What if AppleTV became a DVR?
Cory Bergman September 5th, 2007
The folks at AppleGazette speculate what would happen if AppleTV converted into a DVR that allowed you to transfer (not copy) recorded shows to your video iPod/iPhone. Then, in theory, it’s not so critical that Apple retains video content partners like NBCU for iTunes, if you believe that Apple sees content as just a driver to sell devices. Thoughts?
7 Comments Add your own
1. Nick Geidner | September 5th, 2007 at 9:31 am
The real clincher would be if you could order movies through it. If AppleTV came into direct competition with Tivo and Netflix at the same time…damn.
2. Anon | September 5th, 2007 at 9:38 am
I doubt NBC or any other content provider would allow it. They would go out of business because they could not profit from shows.
3. adm | September 5th, 2007 at 9:51 am
this is what they should’ve done when they first launched the product, and it’s what everyone had been asking them to do for years. but, given that Jobs keeps calling this thing “a hobby,” it doesn’t look like they are going to make it any more robust for a while. but i hope i’m wrong.
anon, tivo and any number of pc-based DVRs let you do exactly what is proposed here, but nbc hasn’t gone out of business just yet.
4. !!! | September 5th, 2007 at 10:16 am
How about output jacks on the ipod so I can start watching the movie on my commute and finish on my big screen at home!
5. Michael Gay | September 5th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
I do this already with my Windows Media Center PC. I record shows from broadcast or over the air HDTV and then sync them with my Windows Media Center Portable from Toshiba, the Gigabeat.
I love it. I get The Daily Show and Colbert Report every day, and don’t pay a dime.
So, for all you Apple lovers on here (Steve), buy a Windows Media Center and stop paying for every show you watch on your iPod or every song you download from iTunes.
6. Safran | September 6th, 2007 at 8:47 am
Mike’s right - the Gigabeat he has that syncs with his Windows Media Center PC does this perfectly. And I drooled over it when he showed it to me.
It’s certainly a disappointing shortcoming of the Apple - iPod - iTV axis.
7. Bill Gorman | September 7th, 2007 at 7:32 pm
AppleTV in it’s current incarnation isn’t going anywhere. No sales figures have been announced. I have to believe it’s been a complete flop.
It’s got to become a device that can pull content off the ‘net or your cable connection and send it to your computer, your iPod/iPhone or TV via WiFi.
What I’m wondering is why it’s taken so long for any changes to be made to it. If the initial version was just a trial balloon, why hasn’t it been follow up with anything?
Michael, my EyeTV connected to my iMac does everything that a Windows Media Center PC does, and I don’t have to suffer through Vista.
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