Siri-ous TV
Entry posted by Nathan Strum
1,359 views
Apple has been rumored to have been working on an Apple-branded TV for years. They've actually released several products along those lines, such as the Macintosh TV, the first Mac Mini-sized Apple TV, and the current super-tiny Apple TV (seriously, you have to see this thing in person to appreciate how small it is). None have really solved the "TV problem", however. All TV services and DVRs have some shortcomings, and some are downright annoying to use. While I generally like U-Verse, I'm beginning to hate the DVR that came with it. As they update its software from time to time, the responsiveness gets slower. Just like installing a new OS on an old computer. At some point, you run into the law of diminishing returns, where any new benefits are eclipsed by the limitations of the aging hardware. I need to call them and see if I can swap for a newer model.
Anyway, with the publication of Steve Jobs' biography, it's been revealed that one of the last big projects he'd been involved with was solving the "TV problem". I figured if anyone could do it, Apple could. I just expected them to do it years ago. I was always disappointed that the Apple TV never had DVR capabilities (which is why I've still never bought one). Although with everything going online now, and my otherwise-perfectly-good HDTV not directly supporting online video, I'm tempted to buy an Apple TV now. After all, it's only $99. Not bad.
But now, I think I'll wait. First, because there are rumors they'll be refreshing it soon with an A5 processor, but more because it looks like they may be working on something else. An Apple TV, with Siri.
Whether this is a set-top box (which I think is most likely) or an actual TV (which I think highly unlikely, since that immediately limits sales to only those looking to buy a new HDTV, and not everyone who already has one), is questionable, but I like the potential behind it anyway.
Not so much that I might be able to dump U-Verse and actually only pay for what I want to watch, on demand, at any time (I do this for the most part with my DVR anyway - I just don't watch 485 out of the 500 channels I'm paying for), or for an elegantly designed interface that transforms the very concept of television into something new as other Apple products have done for music, phones, tablets and... um... what's that other thing they make? Oh right... computers. (I think they still make those.)
Nope, it's because for the first time ever, when people yell at their TVs... it will actually talk back.
Now that sounds like fun!
"Siri, turn down the volume"
"Turning up the volume"
"No! Turn DOWN the volume."
"Turning up the volume"
"NO! TURN DOWN THE VOLUME!"
"Turning up the volume"
"TURN DOWN THE $%#@!! VOLUME!!!"
"Please speak up, I can't hear you - the volume is too loud"
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