Apple TV Just Might Become More Than A “Hobby”
The Apple rumor mill, long the abode of the mythical, has a new story. Steve Jobs has long called Apple TV a “hobby”. However, Ars Technica reports that they are reportedly working on a major update for the device. They also report that the OS could be based on the iPhone’s iOS. This would be great news for those that use the device. I, for one, have put off buying one due to the lack of features.
I use my Xbox 360 more for entertainment than video games these days. I love Apple’s interface’s better, and I’ve always thought they’d do well in the set top market. It’s a market dominated with crippled devices and unintuitive interfaces. The problem, from Apple’s perspective, has been the way the market works now. Providers overcharge for content and undercharge for the set top devices. This creates an atmosphere where the viewer doesn’t value the hardware.
My problem with the current market is innovation is stifled. My Comcast DVR isn’t nearly as useful as it could be, despite the technology being there. I can see Apple changing this, as they are one of the few companies with enough cachet to get the ball rolling. I just hope Apple decides to cash in on their stature, and start a revolution in the set top market similar to the one they started in mobile phones.