Apple (again) rumored to be making a "smart" TV

[(vikm)]

So, I got to thinking (hey, sometimes it just happens). If Apple is really going to have someone make a TV for them and brand it with their name (or even make it themselves), I'm all for it. According to this article, the quote attached is "blow Netflix and all those other guys away".

Here's the part where the wheels started chugging along. Knowing that Netflix has been a part of the current ATV, how are they gonna bury them? Only way I can see it is if they totally have all the studios on board and drop Netflix and offer the same service built into the TV. Is it possibly part of what's going on with the small city they built in Carolina? I've no reason to think this other than wild guestimation based strictly on the rumor that they are making a TV to begin with but it's certainly a fun idea. I really like the ATV2 I have and use Netflix all of the time. I'd drop it in a second and support Apple if they integrated the same into a new TV (which I could be persuaded to be in the market for).

Anyway, just letting my mind wander. I know... dangerous.

[Ken Sp.]

I think Apple can do a lot to improve TV, but I think there is very little upside in TVs. The margins for TVs are slim, and they need to be updated often.
Inventory back stock would be huge in the Apple stores.

I think this may be a diversion from Apple reinventing TV, as a service not a device. That being said, the counter is that Apple has always been a hardware company that sells hardware by making compelling software.

Hmmmm. Time to ponder?

[OWC Jamie]

Uh,oh.
You may have let the cat out of the bag and ruined them.
AAPL just dropped 325.3000 points

:-)

whoops, back up. False alarm.

[deckeda]

A TV from Apple would have the simplest, cleanest UI of any TV and additionally have some compelling services included. And it might be performance and price competitive, too.

None of which are big enough reasons to enter the TV market IMO. "Bag of hurt" on so many levels, indeed.

[Black]

Already posted:

[bik]

Ken Sp. wrote:
... The margins for TVs are slim, and they need to be updated often.

Silly Analysts wrote:
The margins for [personal computers] are slim, and they need to be updated often.
The margins for [mobile phones] are slim, and they need to be updated often.

Just sayin'

[(vikm)]

What, no one wants to know where I even got the hair brained idea?

Seemed to have forgotten the link...

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/innovation/...?hpt=hp_t2

[Lew Zealand]

*Or* they'll just make something that connects to your current TV and makes it smart.

Now what would they call that sort of product…

[Black]

(vikm) wrote:
What, no one wants to know where I even got the hair brained idea?

Seemed to have forgotten the link...

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/innovation/...?hpt=hp_t2

There it is!

[Speedy]

I would buy one if it has massive DVR capability/channel guide/etc. via my cable TV connection.