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Oct 13, 08 - 01:19 pm Comment from: binarypackrat

Ummm... I really don't bite on this one.

Oct 13, 08 - 01:23 pm Comment from: Willie G

sounds more like a blogger's wishful thinking than anything.

Steve Jobs will want the Apple logo on the most visible and important component in the den -- the HDTV display. This is a no-brainer folks. I expect models with a built-in tuner. Some wil have a built-in AppleTV, other product-line may not.

Oct 13, 08 - 01:34 pm Comment from: John Gee

It would make sense that they may have considered this direction before, but opted to sell just the box to widen the appeal. Now, the time might be right for the full display...but the price has to be right enough for people.

Oct 13, 08 - 01:49 pm Comment from: Cascadians

TV goes all-digital in Feb 2009. Great time for Apple to re-invent the TV. Give us something so astounding that we'll all buy it immediately and cancel our cable subscriptions. It has to have DVR and blow all other gaming devices completely out of the water.

This doesn't make a lot of sense to me. First, where is the added value in it? Sure, it would save a little space and eliminate a couple of cables. But what else would be market-shifting about it? Second,in terms of expected shelf life, the two devices are too far apart for most consumers. If I purchase an HDTV, I would expect it to service my needs for a relatively long time (say, 10 years). My expectations for an Apple TV box, however, would more in keeping with my expectations for a computer (1 year at the cutting edge, 2-3 more years of performance behind the curve, and ready to upgraded by year 4). By putting the two together, Apple will be putting out an expensive HDTV that is pretty much assured of being technologically obsolete in a year or two. Who's willing to pay a premium for that?

Nope. Consumer HDTVs are too cutthroat a market for Apple. Margins are too slim. The AppleTV model is the way to go.

But I must say, the AppleTV is in need of a serious hard drive upgrade.

Like Prince says, showing off the AppleTV potential in places like Best Buy and Circuit City would be a great idea.

But trying to sell TVs is about as lucrative as selling printers. Unless Apple owns some spectacular display tech that no one else can use for about five years.

Oct 13, 08 - 01:59 pm Comment from: iSteve

This would make a great "one more thing" on Tuesday

Why not make it a display that the Apple TV can be docked into. Put the tuner in the same case as the Apple TV, and allow people to apply those $40 government coupons toward it.

Oct 13, 08 - 02:01 pm Comment from: Macromancer

This makes sense from the standpoint that what Apple is really in search of is a way to be the gateway for all programming to run to the tv. Once they control that, then they control everything.

Oct 13, 08 - 02:03 pm Comment from: Spark

It makes perfect sense for Apple as they expand from beyond a computer company to a consumer electronics company. Done right, there is no reason that Apple couldn't carve out a niche in the high end specialty market. I would at least consider a television that built all TV functionality into a single unit.

"Yes, but what does the Wawa "Sandwich Man" say?"

Credible sources sometimes disguise themselves as homeless and mentally imbalanced. Jason can always spot real from fake.

Sandwich Man whispered his news then slowly sniffed the entire length of each finger, then his own. Then, he poured two jars of grape jelly into his underwear while yodeling the third chapter of Portnoy's Complaint pronouncing all of the t's as v's. Clever girl.

"Once they control that, then they control everything."

Even NATO? What about Hugo Chávez? He's a pistol.

How long can Apple keep a AppleTV up to date via software? 10 years??? 10 years ago we got the iMac G3 266, what will happen to at build in AppleTV = totally outdated even inside a full HD TV

AppleTV = really dumb idea

Mac sitting beside HDTV with really big disk, DVR capability and Blu-Ray = really good idea

Oct 13, 08 - 02:28 pm Comment from: MikeK

Not a chance.

Anyone who understands business model will understand why.

Oct 13, 08 - 02:34 pm Comment from: TanZing

If it does happen I doubt very much that it'll match the picture quality of my Pioneer Kuro.

That's the only thing that will make me bite.

Who wants to carry in a giant HDTV into an Apple Store for when the remote stops working? Believe me, people will do it.

Apple really needs to look at what happening over at HULU.com and the Netflix ROKU box. Hulu Netflix have tons a cool current programming for either free (Hulu ad based) or free (with Netflix subscription). I have my G5 hooked up to my 52in LCD and it looks good. In these economic times, I've stopped buying TV shows and movies. I have BluRay with Netflix. Occasionally rent something off TV, but that about it. Yes, none this is HD. But for nearly free who cares. Looks "good enough" for the masses (reference Windows joke here)

"Consumer HDTVs are too cutthroat a market for Apple. Margins are too slim."

Well, margins in desktop PCs and handheld music players are pretty slim too, but Apple's been able to charge a premium for their quality.

I think an Apple HDTV is a long shot, but I wouldn't rule it out entirely.

-jcr

Sounds cool to me. I can watch digital cable, then when I get bored of that i can hit the appletv button on remote, then I have access to all the content from apple. And if their is a built-in isight on top of screen I can video conference with family right from the couch.

No extra cables to run. No problems with hdcp.

Sounds awesome.

Apple hdtv sounds like a no brainer.

Oct 13, 08 - 03:45 pm Comment from: BC Kelly

Am I only one appearing to be Banished from Kingdom at moment ?

MDN not letting me post for some reason

This place has rules ?

Oct 13, 08 - 03:46 pm Comment from: BC Kelly

ok, but not letting me in the Apple Stock Story from Friday with any length, maybe my 'thing' is too long ?

Oct 13, 08 - 03:49 pm Comment from: January 24, 1984

I'd like to see a Total Apple Solution to the AV stack. Receiver, music/image/video server, 60" flat panel, IPTV, media reader. Fully programmable, fully upgradeable.

And a flying car, too.

Maybe a flying, submersible car.

If it's called Apple TV, then it got to be at least a TV set.

Oct 13, 08 - 04:03 pm Comment from: Mr. Reeee

This makes no sense.


Beef up TV; add HDMI, add Faroudja upsampling circuitry to the DVD drive. Make it more of a Mac mini, capable of web surfing, emailing, connecting to your home network, etc..

Apple really doesn't need to try to compete against a bunch of bottom-feeders.

Oct 13, 08 - 04:39 pm Comment from: TowerTone

This idea is stupid. Money wise and marketing wise.
I want more functionality from my TV, and Nintendo to add High Def.
People would be like "What's that?"
And I'm like "Wii Blue-ray, hooked-up with my Mac's hard drive".
Wait...

Oct 13, 08 - 05:18 pm Comment from: Mac Daddy

Considering the less-than-stellar sales of an Apple TV box at a few hundred bucks, I seriously doubt they'd try to sell it as an actual TV set for a thousand or more. This is just nerdly wishful thinking. Steve's due for a "one more thing" (it's been a while since he pulled one) but this ain't gonna be it IMHO.

Oct 13, 08 - 06:09 pm Comment from: iWill

Apple TV finally becomes what it was always meant to be: a TV.

Oct 13, 08 - 10:52 pm Comment from: Cubert

Maybe wirelessly.

Hmmm.....

Oct 13, 08 - 11:02 pm Comment from: Cubert

Apple would never resort to this cludge as described in the article.

Hence my post above.

In my opinion Apple should make two choices in the Appletv side,one its continue to produce the tv until everyone gets money to buy Apple HDTV and then replace the Tv that everyone has.