Apple That

Despite recent rumors, Apple will not launch its much talked about Apple TV in 2012, at least that’s what analyst are saying. However, these same analysts are saying that an actual Apple TV is on its way and that the physical set could land in homes as early as 2014. Until then, though, we will have to rely on the great things set to come out of Apple’s set top box.

Mark Moskowitz, an analyst for J.P. Morgan, has noted that all of his research on the subject “does not indicate any looming TV-related product launch” from Apple. In addition to that, Moskowitz suggested that the “strained” economic conditions show that it would be unwise for Apple to release a television in 2012.

Moskowitz also says that there are plenty of other options currently available. According to Moskowitz, “We are not sure that the Apple premium could prevail in the TV market, unless there is a radical change of the user interface, integration of the TV programming and data content, and use of gesture or voice control.”

Apple is still viewed as the company that will “radically alter the TV landscape” according to J.P. Morgan, who also believes that Apple’s approach will be slower than most. Moskowitz also believes that Apple may very well expand Apple TV into “more of a set top box module”.

According to J.P. Morgan, “We believe Apple can design a smarter set top box to manage all components behind the end user’s TV experience, as well as eliminate the oft-cumbersome user interface provided by the cable and satellite operators.”

There is also talk of what new features could come to the Apple TV. Things like a universal remote control through Siri or gestures, advanced set top box capabilities, DVR capabilities and gaming console options are all distinct possibilities with any new type of Apple TV or set top box.

Source: PC World – Expect Apple TV in 2014, Analyst Says

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With the recent success of Google’s expenditure into the realm of televisions, it appears that Apple may be looking to do the same thing. Yes, you heard that right, Apple may soon be trying to sell you a tv along with the next generation iPad, Mac, iPhone and iPod.

The people over at DailyTech were recently seen quoting an unnamed “former Apple executive” who stated that Apple was planning on entering the television market by the end of this year. According to the source, Apple is planning to “blow Netflix and all those other guys away” with a console that would feature Apple TV and iTunes built directly into it.

The report also stated that Apple plans on teaming up with an existing manufacturer in order to provide televisions branded under the Apple name. “You’ll go into an Apple retail store and be able to walk out with a TV,” said the former executive. “It’s perfect.”

Some people, like Ticonderoga Securities analyst Brian White, are pretty positive on Apple entering the $100 billion LCD TV market. According to White, “In our view, the combination of Apple’s powerful ecosystem, industrial design savvy, powerful brand and ability to reinvent product categories could make Apple a powerful force in the TV world in the coming years.”

Apple currently makes an Apple TV device that, due to recent successes of the iPhone and iPad, has done very poorly with regard to standards set forth by Apple. This system was first introduced in 2007 and is a box-like device that allows users to stream web content, like Netflix, to their televisions. However, even Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, was eventually forced to admit that the technology never really caught on.

Apple drastically cut the price of the Apple TV device last September from $299 to $99  but even that wasn’t able to make the service a household name. If Apple does manage to make a move into the TV market, it would put the company even closer to its biggest rival, Google.

Google TV is a very similar product to the current Apple TV but Google is widely expected to expand its service by integrating it with actual televisions. Apple, as always, did not immediately respond to requests for comments on this so I guess we will just have to wait until the end of the year to find out what is really going on.

Source: CNN – Apple to start making TVs, report says

Whether you love it or hate it, whether you think it is incredible for the music industry or running it into the ground, Apple’s iTunes IS one of the biggest things to happen to music in recent years. One thing that stands out about iTunes is that you can get more than just music. You can buy movies or even apps off of iTunes and you can even rent movies. However, it is in that field, movie rentals, that iTunes may be getting its first real opponent.

Since supposedly finalizing deals with multiple major movie studios, Google is all primed and ready to start a Video on Demand movie rental service via YouTube that is said to challenge the dominance of Apple’s iTunes movie store in the market of Video on Demand.

YouTube began offering movie rentals about a year ago but has yet to rent out mainstream movies. Instead, YouTube offered movies from mostly independent studios. Google, however, plans to build the service with the imminent launch of a movies on demand service that includes major Hollywood studios.

Mainstream movies have been quietly added to YouTube with rental prices ranging from $1.99 to $3.99. According to a YouTube spokesman, “We’ve steadily been adding more and more titles since launching movies for rent on YouTube over a year ago, and now have thousands of titles available.” The spokesman declined to comment on the rumored launch of major studio films.

According to one executive from a Hollywood studio that has already signed with YouTube, “We think we will start with VOD, but broaden to include sell-through over time. We are pretty excited because we are happy to see new entrants come in transactionally rather than a subscription model.”

The report has stated that movies will become available on YouTube the same day they can be rented at video stores or on iTunes, which is ahead of subscription services like Netflix. “What’s really good about their approach is rather than another subscription offering, they’re going into a fresh area where there have been fewer leaps forward,” said one studio executive.

At a seminar earlier this month, Google executives seemed to hint at a YouTube VOD store. YouTube Vice President of TV and Film Entertainment Robert Kyncl stated, “Imagine if you had a video store on YouTube, where you could rent or buy the movie without being sent elsewhere.” However, when Kyncl was asked about specific details, he replied, “Obviously, there are things coming, but we can’t talk about them yet.”

Apple began offering movie rentals via iTunes back in 2008 with a major launch that included all of the major Hollywood movie studios. The initial rate for a movie rental was $2.99 with HD versions and new releases costing more. After their purchase, customers had 30 days to begin watching the movie and 24 hours to finish once playback had begun.

After Apple launched their second-generation Apple TV last year, they began offering $0.99 TV show rentals. However, the only two studios that were on board at launch were ABC and Fox. Apple CEO Steve Jobs, at a media event to unveil the set top box, suggested that the other studios would soon relent and begin offering TV show rentals. Jobs stated, “We think the rest of the studios will see the light and get on board pretty fast.”

Research group IHS revealed earlier in the year that Apple had maintained a 64.5% market share of the online VOD in 2010 while also losing some share to Microsoft and Sony. In 2009, Apple controlled 74.4% which does not count subscription services like Hulu or Netflix.

Apple generated $1.4 billion in revenue from the iTunes online store in the most recent March quarter, however, it is unclear what portion of those earnings consisted of movie rentals.

Source: Apple Insider – Google to take on Apple’s iTunes with mainstream movie rentals on YouTube

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