Munster: AppleTV Ready For Its Close-Up

If Apple conditions access to the internet through a closed subscription service, it will be damaging itself. Already you can access the internet through Playstation using your existing cable provider; you can play HULU and other video sites. I don't see how Apple would be competitive by limiting options that are offered on other platforms which reach the internet. Its too late to have a closed system model.

I can tell you that the war that seems to have been lost for web content has yet to be fought. Rupert Murdoch and just about anyone with a stake in the distribution of information is trying to figure out how to make a buck and limit access. We'll see.

I wonder if Apple has an act three in them? After what they did with music, then what they've done with smartphones.. could they do it with television? They say that the AppleTV is a hobby, but what if they get serious?

If they were to offer a simple solution to easily watch whatever whenever anyone wanted, with access to games, entertainment and various third party apps, web browsing and email, plus say, video chat with friends and family directly from your sofa? All controlled with an iPod touch, iPhone or a dedicated touch device? That would be worth the price of admission.

Exactly how does opening up the ATV to 3rd party developers help the platform? Do you really think it's an app platform? It's a CONTENT platform. Making more content available (via DVR‚ web and expanded media content) will spur adoption. "Opening up the platform"‚ as uninformed pundits are so fond of advising Apple to do‚ will only create another ecosystem for them to manage. There's major upside for an app platform‚ not for the Apple TV.

Here's my take.

Everyone hates their cable provider - Cablevision is the worst, in my opinion.

I'd would love to cancel my bloated and expensive cable TV plan....and just keep the broadband connection. 90% of the stations I never use.

For the past few years, I've been using the AppleTV and purchased several for close friends. All of them love it, but have never heard of the product beforehand.

I'd love to see Apple with a cable lineup, where I can subscribe by station or show.

My TIVO 3 is getting dated. The GUI is now not suitable for all the branches in the menu. Most cable DVR's are junk.
The cable industry offering is ripe for change, much like mobile phones a few years back....

If the next generation offers DVR and apps, I'll be there.

From a device standpoint, Apple products certainly will benefit as the three-screens converge, but I agree, in order to really take advantage of their inherent design advantages they will have to find a way to pump more content through their system.

AppleTV is dead!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Apple has revolutionized the music industry and now the phone industry. TV content and distribution is more difficult as there is an entrenched system, whereas the other two were more fluid and rapidly changing. While it is true that TV is also changing , on demand, Internet access, etc. , there are many technological and social hurdles. Apple can chip away, even as it takes bold steps. Others like Microsoft via Windows will do the same. Open Internet standards folk will push from that side. Also there are the cable and satellite operators. It will take a while to sort itself out. But over time it means ever more choices and content for all us, and we should be grateful for that.

Mac Mini + Plex =

a development environment for applications, similar to the iPhone. Not only should the device be opened up to developers, but to the many streams of video content that populate the Web. If it’s on the Web, it should be available on your TV set, via AppleTV, pure and simple. And the people who will bring those services to your TV? Third party software developers.