Will the AppleTV help change video?
January 15th, 2008
Today, Apple did a sidestep around the HD DVD and Blu-ray debate with the update to their AppleTV.
Think about the most popular way most of us watch movies. We rent them. Either at the local movie store or via mail at Netflix or Blockbuster.
What Apple has done is said, “Why wait for a plastic disc to be sent to you?” Now you can flip through an online selection like Netflix or Blockbuster AND watch it right away. That puts them in a very strong position. Plus, they have the very popular iTunes online store streamlined more than any of the competition.
Now, while the others fight over which plastic disc to send next (HD DVD or Blu-ray), Apple can already deliver an HD movie right to the television set since we can now rent HD movies FROM the AppleTV interface.
All for a onetime fee of $229 plus the four or five bucks to rent the movie.
Compare that to a new high def player that runs several hundred dollars more and $30 to buy a new piece of plastic to put into that player.
Now take into account that thousands of HD podcasts are available right now on iTunes and AppleTV right now and for free!
I think this little device is sneaking its way into our lives and changing the way we watch video forever.
Categories: Misc | Tags: digital distribution, internet video, Misc, new media
I think I forgot to tell you that I tried out the rental service this weekend. (I’m almost embarrassed to say what I rented.) I don’t have an Apple TV, because I don’t own a regular TV. I watch so little of it, I only watch on my computer and iPod. The download came across in about 15 minutes and I loaded onto my iPod and watched most of my movie while on the treadmill at my gym.
It works well, i just think they need to extend the time you have to watch the movie. If you get interrupted by something, you might not be able to finish within 24 hours. 36 would probably do the trick. Like MOST things Apple does, this will only get better with time.