“Apple Computers [sic] has unveiled a device which will stream music and video wirelessly between televisions and computers,” The BBC reports.
“The plug-in hardware is due to be released early next year and has been given the temporary name of iTV,” The Beeb reports.
“Deals have been done with Pixar, Touchstone, Miramax and also Disney – where Apple’s chief executive Steve Jobs is also a director,” The Beeb reports.
The Beeb asks, “How do you feel about this new service? Is broadband helping Apple to compete with the big cable TV companies and DSL providers?”
Tell the BBC your views here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Stoo” for the heads up.]
Related articles:
Three markets that are different today after Apple’s ‘It’s Showtime’ event – September 13, 2006
Cramer: Apple’s ‘iTV’ all about ease-of-use; Apple shares are going higher – September 13, 2006
Apple + Living Room = Logical Marriage + Boon for Stockholders – September 13, 2006
The Register: Apple event more like ‘No Show’ than ‘Showtime’ – September 13, 2006
The Telegraph: Steve Jobs’ genius making people desire gadgets for which they have absolutely no use – September 13, 2006
The Guardian: Steve Jobs needs ‘a charisma download, Apple risks being left behind’ – September 13, 2006
Mark Cuban: Things that are special about Apple’s announcements – September 13, 2006
Apple’s ‘iTV’ strategy – September 13, 2006
How will Apple’s ‘iTV’ work? – September 13, 2006
The Observer’s iPod FUD: Apple iPod is ‘wilting away before our eyes’ – September 10, 2006
Apple eyes living room market with device codenamed ‘iTV’ – September 12, 2006
Analyst: Apple ‘s iTunes+iPod+iTV model ‘the gold standard for the digital home of the future’ – September 12, 2006
Analyst: Apple ‘s iTunes+iPod+iTV ‘will be hard for other players to match’ – September 12, 2006
Apple gives sneak peek of ‘iTV’ set-top box to debut Q1 2007 (with images) – September 12, 2006
Apple’s QuickTime stream of Steve Jobs special event now live – September 12, 2006
NFL and Apple team up to offer 2006 NFL game highlights via iTunes Store – September 12, 2006
Mac4lfe: The point is not to buy dvd’s and rip it to your computer and then watch it. The point is to buy it through itunes and watch.
Yes I agree with that, the problem is for us here in the UK who will not be able to do that for TV programmes. I completely understand that the iTunes movie store is for the purpose of buying and watching – that’s a given when it comes to movies as opposed to TV programmes.
Don’t forget you can buy a CD and rip it into iTunes, there is no reason as far as I know why that won’t be the same for movies. Maybe I am wrong, either way I won’t really know until the UK iTMS movie store opens for business sometime next year so I can try that out.
Thinking iTunes downloaded movies and iTV really aren’t that great, BTW, does not mean ‘not getting it’.
It possibly means that we really do get it, but forgot to drink our kool aid / dimmadome farms milk before the announcement.
iTV = airport express video
If you want DVR capability, get a Mini and hook it up to your HDTV (you wouldn’t need a Mini and an iTV… it’s one or the other).
The delay in releasing the iTV is to make it 802.11n compatible. Apple wants to make sure it is compatible with the final n specifications, due out 1st Q ’07.
The question is why the demonstration showed HD content streaming to the iTV when iTunes movies are standard TV resolution. Was Steve streaming from a blue-ray equiped Mac?
Not sure if the capability is there but if like a normal CD with iTunes you could import your DVD’s then you would have a major idea for a media organizer. All you need is lots of hard drive space to store the countless DVD’s that most people have. This would displace the DVD player in the living room.
If iTV will play ripped DVDs then it might be useful, otherwise I don’t see the point. But to do that, I’d need to buy a huge external drive to hold my entire DVD collection. 7.5 GB per DVD x 50 disks = large drive. Then I’ve got to rip all the DVDs = many hours.
So basically, I’m suppose to spend $299 on iTV, and spend another $299 on a hard drive, and spend countless hours ripping my DVD collection? As cool as it sounds to have instant access to all my DVDs, I think it’s too expensive and too time consuming. Sorry Apple. I’ll have to take a pass on this one.
Friend A: “Yes, you should check it out.”
The subtext being
i : I have it on DVD, but I don’t trust you to give it back. You should check it out.
ii : I don’t have it, I saw it at the cinema/at Friend C’s house. You shoould check it out.
iii: I’d lend you my copy, but, well, it’s complicated. I have a copy that I can watch, but you can’t watch it, cause, ah jeez, it’s complicated. This iTV thing though, Wow ! Maked things so much easier.
Even if you could rip all your DVDs to a server. What value is there in it ?
As has been said, it’s a lot of drive space, plus there’s the iTV itself to buy.
Now it would be nice to watch slideshows, photos and home movies wirelessly, but is it worth the money ? To me no, to others, yes, which means iTV is a good thing.
I have nothing against the device, or what it can and cannot do, or people buying it. I just don’t think it’s a big market, just like LCD photo frames don’t sell and UMD movies for PSPs didn’t sell.
But if it’s primarily to watch movies, then I think people are making a mistake, and being ripped off (which is their choice, of course). Just because someone is happy to be ripped off doesn’t mean they aren’t getting ripped off and being stuck by The Man.
If it’s primarily about BUYING movies (renting is another thing – credit TwenyBensons for that thought), then honestly, I think DVDs are a much medium.
I should confess that I buy movies online, on DVD, and I’m happy to be ripped off a little, because though it’s more expensive than Blockbusters, it’s not THAT much more expensive for older movies, and it’s a lot more convenient having the postman deliver them than being tied to rental times and late return penalties.
I won’t buy the first revision but probably a later one.
Apple is now officially a consumer electronics company, including computers, that also sells software.
Dirk
All I have to buy is the iTV. I already have the computer, the movies, the pictures and the music. My laptop has a 150gb hard drive and each movie I rip is about 2gb so do the math.
At some point someone will make a simple home server to store all my media and I will just stick in a closet and forget about it while everything will be streamed wirelessly around my house including signals to the iTV.
Most of you will want one once you go to your friends house and see it in action.