identical to the Pinnacle ShowCenter [sic], Kiss MP, DLink Media Adaptor etc etc.
Has anybody tried using any of these players?
I looked into one of the earlier Pinnacle players although at that time they didn't offer a wireless option. I think that version required some server software running on the PC in order to stream the content. My memory fails me, but I think you also had to convert all of the movies, too.
Is there a media player which would play from an NAS, in the same way as I believe Sonus would for music? One which requires no server software?
rsvmilly said:
Has anybody tried using any of these players?
I use a Neuston Media Streamer - which is the same hardware and similar software. I stream (HD) content to my projector from my PowerMac. I got the Neuston (over the Elgato EyeHome) as it worked on both Mac and PC and offered more varied outputs. It streams MPEG 1/2, DiVX, X-Vid and more really well. Like all these devices the interface is fairly primitive as is it basically a web browser.
The Apple device will offer a far more advanced interface, but other than that appears similar. The Apple device is also likely to get much more support and handle more codecs. Development of the Neuston firmware seems to have all but dried up.
fergus said:
Numpty q: Is there a way to transfer data from a sky+ box (is this MP4?) to the iPod Video? thanks (hope this isn't a thread hijack?)
There is no way to transfer data from a Sky+ box to anything. It's all encrypted. The only way would be to play the video ouput into a digitiser...
robbieduncan said:
fergus said:
Numpty q: Is there a way to transfer data from a sky+ box (is this MP4?) to the iPod Video? thanks (hope this isn't a thread hijack?)
There is no way to transfer data from a Sky+ box to anything. It's all encrypted. The only way would be to play the video ouput into a digitiser...
Of course, that would be piracy.
arrrr....
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