Apple TV

I have been reading up on the Apple TV (TV) and I must say that I am still confused. I do not think that this device is the way to get MicroContent on my TV. It is much to limited in my opinion. And I think that I must start thinking of my TV as a computer screen. This means that I must be able to use my TV-screen as alternate computer screen, game screen and sometimes a TV screen. That requires a high resolution (Full HD) screen. And this also implies that I am sometimes closer to the screen than at Film viewing distance. By the way just look at a Full HD screen and you'll be convinced.

The other end of the equation is the MicroContent. I want to view (and interact) with any MicroContent, whether it is on my local network or on the Internet. TV is much to limited for that at the moment. It limits the allowed file formats, MicroContent Types and locations. At the moment I think I need to hook up a real computer to my TV (a MacMini) for instance, so that I can determine what I want to see.

In general I however do not want to use a generic OS interface, but something dedicated. An application such as FrontRow might do this, but that app is to limited. Next in line is MediaCentral by Equinux. It allows the user to access a lot more, but is still hampered by choices made by Equinux. A lot of the MicroContent (feeds) the app present is chose by them. There should be a more open structure, where the user can decide what MicroContent he wants to see.

I am also not convinced about the hierarchical approach of presenting MicroContent (just like the iPod). For millions of individual items this no longer works. Other ways for browsing are required (such as CoverFlow of iTunes) and interaction methods (scroll wheel, finger flipping or even WiiMote) are required.

And finally this device should be able to connect to other MicroContent "tuners", such as my satellite receiver and terrestrial digital network, DVD-, CD-, Blu-Ray, whatever players. And then I am not even talking about DVR possibilities. This makes it a complex device and the most generic one at the moment is a standard computer.

Another question is where to store my own MicroContent on the network. On the Internet does not seem logical, although with increasing bandwidths this might even be possible. Should I store it on the computer I use all the time, or on a dedicated media-server. The latter seems a logical conclusion. The device I bring in the house can connect to my Media Server to listen to my music. And it also needs to synchronise from time to time. Difficult questions that even get more complex with more users and devices in the home.

So I guess I want a real computer hooked up to a real high resolution screen with lots of data storage in my living room, which also works as network knot to get feeds and distribute it over the other devices in the home. And finally lots of bandwidth for downloading those Full HD movies.

So I guess we are still a long way from what we want, but the convergence of the networks is coming.

Categories/tags: MicroContent
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