Apple Is Winning The Battle For The Livingroom

Walt Mossberg reviews Apple TV, says that it works pretty much flawlessly. Big surprise.

The only real snag is that you can't stream stuff from the Internet, yet:

[from The Mossberg Solution - WSJ.com]

Apple TV's most important limitation is that it can't stream much video or audio directly from the Internet -- yet. The capability to go directly to the Internet, bypassing the computers in your home, is built in, but is initially being used only to fetch feature film trailers and short preview clips of popular songs, TV shows and movies sold on the iTunes store. Apple TV also won't allow you to buy media directly from the iTunes store. You must first download content from the Internet or iTunes on a computer, and then Apple TV will grab it from the computer and play it on the TV.

In its usual secretive fashion, Apple refuses to say if or when this direct-to-the-Internet capability will be expanded. But we fully expect Apple to add the capability to stream or download a variety of content directly from the Internet, and that this new capability will be available on current Apple TV boxes through software updates.

And when do you think Apple will roll out a game system? It's another area where innovative design could stomp older, slower competitors. The iPod wasn't the first digital music player, but is now dominant. Apple TV isn't the first of its sort, but looks like it is a game changing device. iPhone... well, we'll see, but I am betting on it to become the leading hip mobile device as soon as available. But not a whisper about a game system, is there?

tags: apple, apple+tv, iphone, the+battle+for+the+livingroom, walt+mossberg, itunes

Comments

[n00b]

Hmm, my Xbox 360 already does both video and gaming better. No sale.

[N.Cauldwell]

Apple are far from winning the battle for the living room. This is one area where Microsoft actually have some credibility. Check the latest stats on Xbox Live users. Oh, and don't forget the Wii either - Nintendo have shifted a crate or two of those since last year. The little fella has some great integration with Opera.

As for Apple's stab at videogaming, there's been much more than a whisper, Stowe. Some hackers took a look through the Apple TV firmware, and sure enough they found some scripts for a game download service. Jobs can't justify more than one box beneath the TV (that would hardly fit his desire for perceived technological simplicity), so the Apple TV is the Apple videogame system.