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Wow! Thanks for the insight, Mr. Obvious Analyst.

Mar 14, 08 - 12:03 pm Comment from: iDon't

Will it have a porn blocker?

He's just guessing based on the patent filings.
Notice how Wu always does that after the rumor sites have done the work to uncover the patents.
Anyone can speculate like this, big deal!

Mar 14, 08 - 12:04 pm Comment from: TowerTone

Since TV and iPhone are ports driven by software, there is no reason that we should have to wait for the 3rd or 4th generation for it to becomes a DVR (plug this into the USB)
http://www.elgato.com/elgato/na/mainmenu/products/hybrid/product1.en.html
or that the iPhone couldn't use Wi-Fi for remote control.

I think....

Hope Apple doesn't need subscription model for scheduling with iTunes providing rentals and paid for content to their possible DVR. This could be a Tivo killer if it has a cable-card slot.

I've got a dumb question . . .

Can USB 2.0 transmit the data required for Blu-Ray fast enough for it to work flawlessly? I would expect that it can, but I guess I haven't seen (or looked for) any Blu-Ray USB drives. Maybe they do exist . . .

One thing Apple needs to avoid is releasing a completely different version of Apple TV. Part of the experience of this product should be that you can buy it and not have it become obsolete in a year because of software updates.

That's one of the things that sets it apart from other consumer electronic devices.

Bring it on!

Blu-Ray + OTA DVR = immediate purchase

Blu-Ray + iTunes-only DVR = might purchase

Mar 14, 08 - 12:26 pm Comment from: ChrissyOne

I'll buy one if they do. Not before.

Don't hold your breath for Blu-Ray in AppleTV, not unless the price of Blu-Ray drives comes down dramatically. It's not like AppleTV even has a drive in it now.

Perhaps there would be a high-end version of AppleTV, but Blu-Ray itself costs more than AppleTV does in its entirety.

Mar 14, 08 - 12:28 pm Comment from: Mr. Reeee

THAT would be a KILLER box!

MidWest Mac...
That's NOT a stupid question, it's questionable if USB 2 can RELIABLY stream Blu-Ray video. It's really designed for keyboards and mice, NOT large file transfers.

Hey Apple, add FireWire to TV!

Mar 14, 08 - 12:42 pm Comment from: Spark

I watched Blu-ray "Blade Runner" last night. It's never looked so good.

Tell Apple what you want to see in next AppleTV. I did.
http://www.apple.com/feedback/appletv.html

Mar 14, 08 - 12:50 pm Comment from: Mac4lfe

I think Apple is positioning themselves to provide content for the Apple TV just in case the movie studios continue to screw themselves and keep being slow to provide movies for iTunes.

This isn't going to happen, so don't get your hopes up. Including a DVR in the Apple TV would kill iTunes sales, so it makes absolutely no sense for Apple to ever do it. Wu is talking out his ass on this one.

I think a Blu-Ray (or any) drive in the Apple TV is unlikely - especially with the way they are positioning themselves with rentals and possible dvr.

This may wind up to be a killer product. My major criticism of AppleTV as it was initially launched was that it doesn't replace anything, and it can't do anything on its own. They fixed a lot of that with the version 2 software update, but if they really want the device to sell, they need to allow it to do something for consumers with their vast collection of DVDs. A Blueray reader would presumably be able to read DVDs, and would open up a huge market -- anyone looking to replace their current DVD would also consider an AppleTV.

From the patent filings, it seems like the Apple engineers are experimenting with a lot of variations. If even half make it to the end product, we're looking at a dream machine.

@G-man & Macmind: Shaw Wu's a pretty good analyst. He reports for the industry, which means many investors don't know what's going on in the rumor mills and chat rooms and websites like MDN. So he filters it in, checks sources, evaluates and translates. Yeah, it's old news to many of us, but that doesn't make him Mr. Obvious or a bad analyst. I'd say he's one of the better analysts for the industry.

MidWest Mac, even if they put a Blueray reader in there, I doubt it would have burn capabilities (i.e., read only drive, no RW functionality), and you probably won't be able to port to your Mac or PC except via WiFi. That's my educated guess, anyway.

In six months this guy will turn around and state that Apple disappoints because they're late delivering his prediction...and the stock will then drop.

The analysts that are jokes, like this one, seem to exist only to provide large portfolio managers the fodder to manipulate Apple stock.

Wu is spreading the news. Different site, different audience.

NBC can either sell shows through iTunes or Apple can include the DVR into Apple TV and people will record network shows for free.
This patent is a heads up to the major networks that if you don't want to sell shows through iTunes, we'll give people the ability to record them for mobility purposes and for free.
it's proof that Apple has put serious time into a DVR concept.

I'd love to see DVR capability added to tv.

For all of those who constantly say tv is a replacement for cable or satellite without DVR functionality, you are sadly mistaken.

The option to only purchase episodes or season passes would only be financially beneficial to individuals who watch a small number of television shows. What you are overlooking is that the vast majority of households have additional family members who watch THEIR favorite shows in addition to yours.

With a family of 4, I have no fewer than 20 season passes set on my Tivo -- some must see series and some filler content in case I'm in the mood to watch an old episode of an old sitcom. And you still need cable or satellite to pick up sports, cable news, etc.

Sorry, no bluray over usb (at least for prerecorded commercial media). Studios will only allow digital playback between HDCP equipped players and receivers/monitors, which requires hardware enabled DVI or HDMI connections.

Mar 14, 08 - 03:00 pm Comment from: Anonymous©

Intuitively, a DVR hurts iTunes sales, but the DVR is primarily for tv shows. And, if you don't start recording a tv series from the start, you still have to go to iTunes to buy the missing episodes.

Second, AppleTV Take 2 has evolved from moving your media from your computer to a movie rental service. As a movie rental service, there's much less cannibalisation, since your DVR is mostly for tv shows.

Third, I agree that having a new AppleTV is going to take away some of the benefit of the notion that AppleTV will be updateable over 2 years. However, I see any update using that USB port. If you add a BluRay ROM, it will be a sliver, just like the MBA optical drive, and it will fit right on top of your ATV, and plug into the USB port. That way, the ATV will not be obsoleted.

Fourth, I see these patent filings as bargaining leverage with the TV networks like NBC. NBC pulled its programming, right? Well, Apple has been holding its guns by not putting DVR capability in its ATV. Now, Apple threatens to put in DVR capability, by publishing a few patents, and hopefully NBC sees the light and comes back.

I can't believe how old fashioned you guys are. OTA TV is dieing. Jobs sees that. I haven't watched an OTA broadcast since the Oscars. I get all of my TV from websites that stream their content over the net. ABC.com, NBC.com, FOX.com, Discovery.com, ComedyCentral.com. Look them up. I then plug my Macbook into my TV and I'm good to go. I watch 30 seconds of commercials for every 20 min of programming. You can't even skip through the commercials that fast with a TiVo.

What I want to see from the ?TV is a way to stream free content (live and recorded) from the networks directly. Only then will I buy one.

Forget OTA and Cable/Sat. They are dead to me.