First iTV, then the iHome?
Posted by Dennis Sellers 
Sep 15, 2006 at 3:04am
Overall, I like the concept of the iTV. Though it won’t be released until early 2007, it sounds like just the device to provide a needed conduit to the living room without trying to force the computer to be the sole connection. What’s still missing, however is an “iHome” server—something that stores all of the multimedia content and is always home.
With laptops being increasingly chosen over desktops as the primary computer for lots of folks, a server will be necessary for the family. The Mac mini is the obvious form factor for the new server, and the new iTV almost guarantees that the Mac mini will be around for some time to come. However, the lack of multimedia sharing (server) capabilities and lack of huge storage capacity mean that the current Mac mini isn’t up to the role in its present form.
So it seems like Apple has another piece of equipment to drop on us. My guess is that it is probably increased sharing/serving capabilities along with some sort of network storage device to increase capacity. Perhaps this means that iTV and the new equipment will be released with Mac OS X 10.5 (“Leopard”) and utilize some of its “Top Secret” features.
One such feature could involve the upgradability—or the lack of it—for the wireless connectivity of the iTV. It currently uses 802.11, although I’m not sure which flavor of WiFi. Is it “g”? If so, will it be upgradeable to “n” when that protocol is finalized?
There are also other questions can the current Mac mini “server up” four TVs’ content along with some music to one or two stations, at the same time? That will be important to the families that might buy these. Many families have 3-4 TVs, perhaps more. Just take a look at a sports bar themed game room or a media room. If one iTV has to be paired with one Mac mini server, then I can’t see Apple having quite the success on its hands they might. Perhaps they’re thinking of selling the Mac Pro as the home server for multiples of TVs and/or iTVs, I think that we may have a system equivalent to the Cube on our hands – a very cool solution at a price point that is above the sweet spot for the market.
(Thanks to my Macsimum compadre, J. Scott Alexander, for his help with today’s column.)
Thoughts? Write me at daseller@earthlink.net
hmurchison Says:
The iTV from what I’ve seen thus far, is too expensive as it seems like it is primarily a device that just receives audio/video and sends it to the TV. Apple definitely needs to augment it with an iHome server perhaps connected via USB or Ethernet.
Posted on September 15, 2006
bRIAN Says:
Didn’t Apple recently get a new patent on a revised ‘cube’ with removeable drives? What if they’re coming out with a Mac Mini shaped (but taller) cube which is nothing but an X-serve Raid Mini..
Then, it sits right below the iTV as a storage device.. It would be nice to designate this new little storage system as the storage place for all your libraries - iTunes, iPhoto, etc.. It’s right there next to the TV, yet can stream onto the TV or back to your iMac, et al.
What I’d like to see in addition to this iHome system is something that is also able to control your lights in your house, for the ultimate in TV viewing.. Click the apple remote, choose a DVD and the lights automatically dim and your video is served up.
Posted on September 15, 2006
Greg Alexander Says:
Yeah we need something to provide storage etc. Apple is bound to have something in mind… wonder what it is :)
In fact, if the iTV has 802.11n, then many of us will want to upgrade our Airport Extreme. If the iPod (or iPhone?) starts having wireless capabilities, maybe Airport will need Bluetooth? And do we need QoS routing for iChat voice & iChat video traffic.
I wouldn’t mind seeing some kind of Airport Server - a new form of hub that isn’t particularly smart, but can give me those things (a good chunk of storage, faster wired and wireless connections, better routing).
Posted on September 15, 2006
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Dennis Sellers
Dennis has been a newspaper editor/reporter (seven years) and teacher (seven years). He has over 4,000 magazine, newspaper and online articles to his credit. He has also covered the Mac and tech industries for over a decade for such online publications as MacCentral, MacMinute and now MacsimumNews.
Art Gorski Says:
The closest thing I’ve seen to this is Infrant’s ReadyNAS NV. An AFP/SMB RAID box that runs SlimServer and other goodies. Unfortunately, it will always be slightly incompatible with Apple stuff as it relies on 3rd party software to do what it does, like the AFP sharing.
Posted on September 15, 2006