- Joined
- Mar 30, 2005
- Messages
- 9,571
- Reaction score
- 25
- Points
- 48
iMac with TV functionality seen as stepping stone to Apple television
Read more
Read more
There would have to be an app, whether it be available in the MAS or as part of a software update...I don't see it happening for the iMac.
Siri could have been an app for the iPhone 4 too.
I'd be happy if my 27" iMac could play Blu-Ray disc's. Tom
As far as a full fledged Apple television - look for 55" TV with higher resolution than 1080p. Something like a Magic Trackpad would be the remote. Different gestures would perform different functions (two fingers up increases volume, two fingers down decreases volume, two fingers left or right to channel surf)
I see them selling the thing in multiple sizes. 55", while fantastic, is just to large for some living rooms. I would hazard a guess at 37", 42", and 50" options. And "higher resolution than 1080p just isn't going to happen. Nobody is creating higher resolution content.
The trackpad remote idea is spot on, but you're missing something big. NUMBERS. The remote could be something like an iPod touch with one heck of a lot less functionality. Touchscreen and little else. The home button could bring up the "guide" for scrolling through channels, etc. I think thats what Jobs may have been on about when he mentioned "cracking it" when he was complaining about the UI of a TV. My current remote (Logitech Harmony ONE) has over thirty buttons and a touch screen. Getting a bit ridiculous, mostly because I use the number pad, and the up/down buttons for channels and volume. Everything else is there to make the thing look good I guess. The iTV remote really needs the ability to scroll through menus with inertia based scrolling, combined with the ability to bring up a number pad on it's surface as well. Have that, and then the touchscreen sliders for volume.
The current Apple remote is delightfully simple (and cheap as **** to make, so great for margins), but lacks the number pad that's really necessary to get though most cable companies channel options. I think for a full fledged iTV it's short on the "magic" that seems to be a selling point of Apple products these days. An iRemote that looked like an iPod touch would be a great selling point. (not to pass up the fact that having a remote which would cost $200 to replace wouldn't be a bad thing for Apple)
It can if you add an external Blue Ray player. Take a look at what Other World Computing has for the Mac.
I'd be happy if my 27" iMac could play Blu-Ray disc's.
Tom
I've had an imac tv for years with my Elgato EyeTV tuner. Pretty cool watching tv in one of the windows I have up.